Hit Writers Round with Doc Holladay, Ricky Ray & Karen Staley $12- 6.29.24
Doc Holladay
Doc Holladay is something of a Rennaissance man. He is a practicing optometrist, dabbles in real estate flipping houses and building spec homes in the Columbia area, while also having a varied career in music which has included everything from touring with the groundbreaking bluegrass/newgrass band Crucial Smith, to songwriting and producing. He was voted among the top three singer/songwriters in Nashville 4 years running in the 2012-2015 Nashville Scene's "Best Of Nashville" readers' poll. While primarily an Americana and Country writer, he has also worked and written with pop stars such as "Tiffany", Southern Rock icon Jimmie Van Zant, and with members of legendary rock groups such as Cinderella, Warrant, Tesla, and The Babys.
Doc has had over 30 songs recorded by artists in the U.S., Sweden, Canada, Australia, and Ireland which include "Indian Summer" featured in the Hallmark movie "Love, Of Course", "Practice Makes Perfect" recorded by platinum selling pop supergroup "The Moffatts", a #1 hit in Sweden with "Small Town Marilyn Monroe” recorded by Warner artist, Chris Lindberg, and the top 10 "I Get Back Up,” recorded by Australian artist Christie Lamb on ABC Records.
Another fun fact: Doc is actually 4th cousin to the original Doc Holiday of O.K. Corral/Tombstone fame!
Ricky Ray
Alabama born Ricky Ray took up slide guitar at the age of three as he sat on his great grandmother’s lap and watched her play slide guitar using a butter knife. And he hasn’t looked back since! Primarily recognized as “a guitar player’s guitar player”, no matter what the venue, when he plays everyone in the room sits up and takes notice! As a player, producer, singer-songwriter, he works with some of the best, played for some of the best and has a versatile list of cuts unlike many other in Nashville! Ruth Brown’s rendition of Ricky’s gem “A Good Day for the Blues,” was nominated for a W.C. Handy Blues Award and “Darlene” shot to number one with T. Graham Brown. “Stand Up” was a country hit for Mel McDaniel as well as being recorded by Levon Helm and The Band and 9 other artists! Ricky has also had cuts with a huge variety of artists from George Strait, Kix Brooks, BJ Thomas, Eddie Raven, Bruce Chanell, Kenny Rogers, Shaun Murphy, Lonnie Mack, Etta James, Ashley Cleveland, Maria Muldaur, Lacy J. Dalton, Bill Medley of The Rightous Bros, The Memphis Horns and Bobbie Keyes (with Keith Richards in “Cheap Winos”). On the road Ricky played with Nashville’s acclaimed rock band, “The Nerve”, for ten years, followed by stints with Tom T. Hall, Dobie Gray, Lonnie Mack and Tony Joe White. When not playing with the trio The Kemosahbeszz, Ricky often slips away to Willie Nelson’s place in Texas and plays with him around the campfire. He sawed off the arms of an old rocking chair on a front porch because Waylon Jennings casually commented that it would be a great chair to play guitar on without the arms! So, there’s no doubt Ricky has had some interesting “cuts” in his storied career! When not performing, Ricky stays busy in his Franklin, TN studio writing and producing with his legendary guitar collection.
Karen Staley
Karen Staley's songs have been played on radio over 13 mil times & counting. Those songs have collectively sold more than 20 mil albums, singles & downloads. She's had # 1 hits by artists as well as Seven Top 10 hits with BMI Millionaire Awards.
As a performer & artist, Karen has had critically acclaimed major label albums like MCA's "Wildest Dreams" & Warner Bros "Fearless" as well as several indie country & gospel albums that can be found at yard sales around the globe!
She is a mainstay at the iconic Bluebird Cafe popularized by the hit TV show " Nashville" & along with several peers was instrumental in creating the "In The Round" circle format. She appears in the Bluebird - The Movie.
As a background singer & guitarist Karen has toured with Reba, Faith, Patty Loveless, Terri Clark & Russ Taff as well as doing studio vocal work.
Her songs have been nominated for Grammy, CMA, ACM, GMA & International Bluegrass Awards & Karen won ACM Song Of The Year with Tracy Byrd's now classic "Keeper Of The Stars" which was also featured in CMT's 100 Greatest Country Love Songs Of All Time TV special.
In 2021 Karen did a 38 state Patriotic tour where she performed traditional patriotic songs & songs she had written for the tour "Arise USA", "Family Faith & Freedom", & "God Save The Cowboy Everywhere" nightly with the thrill of singing beneath Mount Rushmore that July 4th.
Karen's newest accolade was having her solo written love song to TN " I'll Leave My Heart In TN" unanimously voted by both the TN House & Senate as the newest Official TN State Song in 2022. It is only the 11th State song in TN's 227 year history.
Karen occasionally play clubs in the Nashville area but spends most of her time as a keynote speaker, comedian, & musical team-builder at corporate shows as well as performing at songwriting festivals all over America.
You can keep up with her on www.karenstaley.com and www.leavemyheartintn.com
Show at 8:00 pm, $12 cover charge, call 615-794-5527 for show and dinner reservations.