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Thom Shepherd Presents The Songwriters w/ special guests Kat Higgins, James Slater
Thom Shepherd Presents The Songwriters w/ special guests Kat Higgins, James Slater
Kat Higgins
Kat Higgins' earliest memories include recording cassette tapes to send to her Granny Higgins in Ireland when she was four years old. She and her six siblings would sing traditional Irish songs and pretend they were on a radio show. Fifteen years later, she and two of those siblings were on the radio.
The Vancouver, Canada native was part of The Higgins family band that toured Canada, hit the top 15 on Canadian radio and was nominated for CCMA Group of the Year in 2008 and 2009. Kat is thankful for those years of touring and recording with her family because it built her confidence on stage and honed her skills in the studio. "I was always the analytical nerd in the group" she remembers. "I thought I was nuts to be staying up until four in the morning in the studio, editing tracks and re-singing vocals."
After moving to Nashville in 2012, she brought that same dedication to her songwriting. "I got to write with some of my heroes and I learned so much about how to communicate through songs," Kat explains. Kat is still inspired by the music she grew up on. "A huge part of my songwriting is inspired by Celtic music, that hasn't really changed, but what I'm writing about has."
Now a BMG published songwriter, Kat's songs have been recorded by Kenny Chesney ("Knowing You"), Carrie Underwood ("Mexico"), The Lone Bellow ("Illegal Immigrant"), and many others.
James Slater
James Slater is a two time GRAMMY nominated, piano-playing, bilingual singer-songwriter of Bolivian American descent signed to BMG Music Publishing. Born in Durham, North Carolina, and raised in the tropics of the Panama Canal Zone in Central America.
Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Enrique Iglesias, Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood, Lady Antebellum, Willie Nelson, Kelly Pickler, Alabama, Reba McEntire, Gloriana, Runaway June, Martina McBride, Chris Brown, Chris Young and a host of others have all recorded his songs. His Grammy nominations include Jamey Johnson's "The High Cost of Living," Country Song of the Year, and Martina's "In My Daughter's Eyes," which has become a modern day standard.
James wrote Keith Urban's hit single, "God Whispered Your Name," and Tim McGraw's "God Moves The Pen," Kenny Chesney's "Wasted" and "Guys Named Captain," as well as new songs on Old Dominion and Hootie and the Blowfish albums and Warner Brother's Shy Carter's first single, "Good Love. "
James calls Nashville home. James lived in Zurich Switzerland for six years touring, and recording with Belgian super group Vaya Con Dios and has traveled the world from Panama to Dublin, from Spain to Havana. James' "Key West Address" is a love letter to the island, so much so that the mayor of Key West has awarded James the "keys to the city" and proclaimed the song "Key West Address" the island's official theme.
James' latest solo album, Famous In Key West, features songs recorded at Jimmy Buffett's Legendary Shrimp Boat Studios.
Thom Shepherd
Thom Shepherd is a storyteller with a six-string soul. A hit songwriter and Country troubadour, he's known for shining a spotlight on the stories behind the songs — from heartfelt YouTube interviews to powerful live performances. With his signature red guitar and a career shaped by resilience, including vocal surgery and cancer treatments, Thom turns life's toughest moments into connection and community.
Part artist, part entrepreneur, all heart.
A veteran of Nashville's Music Row, he is the writer of five #1 singles including "Redneck Yacht Club," "Riding with Private Malone," and "My Texas." He's the writer of over 10 radio singles, two Grammy nominated songs, and has had over 100 songs recorded by Blake Shelton, George Jones, Pat Green, Kevin Fowler, Easton Corbin, Montgomery Gentry, Craig Morgan, Colt Ford, and many more.
Thom is currently a songwriter, video host, and content creator at 8 Track Entertainment in Nashville.
After years of touring all over the country, Thom and his wife, artist Coley McCabe, have settled in Mount Juliet, TN. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri and spent his high school years in Virginia before moving to Nashville in 1993 after graduating from George Mason University.