Dave Woodward, a native of Knoxville, Tennessee, graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1972 with a degree in Forestry.  He began writing songs while in college and honed the craft after moving to Nashville in 1973 to go to work for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
Dave retired in January of 2006 after 33 years of service with TWRA and now
pursues his music interests full time.
It wasn’t long after moving to town that he hooked up with newcomer Don King to write a series of chart breaking songs recorded by Don and a variety of other artists. In 1983 while Don was touring and recording on the Epic label, he and Dave co-wrote “Why Do We Want”, a hit for Reba McEntire. They have forged a musical partnership that now spans four decades.
Brant Miller, the final third of 2nd Nature, has also proved to be an inspirational songwriting partner. Together he and Dave have penned a number of country and bluegrass songs, among them a top ten bluegrass hit, “Fast As I Can Crawl," for Mark Newton and another, “Axe To Grind” which earned them an invitation to play at Merlefest, the Woodstock of the nation’s bluegrass festivals.
Dave’s introduction to the stage actually began with 2nd Nature when the group formed in 1999. Always behind the scenes as a writer, he enjoys the opportunity to perform to a live audience and experience the energy and feedback that it provides.
Dave lists his musical influences as his Uncle Don MacLeay, an accomplished steel guitar player in New Hampshire and original member of Woody and the Ramblers, arguably the hottest country dance band in the Connecticut River Valley in the 1950’s. Other musical figures making an impact were Jerry Lee Lewis, especially his early country records, Hank Williams and Merle Haggard.
Dave lives happily in
Williamson County with his wife, Donna, of 30 years and his killer Cairn
Terrier, Maxfield.
dave@secondnaturesongs.com
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