Long recognised as one of Australia’s leading musicians and songwriters, Rod McCormack is also one of the most in-demand record producers, having produced many award winning acts. Rod was awarded the Country Music Association of Australia’s Musician Of The Year award in 2006, and Producer Of The Year in 2004 and 2009.
As a musician Rod has gained the reputation as one of Australia’s finest – appearing on hundreds of recordings including Paul Kelly, KD Lang, Kasey Chambers, Lee Kernaghan, Shannon Noll and many more.
He has toured and played with many leading US artists such as Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash, Sherrie Austin, Jamie O’Neal and Kris Kristoferson, and was musical director for Trisha Yearwood, LeeAnn Rimes, Pam Tillis, Stacey Dean Campbell and Jo Dee Messina on their Australian tours.
Rod plays many instruments – guitar, banjo, mandolin, lap steel, piano and Hammond. In 1985 he toured the American Bluegrass music circuit, winning the Colorado Guitar and Banjo Championship, the Rocky Mountain Guitar Championship, the Tennessee Guitar and Banjo Championship and the West Virginia Banjo Championship. He recently toured with renowned US based bluegrass band The Greencards, who were nominated for a Grammy in 2008.
As a songwriter, Rod has written dozens of hits, TV theme songs and background music, and won numerous songwriting awards. He has over 400 titles currently recorded and released by many artists both here and overseas including Paul Kelly, Lee Kernaghan, Gina Jeffreys, Adam Harvey and Beccy Cole.
In 2000 he worked closely with Garth Fundis in Nashville on the recording of Gina Jeffreys “Angel” album –one of Australia’s leading female country artists.
As a producer, Rod has produced many hit records, including Paul Kelly – “Foggy Highway”, Troy Cassar-Daly – “Everything Is Alright” and “I Love This Place”, Bella – “Gravity”, as well as numerous albums from Gina Jeffreys, Adam Harvey, Beccy Cole.
Rod’s own recording studio, The Music Cellar, is located on the Central Coast of NSW.
Rod also plays in Australia’s own country-swing supergroup The Roadcases, a side-project featuring many of Australia’s finest musicians – Stuart French, Michel Rose, Bill Risby, James Gillard and Doug Gallacher.
