Former Bluebird Cafe bartender Mark Irwin co-wrote Alan Jackson's first number one hit "Here In The Real World", a two time CMA Song of the Year nominee and winner of the Music City News’ Award for Song of the Year 1990.  As well as having songs on Alan Jackson's more recent CD “DRIVE” and Garth Brooks' “THE LOST SESSIONS”, Mark co-wrote the singles, "Bama Breeze" for Jimmy Buffet and "That's How They Do It In Dixie" for Hank WIlliams Jr. (featuring Gretchen Wilson, Big & Rich and Van Zandt).   Recently, Mark was a co-writer of the Tyler Farr number one hit single "Redneck Crazy", Thomas Rhett’s "Front Porch Junkies" and had 3 songs on the Tim McGraw CD "Two Lanes of Freedom"…including the number one hit song "Highway Don't Care", featuring Taylor Swift on guest vocals and Keith Urban on guitar.   Mark is also cowriter of Tim McGraw's recent single "Looking For That Girl" and Blake Shelton's number one hit single, "Neon Light". Mark’s latest single was Chris Janson's "Power of Positive Drinking"   A list of other artists who have recorded Mark’s songs are:                   Randy Travis, Martina McBride, George Jones, Faith Hill, Lee Brice, Thomas Rhett Julianne Hough, Bomshel, Billy Ray Cyrus, Jessie James, Tracey Lawrence, Sammy Kershaw, Chely Wright, Patty Loveless, Highway 101, The Whites, Chris LeDoux, Bucky Covington, Glen Campbell, Neal McCoy, The Dirt Drifters, Jaida Dreyer, Dakota Bradley and Austin Webb. Actress Gwyneth Paltrow also recorded one of Mark’s songs for her movie “Country Strong” costarring Tim McGraw.    Recently, Mark had a song on Blake Shelton’s newest CD “If I’m Honest” called "Bet You Still Think About Me", also a song on new artist Drake White’s CD called "Story." And at present Mark is working with a number of young, signed Country Music artists….

Stephony Smith, BMI’s 1998 Songwriter of the Year, began her professional songwriting career in Memphis, Tennessee writing commercial jingles for a major advertising agency. From 1981 to 1988, she wrote more than 4,000 local, regional, and national radio and television spots and won 20 Addy Awards. Stephony also wrote and performed jingles as a solo vocalist for major clients including McDonalds, Dodge Trucks, the Agricultural Council of America, and Carolina Telephone. Memphis is her hometown and the reason Stephony loves all kinds of music, from Soul R&B, Motown, Singer/songwriters, to Pop-Rock. Memphis embraced all genres and her jingle career allowed her to write it all. After signing with Chips Moman/Chappell Music she got to work with the likes of Al Green, Willie Nelson, Ringo Star, Toni Wine, Carl Perkins, Bobby Emmons and J.R. Cobb. Being surrounded by the people that penned, “Do Right Woman, “Luckenbach,Texas”, “Groovy Kind Of Love”, “Spooky” and “Stormy”, had a profound effect on her. The education she received from those masters about songwriting, singing background vocals and production is priceless. So Memphis music without a doubt is in the heart of everything she writes and sings. Stephony moved to Nashville in 1989 and by the middle of that year landed her first publishing deal with Polygram Publishing, now Universal. To date, Stephony has had cuts by a number of award winning artists including, The Dixie Chicks, Shania Twain, Barbara Streisand, Kenny Chesney, Montgomery Gentry, Terri Clark, Martina McBride, and the legendary Reba McEntire. Tim McGraw’s performance with his wife Faith Hill of “It’s Your Love”, written solely by Stephony, stayed at #1 on the singles chart for six weeks, and was the most played single of 1997. Shortly after, Reba McEntire took “How Was I To Know” all the way to #1. Trisha Yearwood spent two weeks at #1 on the charts with “Perfect Love”, and Chad Brock brought “Yes” to the #1 seat for three weeks. Kenny Chesney took “Big Star” to the number two slot in 2004 and Tim McGraw blistered up the charts to #1 with “Back When” in early 2005. Stephony wrote “Johnny and June” by Curb artist Heidi Newfield (formerly of Trick Pony). This song went into the top 10 in 2009 and was nominated for The Academy of Country Music’s song of the year. “Johnny and June” marks her first release as a writer/sole-publisher. Stephony is a popular background vocalist on master recording sessions for various artists, demo sessions, and live performances. Album credits include Shelly Fairchild, Lari White, Chad Brock, Jo Dee Messina, Chelly Wright, and Terri Clark. She has also appeared as a background vocalist for a number of artists on television shows such as: The Tonight Show, Nashville Now (Music City Tonight), Crook and Chase, On Stage, American Music Shop, and Hee Haw.

Mark Taylor is taking Music City by storm. The 24-year-old Nashville resident brings that feel-good 90’s country sound back to his fans with his smooth vocals and soulful melodies. Having already opened for and shared the stage with superstars Big & Rich, Bryan White, Eric Paslay, Joe Nichols, Jon Pardi, Russell Dickerson, Members of R.E.M., The Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan, Collective Soul, and many more, Mark is certainly one to watch in Nashville.  As a songwriter, Mark has written songs alongside hit writers and had songs recorded by Amii Stewart (Singer of the 1979 #1 “Knock on Wood”), Whey Jennings (Grandson of Waylon), Hayley Payne, Dan Harrison, Molly Lovette, and more.  With numerous singles under his belt, his release, I’m Down peaked at #11 on a fan-voted country chart. He has received airplay all over the world including Australia, Ireland, London, Switzerland, and the U.K. His single, “Dust Off That Dirt”, has received nearly a quarter of a million streams and has been added to several terrestrial AM/FM radio rotations throughout the Northeast and Southeast United States, as well as internationally. His music video for “Dust Off That Dirt” premiered on The Country Network, broadcasting to over 40 million households. He’s been featured in numerous print & TV placements and also won ASCAP’s 2023 Harold Adamson Country Lyric award for this critically-acclaimed song.  Mark's recent cut, "Just Before the Dawn" (Top 40 hit on the iTunes Country Chart and Top 10 hit in Norway), recorded by Whey Jennings, was featured in the award-winning film, "American Outlaws", available in select theaters and streaming services now.  Recently partnering with CALI Distillery, Mark Taylor launched his own honey bourbon whiskey –Steel String Signature. He took a hands-on approach with every aspect of this, from taste to name choice to design and packaging. This limited edition spirit is currently available online through their retail partner, Great American Craft Spirits and can also be purchased directly through Mark’s website and in selected Total Wines. Mark is a proud Member of the Country Music Association (CMA) and The Recording Academy.