M-J Concert Association to present Danny Wells April 10
Trending
LEWISTOWN -- George Strait can have his pick of any song in Nashville, but when the country legend turned to one written by Danny Wells, it proved to be a life-changing experience for the then-struggling songwriter.
Wells co-wrote the Strait hit "Check Yes or No," which was released in September 1995 as the lead single for his box set "Strait Out of the Box. It peaked at number on the U.S. Billboard country chart. It was his first-ever cut and first song to reach the number one spot on the charts.
Strait's iconic career is comprised of more than 60 Billboard-certified No. 1 hit songs. That's more number one hits than any artist in any genre, including Elvis Presley, Garth Brooks and The Beatles.
"You know, a typical overnight success," Wells joked during a press conference in Nashville in 2011. "I came here in '80 and got my first cut in '95, so 15 years later. I grew up in church and a buddy of mine, Irving Carter and I, just started writing cause several of my friends that were older had a band.
"We had a little group called New Beginning and we started writing Christian songs," Wells added. "I started taking piano when I was like in second grade, so it was just inside of me. I loved music and I loved singing so yeah, I've always written. Whether I ever made any money or not I was going to be doing it."
Over the years, Wells is recognized for the Rascal Flatts' chart-topping hit, "These Days," "Couldn't Last a Moment" by Collin Raye and "Hello L-O-V-E," a hit single for John Michael Montgomery.
Wells has also had songs recorded by numerous other artists, including Alabama, Billy Ray Cyrus, Chris Young, Confederate Railroad, Crystal Gayle, High Valley, James Bonamy, Jo Dee Messina, Joe Diffie, Julie Roberts, Kane Brown, Sara Evans, Scotty McCreery, Tracy Byrd and Wade Hayes.
Overall, Wells' songs have exceeded more than 15 million radio airplays worldwide, according to BMI with RIAA-certified sales in
excess of 30 million records sold. He is a Country Music Association (CMA)/Academy of Country Music (ACM) Award-nominee and has received the CMA Writer Award No. 1 song in the nation multiple times.
That certainly has made him an award-winning Nashville hit songwriter and entertainer.
Now, Wells is bringing his show to Lewistown. The Mifflin-Juniata Concert Association and Live On Stage, Inc. will present "Strait From Me ... to You" at Mifflin County High School Thursday, April 10 at 7:30 p.m.
Wells is hitting the stage to perform a special tribute to one of the biggest music stars of all time: Strait.
"I've written on piano and guitar but mostly I do write on the guitar," Wells said. "I have a hook book to keep my ideas in one place, and when you sit down to write with somebody, you go through yours, they go through theirs. You might go through 15 ideas before you lock onto something. I pretty much always co-write.
"I have written songs by myself but at the BMI Awards, I've never seen anybody walk across the stage by themselves," Wells added. "It's just a joint effort, a lot of publishers and a lot of songwriters. Each songwriter has a publisher and each publisher has a song plugger so it just gives you more chances of making something happen, if there's more people involved in the whole process."
Wells was born and raised in Roanoke Rapids, N.C. Music was an integral part of his life for as long as he can remember. He grew up singing in church, began taking piano lessons in second grade, was writing his first songs shortly thereafter, and eventually, became a performing member of the Christian music group, New Beginning. Music has proven to be in his blood.
Upon graduating high school, Wells attended Southwestern College in Oklahoma City. In 1980, the North Carolina native decided to make the move to Music City where he attended and graduated from Belmont University -- all while continuing to perform and write.
Single tickets for this performance will be available at the door for $25. For more information, call (717) 994-4535 or visit www.mjconcerts.org.
Due to new stadium construction, there is no handicapped parking.