Working Class Heroes
This was my very first single & music video. The song is about my father who is my biggest role model. It is my attempt to embody the pride and soul of the everyday blue collar working class person. It won "Music Video of The Year" at the 2022 Carolina Country Music Awards. The song was recorded & produced at Soundland Studios by music legends Robbie VanHoy (Henry Berry Band) & Larry Chavis (Bj Thomas). The video was directed and shot by Tony Murnahan (StWrongTone Media). As a result of the song I was also nominated for "Emerging New Artist" at the 2022 Carolina Country Music Awards.
If These Walls Could Talk
This song is about the woman I love, small dreams, and that sometimes we overlook happiness in life that is right in our backyards. There is a studio version of this one available anywhere you stream music under, "Chris Nelson Band". This song gained me entry into the Carolina Artist Showdown in the 2024 competition for the Carolina Country Music Awards.
Miss Sally K
I had the most incredible experience growing up deep sea fishing with my papa and dad. We lost Grandpa to cancer in the early 2000's and the experience was hard for me. The memories we made on the Miss Sally K (a fishing boat named after my grandmother) sculpted me into the person that I am today. This song honors my dad, the memories we made with papa & the man, the myth & the legend that he was.
59 Years, Almost 60
The inspiration from this song came from a gentleman that I was working for. His wife was taken by cancer and he mentioned that he, "had her for 59 years, almost 60". I tried to embody their life long love story in this song. After writing this one, I presented him with the lyrics. Let me know what you think in the comments of the YouTube channel!
Broken Cowboys
This song is for the folks that struggle with addiction. The song lyrics suggest that even when we are down we have to keep going. We fail, we improve, we fail and repeat. This song allowed me to receive nominations for "Male Artist of The Year" & "Country Single of The Year" at the 2023 Carolina Country Music Awards. The YouTube video I am attaching is of the actual studio recording version.
Darlin'
Darlin' is about love that lasts the test of time. The opening line of the chorus asks, "Darlin', will you still love me when time takes its toll". I wrote this with a dark, but sweet realization that, in order to love someone for life, we will all someday be removed from all things superficial. Through my new record deal with Hwy One Records I am looking forward to bringing this song to life in the studio complete with a sax solo.
Six String Dream
This is a newly written song about my experiences as a full-time professional musician and entertainer. In the song, I ask my younger self, "what is it like to play music everyday?".
"Once music digs her claws in you, there is no other way. You'll be addicted to bright lights, but won't see the light of day"
You
This was the very first country song I ever wrote. You is about a woman I met that changed a terrible situation that I was in into the best thing that has ever happened to me.
Slice of Heaven
I wrote this song on a mountain vacation in the hills of North Carolina. "I'm tired of hearing these white collar blues, when there are vets in the streets with no shoes"
Slice of Heaven is about how far out of touch politicians on both sides of the isle are out of touch with the normal everyday American.
Color Inside My World
We have all experienced the feeling at some point of new love. It can make all things in life feel more animated and bright. This song is about my personal story of how I met the woman of my dreams.
8 pds, 6 ozs
I was sitting in a hospital waiting room when my future brother in law came out to explain his experience of holding his son for the first time. I don't have any children, but I felt inspired by his words and wrote this song on the back of a hospital map while sitting in the waiting room listening.
Saxophone Improvisation
One thing that people experience at my full band shows is original improvisations from every member of my band. One of the things we feature is my ability to improvise on the saxophone. Here is a video from the North Carolina Presenters Conference at the Sampson County Exposition Center of me taking a couple choruses of solo on Joe Cocker's song, "Feeling Alright".