Nashville songwriter, musician and record producer Walt Aldridge, a 1978 UNA alumnus who has written 56 top 40 songs on the Billboard country music charts, recently joined the UNA Department of Entertainment Industry faculty as a visiting associate professor.

Aldridge, who studied commercial music at UNA, has worked in the music industry for more than 33 years as a songwriter, producer, recording engineer, music publisher and recording studio owner. Country music artist Brad Crisler and Civil Wars member John Paul White are two of his songwriter signings.

He worked for 17 years as a staff engineer with Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, as well as 15 years in Nashville. With more than 200 records under his belt, he has collaborated with artists Martina McBride, Trace Adkins, Jo Dee Messina, George Straight, Lonestar, Billy Ray Cyrus, Marie Osmond, Darryl Worley, Alabama, Lou Reed, Mac McAnally and more.

“He has a record of success in doing a lot of different things,” said Dr. Bob Garfrerick, chair of the Department of Entertainment Industry. “He has practical experience that he can bring to the classroom. He operates at such a high level. You don’t get many opportunities like this for students to work with a faculty member who is a practitioner while in the university setting.”

Aldridge assisted in the recording and remixing of the “Brotherhood Outdoors” television series and the 2011 “Footloose” remake. He has written hit songs for Conway Twitty, Travis Tritt, Reba McEntire and Tim McGraw.

Garfrerick said Aldridge has received more than 20 gold and platinum RIAA certifications in recognition of outstanding sales, been awarded seven no. 1 CMA certificates and taken more than 30 performance awards from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. His song “No Getting Over Me” was ASCAP’s most performed country song, while “Holding Her and Loving You” received a Song of the Year award from the Nashville Songwriters Association International. He is also the recipient of a bronze star on the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.

Aldridge, who is the pro-mentor for two chapters of NSAI, conducts a dozen songwriting workshops each year in the United States and Canada. He has also performed in more than 1,000 shows throughout his career.