*WatchLIVE webcastat 5:45 CST.* Doors open at 5:15pm and the event starts at 5:45pm. (CST)
Brent Baxter grew up writing short stories in his small hometown of Batesville, Arkansas. However, it wasn’t until his sophomore year at Arkansas State University that he first discovered songwriting. Back home over Christmas break, a friend put a melody to a poem Brent had written, and he was hooked.
Brent sharpened his songwriting skills while earning both a bachelor and masters degree in business (MBA). During that time, he was also active in his local NSAI (Nashville Songwriters Association) chapter. Following college, he joined the local songwriting community while working his day job at a telecommunications company in Little Rock, Arkansas. In March of 2002, Brent traded his cubicle for a rented room in Nashville. When he wasn’t waiting tables or working in the royalty/administration department of Bluewater Music, he was writing songs and meeting with publishers.
Brent’s first cut came in early 2004, as “Monday Morning Church” was recorded by Alan Jackson. The song went on to become a top five hit. In early 2005, Brent signed his first publishing deal, becoming a staff songwriter for Major Bob Music. That deal yielded cuts by Randy Travis, Lonestar, and Lady Antebellum, among others.
From 2010 through 2012, he was the flagship writer for Infinity Music Group. This deal yielded cuts by Canadian star Gord Bamford, as well as comedy legend Ray Stevens, blues guitar legend Steve Cropper, Andy Griggs, Buddy Jewell, and new Curb artist, Ruthie Collins, among others. He currently writes for his own publishing company, Cowboy Chords Music.
