Clay Mills | Hit Songwriter

Description

Clay Mills

Hometown: Cleveland, MS

Current City: Nashville, TN

Current Company: Given Music Entertainment

First #1 hit as a writer: “Beautiful Mess” by Diamond Rio

Latest #1 hit as a writer: “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It” by Darius Rucker

Website: claymills.com

BIO

Clay Mills, a 16-time ASCAP award-winning songwriter and producer, grew up surrounded by music in the Blues-rich Mississippi Delta. Over the course of his songwriting career, Mills has penned Number 1 hits for Darius Rucker, “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It,” Diamond Rio, “Beautiful Mess,” and Kimberley Locke, “Fall,” while collecting Grammy nominations for “Beautiful Mess” and Trisha Yearwood’s “Heaven, Heartache, and the Power of Love.”

In April 2014, Mills inked a new publishing deal with veteran publisher Mike Sebastian and Given Music. Excited about working with Mike, who is a “song guy” and proven hit publisher with an eye on the future, Clay says, “I don’t like looking backwards as much as I like to look forward to the next idea, the next song. That gets me jumping of bed and going each morning!”

Clay began playing at clubs in Rock and Country bands by age 13. When he was 19, he moved to the New York City where he wrote, programmed tracks, created beats for rap and hip hop artists, and sang on major TV commercials; including Red Lobster and the Armed Forces. In the late 90’s, Clay started co-writing with a New York actor who was an aspiring Country artist, Ken Meeker. Ken introduced Clay to Nashville producer Mark Bright, who flew to New York to watch him perform for a crowd of 500 people. Impressed, Mark signed Clay to a publishing deal with EMI Music. Since moving to Nashville, Clay has had over 75 major artist cuts, three Number 1 hits, six Top 5 singles, and 12 Top 40 singles. His love of all types of music shows in the diverse list of artists who sing his songs: Babyface, Lady Antebellum, Easton Corbin, Reba, Bill Gaither, Lone Star, Darius Rucker, Trisha Yearwood, Clay Walker, Kimberly Locke, and Joe Nichols. Clay’s latest string of singles, co-written with Country superstar and groundbreaker Darius Rucker, include the song that introduced Darius to the world of Country music: “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It.” More hit singles, “History in the Making” and “I Got Nothin’,” soon followed.

Mills believes strongly in songwriters and their value to world. He has served on the NSAI board and lobbied Congress on behalf of creators and copyrights. In 2012, Clay co-founded SongTown, a 6,000 plus group of aspiring songwriters. He is personally involved in helping members advance their craft and make connections in the music industry.

When Clay is not writing songs, you might find him riding horses on the Wyoming plains searching for inspiration for his next song. “The great thing about the West is that there are still huge pockets of land that look like they did hundreds of years ago…bristling with wildlife and the elements. It helps me find that healthy balance between life, love, and the music business.”

Notable Cuts

• “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It” – Darius Rucker – #1 Single
• “Beautiful Mess” – Diamond Rio – #1 – Grammy Nomination
• “Fall” Dance Remix – Kimberley Lock – #1 Billboard Dance Club Chart – #16 AC Hit
• “History in the Making” – Darius Rucker – #2
• “She Thinks She Needs Me” – Andy Griggs – Top 5
• “Fall” Clay Walker – Top 5
• “I Got Nothin’” – Darius Rucker – Top 5
• “Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love” – Trisha Yearwood – #19 – Grammy Nomination
• “Rush” – Jake Matthews – Top 5 Canada
• “I Don’t” – Danielle Peck – Top 30
• “Don’t Waste My Time” – Little Big Town – Top 35
• “One Day You Will” – Lady Antebellum
• “A Lot to Learn About Living” – Easton Corbin
• “Gotta Love It” – Joe Nichols
• “Second Chance” – Trisha Yearwood
• “Sky Full of Angels” – Reba McEntire
• “Sky Full of Angels” – Taranda Greene – 2006 Southern Gospel Song of the Year