Singer honors 'Atticus' at Paws for a Cause

Country music pro Wyatt Easterling became aware of the Middle Tennessee Spay & Neuter Clinic after friend Nikki Mitchell of Waylon Jennings Music adopted one of the dogs, the victim of a recent cruelty case, from Bedford County Animal Control. Now named Abilene, the dog and Easterling are fast friends and Abby spends much of her time on Music Row with him.

Now, he's doing his part by being the celebrity guest of honor at the Paws for a Cause 5k run and 1K fun walk this Saturday.

"I've always had a love for animals. They're such a great addition to any home and become a valued member of the family," said Easterling. "When I was asked to participate in the fundraiser I felt compelled to help. I have been very blessed in my life and with the relationships I've had with animals and I want to help and to give back for all my blessings."

Easterling was so moved by his relationship with a rescued Russian Wolfhound named Atticus that upon the dog's recent death, he wrote a song dedicated to the canine.

Atticus was as much a member of the office as any person who worked there and was known by everyone on Music Row, said Easterling. The dog came from a severe cruelty situation and was a unique dog that had a "real and huge presence" over everyone he met, said the songwriter. It is because of Easterling's relationship with Atticus that he had an instant soft spot in his heart for Abby.

The song inspired by Atticus is a guitar vocal titled "Right Before My Eyes" that will be included in the next album release. The song can be found at www.highhorserecords.com.

Easterling has successfully ridden the music industry wave over the years from performer and songwriter to record label and publishing company executive. He has gleaned a deep understanding of the inner workings of music business.* He possesses the single most important skill needed to rise to the top of this competitive field -- the ability to write or identify a great song.

Understated yet powerful, his songs exhibit a sensitive strength and vulnerable clarity that have led artists like Dierks Bently ("Modern Day Drifter"), Joe Diffie ("Life's So Funny," "Wrap Me In Your Love," "All Because Of A Baby Boy"), Billy Joe Royal ("If The Jukebox Took Teardrops," "How Hard Can It Be?"), Neal McCoy ("This Time I'm Takin' My Time"), Sons of the Desert ("The Devil's Been Working Over Time") and hilljack ("This Could Get Good," "Bigger Than Dallas," "I Kissed Miss Mississippi," "The Day Katherine Gregory Died" and "Still") to embrace and record his work. Having written songs that have seen platinum success and risen to the top of the charts, Easterling displays an unwavering ability to craft a song that hits home. His new release, "Where this River Goes," on High Horse Records captures his words and soul.

Hitting Nashville at the perfect moment, Easterling found himself in his element as he became engulfed in a new musical wave, the legendary Outlaw Movement, headed up by musicians like Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings.* Easterling's steady country-pop and Americana based songs complimented and augmented the new Nashville style.

"I was just a newbie," he says. "I didn't know a hit song from a hole in the ground. I was writing songs for myself."*

And yet his music had popular appeal as big name artist after big name artist covered his songs. Easterling's role in the music industry took on a new shape when he joined Atlantic Records as Chief of A&R.* Ever mindful of his craft as a songwriter, however, Wyatt found that his new role as record company executive fed his art in a new way. "That had a great influence on me because I was listening to songs all day long. I was constantly searching for what made a great song and what didn't, what made a hit. I was talking to and working with some of the best songwriters in the world."

Easterling's track record of success included signing artists such as John Michael Montgomery, Michael Johnson, Neal McCoy and Tracy Lawrence and producing Montgomery's multi-platinum debut album, "Life's A Dance," which has sold well over four million units worldwide.

Following his tenure with Atlantic Records, Easterling partnered with Miles Copeland (the Police and Sting) to form the Nashville Division of Bugle Publishing Group and Firstars Management as Director of Operations. Making new strides in publishing and management, he brought Keith Urban to Firstars, producing the project that landed Keith's first major deal at Warner Bros, and also brought alternative rock artist Paul Thorn into the company for management and publishing before producing Paul's album, "Hammer & Nail" for A&M Records in Los Angeles.*

In addition to ushering notable artists into the mainstream, Easterling organized Nashville's participation with Bugle Publishing's Printemps de Troubadours, a songwriter's retreat held twice a year at the Chateau de Mourette in France. This event saw great success with writers as esteemed as Carole King, Peter Frampton, Cher, Olivia Newton John, Stuart Copeland, and Keith Urban and has been emulated by numerous other publishing companies throughout the world.

Easterling is currently writing for Terra Nova Music in Nashville and is an artist on indie label High Horse Records. Easterling's latest release, "Where this River Goes," debuted in the top 5 in the Americana charts and continues to find success with a national audience at folk radio. To learn more about Easterling visit www.HighHorseRecords.com.

If you go

The Paws for a Cause will be held Saturday, March 20 at 10 a.m. and will start and end at the Bedford County Courthouse. Registration will be from 8 to 9:45 a.m. Cost is $20 per walker or runner. For more information or for those wishing to register early, call 685-1130.The Middle Tennessee Spay & Neuter Clinic (MTSNC) is a regional veterinary clinic specializing in spay/neuter including pediatric sterilizations. It serves low income families, rescues, animal controls, humane shelters or those adopting from these organizations. For more information call 684-5353 or visit www.mtsnc.org.