Marc Broussard performs on BMI's stage at ACL Fest

BMI sponsored an expanded Singer/Songwriter stage which featured Kacey Crowley, Willy Mason, Marc Broussard, The Honorary Title, J.T. Van Zandt, Jason White, Deadman, Trish Murphy, Holly Williams, Monte Montgomery, Davis Raines, Samantha Stollenwoerck, Papa Mali, Bobby Bare, Jr. and The Greencards.

BMI's Perry Howard and Dale Watson

Produced by Capital Sports & Entertainment, the Festival takes its name from the award-winning PBS series that has been showcasing live music for almost 30 years. This year's stage sponsors in addition to BMI were SBC, HEB, Heineken, Cingular Wireless, Austin Ventures LP, Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Bank of America.

BMI's J.W. Johnson, the Greencards' Kym Warner, Carol Young and Eamon McLoughlin, BMI's Phil Graham

BMI's Mark Mason, Deadman's Pete Coatney, Lee Milton, Steven Collins and Sherilyn Collins, BMI's Phil Graham

BMI's Michael Weeman, Holly Williams, BMI's Mark Mason

BMI's Mark Mason (l) and Jill McGuckin (c) with American Analog Set

BMI's Jill McGuckin, Jason White, BMI's Mark Mason

BMI's Bradley Collins, Kasey Crowley, BMI's Paul Corbin

BMI’s Phil Graham with Los Lonely Boys’ Henry, Ringo and JoJo Garza

BMI's Michael Weeman and Phil Graham, Marc Broussard, J.W. Johnson

BMI's Mark Mason, J.T. Van Zandt, BMI's Paul Corbin, BMI's Bradley Collins and Perry Howard

]]> 2004-10-17T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/events/entry/532940 Artists, Bare Jr., Bobby , Broussard, Marc, Crowley, Kacy, Deadman, Greencards, The, Honorary Title, The, Mali, Papa, Mason, Willy, Montgomery, Monte, Murphy, Trish, Raines, Davis, Stollenwerck, Samantha, Van Zandt, J.T., White, Jason, Williams, Holly, Awards, Musical Styles, Folk, Pop, Rock, Singer-Songwriter, Regions, Austin, Showcase, Showcase Templated

Friday, September 17
11:30-12:00 Kacy Crowley
1:10-1:50 Willy Mason
3:10-3:50 Marc Broussard
5:10-5:50 The Honorary Title
7:10-7:50 J.T. Van Zandt

J.T. Van Zandt	Willy Mason	Marc Broussard

Kacy Crowley	The Honorary Title

Saturday, September 18
11:30-12:00 The Greencards
1:10-1:50 Deadman
3:10-3:50 Trish Murphy
5:10-5:50 Holly Williams
7:10-7:50 Monte Montgomery

Jason White	Deadman

Monte Montgomery	Trish Murphy	Holly Williams

Sunday, September 19
11:20-11:50 Davis Raines
12:55-1:35 Samantha Stollenwerck
2:40-3:20 Papa Mali
4:40-5:20 Bobby Bare, Jr.
6:40-7:20 Jason White

Davis Raines	Samantha Stollenwerck	Papa Mali

Bobby Bare, Jr.	The Greencards

]]> 2004-09-16T02:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/234155 Artists, Adams, Ryan, Alabama, Blind Boys of Alabama, The, Broussard, Marc, Cake, Cash, Rosanne, Crow, Sheryl, Crowley, Kacy, Deadman, Green, Pat, Greencards, The, Honorary Title, The, Mali, Papa, Mason, Willy, Montgomery, Monte, Murphy, Trish, Phish, Raines, Davis, Smith, Mindy, Stollenwerck, Samantha, Van Zandt, J.T., White, Jason, Williams, Holly, Musical Styles, Country, Rock BMI will host a singer/songwriter stage at the 3rd Annual Austin City Limits Music Festival, to be held September 17-19 in Austin's Zilker Park (2100 Barton Springs Road). Writers featured on this year's expanded stage will include J.T. Van Zandt, Samantha Stollenwerck, Marc Broussard, Jason White, Kacy Crowley, the Honorary Title, Davis Raines, Bobby Bare, Jr., Monte Montgomery, Willie Mason, Trish Murphy, Papa Mali, Deadman, Holly Williams, and the Greencards.

Other BMI artists performing throughout the three-day music fest include Sheryl Crow, the Pixies, American Analog Set, Phish's Trey Anastasio, Endochine, Pat Green, Reckless Kelly, Solomon Burke, Cake, Ryan Adams, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Mindy Smith, Rosanne Cash and My Morning Jacket.

The ACL Festival focuses on alternative country and roots music and will present more than 130 bands on eight stages over three days. The Festival takes its name from the award-winning PBS series that has been showcasing live music for almost 30 years. Produced by Capital Sports & Entertainment, this year's stage sponsors also include SBC, HEB, Heineken, Cingular Wireless, Austin Ventures LP, Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Bank of America.

BMI Singer/Songwriter Stage Schedule:

Friday, September 17
11:30-12:00 Kacy Crowley
1:10-1:50 Willy Mason
3:10-3:50 Marc Broussard
5:10-5:50 The Honorary Title
7:10-7:50 J.T. Van Zandt

J.T. Van Zandt	Willy Mason	Marc Broussard

Kacy Crowley	The Honorary Title

Saturday, September 18
11:30-12:00 The Greencards
1:10-1:50 Deadman
3:10-3:50 Trish Murphy
5:10-5:50 Holly Williams
7:10-7:50 Monte Montgomery

Jason White	Deadman

Monte Montgomery	Trish Murphy	Holly Williams

Sunday, September 19
11:20-11:50 Davis Raines
12:55-1:35 Samantha Stollenwerck
2:40-3:20 Papa Mali
4:40-5:20 Bobby Bare, Jr.
6:40-7:20 Jason White

Davis Raines	Samantha Stollenwerck	Papa Mali

Bobby Bare, Jr.	The Greencards

Pictured at the Hog's Breath are (front row) Key West festival founder Drew Reid, Jason Sellers, James Dean Hicks, (back row) BMI's Bradley Collins, Phillip White, Dillon Dixon, Amber White, Wendell Mobley, Susan Haynes, Patrick Davis, Scotty Emerick, D. Vincent Williams, Jennifer Schott, Vicky McGehee, Chuck Cannon and BMI's Mark Mason.

BMI KWSF first-timers included Patrick Davis, Dillon Dixon, Sony Nashville recording artist Susan Haynes, James Dean Hicks ("Sweet Kisses," "Jesus and Mama"), Vicky McGehee (six Gretchen Wilson cuts), Wendell Mobley ("There Goes My Life," "I Melt"), Australian CMA winner Kylie Sackley, DreamWorks Music staff writer Jennifer Schott, James Slater ("In My Daughter's Eyes"), Phillip White ("I'm Movin' On," "I'm a Survivor"), singer/songwriter Amber White and D. Vincent Williams ("Hands of a Working Man," "I'm Movin' On").

Next year's festival is set for May 11-15, 2005.

Jeffrey Steele	Jason White

James Slater	KWSF coordinator Charlie Bauer of the Hog’s Breath Saloon, Chuck Cannon

BMI’s Mark Mason and Scotty Emerick with Million-Air certificate for “Beer For My Horses”	BMI's Mark Mason presented Rivers Rutherford with Million-Air honor for “Shut Up and Drive”

Wendell Mobley, D. Vincent Williams

Amber & Phillip White

Phillip White [center] received Million-Air certificate for “I’m A Survivor” from BMI’s Mark Mason (r) and Bradley Collins

Photos by Alan Mayor

Chuck Cannon	Scotty Emerick	Jeffrey Steele

Returning BMI writing superstars include Chuck Cannon ("How Do You Like Me Now", "American Solider"); DreamWorks Nashville recording artist Scotty Emerick ("Beer For My Horses," "I Love This Bar"); 2003 BMI Country Songwriter of the Year Jeffrey Steele ("Hell Yeah," "The Cowboy In Me"); and Jason White ("Red Rag Top").

Jason White	Patrick Davis	Dillon Dixon

Making their KWSF debuts are BMI writers Patrick Davis, Dillon Dixon, Sony Nashville recording artist Susan Haynes, James Dean Hicks ("Sweet Kisses," "Jesus and Mama"), Wendell Mobley ("There Goes My Life," "I Melt"), Australian CMA winner Kylie Sackley, DreamWorks Music staff writer Jennifer Schott, James Slater ("In My Daughter's Eyes"), Phillip White ("I'm Movin' On," "I'm a Survivor"), singer/songwriter Amber White and D. Vincent Williams ("Hands Of a Working Man," "I'm Movin' On").

James Dean Hicks	Wendell Mobley	Kylie Sackley

The Key West venues hosting the dozens of performances are nine-year sponsor Hogs Breath Saloon with Budweiser, Ocean Key Resort, Louie's Backyard and Mango's. Hog's Breath Saloon General Manager Charlie Bauer serves as festival coordinator.

James Slater	Phillip White	D. Vincent Williams

All shows are free to the public except the Friday and Saturday night shows in the Hogs Breath Writer's Room ($15 advance, $20 at the door).]]> 2004-04-20T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/233720 Artists, Cannon, Chuck, Emerick, Scott, Keith, Toby, Smith, Anthony, Smith, Mindy, Verges, Troy, White, Jason, Musical Styles, Country The Hog's Breath 8th Annual Key West Songwriter's Festival (May 7-10) had no trouble attracting top talents. The event, sponsored by BMI, features various songwriters and performers from Nashville for four days of great entertainment. The Key West Songwriter's Fest offers fans a chance to meet and mingle with their favorite songwriters, and listen to the works of the up and comers.

Among the surprises were presentations of several Million-Air certificates, representing one million broadcast performances. Troy Verges and Brett James were recognized for the #1 hits "Who I Am" and "Blessed," with Verges collecting another Million-Air for "I Would've Loved You Anyway." Two Toby Keith #1s were also cited: Scotty Emerick earned a certificate for "I'm Just Talkin' About Tonight" and Chuck Cannon collected a 2 Million-Air honor for "How Do You Like Me Now?!".

Charlie Bauer of the sponsoring Hog's Breath Saloon received a BMI Special Citation of Achievement "in recognition of your many contributions to the Great State of Florida and the years you have devoted to championing the Key West Songwriters' Festival."

Pictured at the Key West Songwriters Festival are BMI's Mark Mason, Troy Verges ("Blessed"), Rivers Rutherford ("Ain't Nothing 'Bout You"), Anthony Smith ("I'm Tryin'"), Scott Emerick ("I'm Just Talking About Tonight"), Brett James ("Chasin' Amy"), Big Yellow Dog Music writer Mindy Smith, Jason White ("Red Rag Top"), Gary Burr ("I Try To Think About Elvis") and Key West Mayor Jimmy Weekly.

BMI's Mark Mason, Troy Verges, Brett James and Universal Music Publishing's Kent Earls

Chuck Cannon, Scotty Emerick, Hog's Breath Saloon's Charlie Bauer and BMI's Mark Mason

Anthony Smith and Key West Mayor Jimmy Weekly

]]> 2003-05-21T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/233684 Artists, Cannon, Chuck, Emerick, Scott, Smith, Anthony, Smith, Mindy, Verges, Troy, White, Jason, Musical Styles, Singer-Songwriter

Anthony Smith

Mindy Smith

Scott Emerick

BMI songwriters on the bill are Chuck Cannon, Scott Emerick, Anthony Smith, Mindy Smith, 2002 BMI Country Songwriter of the Year Troy Verges and Jason White.

Chuck Cannon

Jason White

Troy Verges

Please call 1.305.296.4222 for further information or visit hogsbreath.com/songwriterfest.htm.]]> 2003-03-24T17:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/233028 Artists, Byrd, Tracy, Clark, Terri, Hall, Tom T., Hanson, Jennifer, Hill, Faith, Loveless, Patty, Orbison, Roy, Parton, Dolly, Tippin, Aaron, Trick Pony, White, Jason, Williams, Hank, Musical Styles, Country Music was on the menu when Acuff-Rose  Music and BMI met for lunch recently at the legendary  publisher's Music Row offices. Over sandwiches and laughs  (provided courtesy of Acuff-Rose president Jerry Bradley  and BMI Award-winner Buddy Brock), BMI Nashville representatives  enjoyed acoustic performances by Casey Beatherd, Buddy  Brock, Dave Coleman, Jennifer Hanson, Jason White and  2000 BMI Country Songwriter of the Year Skip Ewing.  Beatherd currently has Aaron Tippin's Red  Cross-benefit single "Where the Stars and Stripes  and the Eagle Fly" and Tracy Lawrence's current single  "Life Don't Have To Be So Hard."

Kneeling: BMI's Harry Warner and Patsy Bradley,  Jennifer Hanson, Acuff-Rose's Angela Hurt and Peggy  Lamb, BMI's Perry Howard. Standing: Acuff-Rose's  Clay Bradley, Jason White, Dave Coleman, Casey Beatherd,  Acuff-Rose's Mike Whelan, Buddy Brock, BMI's Joyce  Rice, Acuff-Rose's Kim Wiggins and Jennifer Carrington,  BMI's Mark Mason, songwriter, Marla Cannon-Goodman,  BMI's Paul Corbin, Thomas Cain and David Preston  photos: Brian Tipton

Founded in 1942, Acuff-Rose is Nashville's  original music publishing company. With more than 55,000  songs, it supplies the country and contemporary Christian  charts with a steady stream of hits. To date over 100  Acuff-Rose songs have Million  Air status, meaning they have been broadcast more  than a million times each. These include songs like  "Oh Pretty Woman", "Walkin' After Midnight", "Tennessee  Waltz", "Your Cheatin' Heart", and "Cathy's Clown."  Over the past 50 years, BMI writers like Roy Orbison,  Hank Williams, The Everly Brothers, Don Gibson, and  Tom T. Hall have contributed their songs to the Acuff-Rose  repertoire.

Buddy Brock

Casey Beatherd

Dave Coleman

Jason White

Mark Nesler and Jennifer Hanson

Skip Ewing

Karen Staley (seated) with Acuff-Rose Music's Kim Wiggins, Clay Bradley, Troy Tomlinson and Mike Whelan

Indeed, Anderson's compositions have been recorded by an impressively broad array of acts, including Tim McGraw, Alabama, Wynonna, Deana Carter, Lonestar, Shenandoah, Jerry Lee Lewis, Aaron Tippin, Neal McCoy, Asleep at the Wheel, Etta James, K.T. Oslin, Sara Evans, Charlie Daniels, Tanya Tucker, Chris LeDoux, Deborah Allen, Ty England, Sammy Kershaw, Billy Ray Cyrus, Confederate Railroad, T. Graham Brown, Joe Diffie, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Neal McCoy, Rhonda Vincent, Stacy Dean Campbell, Lari White, Jason Sellers, Robbie Fulks and Olivia Newton-John.

Though he's risen to the level of Nashville royalty in recent years, Anderson was well known to rock fans long before he stormed the country charts. He first made his mark as singer, guitarist and main writer of the Connecticut foursome the Wildweeds, who scored a substantial regional hit in 1967 with his composition "No Good to Cry," and subsequently in a 24-year stint with the beloved cult band NRBQ. Over the course of a dozen or so NRBQ albums, Anderson contributed numerous memorable tunes, and was celebrated equally for his stellar instrumental work; in 1993, Musician magazine named him one of the Top 100 guitar players of the century.
At the end of 1993, Big Al shocked NRBQ's fans by exiting the hard-touring band to concentrate on working behind the scenes as a songwriter. Anderson says the decision to quit had more to do with embracing sobriety than any dissatisfaction with the legendarily eclectic band.

"I'll tell ya, those are very fuzzy years," Anderson laughs. "Playing with NRBQ was a great school, and I can't tell you how much I learned from those guys. It wasn't until I got clean that I realized that 24 years of the Quality Inn and Red Roof and smoky clubs and the same broken chairs in the dressing room was getting old for me. I was in the most free band in rock & roll, but I started to feel limited."

Anderson had actually begun going to Nashville to co-write in the mid-'80s, and Hank Williams Jr. recorded his "You're Gonna Be A Sorry Man" in 1988, but it wasn't until after leaving NRBQ that he began pursuing the life of a professional songwriter in earnest. His transition from road warrior to pro tunesmith began when he and Carlene Carter co-wrote "Every Little Thing," which became the biggest hit of Carter's career. Anderson followed that success with another Carter collaboration, "Something Already Gone," for the Maverick film soundtrack, and hasn't looked back since.

Anderson has also found himself in demand as a session player for the inventive guitar chops he honed during his years on the road, and his distinctively gruff vocals have been tapped for numerous commercial jingles. But it's his writing talents that are his main focus these days.
"I've learned a lot, but I still have no idea what I'm doing," he says. “I'm still a rock & roll guy, and I believe in recognizing the value of dumbness. My motto is 'Make dumb good.' 'All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down' is, like, the dumbest song ever written — the chorus is exactly the same melody as the verses — but it's the greatest record goin'."

Anderson, whose discography includes three solo releases, says that he's hoping to release a new album of his own at some point in the near future, though not under his own name. He's more interesting in making an album with his Nashville-based combo Whitey, which also includes the aforementioned Jeffrey Steele, guitarist Scott Baggett, bassist Glenn Worf, keyboardist Reese Wynans and drummer Chad Cromwell. Though the band has played some local dates and Anderson admits that he misses performing, he's quick to add that he's in no hurry to return to the road.

"I'm not getting on the bus again," he says. "Considering that I'll be 54 in July, (songwriting) is a much nicer way to be making a living in music. I like feeling good every day."