William (Bill) Cobbs
of Huntington Beach/Sunset Beach, CA
I hope you enjoy listening to any or all of my works as much as I have enjoyed the creative and business aspects of their creation. If you enjoyed listening to any or all of my works, any encouragement and/or referrals would be appreciated. Also, if you are interested in learning more of their history/background, please drop me an email as well.
But even more importantly, if you are interested in actively pursuing joining me in utilizing them in various musical recording and performance pursues, please drop me an email so we can talk further.
Thank you for taking the time to review my works.
Bill
William L. Cobbs
I’ll Take Country Music Publishing Company, BMI
Email: wcobbs.ITCMusic@AOL.com
Biography and Musical Journey
The Beginning
I was born in Baltimore, Maryland 77 years ago, but spent most of my childhood in Virginia, of which 7th grade through college was just outside Harrisonburg, Virginia “In the Heart of the Shenandoah Valley!” My dad was a Presbyterian Minister, Navy Chaplin, and an Administrator of a Home for the Aging, while my mother was a Latin/English High School teacher and loved the piano. Like many artists, I cut my teeth on music in a weekly church pew or choir loft and listening to the radio at night on my bed. I formed a singing group in high school called the “BC Five”, saved up and bought a Fender Sunburst Stratocaster in 1964, and played guitar in a band at dances during high school. I graduated from Virginia Tech in Mechanical Engineer in 1970. I have no military history having missed the first Viet Nam Draft Lottery. Upon graduation I went on to James Madison Univer., graduating in 1972 with an MBA. I got married, and we moved across the country to California to pursue a career with a military weapons/systems corporation. Job offers were hard to come by in those days. From 1972 to 1979, we moved back to Dallas, Texas, and then St. Louis, MO to continue to work in military design and manufacturing, gathering two lovely daughters along the way.
In 1979 we move to Nashville, TN to work as Program Manager at the Aerostructure Corp. adjacent to the Nashville Airport; and lived out on the Percy Priest Lake Drive. This is where my girls grew, and where I regained my Virginia Country Music roots through Printers’ Alley, the Ryman and any other establishment big enough for a stage. But then another major career opportunity came up, and we moved back to Southern California in 1984 to Irvine, CA. While living in Irvine, a good friend of my wife had a sad story how her married son contracted cancer and died in the hospital. During those days, his little son would crawl up on the bed and up into his arms to hold each other. She heard that I was considering some renewed songwriting; and she asked if I could write a song to share her memories. The result was “In Daddy’s Arms.” A recent reworked version is an attachment to this website and registered in BMI. I gave her 50% of the Writer Share since she gave me the idea/details. Soaring Eagle Music Company, Nashville, TN did the demo production. Also, during this period while visiting back home to Virginia, I met with a friend of my wife’s family, Bobby Campbell, who sang with the Quartet “The Coachmen” from Staunton, VA (which is also home of the Statler Brothers). He had a particular interest in my song “Three Roses.” I registered it in BMI while giving him 50/50 Writer credits for modifying one stanza and recording my work. They started to include it in their shows, and I understand that it was a show favorite. Living out in California, I found out many years later through Google research that they included it in a CD called “Going Home” (see References Page). That was almost 30 years ago. I recently found a copy of the CD through Amazon, but that’s all I have. No royalty information was sought or passed on. Both Bobby & his wife have passed on since. In my recent songwriting activity, I have created a separate, completely new version which provides more story, visuals and emotion. It has completed the latest set of recordings as “Three Roses All Red, White and Gold,” where BMI investigated and required a new title. The only commonality is the Hook, which I developed before meeting Mr. Campbell. This newest (and best!) version has received a separate sole BMI writer registration.
That was how it all began… This is when it got serious…
I began writing more and more songs, most of which have been reworked and reproduced as indicated by the “2025” notation on the demo & lyrics files. A few older songs which have not been improved and re-recorded are also shown at the bottom of the DEMO SONGS Page as “No Ready For Prime Time” material. The older, original MP3 files are also provided, if you’re interested.
The original 1993-1995 songs heavily relied on the experience and expertise of Brian D. Siewert, at Nashville’s Music City Music Group at the time, who was my key Demo producer, inspiration and cheerleader all along the way. At the time he was also Keyboardist at the height of Wynonna’s success; and I got to meet him at two concerts in the LA area on two of his many tours with the band. Not a bad day (or night) job! He came down during a concert break and turned to my wife and told her “You’ve got a Songwriter there!” That did more for me ever since, and I will be eternally grateful for that inspiration. I strive to fulfill that dream. Of course, over the years he has gone to tremendous heights in accomplishments and Emmy, ASCAP and BMI awards in Hollywood and beyond for Film and TV Music Direction and Composition and Original Songs. Presently, I understand that he is titled “Chief Music Inventor, Re-Imagineer at Triple S Entertainment in Brentwood, TN.
To further my craft, in 1995-96, I enrolled in evening UCLA Extension classes in Los Angelestowards UCLA Certificates in Songwriting and Music Business. I completed 10 classes by the end of May 1996 with all A’s or A- as follows:
Writing Hit Songs/Building Vocabulary
Domestic/International Music Law/Business
Jazz Perspectives
Techniques of Musicanship Fundamentals
A&R: Making Music Acquisition to Release (with Randy Jackson, & visits to Viper Club & Melrose Studio)
Legal/Practical Aspects Record & Publish. Industry
Introduction to Creative Music Publishing
Music Supervision for Film (produced background music for studio roughs for “The Truth About Cats & Dogs”)
Independent Music Publishing Bus./Legal
Breaking Into Music Industry Career Advancement
BUT SINCE THEN…
Here is where every good country music writer must live the life of a Country song to be able to feel and produce realism in his/her music. Unfortunately, I am no exception… Hopefully not sounding like a “pity party,” but I had a major detour in my music career in 1996, one which lasted 28 years. I went through a tough divorce which broke my family up. I also lost my job with the planned closure of my Division facility. I was out of work for a year and a half. Meanwhile, I tried to create a restaurant, which failed for several reasons when regulations were too extensive and time consuming, and my financial resources dried up too quickly. Later, after finding new work, the division where I was Program Manager had a large loss, and I was laid off again and took another year to find another job. Finally, in 2001, I found a sustaining work situation in Los Angeles, supporting the USAF in rocket development oversight in Los Angeles, by visiting companies across the country. Although USAF contractor contracts came and went, I was able to maintain consistent work and salary by playing hopscotch between competing companies. I built back my financial situation and retired in 2019.
I have two beautiful grown daughters and two wonderful grandchildren. Unfortunately, over a few years ago I lost my younger daughter, my brother, and my ex-wife since my retirement. It’s a stark reality check of how short and precious time is. It was also a major influence to get my songwriting pursuits back in gear.
‘Better Late Than Never’
In my retirement, I have been afforded the opportunity to rekindle my love for music and songwriting development with less demands on my time. But time is running short at my age, and I am laser focused to see this through. I had 14 unfinished songs in various stages of completion from my previous era. Six of which I was able to renew, polish a little, but mostly just finally demo to get them out of my head for 28 years and down in bits & bytes & downbeats. Eli and Aaron Beaird and Tytus Welker at Nashville’s Beaird Music Group were very helpful putting professional music and vocals to my rough drafts included in this website. The whole music industry. and especially music publishing and marketing. has all changed so dramatically since 1995, (8-Track Tapes to CDs to computer files and Thumb Drive Sticks to Social music websites to AI, to ???). Not just since then, but practically every other day there are major changes in all aspects of music creation, marketing and administration. So, I’ve also been studying YouTube podcasts and Songwriting society/association educations, training and group discussions to gain a clearer understanding of some of the most drastic recent changes and expectations. I have also now utilized other sources of Work-For-Hire Demo production which resulted in the total revision and reviewing of all of my present 20 music demos, including brand new music for “A Toast to the New Year”, “When Amy Smiles”, “Broadway and Fourth Avenue”, “”Hills of Tennessee, and a brand new remake of “Walk the Walk” in multiple genera all presented with details and music files on this updated website.
Important Enhancements of Offerings
To enhance my songwriting and prepare my material for this website’s re-offerings, I have joined both the “Nashville Songwriters Association Int’l” (See Reference Page), and “The American Songwriter,” which is centered around the songwriting and music publication industry of the same name. Since 1984 it has been helping millions of songwriters and music fans discover the craft of music writing, production and marketing ( See REFERENCE Page).
NSAI uniquely allowed me to utilize their “Song Evaluation” service where songs can be submitted and assigned to one of a seasoned list of music songwriting and music production expert “Evaluators” in various genres. Each song receives a through critique of the various aspects of song creation, such as Structure, Title/Hook, Lyrics, Overall Theme and Melody. Often through such insights and suggestions, the writer can resubmit over and over, if desired, for re-evaluation or to get a second set of eyes to perfect each song (which I have done on many occasions). I have utilized this important service over 50 times and counting so far. I am pleased to once again offer what I feel is my best work, many of which have been garnered the prestigious NSAI Accolate “One to Watch” (See Reference Page). While I will have to admit that I haven’t convinced myself to changing all of my songs based on ALL of their recommendation and industry norms, I have appreciated and incorporated many of their suggestions to my benefit. In other cases, I stuck with my own gut instincts and inspirations as the lyric and melodies flowed. I guess It’ll be up to you to decide if you agree or not. In that regard, I have also included a synopsis of many of their comments and complements along with each Song MP3 Demo file and its WORD Lyric sheet for your review (See DEMO SONGS Page). I must say, I’ve been overwhelmed with their encouragement and complements, which has been further incentivizing me to quickly resubmit my “new and improved” material to you and the world for your consideration. At my age, time is of the essence!
In Closing
Please feel free to review my material attached to see if you feel any or all of these Demo Song concepts would fit within your genre, vision and your artists. A few of the Lyric sheets call for introduction/theme clips of i.e. church organ playing (“When My Amy Smiles”), children playing (“Thru the Eyes of a Child”) or a Bull Riding Rodeo crowd and announcer (“Ride the Wind), which were not provided in these basic demo productions. Also various opportunities for Music Bridges and Transitions are shown on the lyrics sheet as optional for your music team and artists to evaluate adding. In these and many other aspects, I remain ready and willing to answer any of your questions and discuss any thoughts or suggestions you might have concerning my work. Again, time is of the essence. As the old saying goes…” Let’s go create some beautiful music together!”
Thanks again for taking the time to follow my journey and review my music…
Bill
