Settles Connection, homegrown & southern born, except for Rick our only Yankee, is one blessed recording, performing, and songwriting group, founded by Odessa Settles, the only sister of eight kids. Based in Nashville TN, the group consists of family and close friends. Everything the group does fulfill personal desires and honors the life and legacy of their father, former Fairfield Four member Walter J Settles and his tremendous contribution to America’s traditional performance art culture. The group seeks to preserve anything Americana (e.g., folk, blues, r & b, traditional & contemporary gospel) and create recordings and performances through collaboration.
“Word of mouth” is a coveted promotional tool for any artist. For Settles Connection, the tool has been the gold standard and has taken members into numerous recording studios and performance venues across the nation to collaborate with some of the best artists, presenters, and producers the industry has to offer. When Dave Cobb calls personally and says “We need y’all” or Vince Gill says “Come sing with me at the CMHOF” or Shooter Jennings call to say “I’ll be in Nashville soon, I need you guys”, or T-Bone Burnett & Denise Stiff calls, or Marty Stuart calls and says “I need a favor”, something is definitely working for the group.
Settles Connection has a long list of recording credits. Hot off the press is Southern Family, a concept CD produced by one of the group’s favorite producers, Dave Cobb, on which the group performs the finale The Way Home with Rich Robinson of the Black Crowes. and is currently working on a new project 2019-2020. The group has also provided background vocals for artists such as Zac Brown, Darrell Scott, Jonathan Edwards, Tony Joe White, Kathy Mattea, Jon Vezner, Martina McBride, Shooter Jennings, Buddy Greene, Danny O’Keefe, Randy Travis, Buddy Greene, Jorma Koukonen, T-Bone Burnett (Oh Brother Where Art Thou and Ralph Stanley), Maura O’Connell, and many more, covering a variety of genres including country, bluegrass, spirituals, gospel, classical, blues, soul, and rock. Members appear on the Grammy-nominated recordings by Maura O’Connell, Dave Perkins, and Ashley Cleveland, and on the double Dove Award winning album Inspirational Journey by Randy Travis that picked up Bluegrass album of the Year and Country Recorded Song of the Year for the song Baptism with background vocals by Settles Connection. The group was named an IBMA Nominee for their work on the Moody Bluegrass: Nashville’s Tribute to the Moody Blues project (Dave Harvey, Producer).
Rounding out the group is Odessa Settles, Calvin Settles, Shirley Settles, Wayne Settles, Sara Settles, Calvin Settles, II, Rick Jones, and Darlene Hill. Yes, there are many and there are more.
Born and bred in Macon, GA, Buddy Greene has been performing for audiences since the tender age of ten, but his first big break came when, as a young man, he landed a position in country superstar Jerry Reed’s band. As rhythm guitarist, singer, and harmonicist, Buddy’s four year stint with Reed proved to be the ideal apprenticeship that included appearing on numerous TV shows and recordings as well as touring extensively throughout the country.
By 1984, Buddy and wife Vicki had moved to Nashville where he was able to more fully develop as a musician, entertainer, and songwriter. In1986, Buddy released his first solo recording, a self-titled debut of original gospel music followed the next year by an instrumental release, Praise Harmonica, that helped to establish his reputation as one of Nashville’s best on the harmonica. At the same time, he began touring the country as a featured performer with gospel greats Bill and Gloria Gaither.
Over the last 30+ years, Buddy has performed across America, made numerous trips abroad, and released twenty recording projects. His album Sojourner’s Song won the Gospel Music Association’s Dove award for Best Country Album, and he has received 9 other Dove award nominations. Through his long association with the Gaithers, he has become a favorite gospel performer, appearing often on the Gaither’s popular Homecoming video series.
Buddy has also made his mark as a songwriter. Besides the many self-penned songs of his own recordings, he co-wrote (along with Mark Lowry) the modern Christmas classic “Mary, Did You Know,” recorded by a host of major artists, including Kathy Mattea, Kenny Rogers and Wynonna, Natalie Cole, Clay Aiken, CeeLo Green, Rascal Flatts, Mary J Blige, and Pentatonix. Other songs of Buddy’s covered by major artists include “Recovering Pharisee” by Del McCoury, “Fall Down, Children” by The Whites, and “He Is”, a number one for gospel artist Ashley Cleveland.
Throughout his career, Buddy has steadily advanced as a harmonica player. He has played on the recordings of many outstanding artists, including Jerry Reed, the Gaithers, Riders in the Sky, Charlie Peacock, Bela Fleck, The Ojays, Sara Groves, Keith and Kristyn Getty, Sandi Patty, and Larnelle Harris, just to name a few. After hearing Buddy’s 2002 release “RUFUS”, legendary folk icon Doc Watson invited Buddy to join him onstage at the prestigious MerleFest roots music festival in 2003 and subsequent years. In 2009 he joined an auspicious lineup of Nashville virtuosos to help jazz bass legend Charlie Haden celebrate his country roots in the Grammy nominated recording and video project Rambling Boy. And with good friend and accordion maestro Jeff Taylor, Buddy has played engagements from the U.S. to Europe and beyond.
Other milestones in Buddy’s career include performing at numerous Billy Graham crusades, especially the 1992 New York Crusade before a crowd of 250,000 in Central Park, and his performance of the “William Tell Overture” 10 years later at Carnegie Hall, captured live on a Bill Gaither Homecoming video and subsequently posted on YouTube, has been viewed by millions.
Buddy’s latest project, Looking Back, provides a strong summary statement of Buddy’s journey as a Christian, songwriter, instrumentalist, and skillful interpreter of songs, original or otherwise. The 18 song collection includes some self-penned numbers from earlier projects (updated with fresh arrangements for 21st century ears), introduces a few new ones, and presents, for the first time, some key songs from his musical and spiritual formation. Produced by good friend and award winning guitarist and recording artist Bryan Sutton, Looking Back marks Buddy’s 20th release in a 30+ year recording career.