Songs from the Heart

While many company leaders make a point of contributing to their communities, not many write songs and share them with friends, communities and industries. Fewer still find their songs recorded by a professional musician and included on a holiday CD.

That is, however, exactly where Southwire President and CEO Stuart Thorn finds himself.  I Pray—penned by Stuart and his late wife, Sharon—appears on All is Calm, a new holiday collection from songwriter and pianist Jim Brickman.

So how does the president and CEO of a company that manufactures wire and cable come to add songwriter to his list of accomplishments? As with most success stories, it’s about the good woman behind the man.

Find the full story in the November issue of tED magazine.

Here, Stuart Thorn offers additional information about some of the songs he and Sharon wrote together in their home in the picturesque town of Carrollton, Ga.

(“I PRAY”)

“Our first Christmas song was My Little Hometown at Christmas,” recalled Stuart. “For this song, Sharon and I wanted to focus on the question: While we’re basking in the blessings of the day, do we ever think of those not so lucky—the person fighting in Iraq, or the one who’s homeless, or ill, or simply alone at such a happy time? The song is about the contrast between our wonderful day and that of others not so blessed, and remembering to keep those folks in our thoughts and prayers.”

Listen to “I Pray”

(“THE BALLAD OF MALCOLM O’HAGAN”)

When Malcolm O’Hagan stepped down from leadership of NEMA, Stuart and Sharon Thorn creativity played a part in his retirement party. “The lyrics to The Ballad of Malcolm O’Hagan are like a limerick,” said Stuart. “I added visuals for the presentation and it got everyone laughing. Then we re-recorded the song with­out lyrics, but with a fiddle, and set it to photos showing different stages of his life. That had everyone teary-eyed.”

Listen to “The Ballad of Malcolm O’Hagan”

(“MADE IN AMERICA”)

Sharon and Stuart Thorn’s special love was writing songs having a local anchor. In honor of their own Southwire employees, they wrote Made in America, celebrating America’s working people. “One of the lines is, ‘We’ve got it made in America, and we owe it all to you,’” noted Stuart.

Listen to “Made in America”

(“AFTER ALL”)

The Orange Grove Center in Chattanooga, Tenn., is a nonprofit organization in Chattanooga, Tenn., that serves adults and children with developmental disabilities. As part of their activities and education, Orange Grove Center clients sing in choirs, and play, listen to, perform, and experiment with music. “Sharon wrote this song on behalf of the residents, and it has been adopted not only by the Orange Grove Center, but also by similar organizations across the nation,” said Stuart, noting that one of the living legacies to Sharon’s memory and talent is the Sharon Thorn Music Center at Orange Grove, to which investments in the upgrade of the facilities have been made in remembrance of Sharon’s involvement with the center.

Listen to “After All”