PETER COOPER'S MYSPACE - I've got several complete songs up on the myspace page, and I regularly check messages to this site. Would love to hear from you.

RED BEET RECORDS - It is through this feisty independent record label that Mission Door sees the light of day. Plenty of other great albums to check out on Red Beet. So... check 'em out.

TODD SNIDER - In addition to being the finest singer-songwriter of his generation, Todd is a friend of mine. We've written songs together, and I play bass for him every now and again on the road.

LLOYD GREEN - Lloyd Green is, to my mind, the greatest musician alive. His steel guitar is the most important instrumental element on Mission Door, and he and his wife, Dot, are two of the most brilliant and inspirational people in this, our world.

DEONE JAHNKE - My favorite photographer is Deone Jahnke. She takes remarkable portraits of remarkable musicians, as will be clear to you after a visit to her website. Deone took all of the photos for the Mission Door album artwork, and was a welcome presence in the studio.

TOM T. HALL - Tom T. and Kris Kristofferson changed the language of country music. Lately, I've been in the studio recording one of Tom T.'s songs. He's as good a person as he is a writer, and that's saying something.

KRIS KRISTOFFERSON - One of the greatest pleasures of my quasi-professional life was writing the liner notes to Kristofferson's tribute album, The Pilgrim. Kris has been very kind to me and to my songs.

FAYSSOUX - I produced Fayssoux's debut album. She has already made her mark on our music, singing harmonies on some tremendous albums by Emmylou Harris, John Starling and others. But now she's poised to take the lead vocal duties for the first time.

ERIC TAYLOR - This is the web site for Eric Taylor, the only person whose songs I covered on the Mission Door album. On the album, I sing Eric's "Mission Door" and "All The Way To Heaven." Eric plays like no one else, sings like no one else, and offers good advice. A sample: "Don't be tentative around those dogs! Don't be tentative about anything... $%&*@^ ever!"

DAVID OLNEY - One night I saw David play for an audience of very few, and his show was staggering, riveting and any other word you can think of. At the end of the show, I said, "David, that was great, but no one was listening and no one was really here. How did you do that?" He said, "I found out years ago that it's much harder to play the songs wrong." Words to live by.

LAST TRAIN HOME - Red Beet co-owner Eric Brace is a friend and singing partner of mine. He also fronts Last Train Home, an acclaimed group that I liken to the E Street Band of Americana. This isn't just a bunch of players, it's a little musical community - a gang of the highest and least violent order - onstage or on record.

NANCI GRIFFITH - So good, for so long.

TOMMY WOMACK - A unique talent who writes songs that stand apart from anyone else's.

KEVIN GORDON - A brilliant writer, singer and guitarist, based in East Nashville.

WILL KIMBROUGH - One of Music City's most talented singers, writers and instrumentalists

BILL LLOYD - Bill plays and sings on the Mission Door album. He was a part of duo Foster & Lloyd, a group that helped turn me into a Nashville music junkie when I was in high school.

KIM CARNES - An unforgettable voice, and an unforgettable person.

GREEN BAY PACKERS - I back the Pack.

EMMYLOU HARRIS - Emmylou Harris is Nashville's George Bailey: Without her, things would be different, and worse. I was privileged to write the song notes for her wonderful Songbird boxed set.

CHRIS RICHARDS - Chris doesn't update his web site enough, but he's a great friend, a great person and a great writer. I recently recorded his song "Bells of Odilia," though it isn't out yet.

DAWN MCCOY - One of my favorite country singers