MARK NESLER
Mark Nesler comes to us from a long line of legendary Texas writers and artists. He has given us honest, heartfelt country songs in the true spirit and tradition of all the country music greats, with a continued focus on today’s sound. Nesler’s first notable success was in 1985 when he landed an Ed Bruce cut “If It Ain’t Love,” a top 20 Billboard hit for 16 weeks.
Many hits later, he has earned an impressive career with hits that span four decades. Nesler was inspired by his father Bobby Nesler, who had a passion for performing bluegrass and traditional country music. Encouraged by his father early on, Nesler began writing and performing locally as young as 8 years old. This set the stage for Nesler’s career and soon he set out touring with his band, Texas Tradition. In 1982, they toured the USA backing up the state finalists for the Wrangler Starsearch talent contest. The tour ended with a nationally televised, CBS special in Nashville.
After many years on the road, Nesler landed a major publishing deal with MCA and then began playing guitar for recording artist, Tracy Byrd, who cut 19 of Nesler’s songs. Nesler continued to evolve as a songwriter and performer while touring with Byrd. Nesler released an album in 1998, I’m Just That Way, on Nashville’s Asylum label. The album gained him the respect and praise of a legion of fans and music industry executives. Over the years, Nesler’s songwriting talent has taken many artist to the top of the charts, including Tim McGraw who had a six-week #1 single and most played song of the year, with the Nesler-penned song “Just to See You Smile” on his multi-platinum-selling Everywhere album. George Strait has had two #1 singles with Nesler’s songs, “Go On” and his three-week#1 “Living and Living Well” and the trend continues with Darryl Worley’s #1 hit, “I Miss My Friend,” Aaron Tippin’s hit “For You I Will,” Tracy Byrd’s “Heaven In My Woman’s Eyes,” and “Just Let Me Be In Love.” Billy Currington’s “Why Why Why,” Bucky Covington’s “A Different World, ”Joe Nichols’s “It Ain’t No Crime,” and Keith Urban’s smash, “You Look Good In My Shirt.” Mark’s second Billy Currington hit “Let Me Down Easy” reached #1 in 2011, and Josh Turner’s “Time Is Love,” became Billboard’s most played song of the year in 2012.
Nesler also broke new ground when his song “Country Strong” was chosen as the theme song for a feature film starring Gwyneth Paltrow, and the film’s producers were so impressed with his work, they renamed the film Country Strong. Nesler’s latest number one is Luke Bryan’s “Country On”. Many other well-known artists have recorded Nesler’s songs, including Tammy Wynette, Lee Greenwood, David Frizzell, Trace Adkins, Mark Chestnut, Rhett Akins, George Jones, Tracy Lawrence, Mark Wills, Pam Tillis, John Conlee, Trent Willmon, Andy Griggs, Dierks Bentley, Joe Nichols, Randy Travis, Lee Ann Womack, Easton Corbin, Reba MacEntire, Scotty McCreery, Darius Rucker, Granger Smith, Don Williams, Big and Rich, Randall King, Mo Pitney, Donice Morace, Clay Walker, George Navarro, Zach Top, Kameron Marlowe, and Luke Bryan -just to name a few. Mark Nesler currently resides in Nashville, where he continues to write as one of Nashville’s most successful and respected songwriters and artists.
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:
THUR OCT 3
7:00pm -The Sandbar Sunset Bar & Grille – Country Strong – Ticketed Event
** All events are free, except where noted. Schedule is subject to change, please check back for updates.