Tony Arata was born in Savannah, GA and grew up on nearby Tybee Island. While studying for a journalism degree from Georgia Southern University, he began performing his original songs in local bands. In 1986, he and his wife Jaymi moved to Nashville where his unique, soulful style began to get the attention of people like Allen Reynolds and Garth Brooks. Garth, to date, has recorded seven of Tony’s songs, and “The Dance” won song of the year at The Academy of Country Music and received both a Country Music Association and a Grammy nomination, as well as a most performed song in Radio and Records Magazine.

Tony is a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (2012). He has also had No. 1 records with “Here I Am” for Patty Loveless, “I’m Holding My Own” for Lee Roy Parnell, and “Dreaming With My Eyes Open” for Clay Walker. Other artists who have recorded his songs include Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt, Trisha Yearwood, Delbert McClinton, Don Williams, Reba McEntire, Suzy Bogguss, and Hal Ketchum.

Tony has also recorded four solo albums featuring new songs, covers, and guest appearances by many of Nashville’s finest musicians as well as folks who have recorded his songs, including Garth, Patty, and Lee Roy.

Kent Blazy, growing up in Lexington, KY, became musically inspired when he heard Roger McGuinn playing his Rickenbacker guitar on "Mr. Tamborine Man."  This created a new choice and Kent traded in his baseball glove for a guitar.
He began his musical journey with a series of bands all over the eastern half of the country.  By the mid-70's, Kent was band leader, playing guitar and touring with Canadian legend, Ian Tyson.  Sound advice and the timely first place win in a national songwriter contest persuaded him to move to Nashville in 1980.  Kent's commitment was not to focus his efforts at the craft of songwriting.  It was a very fine decision.

In 1982, sooner than expected, Gary Morris took "Headed For A Heartache" to #5 on the Charts.  In the years that followed other artists, such as The Forrester Sisters, T. Graham Brown, Donna Fargo and Moe Bandy recorded Kent's tunes.  In an effort to develop more knowledge of the recording side of music and for the benefits of a "day job," Kent opened a home recording studio.  The studio offered an option for Kent's demos as well as a demo service to other writers.  This studio introduced Kent to some of the new demo singers and songwriters of Nashville; names like Randy Travis, Billy Dean, Trisha Yearwood, Joe Diffie and Martina McBride, now well-known country artists.  

In 1987, Kent was introduced to a new demo singer by Bob Doyle, then with ASCAP, soon to be the manager for this emerging talent, Garth Brooks.  Garth became Kent's most requested demo singer and Bob Doyle also advised, "Garth writes a little bit too."  The first song Garth and Kent penned together was "If Tomorrow Never Comes," which became the first #1 for both.  The friendship and writing partnership continued as Garth included 8 more of their songs on his albums.  Four more captured the #1 slot:  "Somewhere Other Than The Night," "Ain't Goin' Down ('Til the Sun Comes Up)," "It's Midnight Cinderella," and "She's Gonna Make It."

Garth's album, "The Lost Sessions," includes another Kent and Garth song, "For a Minute There," written for their fathers. Kent and fellow songwriter Pat Alger co-produced a album titled In The Beginning:  A Songwriter's Tribute to Garth Brooks. This project is a collective of 6 other songwriters who composed songs on Garth's first two albums.  The focus was to present the songs in the original acoustic and authentic sound form as Garth first heard them.  The album was originally planned as a gift to Garth during his 100 million party in 2000.  An independent recording label saw the potential and released the album in 2001, resulting in 50,000+ copies sold to date.  

An added benefit of the album included a tour in Ireland for Kent and 3 other Garth writers.  In Ireland, Kent discovered that "If Tomorrow Never Comes" was released in Europe, Japan, Australia and The United Kingdom by an Irish artist, Ronan Keating.  His recording became a successful #1 song in many countries.  Kent's songwriter continues with established writing partnerships, as well as developing partnerships with new writers and artists.  Many of his crafted works continue to be recorded by artists such as Kenny Chesney, Diamond Rio, Terri Clark, Clay Walker, Patty Loveless, Julie Roberts, Andy Griggs, and Blaine Larsen.  Kent's latest #1 hit "Gettin' Your Home (The Black Dress Song)" was recorded by Chris Young.

Whether you're talking about Garth Brooks, Ricky Martin, or Lady Antebellum, Victoria's Midas touch has helped craft music that makes memories. Victoria's #1 compositions include Garth Brooks "THE RIVER" and "SHE'S EVERY WOMAN," Ricky Martin's "SO'LO QUIERO AMARTE," Doug Stone's "TOO BUSY BEING IN LOVE," Jim Brickman's "SENDING YOU A LITTLE CHRISTMAS" and "I LOVE THE WAY YOU LOVE YOU ME," recorded by John Michael Montgomery and Boyzone. Other hits include Ricky Martin and Christina Aguilera's duet "NOBODY WANTS TO BE LONELY" and the Garth Brooks/Trisha Yearwood duet "WHERE YOUR ROAD LEADS."

Shaw is the recipient of an ACM award for Song of the Year, two daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Original Song, 4 Emmy nominations and numerous ASCAP and SESAC awards. She has performed throughout the world, including opening for Garth Brooks in Central Park, playing the London Palladium, and touring with her friend and frequent collaborator Jim Brickman.

In addition to writing and performing, Shaw is also a music producer including co-producing Lady Antebellum's debut album for which Shaw won a 2009 CMA award for Single of the Year, "I RUN TO YOU." Other production credits include Jim Brickman, Richie McDonald, Robin Meade (of Headline News) for Target exclusives, and The Scott Brothers (aka THE PROPERTY BROTHERS). Victoria is currently in the studio producing and writing with up and coming country artist, Cooper Alan.​

In the fall of 2019 Shaw debuted her own series, Songwriters Under the Covers with Victoria Shaw, on the ALLARTS channel and streaming platform (check local listings or allarts.org). ALLARTS is the multimedia arts platform launched earlier this year by WNET (parent company of New York's PBS station THIRTEEN and WLIV21 and operator of NJTV).