Buddy Cannon

Artist Description

As a producer of chart-topping hits by artists like Kenny Chesney, John Michael Montgomery, Joe Nichols and Reba McEntire, Buddy Cannon’s talent in the studio continues to speak for itself. And it’s no wonder he’s a wizard behind the console, considering his many years of experience in all aspects of the business, from session background vocalist and bandmember, to master songwriter and publishing company executive. Cannon’s knack for picking and producing artists and their hits has helped launch the careers of mega-stars like Shania Twain and Billy Ray Cyrus, and his songwriting prowess has provided numerous hit songs for everyone from Vern Gosdin and Mel Tillis to Alabama and George Strait.

Cannon first earned his musical stripes in the early 70’s as the bass player in Grand Ole Opry star Bob Luman’s band. His songwriting ability turned the head of CMA’s 1976 Entertainer of the Year, Mel Tillis, who promptly hired Buddy to work in his band and with his publishing company. During their eleven-year association, Tillis recorded several of Cannon’s songs, including the popular "I Believe In You," which went to the top of the charts and was also recorded by Englebert Humperdink.

After the acquisition of Tillis’ publishing interests by PolyGram, Cannon was hired by PolyGram’s Mercury Records as Director of A&R for the company. During his six-year stint at Mercury, he was instrumental in bringing such stars as Twain, Cyrus and Sammy Kershaw to the label. Cannon produced several Number One hits for Kershaw during this period, including "She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful," "National Working Woman’s Holiday," and "Cadillac Style", as well as several more Kershaw hits which reached the Top Five position on the charts. He was eventually recruited as VP/A&R for Polydor/Nashville but, not long after, elected to leave that position in 1995 to pursue independent production projects.

Along with his work with Sammy Kershaw, George Jones (“High Tech Redneck”), John Michael Montgomery (“The Little Girl”), Chely Wright (“Single White Female”), and Kenny Chesney (“Young”, "A Lot Of Things Different", "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy", "There Goes My Life", “The Good Stuff”), Cannon has also produced projects for Jamey Johnson (“The Dollar”) Sara Evans ("No Place That Far"), Joe Nichols (“Tequela Makes Her Clothes Fall Off”) and Chad Brock ("Ordinary Life", "Yes"). 

His own impressive personal song catalog includes classic hits like Vern Gosdin’s "Set 'Em Up Joe," "Dream Of Me", and "I’m Still Crazy," Billy Ray Cyrus’ "She’s Not Cryin’ Anymore," and George Strait’s "I’ve Come To Expect It From You," and, most recently, Strait’s record breaking 53rd number one song “Give It Away” which was named Song Of The Year at the 2007 Academy Of Country Music Awards .

In the past few years Cannon has received, as producer, gold album awards for "Single White Female" (Chely Wright), "No Place That Far" (Sara Evans) "Brand New Me" (John Michael Montgomery), “Joe Nichols III (Joe Nichols) and “Room To Breathe” (Reba McEntire). He has received a Platinum award for Kenny Chesney’s “Be As You Are (Songs From An Old Blue Chair”) and “Kenny Chesney Live”,  Triple Platinum awards for Chesney’s "Everywhere We Go",  “The Road And The Radio”, "Greatest Hits" and “When The Sun Goes Down”,a Quaduple Platinum award for Chesney’s “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem” and either gold, platinum or multiple platinum awards for every Chesney album which Cannon and Chesney have collaborated on.

Cannon and Chesney co-produced an album by Willie Nelson, “Moment Of Forever”, which was released  in Janurary 2008.