Meet the Research Advocates
Research advocates at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center support our research efforts in many ways and for many reasons. Our advocates are cancer survivors, caregivers, and community members who are committed to making a difference.
Wally Wilson
Wally Wilson is a musician, producer, publisher and songwriter based in Nashville, TN. Wally began his career as a musician during the “heyday” of honkytonks in Texas. Wally moved to Nashville from Dallas in 1980 with nothing more than his pickup truck and a hunger for the music business. He began his Nashville career as a janitor at Tree Publishing, country music’s largest publisher. He worked his way up at Tree, becoming a staff songwriter and writing hits for dozens of stars in the country and pop world. Wally began producing records. His first effort with Joan Baez received a Grammy nomination. He then developed and produced Lonestar, which went on to sell millions of records in their 10 years with BMG Records. Wally began working as an executive at MCA/Universal Music Publishing, heading their production division. He has served on the board of governors of NARAS and other music industry foundations. Wally went on to start Skyline Music Publishing and Skyville Records. Skyline Music Publishing has developed a 3,000 song catalogue, including hits from The Band Perry, Rascal Flatts, Sara Evans, and Reba McEntire. Wally then decided to get into the artist development business, and as a way to spread the word about his new acts he came up with the concept that he called Skyville Live. Wally has been touched by cancer repeatedly with many of his friends and colleagues, including Wade Hayes, afflicted by or dying from cancer. Most recently, a close family member was diagnosed and treated at VICC for colorectal cancer.
