400 Songs And Counting

After years of working with and for other artists, Australian musician Rod McCormack decided it was finally time to release a project of his own. His debut CD, Fingerprints, is schedule to be released September 20th. Rod got to check an item off his bucket list recently by performing an album release show at the famed Station Inn in Nashville, and at a showcase at IBMA in late September in Raleigh. Joining him on the album project are celebrated acoustic artists Dave Pomeroy (bass), Andy Leftwich (mandolin, fiddle & tenor guitar), Aubrey Haynie (fiddle & mandolin), Rob Ickes (dobro) and Justin Moses (dobro).

For years, Rod has produced award-winning — often gold or platinum status — records for an eclectic mix of artists in pop, country, rock, electronic and more, but had always wanted to create bluegrass music ever since his father bought him a banjo when he was 11 years old. “He also gave me a couple vinyl albums back then,” Rod recalled. “One of them happened to be a Carl Jackson, five string-banjo record, and when I heard Carl playing “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” that got me hooked. From there I spent several years just discovering bluegrass, listening to Lester and Earl, and Bill Monroe; and it all took me on a backward trip to figure out all the roots of where bluegrass music came from.”

Rod has gotten to play with and tour with the likes of Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Glen Campbell, Keith Urban, Trisha Yearwood, Tommy Emmanuel and more. As a songwriter, he’s written over 400 songs that have been recorded and released by artists around the globe.

Rod has been named CMAA Producer of the Year in 2004, 2008 and again in 2010. In 2006 the CMAA awarded McCormack their inaugural Musician Of The Year. In 1985 he toured the American bluegrass circuit, winning the Colorado and Tennenne guitar and banjo championships, and the West Virginia banjo championship. He has also been both the Australian Guitar and Banjo champion 3 times each.

To find out more, visit
www.rodmccormack.com