'As if he's lived a lot of life': Lakeland's McCoy Moore working as Nashville songwriter

It was after meeting country singer Luke Combs at a 2017 concert in Tampa that McCoy Moore’s fortunes in the music industry “kind of spiraled into what it is now.”

That “now” means a full-time job penning songs for a list of current country music stars as well as writing tunes for SMACKsongs, a Nashville-based music-publishing, management and artist development company. It has been a Top 10 Billboard Hot Country publishing company for the past eight years.

Since moving to Nashville in July 2020, Moore, a Lakeland native, has also been performing solo.

During the past three years, Moore has written songs for SMACKsongs country artists such as Shane Profitt, Bryce Mauldin and Jon Wood. In addition, he’s released six original songs on streaming sites — including his latest singles “Driveway,” released in 2021 and “Beer on Out,” released in 2022, available on all major streaming platforms.

'Passenger seat and shower singer'

Moore, 22, says he was surrounded by country music from a young age. He grew up playing baseball until he started playing guitar at 16. A home-schooled student starting his junior year, he graduated high school in 2019 and later headed to Nashville, where has been building a career in country music ever since.

Speaking from the Nashville home he shares with some housemates, Moore said until he met Combs, he was a “passenger seat and shower singer.” He said he spent hours learning to play music via YouTube videos and then “one day, I started making up my own words to what I was playing and next thing, I’m making up my own songs.”

'Accommodation' Lake Gibson teacher's play about a classroom conflict is running in LA

Much of his music is influenced by the music his father, Mark, now deceased, and mother Tracy Moore listened to when he was picked up from elementary and middle school — Alan Jackson, George Strait, Keith Whitley and Tim McGraw, for example.

“I listen to a lot of different types of music, but no rap. I try to grab those other kinds of melodies, too,” said Moore, who has an older brother, McLain, who works for the City of Lakeland.

Once he arrived in Nashville, Moore said he had friends already living there who became business partners later on. They helped him establish himself as a musician and as a songwriter, which eventually led to his full-time gig at SMACKsongs.

One of those friends was Jake Owen, a country music singer originally from Winter Haven who owns Good Company Entertainment in Nashville. The day Moore got to Nashville, he said he got an Instagram message from Owen, and he asked for his phone number.

“He called me and said, ‘I want to let you know, it’s going to be the best decision of your life,'" Moore said.

Moore was then referred to SMACKsongs, got a contract publishing deal and was offered to be paid to write songs as part of his salary. The company pitches songs written by its composers to country artists.

'He has a natural, God-given talent'

Lee Krabel, vice president of SMACKsongs, has been with the company founded in 2008 for seven years. He said a friend, Travis Gordon, referred Moore to SMACKsongs. Krabel liked his music and offered him a publishing contract. Although he started working in December, the contract became official July 7.

Krabel said Moore’s songwriting abilities and work ethic belie his young age.

“I think it’s his lyrical ability that stands out, especially for a kid as young as he is. He writes as if he’s lived a lot of life. He’s got a great lyrical sense, and he really fits in with our staff,” he said. “I think it’s his work ethic and his talents. I don’t think there are a lot of kids his age who work as hard as he does and want it as bad. He has a natural, God-given talent to be a gifted songwriter.”

Lakeland teen Harrison graduate relishes introduction to Broadway at awards show

As for his Polk County hometown, Moore said he hasn’t played in the area in “long time” but plans to book some shows when he comes down for a visit this fall. He said he hopes his music career in Nashville continues to build and that he can play and write music “for the rest of my life.”

“I knew when I moved here, it’s not a guarantee up here, it’s definitely a hard business to get into. But I’ve been blessed to have been doing this for as long as I have,” he said. “My goals are to help people tell their stories, write songs for other folks, further my career and play anywhere I can.”

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Lakeland native McCoy Moore is writing songs for big Nashville names