Lee Black, Songwriter

Lee Black writes songs. 

Occasionally an artist will call him and say, "Hey, I like this one. I'm going to record it." And that makes him very happy. 

But he's learning to live with the fact that most of his songs will live out a humble lyric existence in coffee-stained legal pads forever frozen in handwriting that would earn a fourth grader a C+ in penmanship. Their aural counterparts have taken up residence in the voice memo section of his phone, eating up so many bytes that he can't download all of Billy Joel's "The Stranger" album. "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant" or a song nobody will ever hear? The musical equivalent of Sophie's Choice.  

Lee can't believe that sweet Melissa, angel of his lifetime, is still on board with this whole "music thang" after 34 years of marriage. But she is, in fact, the one saying, "Write a hit!" (Read “Write me a pool!”) when he walks out the door to a writing appointment, his biggest cheerleader when a song actually gets cut, and his "soft place to land" when the holds are dropped. Combine all that with the fact that she's an incredible mom to their four amazing children and devoted Sassy to their eight perfect grandchildren, and Lee, aka Bebop to the grands, realizes he got the better end of the deal. 

When he's not writing songs, Lee is probably making the best quesadilla you've ever eaten, watching Alabama football, dreaming of writing the next great Southern gothic novel, or writing bios about himself in third person. 

GINA BOE, SONGWRITER, AUTHOR

Gina Boe is a writer of songs, books, and blogs. A Dove Award winning songwriter with multiple #1 songs in a variety of genres, her passion

is to do creative work that inspires and equips others to do their creative work. As the Executive Director of The Nebraska Communities Playhouse, Gina mentors artists of all ages, providing opportunities to create, learn, and appreciate the arts. Her most recent book, Hope Deserves an Anthem, chronicles how she has faced life’s toughest seasons, including her recent battle with breast cancer, armed with a pen and a piano. Gina is a wife to Perry, a mom to four adult kiddos, and Gigi to three grandchildren.

DAVE CLARK, SONGWRITER, PUBLISHER, PODCASTER

Dave Clark is a highly acclaimed Christian songwriter with more than 28 No. 1 songs across five consecutive decades. He is known for works recorded by artists such as Larnelle Harris, Sandi Patty, 4HIM, Phillips, Craig & Dean, Rascal Flatts, Glen Campbell, and CeCe Winans.

Dave s a veteran Christian songwriter, publisher, and producer whose career spans over 40 years in Nashville. He began writing professionally as a teenager and became one of the most influential lyricists in contemporary Christian music and Southern Gospel. 

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His No. 1 songs, include“The Father Hath Provided,” “Mercy Came Running,” and “Crucified With Christ.” 

A Dove Award winner, he received the ASCAP Living Legacy Award in 2009 for 25 No. 1 songs. 

Dave is Creative Director for Lillenas Publishing, contributing to Christian music development and production.  He is also the producer of multiple projects, including Grammy-nominated recordings for J.D. Sumner & The Stamps Quartet, and he is the author of more than 50 Christmas and Easter musicals performed nationwide.

JoeDan Cornett

Joe Dan Cornett is a Nashville native and music publisher who serves as Creative Director at North Chapel Music, where he works with songwriters in the country music community. With more than a decade of publishing experience, Joe Dan has been involved in more than 600 recorded songs across country, bluegrass, Americana, worship/CCM and Southern Gospel. He is passionate about helping songwriters grow in their craft, find their voice, and connect their songs with the right opportunities.