There are some people that, as they say, are "doing the Lord's work." One of those people is singer- songwriter Steve Seskin. It's not just that he writes songs with a universal message of love, acceptance and helping others – which he does – but that he lives that message every day.

Seskin splits his time between Nashville (writing for Larga Vista Music and pitching his songs) and Richmond in the Bay Area, where he bases an active performing career. He'll appear tonight at The Palms in Winters in a songwriters showcase with two other singer-songwriters.

Many of Seskin's songs have been recorded by singers far more famous than he. He has written seven No. 1 songs, including the Grammy- nominated "Grown Men Don't Cry," recorded by Tim McGraw; "No Doubt About It," recorded by Neal McCoy; and "If You've Got Love," sung by John Michael Montgomery. He's written the Top 10 country hits "I Think About You," recorded by Colin Raye, and "All I Need To Know," by Kenny Chesney.

Perhaps the song he's proudest of is an anti-bullying song, "Don't Laugh at Me," which, as recorded by Mark Wills, won the Nashville Songwriters Association International and the Music Row magazine Song of the Year in 1999. Seskin, of course, recorded it – and so did Peter, Paul & Mary. The latest incarnation is an English, Hebrew and Arabic version, sung by Yarrow, David Broza and Amal Markus (hear it free at www.steveseskin.com).

"I'm doing a ton of work in schools," Seskin said recently in a telephone interview from his Richmond home. "Don't Laugh at Me" "continues to grow, unfortunately."

The song is about being considerate, compassionate and respectful of one another. Seskin leads school assemblies in which "Don't Laugh at Me" is the centerpiece. Before and after he sings the song, he engages the children in a conversation about bullying, giving them a forum to talk about their feelings, to share tips on how to prevent bullying and deal with it when it does happen.

Seskin said that Yarrow, 73, "has made the anti-bullying thing his last life's mission." He promotes the Operation Respect/Don't Laugh at Me project, a curriculum designed to teach tolerance in schools. The program has been presented in more than 20,000 schools across the country.

Seskin funds his anti-bullying campaign by performances, such as tonight's event at The Palms, where the intimate setting allows his finely crafted lyrics to sparkle.

He also uses such shows as songwriters showcases, bringing along two or three young musicians who are just establishing themselves in the business. He calls tonight's show "The Songwriters Sing."

In addition to Seskin, the concert will include Liz Longley and Caleb Hawley, both recent graduates of Boston's Berklee College of Music, where Seskin is a guest lecturer.

"They're both part of the changing face of the music business," Seskin said. "Both are doing their own labels – really putting themselves out there."

Hawley, an "American Idol" contestant who was eliminated early, is a multifaceted musician who won the prestigious New York Songwriters Circle Contest in 2008 and 2009 and the John Lennon Songwriting Contest in 2009. He confessed on his website earlier this month that he'd had writer's block "for the past 10 months, so it was pretty exciting when a new song came out (today)."

He also says he always wanted to be a professional baseball player, but life didn't give him "big muscles" or outstanding hand-eye coordination. Instead, he received "the gift of fast fingers and massive vocal cords."

Liz Longley won the John Lennon songwriting contest the year after Hawley claimed it. She also took grand prize in the International Acoustic Music Award contest, winning over the other 9,000 entries. Her songs are personal and emotionally engaging. John Mayer has called her music "gorgeous … just gorgeous."

Steve Seskin: The Songwriters Sing, with Liz Longley and Caleb Hawley; 8:30 p.m. today; Palms Playhouse, 13 Main St., Winters; $20. (530) 795-1825, www.palmsplayhouse.com

© Copyright The Sacramento Bee. All rights reserved.

Call The Bee's Jim Carnes, (916) 321-1130.

• Read more articles by Jim Carnes