Mark Selby

by Alex HendersonAlthough Mark Selby is based in Nashville and has written or co-written songs for major country-pop stars, the earthy, gritty singer/songwriter/guitarist has favored blues-rock and roots rock as a solo artist. Selby isn't from Nashville originally; he was born and raised in Oklahoma and lived in Kansas (where he earned a degree in music composition from Fort Hays State University) before settling in Nashville in the 1990s. After making Music City his home, Selby landed a publishing deal and wrote or co-wrote songs for major country-pop artists, like Trisha Yearwood, Wynonna Judd, and the Dixie Chicks (including the female trio's number one country hit "There's Your Trouble"). But the diverse Selby is best known for all the writing he has done for blues-rocker Kenny Wayne Shepherd; he wrote or co-wrote eight of the songs on Shepherd's Live On CD. In 2000, Selby signed with Vanguard as a solo artist, producing his debut solo album, More Storms Comin', with Brent Maher.