Sought-after songwriter McAnally heads to "River"

NASHVILLE (Billboard) - Jimmy Buffett, Alabama, Kenny Chesney and Sawyer Brown have all recorded his songs, but Mac McAnally says he writes only for himself. "I've never put a lot of effort into being a commercial songwriter," says McAnally, a longtime member of Buffett's Coral Reefer Band. "I just try to write what my heart's talking about and follow that."

The 52-year-old Mississippian -- a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame -- joked about "going against my nature" during a recent phone interview. "I'm talking about myself today and I'm in New York City," the singer-songwriter said.

McAnally's Big Apple trek served a dual purpose. In addition to producing some Buffett tracks, he was making the media rounds to promote his own new album, "Down by the River." Released August 4 on Toby Keith's Show Dog Nashville, "River" is McAnally's 11th set. It debuted at No. 56 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart. His previous album was 2004's "Semi-True Stories," released on Buffett's Mailboat Records.

The self-produced "River" showcases McAnally's sought-after skills on guitar, piano, harmonica, ukulele and percussion. He has pledged his artist royalties from "You First," the set's thoughtful lead single, to the Wounded Warriors Project, which assists wounded military personnel. "I've always been a big supporter of the troops," McAnally says. "I wanted to do something good to shine a little light on what they do for us."

McAnally scored his first No. 1 single as an artist and sixth as a writer earlier this year with the Chesney collaboration "Down the Road." Prior to this, McAnally's best chart performance as an artist was 1990's "Back Where I Come From," which reached No. 14 on Hot Country Songs.

The Chesney collaboration, on Chesney's "Lucky Old Sun" album, led to a 2009 Academy of Country Music vocal event of the year nomination. "Kenny dragged me up the charts like an ankle weight," McAnally says with his trademark sense of humor. "That's how big a star he is. But I'm not making light of that. I'm as grateful as anybody walking."

Having appeared recently on radio's syndicated "Bob & Tom Show" and Fox Business Network's "Money for Breakfast," McAnally will soon guest on GAC's radio program/TV show "GAC Nights." His ongoing goal, he adds, is to "pursue music in any way that I can. I love to play and sing; I love to perform, write and produce. I don't know anybody luckier than me for doing the things I like and getting to call it a job."

(Editing by SheriLinden at Reuters)