James I. ElliottChair, Songwriting Program, Assistant Professor of SongwritingB.A., John Wesley College; M.A., Austin Peay State UniversityLocation: 34 Music Square East 214View BioJames Isaac Elliott joined the Belmont faculty in 1990 teaching Music Publishing. When the Songwriting Department was launched in 2007, he was named Chair. Elliott worked closely with industry partners to develop the curriculum and hire award-winning songwriters to teach the classes. The success of the major has led to partnerships with Sony Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music Publishing and The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Professor Elliott has also developed and taught on study abroad trips to Australia, England, Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Also an award-winning songwriter, Elliott’s compositions have been recorded by Steven Curtis Chapman, The Oak Ridge Boys, Newsong, Shenandoah, Ginny Owens, Mark Schultz Russ Lee, Kenny and Amanda Smith, Gold City, Larry Stephenson, Laruen Talley, The Blackwood Brothers, Triona and others. His honors include a Dove Award and multiple awards from ASCAP, American Songwriter Magazine and the Nashville Songwriters Association International. Elliott’s songs have been included on 5 Grammy Award winning albums. He’s co-written 13 Top Ten radio singles and 6 number ones including “The Change,” “Hold On To Jesus” and “His Eyes” by Steven Curtis Chapman.
Before joining the Belmont Faculty Elliott was a writer/producer for several shows on the cable television channel, TNN (The Nashville Network). He interviewed and produced stories on Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Robert Duvall, Emmylou Harris, Alan Jackson, Shania Twain, Garth Brooks, Kris Kristofferson, Garth Brooks, Vince Gill, Trisha Yearwood, Bill Monroe, Jimmy Martin, Larry Sparks, Little Jimmy Dickens, Roy Acuff, George Jones, Waylon Jennings, Faron Young, Loretta Lynn, Owen Bradley, Amy Grant, Mike Curb and others.
Elliott’s career in the music business also included stints as road manger, stage manager and merchandise manager for several artists including Michael Martin Murphy, POCO and The Joe English Band. Sparrow Records signed Elliott as a staff songwriter for their Birdwing Music division (Captiol CMG). Elliott is co-author of the book God’s Neighborhood, with Scott Roley.
Victoria BanksInstructor of SongwritingB.Sc. University of TorontoLocation: 34 Music Square East 208View BioLabeled “one of the best songwriters in the business” by Nashville’s MusicRow magazine, Victoria Banks has toured with artists from Reba to Wynonna, has released 4 self-penned, self-produced albums including 2020’s Uncovered (on which she engineered and played every instrument), has been nominated for 11 Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Awards, and was awarded 2010 CCMA Female Artist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year. In her multi-decade tenure as a songwriter on Nashville’s Music Row, Victoria has penned ASCAP, SOCAN, CCMA and Covenant-award-winning songs, cuts by over 100 artists including Carly Pearce, Lauren Alaina, Terri Clark, Cassadee Pope, Isaac Slade (of The Fray), and notable cuts including the solo-written “Saints & Angels” (Sara Evans), Jessica Simpson’s Billboard record-breaking “Come on Over”, and numerous songs by Mickey Guyton (including 2021 ACM Awards blockbuster “Hold On, and “What Are You Gonna Tell Her”, which made history as the first original song performed by a Black woman on 2020’s ACM Awards.) Screen placements include Breakthrough, Nashville, American Idol, and Dancing with The Stars. Victoria appeared on NBC’s Songland TV show, performed alongside the Nashville Ballet in a choreographed set of her songs called City of Dreams, and co-hosts the podcast The Table Women which explores the female experience in entertainment. 
Thomm JutzInstructor of SongwritingLocation: 34 Music Square East 210View BioThomm Jutz is a songwriter, producer, guitar-player and media music composer who has lived in Nashville since 2003. His solo-record “To Live In Two Worlds - Vol. 1” was nominated for a Grammy (R) in 2020. His songs have been recorded by John Prine, Nanci Griffith, Kim Richey, and by many Bluegrass artists. He has had seven number one Bluegrass hits and was nominated for the IBMA’s (International Bluegrass Music Association) “Songwriter of the Year” award in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021.
He has produced records for Bill Anderson, Nanci Griffith, Todd Snider, Otis Gibbs and a host of other roots music artists.
His work as a media music composer has resulted in over 200 TV and film placements all over the world (CNN, BBC, NBC, PBS, Al Jazeera, Disney, Discovery and many more)
Dwan HillLecturer of SongwritingM.M., Belmont University; B.M., Belmont UniversityLocation: 34 Music Square East
Jodi MarrInstructor of SongwritingB.A., University of MiamiLocation: 34 Music Square East 212View BioAward-winning songwriter and producer Jodi Marr has cultivated one of the music industry’s most unique, genre-defying and cross-cultural careers. Starting with multiple Latin-charting mega hits with artists including Ricky Martin, Alejandra Guzman, Luis Fonsi, Alih Jey and more, she soon carved her place as an artist development specialist after discovering and collaborating with the soon-to-be global superstars MIKA and PALOMA FAITH. She co-wrote and associate produced MIKA’s worldwide smash ‘Grace Kelly’ along with multiple tracks on his first 2 Platinum-selling albums. She then went on to nurture UK artist Paloma Faith’s star trajectory, co-writing and producing songs for her debut album including the hit single, ‘New York’.
Jodi continues with cuts across all genres and artists including icons Carole King and Dolly Parton as well as Kristin Chenoweth, Melanie C, Emily West, Orianthi, Liz Longley, Rita Wilson, Noah Schnacky ,and IRAWMA ( International Reggae and World Music Awards and Grammy winner Gramps Morgan, India Arie and Juno Award-winning artist Johnny Reid.
In 202O and 2021 following the tragic shooting in Nova Scotia and again at the height of the Covid Pandemic, she wrote two songs donating proceeds to charities that raced up the itunes charts , including “People Like You” for the Red Cross, ( hits for both Johnny Reid and Gramps Morgan) and “Pink” for Dolly Parton with Monica, Sara Evans,Joredin Sparks and Rita Wilson. The song “PINK” was written and recorded as an anthem for the breast cancer community in support of Susan G. Komen. The moving lyrics and vocals provide breast cancer survivors, patients, and loved ones with hope for a future when no one loses someone they love to breast cancer.
In 2021 Her songs with Gramps Morgan and Johnny Reid won several International Reggae and World Music Awards, and in July 2021 her worldwide hit “Grace Kelly” went viral on tiktok again during the ongoing “Grace Kelly Challenge” craze, already multi million views strong.
She is currently Instructor of Commercial Songwriting at Nashville’s prestigious Belmont University. She channels her diverse experience, and keen expertise into the popular weekly newsletter, ‘From Songwriter to Star’, where she shares a practical and inspiring weekly ‘how to’ guide for developing songwriters.
Drew RamseyInstructor of SongwritingB.M., The University of TennesseeLocation: 34 Music Square EastView BioDrew Ramsey grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee playing and singing rock, soul, gospel, and country music. Anywhere and any time music was being played or recorded, he put himself right in the middle. After studying Architecture and Music and graduating from the University of Tennessee, he moved to Nashville and set up shop as a writer, producer, and musician. Keeping the approach of being anywhere good music was happening, opportunities soon arose.
Since then, Drew has collaborated with, and had songs recorded by artists like India.Arie, John Legend, Heather Headley, Jonny Lang, Robert Randolph, The Temptations, Marc Broussard, Trombone Shorty, Leela James, CeCe Winans, Eric Benet, Danny Gokey and International artists such as Mivayi, Count Basic, Asa and Debi Nova.
He has received two Grammy awards and six nominations, one Dove Award, and two Emmys.
His songs have appeared in movies such as We Were Soldiers, The Game Plan, Shark Tale, Brown Sugar, and television shows such as The Voice, American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, Grey’s Anatomy, Dancing With The Stars, Brothers and Sisters, The Fosters, sports events on ESPN, NFL, NHL and more.
While still working as a writer with BMG, Drew is now a faculty member of Belmont University’s Songwriting Department, whose graduates have now received their own major record deals, publishing deals, and Dove and Grammy awards and nominations.
Pat AlgerView BioBorn in Long Island City, New York, Pat Alger was raised in his mother’s hometown, LaGrange, Georgia. In the mid 1960’s, to earn money to pay his tuition at Georgia Tech, Pat began performing in Atlanta’s acoustic music clubs – The Twelfth Gate, the Bottom of the Barrel, The Bistro & The Great Southeast Music Hall – intimate places where the music was the main attraction. “It was a great time in Atlanta to be starting a career in the music business.” Alger recalled recently.
After becoming an established performer around the southeast, Pat migrated to Woodstock, NY in 1973 - the home of Bob Dylan and the Band - and quickly became part of that legendary musical landscape, eventually recording three albums with the Woodstock Mountains Revue for Rounder Records. In 1978 Pat moved to Manhattan to concentrate on songwriting and in 1979 he formed a Duo with renowned guitarist Artie Traum, recording a well-received album of original material for Rounder Records. One of his songs from that album - “First Time Love” – was recorded by Livingston Taylor and became a top-40 pop hit in 1980 - going on to reach #13 on the AC charts. That momentum took him to the ‘Promised Land’ for songwriters - Nashville, TN.
Early on, mainstream country artists Mickey Gilley, George Hamilton IV and Dolly Parton recorded his songs as well as legendary pop artists Brenda Lee, The Everly Brothers, Peter, Paul & Mary and Livingston & James Taylor. In 1987 he had his first #1 hit with “Goin’ Gone” by Kathy Mattea. A long string of country hits followed including “Small Town Saturday Night’ for Hal Ketchum, “Like We Never Had A Broken Heart” for Trisha Yearwood & “True Love” for Don Williams. He co-wrote 4 number one songs: “The Thunder Rolls”, “Unanswered Prayers”, “What She’s Doing Now” & “That Summer” with Garth Brooks which have sold over 60 million copies.
Pat was elected Songwriter of the Year for the Nashville Songwriters Association International in 1991 & ASCAP’s Songwriter of the Year in 1992. In 2010 he was inducted into The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and in 2013 he became a member of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. He is currently the Chairman of the Nashville Songwriters Foundation and just finished his second year as a consultant in songwriting in the Belmont University Songwriting Degree program, teaching a master class in lyric writing.
This year so far / Pat had two songs on the 2017 Grammy-winning Bluegrass album “Coming Home” by The Mark O’Connor Family Band – as well as three songs, including the title cut, of legendary singer/songwriter Tom Paxton’s latest CD project: “Boat In the Water”. In February, Pat shared the stage in Las Vegas with superstar Garth Brooks and continues to perform all over the country including most recently in New York City and New Orleans.
Career Highlights
3 solo albums - True Love and Other Short Stories & Seeds on Sugar Hill Records plus Notes and Grace Notes on Liberty (Capitol) Records.
26 ASCAP performance awards as a writer / publisher.
1984-1992 - Chosen as the opening act for The Everly Brothers World Tour – their first since their breakup in the seventies. Thet record his song Takin’ My Time on their reunion album: EB-84.
1991 - Songwriter of the Year for Nashville Songwriters Association International; Music Row magazine Songwriter of the Year & Cashbox magazine Songwriter of the Year
1991 - Song of the Year - Small Town Saturday Night –Radio & Records Magazine; Song of the Year – The Thunder Rolls – The Gavin Report
1991 & 1992 - Country Music Association Triple Play Award for 3 #1 records in a single year
1992 - The Thunder Rolls – American Music Awards Favorite Country Single
1992 - ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year
1992 - National Jukebox Association ASCAP Songwriter of the Year (with Garth Brooks)
1993 - Pat’s album Seeds nominated for best Folk Album at Nashville Music Awards
1998 - President’s Choice Award – Nashville Songwriters Association International
1999 - Co-wrote and produced with legendary songwriter Harlan Howard Hockey Tonk, the theme song for the inaugural seasons of the Nashville Predators hockey team
2001 - Produced and performed on A Songwriter’s Tribute to Garth Brooks for VFR Records - one of the biggest selling independent records of that year
2004 - Produced and performed on A Songwriter’s Tribute to George Strait for Compadre Records.
2005 - Unanswered Prayers voted # 6 in Country Music Television’s top 100 Love Songs contest and the song was made into a Lifetime Network TV movie.
2010 - Nashville Songwriter’s Hall of Fame Inductee
2013 - Chairman Nashville Songwriters Foundation
2013 - President Nashville chapter of SAG-AFTRA
2013 - Georgia Music Hall of Fame Inductee
2016 – Billboard critics pick What She’s Doing Now as #1 Garth Brooks song & The Thunder Rolls #8
2017 - The Thunder Rolls recorded by heavy metal band “All That Remains” and becomes first country song to hit the top of the hard rock and metal digital chart in Billboard, iTunes and Amazon.com
Chris DuboisView BioChris DuBois began his career in the music industry in October of 1993 as the Director of Membership for ASCAP Nashville. He left ASCAP in March of 1999 to form the independent publishing company Sea Gayle Music. Since that time, Sea Gayle has become one of the most successful independent publishers in Nashville, winning ASCAP Country Publisher of the Year in both 2010 and 2011.
Chris began serving as Brad Paisley’s Executive Producer in 2005 on the album Time Well Wasted which won ACM and CMA awards for Album of the Year. Chris also produced tracks on Chris Janson’s breakout debut album Buy Me A Boat, as well as his second album Everybody.
As a songwriter, Chris has celebrated 25 top ten singles including 17 songs that made it all the way to #1. Chris recently received his second CMA Triple Play Award, an award given to songwriters who have penned three #1 songs within a twelve month period. Chris has been named songwriter of the year by both ASCAP (2004) and NSAI (2010 and 2011).
Chris has served on the Board of Directors for the ACM and NSAI. He is currently serving on the CMA Board of Directors.
SONGWRITER DISCOGRAPHY
1999 - “Who Needs Pictures” - Brad Paisley - #10
2000 - “Me Neither” - Brad Paisley - #16
2000 - “We Danced” - Brad Paisley - #1
2002 - “Wrapped Around” - Brad Paisley - #2
2003 - “19 Somethin’” - Mark Wills - #1
2003 - “I Wish You’d Stay” - Brad Paisley - #7
2004 - “I Love You This Much” - Jimmy Wayne - #6
2004 - “Little Moments” - Brad Paisley - #2
2005 - “Mud On The Tires” - Brad Paisley - #1
2006 - “Your Man” - Josh Turner - #1
2007 - “Online” - Brad Paisley - #1
2007 - “The More I Drink” - Blake Shelton - #19
2009 - “It Won’t Be Like This For Long” - Darius Rucker - #1
2009 - “Then” - Brad Paisley - #1
2009 - “Welcome To The Future” - Brad Paisley - #1
2010 - “This Ain’t Nothin’” - Craig Morgan - #13
2010 - “Water” - Brad Paisley - #1
2010 - “Anything Like Me” - Brad Paisley - #1
2011 - “This Is Country Music” - Brad Paisley - #2
2011 - “Old Alabama” - Brad Paisley featuring Alabama - #1
2011 - “Remind Me” - Brad Paisley duet with Carrie Underwood - #1
2012 - “Camouflage” - Brad Paisley - #14
2012 - “Southern Comfort Zone” - Brad Paisley - #1
2013 - “Beat This Summer” - Brad Paisley - #1
2013 - “Easy” – Shery Crow - #17
2013 - “The Mona Lisa” - Brad Paisley - #18
2015 - “Buy Me A Boat” - Chris Janson - #1
2016 - “Country Nation” - Brad Paisley - #10
2017 - “Today” - Brad Paisley - #1
2017 - “Last Time For Everything” - Brad Paisley - #17
2017 - “Fix A Drink” - Chris Janson - #1
Liz HengberView BioFrom her recent single “Damn Drunk” with Ronnie Dunn to her classic Reba McEntire songs, Liz Hengber has been writing hits in Nashville for over 20 years. She has earned 6 #1’s and had over 65 songs recorded by Artists in Country, Pop and Bluegrass.
In her days writing for Starstruck Writers Group she penned songs for Reba McEntire that are now standards in Country music. “And Still,” “Forever Love”, “Its Your Call,” and “For My Broken Heart” all reached number one, re-appearing on Reba’s Greatest Hits CDs and Box sets.
A recipient of 7 ASCAP Awards, Liz has also won song of the year in the Canadian Gospel Awards for her song “A Fathers Love,” recorded by both High Valley and Bucky Covington. In 2016 she received a Grammy Certificate for her two songs “Long Way Down,” and “The River Runs Red,” that appeared on The SteelDrivers “Muscle Shoals Recordings.”
This year, Liz was also blessed to have a song recorded by country legend, Sara Evans. The New CD entitled “Words,” is an album dominated by Nashville’s best female writers. “To be among these 14 talented female writers is a complete honor.” Some of the many artists that have recorded Liz Hengber songs include Reba McEntire, Ronnie Dunn, Kix Brooks, Easton Corbin, James Otto, Vince Gill, Trace Adkins, Trisha Yearwood, Bucky Covington, Peter Cetera, Susie Boguss, Julie Roberts, Trick Pony, Lila McCAnn, Linda Davis, Stevenson Evertt, Andy Griggs, Lee Greenwood, Lisa Brokop, Tent Willmon, The Steel DRIVERS, South 65, Clay Davidson, Little Texas, Deana Carter, The Isaacs and Conway Twitty.
Cindy MorganView BioTwo-time GRAMMY® nominee Cindy Morgan has garnered 13 Dove Awards, including the prestigious Songwriter of the Year trophy. With 21 #1 radio hits to her credit in addition to her own iconic discography, she has penned songs for such artists as India Arie, Rascal Flatts, Vince Gill, Amy Grant, David Archuletta, Kris Allen, Gabe Dixon, Glen Campbell, Natalie Grant, Mandisa and many others.
As half of the acclaimed pop duo St. Lola in the Fields, her songs have been featured in One Tree Hill, Drop Dead Diva and Santa Baby, with many other syncs in both film and television.
Cindy has a song in the new Alec Baldwin film called BLIND, featuring iconic actor Robert Redford singing "Bird in a Cage," in his debut on-screen vocal performance.
Gabe SimonView BioNow part of the thriving Pop and Alternative wave in Nashville, Gabe Simon began his career writing for and fronting the critically acclaimed indie-rock band Kopecky (f.k.a. Kopecky Family Band). Simon is currently releasing music under his alter ego Mr Gabriel, which includes work with Jai Wolf, Mark Pontius of Foster the People, NGHTMRE and other collaborations.
With a background in Rock, Pop, Alternative, Soul and RnB, Simon has written and produced for artist in Nashville, Miami and Los Angeles such as: Dua Lipa, Jai Wolf, Cherub, Vinyl Theatre, Tamia, Coin, Adam Lambert, Axel Muniz, Luis Figueroia, NGHTMRE, American Authors, Morgxn, The Shadowboxers, Mat Kearney, and Striking Matches.
Judy StakeeView BioJudy Stakee is leading the new age of music. An author, speaker and advisor, Judy encourages artists and songwriters to define their perspective and share a powerful creative message.
With over 30 years of experience as an executive in the music industry, Judy advises creative minds at speaking engagements and conferences around the world. Her innovative methodology, shaped by experience as Senior VP of Creative at Warner Chappell Music for 20 years, is being adapted into the music curriculums of renowned music institutions in the US and beyond.
Judy has an eye for talent. She is responsible for signing, coaching, and inspiring many of today’s most acclaimed award-winning artists, including Grammy-award winner Sheryl Crow, Katy Perry, Joy Williams, and For King & Country. Since founding The Judy Stakee Company, she has been developing new talent including Raelynn (WB Records Nashville), authored The Indie Excellence Book Award for Music 2015; The Songwriter’s Survival Guide, produces the songwriter interview series Door To Door and is an Adjunct Professor at Belmont Music College, Nashville, Tennessee.
She has also created and inspired songwriting workshops worldwide, named appropriately “It All Starts With A Song” where she takes the writer through a process that helps build their own creative process to develop themselves and their songs.
In May of 2017, Judy gave a Tedx Talk in Paris, France. One of eleven speakers on the subject of One Life, Judy delivered a passionate speech on the benefits of teaching children at an early age the skill of songwriting.
- James I. ElliottChair, Songwriting Program, Assistant Professor of SongwritingB.A., John Wesley College; M.A., Austin Peay State UniversityLocation: 34 Music Square East 214View Bio
- Victoria BanksInstructor of SongwritingB.Sc. University of TorontoLocation: 34 Music Square East 208View Bio
- Thomm JutzInstructor of SongwritingLocation: 34 Music Square East 210View Bio
- Dwan HillLecturer of SongwritingM.M., Belmont University; B.M., Belmont UniversityLocation: 34 Music Square East
- Jodi MarrInstructor of SongwritingB.A., University of MiamiLocation: 34 Music Square East 212View Bio
- Drew RamseyInstructor of SongwritingB.M., The University of TennesseeLocation: 34 Music Square EastView Bio
- Pat AlgerView Bio
- Liz HengberView Bio
- Cindy MorganView Bio
- Gabe SimonView Bio
- Judy StakeeView Bio