Academy Member: Thom Shepherd

CMA of Texas Songwriter of the Year Thom Shepherd is an Austin, Texas-based touring artist who spent many years as a songwriter in Nashville. He performs constantly as a solo acoustic storyteller and as a duo with his artist/wife Coley McCabe.

Thom, and his Radio Margaritaville hit “Always Saturday Night,” are featured in “The Parrot Heads Documentary,” along with the legendary Jimmy Buffett.

Thom is the writer of five #1 singles for other artists – “Redneck Yacht Club,” recorded by Craig Morgan, “Riding with Private Malone” recorded by David Ball, Kyle Park’s “The Night Is Young,” Josh Abbott and Pat Green’s single, “My Texas,” and Kevin Fowler’s “Beer Season.”
In total Thom has had over 10 singles and over 100 songs recorded by artists including Easton Corbin, Pam Tillis, John Anderson, Lorrie Morgan, Colt Ford, Bucky Covington, George Jones, Trailer Choir, Montgomery Gentry, Buddy Jewell, and Cledus T. Judd.

After years of living in Nashville, Thom relocated to Texas in 2011 to pursue a full time touring career. “I’ve always written songs so that I could perform them live on stage,” he says. “It’s always exciting when someone else records one of my songs, but there is no greater feeling than connecting with an audience.“

His music has taken him on 9 tours performing for our military in 17 different countries. “As songwriters, we have no idea how our songs are going to affect people,” says Thom, “I met a soldier in Qatar who was on leave from Baghdad, and he told me he joined the military because of Private Malone. He asked me how that made me felt and I said Responsible! Then when we went to get our picture taken, he showed me the shattered LCD screen of his digital camera – shattered because it was in his shirt pocket behind his flack jacket when he took a round from an AK47. That camera saved his life. That is powerful stuff.”

He was born in St. Louis, Missouri and spent his high school years in Stephens City, Virginia. He graduated from George Mason University and one week later moved to Nashville. He has written for 5 different music publishers over the years and is constantly on the road performing. He is a two time cancer survivor, a father of two, and co-owner of RedneckYachtClub.com.

Find out more at http://thomshepherd.com/