I'm CJ Tuttle — songwriter, author, and lifelong creator. Writing has always been my outlet. A way to craft stories that pull people in and let them disappear into something real. But there's more to me than words on a page.
I grew up in North Syracuse, NY, playing football and lacrosse through my formative years. Sports were a huge part of my life — they taught me teamwork and perseverance, lessons I've carried into every chapter since. After high school I moved to Rochester, NY for school, and that move marked the beginning of a new one.
In 2001 I experienced a profound loss when my best friend Matt passed away. His death touched a lot of people, and to this day I remain close with his mom, Margaret, who I consider almost a second mother. Matt's memory has shaped my journey ever since — and the depth and emotion I bring into everything I write.
In 2004 I met the love of my life, Abbey, while we were both working at a landscape nursery. Our paths separated for a few years before we reconnected in 2007 and started dating soon after. We tied the knot in 2013, and together we've built a beautiful family. Skylar arrived in 2014. Rylan followed in 2016. Piper in 2018. Being a father is one of the greatest joys of my life — and it's given me an entirely new perspective on creativity, love, and what's worth saying out loud.
From the marketing desk to the lyric page.
In 2013 I founded a digital marketing agency, blending creativity with a profession. For years I've helped others craft their online presence — but my heart has always lived in writing. I've been fortunate enough to win multiple songwriting awards, including recognition in both the Billboard Songwriting Contest and the Great American Songwriting Contest. Music and writing have always fed each other for me, whether I'm working on lyrics or narrative fiction.
Writing has always been a passion. I still write every single day. For a long time, the songs I wrote sat in notebooks — waiting on a voice that might never come. The tools changed that. Now the voices on this site aren't placeholders or experiments. They're the closest I can get to hearing the songs the way I heard them when I first wrote them down.
Thanks for visiting. Thank you for every listen, every stream, every share. I'm grateful you're here.