Living Love animal shelter inspires new song, holds HSB benefit concert, tennis and putting challenge

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

The premier live performance of a new song by Thom Shepherd and Coley McCabe will take place in Horseshoe Bay on Saturday, June 17, for a good reason.

It was inspired by Living Love Animal Shelter here in Burnet County and June 17 is the date of the Forever Home Challenge, a benefit for the shelter at Horseshoe Bay Resort.

Morning activities from 9 a.m.-noon will include the Living Love Tennis Challenge and the Putting4Paws Whitewater Putting Challenge. Then, from 6-9 p.m., a concert and fajita party will take place at the Horseshoe Bay Yacht Club.

Music will start at 7 p.m., featuring Shepherd and McCabe and concluding with the performance of their new single release, “Forever Home.”

“A love song between a rescue dog and the girl who saves him, it captures the unconditional love between rescue animals and the heroes who take them in and find them their forever homes,” said Shepherd. “We hope it inspires more people to get involved with their local animal rescue shelters.”

“Our rescue dog Odie is such a huge part of our family,” said McCabe. “When we heard the story of Living Love Animal Shelter and the horseshoe Bay girl that was determined to make a difference, we were inspired to write a very special kind of love song.”

Shepherd is the CMA of Texas Song Writer of the year and has written five No. 1 songs, including “Riding with Private Malone,” recorded by David Ball, and “My Texas,” recorded by Josh Abbott and Pat Green.

McCabe is an ASCAP Award-winning song writer. Her songs have been recorded by the platinum selling group SheDaisy and country legend Loretta Lynn. They have been featured in the films “Where the Heart Is,” “The Punisher,” and “Alabama Love.”

“I've heard it, and this is bound to be another hit,” said Claire Edwards, executive director of Living Love Animal Shelter. “There won't be a dry eye in the house.”

“We are blessed to have such great artists as Thom Shepherd and Coley McCabe help with our efforts to support Living Love Animal Rescue,” said Michelle Stallard, director of tennis at HSB Resort.

Tennis and putting prizes have been donated by Pottery Ranch in Marble Falls. To register, contact Stallard at 512-924-7097 or email her at mstallard@hsbresort.com. The $50 admission fee includes the fajita dinner and concert and entry into any of the sporting events.

Founding members of what has become the Living Love Animal Rescue, a 9.2 acre no-kill, non-profit shelter in South Burnet County were Sandra “Sandy” Santee and Cindy Gunter. Edwards joined their effort simply as a volunteer, but strongly sharing their commitment. In fact, the check for the property that now houses the shelter was a birthday gift to her from her husband.

Today, a dedicated staff of volunteers mans the Living Love Thrift Store at 905 Third Street in Marble Falls and care for animals at the shelter. More than 550 have found their forever home through the rescue operation.

Living Love gives cats a forever home for a fee of $75 to cover neutering and vaccinations. Dogs may be adopted for $125 for the same services and heart worm testing.

More about Thom Shepherd

Shepherd is the CMA of Texas Songwriter of the Year. An Austin, Texas-based touring artist who spent many years as a songwriter in Nashville, he performs constantly with his band, as a solo acoustic performer, and as a duo with artist Coley McCabe.

He is the writer of five #1 singles - “Redneck Yacht Club,” recorded by Craig Morgan, “Riding with Private Malone” recorded by David Ball, Kyle Park’s “The Night Is Young,” Josh Abbott and Pat Green’s single, “My Texas,” and Kevin Fowler’s “Beer Season.”

His latest song “Little Miss Everything,” from the Bandolier Records project “12 Pack,” is his 5th single as an artist in Texas. Thom, along with his Radio Margaritaville hit “Always Saturday Night,” are featured in the upcoming documentary “Parrot Heads: The Movie”

He wrote the title track of Tracy Lawrence’s Grammy nominated album “The Rock,” has a song on James King’s 2014 Grammy nominated album “Three Chords and the Truth,” and wrote the 2011 GMA Canada Song and Video of the year for High Valley’s recording of “A Father’s Love (The Only Way He Knew How).”

In total Thom has had over 10 singles and had almost 100 cuts by artists including Easton Corbin, Pam Tillis, John Anderson, Lorrie Morgan, Colt Ford, Bucky Covington, George Jones, Trailer Choir, Montgomery Gentry, Buddy Jewell, and Cledus T. Judd.

After years of living in Nashville, Thom relocated to Texas in 2011 to pursue a full time touring career. “I’ve always written songs so that I could perform them live on stage,” he says. “It’s always exciting when someone else records one of my songs, but there is no greater feeling than connecting with an audience.“

His music has taken him on 9 tours performing for our military in 17 different countries. "As songwriters, we have no idea how our songs are going to affect people," says Thom, "I met a soldier in Qatar who was on leave from Baghdad, and he told me he joined the military because of Private Malone. He asked me how that made me felt and I said Responsible! Then when we went to get our picture taken, he showed me the shattered LCD screen of his digital camera - shattered because it was in his shirt pocket behind his flack jacket when he took a round from an AK47. That camera saved his life. That is powerful stuff."

He was born in St. Louis, Missouri and spent his high school years in Stephens City, Virginia. He graduated from George Mason University and one week later moved to Nashville. He has written for 5 different music publishers over the years and is constantly on the road performing. He is a two time cancer survivor, a father of two, and hosts the radio program “Live From The Redneck Yacht Club.”

More about Coley McCabe

McCabe is an award winning Singer/Songwriter based in Texas. She is currently touring both with her band and performing acoustic shows. Her engaging stage presence and seasoned songwriting set her apart from other female acts. She has opened up for many major artists like Toby Keith, Wynonna, Kenny Chesney, Martina McBride, George Strait, Rascal Flatts, Brad Paisley, and more.

Her self-penned single “This Ain’t the 60’s” co-written with Wynn Varble was a top 15 hit on the Texas charts. She co-wrote the Top 5 Country Billboard Single – “Lucky 4 You (Tonight I’m Just Me)” Recorded by the sister trio SHeDAISY.

The songstress also has written songs recorded by the legendary Loretta Lynn, Kristy Lee Cook (American Idol), Rebecca Lynn Howard, Lila McCann, Bill Anderson, among others.

She wrote and performed songs in the movie "Alabama Love Story" and co-wrote the song “In Time” for the film "The Punisher," available on the soundtrack for the film.

McCabe co-starred in "Alabama Love Story,"  which is available on Netflix and Amazon. Music from that movie can be obtained by emailing www.masonjarentertainment.com.

Two singles were released while a recording artist on RCA Records – the song “Grow Young with You” with Andy Griggs was on the soundtrack for the film "Where the Heart Is," starring Ashley Judd and Natalie Portman.

Her self-titled full length CD, a duet with Shepherd are available on iTunes. Coley’s new EP is scheduled for release in November. Her career highlights: “Playing on the Grand Ole Opry, Loretta Lynn recording one of my songs, winning an ASCAP award, singing with Vince Gill and Kenny Chesney.”