As the intro to his song “Country Boy” reveals, “I am just a product of back roads and gravel and fruit trees and cattle and cowboys and saddles, I don’t dabble, I rattle all the speakers like a rock show” Zach is a genuine country kid who cut his teeth in Nashville under the tutelage of country music hit maker Charlie Craig. Some folks are double edged swords in their abilities and wide breadth of talents. Zach is no exception.

Zach is quick witted and his writing abilities are coveted amongst his peers. Not necessarily blessed to belt out on-pitch-tunes and be the face of his country hits, the ability to write deep, profound, meaningful and addictive county music for others is deeply engrained in his core. Additionally, Zach is capable of holding his listeners attention with well-developed rapping skill.

Zach is a veteran songwriter, having published over 250 songs and released 5 full-length albums since beginning his journey in the Nashville world of country music. Zach was a pioneer in the conception of bona fide country rap as a genre where legitimate country lyrics and content was combined with hip hop sounds to create what has now been called “Hick Hop”. While this was his personal creative outlet, he ultimately thrived in helping to set the genre as a valid category in country music.

Knowing that hick-hop is not everyone’s cup of tea, Zach understands that traditional, cowboy country music is something to be cherished. He contributes his efforts of non-stop writing to songs based on affection, the sticks, coming to life, relationships and the wild antics of country folk. He focuses his writing on realness, not necessarily commercial appeal. This is a concept he learned from Jamey Johnson when they met at the Grand Ole Opry in 2006. Zach believes that real music speaks to its listeners and listeners will find that music for themselves, it doesn’t have to be on the radio or CMT to be legitimate, but rather is legitimized by the contentness of the listeners.

“I firmly believe more in the authenticity and the complexity of a lyric over the beat that you can bob your head to. The coupling of the two at the right time and in the right form however, is ultimately the premier climax for me as a writer.”

Zach’s musical influence is spearheaded by his love for the Eagles. “Lyrically, their songs speak for an entire lifetime in just a few well-chosen statements.” “I inherited my love for the Eagles from my late Dad.” “Additionally, I grew up on John Denver, Bob Seager and Jackson Browne. I heard these artists decades after their debut but their writing resonates very deeply with me.” Growing up, I was a huge Travis Tritt fan. I always thought he was very under rated. Of course Garth was a constant as well as Alan Jackson and Joe Diffie. As a song writer there is no one that I admire more than John Rich and Jamey Johnson. Artists like Creed Fisher, Cody Johnson, Riley Green, Morgan Wallen, Cole Swindell and even JellyRoll keep me enamored. Trent Tomlinson, Jami Grooms, Luke Combs, and Luke Bryan round out my musical favorites.

The music business is brutal and families deserve to have consistent bread being won. Knowing and believing this, Zach relocated back to his hometown in Washington State in 2008 where he became a commissioned law enforcement officer. After realizing that his family who, in their entirety were teachers, Zach used his education and multiple degrees to become a licensed teacher. He has been a high school economics teacher and coach for 17 years. Additionally, he continues to serve his community as a part-time Police Officer. Zach is married to his middle school sweet-heart and is a proud Daddy to their daughter Hayley Rae.

His 2022 satire and innuendo filled single “Way Down South” proves his versatility in writing and rhyme pattern while also showcasing his wit and humor on a taboo subject matter that will make any listener hit the replay button at least twice.

In 2006, “Welcome to Party Time’ was released under RiverBoat Records. Followed with 2008’s “Sad Songs and Love Stories”, 2009 “Captain Obvious” and his most successful project thus far, “Cowboy Boots & Crooked Smiles” in 2014. Zach has also released several independent projects and 10 different singles since 2014. “Ballin’ In My Tractor” remains as his highest grossing single.

Professionally, Zach has served on the fire department, served as an EMT, holds a valid Police Officer commission, maintains a Teaching license, held elected office as a City Councilman, elected office as a School Board Director, owns and operates a small wood-working business and coaches football, basketball and track and field.

Zach owns his own publishing company, Blueberry-Pickle Publishing and is a partner in Gypsy Music management. He proactively promotes his songs to be cut by artists capable of giving them the life they demand. Full catalogs are available upon professional request.