JLEP Storytellers 2024 Playlist
About The Storytellers
Saturday, April 20th, 2024 will be another magical night in El Paso
as the Junior League of El Paso, Inc. presents Storytellers!
With a new set of artists, The Storytellers will be an unforgettable experience!
Storytellers is a unique event featuring three acclaimed artists who share the stories behind their award-winning songs, and then perform them in an intimate, acoustical setting. This event provides the audience with an amazing opportunity to hear the meaning, personalities and stories behind the music, straight from the songwriters themselves. Knowing those stories, you never hear the music in quite the same way again. This special event appeals to men and women alike, to people who love any music genre, to people who love the deeper meaning of stories, and to people who want to help the Junior League continue its great work in the El Paso community. Funds raised at this event will be invested in the Junior League of El Paso Endowment Fund, and will be used to sustain, expand, and initiate the amazing community projects and programs presented by the Junior League of El Paso, Inc.
2024 Star Line Up
Brett James
In the year 2000, James received his first major album cut with the song ‘Love Is A Sweet Thing,’ recorded by Faith Hill followed by a top 20 single ‘You Won’t Be Lonely Now,’ with Billy Ray Cyrus. It wasn’t long before Brett reached the benchmark that all songwriters and artists alike strive for, the coveted #1 song. In April of 2001, then break out artist Jessica Andrews landed James his first #1 with the song ‘Who I Am.’ He returned to the top of the chart in 2002, this time with country superstar Martina McBride and the song ‘Blessed.’
As his chart success continued, Brett appeared on Billboard Magazine’s top-ten country songwriters list for five consecutive years, the only writer to do so, and in 2006 reached yet another musical milestone winning ASCAP Songwriter of the Year. In 2007, Brett received the music industry’s highest honor winning the Grammy Award for Best Country Song ‘Jesus Take The Wheel,’ recorded by Carrie Underwood.
The list of artists that have recorded songs penned by Brett James resembles a who’s who in country music list, but also straddles genre lines into American and world pop music. Some notable pop artists to record James’ songs include Kelly Clarkson, Jon Bon Jovi, Daughtry, The Backstreet Boys, Chicago, and Leona Lewis. Brett has also scored #1 songs in Europe and a worldwide top 5 Latin hit with the song ‘Todo Mi Amor’ recorded by Paulina Rubio. Outside the writer’s room, Brett’s talents have earned production credits that include Taylor Swift, Jessica Simpson, Josh Gracin and MCA recording artist Kip Moore who’s single “Somethin’ ‘Bout a Truck” was a breakthrough smash in 2012!
Chris DeStefano
A native of Mt Laurel, New Jersey, Chris DeStefano is a songwriter, producer/mixer and multi-instrumentalist. Chris began singing at a very early age in the acclaimed Academy Boys Choir of Philadelphia. At age 13, he acquired his first guitar and remembers writing his very first songs shortly after. Driven by his passion for music and knack for picking up new instruments, DeStefano’s talents lead him to Boston’s prestigious Berklee College of Music where he studied film scoring.
Upon graduating, DeStefano followed the natural migration for many aspiring film score composers and moved to Los Angeles, California. However, what he discovered in LA was not the soundstage, but his gift for songwriting and producing. Setting his sights on the Country Airplay chart, Chris began splitting time between LA and Nashville, collaborating with some of Nashville’s hottest songwriters. The transition was seamless and in early 2012 Chris charted his first country single with Jana Kramer’s “Why You Wanna” which peaked at #3 on the Billboard chart. Right on the heels of this success, DeStefano achieved his first Country chart topper with the song “Good Girl” recorded by Country superstar Carrie Underwood.
Chris' #1 songs include Carrie Underwood ("Good Girl”, “Little Toy Guns”, “Smoke Break”, “Something in the Water”, Super Bowl LII and 2018 Olympic Games Theme Song “The Champion"), Dan + Shay (“From the Ground Up”, “Nothin’ Like You"), Jason Aldean (“Just Gettin’ Started”), Billy Currington (“Hey Girl”), Brett Eldredge (“Don’t Ya”), Luke Bryan (“That’s My Kind of Night”, “Kick the Dust Up"), Miranda Lambert (“Somethin’ Bad”), Chris Young (“Losing Sleep”), Morgan Evans (“Kiss Somebody”) and Rascal Flatts (“Rewind”), and Chase Rice ("Eyes On You"). Chris is a 3x CMA Triple Play Award winner.
Learn more about Chris DeStefano at Nashville Songwritters Association
Jim Beavers
Texas native, Jim Beavers, has had a long and varied Nashville career, from executive at Capitol Records to touring musician with Lee Ann Womack. As a songwriter, he has co-written nine #1 hits by artists such as Chris Stapleton (“Parachute”), Luke Bryan (“Drink a Beer”), Dierks Bentley (“Sideways”, “5-1-5-0”, “Am I the Only One”) Toby Keith (“Red Solo Cup”), Josh Turner (“Why Don’t We Just Dance”) and Gary Allan (“Watching Airplanes”) just to name a few. His compositions have received multiple CMA, ACM, BMI and NSAI nominations and awards.
