David Nail

10 Years After Hitting Nashville, He Celebrates His 1^st #1 at ASCAP
 

Nashville: “People who know me, know that I can get teary,” cautioned David Nail in front of the backdrop at ASCAP’s Music Row offices, where over 100 people had gathered to help celebrate “Let It Rain,” the Grammy-nominated vocalist’s first #1 single. Not only did the single make history as the longest rising #1 since the inception of the country radio charts, but Nail also co-wrote the song of mistakes and consequences with Jonathan Singleton.

Along with the musicians who played on the album, co-producer Chuck Ainlay, his touring band, Universal Music Group Chairman Luke Lewis and the assembled MCA Promotion and Marketing staffs, Nail had a “this is my life” moment to consider the long road from Kennett, Missouri to the top of the country charts. As he said, “There was a point when I was so low, I didn’t know… and I called Jason (Sheer, who owns the Tin Roof), who told me I was playing there that night. He didn’t ask me, he told me.

“I swear, that call and that night changed everything,” he continued. “If I hadn’t gone out to the Tin Roof and sung, I would’ve gone back home to Missouri.”

Travis Hill, on behalf of Carnival Music, summed it up best when he said, “There are projects in town considered best guesses, good odds, calculated shots, and then there’s labors of love. For Carnival, Universal Music Group and (manager) Brian Wolf, that’s what this journey has been… and for a song to make this kind of chart history, that’s the kind of passion it takes across the board. More than luck, more than focus, more than persistence, more than talent, more than hard work… it takes a labor of love. This party signifies that everyone else is catching up and catching on to the faith we’ve shared for years: that David Nail is an amazing artist, a true entertainer and, simply, the best singer we know.”

Presentations were made by the Country Music Association, the Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc., BMG Music Publishing and ASCAP, whose Ryan Beuschel also gave Nail a guitar to commemorate his first #1. After 48 weeks, a lot of white-knuckle moments, and last minute pushes by the MCA Promotion team and the faith of country radio, David Nail had finally arrived in the #1 Club.

Co-writer and brand new daddy Singleton joked that “Someone told me we could’ve had a baby in the time it took this song to go #1… and (my wife and I) did!”

“There are so many people to thank, so many people who believed and helped and fought,” Nail said. “There have been so many moments when it felt like it would all fall apart, but people kept in there with us. They didn’t want to give up, either, and that’s maybe the mark of making a difference with a song or an album: when people care enough to not just move on. Right now, I feel like the luckiest man in the world.”

Pausing for only a moment to thank the people who came, he posed for pictures, did interviews and then headed straight to his bus for a string of Texas and Arizona dates before starting a California run. “The Sound of A Million Dreams” is slated to follow up “Let It Rain” as Nail’s next single. He will also be seen in Country Radio Seminar’s New Faces Showcase in Nashville.

Check out this great video at the event from NashvilleCountryClub.com!