SONGS FOR HEROES 2023 | O'FALLON, MO
PROCEEDS FROM SONGS FOR HEROES 2023 BENEFITTED THE ST CHARLES COUNTY VETERANS MUSEUM (NOW THE MID AMERICA VETERANS MUSEUM)
SONGS FOR HEROES SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
WEDNESDAY, AUG 30
- 9:30 AM Bus Call (Nashville, TN)
- 10:00 AM Leave for Missouri
- 3:00 PM Arrive at Veterans Museum
- 4:30 PM Meet & Greet w/Veterans @ Museum
- 6:30 PM Songwriter/Volunteer Dinner
THURSDAY, AUG 31
- 9 AM-12 PM First round of writes (1 vet:2 writers)
- 12 PM Lunch
- 1:30-4:30 PM Second round of writes
FRIDAY, SEPT 1
- 9 AM-12 PM First round of writes (1 vet:2 writers)
- 12 PM Lunch
- 1:30-4:30 PM Second round of writes
- 7 PM Writer's Round Concert (original music)
SATURDAY, SEPT 2
- 7 PM Songs For Heroes Concert (songs from the week)
MONDAY, SEPT 3
- 9 AM Drive back to Nashville
LIVE VIDEO FROM SFH (NO INTROS)
LIVE VIDEO FROM SFH (W/ VETERAN INTROS)
SFH 2023 SONGWRITERS
MOLLY LOVETTE
JOEL JORGENSEN
TAI SHAN
JOHN EASON
HAL ODELL
CRAIG HENDRICKS
COLLINS HORTON
JOHN J KENNEDY
SFH 2023 SONGWRITER BIOS
MOLLY LOVETTE
With over a million streams just on Spotify, numerous TV appearances, endless press interviews, national and international radio placements, music videos airing on The Country Network, a Forbes feature under her belt, and so much more, country breakout artist Molly Lovette is taking the world by storm and winning the hearts of country fans everywhere. With an impressive year to date, she has been on the road touring, performed at summer festivals including CMA Music Festival, and even performed at an industry-functioned Country Radio Seminar (CRS) event earlier this year.
This St. Louis native has combined her childhood love of country music with her talent for writing relatable lyrics to create a mature and refreshing sound within the country genre. With musical influences including Taylor Swift, Maren Morris, and Carrie Underwood, Molly embodies the beauty, power and grace her idols have so effortlessly portrayed to their fans. She was also honored and recognized from her home state of Missouri, on behalf of Governor Michael L. Parson, for her endless dedication to her craft and for being a role model to her fans.
JOEL JORGENSEN
Joel Jorgensen started his career in Los Angeles CA as a performing recording artist under Sony USA. He achieved an international following for his band Angels Fall. He toured with and opens for some of the largest bands in the genre such as Seether, Nickelback and many more. As his career progressed he found a love for producing and songwriting in multiple genres so Jorgensen left Los Angeles and headed for Nashville, TN to start the next chapter of his career.
Jorgensen currently is producing full time plus performing all around Nashville. He has been nominated for a Josie award for the song “Feeding The Beast” which he co- wrote with Claire Cunningham and he performed all instruments engineered and produced.
TAI SHAN
Tai Shan is an Americana songwriter whose music has been featured in Billboard Magazine, American Songwriter, Americana UK, and on NPR. Based out of Nashville, her songwriting focuses on positive messages. Her song, “Burn it Down” celebrates 100 years since the “right to vote” and was featured in Billboard Magazine. An Arts- trained classical and jazz composer and a graduate of Cornish College of the Arts, Tai Shan has toured the United States, Mexico, and Canada, performed for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and at the famous Bluebird Café in Nashville.
Tai Shan is also an award-winning music educator with fifteen years of experience. She is known for her personable, supportive approach to teaching guitar, voice, and songwriting. Her students have performed on stages across the United States, signed record label deals, released over twenty CDs, won Songwriter of the Year (IMTA), Best Song of the Year for the John Lennon Songwriting Contest and attended Berklee College of Music and Oberlin Conservatory of Music.
JOHN EASON
John Eason is a proud Air Force Veteran and Singer-Songwriter hailing from Minden, Louisiana. His original music has garnered commercial success driven by inclusion in playlists featuring prominent indie country artists such as Cody Jinks, as well as the several hundred shows he performs annually across the nation. John is also a brand ambassador for Margarita Hard Seltzer & Shiloh Music based in Mt. Juliet, TN and the founder of Red River Nomad, a lifestyle brand with its own independent label and booking agency. He is an advocate for PTSD awareness and actively supports veterans through musical events and volunteering. Some folks call his music Country, some call it Outlaw Country, and some call it Southern Rock. He just calls it real.
HAL ODELL
Hal ODell was born in Alabama, raised in Kansas and Oklahoma. In 2015, he moved from Oklahoma to Park City, Utah, to chase music, mountains, and snow. Hal was fortunate enough to end up as frontman and guitarist for Snyderville Electric Band. The Band released on album, Kings of Hard Weater; Hal wrote the bulk of the lyrics and helped compose and arrange the songs. And in the process fell in love with songwriting.
Hal has lived in Nashville since 2018, songwriting full time. He has cultivated a circle of talented co writers, as well as artists with whom he co writes. His songwriting covers the full range of country music, but his passion is for Roots/Neotraditional country. A song Hal co wrote, "More Than Just A Girl", was chosen as the SongTown 2022 Country Song of the Year.
CRAIG HENDRICKS
Southern born and raised, Nashville recording and award-winning touring artist, Craig Hendricks has called the south his home, from the Piedmont of Middle Georgia to the Alabama heights of Lookout Mountain, while finding his place on stages from local brew houses to Major Music Halls, and everywhere in between!
Craig brings his own unique character and smooth style to create a personal and interactive experience for his listeners. He also brings the charisma often found in troubadours of yesteryear as a national award winner and multi-nominee for his songwriting and recognition of his vocal talents. Craig is a 3-time nominee for Best Male Country Artist in Alabama, while his songs have made American Songwriter Magazine, won World Song Contests, and gained recognition from The largest Independent Music Awards in the World!
Craig has shared the stage with Hit writers, Grand Ol' Opry Performers, and top Nashville Talent, but enjoys playing intimate venues and Festivals! He is always ready to grab a guitar and make new friends! In January, Craig released his EP "Destination Home” to all major streaming platforms and is already working on a full album to be recorded later this year!
COLLINS HORTON
Born in Jackson, MS, Collins comes from a music family. His mother, Jennifer, played for her father congregation since the age of 8 well into her adulthood. Following in her footsteps, Collins started playing guitar at the age of 12 and played for his church youth group until graduation. While attending Ole Miss, he played regular acoustic gigs playing both originals and covers. In 2011 he made the move to Memphis, TN and debuted is first single in October of 2021. In 2022, he finally landed in Nashville and is now pursuing his lifelong dream of being a singer/songwriter in Nashville. He writes about his life experiences of 40 years of life and enjoys meeting and writing other songwriters equally as passionate as he is about Country Music.
JOHN J KENNEDY
John J. Kennedy is a Nashville Americana singer/songwriter and recording artist. He has been writing songs and performing in and around Nashville for years. He has been called one of Nashville’s new breed of storytellers. Kennedy writes honest, blue collar songs about small towns, love and loss, life lessons, redemption, and songs about the brave men and women who sacrifice dearly in service to our country.
His album “There and Back” was released in 2017. The album received radio airplay from New Hampshire to California. He performed live on Knoxville, Tennessee’s “The Blue Plate Special” (WDVX 89.9FM). He has been a guest on “The Justin Reed Show” (88.3FM, Murfreesboro, Tennessee), WXNA 101.5FM (Nashville), WKOM 101.7FM (Columbia, Tennessee), and LOZ Radio (Utah). Kennedy made appearances on television programs “Nashville Entertainment Weekly” and “The Midnight Madness Show” (Manchester, Tennessee).
John J. Kennedy has appeared as an actor and stunt performer in over 100 motion pictures, television programs, music videos, and TV commercials. He played for Ronald Reagan during a campaign event.
Kennedy’s musical style has been compared to Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Steve Earle, and Kris Kristofferson.