Bob Clay, Country Songwriter

Bob is an accomplished musician and songwriter. Up until last year, Bob was the lead vocalist and guitarist with the Bodine Brothers Band, one of Frederick County's premier country dance bands. He is also a past member of Runaway Train, the Kraze (rock), Four Wheel Drive, the New River Train, and the Back Porch Boogie Band. Bob plays lead and rhythm guitar, bass guitar, mandolin, dulcimer, keyboards, and washboard. Through these bands, Bob has played in public and private clubs, roadhouses, and honky tonks in a four state area. Recently Bob has been freelancing occasionally with Cindy Astlin and Country Thunder as well as a few other local bands.

Based in Maryland, Bob has been writing songs for over 20 years. Bob is a staff writer with Blackbird Star Music (BMI) and an active member of NSAI (Nashville Songwriters' Association International). In addition, Bob is a demo musician for Billy Bob Bodine Music where he records his songs. Some of the titles in Bob's catalog include:

- "Call Me Baby One More Time" (Ferris-Clay) A very pretty ballad, think Trisha or Patty Loveless!
- "I'll Be Back" (Ferris-Clay) A country-rocker for a feisty female singer
- "The Only Girl in Town" (Newsome-Clay) A Brooks & Dunn style hit song about lost love
- "Bound and Determined" (Newsome-Clay) A Waylon style country ballad with shades of Dwight!
- "Heaven Hill" (Ferris-Clay) An uptempo ballad in a Steve Earle style with a great storyline!
- "That Ain't No Bull" (Benting-Clay) Commercial hit, sassy 2-step number for a Mindy McCready style artist.
- "Daddy's Prayer" (Ferris-Clay) a Christian-country song, non-preachy and Dolly-like.
- "Parlor Games" (Newsome-Clay) a Chris Isaak vibe prevails in this contemporary country song. Co-published by Err Bear Music (BMI) and Billy Bob Bodine Music (BMI).
- "The Lights of Knoxville" (Newsome-Clay) A strong Springsteen style storyline; a mid-tempo ballad. Co-published by Err Bear Music (BMI) and Billy Bob Bodine Music (BMI).
- "Spark Your Heart" (Clay) Vince Gill style, heart catchin' pop-country love song. Published by Billy Bob Bodine Music (BMI).
- "It's Me" (Ferris-Clay) a sassy Wynonna style song.
- "A Sad Song Don't Care (Whose Heart It Breaks)" (Benting-Clay) a traditional country waltz on heart breaking music
- "I'll Feel Alright" (Newsome-Clay) Kinda like a Wilco country-folk thang! Co-published byErr Bear Music (BMI) and Billy Bob Bodine Music (BMI).
- "Why Won't You Set Me Free?" (Newsome-Clay) a great 'female' song combining a Waylon beat with a Patty Loveless influenced melody and harmony. Co-published by Err Bear Music (BMI) and Billy Bob Bodine Music (BMI).
- "Mary Goes Around" (Newsome-Clay) jangle pop country; think Byrds & Gin Blossoms . Co-published by Err Bear Music (BMI) and Billy Bob Bodine Music (BMI).
- "I Heard Someone Crying (And It Was Me)" (Barber-Clay) a hard hittin', weepin' country ballad
- "Country Mile" (Newsome-Clay) Two steppin' dance ditty!
- "I'm Not" (Clay) Traditional Ray Price shuffle with Merle Haggard influence
- "Hank Jr. Tonight" (Clay) Bob's rockin' tribute to Hank
- "A Slow Waltz for Now" (Newsome-Clay) Traditional country waltz with a lovin' message.
- "Point of View" (Clay) Cajun 'female' song! Et toi!
- "The Man Standing Next to You" (Barber-Clay) A traditional country waltz about lost chances
- "My Heart's Not Used To Being Happy" (Barber-Clay-Salaets) A quick 4/4 country shuffle
- "The Tears of Llorona" (Newsome-Clay) a country/folk song based loosely on the legend. Co-published by Err Bear Music (BMI) and Billy Bob Bodine Music (BMI).
- "Understand Me" (Clay-Hays) an uptempo 'female' song with hit potential; "I'm Outta Here"
- "Pardon This One (I Wrote It for Me)" (Barber-Clay) Think Ernest Tubb/Junior Brown, real hard country!

Except as listed, all songs are published by Blackbird Star Music (BMI). Sound bites are available at the Err Bear Music and Julie Ferris web sites noted below:

If you need strong material for an upcoming CD or demo project and would like to hear one or more of the above songs, please contact Bob at his email address and give details on your project.

For more information on Bob's other songs or just to chat about Fender Telecasters and songwriting, you can email Bob at telebob@aol.com. Hey, would a guy named Bob steer you wrong?

Other related links include:

Blackbird Star Music (Home of the "Hits")
Err Bear Music (Kent Newsome, more Hits here!)
Tim Barber's Songwriter Page (lyrics and more)
Julie Ferris' Words and Music (lyrics and more)
Country Thunder Introduction Page (Cindy Astlin and band)
Twangin' (on-line alt-country news magazine)
TroppoJams! Internet Publishing (Writers, and more)
TGCLinks (Guitars, guitars, guitars!)
Franky's Songwriting Page (Frank Calvagna)