From Nashville Hitmaker To CJ Solar & The Old Souls: His Next Chapter Sounds A Lot Like Home
- Louisiana Country Music
- Jun 1
- 6 min read
Updated: Jun 12
For this Louisiana Country Artist Spotlight, we're taking a closer look at Baton Rouge native CJ Solar, a songwriter, artist, and guitarist whose career has quietly helped shape modern country music.
Many country fans know Solar as the writer behind Morgan Wallen's first No. 1 hit, Up Down, or Jameson Rodgers' chart-topping single Some Girls. Others know him as a respected Nashville artist with a reputation for strong songwriting, guitar-driven live shows, and a sound that blends country music with Southern rock influences.
But after spending years building a successful career as both a songwriter and artist, Solar is entering a new chapter with CJ Solar & The Old Souls, a project that feels deeply connected to the music that first inspired him to pick up a guitar. As we recently learned during our conversations with Solar on Louisiana Country Music Live, the journey from Baton Rouge to Nashville has always been about more than chart success. It's been about following the music he loves.
From Baton Rouge To Nashville
Long before Nashville publishing deals and No. 1 songs, CJ Solar was a young musician in Baton Rouge soaking up every influence he could find.
Like many Louisiana artists, his musical tastes weren't limited to a single genre. Country music was certainly part of the mix, but so were artists like Lynyrd Skynyrd, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and The Allman Brothers. Those Southern rock influences would eventually become a defining part of the sound fans know today.
One of the most important people in those early years was his longtime guitar teacher, Stan Campbell. More than simply teaching guitar, Campbell helped shape Solar's musical taste and introduced him to many of the musicians who make up Baton Rouge's rich music community.
"He was one of the coolest dudes I've ever known and a massive influence on my musical taste as well as my guitar playing and singing and everything." – CJ Solar on his longtime guitar teacher, Stan Campbell
Those Louisiana roots never really left, even after Nashville became home.
After graduating from high school, Solar attended Belmont University, where he studied songwriting while learning the business side of the music industry. During his final semester, an internship at Sea Gayle Music unexpectedly turned into a publishing deal, giving him the opportunity to begin writing professionally almost immediately after college.
Finding His Place In Nashville
Like most successful songwriters, Solar's career wasn't built overnight.
Years were spent writing songs, building relationships, and learning from some of Nashville's best writers. Along the way, he developed a perspective that still shapes how he views the industry today.
"Part of the reason they call it a 10 year town is it takes a lot of times 10 years for you to move here, meet people, become a good enough songwriter, and build your way up together." – CJ Solar during a recent Louisiana Country Music Live interview
It's a reality many aspiring artists don't always see. Long before the chart success and sold-out shows, there are years spent developing both the craft and the relationships that make those opportunities possible.
That patience eventually paid off.
The Songs That Opened Doors
The relationships and experience Solar built in Nashville eventually began turning into major opportunities.
Over the years, Solar has built an impressive catalog that includes songs recorded by Morgan Wallen, Jameson Rodgers, Jason Aldean, Justin Moore, Jerrod Niemann, and many others.
Among those songs are Morgan Wallen's first No. 1 hit, Up Down, along with Jameson Rodgers' chart-topping single Some Girls.
What makes the story even more interesting is that Up Down nearly didn't happen the way fans know it today.
"We thought it was cool, but country music was transitioning and people were telling us those redneck party songs were out." – CJ Solar on writing "Up Down"
Of course, country music fans eventually had a different opinion.
The song became Morgan Wallen's first No. 1 single and helped introduce Solar's songwriting to a much larger audience. Yet even as his songwriting career continued to grow, he never stopped pursuing his own path as an artist.
More Than A Songwriter
Anyone who has followed CJ Solar's music over the years knows his sound has always carried a little Southern rock in its DNA.
The guitar playing, the energy, and the influences have always been there. While his songwriting helped establish him in Nashville, his own music continued reflecting the artists and sounds that inspired him growing up.
Over time, Solar found himself drawn even further toward those influences. Soul. Blues. Southern rock. Muscle Shoals. Memphis.
Instead of forcing those sounds into a modern Nashville mold, he decided to fully embrace them.
Enter CJ Solar & The Old Souls
The result is CJ Solar & The Old Souls, a new project that feels less like a reinvention and more like a return to the music that inspired him from the beginning.
The upcoming album is the largest project of Solar's career, featuring fourteen songs recorded with an intentionally old-school approach built around live musicians, vintage equipment, and authentic performances.
"I just kind of went, 'What do I really want to do?' I thought it would be so cool to give these songs a Muscle Shoals, Memphis kind of soulful production." – CJ Solar on the inspiration behind CJ Solar & The Old Souls
That vision is already taking shape through Black Label Blues, the title track of the upcoming project and one of the clearest examples yet of where Solar is headed creatively.
For longtime fans, the music still sounds unmistakably like CJ Solar.
It just sounds like the most complete version of him yet.
Why CJ Solar
Louisiana has produced no shortage of talented artists, but some of its greatest contributions to country music have come from songwriters.
The people behind the scenes helping create the songs that become part of everyday life.
CJ Solar has quietly become one of those people.
From learning guitar in Baton Rouge to writing No. 1 songs in Nashville, he has built a career through consistency, craftsmanship, and a genuine love for music. What stands out most isn't the success itself. It's that after all these years, Solar still sounds like someone who genuinely loves songs, guitars, and the craft of making music.
Now, with CJ Solar & The Old Souls, he's bringing those influences full circle and creating music that feels deeply connected to the sounds that inspired him from the very beginning.
For Louisiana Country Music fans, that's what makes this chapter worth paying attention to.
Follow CJ Solar
Stay up to date with CJ Solar by streaming his music and following along online.
Watch CJ Solar on Louisiana Country Music Live
April 29, 2026
July 30, 2025
Frequently Asked Questions About CJ Solar
Who Is CJ Solar?
CJ Solar is a Baton Rouge, Louisiana native, Nashville songwriter, artist, and guitarist known for writing hit songs including Morgan Wallen's Up Down and Jameson Rodgers' Some Girls. He is also the founder of the new project CJ Solar & The Old Souls.
Where Is CJ Solar From?
CJ Solar grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana before moving to Nashville to attend Belmont University and pursue a professional songwriting career. His music continues to reflect influences from Louisiana, Southern rock, blues, and country music.
What Songs Has CJ Solar Written?
CJ Solar has written songs recorded by Morgan Wallen, Jameson Rodgers, Jason Aldean, Justin Moore, Jerrod Niemann, Mike Ryan, Kyle Park, and others. His best-known songwriting credits include Morgan Wallen's Up Down and Jameson Rodgers' No. 1 hit Some Girls.
Did CJ Solar Write Morgan Wallen's Up Down?
Yes. CJ Solar co-wrote Up Down with Hardy and Brad Clawson. The song became Morgan Wallen's first No. 1 single and remains one of Solar's most recognized songwriting credits.
How Did CJ Solar Get Started In Nashville?
After attending Belmont University, CJ Solar landed an internship at Sea Gayle Music Publishing. During his final semester, the company offered him a publishing deal, launching his professional songwriting career and eventually leading to songs recorded by some of country music's biggest artists.
What Is CJ Solar & The Old Souls?
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