2026 Performers & Presenters
RANDY BROWN is a Country/Americana songwriter and songwriting teacher who has won national lyric writing competitions by both American Songwriter and Billboard magazines. His credits include several songs in film and television—most notably included in Remember the Titans, and shows, ranging from Malcolm in the Middle to Person of Interest, and CMT’s Crossroads. Along with JON IGER, he hosts a monthly “Songs in Progress” workshop for ASA.
Randy has conducted songwriting seminars at various folk festivals across Arizona. He is an instrumental member of the Arizona Songwriters Gathering planning committee, and currently serves on the board of directors for the Greater Arizona Country Music Association.
To contact Randy: email [email protected] or visit his website at oldstallionmusic.com
Randy has conducted songwriting seminars at various folk festivals across Arizona. He is an instrumental member of the Arizona Songwriters Gathering planning committee, and currently serves on the board of directors for the Greater Arizona Country Music Association.
To contact Randy: email [email protected] or visit his website at oldstallionmusic.com
NANCY ELLIOTT – With the music of John Denver, Batdorf and Rodney, and America for inspiration, Nancy began writing simple songs and performing at campfires, weddings, and local festivals at age thirteen. After singing her way from California to Texas and back to Ohio, Elliott worked the Folk scene in Dayton's Oregon District and performed opening night at Mick Montgomery's Canal Street Tavern.
Coming to Arizona in 1990, Nancy found her way into Western & Cowboy music, resulting in the creation of KATY CREEK BAND. Thirteen years and four albums later, Elliott has returned to her Folk roots, releasing two albums in the self-coined "South-Western Americana" subgenre.
For more information, visit nancyelliottmusic.com
Coming to Arizona in 1990, Nancy found her way into Western & Cowboy music, resulting in the creation of KATY CREEK BAND. Thirteen years and four albums later, Elliott has returned to her Folk roots, releasing two albums in the self-coined "South-Western Americana" subgenre.
For more information, visit nancyelliottmusic.com
ROBIN FREDERICK is the author of top-selling songwriting books “Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting” and “Shortcuts to Songwriting for Film & TV.” She is a former Director of A&R/Production for Rhino Records and Executive Producer of more than 60 albums.
Over the course of her career, she has written and produced more than 500 songs for television, records, theater, and audio products. Robin’s books are used in top music schools to teach all levels of songwriting from beginning to advanced.
Visit robinfrederick.com for more information.
Over the course of her career, she has written and produced more than 500 songs for television, records, theater, and audio products. Robin’s books are used in top music schools to teach all levels of songwriting from beginning to advanced.
Visit robinfrederick.com for more information.
RHONDA JO HITCHCOCK-MAST is a songwriter with three decades of songwriting writing experience across Country, Pop, Rock, Americana, and Blues. She has earned multiple publishing deals, including a more recent one with a Nashville publisher. One of her cowritten songs “I Believe,” was featured on Summerland, the holiday favorite “Sugar Cookie,” had some web radio play and TAXI-recognized “Forecast” on one of their shows.
Rhonda Jo performs throughout the Valley and in Nashville with her duo, The Steady Kind with Shawn Royer. She also co-founded AZ Chicks with Picks with PANDY RAYE, a platform that has featured and supported hundreds of emerging and seasoned female singer songwriters for 15 years.
Follow Rhonda Jo on Facebook and Threads
Rhonda Jo performs throughout the Valley and in Nashville with her duo, The Steady Kind with Shawn Royer. She also co-founded AZ Chicks with Picks with PANDY RAYE, a platform that has featured and supported hundreds of emerging and seasoned female singer songwriters for 15 years.
Follow Rhonda Jo on Facebook and Threads
JON IGER is a songwriter and publisher whose song placements in movies and TV shows include Touched by an Angel, The Sopranos, Parks & Recreation, Brooklyn 99, and many more. A former Capitol recording artist, Jon co-founded the Arizona Songwriters Association in 1977, and has been an instrumental co-producer of the annual Arizona Songwriters Gathering since its inception nearly 30 years ago. Honored with inductions into the Greater Arizona Country Music Association Hall of Fame in 2018 and Arizona Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame (AMEHOF) in 2019, Iger also served on the AMEHOF Board of Directors from 2005 to 2015, and continues to serve on its Advisory Council.
To reach Jon or the Arizona Songwriters Association (ASA), please email [email protected]. The Arizona Songwriters Association website is www.azsongwriters.org.
To reach Jon or the Arizona Songwriters Association (ASA), please email [email protected]. The Arizona Songwriters Association website is www.azsongwriters.org.
JOHN KEENAN is an acclaimed producer, remixer, songwriter, and educator with over 30 years of experience in the music industry. He has produced, remixed, and mastered releases for world-class artists including Beyoncé, Pet Shop Boys, Kelly Clarkson, Missy Elliot, and many others. His work has earned 11 Billboard Top 25 charting hits, including a #1 Billboard Club Chart single as well as several other #1 singles on the Billboard Dance Chart.
In 1996, he founded JCK MUSIC PRODUCTIONS, partnering with record labels, artists, and major companies worldwide. In addition, John is a college professor in Music Industry Studies, where he shares his passion and expertise with the next generation of artists, producers, and audio engineers.
For additional information, visit jckmusic.com
In 1996, he founded JCK MUSIC PRODUCTIONS, partnering with record labels, artists, and major companies worldwide. In addition, John is a college professor in Music Industry Studies, where he shares his passion and expertise with the next generation of artists, producers, and audio engineers.
For additional information, visit jckmusic.com
BRADFORD KNIGHTS is a professor at Paradise Valley Community College teaching songwriting, private songwriting composition, and rock band classes. He is also a coordinator for NSAI Arizona Chapter and an occasional featured guest with Arizona Songwriters Association.
Bradford is a multi-instrumentalist, composing from home and releasing music under his name on all platforms. He has been writing across rock, pop, punk, metal, and other genres for 40 years. He currently sings, plays guitar, and writes music for the Phoenix, Arizona based ska band MR. INCOMMUNICADO.
Find him on Spotify and Instagram
Bradford is a multi-instrumentalist, composing from home and releasing music under his name on all platforms. He has been writing across rock, pop, punk, metal, and other genres for 40 years. He currently sings, plays guitar, and writes music for the Phoenix, Arizona based ska band MR. INCOMMUNICADO.
Find him on Spotify and Instagram
TRACEY AND VANCE MARINO are a wife-and-husband songwriting, composing, and producing team based in San Diego, California. They have more than 3,000 songs and instrumentals in their BMI catalog. Their music is heard daily around the world in TV shows (Saturday Night Live, Oprah, Kelly Clarkson, The Late Show, The Tonight Show, The Today Show), films (The Wrong Missy, The Last Song, Goats), trailers, documentaries, video games, and national commercials (L.L.Bean, Cabela’s, Clorox).
They are active members of several music advocacy groups and are the NSAI San Diego Chapter Coordinators. The Marinos’ #1 best-selling book in Songwriting and Music Business, Hey! That's My Song! A Guide to Getting Music Placements in Film, TV, and Media, was published recently by Backbeat Books.
For more information, visit www.heythatsmysong.com
They are active members of several music advocacy groups and are the NSAI San Diego Chapter Coordinators. The Marinos’ #1 best-selling book in Songwriting and Music Business, Hey! That's My Song! A Guide to Getting Music Placements in Film, TV, and Media, was published recently by Backbeat Books.
For more information, visit www.heythatsmysong.com
CLAY MILLS is a 16-time ASCAP hit songwriter and two-time Grammy nominee based out of Nashville, TN, with more than 150 major artist cuts to his credit, including: five #1 hits across multiple genres, six Top 5 singles, and 12 Top 40 singles. Mills' songs have been recorded by artists such as Darius Rucker, Diamond Rio, Lady A, Little Big Town, Reba McEntire, Trisha Yearwood, and many more.
Mills grew up surrounded by music in the Blues-rich Mississippi Delta, and was inducted into the Mississippi Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2022. He has lobbied congress on behalf of songwriter's rights to fair compensation and, alongside MARTY DODSON, co-founded SONGTOWN.COM, a world-wide online community of songwriters. He also co-authored the best-selling book Mastering Melody Writing with Bill O'Hanlon.
For more information, visit claymills.com
Mills grew up surrounded by music in the Blues-rich Mississippi Delta, and was inducted into the Mississippi Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2022. He has lobbied congress on behalf of songwriter's rights to fair compensation and, alongside MARTY DODSON, co-founded SONGTOWN.COM, a world-wide online community of songwriters. He also co-authored the best-selling book Mastering Melody Writing with Bill O'Hanlon.
For more information, visit claymills.com
ALICIA MORRIS is a Senior Events Coordinator in the Office of Public Information and Education (PIE) at the United States Copyright Office. She was appointed to the position in 2017. Alicia coordinates the Office’s wide range of events, which is a key component of the Office’s communications plan.
In addition to planning, she participates in various conferences presenting and displaying the Office’s materials. Previously, Alicia worked as a legislative assistant in the congressional office in the U.S. House of Representatives.
For additional information about the services and tools the U.S. Copywright Office provides, please visit copyright.gov
SANDY RAMOS arrived in Music City in 1984. As a staff writer at Wrensong Publishing she landed several Top 5 and Top 10 singles as well as cuts with Faith Hill, Kenny Rogers, Neal McCoy, Lee Greenwood, and the Dixie Chicks—to name a few. Her songs have appeared on more than 25 million CDs worldwide.
Seeing a growing need for aspiring songwriters to have their songs heard by music industry pros in Nashville, Sandy established The SongTuner in 2014, enabling songwriters and up-and-coming artists to submit their songs and receive direct feedback from Industry publishers and producers!
For more information, visit thesongtuner.com
Seeing a growing need for aspiring songwriters to have their songs heard by music industry pros in Nashville, Sandy established The SongTuner in 2014, enabling songwriters and up-and-coming artists to submit their songs and receive direct feedback from Industry publishers and producers!
For more information, visit thesongtuner.com
LES SCOTT is a veteran of the industry whose publishing company Source Q Boutique (SQB) specializes in music placement in film and television, currently representing over 400 writers/artists. SQB is exclusively marketed through its alliances with Crucial Music Group, Expressive Artists LLC., Generation Music, Inc. and Fuze Artz LLC.
As a producer, Les is commissioned to produce master recordings for major companies; having produced over 500 artists/bands across all genres—with works appearing throughout the film and television industries. Scott also consults on music business matters such as music clearance, performance releases, publishing agreements, PRO and copyright registrations, and more. Les is an instrumental member of the Arizona Songwriters Gathering planning committee.
For additional information, visit lesscottmusic.com
As a producer, Les is commissioned to produce master recordings for major companies; having produced over 500 artists/bands across all genres—with works appearing throughout the film and television industries. Scott also consults on music business matters such as music clearance, performance releases, publishing agreements, PRO and copyright registrations, and more. Les is an instrumental member of the Arizona Songwriters Gathering planning committee.
For additional information, visit lesscottmusic.com
LARRY VAIL is a veteran songwriter based out of Phoenix, Arizona, as well as doing most of his writing in Nashville. Vail primarily writes contemporary country music, with influences from across the broad spectrum of musical genres. He also composes for sync, with several placements in film and television.
Larry has written with staff writers from Nashville and L.A. publishers like Cedar Cove / Cedar Creek Music, HoriPro Entertainment, RPM Publishing, Altadena Music, Sprockets Music, Demolition Music, Washington Street Publishing in Nashville—and Pink Shark Music, where he was one of their featured composers. He is a member of ASCAP, as well as a Pro member of the CMA, the ACM, AIMP, in addition to serving as a staff writer with a co-pub deal with SHOWBIZRO MUSIC and VIBE CITY MUSIC in Nashville, TN.
(NOTICE: this listing is not yet complete—more performer & presenter bios will be added soon.)
Larry has written with staff writers from Nashville and L.A. publishers like Cedar Cove / Cedar Creek Music, HoriPro Entertainment, RPM Publishing, Altadena Music, Sprockets Music, Demolition Music, Washington Street Publishing in Nashville—and Pink Shark Music, where he was one of their featured composers. He is a member of ASCAP, as well as a Pro member of the CMA, the ACM, AIMP, in addition to serving as a staff writer with a co-pub deal with SHOWBIZRO MUSIC and VIBE CITY MUSIC in Nashville, TN.
(NOTICE: this listing is not yet complete—more performer & presenter bios will be added soon.)
