Catch World-Class Singer-Songwriters at Songs at the Center
Did you know there’s a nationally recognized music series that tapes right here in Worthington? Songs at the Center is now in its ninth year of showcasing talented songwriters. Episodes are recorded in the Bronwynn Theatre at the McConnell Arts Center (that’s where the series get its name!).
We chatted with founder, Worthington native, award-winning singer-songwriter, and Emmy nominee Eric Gnezda about the series, how it’s grown, and some of his favorite moments.
For those who aren't familiar with it, what is Songs at the Center?
Eric: Songs at the Center is a national PBS music series about the songs and their stories. Our guests have included everyone from multiple Grammy Award winners to undiscovered songwriters who deserve a national audience. The 13-show series, now finishing up its ninth season, is taped at our home venue, the Bronwynn Theatre at the Peggy R. McConnell Arts Center of Worthington, along with other historic venues across Ohio, and elsewhere. Cumulatively, it has aired on 412 PBS stations, and airs locally on WOSU TV at 11 p.m. Saturdays.
How did Songs at the Center get started?
Eric: I had an idea of presenting a Nashville-style songwriter round to a local audience, based upon my experiences of playing regularly in Nashville and across the country. I was drawn to the McConnell Arts Center as a perfect venue for the series because I had performed there a few times when it opened. It was the perfect venue for singer-songwriters, intimate yet a theatre. Shortly after syndication, I brought in my longtime associate Jack FitzGerald, who became Executive Director and Manager Partner. Nearly everyone in the 20-person crew has a Worthington connection, from staging director Andy Herron to chief videography Alan Beavers, who both live in Worthington. Songs at the Center has been sustained by major sponsors JobsOhio and the James Cancer Hospital, along with support from Worthington resident, Barbara McFarland.
What have been some of the changes you've seen over the years?
Eric: Originally, we thought that it would help create the “songwriter’s round” feeling if we had an on-stage audience. When the pandemic hit, we had to discontinue that approach, and it turned out that it was a positive thing for our show. Our set design gets better every year, and we continue to improve the level of artists. We now can say that we showcase America’s finest singer-songwriters. Some of them are household legends – John Oates, Ray Stevens, Janis Ian, actor-songwriter Jeff Daniels – and some may only be known among songwriters, but their songs are known to everyone – Mike Reid (“I Can’t Make You Love Me”), Tom Douglas (“The House That Built Me”), and Don Henry (“Where’ve You Been?”). But all of them have performed on our show, along with at least 100 singer-songwriters from Ohio.
Do you have a favorite moment or story from the tapings over the years?
Eric: Nine seasons has felt like nine minutes, yet there are more “favorite” moments and stories than I can detail in a short time. My most poignant memory was sitting onstage with triple-Grammy winner Janis Ian when she sang, “At Seventeen,” and “Jesse,” two songs that were so important during my adolescence – which, by the way, was spent in that very room taking Behavioral Sciences back when the MAC was the “Annex” for (Thomas) Worthington High School.
Another moment was during our last taping, when Sony Recording Artist Tenille Townes, sang her songs “Somebody’s Daughter” and “Jersey on the Wall (I’m Just Asking),” two songs that demonstrate the level of craft you have to be committed to if you want to be taken seriously as a national artist.
And, of course, there’s no one more fun than double-Grammy winner Ray Stevens, who, at age 80 just before the pandemic, built a band new theatre, Ray Stevens CabaRay Showroom, and invited us down to his venue in Nashville to hear him sing, tell stories, and tell jokes.
What is the experience like for audience members? How do they attend a taping?
Eric: We provide a casual atmosphere for our audience, where they can come and go as they please (as long as they are quiet!). It’s easy to attend our shows at the MAC. No ticket or reservation is required, and they are FREE! Just show up and enjoy the show. While the finished TV show airs as if it’s a concert, our tapings have starts and stops to reset cameras. The audience will see America’s best singer-songwriters in the intimate environment of the MAC. On Feb. 21, at noon, our show will feature a husband-wife duo, Gary Burr and Georgia Middleman.
Burr is a Nashville Songwriter Hall of Fame member. He is an ASCAP, Billboard, and NSAI Country Songwriter of the Year, and has written 15 #1 hits, some recorded by Faith Hill, Garth Brooks, Carole King, Ringo Starr, Reba McEntire, LeAnn Rimes, Christina Aguilera and Ricky Martin, Kelly Clarkson, and many others. Burr is a member of the group Blue Sky Riders with Georgia Middleman, and Kenny Loggins.
Middleman has had songs recorded by Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, Faith Hill, Reba McEntire, Joe Nichols, Martina McBride, Sheila E., Radney Foster, Maia Sharp, among many others.