The ASCAP Foundation Honors Nashville Songwriters

The ASCAP Foundation Leon Brettler Award was given to Davis. The award is presented annually to an outstanding songwriter-artist participating in The ASCAP Foundation Country Songwriters Workshop in Nashville. Davis studied at Louisiana State University in preparation for an oil industry job, but later moved to Nashville to pursue songwriting. Davis is a staff writer at Wrensong/Reynsong Music.

James is this year’s recipient of the ASCAP Foundation Jay Gorney Award. The award is presented to the writer of an original song with a message based on social conscience and cultural significance, as well as for its overall craft, artistry and compositional elements. James performed his award-winning song, “God Has Given Hope A Name (America),” during the event. James was a member of the ASCAP GPS Project class of 2012, and has been working closely with ASCAP Creative Manager Ryan Beuschel and Senior Creative Director LeAnn Phelan to help fine-tune his craft and advance his songwriting career.

k.s. Rhoads, a Tucson, Arizona born singer-songwriter now based in Nashville, was honored as the recipient of The ASCAP Foundation Sammy Cahn Award for his song “The Wilderness.” The award commemorates the life and career of the great lyricist and ASCAP Board member, Sammy Cahn, and is presented annually to a promising, talented young lyricist. Rhoads has opened for artists including Chris Isaak, David Gray and Ray LaMontagne, appeared at the Sundance ASCAP Music Cafe at the Sundance Film Festival and performed with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra.