Rodney Clawson is from rural Gruver, Texas, population 1,000. The son of a Texas farmer, Rodney has carried on the family tradition of maintaining the family’s 3,000 acre farm. Rodney has 3 kids: Sydney, Chris and Brad. Clawson’s rural beginnings not only influenced his faith and his family but also his talent as a songwriter. In 1997, Rodney started making trips to Nashville to develop his songwriting gifts. Hard work and sacrifice led him to his first songwriting deal in March of 1999. Rodney’s co-writer and fellow Texan, John Rich, encouraged him to continue songwriting, while maintaining the family farm. Rodney learned that the hardships and struggles of songwriting parallel those of traditional farming. Rodney’s songwriting deal ended when the company folded in 2000.
Rodney then made a call to an independent publisher, Extreme Writers Group (www.extremewritersgroup.com). A new publishing deal was signed in March of 2000 with Extreme. The combination of energy and talent in this new venture began to pay off both financially and professionally. Clawson started to get songs recorded by Nashville artists. His song “Sweet Southern Comfort,” co-written with Brad Crisler, was recorded by Nashville Star winner Buddy Jewell and was one of the Top 10 Most Performed Songs of 2004, according to Billboard magazine. Clawson and Crisler landed another hit with “I Can’t Be Your Friend” with the group Rushlow on Lyric Street. Clawson has also had songs recorded by Faith Hill, Gary Allan, Phil Vassar, Neal McCoy, Jason Aldean, Chris Cagle, Tracy Byrd and Big & Rich.
Clawson has written songs for Seeds of Faith and Seeds of Courage, a family worship music series, distributed by Provident on Good Seeds Records (www.seedsmusic.com). The goal of this project is to “plant the seeds of God’s word in young hearts.”
Clawson’s song “In My Blood,” has become the official song for Preserving Rural America, an organization committed to the preservation of family farms. Clawson’s voice as a farmer and songwriter captures the spirit and essence of rural America. Clawson said of the song, “This is the hardest song I’ve ever written, because it was so personal.”
