Paul Nelson (6)

Nashville-based songwriter, originally from North Carolina. Following college, Nelson taught school for five years in Florida before moving to Los Angeles with his brother, Gene Nelson (2), to pursue a songwriting career. In 1982, after six years of no success, the brothers moved to Nashville. They hit the jackpot six years later when Kathy Mattea topped the charts with their “Eighteen Wheels And A Dozen Roses,” which was named the 1988 ACM Song and Single of the Year. From that point, other singles followed for Nelson, such as “Ships That Don’t Come In” by Joe Diffie, “Billy The Kid” by Billy Dean, “Somebody Else’s Moon” by Collin Raye and “Everything’s Changed” by Lonestar. Throughout his career, Nelson has been a particular provider of songs to Tracy Lawrence, including “As Any Fool Can See,” “I See It Now,” “If The Good Die Young,” “If The World Had A Front Porch” and “My Second Home.” Nelson has earned three Triple Play awards from the CMA for having three #1 songs in a single year.