Home By Dark, The City of Alpharetta, Fulton County Arts & Culture, and Arts Alpharetta present the latest episode of A SONG CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE. Recorded at the Alpharetta Arts Center Black Box, the show can be heard on all major podcast outlets and viewable at facebook.com/homebydark A SONG CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE podcast features one-on-one interviews with professional songwriters. Episodes may cover a variety of subjects such as the writer’s background, their introduction to songwriting, the creative process, the demo recording process, pitching songs, the business of professional songwriting, sources of inspiration, and poignant moments in their career. Every show focuses on one song from the writer’s catalog that has had significant impact on the world, the writer, or the host. Tony Arata was born in Savannah, Georgia and grew up on nearby Tybee Island. While studying for a journalism degree from Georgia Southern University, he began performing his original songs in local bands. In 1986, he and wife, Jaymi, moved to Nashville where his unique, soulful style began to get the attention of people like Allen Reynolds and Garth Brooks. Garth to date has recorded seven of Tony’s songs, and “The Dance” won song of the year at The Academy of Country Music and received both a Country Music Association and a Grammy nomination, as well as a most performed song in Radio and Records Magazine. He has also had No. 1 records with “Here I Am” for Patty Loveless, “I’m Holding My Own” for Lee Roy Parnell, and “Dreaming with My Eyes Open” for Clay Walker. Other artists who have recorded his songs include Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt, Trisha Yearwood, Delbert McClinton, Don Williams, Reba McEntire, Suzy Bogguss, and Hal Ketchum. Tony has also done three solo albums featuring new songs, covers, and guest appearances by many of Nashville’s finest musicians as well as folks who have recorded his songs, including Garth, Patty, and Lee Roy Parnell. On this episode of A SONG CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE, Tony talks about his hit song “Here I Am” recorded by country superstar Patty Loveless.