Legends Toast Hank Cochran
Pictured are (l-r): Bobby Bare; BMI Assistant Vice President Writer/Publisher Relations Clay Bradley; Theresa & Merle Haggard; Hank Cochran; songwriter Dale Dodson; BMI Vice President Writer/Publisher Relations Jody Williams and BMI President & CEO Del Bryant. (Photo: Peyton Hoge)
Living legends gathered to salute iconic songwriter Hank Cochran Monday, June 15 at BMI’s Music Row offices. Merle Haggard, Bobby Bare, Dean Dillon, Jamey Johnson, Lee Ann Womack, Gene Watson, Red Lane, and Whitey Shafer took turns delivering acoustic versions of Hank Cochran classics, while guests including Elvis Costello, Cowboy Jack Clement, Jeannie Seely, Dallas Frazier, Scotty Emerick, Shawn Camp, Jim Lauderdale and others listened intently. Willie Nelson couldn’t be at the reception, but he called and jovially addressed Cochran and the crowd via speaker phone.
The party was a well-kept secret from Cochran: He believed he was simply stopping by BMI to pick up numerous BMI Million-Air certificates, recognizing the millions of performances generated by hits including “Make the World Go Away,” “She’s Got You,” “I Fall to Pieces,” “The Chair,” “Ocean Front Property,” “Don’t You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me,” “Is It Raining at Your House,” “That’s All That Matters,” “Set ‘Em Up Joe,” and “This Ain’t My First Rodeo.” However, an intimate gathering of friends and family awaited him as well, and Haggard led the small crowd in greeting—and pleasantly surprising—the beloved troubadour.
Well deserved honor for one of the greatest songwriters ever!