Brett Beavers
Encyclopedia
Brett Beavers, born in Waco, Texas
, is an American country music
songwriter
and producer
and the co-author of the book Something Worth Leaving Behind.
where he earned a bachelor of science degree in secondary education in 1985. He spent the next four years playing bass guitar
with a small country band throughout Central Texas
, honing his skill as a songwriter. After a year away from the music business, when he married and taught high school science in Tyler, Texas
, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee
to join a band with Deryl Dodd
. Shortly after arriving in Nashville, Beavers began touring with Martina McBride
as bass player and bandleader, from 1992–1996, and then with Lee Ann Womack
from 1997–2005 in the same capacity. During this time period he started a publishing company and began getting his songs recorded by such artists as Tim McGraw
and Billy Ray Cyrus
. In 2005, he stopped performing and touring to pursue songwriting and producing on a full time basis.
Beavers' brother, Jim Beavers
, is also a Nashville songwriter.
, for whom he produces and writes most of his songs, a collaboration that began in 2001. The partnership has produced several number one Hot Country Songs
, including "Sideways", "Come a Little Closer
", "Feel That Fire
", and "Every Mile a Memory
". In addition to chart-topping success, the pairing has led to a SOCAN and NSAI
Achievement Award for "What Was I Thinkin'
", a BMI Award Most Performed Song for "Trying to Stop Your Leaving
", and Grammy Award
nominations for Best Country Song, "Long Trip Alone
" and Country Song of the Year, "Every Mile a Memory
". The songs that he has written and produced for Bentley have also led to Beavers being honored at the BMI
Country Awards every year from 2006–2009.
, Beavers wrote the inspirational
book Something Worth Leaving Behind, based on the song of the same name that they co-wrote for Lee Ann Womack.
Waco, Texas
Waco is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas. Situated along the Brazos River and on the I-35 corridor, halfway between Dallas and Austin, it is the economic, cultural, and academic center of the 'Heart of Texas' region....
, is an American country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and the co-author of the book Something Worth Leaving Behind.
Background
Beavers attended Baylor UniversityBaylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
where he earned a bachelor of science degree in secondary education in 1985. He spent the next four years playing bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
with a small country band throughout Central Texas
Central Texas
Central Texas , is a region in the U.S. state of Texas. It is roughly bordered by San Marcos to Fredericksburg to Waco, and to Brenham, and includes the Austin–Round Rock, Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood, Bryan-College Station, and Waco metropolitan areas...
, honing his skill as a songwriter. After a year away from the music business, when he married and taught high school science in Tyler, Texas
Tyler, Texas
Tyler is a city in and the county seat of Smith County, Texas, in the United States. It takes its name from President John Tyler . The city had a population of 109,000 in 2010, according to the United States Census Bureau...
, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
to join a band with Deryl Dodd
Deryl Dodd
Deryl Dwaine Dodd is an American Texas Country artist. Originally a regular on the Texas club circuit, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee, soon finding work as a background vocalist and songwriter...
. Shortly after arriving in Nashville, Beavers began touring with Martina McBride
Martina McBride
Martina McBride is an American country music singer and songwriter. McBride has been called the "Céline Dion of Country Music" for her big-voiced ballads and soprano range....
as bass player and bandleader, from 1992–1996, and then with Lee Ann Womack
Lee Ann Womack
Lee Ann Womack is an American country music singer and songwriter, who is best known for her old fashioned-styled country music songs that often discuss subjects such as cheating and lost love....
from 1997–2005 in the same capacity. During this time period he started a publishing company and began getting his songs recorded by such artists as Tim McGraw
Tim McGraw
Samuel Timothy "Tim" McGraw is an American country singer and actor. Many of McGraw's albums and singles have topped the country music charts with total album sales in excess of 40 million units in the US, making him the eighth best-selling artist, and the third best-selling country singer, in the...
and Billy Ray Cyrus
Billy Ray Cyrus
William "Billy" Ray Cyrus is an American country music singer, songwriter, actor and philanthropist, who helped make country music a worldwide phenomenon...
. In 2005, he stopped performing and touring to pursue songwriting and producing on a full time basis.
Beavers' brother, Jim Beavers
Jim Beavers
-Life and career:Jim Beavers grew up in Texas. His educational background includes a BBA from Baylor University and an MBA from Vanderbilt University. Beavers moved to Nashville, TN in 1991 to pursue a career on the business side of music...
, is also a Nashville songwriter.
With Dierks Bentley
Much of Beaver's success has been with Dierks BentleyDierks Bentley
Dierks Bentley is an American country music artist who has been signed to Capitol Records Nashville since 2003. That year, he released his self-titled debut album. Both it and its follow-up, 2005's Modern Day Drifter, are certified platinum in the United States. A third album, 2006's Long Trip...
, for whom he produces and writes most of his songs, a collaboration that began in 2001. The partnership has produced several number one Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
, including "Sideways", "Come a Little Closer
Come a Little Closer
"Come a Little Closer" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Dierks Bentley.It was released in July 2005 as the second single from his album Modern Day Drifter. It went to number one on the U.S. Country chart in 2005. The song held that position for the...
", "Feel That Fire
Feel That Fire (song)
"Feel That Fire" is a single co-written and recorded by American country music singer Dierks Bentley. Bentley co-wrote the song along with Brad and Brett Warren and his producer, Brett Beavers. It is the lead-off single and title track to his fourth studio album, Feel That Fire, which was released...
", and "Every Mile a Memory
Every Mile a Memory
"Every Mile a Memory" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country artist Dierks Bentley. It was released in July 2006 and served as the lead-off single to his third studio album, Long Trip Alone. It became Bentley's fourth Number One hit in November 2006...
". In addition to chart-topping success, the pairing has led to a SOCAN and NSAI
Nashville Songwriters Association International
The Nashville Songwriters Association International is a 501 not-for-profit trade organization that works to help songwriters in three ways: through legislative advocacy, through education and advice about the actual craft of songwriting, and through teaching about the music industry, and how to...
Achievement Award for "What Was I Thinkin'
What Was I Thinkin'
"What Was I Thinkin" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Dierks Bentley. Released in April 2003 as the first single from his self-titled debut album, the song became his first Number One hit on the U.S...
", a BMI Award Most Performed Song for "Trying to Stop Your Leaving
Trying to Stop Your Leaving
"Trying to Stop Your Leaving" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country artist Dierks Bentley. It was released in January 2008 as the fourth single from his album, Long Trip Alone. It peaked at number 5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and at number 73 on the U.S...
", and Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
nominations for Best Country Song, "Long Trip Alone
Long Trip Alone
Long Trip Alone is the third studio album of country music singer Dierks Bentley. It was released October 17, 2006 . His third album for Capitol Records Nashville, it has produced four singles to date on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts: "Every Mile a Memory", the title track, "Free and Easy...
" and Country Song of the Year, "Every Mile a Memory
Every Mile a Memory
"Every Mile a Memory" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country artist Dierks Bentley. It was released in July 2006 and served as the lead-off single to his third studio album, Long Trip Alone. It became Bentley's fourth Number One hit in November 2006...
". The songs that he has written and produced for Bentley have also led to Beavers being honored at the BMI
Broadcast Music Incorporated
Broadcast Music, Inc. is one of three United States performing rights organizations, along with ASCAP and SESAC. It collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed...
Country Awards every year from 2006–2009.
Author
Along with Tom DouglasTom Douglas (songwriter)
Thomas Stevenson "Tom" Douglas is an American country music songwriter. Active since the early 1990s, he has written Top Ten hits for John Michael Montgomery, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw, Collin Raye and others....
, Beavers wrote the inspirational
Inspirational fiction
Inspirational fiction is a term that refers to a sub-category within "inspirational literature," or "inspirational writing," used in various ways in the United States and other nations...
book Something Worth Leaving Behind, based on the song of the same name that they co-wrote for Lee Ann Womack.