Local’s song receives nation-wide release
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His eyes could tell the stories of his life,
The gray in his hair shines more than ever,
That’s when I began to realize.
(Part of the lyrics of Daddy’s Prayer by Michael Cantrell)
“For a country boy, I’m tickled to death!”
That’s what Mike Cantrell had to say about one his songs being picked up by a California record company and released nation-wide on an album.
Cantrell, who operates Citgo Market and works part-time at WJLE, began writing songs in 1995 and has published three books–two in a series called “His Loving Touch.”
While all his songs have been recorded on a local or regional level, his work is now receiving national exposure thanks to a song called “Daddy’s Prayer” and Hilltop Records. Cantrell copyrights all of his song lyrics in Washington D.C. and over a year ago he got a call from a representative of Hilltop Records in California inquiring about “Daddy’s Prayer.” A deal was struck and Cantrell’s song has been recorded by Cody Lyons on an album titled “The Songs of America.”
“Their slogan was ‘From our hearts and our pen’s come the songs of America.’ Cody Lyons did the vocals on this one and he truly did a great job,” Cantrell said.
Born in Warren County, Cantrell grew up in the Keltonburg community of DeKalb County and attended schools here. After serving a tour in Viet Nam, he moved to Georgia where he managed a store for 12 years before returning to Keltonburg.
He wrote the first “His Loving Touch” in 1992. “The good Lord just poured it out. I’m blessed and very thankful he allowed me to do this writing,” Cantrell explained. “‘His Loving Touch’ has touched a lot of people, both young and old. It was so unique because you could find yourself in so many of the stories as if you wrote them about yourself.”
Three years later, it was on to writing country and country-gospel songs. “I’ve had a lot of help along this journey. I used so many critics because I wanted the people reading my words to feel what I was felling when the words went on paper,” he said.
Cantrell said he doesn’t have a favorite, but “Daddy’s Prayer” is the one giving him much-needed exposure.
“Radio stations, some music stores and some major market department stores got this one” on “The Songs of America” album, he said. “You can order a copy on the Internet at www.hilltoprecords.com and ask for album AM360 or write them for a copy at Hilltop Records, 1777 North Vine St., Hollywood, California 90028.”
Cantrell himself recorded the song on a new locally-produced album called The Clowns, which can be purchased directly from the songwriter. Inspiration for The Clowns came recently while Cantrell was performing in nearby Warren County when, unannounced, someone walked in wearing an ape suit and entertaining the crowd.
Cantrell later learned the man behind the suit was someone who often performed the same routine for terminally ill children at places like Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital in Nashville.
Inspired by the man’s stories, Cantrell went home, and with relative ease, wrote “The Clowns.” Now sporting shoulder-length hair, Cantrell said he was letting his hair grow long before cutting it off for a wig which would be given to a cancer-ridden child.
“You’ve got to have something in live to reach or dream for and I’m going to
mine,” Cantrell said of his writing. “I know where my songs come from and I thank God and pray he will allow me to continue to write. I pray he will continue to use me. Who knows, someday there may be another His Loving Touch.”