Troy Verges grew up in Louisiana, and when he received his first guitar at age 10, his initial impulse wasn’t to learn other people’s songs but to make up his own. He played in bands from age 14 onward and listened to everything from 1960s folk to punk rock to traditional Cajun music. After high school, he was able to satisfy both his parents and a desire to pursue a music career by aiming for a music business degree. With no such program available in Louisiana, he moved to Murfreesboro to attend Middle Tennessee State University and then to Nashville to finish out his degree. It was during those college years that Verges first encountered professional songwriters. 

When he was learning the craft of songwriting, Verges instinctively knew how important it was to listen. While still in college at Belmont University’s school of music business, Verges secured an internship at Patrick Joseph Music, one of Music Row’s strongest independent publishers. His internship led to a few single-song deals and finally a publishing contract with Pat Higdon a few weeks before he graduated. 

Within a year of his first major release, he scored #1 songs on Jessica Andrews’ “Who I Am” and Martina McBride’s “Blessed.” In 2002 Verges was named BMI Country Songwriter of the Year, NSAI Songwriter of the Year and Music Row magazine’s “Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year.” Other successes are Carrie Underwood’s hit “Wasted,” which held the top spot for three weeks; Kenny Chesney’s Top 5 smash “You Save Me:” Kellie Pickler’s “Didn’t You Know How Much I Loved You;” “Wanted” and “I Want Crazy” by Grammy nominated and CMA Best New Artist Hunter Hayes; Kip Moore’s #1 chart-topper“Beer Money;” Little Big Town’s  “Day Drinking;” and Tim McGraw’s “Shotgun Rider.”

His songs have been cut by Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts, Billy Currington, Faith Hill, Jason Aldean, Easton Corbin, Keith Urban and many more. Other diverse recordings include such artists as Celine Dion, Il Divo, Bon Jovi, Backstreet Boys, and Paulina Rubio. In 2011, he received both Golden Globe and Academy Award Best Original Song nominations for “Coming Home” performed by Gwyneth Paltrow in the film “Country Strong.” 

Although those early years weren’t easy, especially for somebody who won his first publishing deal before college graduation, Verges stuck to his own vision. He’s now as in demand as any writer in Nashville, emerging as one of UMPG Nashville’s greatest success stories.

Listen to Troy Verges on Soundcloud