Three songwriters who have each penned major award-winning hits in their careers will take the stage at Martin Methodist College on Tuesday, Jan. 23, for the third annual Richard Leigh & Friends Singer-Songwriter Concert.

Leigh will be sharing the Martin Hall Auditorium stage with two talented colleagues, James Dean Hicks and Marc Beeson.

The show begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $7 at the door with all students (K-college) admitted free of charge.

Leigh – whose signature song, “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue” by Crystal Gayle, is considered one of Nashville’s all-time greatest recordings – is a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Among his other number one hits have been “I’ll Get Over You” also by Crystal Gayle, “Come From The Heart” by Kathy Mattea, “Life’s Highway” by Steve Wariner, “Put Your Dreams Away” by Mickey Gilley, “Somewhere In My Broken Heart” by Billy Dean, “That’s The Thing About Love” by Don Williams, and “The Greatest Man I Never Knew” by Reba McEntire. He also wrote such best-sellers as “Cold Day In July” by the Dixie Chicks, “Only Here For A Little While” by Billy Dean, and “Wish I Had A Heart Of Stone” by Bailey and the Boys.

He’s written 14 Top 10 singles, seven songs nominated as Country Music Association’s Song of the Year, three nominated for Grammys, and has had songs recorded by everyone from George Jones, Tammy Wynette and Alabama to Ray Charles, Connie Francis, and Perry Como.

Hicks has had a long and successful music career as well, beginning at the age of 10. He has written five number one songs and had more than 170 songs recorded by major country stars such as Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, and Kenny Chesney and young pop singers such as Jessica Simpson and Aaron Carter. Among his biggest songs are “Goodbye Time,” a hit by both Conway Twitty and, last year, Blake Shelton., “Jesus And Mama” by Confederate Railroad, and “National Working Woman’s Holiday” by Sammy Kershaw.

Like Hicks, Beeson began his music career as a singer, recording two solo projects in Nashville before fronting the band, Burnin’ Day Light, on Curb Records. As a songwriter, he has had songs recorded by Reba McEntire, Kenny Rogers, Martina McBridge, Peter Cetera, Diamond Rio, Collin Raye, and Chicago, among others. The song, “When She Cries,” recorded by Restless Heart, won both ASCAP Country and Pop Song of the Year awards.

For more information about the Richard Leigh & Friends Singer-Songwriter Concert, contact 931-363-9815.