July 15, 2025

Marc Cohn, Memphis, and the song that changed everything

Spending hours in a home studio doesn't always lead to great songs. Sometimes, inspiration comes from stepping away. Marc Cohn discovered that spark during a trip to Memphis in the early 1990s. Then in his late twenties, he was questioning his future as a songwriter, having written for years without producing anything genuinely unique.

Encouraged to seek out new surroundings, he accepted an invitation to Memphis, a decision that changed the course of his career.

Marc will be on tour this fall!

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The power of place

Cohn's experience teaches an essential lesson for songwriters suffering from creative burnout: sometimes the best thing you can do is move out of your typical setting. Memphis' cultural diversity met Cohn's specific needs.

Immersing himself in the city's heritage of blues, rock, and soul gave him more than material. It reconnected him with the emotional foundation of songwriting. He did not only observe Memphis. He experienced it. Encounters with local legends, iconic places, and intimate situations shaped the lyrics of his next song. His stay in the city led to "Walking in Memphis," a song about genuine locations and people. What began as a simple trip became a turning point in Cohn’s creative journey.

From inspiration to execution

In an interview, arranger John Leventhal explained that Cohn's experience in Memphis gave him direction, confidence, and urgency during the recording process, shaping the song's final studio arrangement. His story exemplifies how artists frequently achieve creative breakthroughs by venturing outside of their comfort zone. Travel isn't necessarily a detour for artists. Sometimes it's the best option.

For songwriters who feel creatively blocked or stuck in repetition, travel isn’t just a temporary escape. It can be the very thing that reignites your connection to your craft. Cohn's experience shows that sometimes, the best path forward begins with leaving your comfort zone behind.

Trivia

Which famous singer-songwriter reportedly discovered Marc Cohn in the mid-1980s when he was with a 14-piece band called The Supreme Court?

Walking from Cleveland

Flip

Marc Cohn

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.Born to a Jewish family on July 5, 1959, in Cleveland, Ohio, Cohn grew up in a Cleveland suburb and graduated from Beachwood High School. In his early years, he discovered a passion for music and started writing songs while playing guitar in a local band called Doanbrook Hotel. During his time at Oberlin College, he also taught himself how to play the piano. Later, he moved to UCLA and began performing at coffeehouses in the Los Angeles area.

This content adapted from the Wikipedia page Marc Cohn, licensed via CC BY-SA. Content retrieved was modified to fit the context and style of this story.

Where to begin

Cohn married ABC News journalist Elizabeth Vargas on July 20, 2002. They met at the 1999 U.S. Open when Vargas interviewed Cohn's friend, Andre Agassi. They have two sons: Zachary, born in 2003, and Samuel, born in 2006. Cohn and Vargas divorced in 2014, shortly after Vargas completed rehab for alcoholism for the third time.

On August 7 2005 Cohn was shot in the head during a carjacking attempt in Denver while touring with Suzanne Vega The bullet missed his eye and lodged near his skull Cohn survived and was released from the hospital after eight hours Doctors said he was the luckiest unlucky man they'd seen The police suggested the car's windshield may have slowed the bullet The attacker received a 36-year prison sentence
On Jan 30, 2025, Cohn announced he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease about five years earlier.

More show dates have been announced!

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