Dale Carpenter

Dale Carpenter worked as an elementary school teacher, a television news photographer, a documentary filmmaker, and a journalism professor at the University of Arkansas. He splits his time between Arkansas and New Jersey.  Throughout his career songwriting has always been his therapy.

As a young, aspiring songwriter, he sent a tape of his songs to Wayland Holyfield, a fellow Arkansas songwriter who was successful in Nashville.  After listening to the tape Holyfield advised, “When people hear a song, they don’t want to feel like there’s going to be a test afterwards.” But he encouraged Carpenter to keep writing, adding, “You’re going to do it anyway.” Today a song by Dale Carpenter promises two things—an honest, heartfelt reflection on the joys and challenges we all face as human beings, and a guarantee there will be no test after listening.