Marty Dodson

Marty Dodson was born in Apple Valley, California, and moved around for several years until his family settled in Nashville, TN. Growing up, he was intimidated by the sheer number of people coming to Nashville to become singers or songwriters. So, he went to college and earned a degree in psychology. 

After working ten years as a youth minister, Marty decided to change careers. Trouble was, he didn’t know what he wanted to be when he grew up. He fumbled around for several years, doing odd jobs and trying to decide on a direction for his life. Finally, a book he read helped him realize that what he REALLY wanted to be was a songwriter. 

He had run into Gordon Payne, a member of the Crickets, while working one of his odd jobs. Gordon helped him re-write one of his songs and demo it in a Nashville studio. Marty was hooked. He threw caution to the wind, quit the other jobs and began writing full-time. 

Ten #1 songs and more than 150 cuts later, Marty has become one of the most accomplished writers in Nashville with notable hit singles such as ""Fire It Up” by Joe Cocker, “Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven” by Kenny Chesney, “Must Be Doin’ Somethin’ Right” & “Let Me Down Easy” by Billy Currington. His songs have been recorded by numerous artists including: Blake Shelton, George Strait, Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts, The Plain White T’s, The Oak Ridge Boys, Don Williams, Johnny Reid, Billy Ray Cyrus and Big & Rich. 

Marty’s self-professed “greatest achievement” in his songwriting career to date was knocking artist Psy (“Gangnam Style”) out of the #1 spot in South Korea and winning “Song of the Year” honors for South Korea and all of Asia with his song “Bounce” recorded by Cho Yong Pil. 

Marty currently resides in Nashville TN with his wife Candy and is the owner and writer for Sail Away Songs.