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Bloomington-Normal, Illinois
Nashville Songwriters Concert

Nashville Songwriters Concert

Date & Time
Friday, November 8, 2024
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Cost
Location
600 N East St, Bloomington, IL, 61701
Phone
(309) 434-2777
Kent Blazy

Kent is originally from Lexington, KY and was first inspired to play music when he heard Roger McGuinn playing guitar on the song “Mr. Tambourine Man.”  For several years, he played and toured with various bands and, in the mid-1970s, traveled as the band leader and guitarist for Ian Tyson.

After winning a national songwriting contest, Kent moved to Nashville in 1980 and decided to focus on his writing career.  Just two years later, he got his first top-5 hit with Gary Morris’s recording of “Headed for a Heartache.”  In 1987, he met Bob Doyle, who would soon become the manager for Garth Brooks.  Bob connected Kent and Garth, which began a songwriting collaboration that continues to this day.  Kent and Garth’s first co-write was “If Tomorrow Never Comes,” which became the first #1 for both of them.

They went on to collaborate on many other songs, four of which also became #1s.  And now Kent’s got a couple of cuts on Garth’s recent (2017) release, including the lead single “Baby, Let’s Lay Down and Dance.”

Beyond the cuts he’s had with Garth Brooks, Kent also co-wrote the title track to the Reba album All the Women I Am, Chris Young took Kent’s “Gettin’ You Home (The Black Dress Song)” to #1, and his songs have also been recorded by T. Graham Brown, Donna Fargo, Moe Bandy, Diamond Rio, Kenny Chesney, Terri Clark, Clay Walker, Randy Houser, Patty Loveless, Julie Roberts, Andy Griggs, Jon Pardi, Blaine Larsen and Abby Anderson.

Kent continues to record albums and they are available on Itunes and CD Baby. His latest one “SONGWRITER” was recorded in Garth Brooks studio and released in January 2019.  He tours all over the country and world telling the stories behind the songs he’s had recorded. In October 2019 he played a concert in a castle in Italy that was build in 1749 and the next week he played at the Bluebird Café with Garth Brooks and others for President Jimmy Carter and Habitat for Humanity.

In November 2021 Kent was inducted to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Leslie Satcher

Few female Nashville singer-songwriters are more respected or more revered than the stunning talent that is Leslie Satcher. At the age of 26, the native Texan made the move to Nashville in pursuit of a singing career and was quickly recognized for her gift with lyric and melody. After being mentored at a smaller publisher by many of the music industry’s legendary songwriters, she made the move to Sony Music Publishing where she would stay for nearly 15 years. During this time, she was also signed as an artist at Warner Brothers. While recording her critically acclaimed debut album, “Love Letters”, her songs were growing in demand.

Though Leslie is primarily known as a country singer and songwriter, her talents cross all genres. She has written or co-written songs that have been recorded by everyone from Willie Nelson to Ariana Grande; Vince Gill to Sheila E.; George Strait to Sheryl Crow; Martina McBride to Keb’Mo; Blake Shelton to Bonnie Raitt and many, many more. She has received multiple BMI “Million-Air” awards recognizing a song’s one millionth airplay and her incomparable vocals contribute to an astounding number of Grammy, CMA & ACM award winning projects

Leslie’s next two albums, “Creation” and “Gypsy Boots” were recorded independently and truly exhibit the diversity of her Texas roots and Delta soul. They are available on iTunes, CDBaby and every other major digital distributor.

She was signed to a 2015 publishing deal with London powerhouse Notting Hill Music and a recording contract with NHM’s Los Angeles based innovator of digital distribution; Notting Hill Music Masters (NHMM) label. Her debut NHMM release, “2 Days In Muscle Shoals” features her All-Star band “The Electric Honey Badgers” and includes vocals by Vince Gill, Sheryl Crow, Trisha Yearwood and more. This amazing project landed her on the First-Round GRAMMY ballot in multiple categories for the 2018 & 2019 awards seasons. Recently, Leslie has seen her songs recorded by the likes of Reba McEntire, Sheryl Crow, Maren Morris, Stevie Nicks, Joe Walsh, Vince Gill and many, many more. Among an absolutely stellar group of peers; on June the 30th of 2023, Leslie Satcher was nominated to the Nashville Songwriters’ Hall of Fame. She will be a part of the 2025 class inducted to the Texas Songwriters’ Hall of Fame along with Boz Scaggs and Steve Miller.

Aside from writing hit songs for some of music’s most iconic artists; Leslie is in high demand as a performer known for her angelic voice, funny stories, the unique playing style and sound of her guitar; but mostly, her uncanny ability to connect with audiences of any size or demographic. Her typical year will include more than 150 songwriting sessions and 65 live performances all over the U.S., U.K. and Canada.