ASCAP Writer Hunter Phelps Receives Abe Olman Scholarship

Pictured (L-R): ASCAP’s Robert Filhart and Kele Currier, Phelps, and ASCAP’s Mike Sistad

ASCAP songwriter Hunter Phelps recently stopped by the performing rights organization to receive his Abe Olman Scholarship for Excellence in Songwriting for 2017 from the Songwriters Hall Of Fame.

A native of Niceville, Florida, Phelps was introduced to songwriting by his father, who owned a small recording studio. He began writing songs while attending the University of Florida in Gainesville and joined a band, quickly developing a loyal following. Early in his career he shared the stage with acts like Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, Gary Allan, and Michael Ray. Moving to Nashville in 2012, Phelps began playing the honky-tonks of Lower Broadway and sharpened his songwriting skills in the writers’ rooms of Music Row. In 2014, he released his own EP, and signed a joint publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music and songwriter Ashley Gorley’s Tape Room Music. His recent cuts include Florida Georgia Line’s “Wish You Were On It.” Phelps is currently writing and recording for his debut full-length album release.

Abe Olman, for whom the scholarship program is named, was a major figure in the publishing community and an ASCAP writer himself, in addition to being one of the founders of the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The Abe Olman Scholarships, given out annually since 1990, are made possible by his family in the interest of encouraging and supporting the careers of young songwriters.