You might not know Jim Lauderdale’s name but you most definitely know his music and his songs.
If you go
Jim Lauderdale
Where: Iota Club and Cafe, 2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington,
When: 8 p.m. Thursday
Info: $15; 703-522-8340; iotaclubandcafe.com
Just last month he played a Washington-area show with Elvis Costello and he also appeared with Willie Nelson on “Late Show With David Letterman” just a few weeks ago. If you’re a fan of Patty Loveless, Dave Edmunds or even George Jones, you’ve likely heard them sing songs he’s written. “I just enjoy singing with other people. I’m really lucky to be able to sing with Willie and Elvis and still have time to do my own thing,” Lauderdale said. “All these people are heroes of mine and it means so much to me to be able to do this.”
Those artists and many others likely feel the same way about the multiple Grammy Award-winning Lauderdale. He became a part of Nashville royalty in the 1990s when his songs became hits for everyone from the Dixie Chicks to George Strait. From there he built his own loyal fan base for both his songwriting and performing.
Lauderdale credits the songwriting chemistry he has with his longtime co-writer Robert Hunter for helping him refine and develop his craft.
After working independently for several years, the two began to reconnect professionally. When the two spent the New Year’s holidays together a few years ago, they found their songwriting chemistry still hummed.
“Writing is a discipline and a challenge,” Lauderdale said. “You just have to make sure you devote the time to it.”
The system works, as evidenced by Lauderdale noting Strait just recorded 14 of his songs. Yet he said it’s far from a science, which is why performing his own work helps him stay creatively fresh.
“I still get a slight bit nervous when I go out [on stage]. I have a little bit of that adrenalin going and that always helps,” Lauderdale said about keeping shows exciting. “Now I can pace [the concerts], depending on the time and place. As time has gone by I’ve had more and more songs that I can pull from so I can change things on a particular night.”
Of course that enables Lauderdale to gauge the mood of a crowd and introduce up-tempo songs or ballads as they occasion warrants. The sharp intuition needed for such shifts is also one of the traits he admires in his household-name friends.
“These artists I work with are still getting better and better as time goes by,” Lauderdale said. “They are still coming up with new stuff; that’s very inspiring.”
