Photos: Jeff Barry, Best Cellars, ICM Winners

Jeff Barry writing in Nashville with Rebecca Lynn Howard…TJ Martell Best Cellars Dinner with Charley Pride and Lee Ann Womack…Dailey and Vincent team with Garth Fundis…Point of Grace and The Roys win at ICM Awards.

Legendary songwriter and producer Jeff Barry was in Nashville recently, where he and artist/songwriter Rebecca Lynn Howard met for two day-long co-writing sessions at BMI. Often working with Phil Spector, Barry and former wife Ellie Greenwich composed classics including "Da Doo Ron Ron," "Then He Kissed Me," "Be My Baby," “Do Wah Diddy Diddy,” "Chapel of Love," "Leader of the Pack," “River Deep-Mountain High” and many more. They produced and helped launch a young Neil Diamond and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year. On his own, Barry helmed boards for The Monkees, and penned Gary Stewart’s “Out of Hand.” Pictured (l-r): Rebecca Lynn Howard, BMI’s Perry Howard, and Jeff Barry. Photo by Drew Maynard

The T.J. Martell Foundation’s Best Cellars Dinners, held recently in Atlanta and Houston, raised funds for innovative cancer research. The event is known for pairing Best Sellers (music’s top selling artists) with Best Cellars (top wine collectors) for a gourmet meal prepared by a guest chef. Pictured in Houston on Sept. 14 are (L-R): Laura Heatherly, Exec. Dir. of the T.J. Martell Foundation; Bigger Picture artist and actor Christian Kane, of TNT’s "Leverage"; Robert Del Grande, Exec. Chef/Owner of RDG +Bar Annie in Houston; Country Music Hall of Fame member Charley Pride; MCA artist Lee Ann Womack; Dean Fearing, Exec. Chef/Owner of Fearing’s in Dallas; and artist Gary Morris. The event raised more than $95,000.

Dailey & Vincent, who recently claimed their third consecutive Entertainer of the Year title at the International Bluegrass Music Awards have paired with acclaimed producer Garth Fundis for their next album. The Rounder Records project is expected in early 2011. Pictured (L-R): Rounder’s Ken Irwin, Jamie Dailey, Darrin Vincent, Garth Fundis. Photo: Dan Loftin

Point of Grace (L) won Entertainer of the Year at 16th Annual Inspirational Country Music Award Show last week. The Roys (R) won Duo of the Year for the second consecutive time. Among other winners were Carrie Underwood (Inspirational Video of the Year for “Temporary Home” directed by Deaton-Flanigen) and Craig Morgan (Mainstream Country Artist of the Year and Mainstream Inspirational Song for “This Ain’t Nothin’").