Michael Kosser
Director of the Songwriting and Commercial Music Program (Songwriters' Institute); Instructor, Songwriting and Commercial Music; and Artist in Residence
Degrees: B.A., History and Political Science, Alfred University - Alfred, N.Y.
Phone: 615.547.1297
E-mail: mkosser@cumberland.edu
Degrees: B.A., History and Political Science, Alfred University - Alfred, N.Y.
Phone: 615.547.1297
E-mail: mkosser@cumberland.edu
Michael Kosser was born in Mount Vernon, N.Y. and grew up in the midst of radical changes in the culture of American popular music. While serving in the United States Army, he began writing songs and, in 1971, he moved to Nashville where he immersed himself in the craft of the country song.
Over the years, his songs have been recorded by George Jones, Charlie Rich, Conway Twitty, Tammy Wynette, Barbara Mandrell, Ray Price, Marty Robbins, Jim and Jesse, the Kendalls, Josh Gracin, Blake Shelton and many more. During the '80s, his interests began to move toward book writing. He admits to 17 published books, including seven novels about Indians and 10 non-fiction books about the music business, most recently How Nashville Became Music City, U.S.A.: 50 Years of Music Row.
Mr. Kosser joined the faculty of Cumberland University in 2009 as director of the Cumberland University Songwriters' Institute and teaches a curriculum that includes the craft of songwriting and seeking a songwriting career in the real music industry. Although he spends the bulk of his time on campus, he is still an active songwriter on Nashville's Music Row.
Over the years, his songs have been recorded by George Jones, Charlie Rich, Conway Twitty, Tammy Wynette, Barbara Mandrell, Ray Price, Marty Robbins, Jim and Jesse, the Kendalls, Josh Gracin, Blake Shelton and many more. During the '80s, his interests began to move toward book writing. He admits to 17 published books, including seven novels about Indians and 10 non-fiction books about the music business, most recently How Nashville Became Music City, U.S.A.: 50 Years of Music Row.
Mr. Kosser joined the faculty of Cumberland University in 2009 as director of the Cumberland University Songwriters' Institute and teaches a curriculum that includes the craft of songwriting and seeking a songwriting career in the real music industry. Although he spends the bulk of his time on campus, he is still an active songwriter on Nashville's Music Row.