Jon Vezner

Grammy award-winning songwriter Jon Vezner is a tunesmith of rare sensitivity and dry wit. His catalogue of recorded songs, topped by the poignant “Where’ve You Been,” reflects his straight-to-the heart sensibility and sensitivity. Vezner weaves the particulars of his own feelings with the lives of people he has known into universal themes that deeply touch listeners’ emotions.

Born June 6, 1951, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Vezner was lead singer and bassist in bands throughout high school and earned a B.A. degree in music theory and music education from Minnesota Southwest State University in the mid ‘70s. He was prepared for a career as a music educator, but his main interest was always songwriting.

In 1983, Vezner made his first trip to Nashville to attend the Nashville Songwriters Association (NSAI) spring symposium. In 1984, Vezner established a relationship with Ree Guyer of Wrensong Music, a music publishing company with offices in St. Paul, Minnesota and Nashville. Very soon after, he had songs recorded by Mel McDaniel and Dave and Sugar.

Vezner moved to Nashville in January of 1986, and within that first year he had songs recorded by Reba McEntire and Ronnie Milsap, followed by Lorrie Morgan’s first single in 1987, “Train Wreck of Emotion,” which he co-wrote with Alan Rhody.

In 1989, Vezner co-wrote “Where’ve You Been” with fellow singer/songwriter Don Henry, recorded by Kathy Mattea, a true story of Vezner’s grandparents that earned him “Song of the Year” honors with both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM) for 1990. The song was honored with a Grammy Award for “Best Country Song” and the Nashville Songwriters Association “Song of the Year.” Vezner was subsequently named “Songwriter of the Year” by the NSAI.

Other co-penned songs recorded by Mattea include “A Few Good Things Remain,” “Time Passes By,” “Whole Lotta Holes,” “Slow Boat,” “Who’s Gonna Know,” “All Roads to the River,” “The Innocent Years,” “Calling My Name,” “Trust Me,” and most recently the touching ballad “Ashes in the Wind.” Some of the other singles written by Vezner include “If I Didn’t Love You” by Steve Warriner, “Has Anybody Seen Amy” by John and Audrey Wiggins, “Then What” by Clay Walker, and “You’re Gone” by Diamond Rio. Vezner’s songs have been recorded by a varied list of artists such as Martina McBride, Janis Ian, John Mellencamp, Nancy Griffith, Faith Hill, Clay Walker, Diamond Rio and Native American recording artist, Bill Miller.

Vezner also has a growing list of production credits, producing CD projects for such artists as Danny O’Keefe, Victoria Shaw, and singing legend Patti Page.

Vezner presently resides in Nashville.