Loretta Lynn, Bobby Gentry, Kris Kristofferson, Dolly Parton, Tom Petty ... just to name a few.
Sounds Like
Matraca Berg. Here's just a small sample of some of the songs she has written that others have recorded: "We Danced Anyway" and "Strawberry Wine" for Deana Carter, "Still Holdin' On" for Clint Black with Martina McBride, "If I Fall (You're Going Down With Me)" for the Dixie Chicks, "You Are the Storm" for Dusty Springfield, "You Give Me Love" and "You're Still Here" for Faith Hill, "I Don't Feel Like Loving You Today" for Gretchen Wilson, "The Killing Stone" for Hootie & The Blowfish, "Nobody Drinks Alone" for Keith Urban, "Baby Walk On" for Linda Ronstadt, "Baby's Blue Eyes" for Marie Osmond, "Working Girl" for both Terri Clark and Loretta Lynn, "Cry on the Shoulder of the Road" and "Wild Angels" for Martina McBride, "The Last One to Know" for Reba McEntire, "Calico Plains" for Pam Tillis, "I'm That Kind of Girl", "On Your Way Home", "You Can Feel Bad" for Patty Loveless, "Hey Cinderella" , "Give Me Some Wheels" , "Somebody to Love" for Suzy Bogguss, "Everybody Knows", "Lying to the Moon", "Wrong Side of Memphis" and "XXX's and OOO's (An American Girl)" for Trisha Yearwood.
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“Now I want to make something that is absolutely, without a doubt, me. And I think I do know exactly what I want to sound like.”
These words from Matraca Berg a few years ago suggested that something special was on the horizon. Matraca’s fans have been waiting to hear something new from this silken-voiced poet and singer and the wait is nearly over. Matraca is now in the studio working to create her album. The process is exciting and frightening, as she’s never exposed her artistic self quite so fully.
Matraca Berg had her first No. 1 record as a songwriter at age 18. That, in turn, has qualified her to become one of the youngest Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame nominees in history: To be eligible, a writer must have first achieved prominence at least 25 years ago.
That first hit was “Faking Love,” as sung by T.G. Sheppard and Karen Brooks. In the years since, Berg’s songs have practically become the soundtrack of contemporary Nashville. Reba McEntire’s “The Last One to Know” (1987), Patty Loveless’ “I’m That Kind of Girl”(1991), Trisha Yearwood’s “Wrong Side of Memphis” (1992), Martina McBride’s “Wild Angels “(1996), the Dixie Chicks’ “If I Fall You’re Going Down With Me” (2001) and more than 50 other recordings of her songs have made her one of the most recorded composers in Music City.
Matraca’s songs have been sung by Randy Travis, Faith Hill, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Linda Ronstadt, Tanya Tucker, Pam Tillis, Keith Urban, Dusty Springfield, Clint Black, Loretta Lynn and dozens of others. Her cowritten “Strawberry Wine,” as performed by Deana Carter, was named the Country Music Association’s Song of the Year in 1997. As if to top it all off, Gretchen Wilson’s recording of Matraca’s and Jim Collins' “I Don’t Feel Like Loving You Today” received a 2007 Grammy nomination for Best Country Song.
In addition, the songwriter issued three CDs in 1990-97, plus a 1999 compilation, that have brought her wide acclaim as a performer. She and fellow Nashville songwriter Marshall Chapman provided the songs for the 2000 theatrical production Good Ol’ Girls, which continues to be staged by regional repertory companies. As a backup vocalist she has recorded with Kris Kristofferson, Neil Young and many others. She appeared in the 1987 motion picture Made In Heaven and on the soundtrack of 1993’s The Thing Called Love. And in 2004, she added “producer” to her list of accomplishments by guiding the disc debut of Sony newcomer Christy Sutherland.
“Making records has done more for my career than anything, I think,” says Matraca. “It raised my profile as a writer like nothing else. It was because of my records that Trisha and Martina and Faith and everyone recorded my songs. But none of my records was exactly like I wanted them to be.”
The time has come for Matraca Berg to make the record she’s always wanted to make. That’s a good thing for her, a good thing for her fans, and a good thing for music.
Love all your music - you are a true songwriter - any chance there is a copy of the unreleased "bittersweet surrender" cd floating about the Nashville area?
Thanks to all the Vern Gosdin fans for their votes. Let's get The Voice into the Country Music Hall of Fame a.s.a.p. Tell a friend to stop by and vote. God Bless
Ms. Berg, honored to be myspace friends..and better a friend of Tim Krekel's...look forward to shaking your hand....keep making peace...there is much for you...chris
Wanted to drop by and offer well wishes in this warm summer, Matraca. Topic of Mr. Bojangles came up in a forum and I wrote something about Jeff and the band. Immediately thought of you. Best to all. Be Well.
Hi!:-) Thanks for the add, Matraca !:-) I was listening to your songs. Great material, and your beautiful voice!!!:-) Keep up your good work!:-) all the best; JT Wright
We really enjoyed your interview today at the Hall of Fame. It's amazing that someone so talented still gets nervous when you perform. You're the best!
Have an awesoome Day!...Spread Love and cheer all over the world...embrace those who need it...touch those who reach out to you...tell someone you Luv them...especially the children of the world!...much Luv to you... Peace Frontline
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