Nov/Dec Songwriter  Spotlight  2004

 Arlo Gilliam songwriter genres: country, rock, alternative and others

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Arlo Gilliam

• BMI Published Songwriter and WWSWA Member

• Appeared on GAC Straight Up w/Trent Willmon

• Currently on tour playing bass for Sony/Columbia artist Trent Willmon

• Arlo's song "If I Had The Power" reached #2 on the WWSWA Top 40 chart for October 2004

• Arlo writes daily with top Nashville Songwriters

• Has shared the stage with numerous acts such as Diamond Rio, Gary Allan, Montgomery Gentry and others.

• Played on the world famous Grand Ole Opry

      for more info visit www.arlogilliam.com

           photos used by permission, courtesy of arlogilliam.com

Arlo Gilliam Facts:

Birth Date: June 24, 1977

Favorite Color: Orange

Influences: Jim Croce, Shawn Mullins, James Taylor, Don Williams

First Concert: Lynryd Skynyrd-1995

Siblings: 3

Favorite Movies: The Godfather, Scent Of A Woman (Hooah!), and Emmit Otter’s Jug Band Christmas

Instruments: Saxophone, Guitar, Bass, Mandolin and Piano

Favorite Quote: “If  your ship doesn’t come in, swim out to it”

 Arlo Gilliam is a singer/songwriter and musician originally from the small southeast town of Whitwell, TN. Arlo began playing guitar at age 14. He had many influences and teachers.  “I used to listen to anything I could get away with.  Back then, my parents were pretty heavy into church so I had to sneak if I wanted to listen to anything that wasn’t country or gospel.” 

Taught by many, including his Dad, Arlo regularly played guitar after church.  He learned old sixties and seventies rock and roll tunes from church guitarist Lane Morrison.  “I used to love Lynyrd Skynyrd , Guns N’ Roses, and all that hair band stuff.

 However, Jim Croce was a huge influence on me, believe it or not.  My Dad was a huge fan of Croce’s back in the early seventies so he had all of these old song  books with all the guitar chords in them.   I guess Jim Croce kind of taught me how to play.

I am thankful for that now because I sure learned some really great songs and chord changes that I apply today in my own songwriting.”  At the age of 17, Arlo snuck into a local bar where he discovered his love for groove.  “A guy named Kenny Berry was singing and playing bass. “ I remember it was the fattest, funky groove I had ever heard in my life.  He was playing a 72’ Fender Jazz through and old Ampeg rig. It sounded like gold. Kenny’s playing is like Jameson, Jaco and Duck Dunn all in one.  He is my mentor and now one of my closest friends.”

 Arlo took his first job as a bass player at the age of 18 with local Southern Country/Rock band “Southern Impact”, which later evolved into “Big Slick and the Slackers.”  At 20 he branched out and began playing for many different bands including: Rose Hill, Cashmere Love Crash and Buck Naked.

Arlo now makes his home in Nashville with his cat, Hank. He writes everyday and is currently on tour with Sony/Columbia recording artist Trent Willmon.   He is also in the process of writing and recording his very own solo project to be completed by the spring of 2005.

Arlo with his Music Man Bass!

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