
Buddy Mondlock
How do you talk about creativity? Making something out of nothing. What could be more mysterious? And yet Buddy Mondlock is wonderfully articulate about writing songs. The process is clearly fascinating to him and he has paid careful attention to what goes into making a good song. He’s able to communicate what he has learned in 40 plus years of writing songs. You will hear about the many elements involved with bringing a song to life and how to communicate feelings and ideas through music and words. Using his own songs as examples he talks about things like layers of meaning, the effective use of imagery and detail, storytelling, technical aspects like structure and rhyme scheme, the importance of editing and knowing when not to edit, the integration of music and words, and even the up sides and down sides of collaboration. His fifteen years as a staff writer in Nashville show up in his insights about publishing and the business of songwriting as well as his tips for songwriters who are interested in getting started down that road. Buddy Mondlock has given songwriting workshops across the country from the Napa Valley Folk Festival to the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Recently he led several workshops across the Atlantic at IMRO in Dublin and before that at the Belfast Nashville Songwriters Festival in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The aim of that festival was to use songwriting to find common ground and bring communities together there. Buddy’s songs have been recorded by Guy Clark, Nanci Griffith, Garth Brooks, Joan Baez, Peter, Paul & Mary, Janis Ian, David Wilcox, Edwin McCain, Cry, Cry, Cry... the list goes on. He has recorded five CD’s including “Everything Waits To Be Noticed,” a songwriting and recording collaboration with Maia Sharp and Art Garfunkel. His most recent is “The Edge of the World.” Learn more about Buddy at buddymondlock.com
How do you talk about creativity? Making something out of nothing. What could be more mysterious? And yet Buddy Mondlock is wonderfully articulate about writing songs. The process is clearly fascinating to him and he has paid careful attention to what goes into making a good song. He’s able to communicate what he has learned in 40 plus years of writing songs. You will hear about the many elements involved with bringing a song to life and how to communicate feelings and ideas through music and words. Using his own songs as examples he talks about things like layers of meaning, the effective use of imagery and detail, storytelling, technical aspects like structure and rhyme scheme, the importance of editing and knowing when not to edit, the integration of music and words, and even the up sides and down sides of collaboration. His fifteen years as a staff writer in Nashville show up in his insights about publishing and the business of songwriting as well as his tips for songwriters who are interested in getting started down that road. Buddy Mondlock has given songwriting workshops across the country from the Napa Valley Folk Festival to the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Recently he led several workshops across the Atlantic at IMRO in Dublin and before that at the Belfast Nashville Songwriters Festival in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The aim of that festival was to use songwriting to find common ground and bring communities together there. Buddy’s songs have been recorded by Guy Clark, Nanci Griffith, Garth Brooks, Joan Baez, Peter, Paul & Mary, Janis Ian, David Wilcox, Edwin McCain, Cry, Cry, Cry... the list goes on. He has recorded five CD’s including “Everything Waits To Be Noticed,” a songwriting and recording collaboration with Maia Sharp and Art Garfunkel. His most recent is “The Edge of the World.” Learn more about Buddy at buddymondlock.com

Lauren Lucas
Lauren is an Academy of Country Music nominated Recording Artist, and a Tony Award nominated Songwriter based in Nashville, TN.
Her unique blend of singer-songwriter/country/soul has been heard on the ABC Network, Broadway (Urban Cowboy), in various films and on a variety of artists' records, such as Danielle Peck (Big Machine/Y2Country Sirius radio host), Damien Horn (Circle TV), and Risa Binder, to name a few.
In addition to writing music for TV/Film, Broadway and artist projects, Lauren can be heard as a featured singer and background vocalist for marketing campaigns and recording projects. Most recently, Lauren joined multi-Grammy award winning artist, Keb' Mo' as his duet partner for an International Marketing Campaign for the Canadian National Railroad Company.
In touring, Lauren has shared stages and/or opened shows for artists such as Blake Shelton, Kenny Chesney, Old Dominion, The Bacon Brothers (Kevin & Michael), Randy Houser, Maia Sharp, among others, across the U.S. and in Europe.
For nearly three years, Lauren toured and recorded as a member of the all-female indie Americana/Country band, Farewell Angelina. Rolling Stone had high praise for the band when the magazine named them as one of "10 New Country Artists you Need to Know."
In fall of 2022, Lauren joined the songwriting department staff of her alma mater, Belmont University, as an Instructor of Songwriting in the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business.
In December of the same year, Lauren launched the Happiest Hour podcast. Her guests include well-known recording artists, hit songwriters, film directors, wellness coaches, and creative entrepreneurs. She and her guests pair each episode with a delicious beverage and an easy weekend recipe. Think of it like happy hour -- but better. It's the Happiest Hour!
By summer of 2023, Lauren joined veteran Nashville singer/songwriters Sara Beck and Kimberly Quinn for a full-length album of classic country songs from the 1970's-early 1990's. On the heels of that, Lauren three solo singles of her own.
New music is planned for 2024. You can enjoy Lauren's music and her podcast on all major digital streaming platforms. You can learn all about Lauren at LaurenLucas.com.
Lauren is an Academy of Country Music nominated Recording Artist, and a Tony Award nominated Songwriter based in Nashville, TN.
Her unique blend of singer-songwriter/country/soul has been heard on the ABC Network, Broadway (Urban Cowboy), in various films and on a variety of artists' records, such as Danielle Peck (Big Machine/Y2Country Sirius radio host), Damien Horn (Circle TV), and Risa Binder, to name a few.
In addition to writing music for TV/Film, Broadway and artist projects, Lauren can be heard as a featured singer and background vocalist for marketing campaigns and recording projects. Most recently, Lauren joined multi-Grammy award winning artist, Keb' Mo' as his duet partner for an International Marketing Campaign for the Canadian National Railroad Company.
In touring, Lauren has shared stages and/or opened shows for artists such as Blake Shelton, Kenny Chesney, Old Dominion, The Bacon Brothers (Kevin & Michael), Randy Houser, Maia Sharp, among others, across the U.S. and in Europe.
For nearly three years, Lauren toured and recorded as a member of the all-female indie Americana/Country band, Farewell Angelina. Rolling Stone had high praise for the band when the magazine named them as one of "10 New Country Artists you Need to Know."
In fall of 2022, Lauren joined the songwriting department staff of her alma mater, Belmont University, as an Instructor of Songwriting in the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business.
In December of the same year, Lauren launched the Happiest Hour podcast. Her guests include well-known recording artists, hit songwriters, film directors, wellness coaches, and creative entrepreneurs. She and her guests pair each episode with a delicious beverage and an easy weekend recipe. Think of it like happy hour -- but better. It's the Happiest Hour!
By summer of 2023, Lauren joined veteran Nashville singer/songwriters Sara Beck and Kimberly Quinn for a full-length album of classic country songs from the 1970's-early 1990's. On the heels of that, Lauren three solo singles of her own.
New music is planned for 2024. You can enjoy Lauren's music and her podcast on all major digital streaming platforms. You can learn all about Lauren at LaurenLucas.com.

Steve Dean
Nashville singer/songwriter Steve Dean has co-written six number one Billboard country hits, including the most played song on Country Radio in 2007 and Country AirCheck's Song of the Decade in 2017, "Watching You" for Rodney Atkins, the Grammy nominated "It Takes A Little Rain" for The Oak Ridge Boys, "Southern Star" for Alabama, "Round About Way" for George Strait, "Hearts Aren't Made To Break" for Lee Greenwood, "Walk On" for Reba McEntire, two number one bluegrass hits, "New Day Dawning" and "No More Lonely" for The Roys and one number one Top Independent Country Chart hit, "3935 West End Avenue" for Mason Dixon, as well as two Billboard top 10 hits, two Billboard top 20 hits and four Billboard top 40 hits.
Reba: Greatest Hits Volume 2, won a Grammy at the 36th Annual Grammy Awards.
"Watching You", a Top Five Finalist for ACM Song of the Year in 2008.
"It Takes A Little Rain", nominated for a grammy in 1988.
Among Steve's musical influences are The Beatles, The Byrds, The Eagles, The Doobie Brothers, Bruce Hornsby, Def Leppard, Buck Owens, Johnny Cash and Roger Miller.
Steve's first single "Don't Your Mem'ry Ever Sleep At Night" was recorded by Steve Wariner in 1983. Other hits include "Fast Lanes and Country Roads" and "Crossword Puzzle" for Barbara Mandrell, "Just Enough Rope" for Rick Trevino, "One Bridge I Didn't Burn" for Conway Twitty, "The More I Learn" for Ronna Reeves and "Cool To Be A Fool" for Joe Nichols. "Cool To Be A Fool" and "Watching You" have earned Bethar Music, Steve's publishing company, BMI Publisher awards. To date, Steve has earned 8 BMI Songwriter Awards and 2 BMI Publisher Awards. BMI has Certified of over 10 Million Radio Air Plays of Steve's Hit Songs combined on 6 different Million-Air and Multi-Million-Air awards. To date, Steve's songs have sold over 20 million records world wide.
Other artists who have recorded Steve's songs include LoCash, Sister Hazel, Waylon Jennings, David Allan Coe, Billy Dean, Ronnie Milsap, Kenny Rogers, Pure Prairie League, Craig Morgan, Dierks Bentley, John Michael Montgomery, Lee Ann Womack, Point of Grace, Linda Davis, Neal McCoy, The Martins, Darin and Brooke Aldridge, Ty Herndon and Jeff and Sheri Easter. Steve's song, "Expecting Good Things", is the title track to the Grammy nominated CD "Expecting Good Things" by Jeff and Sheri Easter in 2012.
As a singer/songwriter, Steve lets his audience in on a behind the scenes look at, and a unique opportunity to hear the stories surrounding the inspiration for and why these songs were written. "Being a singer/songwriter is the best of both worlds", Steve says. "I can take my music to the people in it's purest form." You can learn more about Steve at stevedeanmusic.com.
Nashville singer/songwriter Steve Dean has co-written six number one Billboard country hits, including the most played song on Country Radio in 2007 and Country AirCheck's Song of the Decade in 2017, "Watching You" for Rodney Atkins, the Grammy nominated "It Takes A Little Rain" for The Oak Ridge Boys, "Southern Star" for Alabama, "Round About Way" for George Strait, "Hearts Aren't Made To Break" for Lee Greenwood, "Walk On" for Reba McEntire, two number one bluegrass hits, "New Day Dawning" and "No More Lonely" for The Roys and one number one Top Independent Country Chart hit, "3935 West End Avenue" for Mason Dixon, as well as two Billboard top 10 hits, two Billboard top 20 hits and four Billboard top 40 hits.
Reba: Greatest Hits Volume 2, won a Grammy at the 36th Annual Grammy Awards.
"Watching You", a Top Five Finalist for ACM Song of the Year in 2008.
"It Takes A Little Rain", nominated for a grammy in 1988.
Among Steve's musical influences are The Beatles, The Byrds, The Eagles, The Doobie Brothers, Bruce Hornsby, Def Leppard, Buck Owens, Johnny Cash and Roger Miller.
Steve's first single "Don't Your Mem'ry Ever Sleep At Night" was recorded by Steve Wariner in 1983. Other hits include "Fast Lanes and Country Roads" and "Crossword Puzzle" for Barbara Mandrell, "Just Enough Rope" for Rick Trevino, "One Bridge I Didn't Burn" for Conway Twitty, "The More I Learn" for Ronna Reeves and "Cool To Be A Fool" for Joe Nichols. "Cool To Be A Fool" and "Watching You" have earned Bethar Music, Steve's publishing company, BMI Publisher awards. To date, Steve has earned 8 BMI Songwriter Awards and 2 BMI Publisher Awards. BMI has Certified of over 10 Million Radio Air Plays of Steve's Hit Songs combined on 6 different Million-Air and Multi-Million-Air awards. To date, Steve's songs have sold over 20 million records world wide.
Other artists who have recorded Steve's songs include LoCash, Sister Hazel, Waylon Jennings, David Allan Coe, Billy Dean, Ronnie Milsap, Kenny Rogers, Pure Prairie League, Craig Morgan, Dierks Bentley, John Michael Montgomery, Lee Ann Womack, Point of Grace, Linda Davis, Neal McCoy, The Martins, Darin and Brooke Aldridge, Ty Herndon and Jeff and Sheri Easter. Steve's song, "Expecting Good Things", is the title track to the Grammy nominated CD "Expecting Good Things" by Jeff and Sheri Easter in 2012.
As a singer/songwriter, Steve lets his audience in on a behind the scenes look at, and a unique opportunity to hear the stories surrounding the inspiration for and why these songs were written. "Being a singer/songwriter is the best of both worlds", Steve says. "I can take my music to the people in it's purest form." You can learn more about Steve at stevedeanmusic.com.

Leslie Garbis
Leslie Garbis is an intuitive vocal technician who enjoys helping singers, speakers, and even those who are not studying singing, to discover, connect to, and free their own true voice. She teaches each person as the individual they are, bringing their own unique set of needs. Challenges with everything from lack of breath support, to tension release in specific areas of the body, to negative self-talk and self- judgment, to acting the song, and more, are all addressed in a holistic manner that works for each client. Leslie prides herself on very quickly understanding what needs attention and how to efficiently help each student get results and have effective tools to take away to work with on their own.
Leslie has her masters in music, in the area of vocal performance, and is also a certified Pilates instructor. Along with her vocal training background in performance and pedagogy, the Pilates helps give her some specific insight when it comes to posture, alignment, and core engagement, particularly around issues with sufficient breath for singing. Leslie finds that applying Pilates principles to her voice teaching has helped her and her students immensely.
Leslie has enjoyed professional singing opportunities within a variety of styles and venues over the years. From singing in a doo-wop band or a bluegrass band, to opera, to musical theater, to cruise ship revues, to her own cabaret, to weddings, to church section leader, to symphony engagements, to studio session singing, and more, she has logged many hours of stage time.
Currently, she is focusing on her teaching, as an adjunct voice teacher at Belmont University school of music, as a workshop facilitator, and in her own private studio. She also enjoys music writing and recording projects, leading community song circle, and part-time homeschooling her son. Learn more about Leslie at singingishealing.com
Leslie Garbis is an intuitive vocal technician who enjoys helping singers, speakers, and even those who are not studying singing, to discover, connect to, and free their own true voice. She teaches each person as the individual they are, bringing their own unique set of needs. Challenges with everything from lack of breath support, to tension release in specific areas of the body, to negative self-talk and self- judgment, to acting the song, and more, are all addressed in a holistic manner that works for each client. Leslie prides herself on very quickly understanding what needs attention and how to efficiently help each student get results and have effective tools to take away to work with on their own.
Leslie has her masters in music, in the area of vocal performance, and is also a certified Pilates instructor. Along with her vocal training background in performance and pedagogy, the Pilates helps give her some specific insight when it comes to posture, alignment, and core engagement, particularly around issues with sufficient breath for singing. Leslie finds that applying Pilates principles to her voice teaching has helped her and her students immensely.
Leslie has enjoyed professional singing opportunities within a variety of styles and venues over the years. From singing in a doo-wop band or a bluegrass band, to opera, to musical theater, to cruise ship revues, to her own cabaret, to weddings, to church section leader, to symphony engagements, to studio session singing, and more, she has logged many hours of stage time.
Currently, she is focusing on her teaching, as an adjunct voice teacher at Belmont University school of music, as a workshop facilitator, and in her own private studio. She also enjoys music writing and recording projects, leading community song circle, and part-time homeschooling her son. Learn more about Leslie at singingishealing.com

Buck Brown
Buck grew up in the 60’s listening to AM Radio, the Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Four Seasons, all the Brit invasion groups, the Folk artists, Motown and Stax/Volt. Piano lessons, church choir, learning songs on a Martin D12-35 and playing in rock bands were primary influences. In the early 70s he played with the Washington, DC acoustic group, Early Van Pelt and was a regular side man with the Nighthawks.
For many years he lived in NJ and played in pit orchestras for Broadway musicals as a bass player and guitar player and also was Musical Director of many theatre shows in the U.S. and in Europe, eventually being nominated for two Helen Hayes Awards for best musical direction.
He taught in private high school, College, University and The National Guitar Workshop where he was Head Teacher and wrote most of the curricula for Jazz Guitar as well as running Workshop Sounds Recording and the Keyboard and MIDI workshop. He has written 18 books and book/cds published by Alfred Music. During this time he was fortunate to play with Tony Trischka, Dave Hamburger, Stacy Phillips Mark Egan, The Kennedys, Mike Marshall and many more.
Ending up in Washington, DC in the 90s, he worked as a composer for TV, Film, Radio, Industrials and political clients including both President Clinton and President G.H.W. Bush. He scored many episodes of America’s Most Wanted as well as commercials for PBS, the Smithsonian Institution and the Washington Post. Being in DC led him to become a member of the Nils Lofgren Band and the Nils Lofgren Acoustic Duo which led to gigs with Mary Ann Redmond and the chance to play with Bruce Springsteen, Jeffrey “Skunk” Baxter and many more great artists.
Finally moving to Nashville in the mid-2000s, he has played with Robert Lee Castleman (Grammy award winning songwriter for “The Lucky One” done by Alison Krauss), Americana Duo Bedhed and Blondy, Dobie Gray, Nick Nixon, Marion James and Suzahn Fiering and the Elegant Gypsies. He plays guitars, lap steel, keyboards, mandolin, dobro and has a personal recording studio where he records original Acoustic Americana music. Learn more about Buck at BuckBrown.net.
Buck grew up in the 60’s listening to AM Radio, the Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Four Seasons, all the Brit invasion groups, the Folk artists, Motown and Stax/Volt. Piano lessons, church choir, learning songs on a Martin D12-35 and playing in rock bands were primary influences. In the early 70s he played with the Washington, DC acoustic group, Early Van Pelt and was a regular side man with the Nighthawks.
For many years he lived in NJ and played in pit orchestras for Broadway musicals as a bass player and guitar player and also was Musical Director of many theatre shows in the U.S. and in Europe, eventually being nominated for two Helen Hayes Awards for best musical direction.
He taught in private high school, College, University and The National Guitar Workshop where he was Head Teacher and wrote most of the curricula for Jazz Guitar as well as running Workshop Sounds Recording and the Keyboard and MIDI workshop. He has written 18 books and book/cds published by Alfred Music. During this time he was fortunate to play with Tony Trischka, Dave Hamburger, Stacy Phillips Mark Egan, The Kennedys, Mike Marshall and many more.
Ending up in Washington, DC in the 90s, he worked as a composer for TV, Film, Radio, Industrials and political clients including both President Clinton and President G.H.W. Bush. He scored many episodes of America’s Most Wanted as well as commercials for PBS, the Smithsonian Institution and the Washington Post. Being in DC led him to become a member of the Nils Lofgren Band and the Nils Lofgren Acoustic Duo which led to gigs with Mary Ann Redmond and the chance to play with Bruce Springsteen, Jeffrey “Skunk” Baxter and many more great artists.
Finally moving to Nashville in the mid-2000s, he has played with Robert Lee Castleman (Grammy award winning songwriter for “The Lucky One” done by Alison Krauss), Americana Duo Bedhed and Blondy, Dobie Gray, Nick Nixon, Marion James and Suzahn Fiering and the Elegant Gypsies. He plays guitars, lap steel, keyboards, mandolin, dobro and has a personal recording studio where he records original Acoustic Americana music. Learn more about Buck at BuckBrown.net.