Frank Liddell

FRANK LIDDELL

For the last twenty years, music publishing executive and record producer Frank Liddell has been involved in some of the most important and influential recordings in country music.

From his earliest days of pitching songs for Bluewater Music to some of the biggest names in the business (George Strait, Reba McEntire, Vince Gill) while representing a stable of Nashville’s finest songwriters (Jim Lauderdale, David Lynn Jones, Al Anderson), to his current role as managing partner at Carnival Music and award winning record producer, this Houston, Texas, native has made a mark on much of the music being played on the radio over the last two decades.

Liddell’s artist friendly attitude and appreciation of great music has allowed him to gain the trust of some of Nashville’s best talent and has added to his reputation as someone who genuinely admires and champions true artistic expression and the craftsmanship of a well written song. This combination, in his pursuit of both creative and business endeavors, has served him well, having yielded ALBUM OF THE YEAR accolades (in 2008 and 2010) from the Academy of Country Music and from the Country Music Association (in 2010) for his production of Miranda Lambert (along with colleague Mike Wrucke) as well as an impressive list of awards and nominations. Additionally, Liddell is also the Chief Creative Executive for one of Music Row’s most successful and respected music publishing companies, boasting a string of #1 records from some of the industry’s biggest artists.

Commercial success aside, Liddell is also highly respected for his support of projects that are equally as important for their artistic merit, such as Lee Ann Womack and Chris Knight. The New York Times called Knight’s first album, “the most striking, confident debut to come out of Nashville in years.” And USA Today dubbed Womack’s “Does My Ring Burn Your Finger” as ‘Record Of The Year.’ Further, Liddell was directly involved in the careers of the only two female artists to ever grace the cover of No Depression Magazine (Miranda Lambert and Lee Ann Womack).

Born and raised in Houston, TX, music was a centerpiece in his parent’s social circle. It was not unusual for gatherings in their home to revolve around music, with his father on guitar and his mother and their friends singing along. This was the beginning of what would turn out to be a life long appreciation for the connective power of music. Liddell attended boarding schools in Massachusetts and Alexandria, VA, and in each place he encountered friends, roommates and collegues who added to the stack of records that became his passion. His interest in music continued to flourish throughout his college years at the University of Texas in Austin, known for being one of the nations’ leading emerging music hotspots. A chance encounter with an old neighbor led to Liddell’s entrée into the music publishing business which eventually brought him to Nashville to work for Bluewater Music Publishing.

In the mid 1990s, Liddell’s initial success in the area of music publishing led to an opportunity inside of a record label when he joined Decca Records in 1994 as a talent scout and creative executive, responsible for guiding the careers of artists such as Mark Chestnut, Gary Allan and Lee Ann Womack. He also formally began his record production career while at Decca, producing albums for Chris Knight, The Black Dog Soundtrack and the highly acclaimed Buddy Holly Tribute album Not Fade Away. After a five year run, Liddell left Decca to join partner Travis Hill at Carnival Music.

Under Liddell’s direction, Carnival Music’s roster houses a stable of talented writers and artists, including Bruce Robison, Natalie Hemby, Scooter Carusoe, Troy Jones, Rick Brantley, Adam Hood, MCA Recording artist David Nail, Universal Music Group recording artist Dani Flowers and others. Currently, the company is celebrating its 12th #1 hit (see Notable Cuts list below).

As a producer, Liddell is currently working on album projects with Kellie Pickler, Lee Ann Womack, Dani Flowers, David Nail and Stoney Larue.

Liddell lives in Nashville with his wife, Lee Ann Womack, and their two children, Aubrie and Anna Lise. He serves on the Board of Directors of I Have A Dream Foundation, the Board of Trustees for The Episcopal High School (Alexandria, VA) and the Board of Directors for the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association. Liddell is also member of Leadership Music and a voting member of the National Academy Of Recording Arts and Sciences.

DISCOGRAPHY:

Various Artists – Not Fade Away (Remembering Buddy Holly) (1996)
Chris Knight – Framed (1997)
Chris Knight – Chris Knight (1998)
Black Dog – Soundtrack (1998)
Stacey Dean Campbell – Ashes Of Old Love (1999)
Lee Ann Womack – I Hope You Dance (2000)
Jack Ingram – Electric (2002)
Lee Ann Womack – Something Worth Leaving Behind (2002)
Kevin Montgomery – Another Long Story (2003)
Craig Dillingham – Almost Yesterday (2004)
Lee Ann Womack – Greatest Hits (2004)
Miranda Lambert – Kerosene (2005)
Chris Knight – The Trailer Tapes (2007)
Miranda Lambert – Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2007)
David Nail – I’m About To Come Alive (2008)
Chris Knight – Trailer II (2009)
Charlie Pate – Charlie Pate Sings “Oh, Mighty Cheops” (2009)
Miranda Lambert – Revolution (2009)
Wade Bowen – Live at Billy Bob’s Texas (2010)
Country Strong – Soundtrack (2010 & 2011)
Pistol Annies – Hell On Heels (2011)
Stoney LaRue – Velvet (2011)
Miranda Lambert – Four The Record (2011)
Kellie Pickler – TBD (TBA)
David Nail – TBD (TBA)
Lee Ann Womack – TBD (TBA)


NOTABLE CUTS
2011
“Baggage Claim”
Miranda Lambert, Four The Record
(Luke Laird, Miranda Lambert, Natalie Hemby)
Chart Position: 24 and climbing


“Let It Rain”
David Nail, TBD
(David Nail, Jonathan Singleton) Chart Position: 26 and climbing


“Put You In A Song”
Keith Urban, Get Closer
(Jedd Hughes, Keith Urban, Sarah Buxton)
Chart Position: 2


“Timing Is Everything”
Garrett Hedlund for Country Strong (film)
(Natalie Hemby, Troy Jones)


2010
“Only Prettier”
Miranda Lambert, Revolution
(Natalie Hemby, Miranda Lambert)
Chart Position: 12


“Pretty Good at Drinkin’ Beer”
Billy Currington, Enjoy Yourself
(Troy Jones)
Chart Position: 1


“Timing Is Everything”
Trace Adkins for Country Strong (soundtrack)
(Natalie Hemby, Troy Jones)


“Turning Home”
David Nail, I’m About To Come Alive
(Scooter Carusoe, Kenny Chesney)
Chart Position: 20


2009
“People Are Crazy”
Billy Currington, Little Bit of Everything
(Troy Jones, Bobby Braddock)
Chart Position: 1


“White Liar”
Miranda Lambert, Revolution
(Natalie Hemby, Miranda Lambert)
Chart Position: 1


2008
“Better As A Memory”
Kenny Chesney, Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates
(Scooter Carusoe, Lady Goodman)
Chart Position: 1


“Gunpowder and Lead”
Miranda Lambert, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
(Heather Little, Miranda Lambert)
Chart Position: 7




2007
“Shiftwork”
Kenny Chesney f. George Strait, Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates
(Troy Jones)
Chart Position: 2


“Moments”
Emerson Drive, Countrified
(Sam Tate, Annie Tate, Dave Berg)
Chart Position: 1



“Wrapped”
George Strait, It Just Comes Natural
(Bruce Robison)
Chart Position: 1


2006
“If You’re Going Through Hell”
Rodney Atkins, If You’re Going Through Hell
(Sam Tate, Annie Tate, Dave Berg)
Chart Position: 1


2005
“Anything But Mine”
Kenny Chesney, When The Sun Goes Down
(Scooter Carusoe)
Chart Position: 1


2004
“Desperately”
George Strait, Honkytonkville
(Bruce Robison, Monte Warden)
Chart Position: 6


“Me and Charlie Talking”
Miranda Lambert, Kerosene
(Heather Little, Miranda Lambert, Rick Lambert)


“Somebody”
Reba McEntire, Room To Breathe
(Sam Tate, Annie Tate, Dave Berg)
Chart Position: 1




2002
“Travelin’ Soldier”
Dixie Chicks, Home
(Bruce Robison)
Chart Position: 1


2001
“Angry All The Time”
Tim McGraw, Set This Circus Down
(Bruce Robison)
Chart Position: 1


“Downtime”
Jo Dee Messina, Burn
(Phillip Coleman, Carolyn Dawn Johnson)
Chart Position: 5


AWARDS
2011
Academy of Country Music Award, Single of the Year: Miranda Lambert, “The House That Built Me” (AWARD, producer)
Grammy Award, Best Country Album: Miranda Lambert, Revolution (NOMINATION, producer)
Grammy Award, Best Female Vocal Country Performance: Miranda Lambert, “The House That Built Me” (NOMINATION, producer)
Grammy Award, Best Female Vocal Country Performance: Gretchen Wilson, “I’d Love To Be Your Last” (NOMINATION, Writer & Publisher)
Grammy Award, Best Male Vocal Performance: David Nail, “Turning Home” (NOMINATION, Producer, Writer & Publisher)


2010
Academy of Country Music Album of the Year: Miranda Lambert, Revolution (AWARD, producer)
Academy of Country Music Single of the Year: David Nail, “Red Light” (NOMINATION, producer)
Academy of Country Music Single of the Year: Miranda Lambert, “White Liar” (NOMINATION, producer)
Academy of Country Music Song of the Year: Billy Currington “People Are Crazy” (NOMINATION, Writer & Publisher)
Academy of Country Music Song of the Year: “White Liar” (NOMINATION, Writer & Publisher)
BMI Country Award Winning Song: Billy Currington “Pretty Good At Drinking Beer” (AWARD)
BMI Country Award Winning Song: Miranda Lambert“The House That Built Me” (AWARD, producer)
BMI Country Award Winning Song: Miranda Lambert “White Liar” (AWARD)
Country Music Association Album of The Year: Miranda Lambert, Revolution (AWARD, producer)
Country Music Association Single of the Year Miranda Lambert, “The House That Built Me” (NOMINATION, producer)
Country Music Association Single of the Year: Miranda Lambert, “White Liar” (NOMINATION, producer)
Country Music Association Song of The Year: Miranda Lambert, “White Liar” (NOMINATION, Writer & Publisher)
Grammy Awards Best Country Song: Billy Currington, “People Are Crazy” (NOMINATION, Writer & Publisher)
SESAC Country Performance Activity Award: David Nail, “Turning Home” (AWARD)



2009
Academy of Country Music Single of the Year: Miranda Lambert, “Gunpowder & Lead” (NOMINATION, producer)
BMI Country Award Winning Song: Miranda Lambert, “Gunpowder & Lead” (AWARD)
BMI Country Award Winning Song: Billy Currington, “People Are Crazy” (AWARD)
Country Music Association Song of the Year: Billy Currington, “People Are Crazy” (NOMINATION, Writer & Publisher).
SESAC Country Performance Activity Award: Kenny Chesney “Better As a Memory” (RECURRENT)


2008
Academy of Country Music Album of the Year: Miranda Lambert, Crazy Ex- Girlfriend (AWARD, producer)
BMI Country Award Winning Song: Kenny Chesney, “Shiftwork” (AWARD)
BMI Country Award Winning Song: George Strait, “Wrapped” (AWARD)
Country Music Association Single of the Year: Miranda Lambert, “Gunpowder & Lead” (NOMINATION, PRODUCER)
SESAC Country Song of the Year: Kenny Chesney, “Better As a Memory”
SESAC Country Performance Activity Award: Kenny Chesney “Better As a Memory”


2007
Academy of Country Music Song of the Year: Rodney Adkins, “If You’re Going Through Hell” (NOMINATION, Writer and Publisher)
SESAC Country Performance Activity Award: “Moments” (AWARD)
SESAC Country Performance Activity Award: Rodney Adkins “If You’re Going Through Hell” (RECURRENT)


2006
ASCAP’s Most Performed Songs: “Cheatin’”
SESAC Country Song of the Year: Rodney Atkins, If You’re Going Through Hell
SESAC Songwriter of the Year: Sam & Annie Tate (AWARD)
SESAC Country Publisher of the Year: Carnival Music (AWARD)
SESAC Country Performance Activity Award: “Anything But Mine” (RECURRENT)
SESAC Country Performance Activity Award: Rodney Atkins, “If You’re Going Through Hell” (AWARD)


2005
BMI Country Award Winning Song: “Desperately”
SESAC Country Song of the Year: “Anything But Mine”
SESAC Country Songwriter of the Year: Scooter Carusoe SESAC Country Publisher of the Year: Carnival Music
SESAC Country Performance Activity Awards: “Anything But Mine”
SESAC Country Performance Activity Awards: “Somebody” (RECURRENT)


2004
SESAC Country Performance Activity Award: “Somebody”


2003
BMI Country Award Winning Song: “Travelin’ Soldier”


2002
ASCAP’s Most Performed Songs: “Don’t Make Me Come Over There and Love You”
SESAC Country Performance Activity Award: “Downtime” (RECURRENT)


2001
BMI Country Award Winning Song: “Angry All the Time”
SESAC Country Performance Activity Award: “Downtime”


1999
SESAC Country Performance Activity Award: “I’m Yours”