• ABOUT
    • Contact
    • The Team
    • FAQ
    • Use & Privacy Policy
  • ADVERTISE
  • JOB LISTINGS
MusicRow.com
  • CALENDARS
    • Album Releases
    • Single Releases
    • Industry Events
  • EVENTS
  • OBITS
  • REVIEWS
  • CHARTS
    • CountryBreakout Radio Chart
      • Current CountryBreakout Chart
      • CountryBreakout Chart Archives
    • No. 1 Challenge Coin
    • Top Songwriter Chart
      • Current Top Songwriter Chart
      • Top Songwriter Chart Archive
  • ROWFAX
  • NEWSLETTER
  • SIGN UP
  • STORE
  • Search
  • Menu

BMI’s Harry Warner Passes

May 21, 2018/0 Comments/in Featured, Obituary /by Robert K Oermann

Former BMI exec Harry Warner with songwriter Jeffrey Steele at the 2005 BMI Country Awards. Photo: BMI

Longtime BMI executive Harry Warner died Wednesday, May 16, at age 83.

The Music Row fixture was also a real-estate entrepreneur and a former manager, song publisher and publicist.

Born Feb. 2, 1935, Warner was a native of Pennsylvania who graduated from Valley Forge Military Academy and served four years in the Navy.

He came to Nashville to attend Vanderbilt University in the 1950s. Warner drove ambulances for Roesch-Patton Funeral Home and married company offspring Margaret Ann Patton in 1960. They raised three children, but later divorced.

Warner also spent time at the advertising and public-relations firm Bill Walker & Associates before being hired by BMI in 1967. By 1972, he was BMI’s Director of Writer Administration.

In the mid-1970s, he was the manager of emerging star Jerry Reed (1937-2008). He also ran Reed’s song publishing company. Among Reed and Warner’s discoveries was Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Rodney Crowell.

Harry Warner (standing, far right) celebrates Jake Owen’s signing to BMI in 2006. Pictured: Jake Owen (seated) is welcomed by BMI Nashville’s Mark Mason, Paul Corbin and Harry Warner. Photo: Kay Clary

Harry Warner became a close friend of guitarist-producer Chet Atkins (1924-2001), who ran RCA Records. He facilitated the meeting between Atkins and Jerry Bradley, which led to the latter’s being hired as an RCA executive. Bradley eventually succeeded Atkins as the head of the label in 1981.

In addition, Warner was sometimes by Atkins’ side when the latter recorded Reed, whose star-making RCA hits included “Guitar Man,” “Amos Moses” and “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot.” Warner and Atkins also became investors in Music Row real estate, as did their mutual friend Ray Stevens. Son Treg Warner has continued his father’s involvement in Nashville property speculation.

Meanwhile, back at BMI, Harry Warner rose to become the assistant vice president of writer/publisher relations. He remained at BMI until around 2010.

Surviving are his wife Bonnie, daughter Margaretann Seman, sons Treg and Mark Warner, stepdaughter Michael Maxwell Hitchens and two grandchildren.

Services will be private.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Robert K Oermann
Robert K. Oermann is a longtime contributor to MusicRow. He is a respected music critic, author and historian.
Latest posts by Robert K Oermann (see all)
  • DISClaimer Single Reviews: Marty Stuart, Blake Shelton, Tiera, Caitlyn Smith, Old Dominion - January 21, 2021
  • Country Entertainer Hugh X. Lewis Dies At Age 90 - January 19, 2021
  • DISClaimer Single Reviews: Rhonda Vincent, Sister Sadie, Carolina Blue, The Grascals - January 14, 2021
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share by Mail
https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Harry-Warner-with-Jeffrey-Steele-e1526915825165.jpg 427 770 Robert K Oermann https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png Robert K Oermann2018-05-21 10:19:442019-03-22 10:27:54BMI’s Harry Warner Passes
0 replies

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

RECENT NEWS

  • Morgan Wallen And Co-Writers Swarm Top Ten On ‘MusicRow’ Top Songwriter Chart January 25, 2021
  • NSAI Elects Kelly Archer, Corey Crowder, Jessie Jo Dillon, Sharon Vaughn as Board Members January 25, 2021
  • Weekly Register: Morgan Wallen Continues Chart Reign January 25, 2021
  • WMBA Welcomes New Members, Launches 2021 Season January 25, 2021
  • Big Loud Records, Back Blocks Music, Republic Records Partner To Sign Lily Rose January 25, 2021
  • Brett Young To Perform Live From The Runway In February January 25, 2021
  • Sheltered Music Publishing, Patrick Joseph Music Sign Melissa Peirce January 25, 2021
  • James White, Owner of Austin’s Broken Spoke Honky Tonk, Dies January 25, 2021
  • CMA Funds Additional Nonprofits In Continuing Commitment To Pandemic Support January 25, 2021
  • Matt Wynn Signs With Given Entertainment For Publishing, Management January 25, 2021
  • CMT Reveals Next Women Of Country Class Of 2021 January 25, 2021
  • Chris Janson Celebrates Fourth Career No. 1, “Done” January 22, 2021
  • Tim Mcgraw, Tyler Hubbard Claim Most Added At Country Radio January 22, 2021
  • Lucas Hoge Shares Gospel Favorites On New ‘Sunday Sessions’ Project January 22, 2021
  • Pat Barrett Readies Sophomore Album For February January 22, 2021

Likes us on Facebook

Recently on Twitter

Tweets by MusicRow
© 2020 Music Row Enterprises, LLC – All rights reserved.
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
Scroll to top