Composer sings the praises of ‘Nashville’

The ABC series “Nashville” has been a solid performer for the network.

It provides a behind-the-scenes look at the country music industry, albeit couched in juicy soap-opera style drama.

But the most-unique aspect of the show is the great original music that is has premiered.

All songs performed on the show were specifically written for it, and they have already spawned an album.

Last week, ABC aired “Nashville: On the Record,” a prime-time documentary-style special in which the actor-musicians on the show performed in a concert setting.

Country songwriter Bob DiPiero is impressed with what the show has done.

“It is such a great concept to invent their own music for that show,” said Di-Piero. “T Bone Burnett was the original music producer [for the show], and I had a conversation with him where he said, ‘I want to create the kind of music that should be on country radio ... something that I would personally listen to.’

“They created an alternate universe of songs in that world,” continued DiPiero. “There has yet to be a bona fide hit come from it. A bunch of performers have recorded the songs but they have not really connected with terrestrial radio. But in the universe created by the show, they have.”

— Guy D’Astolfo