Wood, ’83, Earns DOVE Award for Songwriting

A wrinkled concert ticket stub and packs of yellow Post it Notes are the tools Tony Wood, ’83, uses to write award-winning songs.

Wood, in his tenth year with Brentwood-Benson Publishing, is known for penning gospel music hits for the likes of Point of Grace, FFH and Sandi Patty. This year the Gospel Music Association honored his song “Find Your Wings” (recorded by Mark Harris) with a 2007 DOVE Award for Best Inspirational Song of the Year.

“I’m not a guy who loves the spotlight. It (winning the DOVE Award) was nerve wracking but in an affirming way. I moved to Nashville 20 years ago without knowing anyone. It was the kind of thing you pray your kids will never do. But I’m aware of God’s goodness to me. He opened doors for me at just the right time.”

The hardworking Wood estimates he writes between 65-100 songs each year with about 1/3 finding their way onto CDs or in church music songbooks.

“ There has always been a next song. I always write something and think ‘I’ve never said that before. I’ve never chased that.’ Certainly, there are themes I return to like what a redeemer Jesus is in people’s lives. I always have several ideas brewing. I’d be lost in my life without the Post it Note. I have them all over the place. That’s where my songs start.”

His songs may start on a small square of paper, but he writes with a higher purpose — touching hearts for Christ. As a teenager, Wood attended a Bill Gaither Trio concert that made an impression on his life. He still has the ticket stub from his seat in Row J, Seat 9 and uses it as a tangible reminder that he writes for an audience.

“ I write for the guy sitting in the 10th row. I want to write the song that comes through the radio speakers and connects with the lady in Miami or the college student in St. Louis. I always visualize connecting people to the message of the song.”

Although this was his first DOVE win, Wood’s cut list resembles a “Who’s Who” of gospel music. Bill Gaither, Steve Green, Mark Schultz, Gary Chapman and Kathy Troccoli are among the artists who’ve recorded his music. Added to the list are countless church choirs who select his songs for worship.

“ There is a piece of my heart in every song I write, but to write a song and to cast it out commercially is really to let it go. Some songs get recorded and you think it is the most horrible treatment you’ve ever heard. Other times, you’re brought to tears because the artist made it everything you ever envisioned it could be and more. I’m really at peace with that. The fact that someone would ever choose one of my songs is an honor.”

Wood has come a long way from his home in Chase City and his days at Averett. He credits his college experience, particularly Dr. Gail Allen’s music theory class and his literature classes, with giving him a solid musical foundation and a love for the power of words. With the support of his wife Terri Anderson Wood, ’85, he built on that foundation to find success in a very competitive business.