Wally Wilson
Encyclopedia
Wally Wilson is an American record producer
and songwriter
based in Nashville.
Along with Kenny Greenberg, Wilson produced two records for Joan Baez
in the 1990s, one, Play Me Backwards
(1992) received a Grammy nomination. Baez credited Wilson and Greenberg for helping her to move towards a more mainstream style. In an interview, she said, "Wally's most famous remark was this: 'Ya know Joan, just because ya know how to write po'try don't mean ya know how to write a decent song.' I was livid. And I knew by how angry I was how close to the truth he probably was. They write in a very different way than I do…"
Wilson produced the hit country group Lonestar
for BNA Records
, at times co-producing with Don Cook. Wilson produced many other recordings in the 1990s, and created the female duo Regina Regina
who were one of the "Top New Stars of 1997" according to Country America magazine. Wilson has written many hit songs recorded by country and blues artists, including Joe Cocker
, Aaron Neville
, Lonestar, Doug Stone, Linda Rondstadt, The Fabulous Thunderbirds
, Rascall Flatts, and many more. In the mid-1990s he was part of a team of songwriters at Sony/ATV Tree whom CEO Donna Hilley valued for having both songwriting and producing credentials. In 1996 MCA Music Nashville hired him as senior director of its new production company. Wilson is also a successful music publisher, and along with partners Paul Worley
and Glen Morgan, own Skyline Music Publishing in Nashville, Tennessee
.
Wilson began his career in Nashville working as a janitor at Tree Publishing Company, not unlike Kris Kristoferson years earlier. Wilson lives in Nashville and is still active in record production.
In 2010 Wilson and business partners Paul Worley
and Glen Morgan expanded to form Skyville Records. An independent country label with Sony
distribution . Under the agreement, Sony Music Nashville will offer manufacturing, sales and copyright administration. Under the creative direction of producer Paul Worley
, Skyville finds, develops and produces the talent, as well as handles promotion, business development, legal affairs for its roster and works in conjunction with their radio promotion team led by industry veterans Kevin Herring and Paul Williams. Working with agents at CAA
, including Rod Essig and Blake McDaniel, Wilson focuses Skyville's business model on putting it's independent acts out on the road while promoting new music.
In the Spring of 2012 Wilson will return to song-writing when he collaborates with artist and brother-in-law, Raul Malo
, for his upcoming Mavericks reunion project .
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
based in Nashville.
Career
Wally Wilson has worked with artists as diverse as Leon Russell, Bo Diddley, the Neville Brothers, Junior Wells, Amy Grant, Trisha Yearwood, Lone Star, Lorrie Morgan, Sammy Kershaw, Rick Trevino, Rascal Flatts and Patty Loveless, among others .Along with Kenny Greenberg, Wilson produced two records for Joan Baez
Joan Baez
Joan Chandos Baez is an American folk singer, songwriter, musician and a prominent activist in the fields of human rights, peace and environmental justice....
in the 1990s, one, Play Me Backwards
Play Me Backwards
Play Me Backwards was a 1992 album by Joan Baez. In addition to her own work, she included songs by Mary Chapin Carpenter and Janis Ian. The album marked the first time Baez worked with producers Kenny Greenberg and Wally Wilson, with whom she would continue to work throughout most of the '90s...
(1992) received a Grammy nomination. Baez credited Wilson and Greenberg for helping her to move towards a more mainstream style. In an interview, she said, "Wally's most famous remark was this: 'Ya know Joan, just because ya know how to write po'try don't mean ya know how to write a decent song.' I was livid. And I knew by how angry I was how close to the truth he probably was. They write in a very different way than I do…"
Wilson produced the hit country group Lonestar
Lonestar
Lonestar is an American country music group consisting of Richie McDonald , Michael Britt , Keech Rainwater , Dean Sams , and Michael Hill . McDonald left the band in November 2007 for a solo career before returning in 2011...
for BNA Records
BNA Records
BNA Records, formerly known as BNA Entertainment, is a label group that shares ties with Arista Nashville and RCA Nashville from parent company Sony Music Nashville, which itself is a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, BNA features country music acts on its roster...
, at times co-producing with Don Cook. Wilson produced many other recordings in the 1990s, and created the female duo Regina Regina
Regina Regina
Regina Regina was an American country music duo formed in 1997. The duo consisted of female singers Regina Leigh and Regina Nicks. The duo released one self-titled studio album and three singles in 1997. The duo's highest charting single was 1997's "More Than I Wanted to Know" which peaked at #53...
who were one of the "Top New Stars of 1997" according to Country America magazine. Wilson has written many hit songs recorded by country and blues artists, including Joe Cocker
Joe Cocker
John Robert "Joe" Cocker, OBE is an English rock and blues musician, composer and actor, who came to popularity in the 1960s, and is most known for his gritty voice, his idiosyncratic arm movements while performing, and his cover versions of popular songs, particularly those of The Beatles...
, Aaron Neville
Aaron Neville
Aaron Neville is an American soul and R&B singer and musician. He has had four top-20 hits in the United States along with four platinum-certified albums...
, Lonestar, Doug Stone, Linda Rondstadt, The Fabulous Thunderbirds
The Fabulous Thunderbirds
The Fabulous Thunderbirds are an American, Grammy-nominated Blues rock band, formed in 1974.-Career:After performing for several years in the Austin, Texas blues scene, the band won a recording contract with Takoma/Chrysalis Records, and later on signed with Epic Records.Their first two albums,...
, Rascall Flatts, and many more. In the mid-1990s he was part of a team of songwriters at Sony/ATV Tree whom CEO Donna Hilley valued for having both songwriting and producing credentials. In 1996 MCA Music Nashville hired him as senior director of its new production company. Wilson is also a successful music publisher, and along with partners Paul Worley
Paul Worley
Paul Worley is an American record producer and session guitarist, known primarily for his work in country music. Formerly a vice president at Sony BMG, he later joined the staff of Warner Bros. Records' Nashville division as chief creative officer...
and Glen Morgan, own Skyline Music Publishing in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
.
Wilson began his career in Nashville working as a janitor at Tree Publishing Company, not unlike Kris Kristoferson years earlier. Wilson lives in Nashville and is still active in record production.
In 2010 Wilson and business partners Paul Worley
Paul Worley
Paul Worley is an American record producer and session guitarist, known primarily for his work in country music. Formerly a vice president at Sony BMG, he later joined the staff of Warner Bros. Records' Nashville division as chief creative officer...
and Glen Morgan expanded to form Skyville Records. An independent country label with Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
distribution . Under the agreement, Sony Music Nashville will offer manufacturing, sales and copyright administration. Under the creative direction of producer Paul Worley
Paul Worley
Paul Worley is an American record producer and session guitarist, known primarily for his work in country music. Formerly a vice president at Sony BMG, he later joined the staff of Warner Bros. Records' Nashville division as chief creative officer...
, Skyville finds, develops and produces the talent, as well as handles promotion, business development, legal affairs for its roster and works in conjunction with their radio promotion team led by industry veterans Kevin Herring and Paul Williams. Working with agents at CAA
CAA
-Arts:*China Academy of Art, the highest university of art in China which founded in 1928*College Art Association, a professional association in the United States for scholars of art, art history, and art criticism...
, including Rod Essig and Blake McDaniel, Wilson focuses Skyville's business model on putting it's independent acts out on the road while promoting new music.
In the Spring of 2012 Wilson will return to song-writing when he collaborates with artist and brother-in-law, Raul Malo
Raul Malo
Raúl Francisco Martínez-Malo Jr. , known professionally as Raúl Malo, is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and record producer. He was the lead singer of country music band The Mavericks and the co-writer of many of their singles, as well as Rick Trevino's 2003 single "In My Dreams"...
, for his upcoming Mavericks reunion project .
See also
- Bob BaldoriBob BaldoriBob Baldori , also known as "Boogie Bob", is an American rock, blues, and boogie musician and attorney.Baldori founded the rock band The Woolies in 1964; the group had a national hit in 1966 with Bo Diddley's "Who Do You Love". He has also pursued a solo career, performing in venues all over the...
- Dinky BinghamDinky BinghamDinky Bingham is an African-American singer, musician, songwriter, producer, and engineer....
- Martin BisiMartin bisiMartin Bisi is an American producer and songwriter.He is known for recording important records by Sonic Youth, Swans, John Zorn, Material, Bill Laswell, Helmet, Unsane, Cop Shoot Cop, White Zombie, Boredoms, Angels of Light and Herbie Hancock's Grammy-winning song Rockit,In 1979, Martin Bisi...
- Glen BallardGlen BallardGlen Ballard is an American songwriter and record producer, best known for co-writing and producing Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill , which won Grammy Award for "Best Rock Album", and "Album of the Year" amongst others, and is ranked by the Rolling Stone amongst The 500 Greatest Albums of...
- Sean AlexanderSean AlexanderSean Alexander is a record producer, songwriter, and recording engineer. He is also a member of the band Avenue 52. Sean specializes in pop, rock and R&B, and studied at the Musician's Institute in Hollywood.-Discography:...