Country’s piano man Springfield performer Vassar started as songwriter

Phil Vassar made his initial musical mark in Nashville by writing songs that others made famous.

Jo Dee Messina took “Bye Bye” to the top of the charts in 1999, helping Vassar earn recognition as ASCAP Songwriter of the Year.

Tim McGraw’s “My Next 30 Years,” Collin Raye’s “Little Red Rodeo,” Alan Jackson’s “Right on the Money” and Messina’s “I’m Alright” also had their origins in Vassar’s largely upbeat reflections on everyday life – including his own. Vassar wrote “My Next 30 Years,” for example, on his 30th birthday.

But while hearing others interpret his lyrics on a national stage was rewarding, sharing those stories through his own voice and piano-based instrumentals has become the realization of a dream for this native of Lynchburg, Va.

“Writing enabled me to break into the business,” said Vassar, who will perform at the Springfield Fair at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 31.

“The songs I wrote, the people who heard and performed them, and maybe the fact that being a piano player is somewhat of an abstract notion in the [country music] industry helped my own career grow. I came to Nashville as a singer; that’s what I always wanted to do.”

Vassar’s career has blossomed since the February 2000 release of his self-titled debut CD on Arista Records, an effort featuring the No. 1 hit “Just Another Day In Paradise” the top-5 “Carlene” and his current single, “Six-Pack Summer.”

He was nominated for top new male vocalist in 2000 by the Academy of Country Music and for the Discovery Award given to new performers at the TNN/CMT Country Weekly Music Awards.

“I try to keep things simple, I try not to be too song-writery,” said Vassar while resting on a Florida beach recently during a weeklong break from his summer tour schedule. “Some people use poetry to get their point across. I try to write in a more conversational way, just relating a lot of things I come across in life.”

Vassar’s story is not one of instant success. After attending James Madison University on an athletic scholarship, the former decathlete moved to Nashville in 1987, worked the local club scene, refined his writing skills and learned to play the piano – now a focal point of his performances.

A business major in college, Vasser in 1995 bought the restaurant and club where he played many of his performances.

While running the restaurant, he intensified his writing and performing efforts, in many cases collaborating with other well-known Nashville songwriters who frequented his club. As word spread of Vassar’s songwriting ability, so did opportunities for his singing career.

“When I started having hits as a songwriter, I started getting some interest as an artist. Some record companies began taking interest. I worked for years and years to get a deal, and it finally happened,” he said.

Vassar signed with Arista in 1998, and sold his club a year later to focus on his recording career.

By the summer of 2000, he was in country music’s fast lane, touring with the likes of McGraw and Faith Hill. Later in the year, he opened for Kenny Rogers and Kenny Chesney.

Vassar currently is working on his second solo CD. He’s finished six tracks, including a collaboration with Rob Thomas of the rock group Matchbox Twenty.

“It’s going to be a different type of record than the first album,” he said. “But I’m really excited about it.”

This fall, he’ll hit the road again for a two-month tour with Chesney.

In the meantime, Vassar headlines a summer tour with a heavy emphasis on country fairs.

“I love playing fairs, particularly outdoors when the weather’s nice,” he said. “At a country fair, you meet a lot of great people, a lot of real people, a lot of people who work hard to make a living.

“I feel like I’ve been one of them my whole life.”