Trent Tomlinson On Writing Hit Songs, His Dad’s Radio Tactics, And More

I don't even know if I've ever told Trent this, but the first time we saw him, Debbie and I were about to take the job here at Country 1037 in Charlotte.  We were meeting with people in Nashville at a Country Radio conference and we caught sight of this skinny, dude in ripped jeans and a do-rag holding court at a hotel bar.  I remember thinking, "Man that dude is the opposite of what country is.  He looks like Miami Steve Van Zandt of Springsteen's E Street Band.  Who is he and what is he selling to all the country people?"  Little did I know that within a year I would call Trent Tomlinson friend and would be blown away by not just how country he is, but his unreal energy and songwriting talent.  Well, here we are...a few years later...and Trent is making his triumphant return to the Country 1037 Super Stage at Coyote Joe's on Saturday, August 7.  I had the chance to catch up with him yesterday.  This guy continues to be the real deal and his story about his Dad and the song about him, "One Wing in the Fire," is one I've never heard and I'll never forget.  And that's not even mentioning the tale of his mom's influence on Brett Young's smash song, "In Case You Didn't Know."  Enjoy.

As you heard in the interview, the music never turns off for Trent.  As such, he's forgotten more songs than most people will ever write.  I've been lucky enough to be on the receiving end of some of these before their release.  One such song is one he told me off air was his story, "If They Didn't Make Whiskey"

"God knows how better off I'd be / Yeah there's a lot of things that I'd done differently / If they didn't make whiskey" He's not the only one who has lived those lines.  Buy your tickets now for Trent Tomlinson, August 7th at Coyote Joe's.