Ep. 15 - JAREN JOHNSTON ("Raise 'Em Up")
Nashville native Jaren Johnston co-founded the rock band American Bang which released one album for Warner Bros. He went on to form the Cadillac Three, a Southern rock-infused trio that was named one of the \u201c10 New Artists You Need to Know\u201d by\xa0Rolling Stone Country\xa0in 2014. While finding success with his own self-described \u201ccountry fuzz\u201d sound, Johnston forged a second career as a behind-the-scenes songwriter for top country artists. Since 2012, he has seen more than a half dozen of his songs hit the country Top 10, four of which have climbed to the #1 position. He has co-written the songs \u201cYou Gonna Fly\u201d and \u201cRaise \u2018Em Up\u201d for Keith Urban, \u201cSouthern Girl\u201d and \u201cMeanwhile Back at "Mama\u2019s\u201d for Tim McGraw, \u201cDays of Gold\u201d and \u201cBeachin\u2019\u201d for Jake Owen, \u201cSunshine and Whiskey\u201d for Frankie Ballard, \u201cDon\u2019t It\u201d for Billy Currington, and \u201cThe South,\u201d a Top 40 hit for his own band, which featured guest appearances by Florida Georgia Line, Dierks Bentley, and Mike Eli. Additionally, his songs have been recorded by Sara Evans, Lonestar, Danielle Bradbery, Miranda Lambert, Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, Terri Clark, Meatloaf, Loverboy, Lynyrd Skynrd, and more. His music has been nominated for two Grammy awards and two Academy of Country Music awards, and it seems he\u2019s just getting started.