Bernie Nelson: Building Bridges from Nashville to Texas
In the June 2017 issue of Texas Life Magazine we were lucky enough to cover singer/songwriter Bernie Nelson. We highlighted Bernie’s amazing songwriting career. For this issue we catch up with Bernie again and talk about his recent move into the Texas music scene and his success with his new music and recent album, Greyhound. In case you didn’t see a copy of his article, Bernie has written songs for some of this biggest names in country music. Artists such as Conway Twitty, Alan Jackson, Ricky Van Shelton, Wynonna, Kenny Chesney, Confederate Railroad, Colin Raye, Chris Ledoux, Randy Travis, Kris Kristofferson, and more.
Bernie’s songs have combined sales of over 25 million copies sold and his hit song ‘Daddy Never Was the Cadillac Kind’ received million-airplay status. Not a bad career to say the least. But Bernie isn’t finished yet. In his interview back in 2017, Bernie expressed his interest in bringing his singer/songwriting abilities to Texas. With Nashville moving further from, well let’s just say moving further from the way things used to be in country music, Bernie recognized that in Texas, country music is staying closer to its roots. Fans still appreciate the songs they grew up on, and crave more of the same. He also wanted to bring his knowledge of how the business of music works in Nashville and help the talented artists in Texas take their sound to Nashville and succeed.
Now this in no way means that Texas artists need to conform to what is now “today’s country” in Nashville. According to Bernie it’s just the opposite. When asked about the difference between Nashville and Texas music, Bernie replied “in Nashville people are busy trying to be somebody, in Texas, they already know who they are”. He just wants to show the amazing artists of the Texas music scene how Nashville works and how they can be successful in such a cut throat business. One artist Bernie has helped find her way in Nashville is Kensie Coppin. Kensie was featured in the February 2017 issue of Texas Life Magazine. Once Bernie heard her sound and saw what she was capable of he knew he had to get her in front of the right people in Nashville. It didn’t take Kensie long to impress those connections with her abilities. She is currently living in Nashville and was quickly signed to the Erv Woolsey Company. Erv currently manages George Strait, Lee Ann Womack, and Dierks Bentley, among others. That’s pretty good company!
When he is not out touring, Bernie splits his time between Nashville and Texas. When in Texas you can usually find him in the Fredericksburg area playing shows and networking. Since 2017, Bernie has released two albums. His newest album, Greyhound, is quickly making its mark on the Texas music scene. Both musically and lyrically this album is quintessential country music. Songs like Addicted and Burning Boats will definitely tug at your romantic heartstrings, while Tow Truck Driver and What the Buck will have you off your feet dancing along to their genuine honky-tonk style sounds. Greyhound can be found on all your digital music apps or can be purchased direct from www.bernienelson.com
Texas and Texans are blessed to have Bernie Nelson sharing his talents across our great state. His mentoring abilities to upcoming artists are worth their weight in gold. Bernie has spent a lifetime in country music writing lyrics that are relatable to each of us. Not writing strictly for a cut or a quick sell, but from the heart and from experiences that only time can teach us. There are very few of those guys still out on the roads writing, performing, and staying true to their roots.
I’ll close this article with the same words as the last in 2017 because they still ring true. Thank you Bernie Nelson for all the memories, all the hits, and for all those lyrics still to come.
