Green Hills Living Green Hills Living !# NeighborhoodNews J!"# J!"# NeighborhoodNews !" Neighbormeet your Written by Collins Smith !reen "ills #esident $harlie %onk Walking into Charlie Monk’s Music Row o$ce is like visiting a Who’s Who museum of pictures and memorabilia. His walls are Karl Dean Carrie Underwood %lled with framed letters from Presidents, famous song lyrics, and hundreds of photos of Charlie with notable celebrities and luminaries. It is a feast for the eyes and senses as you can hear and feel the music and memories lingering in the air. Blake Shelton Taylor Swift His o$ce is warm and inviting with a large, commanding desk and comfortable leather chairs. Radios and sound systems sit behind him with the phone constantly ringing o& the hook. During the interview he took one of the calls, afterwards saying that it was Garth Brooks’ team looking for songs for Garth’s new album. Another call was for his appointment later that day to perform a voice-over for a TV commercial for an Alabama State politician. He is busy. And he is funny. Charlie states that he is “a talent scout, a nurturer, a developer, and a song seller.” With a “creative heart,” he uses his talents to hone and polish songs, primarily working as a Luke Bryan consultant and publisher for songwriters and performers. picturesque member William Lee Golden. He dubs this picture Charlie began his career in music radio in his home state of as “the 'ree Wise Men of Alabama.” Punist extraordinaire. Alabama, and was recruited to lead the country music program at Murfreesboro’s WMTS radio. Accepting the o&er, he and his He is also one of the founding visionaries of the Country Radio wife Royce headed to Music City in the early 1970s. 'is “free- Seminar. Held in Nashville for over 45 years, this seminar is form music and talk show for the station was the %rst daily known to place new artists on the scene and holds an instru- broadcast from Music Row.” mental role in the music and radio business. Keith Urban Charlie Monk and Johnny Cash In the decades that followed, he has held management and execu- When asked if he plans to retire, Charlie states a resounding tive positions with ASCAP, CBS songs, Acu&-Rose Music Pub- “No … I am one of the luckiest guys in Nashville because I’ve lishing, started his own publishing business, Monk Family Music, made a living doing what I love.” and currently has a daily radio show on Sirius XM Channel 56 named Willie’s Roadhouse. He has a long list of awards and As you walk out of his o$ce, he has a picture of his mother in songwriting credits. Among many notable accomplishments, he front of his childhood home, a wooden house with no electricity was named SESAC Publisher of the Year, the BMI Publisher for and no running water. He was the youngest of %ve. With ador- Most Performed Song, and signed both Randy Travis and Kenny ing brothers and sisters, he led a happy life with great ambition. Chesney to their %rst songwriting deals. He went from “poorer to poor,” he quips, and keeps that picture there to remind him of his roots. 'e other memento on the Coined by Gerry Wood in Country Weekly, Monk’s moniker as wall that captures your imagination is a handwritten original the “Mayor of Music Row” is %tting because he literally knows copy of the lyrics to “Midnight Train to Georgia,” signed by everyone. On his desk sits a small picture of singer and per- songwriter and close friend, Jim Weatherly. Once out his door, former Jamie Johnson, Charlie, and the Oak Ridge Boys’ most the music continues to follow you long after you leave. Charlie Monk and Frank Sinatra Garth Brooks, Brad Paisley.