The Sound of Our Stories: An Evening of Connection Through Music

The Sound of Our Stories: An Evening of Connection Through Music

Join the 9/11 Memorial & Museum for a free evening of music and storytelling with Grammy award-winning songwriters from Nashville on Saturday, December 2. Peek behind the curtain with songwriters Joe Leathers, Stephanie “Steevie” Steeves, and Michael Farren as they share the stories and creative process behind their songs during this musical journey. The program includes a reception, conversation with the artists, and live performances in honor of educators.

Panelists

Joe Leathers

A native of Memphis, Joe’s “Memphis Thang” influences are diverse, and that diversity is evident in his songwriting which began at age 13. An award-winning songwriter, some of Joe’s hits include, “ Save The Roses” by Lee Brice, "Tough" by Craig Morgan, “Where I’m From” by Jason Michael Carroll, Tim McGraw's "Still" and Steve Holy’s “Love Don’t Run.” Joe also landed the title cut to the Kenny Chesney Platinum release “Hemingway’s Whiskey,” and Clay Walker’s “Jesse James.” The critically acclaimed “Nashville Without You” is on Tim McGraw’s Two Lanes of Freedom album and Thompson Square and Trace Adkins released “I Can’t Outrun You.” Among the artists who have recorded Joe's songs include Trace Adkins, Clay Walker, Lee Brice, Guy Clark, Kris Kristofferson, Trailer Choir, Adam Gregory, The Davisson Brothers, Halfway to Hazard, Rio Grande, Lisa Brokop, Brian Davis, Thompson Square, Kellie Pickler, Jerrod Niemann, Randy Houser, Gary Allan, Ruston Kelly, Grace Askew, and others. Joe’s approach to life and the craft of songwriting can be summed up by his own words, “swing hard, you might hit it.” Joe writes for Curb|Word Music Publishing in Nashville.

Steevie Steeves

One of Nashville's rising stars knew from as early as 10 years old that she wanted to write and perform music in some capacity. While not from a musical family, her natural abilities seemed like an undeniable gift that felt like a calling. Steevie believes that “everything is music to me and has been since I can remember." Living in Nashville, "there are times I’ve found myself singing into a microphone that Elvis Presley or Johnny Cash once used or writing a song in the same room as Kristofferson once did and I can’t help but be inspired! I moved to Nashville because I knew it offered so many possibilities and held levels of talent that would ultimately make me work harder to be a better artist.”

Michael Farren

Michael Farren is a GRAMMY and Billboard nominated, GMA Dove Award-winning songwriter and producer. Michael co-wrote the title track of Reba McEntire’s GRAMMY award-winning and critically acclaimed Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope album. This album earned Reba’s CMA Nomination for Female Vocalist of the Year (2017) and GMA Dove Award wins for Bluegrass/Country/Roots Album of the Year. Michael also wrote the #1 hit “Trust in You” (Lauren Daigle), which earned GRAMMY and Billboard Music nominations as well as a GMA Dove Award win. He is currently a staff writer at Curb/Word Nashville and calls Music Row his second home. Monday through Friday, you can find him within those iconic halls, collaborating with platinum-tier hitmakers and bright rising newcomers alike.