“A rising star whose music marries folk, Americana and more.”

Keyboard Magazine

Performer, producer and industry executive are just some of the roles that multi-faceted musician Kory Caudill inhabits on a daily basis. From his past touring work with famed country artist Justin Moore, to his own chart-topping solo releases and acclaimed live shows, the Nashville-based keyboardist and entrepreneur is charting a compelling course that’s all his own. And his singular sound and string of successes can be traced straight back to his Appalachian roots.

“I was born and raised in rural Kentucky,” Caudill says. “And while both of my grandparents were career coal miners, musical roots run deep through my family. My grandmother and great-grandfather were well-known Gospel musicians in their communities. They lived in a region that was isolated from just about all modern conveniences, but that helped to preserve its culture. In fact, I still regularly use a cymbal on recording sessions that my great-grandfather fashioned by hand to use in church services. Also, my mom is a retired music teacher and my dad is a great keyboardist and he helped bring modern music technology to rural Kentucky. I’m sure that my ability to wear a variety of musical hats comes from my family.”

Caudill would discover music himself by the age of four, starting a serious study of the piano that continues to this day. “I latched-on to music early, but it was never forced on me, Caudill explains. “When my parents realized I liked it, they did everything they could to put me around the right people. They would have put just as much work into it if I had wanted to be a baseball player. But lucky for me, I chose music.”

An appreciation of all kinds of music is a trait Caudill developed at a young age, and one that continues to define him musically. “I listened to everything from the very beginning,” he says, “from Todd Rundgren and Kansas, to the Beatles and beyond. In fact, my dad had a bootleg Billy Preston tape that had around ten songs on it, with Billy playing organ. That music really struck a chord with me. But at the same time, for me all roads lead back to Appalachian soul. Bluegrass music had a huge effect on me, because it was the music you heard every time you went to your relatives’ house, and the music you made sitting on their front porch. I had an unquenchable thirst for all these different sounds and styles. And when they collided, it formed the foundation of my musical identity.”

Caudill’s penchant for all things piano continued throughout his adolescence and as he was mentored by seasoned musicians in his native Kentucky. “We had some terrific performance spaces with a world-class rhythm section there,” Caudill says. “They were sort of their own ‘Muscle Shoals’ kind of unit, and they played on tons of records back in the 1990s. They took me under their wing around the age of 11 and their guidance, mixed with me playing Gospel music and taking classical piano lessons really helped my music take flight.

“The creative world is a bigger, healthier space when Kory is part of it.”

 Justin Moore (Billboard Number One Country Artist)

During musical studies at Nashville’s Belmont University with Bruce Dudley, Caudill dove headfirst into every playing opportunity he could find – from club dates to musicals and beyond. Soon after in 2008, rising star Justin Moore tapped him for his touring band. Caudill would spend 13 years anchoring Moore’s live shows, while simultaneously releasing chart-topping albums as a solo artist and honing his writing and production skills.

In 2018, as his solo career continued to garner acclaim, Caudill joined forces with fellow polymath Marc Costanzo, the acclaimed writer, developer and producer also known for his work with the pop group Len. Sensing a shared musical vision, Caudill created a writing and production offshoot of Costanzo’s publishing company Inside Music Publishing. As President of Inside Music Nashville, Caudill continues to form strategic alliances around the globe, welcoming renegade newcomers and industry veterans to his roster, and partnering with Costanzo in a company with a vested interest in over 35 million records sold.

“Kory brings a unique blend of composition and playing.  Working with him is always refreshing.”

Chester Thompson (Genesis/Frank Zappa)

2018 also saw Caudill chosen by the Episcopal Church to both curate and perform on a new multimedia live series entitled Concert for the Human Family. Originally conceived to host live concerts in awe-inspiring venues, the series has taken-on an even greater mission – to unite people of all faiths, races and political beliefs. “My hope is that eventually these concerts will be performed in big venues and will affect people around the world,” Caudill explains. “This truly is a concert series I’ve been working towards since I was four years old. I used to watch Yanni - Live at the Acropolis every day and hope that I’d be able to create music like that someday. And now it’s a reality. But on an even deeper level, I hope that this concert series allows me to build a platform to make the world my kids live in a better place. And I believe the message and the music these concerts deliver can do just that.”

And how does this Kentucky native find balancing the numerous musical hats he wears regularly?

“I love it all” Caudill says. “That balance between performing and producing is what keeps me excited. I love that I get to exercise different parts of my musical personality every day. I’m a lucky guy.”

Wordsmith is a Baltimore-based songwriter, performer, entrepreneur and philanthropist.

In 2009 he opened his independent label NU Revolution Entertainment. Since its inception, distribution and licensing deals with INgrooves, United Masters, Redeye, and APM Music helped the company flourish.

Wordsmith has released six albums over his career, became a Grammy Voting Member and earned winner of Best Rap/Hip Album for Perspective Jukebox at the 16th Independent Music Awards. Wordsmith continues to use this platform to strengthen partnerships with major brands like: Netflix, ESPN, NFL Network and WWE to name a few. 2019 brought prominent features in the hit shows Russian Doll (Netflix), Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Netflix), Preacher (AMC), Skam France (UK TV) and recently had two songs featured in the video game NBA 2K21 Next Gen.

Continuing to expand the company, Wordsmith officially opened his nonprofit “Rise with a Purpose, Inc.” and delivered his first TED Talk via John Hopkins University in 2021. Partnering with the US Department of State to fund performances and workshops in countries around the world to strengthen multicultural ties, Wordsmith has brought his influential music to Azerbaijan, Haiti, Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Angola and Ukraine. During the pandemic he performed Virtual Tours for Panama, Tunisia, Tanzania and Ukraine to keep the cultural connections strong.

A chance meeting with Tonya Robles, VP of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO), brought an opportunity to write new narration for Carnival of the Animals with the BSO. A second opportunity came when Wordsmith was asked to host the 2018 BSO Gala with special guest Cynthia Erivo. Officially becoming an Artistic Partner with the BSO in September 2020, monumental projects are underway or had world premieres. On Juneteenth, 2021, James Lee III and Wordsmith debuted a piece called “Destined Words” for the BSO Gala Celebration in honor of Marin Alsop. Reinterpretations of Stravinsky’s “The Soldier’s Tale” and Beethoven Ninth are in the works as Wordsmith prepares for landmark performances.

Always looking to expand his horizons, Wordsmith collaborated with composer/pianist Kory Caudill for a project called “Progressions” and an event dubbed “Concert for the Human Family” sponsored by the Episcopal Church. Still, with Hip Hop being Wordsmith’s first love he has also collaborated with notable acts like Chubb Rock, Skyzoo, Camp Lo, Sadat X, Jaz-O, Ruste Juxx, Grand Daddy I.U. & his cousin Roc Marciano over the years.

As a Memphis native and Nashville resident, Marcus Finnie has toured with Kirk Whalum, Keb’ Mo’, Taj Mahal, Lady Antebellum, Larry Carlton, Donna Summer, India Arie, Billy Preston, Earl Klugh, Dave Koz’s Summer Horns and many others. Marcus has also recorded with Grammy and Stellar Award nominated and winning artists’ Kirk Whalum, Keb Mo & Taj Mahal, India Arie, Michael McDonald, Lalah Hathaway, and several others.