RISON - Thom Sheppard and Coley McCabe, the dynamic duo known as Thom and Coley, are gearing up for a performance at 35th annual Rison in the Fall Festival.
The couple will be bringing their unique blend of country, folk, and 'Beach Country' music to the stage, Saturday, Oct. 18. In this week's episode of the Free Range Conversations podcast, the pair discussed their journey, from their separate paths to Nashville to their shared life as a musical and married couple, and their deep connection to the songwriting community and the Trop Rock world.
The episode, hosted by Festival Director Douglas Boultinghouse, Herald Publisher Britt Talent, and guest host Rison Mayor Charles Roberts, is streaming now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ClevelandCountyHerald. com Both Thom and Coley found their way to Nashville in the 1990s to pursue their musical dreams. In fact, Coley mentioned her path crossed at this time in Nashville with friend and headliner of this year's festival, Sunny Sweeney.
Thom, originally from St. Louis, Missouri, moved to Virginia in high school before heading to Nashville in 1993 after college. He quickly secured a songwriting gig at a publishing company. Coley, hailing from West Virginia, moved to Nashville in 1996. She had her sights set on a record deal and touring, but like Tom, she first found success as a songwriter, eventually getting signed to RCA Records.
The two met when their publishing companies were in the same building. 'In the music business, Nashville is a really small town,' Coley explained. They began playing music together about a year after they got together in 2011, and haven't stopped since. Coley humorously recalled how they met, 'After he stalked me for a couple of years... Just kidding.'
Boultinghouse noted that the couple would be celebrating their tenth anniversary around the (continued from page 1) time of the festival, a milestone Coley recalled with an amusing story about their last anniversary. 'Last year, you know, it's always the guy that forgets the date, right?' she said, recounting how Tom surprised her with champagne on stage during a festival show. "He was like, 'Happy anniversary, babe,' to this whole big crowd. And I was like, oh my God, I forgot.'
Thom's songwriting career has been particularly prolific, earning him five number-one hits. His first was 'Riding with Private Malone' recorded by David Ball. He also wrote 'Redneck Yacht Club' for Craig Morgan, and had three Texas number ones with Kevin Fowler, Josh Abbott, and Kyle Park. Tom and Coley believe that 'songs want to be written and they won't leave you alone until you write them,' and Thom estimates he has written around 1,500 songs.
Their musical journey also led them unexpectedly into the 'parrot head world' or 'Beach Country' scene, which is dedicated to the music of Jimmy Buffett and other beach-themed artists. They initially stumbled into the genre after Thom was booked for a festival in New Orleans, only to discover it was a beach music event. He realized that the fans of this genre 'just love songwriters,' and he felt like he and Coley 'fit, like a hand in a glove.' This connection has become a significant part of their career, leading to close friendships and their own successful festival, the Lone Star Luau, which has won 'Festival of the Year' twice.
During the podcast, the duo also reflected on the differences between the Nashville and Austin music scenes, having lived and worked in both cities. Thom explained that Nashville is where the 'business happens,' where artists can get paid to be full-time songwriters. Coley added that Texas's Red Dirt music is generally 'a little more raw' and has a different vibe from the typical Nashville sound. They both praised the live music culture in Texas, noting that kids are raised to go listen to live music, a practice that is 'ingrained in the culture.
A significant influence on their music, particularly their 'Beach Country' sound, is Jerry Jeff Walker. Thom and Coley credit him as a "gypsy song man' and a key figure in the genre. Thom shared a story, passed down from Walker's son Django, that if it 'wasn't for Jerry Jeff, Jimmy Buffett would have never gone to Key West.' According to the story, Walker invited Buffett to join him on a trip to Key West, which became the turning point for Buffett's career and music.
Coley's career also includes a memorable experience with country legend Loretta Lynn. Growing up, Coley never imagined she would get to work with a star of that caliber. She recalled her publisher calling to tell her that Loretta Lynn was going to record one of her songs, a revelation she initially thought was a joke. The experience became a career highlight, especially when she later met Loretta at an awards show. 'I said the title [of the song], and she just started singing the chorus to me,' Coley said, describing the moment as 'so unreal.'
The conversation concluded with a discussion of their upcoming performance and the county's connection to Johnny Cash. The festival is in the same county as Cash's birthplace, a fact that resonated with Coley since she wrote a song, 'This Ain't the '60s,' which references Johnny Cash and June Carter. She said she would 'love to see some of those [historical] things while we're there' and that they would have to play the song during their set.
They also shared that fans can expect to feel all the emotions during their set, from laughter to crying.