Music For The Soul

Music for the Soul, Director

Steve Siler

Steve Siler is a songwriter and producer. For eleven years he served as a staff writer in the Christian music industry during which time he had over 400 of his songs recorded in the Christian market by artists such as Point of Grace, Avalon, Anointed, Clay Crosse, The Martins, Aaron Jeoffrey, Greg Long, Be Be Winans, Bob Carlisle, Sandi Patty, Scott Krippayne, Tammy Trent, and Larnelle Harris among others.

Nominated for four Dove Awards, Siler won the award in 2000 for Inspirational Song of the Year with "I Will Follow Christ." His best known songs are "Circle of Friends" and "Not Too far From Here." He has had nine #1 CCM songs and over forty top ten singles.

Mr. Siler has had songs recorded by pop artists such as Kenny Loggins, Smokey Robinson, Patti Labelle, and Patti Austin. His songs have landed in feature films and on all four of the major television networks.

Prior to his work in songwriting Siler worked in marketing for A & M Records in Los Angeles.

Since becoming Director of Music for the Soul Mr. Siler has provided music for the opening ceremony of the National Special Olympics ceremony, The Starkey Foundation, and Lutheran Vespers, as well as the TV theme for Pure Passion.

His first book, "The Praise & Worship Devotional", was published by Tyndale House in February 2004.

Music for the Soul, Chairman of the Board

Phillip Keveren

A multi-talented keyboard artist and composer, Phillip Keveren displays a tremendous versatility in both his concert performances and his original works. He composes in a variety of genres, and is widely acclaimed for his piano publications.

Mr. Keveren presents keyboard concerts and publishing workshops in over 50 cities a year. Recent tours have taken him to Australia, Southeast Asia, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.

Phillip is co-author, major composer and MIDI orchestrator of the internationally acclaimed "Hal Leonard Student Piano Library," a complete piano method for young students. His unique arrangements are also featured in "The Phillip Keveren Series" from Hal Leonard.

A pioneer in the field of MIDI orchestration, Phillip has created software programs for Yamaha Corporation and produced dozens of piano performances for the Yamaha MusicSoft Library. He is in demand as a traditional orchestrator as well. He frequently composes for studio projects in various media, with his orchestral arrangements featured on recent releases by popular recording artists John Tesh, Twila Paris, Bob Carlisle and Larnelle Harris.

Mr. Keveren holds a Bachelor of Music in Composition from California State University, Northridge, and a Master of Music in Composition from the University of Southern California.

Music for the Soul, Vice Chair

William J. Tallent

Mr. Tallent's business experience exhibits a history of leadership, successful business start up and growth, and special skills in the area of communications. He co-founded the Telco Research Corporation, the world's leading telecommunications software and consulting firm and was its CEO from 1986-1990. He also founded the Hampton Investment Corporation in 1990 and the Tallent Communications Group in 1991. He is currently the CEO of Mercury Sports Network.

His experience also includes being the Director of staff services for Genesco, Inc. and CEO of the Coleraine Clothing Company and CEO of Male Sportswear

Mr. Tallent's not for profit sector pursuits include being a trustee of Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis since 1990, a trustee of Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tennessee, and a member of the Vanderbilt Divinity School Board of Advisors.

Mr. Tallent's education includes a B.S. in Commerce and the Harvard Advanced Management Program

He has served on the board since its inception.

Music for the Soul, Board Member

Shawn McSpadden

Shawn McSpadden started his career in the music business in his early twenties with his music publishing company McSpadden-Smith Music in Nashville, Tennessee. As McSpadden-Smith grew into a multi-million dollar publishing company with many successful songwriters, he was offered the job of President of Word Music Publishing in 1997 where he managed a catalog of over forty-thousand songs. In 2002 he moved to Senior Vice-President of Artists and Repertoire for Word Records where he oversaw the signing of new artists and the production of recordings.

In 2005 he accepted a position at Red Light Management, where he currently manages artists such as Third Day, Switchfoot, Rodney Atkins, Phil Vassar, Jamie O'Neal, The Lost Trailers and other country and christian artists.

Shawn has currently served on the board of Music for the Soul for 3 years and has also served on the Board of Directors of the Gospel Music Association, completed Leadership Music, and is currently involved with Habitat for Humanity.

Music for the Soul, Board Member

Craig Adams

Craig Adams currently serves as Project Leader for LifeWay Worship Music Group in Nashville, TN. With more than 20 years of experience as a 5-time Dove Award-winning producer and arranger, Craig's sphere of influence within the Christian music industry has become far-reaching.

A published producer, songwriter, arranger, orchestrator and recording artist, Adams' work has contributed to the success and ministry of such notable names as Sandi Patty, Steve Green, Sonic Flood, FFH, Margaret Becker, Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, Christ Church Choir, David M. Edwards, The Imperials, The Old Time Gospel Hour Quartet, Miss Patty Cake, Word Records, Fervent Records, Autumn Records, Indelible Media Group, Brentwood Records, Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Discovery House Music, Pacific Grove Productions, Lari Goss, Greg Nelson, David T. Clydesdale, Camp Kirkland, Dennis and Nan Allen, Russell Mauldin, Geron Davis, Phillip Keveren, and countless others. Craig has also been commissioned to contribute literary content for noteworthy publications, Worship Leader Magazine, Let's Worship Magazine and Broadman and Holman's Worship Bible.

Currently serving his 21st year as a part-time minister of music/worship leader, Craig has a fiery passion for creating resources for worship ministry. It is this role in local church ministry that fueled his efforts as Creative Director for Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing for nearly six years and continues to motivate him in his new role at LifeWay. His current responsibilities as Project Leader include: editorial leadership for LifeWay's quarterly music magazines, the Phil Barfoot series and the You Can! series; production leadership for the Worship Project; convention workshop and seminar leadership; market research; new market exploration.

Craig resides in Franklin, TN with his wife of 11 years, Deanna, and 2 children, Madeline and Hayden. Living nearby is Craig's father- veteran publisher, song/hymn writer, Steve Adams. Craig enjoys travel, tennis, church softball and backyard grill-outs with his family and church friends on a regular basis.

Music for the Soul, Board Member

Susan Brantley

Susan is employed by Second Presbyterian Church and is the site coordinator of the Nashville Epiphany Project (NEP). This program brings young adults to Nashville for a one year mission experience with non-profits in town focusing on social justice and systemic change. Serving as an elder at Second Presbyterian Church, she is very involved with the outreach ministry programs.

Volunteering in the community, Susan enjoys delivering meals on wheels, tutoring children, and working with adults to attain their GED. She enjoys annual mission trips to Guatemala, and is taking classes to improve her Spanish.

Susan is a native Arkansan, but has lived in Nashville since 1980. She graduated from Vanderbilt with a BS in 1984, and attended the Vanderbilt Divinity school from 1999-2002. She has been married for over 23 years and has 2 teenage children.

Music for the Soul, Board Member

Gerald Willis

Gerald Willis is a retired principal from Metropolitan Nashville School System. He has also served in various administrative positions at Trevecca Nazarene University, which include Assistant Director of Admissions, Director of Retention, Acting Director of Admissions, Director of Career Planning and Placement and Chaplain. He is now serving as Associate Pastor at Whispering Hills Church of the Nazarene in Nashville.

Gerald received his B.S. degree and M.Ed. from MTSU and plus 45 from Tennessee State University and MTSU.

Music for the Soul, Board Member

Chris Hogan

Christopher Hogan received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Georgetown College where he excelled as a Kodak All-American & National Championship football player, represented the college at formal events and tours as a President's Ambassador, and was involved in many other activities.

After college, Mr. Hogan accepted a full-time position to coach college football at California University of Pennsylvania with his own college coach and mentor. During this time he performed residence life staff training, directed the team's academic monitoring program, and was the strength and conditioning coordinator. He also spoke at clinics, camps, and conferences on motivation, positive thinking, wellness, and nutrition and budgeted and directed the annual coaches' clinics.

In 1995, Mr. Hogan graduated magna cum laude with a master's degree.

After receiving his master's degree Mr. Hogan transferred his practical financial skills and degreed business & communication skills to the financial arena. Currently he is a multi-licensed financial counselor, trainer running the Wealth Coach Division for the Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University organization.

Music for the Soul, Board Member

Stevey Shaw

Stevey, along with her husband Douglas, is the founder of Douglas Shaw and Associates, a full-service fundraising and communications agency serving national and international non-profit organizations and ministries.

Ms. Shaw, a mother of two, has a Bachelors of Science in Psychology from the University of Texas and is currently a student at Fuller Seminary with a focus on mentoring and leadership development.

Music for the Soul Pastor

Rev. Dwight Liles

Music for the Soul Advisory Board

Dr. Beverly J. Anderson , B.C.E.T.S.
Clinical Director/Administrator
President, American Academy of Police Psychology
Washington, D.C.

Joyce Boaz
Director, Gift from Within
Camden, ME

Rev. Michael Cusick, MA, LPC
Founder, Director of Restoring the Soul
Lakewood, CO

Marnie Ferree, MA, LMFT
Director, Bethesda Workshops, and Author
Nashville, TN

Greg Hasek, MA, MFT LPC
Misty Mountain Family Counseling Center
Tigard, OR

Sharon Hersh, MA, LPC
Author, speaker, and Adjunct Professor at Reformed Seminary
Denver, CO

Gregory Jantz, Ph.D.,CEDS
Director of The Center for Counseling and Health Resources Inc. and Author
Edmonds, WA

Linda Mintle, Ph. D.
Professional Therapist, Author, and adjunct professor in the School of Psychology and Counseling at Regent University
Chesapeake, VA

Dr. Kenneth E. Reed
Pastor, Author, and Creator of Healing through Grieving
Indianapolis, IN

Constance Rhodes
President of FINDINGbalance, Inc. and Author
Franklin, TN

Wes Roberts, MA
Founder/CCO of Leadership Design Group/Life Enrichment and Pastoral Counselor
Parker, CO

Dr. Doris Sanford
Therapist, Author and Founder of Heart to Heart
Milwaukie, OR

Douglas & Stevey Shaw
Douglas Shaw & Associates
Servant Leadership & Development
W. Chicago, IL

Chuck Stecker, Ph. D.
Founder, President of A Chosen Generation and Author
Littleton, CO

David Walley, Ph. D.
Director, The Babb Center
Hendersonville, TN

Larry Watkins, MS
Director of Deep Waters Christian Counseling, Author, and ordained Pastor
Franklin, TN

Emeritus Board

Lynne McCleery

Pamela Barras

John Bracewell

Marty Wheeler

Music for the Soul Staff

Sue Foster, MA, LMFT
Director of Volunteer Services, Executive Assistant