Tag Archive for: Songwriters

Wariner Receives Million Air Awards, Plays Benefit Tonight

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Pictured L-R: Steve Wariner, his wife and publisher Caryn Wariner; and Jody Williams, BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations. Credit: Drew Maynard

Pictured L-R: Steve Wariner, his wife and publisher Caryn Wariner; and Jody Williams, BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations. Credit: Drew Maynard

BMI recently honored Steve Wariner at a luncheon (12/15) where he was presented with Million-Air Awards for writing and publishing four songs that have reached new million performance levels. The Million-Air Award recognizes songs that have earned more than one million performances on U.S. television and radio. To date 11 songs written by Wariner have achieved Million-Air status, with three titles reaching multiple plateaus, resulting in his receiving a total of 15 Million-Air Awards. At the luncheon, he received awards for “Nothin’ But the Taillights,” “Where the Blacktop Ends,” “Holes in the Floor of Heaven” and “I Should Be With You.”

Wariner is also set for tonight’s (12/16) 10th Annual “Nashville Unlimited Christmas Concert at 7 pm at Christ Church Cathedral with hosts Dave Pomeroy and Don Henry, and guests Music City Baroque, Riders In The Sky, John Cowan, the Nashville Mandolin Ensemble, 18 South, Joey and Rory, the Coral Bay Steel Drum Trio and more, including special surprise guests. All proceeds benefit the Room in the Inn homeless program. A $20 minimum suggested donation at the door.

Bill Anderson Honored as Poet and Prophet

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Legendary songwriter Bill Anderson was honored Saturday (12/12) as part of the ongoing Poets and Prophets series at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum. Throughout the 90-minute program, which incorporated vintage recordings, photos and film clips from the Museum’s collection, Anderson discussed his illustrious songwriting career and performed a handful of original compositions. In attendance were previous Poets and Prophets honorees Hank Cochran, Dean Dillon and Curly Putman, as well as Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Roger Murrah and hit producer/songwriter Buddy Cannon.

L-R—Murrah, Dillon, Cannon, Cochran, Anderson, Putman and program host Michael Gray. Photo by Donn Jones

(L-R): Murrah, Dillon, Cannon, Cochran, Anderson, Putman and program host Michael Gray. Photo by Donn Jones

Books With Songwriter Ties: “Chicken Soup,” “Have Her Over For Dinner”

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mattLocal songwriter/artist Matt Moore is branching out with the release of his first cookbook, Have Her Over for Dinner: a gentleman’s guide to classic, simple meals. The Georgia native has shared the stage with Sugarland, Dierks Bentley, and Luke Bryan but has also long enjoyed cooking. His latest outing offers more than 100 recipes—ranging from Italian to Southern Eclectic to Vegetarian—created for men looking to impress in the kitchen. Moore’s recipes emphasize the basics, without requiring dozens of ingredients, and even covers stocking the kitchen, pairing beer or wine with food, lighting, and cleaning up. Available in Nashville at Davis-Kidd Booksellers in Green Hills and Lazzaroli Pasta in Historic Germantown. He is having a book-signing at Davis-Kidd Booksellers on Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 7 PM to coincide with Valentines Day.

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soupMany of Nashville’s hit songwriters are included in the new book Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Story Behind The Song. The latest in the Chicken Soup series was edited by veteran Hollywood publicist Jo-Ann Geffen and features personal stories from Ashley Gorley, Darius Rucker, Chris Dubois, Ray Stevens, Phil Vassar, Pam Tillis, Bob DiPiero, Clint Black, Kim Carnes, Larry Gatlin, Jewel, Janis Ian, Tracy Lawrence, Shelby Lynne, and Richard Marx. The foreword is by Motown sound architect Lamont Dozier. Also included are pop hitmakers Christina Aguilera, Melissa Etheridge, Richie Sambora, John Legend, Daryl Hall and John Oates, Barry Manilow, Diane Warren and numerous others.

Photos: Nashville Songwriters At New Orleans Festival

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New Orleans-based Songfest Foundation, Inc., an organization founded to benefit Louisiana and Gulf Coast musicians, held its second annual New Orleans Songwriters Festival December 3-5. The event was sponsored by ASCAP, and performers included J.D. Souther, Don Schlitz, Allen Toussaint, Dennis Matkosky, and more.

J.D. Souther and Red Morgan performing

J.D. Souther and Red Morgan performing

(L-R): Don Schlitz, Greg Barnhill, Dennis Matkosky, Thom Sheppard, Allen Toussaint, Chuck Perkins, Red Morgan and Jim McCormick

(L-R): Don Schlitz, Greg Barnhill, Dennis Matkosky, Thom Shepherd, Allen Toussaint, Chuck Perkins, Red Morgan and Jim McCormick

(L-R): Don Schlitz, ASCAP's Pat Rolfe, ASCAP's Ralph Murphy, Dennis Matkosky, Bud Tower and Rusty Gaston

(L-R): Don Schlitz, ASCAP's Pat Rolfe, ASCAP's Ralph Murphy, Dennis Matkosky, Bud Tower and Rusty Gaston

Mac McAnally Co-Produced New Jimmy Buffett Album

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Mac McAnally and Jimmy Buffett
Mac McAnally and Jimmy Buffett

Mac McAnally probably doesn’t want 2009 to end. This year he scored his first No. 1 as an artist, and received more awards and nominations than any other time in his career. His most recent feat—yesterday’s release of Jimmy Buffett’s Buffet Hotel, which he co-produced with Mike Utley.

Mac McAnally

Mac McAnally

As a member of the Coral Reefer Band, McAnally has long been a key Buffett collaborator. He has produced a number of Buffett’s studio albums, and has writing credit on three of the new collection’s 12 songs.

McAnally is also a Show Dog Nashville recording artist, touring performer, musician and songwriter. He was most recently honored with a Grammy nomination for his collaboration with Kenny Chesney on the song “Down The Road,” and won the CMA Award for Musician of the Year in November.

Benefit News: Hit Songwriters Help Good Causes

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Wynn Varble

Wynn Varble

The Women’s Music Business Association (WMBA) presents its Annual Tunes for Tots Benefit at 12th & Porter on Thursday, Dec. 10 from 6-8 PM. Performing will be Chris Wallin (“Don’t Blink”), Wynn Varble (“Waitin’ On a Woman”), Erin Enderlin (“Last Call”), artist Ty Herndon and more. Admission is free with an unwrapped new toy or monetary donation to the Toys for Tots Foundation.

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Jonell Mosser

Jonell Mosser

The Bluebird Café Holiday Bash is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 15 and will benefit Happy Tales Humane. Special guests include Jonell Mosser, Lee Roy Parnell, Roger Cook, Katie Cook, Jimmy Hall, Frank Sheen, Crystal Gayle, Peggy Sue Wright, Jeremy McComb and Roberto Bianco. Also on the schedule are The Jay Patten Band featuring Toni Sehulster, Rick Lonow, Will Barrow, Mike Loudermilk, and band leader and event organizer Jay Patton. Reservations can be made online at www.bluebirdcafe.com.

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Music City Unsigned, a local music community of over 80 independent artists, is hosting a special Christmas concert to benefit the Nashville Rescue Mission, at the Bluebird Café on Wednesday, Dec. 16 at 9 PM. Ross Copperman, Heather Morgan, Clay Cumbie and Bart Allmand will perform.

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Renowned impressionist painter Michael P. Maness will have a Nashville show at Richards Café, 4420 Whites Creek Pike, on Saturday, Dec. 12, from 4- 9 PM. Known for his music themed art, Maness has had three bouts with cancer and his goal with this art show is to help raise funds for anther fight with his chronic lymphoma. Maness also donates to charity and his artwork has raised over $2 million dollars for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Clay Walker’s Band Against MS, Susan G. Koman Foundation and over 100 other organizations.

Americana Assc.’s Star Lyric Sheet Auction

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Parton's lyrics to "I Will Always Love You"

Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton and Bon Jovi are among the superstar artists and songwriters who have donated handwritten lyric sheets to an auction to benefit the Americana Music Association.

The auction is the centerpiece of an evening of entertainment called An American Artform, which includes performances by acclaimed singer/songwriter John Hiatt and friends. Tickets also include cocktails and hors d’ouerves from the Clean Plate Club.

An American Artform will take place Monday, Dec. 14 at Tinney Contemporary Gallery in Downtown Nashville from 6:00-9:00 p.m. Tickets are $75 per person and may be purchased only by calling the Americana Music Association 615-386-6936.

Nelson's lyrics to "On The Road Again"

Nelson's lyrics to "On The Road Again"

Artists who have donated the personally handwritten and signed lyrics include: Bon Jovi, Jimmy Dale Gilmore, Buddy Miller, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Patty Griffin, Willie Nelson, Rosanne Cash, Nanci Griffith, John Oates, Guy Clark, Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, Cowboy Jack Clement, John Hiatt, Robert Plant, Elvis Costello, Monty Holmes & Leslie Satcher, John Prine, Rodney Crowell, Jack Ingram, Darrell Scott, Joe Ely, Miranda Lambert, JD Souther, Phil Everly, Jim Lauderdale, Marty Stuart, Jimmy Fadden, Michael McDonald, Chip Taylor, Peter Frampton, James McMurtry, Dan Tyminski, Mary Gauthier, Tift Merritt, and Lucinda Williams.

To view the artwork and bid online go to www.americanamusicauction.com.

Hit Songwriters Set For Nashville Underground Show

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nuNashville Underground, the record label started by artist/songwriters/husband-and-wife team Lari White and Chuck Cannon to showcase Music City’s elite group of tunesmiths is celebrating its 10th Anniversary this month.

Lari White

Lari White

They’ve lined up an all-star concert of hit writers and put together a new 4-disc retrospective set to mark the occasion. Performing at 3rd & Lindsley on Dec. 10 at 7 PM, will be Bob DiPiero, Chuck Jones, Jill Colucci, Danny Flowers, Gary Burr, Angela Kaset, Victoria Shaw, Pam Rose, Mary Ann Kennedy, and Stephen Allen Davis.

The box set called 10 Years of Nashville Underground – The Complete Sampler Series Vol. I-IV is available for pre-order at www.nashvilleunderground.com for $19.95. Pre-order customers will receive a free autographed copy of Cannon’s Love and Money CD and a Nashville Underground T-shirt.

Chuck Cannon

Chuck Cannon

Tickets to the 10th Anniversary concert are $10 and can be purchased in advance at www.3rdandlindsley.com or at the door. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the NSAI legislative fund.

Songs Score Big With Soundtracks: “The Climb,” “Southern Voice”

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L-R

ASCAP recently hosted a #1 party for "The Climb." Pictured L-R: ASCAP's John Briggs, Lyric Street & Disney Music Publishing's Doug Howard, Jessi Alexander, Disney Music Publishing's Kos Weaver, Jon Mabe, Stage Three Music's Tim Hunze and Missy Roberts. Photo Credit: Kay Williams

Songwriters Jessi Alexander and Jon Mabe had stellar success with their song “The Climb,” which spent an amazing 15 weeks at #1 on Billboard‘s AC Chart. As the lead single from Hannah Montana: The Movie, “The Climb” was also voted Best Song from a Movie at the 2009 MTV Music Awards. It was published by Disney Music Publishing, Hopeless Rose Music, Mabe It Big Music and Stage Three Music.

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Also celebrating a hit song in a movie are longtime charttopping tunesmiths Bob DiPiero and Tom Douglas, who co-wrote the new Tim McGraw single “Southern Voice.” The radio hit is featured in the new movie The Blind Side, starring Sandra Bullock and McGraw. The film raked in $34.5 million at the box office over its opening weekend to land at No. 2, just behind the wildly popular New Moon vampire flick.

Stephen Allen Davis, Mark Brown Start Publishing Co.

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bmi

Pictured are (l-r): BMI’s Jody Williams, Stephen Allen Davis, and Molet Music’s Mark Brown. Photo by Drew Maynard

Longtime Music Row publisher Mark Brown and songwriter Stephen Allen Davis recently stopped by BMI to affiliate their new publishing venture, Molet Music. While the two were in the organization’s Music Row offices, BMI’s Jody Williams surprised the Grammy-nominated Davis with a Million-Air certificate recognizing more than 3 million performances of his composition “Stand Beside Me,” recorded by Jo Dee Messina. The song marks just one of Davis’s accomplishments as a songwriter: The impressive list of artists who have recorded his work also includes Frank Sinatra, Joe Cocker, Meatloaf, Tom Jones, Alabama, Reba McEntire, and Charlie Rich.