"I still believe strongly that music can impact people’s lives in many ways. Sometimes all it needs to do is make you sing and dance and laugh and love, sometimes it can make you think, sometimes offer solace in hard times. I feel music is most impactful when listened to with the heart as well as the ears."

Gary Nicholson: Hope, Music, Love & Unite

Gary Nicholson is a Hall of Fame songwriter and Grammy winner with credits in multiple genres including country (Willie Nelson), blues (BB King), pop (Ringo Starr), rock (Fleetwood Mac), folk (John Prine), bluegrass (Del McCoury), Americana (Guy Clark) with over 700 recordings of his works, often in collaboration with the most iconic musical artists of our time. His songs have been featured in film as well, notably Jeff Bridges Oscar-winning performance of “Falling and Flying” in “Crazy Heart." After a lifetime of contribution to American culture though music making, he has focused on addressing the current polarity in politics with the release of “Common Sense” (2024), a twelve-song collection that speaks to the divisions our country now faces with hope and humor. After coming of age through the turbulent sixties and experiencing the healing power of music to unite, Nicholson aspires to serve as well as entertain.

(Photo: Gary Nicholson / Photo by Stacie Huckeba)

"Common Sense" co-produced by Kevin McKendree at his Rock House studio in Franklin, Tennessee. The musicians include the all star players that usually accompany Gary live, as well as special guests. The songs are a commentary on the current divisions in our culture with hope for healing through the power of music. Gary says: "I produced five records with my close friend Delbert McClinton. Kevin McKendree was the keyboardist on four of them, two of those won Grammys. Kevin is always my first choice. He’s never played anything I don’t immediately resonate with. In the making of my current record “Common Sense,” I had the opportunity to experience his abilities as a producer and engineer, and am very proud of the results. We always come to the same conclusions."

Interview by Michael Limnios

How has the music influenced your views of the world? What moment changed your music life the most?

My worldview has been impacted mostly by the music, I grew up playing in the late sixties and early seventies, many times the music with messages of hope and change. Music has been my life from my early teens, so I can’t offer a specific moment of change, it’s ongoing.

How do you describe your music philosophy and songbook? Where does your creative drive come from? Is there a message you are trying to convey with your songs/music?

My creative drive comes from recognizing the intuitional messages that life offers me and applying myself expression. The ultimate message is LOVE!

Currently you’ve one release with Kevin McKendree. How did that relationship come about? Do you have any interesting stories about the making of the new album “Common Sense”?

I produced five records with my close friend Delbert McClinton. Kevin McKendree was the keyboardist on four of them, two of those won Grammys. Kevin is always my first choice. He’s never played anything I don’t immediately resonate with. In the making of my current record “Common Sense,” I had the opportunity to experience his abilities as a producer and engineer, and am very proud of the results. We always come to the same conclusions.

"My worldview has been impacted mostly by the music, I grew up playing in the late sixties and early seventies, many times the music with messages of hope and change. Music has been my life from my early teens, so I can’t offer a specific moment of change, it’s ongoing."  (Gary Nicholson, a Hall of Fame songwriter and Grammy winner with credits in multiple genres including country, blues, pop, rock, folk, bluegrass, and Americana with over 700 recordings of his works / Photo by Stacie Huckeba)

What´s been the highlights in your life and career so far? Life is more than just music, is there any other field that has influence on your life and music?

My life has been full of highlights, from writing number one country hits to having my songs recorded by the very artists that shaped my development from BB King to Ringo Starr, from George Jones to Fleetwood Mac, from collaborating with John Prine and Guy Clark to performing my song “Choose Love” in Bethlehem of Christmas Eve.

What do you miss most nowadays from the music of the past?

What I miss most in today’s music is the quality of songs, I long to hear something that truly moves and inspires me. I’m sure there are songs out in the world that I’m not aware of that I would love, and I should probably try harder to seek them out, but at this point in my life I am more interested in making the music I want to hear.

What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

I am hopeful that artists of the future will evolve beyond the current influences, but I don’t make room for fear.

If you could change one thing in the musical world and it would become a reality, what would that be?

The one thing I would change in the musical world would be for better lyrical content, I am especially disappointed by the state of current popular music that is labelled “country” that has no relation to the country music that inspired me. I’m sure it comes down to that old adage, “two kinds of music, good and bad”.

What is the impact of music on the socio-cultural implications? How do you want the music to affect people?                            (Photo: Gary Nicholson as Whitey Johnson)

I still believe strongly that music can impact people’s lives in many ways.

Sometimes all it needs to do is make you sing and dance and laugh and love, sometimes it can make you think, sometimes offer solace in hard times. I feel music is most impactful when listened to with the heart as well as the ears.

"What I miss most in today’s music is the quality of songs, I long to hear something that truly moves and inspires me. I’m sure there are songs out in the world that I’m not aware of that I would love, and I should probably try harder to seek them out, but at this point in my life I am more interested in making the music I want to hear."

What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in the music paths?

The lesson I have learned from a life in music is that we are all the same and we are all different, and if someone finds joy in music, I don’t relate to I have no business judging them, it’s all subjective, and the joy is what matters.

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