After graduating from high-school at the age of eighteen, Paul Overstreet moved from the bayous of Mississippi to the music capitol of the world, Nashville, Tennessee. Not owning a suitcase, he brought with him a laundry basket of Levis and football jerseys, ten original songs and a guitar. He packed them in a 68 Ford Fairlane with lots of dreams of how great it was all going to be when he finally got to the "Big City."

It was a long, hard road that would lay ahead, but the dream of writing songs and making records was so big that the toughest roads weren't going to stop him. After sleeping in his car and eating potato salad sandwiches for awhile, he got a job in a water heater factory. The future was not looking too bright, but somehow the dream stayed alive. Looking back now on the earlier years, Overstreet says, "It's amazing to realize that the reality is greater than the dreams that started the whole adventure." Overstreet believes that it was his talent and vision, given to him by God, that enabled him to reach his goals as a songwriter, artist, and producer.

As a songwriter, Overstreet has written and co-written 26 top ten songs, his first being George Jones,' "Same Ole Me." Numerous other artists have recorded his songs including Randy Travis, singing "On the Other Hand," "Diggin Up Bones" and "Forever and Ever, Amen." Tanya Tucker topped the charts with "One Love at a Time" and "My Arms Stay Open All Night," and then teamed up Paul Davis and Overstreet with the hit, "I Won't Take Less Than Your Love." The late Keith Whitley, and after him, Alison Kraus recorded "When You Say Nothing At All," and The Judds with "Love Can Build A Bridge." Other hits have been recorded by Glen Campbell, Pam Tillis, Mel Tillis, Travis Tritt, The Forester Sisters, Marie Osmond, and Michael Martin Murphy. "When You Say Nothing At All" was recently released on the major motion picture, "Nottinghill," starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. It will soon be released on the movie soundtrack, sung by the UK artist, Ronan Keating.

As an artist, Overstreet has written and recorded many songs himself. "You Can't Stop Love" was the debut single for S.K.O. on M.T.M. Records and neared the top of the charts. That album produced two other top ten hits as well. His first solo project began when RCA released "Sowin' Love," on a major label. The five singles released from this album were all top ten hits, including the title cut, "Sowin' Love", Paul's "signature" song "All The Fun," and his first number one, "Seem' My Father in Me." The second album, "Heroes," included the hits "Daddy's Come Around," "If I Could Bottle This Up," "Heroes" and "Billy Can't Read," which became the theme song for CMA and CMT Project Literacy. The next album "Love is Strong," gave Paul his first #1 song on Christian Radio with the title cut and gave him another chart topper with "There But For The Grace of God Go I."

Not only have Paul's songs been recorded by other artists, but they have earned him numerous awards. Overstreet, along with other co-writers, has earned two Grammy Awards, his first for "Forever and Ever, Amen" and the other for "Love Can Build a Bridge." BMI honored Overstreet as Songwriter of the Year for five consecutive years from

1987-1991 This was a mark on the music row wall that had not been reached before or since He also won CMA and ACM Song of the Year in 1987 & 1988. The "Love Is

Strong" album earned him a Dove Award for Country Recorded Album of the Year in 1992. He also earned Dove Awards for Country Recorded Song of the Year in 1991 for "Seem My Father in Me" and "There But For the Grace of God Go I" in 1994. Overstreet has been awarded TNN Viewer's Choice Award for Christian Country Artist and received the Christian Country Music Association Award for Mainstream Artist of the Year as well.

Aside from being a writer and an artist, Overstreet is also an accomplished producer. He co-produced his own albums and was sole-producer for Christian country artist Suzie Luchsinger. This album launched her career. Overstreet also co-wrote many songs on the project, two of which topped the Christian country charts and one a duet they performed together. Recently, he co-produced the Jenny Morris CD, "Girl On the Run" for Bob Keane and Del-Fi RecordslNashville.

Overstreet is known for songs that encourage the family. He has definitely lived that out in his own life, turning down many "opportunities" to be on the road, for "opportunities" to stay close to home as his children grow up. Having his own recording studio on his farm, west of Nashville, has made that part a little easier. With six children, ranging from the ages of 13 to I month, he and his wife Julie have lots of opportunity to live out what Paul's songs talk about.

Presently, he has just finished what he calls "A Songwriters Project - Volume 1"' as a songwriter, artist and producer. This has been a labor of love and much awaited by those that will love Overstreet's own rendering of hit songs previously recorded by other artists. There are also a couple of brand new cuts included on the CD. The project was released May of 1999 on Scarlet Moon Records as Volume 1. £'Always leave them wanting more," says Overstreet, and with his God given talent, that's not hard to do.

One of the most rewarding of Paul's many ventures is his involvement with his good friend, Franklin Graham and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. He has had the distinct honor of traveling to areas such as Nicaragua and Honduras with Samaritan's Purse, a relief organization committed to meeting the spiritual and physical needs of people in crisis situations. Paul's most recent project, "Living By The Book," is a Christian album with all original songs, recorded on his own label, Scarlet Moon Records. This album was recorded to be sent as a gift to all of the supporters of Franklin Graham's ministry.

Paul, his wife Julie, their six children, Nash, Summer, Chord, Harmony, Skye, Charity and an assorted pet menagerie, reside on a farm in a small town outside of Nashville. You can find Paul on his website at http://www.pauloverstreet.com or send him an email to paulover@bellsouth. net.