 A debut album ("Common Ground", 1988) and a last minute opening act for Tom Paxton lit the fire of the young writer, leading him to Nashville and a publishing deal with Cherry Lane Music.Elliott went on to staff writing positions with major publishing companies including, Bluewater Music Group, Maypop Music Group (owned by the super-group Alabama) as well as Sony Music Publishing.Elliott's songs have been recorded by independent and major artists, receiving airplay on radio and TV in the United States and abroad.