On April 29^thsongwriter, artist, bandleader, multi-instrumentalist, and side-man extraordinaire, Phil Madeira, was inducted into the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame alongside blues legend Taj Mahal and others. Madeira, who hails from The Ocean State, and released an acclaimed piano-based solo album focused on his roots there last year, (brilliantly entitled Providence,) also released his latest album, and instrumental jazz set called Crickets just a few days before his induction.

Madeira, who may be considered a “behind the scenes” guy by mainstream standards, is more of an MVP for fans of meaningful music over the last several decades. After getting his start in Phil Keaggy’s band in the 1970s, and then becoming one of the most in-demand organ players in Nashville in the 80s and 90s, Madeira added Americana guitar to his repertoire and artists like Mumford and Sons, Civil Wars, Old Crow Medicine Show, Mat Kearney, Garth Brooks, Mavis Staples, Keb Mo, and Alison Krauss, to his list of employers and collaborators. He has become a first-call guy in Music City, both for his songs and for his chops as a pianist, B3 master, guitarist, producer, and bandleader.

Over the last decade, more as a passion project than anything, Madeira produced and released two collections of modern-day spirituals under the name Mercyland, that pull together an eclectic batch of indie, Gospel, Americana, and rock artists singing songs either written or co-written by Madeira, that delve deep into the heart of faith, spirit, and soul, without stepping anywhere near denomination or dogma. Those projects have included collaborations with The Lone Bellow, The Wood Brothers, Civil Wars, David Crowder, The McCrary Sisters, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Buddy Miller, North Mississippi Allstars and many others.

Now, four decades into his career, Madeira has never been busier, or more celebrated. He currently juggles his solo work with his frequent duties as a member of Emmylou Harris’ backing band The Red Dirt Boys, (alongside drummer Brian Owings, bassist Chris Donohue, and guitarist Will Kimbrough,) who also do shows and recordings of their own and have a record of their own coming soon. Madeira is also a record producer and songwriter as well as a painter and author.

Yet, as full as his schedule is, Madeira makes time every Summer for a special songwriting retreat in scenic Hot Springs North Carolina called The Mercyland Songwriting Workshop that is focused on collaboration, creative direction, community, and inspiration.  “The thing that seems to set Mercyland apart from most of the other song camps out there,” he recently told True Tunes, “is our emphasis on co-writing. One reason is that it creates community and personal bonds, which is probably why most of our attendees are also alumni. The other is that co-written songs seem to have a better chance at hitting a target. Most of my ‘big’ songs have been co-written; the idea may have started ‘about me,’ but once another voice is brought into the picture, it becomes ‘about us.’  It worked for Lennon and McCartney!” Songwriters Cindy Morgan and Will Kimbrough will join Madeira for the 2019 edition of the Mercyland camp this July 21 – 25.

Subscribe to our list to make sure you don’t miss our upcoming sit-down interview with Phil Madeira, and for more information, to get in on his next projects, or to look into his upcoming songwriting camp, visit www.PhilMadeira.com. You can also find a track from Madeira’s latest release, Crickets, in this week’s True Tunes Gallery Stage Spotify Mixtape, where Madeira is regularly included.