NSAI Honors Rep. Lamar Smith
(L-R): Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn, NSAI Pres./songwriter Lee Thomas Miller, Rep. Lamar Smith and NSAI Executive Director Bart Herbison
The Nashville Songwriters Association International presented its “White Hat Award” to Texas Congressman Lamar Smith last night (Feb. 11) during a ceremony at the Bluebird Cafe. The “White Hat Award” has only been presented thirteen times in NSAI’s 46-year history and is “bestowed by the NSAI Board of Directors to individuals who have significantly served the American songwriting community.”
Rep. Smith previously served as Chairman of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee and is now Chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space and Technology. He has been a leader in fighting music piracy, and working to change U.S. music licensing structure, and other issues affecting the music industry.
U.S. Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn, NSAI President/songwriter Lee Thomas Miller and NSAI Executive Director Bart Herbison presented the award at the invitation-only ceremony. The evening closed with a performance by Miller, Billy Dean and Jim Collins.
Prior to the event, Congressman Smith addressed students at “The Copyright Forum,” presented by NSAI and Belmont University.
(L-R): songwriters Billy Dean, Lee Thomas Miller and Jim Collins
Sarah Skates has been a writer and editor in the music business since 2004. She is a longtime contributor to MusicRow.
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