Craig Carothers

For two decades, Craig Carothers wrote songs and performed in Portland, Oregon. Outside of his home town he was pretty much unknown. In the music business, however, he was developing a name for himself for creating songs that are simultaneously witty, aching and unforgettably melodic. Trisha Yearwood included one of Craig's best-loved songs, "Little Hercules," as a "bonus track" on her greatest hits album, which meant that several million people suddenly know about Carothers' talent.

After a couple of trips of musical re-con to Nashville, Craig moved to "Music City U.S.A." at the end of the 20th century. Not a country artist, Carothers knew that this was the number one place in America to find recording artists looking for songs. Since his relocation, Craig has had songs covered by a number of country artists, and one of his fans is Patty Larkin (also not country), who numbers Craig as one of her favorite vocalists...period. In his broad range as a songwriter, and his ability to go from ridiculous to sublime in the same tune, he reminds one of Loudon Wainwright III, one of his influences.