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The King of Reinvention
April 26, 2023
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When it comes to the “Queen of Reinvention,” I could give you a list of examples that go on forever: Madonna, Dolly, Kelly, Cher, Taylor, you get the gist. And maybe I have been living under a rock, but when I think about the “King of Reinvention,” I have a hard time coming up with a list of names of that caliber. Maybe it’s a societal thing. Women, all Women, hit a certain point in their lives where they are forced to reinvent themselves. It’s mostly due to age, divorce, empty nests, and life altering events that occur over time, while these things are much more forgiving when it comes to Men. But I recently had the opportunity to reconnect with a friend of mine that I have known for over 20 years thanks to the music business, both being from Louisiana, and my obsession with his band since the moment I discovered them right out of college, and I have to say, that once again, I was pleasantly surprised by him.
I am referring to Kevin Griffin, the front man from the Louisiana band Better Than Ezra. I have always been amazed at his ability to reinvent himself and his career over the years, not out of necessity, but simply because he was constantly open to change, new opportunities, and the ability to self-assess and pivot when needed. Now, don’t get me wrong, I am sure he has suffered some serious setbacks, life altering events and what some would consider failures along the way. And I have certainly seen him have to hustle like the rest of us to get things done, but as long as I have known him, he has constantly maintained a positive attitude and a certain sense of confidence and southern charm that can easily rub off on a person and inspire them to “Be all they can be.”
Since 1988, the start of his band Better Than Ezra and his career in the music industry, Griffin has mastered the expansion of his brand as a performer, songwriter, producer, music publisher, and international speaker for major corporations like Live Nation, Google, Nike, Disney and more. He has served as a writer-in-residence at NYU’s Clive Davis School of Music. He is Co-founder and a Partner of Pilgrimage Festival, an annual music festival in Franklin, TN going on it’s 9th year in September, and most recently, the author of the book “The Greatest Song: Spark Creativity, Ignite Your Career and Transform Your Life.”
The book essentially reveals the 5 Step process, referred to as “The Method,” of Griffin’s songwriting success, based on years of experience working with both new and seasoned artists, arranged in a manner that is completely different from a “How To” or “Self-Help” book, which is the actual appeal for the reader/listener. Instead of taking the usual approach, Griffin creates a fictional character, Jake Stark, who must “reinvent” himself after being dropped by his publisher MegaMusic and what he thinks is the backside of his career.
Stark later meets quirky billionaire Sir Daniel-Smith Daniels (who’s character is slightly based on James Blunt), owner of Nashville publishing company, The Row, who gives him another shot at songwriting. Daniels introduces him to several eccentric writers who take him on a different journey each time they write together to learn what Griffin believes is the “Five Step Formula” for writing “The Greatest Song.” These steps can also be applied to everyday life situations as common-sense practices to approach the challenges that life can sometimes throw at us. This formula not only helps Stark professionally, but it also helps him to reconnect with his family.
Over the years, Griffin has had his songs recorded and performed by artists like Taylor Swift, Train, Sugarland, James Blunt, Dierks Bentley, Chase Rice, Meatloaf, Christina Perry, Barenaked Ladies, Howie Day, Blondie, The Struts, Matt Nathanson, and more. His most recent project is the Tigerlily Gold Monument radio track, “Shoot Tequila,” currently climbing the Country chart.
When I asked him if he at all felt like he was giving away his secrets to success or if he felt any vulnerability about sharing his professional and life lessons with the world, he immediately said, “No! At this point in my career, I want to pay it forward. I want to give back what I have learned to those who may be at a point in life where they feel stuck or like they are going nowhere, and these lessons can push them in the right direction. I’ve been so blessed to have been able to do the things I have done so far, that helping others, especially younger artists and aspiring songwriters is the next step on my journey.”
Griffin chose the fictional story and character approach for “The Greatest Song” because he didn’t want it to be like another “How To” or “Self Help” book. “People tend to get really bored with those kinds of books fast,” he says. “So, I wanted to take readers on a journey, I wanted to create a lovable character that people would root for, while at the same time engage them in valuable professional and life lessons taught by interesting characters that would resonate and sink in.”
“The Greatest Song” is endorsed by some pretty influential people including Former NFL Quarterback Peyton Manning, Former Saints Coach Sean Payton, SVP/Music Strategy For CMT, Leslie Fram, Nationally Syndicated Radio Host Bobby Bones, Recording Academy and Grammy’s CEO, Harvey Mason Jr., fellow songwriters, comedians, actors and more. It’s available online as is the audio version which is narrated by Griffin himself, who actually switches accents and characters throughout the audio presentation, subjecting listeners to his charismatic charm and inflection, which makes the audio version all the more engaging. In addition, the audio version also includes songs written by Stark (Griffin) throughout the journey of the book. They can also be heard via Spotify.
Griffin embarks on a U.S book tour to promote the release which kicks off April 27th in Decatur, GA. It takes him to cities like Los Angeles, New Orleans, Nashville, Dallas and more, and wraps up May 31st in Santa Rosa Beach, FL.
In between those tour dates, Griffin will play shows with his band Better Than Ezra, including two in his second home, New Orleans, during Jazz Fest on May 5th and 6th, at The House of Blues, along with a few one off’s before kicking off a tour with Train on July 19th in Paso Robles, CA.
And let’s not forget about Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival September 23rd and 24th at The Park at Harlinsdale Farm in Franklin, TN, an event which has garnered over 27,000 attendees in the past. Not only is Griffin a Co-founder, but he is hands on with production of the event and often a performer, whether it be solo or with Better Than Ezra. This year the band is scheduled to perform on Saturday, the 23rd. Headliners for the weekend include The Lumineers and Zach Bryan.
Griffin’s inspiration for Pilgrimage Fest came from years of playing Jazz Fest in New Orleans. “It’s such a magical experience both attending and performing,” he says. “After making Franklin my permanent home for myself and my family, I wanted to bring that kind of culture and music to the people of Tennessee (and surrounding areas) as I became more and more intrenched in my new community. And The Park at Harlinsdale Farm is such a big part of that. We’ve been so lucky with its success and didn’t skip a beat after having to pause for a year due to the pandemic. This year will be no different,” he promises. “And we’re already ramping up for our 10th Anniversary next year.”
So, while the world is looking for badly needed role models for young men, (or any gender for that matter), Griffin, also the father of three boys, is a great example, as is his book. When I asked him how we engage the younger generation moving forward, he broke it down for me, “Anyone, including and especially the younger generation is encouraged by stories of success, especially when it’s broken down in everyday terms and examples they can relate to. I hope to be an inspiration on all levels for Gen Z, and hope that my book will be too.”
Follow Kevin Griffin on Instagram and Twitter @Kevinmgriffin, Kevin Griffin on Facebook, and @wearebetterthanezra on Instagram and BetterThanEzra.com
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