Singer/songwriter Blu Sanders kicked off the day's music. Jack Ingram recorded Sanders' "Hold On" for his latest album, This Is It.

Capitol recording artist Jedd Hughes's stunning guitar-picking and soulful vocals shushed the crowd.

Songwriter Troy Jones performed his wry tune "Shiftwork," which was recorded by reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year Kenny Chesney and features Country Music Hall of Famer George Strait.

Heather Little performed Miranda Lambert's current single, "Gun Powder and Led." Little co-wrote the tune with Lambert, along with the Texan's breakout hit, "Me and Charlie."

Esteemed singer/songwriter Bruce Robison treated listeners to a prime selection of his incomparable tunes including "First Thing About Mary," "Travelin' Soldier," and "Oklahoma Christmas."

Pictured are (l to r): back row: singer/songwriter Bruce Robison, Carnival's Matthew Miller, Travis Hill, Goodloe Harman and Frank Liddell, singer/songwriter Blu Sanders & Carnival's Ashley Givens; front row: Carnival's Mark Wilson, BMI's Jody Williams, singer/songwriters Jedd Hughes, Troy Jones and Heather Little, with Carnival's Courtney Gregg & Brittany Shearer.

Photos: E. Dawson

I'LL TAKE THAT AS A YES (THE HOT TUB SONG)
Jon McElroy
Vince Melamed
Senor Vicente Music
Songs of Mighty Isis
Vista Larga Music
Phil Vassar
Arista Nashville

LIKE WE NEVER LOVED AT ALL
Vicky McGehee
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Faith Hill
Warner Bros.

LONG, SLOW KISSES
Jeff Bates
Gordon Bradberry
New Works Music Co.
Smith Haven Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Jeff Bates
RCA

LOT OF LEAVIN' LEFT TO DO
Brett Beavers
Run The Trotline Music
Sony/ATV Tree
Dierks Bentley
Capitol Records

ME AND CHARLIE TALKING
Miranda Lambert
Heather Little
Nashville Star Music
Sony/ATV Tree
Tiltawhirl Music
Miranda Lambert
Epic Records

MY GIVE A DAMN'S BUSTED
Joe Diffie
Tony Martin
Tom Shapiro
Difftunes
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Mike Curb Music
Music of Stage Three
Sony/ATV Tree
Jo Dee Messina
Curb Records
MY OLD FRIEND
Steve McEwan (PRS)
Careers-BMG Music Publishing
Tim McGraw
Curb Records

MY SISTER
Amy Dalley
Music of Stage Three
Reba McEntire
MCA Nashville

NOBODY BUT ME
Shawn Camp
Phillip White
Big Yellow Dog Music
Murrah Music Corporation
Sony/ATV Tree
Travelin' Arkansawyer Music
Blake Shelton
Warner Bros.

PLAY SOMETHING COUNTRY
Ronnie Dunn
Terry McBride
Showbilly Music
Sony/ATV Tree
Still Working For The Man Music, Inc.
Turn Me On Music
Brooks & Dunn
Arista Nashville

PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE THIS WAY
Tammi Kidd
Irving Music
LeAnn Rimes
Asylum-Curb

SHE DON'T TELL ME TO
Bob DiPiero
Tom Shapiro
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Love Monkey Music
Piano Wire Music LLC
Sony/ATV Tree
Montgomery Gentry
Columbia Records

SHE LET HERSELF GO
Dean Dillon
Sony/ATV Acuff Rose
Unwound Music
George Strait
MCA Nashville

SKIN (SARABETH)
Doug Johnson
Mike Curb Music
Sweet Radical Music
Rascal Flatts
Lyric Street

SOMEBODY'S HERO
Ed Hill
Shaye Smith
Careers-BMG Music Publishing
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Sagrabeaux Songs
Shaye Smith Music
Jamie O'Neal
Capitol Records

SOMETHING MORE
Kristian Bush
Dirkpit Music
Sugarland
Mercury Nashville

SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF
Jeffrey Steele
Gottahaveable Music
Songs of Windswept Pacific
Montgomery Gentry
Columbia Records

SONGS ABOUT ME
Ed Hill
Shaye Smith
Careers-BMG Music Publishing
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Sagrabeaux Songs
Shaye Smith Music
Trace Adkins
Capitol Records

STAY WITH ME (BRASS BED)
Jedd Hughes
Terry McBride
Still Working For The Man Music, Inc.
Terry McBride Music
Wilmington Road Publishing
Josh Gracin
Lyric Street

THE TALKIN' SONG REPAIR BLUES
Dennis Linde
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Rising Gorge Music
Alan Jackson
Arista Nashville

TEQUILA MAKES HER CLOTHES FALL OFF
Gary Hannan
John Wiggins
Chobe Music
Fiddle Stock Music
Heavy Leather Music, Inc.
Notewrite Music
Joe Nichols
Universal South

TONIGHT I WANNA CRY
Keith Urban
Coburn Music, Inc.
Guitar Monkey Music
Keith Urban
Capitol Records

WHEN I GET WHERE I'M GOING
George Teren
House of Full Circle Music
Brad Paisley featuring Dolly Parton
Arista Nashville

WHO YOU'D BE TODAY
Bill Luther
Aimee Mayo
Careers-BMG Music Publishing
Evansville Music
Little Blue Typewriter Music
Kenny Chesney
BNA

YOU'LL BE THERE
Cory Mayo
Coburn Music, Inc.
George Strait
MCA Nashville
YOUR MAN
Jace Everett
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Josh Turner
MCA Nashville

Jeffrey Steele	Scotty Emerick	Tim Nichols

Each spring, top Music City tunesmiths, emerging talent and country fans from all over the globe gather to enjoy the event's intimate performance settings and soak up the sun. Shows offer listeners a unique glimpse into the stories behind hit songs and the minds that create them, thrusting the often unsung heroes of the hits into a well-deserved spotlight. Numerous neighborhood venues, all within walking distance of the Hog’s Breath, host performances daily. Easy bike rides and casual strolls to and from shows integrate participants warmly into the community.

Jedd Hughes	Vicki McGehee

The eleventh year of the festival boasts yet another stellar line-up. Nearly 50 BMI songwriters are scheduled to perform, featuring today's hit songs and over two decades' worth of favorites. "The people in Key West are what make this festival special," says BMI's Mark Mason. "The entire community adopted the event, and it has catapulted from under the radar to one of the most highly anticipated annual festivals. Tons of hit songs have actually been written in Key West-it's a hotbed for creativity. Our writers simply love to attend."

BMI songwriters and artists scheduled to perform this year include Eddy Raven, Cliff Cody, Chuck Cannon, Jeffrey Steele, James Dean Hicks, Vicky McGehee, Wendell Mobley, Hugh Prestwood, Andi Zack, Kris Bergsnes, Phillip White, D. Vincent Williams, Randy Houser, Robert Lee Castleman, Jim Collins, Tim Nichols, Frank Myers, Keith Stegall, Cory Morrow, Scotty Emerick, Max T. Barnes, Arliss Albritton, Wayd Battle, Dallas Davidson, Brian Davis, Rob Hatch, Chuck Jones, Tammi Kidd, Scott Kirby, David Lee, Jim McCormick, Steve McEwan, Jon McElroy, Shane Minor, Jerrod Niemann, James Slater, D. Tox, Billy Joe Walker Jr., Chad Warrix, Fred Wilhelm, Patrick Davis, Jenn Schott, Lee Brice, Dillon Dixon, Kylie Sackley, Amber White, Jason Michael Carroll, Jedd Hughes and Kendell Marvel.

Tickets are on sale for the Friday and Saturday night concerts in the Hog's Breath Writers Room. Advance tickets are $25.00 per person, per night; prices rise to $30.00 per person each night at the door. Please call 305.296.4222, Monday through Friday between 10:00am and 3:00pm to purchase tickets in advance. An official $5.00 Festival Pass entitles participants to discounts on Budweiser and Bacardi brand beverages and more throughout the week.

For the complete festival schedule, ticket information, performer profiles and line-up, please visit www.kwswf.com or call 305.296.4222.

Hit songs written by BMI songwriters performing at the 11th Annual Key West Songwriters' Festival:

Chuck Cannon
"Dreamwalkin'"
"How Do You Like Me Now"

Jeffrey Steele
"The Cowboy in Me"
"Hell Yeah"

Scotty Emerick
"Beer
for My Horses"
"As Good As I Once Was"

James Dean Hicks
"National Working Woman's Holiday"
"Goodbye Time"

Vicki McGehee
"When I Think About Cheatin'"
"All Jacked Up"

Wendell Mobley
"Fast Cars and
Freedom"
"How Forever Feels"

Hugh Prestwood
"Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart"
"Ghost in This House"

Robert Lee Castleman
"The Lucky One"
"Restless"

Jim Collins
"The Good Stuff"
"She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy"

Tim Nichols
"Live Like You Were Dying"
"I'll Think of a Reason Later"

Frank Myers
"I'm Already There"
"My Front Porch Looking In"

Keith Stegall
"Dallas"
"I Hate Everything"

BMI's Bradley Collins and Mark Mason, James Dean Hicks, Charlie Bauer, Tim Nichols, Key West Mayor Jimmy Weekly, Philip & Amber White, Chris Wallin and Craig Wiseman

The roster of talent who performed during the festival included BMI-Award winning tunesmiths Bart Allmand ("You Can't Take the Honky Tonk Out of the Girl"), Chuck Cannon ("American Soldier"), James Dean Hicks ("Jesus and Mama"), Chuck Jones ("Love a Little Stronger"), Jay Knowles ("She'll Leave You With a Smile"), Kendell Marvel ("Right Where I Need To Be"), Wendell Mobley ("I Melt"), Tim Nichols ("Live Like You Were Dying"), James Slater ("In My Daughter's Eyes"), Keith Stegall ("I Do Cherish You"), Phillip White ("I'm a Survivor") and D. Vincent Williams ("I'm Movin' On").

Patrick Davis and Jedd Hughes at Hog's Breath Saloon

Additional performers on the bill were Asylum Records artist Lee Brice, Patrick Davis ("This Life"), Dillon Dixon ("For a Lack of Better Words"), D-Tox, BNA Records artist Morgane Haynes, MCA Nashville artist Jedd Hughes, EMI Music Publishing writer Jamey Johnson, Key West songster Scott Kirby, Cory Mayo ("Break the Record"), Vicki McGehee ("When I Think About Cheatin'"), RCA Nashville artist John Pierce, Kylie Sackley ("Nothin' 'Bout Love Makes Sense"), DreamWorks Music writer Jen Schott, Dallas Davidson and Randy Houser ("Honky Tonk Badonkadonk").

D. Vincent Williams, Dillon Dixon and James Dean Hicks at Green Parrot

Other sponsors included Sheraton Suites Key West, the Conch House, Pirate Scooters, Hampton Inn, Fairfield Inn, Nashville Underground, Hyatt Key West, Barcardi, Budweiser, Louie's Backyard, Kelly's, NSAI, American Airlines and ClearChannel.

Jen Schott performs at Southernmost Hotel & Resort	Kylie Sackley and Charlie Bauer

Chuck Cannon at Schooner Wharf	Wendell Mobley at the Hog's Breath Saloon Writers Room

Jamey Johnson, Kendell Marvel and Randy Houser at Schooner Wharf

Philip & Amber White perform on the Fury catamaran

Festival coordinator and MC Drew Reid, EMI's Tom Luteran, BMI's Perry Howard, Dallas Davidson

Chuck Jones and Keith Stegall at Pier House

James Slater and Tim Nichols at Schooner Wharf

photos by Alan Mayor and Brian Tipton

Bart Allmand	Chuck Cannon	Kerry Harvick

The roster of talent includes BMI-Award winning tunesmiths Bart Allmand ("You Can't Take the Honky Tonk Out of the Girl"), Chuck Cannon ("American Soldier"), Kerry Harvick ("Til' Nothing Comes Between Us"), James Dean Hicks ("Jesus and Mama"), Chuck Jones ("Love a Little Stronger"), Jay Knowles ("She'll Leave You With a Smile"), Kendell Marvel ("Right Where I Need To Be"), Wendell Mobley ("I Melt"), Tim Nichols ("Live Like You Were Dying"), James Slater ("In My Daughter's Eyes"), Jeffrey Steele ("Chrome"), Keith Stegall ("I Do Cherish You"), Phillip White ("I'm a Survivor") and D. Vincent Williams ("I'm Movin' On").

James Dean Hicks	Chuck Jones	Kendell Marvel

Additional performers on the bill include Asylum Records artist Lee Brice, Patrick Davis ("This Life"), Dillon Dixon ("For a Lack of Better Words"), BNA Records artist Morgane Haynes, Randy Houser ("Honky Tonk Badonkadonk"), MCA Nashville artist Jedd Hughes, EMI Music Publishing writer Jamey Johnson, Key West songster Scott Kirby, Vicky McGehee ("When I Think About Cheatin'"), RCA Nashville artist John Pierce, Kylie Sackley ("Nothin' 'Bout Love Makes Sense"), and Dreamworks Music writer Jen Schott.

Morgane Haynes	Lee Brice

Venues hosting performances are founding sponsor Hog's Breath Saloon, Schooner Wharf, Pier House Resort, Hilton Key West Resort, Virgilio's, Green Parrot, Blue Heaven, Fury, Southernmost Hotel & Resort, Ocean Key Resort and Mangoes. Hog's Breath Saloon General Manager Charlie Bauer serves as festival coordinator.

Wendell Mobley	Tim Nichols	James Slater

Jeffrey Steele	Keith Stegall	Phillip White

Additional sponsors include Sheraton Suites Key West, the Conch House, Hampton Inn, Fairfield Inn, Nashville Underground, Hyatt Key West, Barcardi, Budweiser, Louie's Backyard, Kelly's, NSAI, American Airlines and ClearChannel. All shows are free to the public except the Friday and Saturday night shows in the Hog's Breath Writer's Room ($20 advance, $25 at the door). To reserve tickets, call (305) 296-4222.

D. Vincent Williams	Patrick Davis	Dillon Dixon

Randy Houser	Scott Kirby	Vicky McGehee
photo by PJ Pettigrew

Kylie Sackley	Jen Schott

]]> 2005-05-09T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/podcasts/container/135817 Jedd Hughes discusses On how he got started in the business Hughes, Jedd, Country, In Their Own Words, Video, 2004, BMI Country Awards 2004-11-03T17:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/234005 Artists, Hughes, Jedd, Loveless, Patty, Musical Styles, Bluegrass, Country Jedd Hughes met with BMI Writer/Publisher Relations Director Joyce Rice to sign with BMI for performing rights representation, in anticipation of the July release of his debut album, Transcontinental.

BMI's Joyce Rice and Jedd Hughes. Photo by Brian Tipton

A native of Australia, Hughes spent his teenage years performing as a sideman with various country entertainers. After high school he attended South Plains College in Levelland, Texas, which offers a bluegrass music program. There he met BMI Award-winning songwriter Terry McBride of the trio McBride and the Ride. With McBride's encouragement, Hughes moved to Nashville in 2002 and the two began writing. Only six weeks after his relocation, he joined Patty Loveless's band as lead guitarist, just in time for the "Down From the Mountain" tour.

During his days off from playing with Loveless, Hughes was busy in the studio with McBride, cutting demos which they eventually took to MCA. Transcontinental, which McBride produced, features nine Hughes/McBride collaborations, including the first single, "High Lonesome," set for release on April 19.]]> 2004-03-16T17:00:00-05:00