Rivers then became
acquainted with producer
Chips Moman, who was working
with The Highwaymen on their
second album. Chips
enjoyed River's playing &
eventually signed Rivers to
a song-writing deal, which
led to his first cut.
Chips invited Rivers to
Nashville where he met The
Highwaymen, namely Johnny
Cash (RIP), Waylon Jennings
(RIP),
Kris Kristofferson & Willie
Nelson. The four
superstars recorded Rivers'
composition 'American
Remains' & he also played
guitar & sang some backing
vocals.
After a brief stint in law
school in 1991 & a move to
Nashville in 1993, Rivers
began to make a name for
himself as an entertainer,
studio guitar player &
songwriter.
When he & his wife began a
family, Rivers took on more
& more studio work. He
played guitar on albums by
Tracy Byrd,
Mark Chesnutt,
Amy Grant, Point of Grace & Ringo Starr among
others.
Rivers signed a
publishing deal with
Universal Music Publishing
Group in 1996 & at the time
of the acquisition of his
Gene Watson quote (October
2006) he was still working
for the company. In
2002, Rivers earned honours
for the ASCAP Song of the
Year; Brooks & Dunn's No.1
hit 'Ain't nothing 'bout
you' spent six weeks at the
top of the charts.
Rivers racked up cuts by
acts including Gary Allan
('Smoke rings in the dark'),
Josh Gracin ('I want to
live'),
Andy Griggs ('Tonight I
wanna be your man'), Faith
Hill ('When the lights go
down'), Tim McGraw ('Real good
man'), Montgomery
Gentry ('If you ever stop
loving me'),
Randy Travis
('Raise him up') & Chely
Wright ('Shut up & drive').
Performing is an integral
part of Rivers' identity.
He spent time on the road in
2005 opening for Josh Gracin,
Pat Green & Keith Urban &
saw the release of his own
album, 'Just Another
Coaster'.
Rivers' songs have also been
recorded by Gretchen Wilson,
Gary Allan, LeAnn Rimes,
Keith Urban, Trick Pony,
Blake Shelton, Deana Carter,
Clay Davidson, Tim McGraw,
Montgomery Gentry, Carrie
Underwood, Kenny Chesney,
Brad Paisley & Jamie O'Neal.
