Songwriter Brent Cobb Signs to Dave Cobb’s Low Country Sound Label
Don’t call it nepotism. Call it having a good ear.
On Friday (3-18), producer Dave Cobb’s conceptualized compilation album Southern Family officially hit the street with it’s mouth watering list of contributors, including Jason Isbell, Miranda Lambert, Jamey Johnson, and Zac Brown. Also in the track list is a distant cousin of Dave Cobb’s, songwriter Brent Cobb. But this is far from Brent Cobb’s first exposure, and his inclusion on the track list was no family favor. Signed to Carnival Music as a songwriter, Brent penned “Rockaway (The Rocking Chair Song)” on Kellie Picker’s album 100 Proof (named SCM’s Album of the Year in 2012), and has written songs for The Oak Ridge Boys, Miranda Lambert, Frankie Ballard, David Nail, and others.
“He’s always been incredibly talented,” says Dave Cobb. “One of the first things he did was write a song for an Oak Ridge Boys record I was working on, and it sounded like a classic hymnal.”
Brent Cobb wrote “Hold Me Closely” for the 2009 Oak Ridge Boys album The Boys Are Back, which Dave Cobb co-produced. But at the time, the two Cobb’s were still getting to know each other.
“I’m from Savannah, Georgia and he’s from Ellaville, Georgia which is on the Alabama border. So we’re both south Georgia, but we’re literally on the opposite sides of the state completely,” explains Dave Cobb. “He’s from my dad’s side, and I grew up in Savannah where my mom’s side is from. I didn’t know him at all growing up. I didn’t meet him until I was in my 30’s. I met him going to my grandmother on my dad side’s funeral. His great grandfather is my father’s brother; that’s how distant we are. I don’t even know what kind of cousins you call that. He’s a lot younger than me too.”
But music still runs deep in the Cobb line, regardless of what side of Georgia it comes from.
“Man, what a great writer,” Dave says about Brent. “His dad gave me his CD, but a lot of my family plays so I just thought ‘Well, it’s just another CD.’ My wife made me put his CD on in the car of songs he’d been writing. We were driving back to the airport from the funeral that time, and he just knocked me out. He’s like Don Williams. So deep. Such a deep, beautiful writer.”
Brent released a self-titled EP in 2012, but now that he’s signed to Dave Cobb’s “Low Country Sound” imprint on Elektra Records, Brent will get his big shot at making a statement as a solo artist. And his new album will carry the “produced by Dave Cobb” stamp, which has been working out quite well for a few of country and roots artists lately.
“I’ve always believed in him. I signed him because of his talent, not because he’s my relative,” Dave Cobb says. Relative or not, anything Dave Cobb is involved with is probably worth paying attention to, and Brent Cobb is about the be the latest beneficiary.
March 19, 2016 @ 8:46 am
I thought he did excellent on Southern Family, which btw I took a full listen today and I co-sign with every word of your review for it.
March 19, 2016 @ 9:17 am
I still listen to “No Place Left to Leave.” Really good album.
March 19, 2016 @ 10:16 am
Brent’s first album was produced by Shooter Jennings and Leroy Powell. Really good album. He released an EP a few years later, but wasn’t quite as good. I like Brent, hope he releases something soon.
March 19, 2016 @ 10:39 am
Thank goodness for every Luke Bryan & Jason Aldean that comes from Georgia there’s a Brent Cobb and Dave Cobb. Go Dawgs!!
March 19, 2016 @ 11:13 am
Which David Nail song(s) did he contribute to?
March 19, 2016 @ 7:31 pm
Nepotism… Typical Nashville….
Na Nah just kidding, let’s see what he does.
March 19, 2016 @ 10:18 pm
Co-writer on “Grandpa’s Farm” from Nail’s 2011 album The Sound of a Million Dreams, per Allmusic.com
March 21, 2016 @ 6:45 am
Spoony is correct, he co-wrote “Grandpa’s Farm” which was recorded by both David Nail and Frankie Ballard (although I much prefer Nail’s version). He also co-wrote “Old Shit” recorded by Miranda Lambert.
March 20, 2016 @ 12:18 am
“Down Home” is my favorite cut on “Southern Family”. Excited to see what he does with a full album!
March 20, 2016 @ 6:54 am
Love, love Brent Cobb. So glad to get some new music from him! Been waiting a long time for it.
March 20, 2016 @ 2:59 pm
“diggin’ holes” is such a great tune as well.
March 21, 2016 @ 12:46 am
I’ve been waiting for this for soooo long! I love Brent Cobb and I know he is the real deal! Its interesting to not that he wrote the song “Tailgate Blues” that Luke Bryan recorded. Luke Bryan apparently tried to get Brent Cobb into the mainstream. I think its funny that for whatever reason he did not want Luke Bryan’s help; I’d like to think its because Brent did not want to become apart of the bro-country movement. Instead of having instant success as a bro-country star like Cole Swindell, I like to think that he waited for an opportunity to record real down-home meaningful music. Now he has that opportunity to get his music out through such a well known source and I cannot wait to hear the final product! I can tell all of you guys it is going to be incredible. I’d even go as far as to say that Brent’s music quality will match or surpass the quality of music found with Mo Pitney or Jon Pardi.I cannot say enough for Brent! Another fun fact is that he wrote the song “Old Shit” on the Miranda Lambert album Platinum which is a very fun cool song.
March 21, 2016 @ 12:53 am
Also check out his fireside sessions on YouTube. That’s where I first discovered him. Just type in Brent Cobb fireside sessions.
March 21, 2016 @ 6:29 am
So where is this proof that Brent didn’t want Luke’s help? That is a preposterous, not to mention a very inaccurate assumption. I love Brent Cobb’s music, used to pay him $100 bucks to play in a buddy’s back yard from time to time. And whatever record he puts out there will be awesome. But the length’s some of you go to to put down mainstream artists like Luke Bryan or Cole Swindell is ridiculous.
March 21, 2016 @ 12:25 pm
Haha thanks. I’m sorry I just had a long day and got carried away from actually hearing some good news I had been waiting for for a long time. I meant to just say that without drawing any “preposterous” conclusions that I find it interesting that Luke Bryan went out of his way to call Brent to come to Nashville with him as he took sympathy with him as they are both Georgia natives. It is interesting that Swindell another Georgia native Luke Bryan took under his wing was able to secure a record deal on Bryan’s behalf while Brent did not. So I will apologize for going too far, but I will not apologize for hurting Luke’s or Swindell’s feelings that you are so concerned about. I’m really just kidding with you. I think its really cool you had Brent play for you. That is really awesome.
March 21, 2016 @ 8:33 am
I had no idea who this guy was until I heard him on Southern Family. I really dug his voice and bought his EP. I’m excited to be able to hear some new music soon. Any idea on where to get his first LP? It seems hard to find.
March 21, 2016 @ 11:29 am
Brent’ LP “No Place Left to Leave” released in 2006 is currently on ITunes.
March 26, 2016 @ 3:09 pm
I love love “Sweet by and by” that he co-wrote with Miranda Lambert. I can’t wait to hear what he puts out next!