In fitting tribute, an elite slew of artists contributed performances of Pop Stoneman-popularized songs: Cowboy Jack Clement delivered "Blue Ridge Mountain Blues," Jim Lauderdale, along with help from the Jordanaires, sang "Are You Washed in the Blood," Old Crow Medicine Show provided "Tell Mother I Will Meet Her" and a group featuring Clement and Stoneman's three surviving daughters Donna Stoneman, Patsy Stoneman Murphy and Roni Stoneman performed Stoneman's influential classic, "The Titanic."

Former BMI President & CEO and Country Music Hall of Fame member Frances Preston presented Stoneman's Hall of Fame medallion to his family. Before draping the award around the neck of his eldest daughter Patsy, Preston said, "Ernest Stoneman had a lifelong motto, 'Don't quit.' And he didn't. Tonight, Pop Stoneman's perseverance is being rewarded."

From his earliest days as a roaring 20's crossover sensation to his leadership of the award-winning Stoneman Family ensemble, Ernest "Pop" Stoneman embodies the term "pioneer." In the early 1920s, his performance of self-penned "The Titanic" charted at No. 3 on both the Billboard and Variety charts and remained there for 10 weeks. One of the first country records to sell more than one million copies, the song became one of the biggest hits of the decade. Stoneman's keen eye for talent in Bristol, Tennessee, led to the landmark Bristol recording sessions. Considered one of the most seminal events in country music by many historians, the Bristol recording sessions introduced artists including Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family to the nation. Throughout the 40s, 50s and 60s, Pop Stoneman focused on the popular bluegrass, bucolic musical concoction of The Stoneman Family band. Made up of his wife Hattie and many of their 13 adult children, the group debuted on the Grand Ole Opry in 1962, and in 1967, The Stoneman Family earned the first ever CMA Vocal Group of the Year award. Ernest "Pop" Stoneman recorded, composed and performed well into his mid 70s.

For more on Pop Stoneman's remarkable life, click here.

Photo Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame ® & Museum

For more information, click here.

“The FastTrack technology has established itself worldwide as a musical documentation network, within CISAC as well. As Chairman of the Board of Directors, I am delighted to be able to follow the innovative development of this major instrument for global rights management." said Becker.

“All of us on the Board want to extend a special vote of thanks and heartfelt gratitude to Mrs. Frances Preston for her great support, beginning with the creation of FastTrack more than six years ago. She has shouldered the responsibilities of chairmanship during the four past years and helped to turn the original idea of a global copyright network into a functioning and efficient reality. Her dedication, vision, time and energy have made a huge contribution to this project.

“As we go forward, I am especially pleased that André LeBel has been appointed as FastTrack’s Vice-Chair. His enthusiasm and persistence has made SOCAN one of the most successful societies implementing FastTrack technologies and business systems.”

“In the last year, FastTrack has undergone a series of structural and governance reforms to make it more agile and responsive to its partners’ needs and those of the broader music societies’ movement. Under Jürgen’s leadership, I look forward to assisting our colleagues in continuing to harness the power of our great network and tools,” said LeBel.

FastTrack currently encompasses 12 European and American copyright organizations, including AKM/Austro-Mechana (Austria), ASCAP (USA), BMI (USA), Buma/Stemra (The Netherlands), GEMA (Germany), The MCPS-PRS Alliance (United Kingdom), SABAM (Belgium), SACEM (France), SGAE (Spain), SIAE (Italy), SOCAN (Canada) and SUISA (Switzerland).

FastTrack is also the technology provider for the CISAC CIS-Net and ISWC-Net networks.

Frances W. Preston has come a long way since her position as receptionist at WSM radio station, which she left in 1958 to open a southern regional office of Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) in Nashville. There Preston issued performing rights licenses for songwriters and music publishers, and she quickly led BMI to a position of preeminence in the south. In 1964, the year the BMI building opened on Music Row, Preston became a Vice President. Quickly moving up the ranks, she served as President and CEO of BMI from 1986 to 2004, during which time the company’s revenue more than tripled to over $673 million. Under her leadership, BMI enjoyed a consistent record of increasing revenues and royalty distributions to its more than 300,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers. She has been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and a Trustees Award for Lifetime Achievement by the Recording Academy, the President’s Award from the Nashville Songwriters Association International, the President's Award from the National Music Publishers' Association, and the City of Hope "Spirit of Life" Award. She has twice received a Humanitarian Award from the International Achievement in Arts Awards in New York. Photos highlighting Frances Preston’s prolific career can be enjoyed above.

In a career that has spanned nearly five decades, and with millions of records sold, The Crickets are unquestionably "The American Rock and Roll Band." The group was formed in 1957 in Lubbock, Texas by Buddy Holly, J. I. Allison, Niki Sullivan and Joe B. Mauldin. After Sullivan and Holly left the group, Sonny Curtis joined to form the ever-popular trio. Their hits "That’ll Be the Day," "Peggy Sue," "Maybe Baby" and "I Fought the Law" are rock classics considered by many to be primary lessons in how rock music should be written and played. In the mid '70s, the three moved to Tennessee where they continued their long association with Waylon Jennings and began touring and recording with him. Their latest release, The Crickets and Their Buddies, was partly recorded in Nashville and features Eric Clapton, Rodney Crowell, Nanci Griffith, Waylon Jennings and John Prine, to name a few. This induction is a fitting tribute to a band who literally defined rock and roll music, and who today, after 50 years, continues to set the standard of excellence by which it should be judged.

John Hiatt wrote his first top-40 hit, "Sure as I'm Sitting Here," while working as a songwriter for Tree Music Publishing in Nashville. The song was covered by Three Dog Night, and in 1974 the band took the song to No. 16 on the Billboard chart. Since then, Hiatt's songs have been recorded by a number of artists including Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Willie Nelson, Jimmy Buffet and Rosanne Cash, to name a few. Hiatt has released 18 studio albums and two live albums, and he has been nominated for 11 Grammy Awards. His 1987 hit "Have a Little Faith in Me" brought him national attention and was covered by several artists, with the most notable versions being recorded by Jewel, Mandy Moore and Joe Cocker. Hiatt has written and recorded duets with respected vocalists like Bonnie Raitt ("Thing Called Love"), Emmylou Harris ("Icy Blue Heart"), Rosanne Cash ("The Way We Make a Broken Heart"), Suzy Boggus ("Drive South") and B.B. King & Eric Clapton ("Riding with the King"). A musician's musician, Hiatt has proven to everyone that he has what it takes to be an all-around great singer/songwriter.

Created in the fall of 2006, the Music City Walk of Fame on Nashville's Music Mile will be a landmark tribute to those from all genres of music who have made significant contributions to preserving the musical heritage of Nashville and have contributed to the world through song or other industry collaboration.

Permanent sidewalk medallions made of stainless steel and terrazzo, with each honoree's name displayed in a star-and-guitar design, will be installed in the sidewalk along the Music Mile, the roughly one-mile stretch of Demonbreun Street from 4th Avenue South to the Music Row Roundabout at 16th Avenue South. The plaques for this class of inductees will be inlaid in Hall of Fame Park on Demonbreun, between 4th and 5th Avenues South.

About the Music City Walk of Fame The Music City Walk of Fame is an official project of Music City, Inc., the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau's 501(c)(3) foundation; Sandra Fulton, chair. The Music City Walk of Fame is produced with the support of Gibson Guitar, Great American Country, the City of Nashville and Metro Parks.

WAMA Director Mike Shreibman, Falls Church Vice Mayor M.R. Lindy Hockenberry and BMI’s Fred Cannon

The D.C. music scene awards have long been a deep-winter occasion for members of the music community to bestow honors on their talented colleagues in all genres of music, from bluegrass and pop to Washington’s own funk style, go-go.

There were dozens of prizes awarded in the genre categories, and BMI writers came up big winners in the general awards.

BMI’s Fred Cannon with members of Celtic band Scythian

Veteran roots rocker David Kitchen picked up the award for Songwriter of the Year, as WAMA members were impressed with tunes on his The Thrillbillys Live!! at the Sunset Grill CD, which was also nominated for Album of the Year.

Geffry King got the Wammie for Song of the Year, an alt-country waltz entitled “Who Gets the Fruitcake This Year?”, the title song from a nominated album by Honky Tonk Confidential.

WAMA Awards attendees wait in line at the State Theatre

BMI’s Fred Cannon, president of the Recording Academy’s Washington chapter, gave the keynote address. As Senior Vice President of Government Relations, Cannon has strong ties to the D.C. music community and represents songwriter interests on Capitol Hill.

Cannon told WAMA members that the age of the independent label has arrived, and to make an effort take control of their own destiny when it comes to the business side of the music life.

BMI’s Fred Cannon delivers his keynote speech

“We are in the era of digital excellence, crafted by the past, aimed for the future,” he said. “Music creators have never been better positioned in the marketplace.” With home recording technology innovations, he added, “the opportunity for creativity is without limits.”

Cannon said D.C.-area musicians and songwriters must engage their elected officials. “Make a point to know the issues that pertain to your future. Meet your congressmen. Walk the halls. Voice your concerns.”

Also joining the WAMA festivities this year as master of ceremonies was a new member of the D.C. music community (and a new BMI member), Bob Schieffer, who’s had day gigs such as White House correspondent and “Evening News” anchor for CBS.

Schieffer, it turns out, got to know the members of Honky Tonk Confidential because one of them has a day job at CBS, too. He ended up writing four tunes for their upcoming album, Roadkill Stew and Other News, and singing one.

Fred Cannon’s Keynote Speech:

First of all, let me thank the Wammies and all the members for giving me the opportunity here today to share with you some of my thoughts as a true lover of music. Secondly, I would like to congratulate all the nominees and award winners. Well done to all.

Let me start by saying that we are living in an important chapter in the world of creativity. Today is an amazing day! This year is an amazing year! We are in the era of digital excellence, crafted by the past, aimed for the future.

This is the Age of the Independents.

On June 1, 1978, I personally started as head of an independent label. I had left my job as Commercial Director of A&R at EMI Records in London and I started Carrere Records U.K. As Managing Director, I finally could do my own thing. I was a lucky man: the first single release on Carrere U.K. went to No. 1 in the United Kingdom and six other European countries. The group was a South African all-girl band named Clout and the song was “Substitute.”

In January 1980, I gave an interview to Music Week, the Billboard of England, where I stated that the future of great music lay in the independent labels and the major labels would have to buy out the independents to continue to stay alive. It took a while, but that insight has proven true. Now, I feel that the Age of the Independents has finally arrived.

Thanks to the advent of the digital world, music creators have never been better positioned in the marketplace. I remember miking up bathtubs to get good echo for guitar and vocals. Today with a click of a mouse you have in an instant what to us in the 60s took hours, maybe days to achieve and often at great expense. Today the opportunity for creativity is without limits.

The opportunities are endless!

It is hard to believe how long it took to get a record made, released, promoted, marketed and distributed. Today, promotion, marketing and distribution are at your fingertips. With today’s technology available to you, you can do everything yourself. Record label executives like me and artists lived through the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s without this luxury. I urge you to take full advantage of this opportunity.

We all face the challenge of earning money while maintaining a fair value in the music we create. Living in the D.C. area gives you an added responsibility. You have the opportunity to help us protect the value of music. Your access to Congress puts you in a unique position to make a difference for all the creators in America. Make it a point to know the issues that pertain to your future. Meet your congressmen. Walk the halls. Voice your concerns.

All of you here know how much hard work and commitment it takes to produce and create music. Protect the value! If you truly believe in your talent, write your own songs. As Frances Preston used to say, it is all about the song. Your songs will make or break your career. Produce your own music. Promote, market and distribute your music yourself. It is extremely important for you to do everything in your power to control your destiny. You have this choice; take it. This is coming from someone who would have loved to have had this choice.

The Washington, D.C.-area music scene is extremely exciting and flourishing. The wonderful group of nominees here at the Wammies is evidence of the great music this community is making. The local music scene is full of highly talented artists: Rich Harrison, Marcus Johnson, Stephen Hurd, Deanna Bogart, Cathy Fink, and thousands more. I love the work of professionals who generate the development of the local music scene.

Michael Jaworek at the Birchmere comes to mind, who calls me excited about a group or an artist. I think of Billy Zero, discovering new unsigned talent, promoting them on XM Radio. It is the genius of Greg Lukens that helps new talent get great sounds and dynamics. Richard Burgess, one of the U.K.’s top producers who worked alongside me years ago, is now producing new acts locally. It is people like Gemma Puglisi, Professor at the American University, who turned me on to Scythian. I think of Jennifer Cutting and her incredible energy and her passion for folk and Irish music. My friend Janine Wilson comes to mind, who is following her dream in music, always promoting, always playing. Charlie Pilzer is one of the legendary producer/artist/executive from the D.C. area. These are some of the colorful folks who help generate a vibrant and incredible spirit that helps propel the local music scene.

Look at the large group of local artists nominated for Grammys including our big Grammy winner John Mayer! Let me stress this point: The D.C.-area music scene is world class and second to none. This music area is hot! I just heard the new album from D.C. legend Chuck Brown. Wow! We are surrounded by great talent. The future of the D.C. music scene has never been stronger.

A couple of final thoughts: As President of the D.C. Chapter of the Recording Academy, let me say that if you are not yet a member of the Academy, you should join this wonderful organization. Finally, if you are a songwriter or a publisher, join BMI. Make sure you are paid on your performing right and help us protect the value of your creative works.

Remember: the world is at your fingertips. Be original, be creative, and most of all love the music you make.

Thank you and God bless!

Photos by Cindy L. Kunst/CLicKs Photography

Former BMI President & CEO Frances Preston (left) looks on as Del and Dane Bryant (at podium) accept their mother's induction into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame

Other BMI songwriters inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame this year include Gregg Allman, Dallas Austin and members of R.E.M.

Born in Milwaukee, Felice Bryant lived for many years in Moutrie, Ga., the hometown of husband and writing partner Boudleaux Bryant. The potent combination of Felice and Boudleaux resulted in one of the most enduring songwriting teams in popular music history. The couple penned standards like "Bye Bye Love" and "Wake Up, Little Susie" for the Everly Brothers, catapulting the rock and roll duo to stardom. Buddy Holly's rendition of the Bryants' "Raining in My Heart" was captured during his final recording session in 1958. Prior to their pivotal foray into the burgeoning world of rock and roll, the Bryants wrote hits for a number of country music's legendary figures, including Little Jimmy Dickens, Eddy Arnold and Jim Reeves. A virtual who's who of 20th century music giants recorded songs by the Bryants-names like Bob Dylan, the Beatles, Elvis Presley, the Grateful Dead, the Beach Boys, Elvis Costello, Dolly Parton, Roy Orbison, Buddy Holly and Dean Martin color the iconic list.

Though Felice rarely worked without her husband, her solo composition and one-time birthday gift to Boudleaux, "We Could," was recorded by Jim Reeves, Little Jimmy Dickens, George Jones & Tammy Wynette, Kitty Wells, George Morgan, the Louvin Brothers, Charley Pride, Al Martino and John Prine-a resounding affirmation of her gift.

Tennessee adopted the Bryants' tune, "Rocky Top," as its state song in 1982; the Georgia Music Hall of Fame inducted Boudleaux that same year, and he lived until 1987. Felice passed away in 1997 at her home in Gatlinburg, Tenn.]]> 2006-10-10T05:00:01-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/334850 Artists, Bell, Thom, Bryant, Del, Davis, Mac, DeGraw, Gavin, Jennings, Will, Kristofferson, Kris, Manilow, Barry, Menken, Alan, Moy, Sylvia, Presley, Elvis, Preston, Frances, Winwood, Steve, Awards, Industry Awards, Songwriters Hall of Fame Songwriters Hall of Fame ceremony pulled out all the stops as SHOF Chairman/CEO Hal David and President Linda Moran helped honor BMI songwriting heavyweights Thom Bell, Mac Davis, Will Jennings, Sylvia Moy and Kris Kristofferson. The 37th annual induction ceremony, which also saluted songwriters Henry Cosby, John Mayer, Peter, Paul & Mary, and ABKCO Publishing's Allen Klein, took place June 15 at New York's Marriott Marquis Hotel.

BMI President & CEO Del Bryant, Kris Kristofferson, and SHOF Curator Oscar Brand

The evening was full of special moments, including one from music impresario Paul Shaffer, who honored inductee Thom Bell with a medley of some of his most famous songs, including "I'll Be Around," "You Make Me Feel Brand New," "Didn't I Blow Your Mind This Time" and "You Are Everything."

Inductee Will Jennings, SHOF President Linda Moran, Kris Kristofferson, Frances Preston, and inductee Mac Davis

Hal David gave the introduction to Johnny Mercer Award honoree Kris Kristofferson: "Tonight's honoree is a Rhodes Scholar and former United States Army helicopter pilot who, in 1965, resigned his commission, gave up a teaching post at West Point, and moved to Nashville to fulfill his dream of becoming a successful songwriter."

Country star Trace Adkins did Kristofferson's "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" proud and presented the honor to his old friend. Kristofferson then thrilled the packed audience with a performance of "Help Me Make It Through the Night."

SHOF Chairman/CEO Hal David, inductee Sylvia Moy, and Will Jennings

BMI composer Alan Menken (The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast) came out to help induct fellow BMI affiliate Will Jennings, citing Jennings' amazing songwriting record, which includes co-writing Barry Manilow's first No. 1 smash, "Looks Like We Made It," as well as his extremely successful partnership with Steve Winwood. Broadway vocalist Linda Eder performed his blockbuster hit, "My Heart Will Go On," from Titanic.

Trace Adkins, Will Jennings, ASCAP's John LoFrumento, Paul Shaffer, Mac Davis, Lise Davis, Sylvia Moy, Del Bryant, inductee Thom Bell, and Hal David

Former BMI President & CEO Frances Preston helped induct her longtime friend, Mac Davis. "My first remembrance of Mac Davis was from a very early Nashville music festival," Preston reminisced. "I knew at that moment that Mac Davis was going to be one of America's greatest songwriters."

Thom Bell accepts his award

Davis, who signed his own recording contract in 1970, topped the charts in 1972 with his song, "Baby, Don't Get Hooked on Me," and wrote the Elvis Presley classics "A Little Less Conversation," "Memories" and "In the Ghetto," which he performed to a standing ovation.

Publishing giant Allen Klein was honored with the Abe Olman Publishing Award, presented by EMI Music Publishing's Martin Bandier and Carlin America, Inc.'s Freddy Bienstock, both previous recipients of the award. Klein's close friend, Yoko Ono, sent a congratulatory letter, which Bandier read. BMI artist Gavin DeGraw then performed an amazing rendition of ABKCO artist Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come."

Kris Kristofferson performs

The induction of BMI writer Sylvia Moy and the late Henry Cosby closed the show, presented by their longtime Motown collaborator, Stevie Wonder. The pair co-wrote many of Wonder's most famous early hits, including "I Was Made to Love Her," "Shoo Bee Doo Bee Da Day" and "My Cherie Amour," which Wonder performed during the ceremony.

Mac Davis performs

Dedicated to recognizing the work and lives of those composers and lyricists who create popular music around the world, the National Academy of Popular Music/Songwriters Hall of Fame was founded in 1969 by songwriter Johnny Mercer and publishers Abe Olman and Howie Richmond. The NAPM/SHOF is also devoted to the development of new songwriting talent through workshops, showcases and scholarships. BMI is a long-time supporter of the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

True, his hair and beard have long gone gray, and his singing voice is grittier than ever. But when he's on stage now, in his black work shirt with its tails hanging over his black denim pants, accompanying himself solo on guitar and harmonica, he's never looked or sounded better.

Indeed, ladies more than half his age still shriek when he eases into "Help Me Make it Through the Night," the Sammi Smith country crossover pop hit from 1971 — the same year Janis Joplin made Kristofferson's "Me and Bobby McGee" a posthumous No. 1.

And based on his latest album, This Old Road, Kristofferson is also more musically alive and lyrically vital than ever, too. His first studio set of new songs since 1995's A Moment of Forever (likewise produced by Don Was) not only continues the singular mix of personal and political work that virtually redefined the practice of songwriting in Nashville in the 1960s (for which he has been justly rewarded with inductions into the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame), but brings him up-to-date: "I want nothing but the endin' of the war," he sings in "In the News." On "Wild American," he singles out personal heroes like Steve Earle and Native American activist John Trudell while declaring, "When they burn your brother down in the name of freedom/I don't care if it's left or right/It's wrong."

Of course, Kristofferson himself has long ago achieved hero status, both as singer/songwriter and humanitarian. This stature has now been further certified with the release of The Pilgrim: A Celebration of Kris Kristofferson, a 17-track compilation of classic Kristofferson songs sung by Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Rosanne Cash and Shooter Jennings, among others.

Meanwhile, his movie stardom, which commenced in the 1970s with hits like Barbra Streisand's A Star is Born, maintains full throttle with key roles in films like last year's The Jacket with Adrien Brody and Keira Knightley. And after a hiatus from concert performing, he has returned to the road to find adoring audiences hanging on every word, be it song lyric or off-the-cuff commentary.

"I'm not going to dazzle you with fireworks," he acknowledged at a nevertheless electrifying recent acoustic show, fittingly held at New York's Ethical Culture Center. He followed with the typically Kristoffersonian wisdom of "Heart" and its closing line, "The heart is all that matters in the end."

As none other than former BMI President Frances Preston once said, "You really have to see Kris Kristofferson every time you can. He sings the truth."]]> 2006-06-12T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/334703 Artists, Berg, Matraca, Black, Clint, Cannon, Chuck, Cropper, Steve, Dillon, Dean, Hanna, Jeff, Hanna-McEuen, Johnson, Doug, Kirkpatrick, Wayne, Little Big Town, Preston, Frances, Randall, Jon, Rushlow, Tim, Sanford, Chas Country in the Rockies XII, the annual signature fund-raising event for the T.J. Martell Foundation's Nashville division brought music fans to Club Med in Crested Butte, Colo., for four days of mingling with artists and songwriters in one of the best winter sport settings in the Rocky Mountains. Proceeds from the event support innovative research at the Frances Williams Preston Laboratories, part of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.

CITR MC Tom Gross; BMI VP Writer/Publisher Relations Paul Corbin; Dr. Hal Moses, Director Emeritus of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center; Frances Preston, President, T.J. Martell Foundation; Raymond DuBois, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center; Peter Quinn, CEO/National Executive Director for T.J. Martell

Musical highlights of the week included concerts by Steve Cropper, Clint Black, Little Big Town, John Corbett, Blue County, Hanna-McEuen, and many of Nashville's hottest songwriters including Matraca Berg, Jeff Hanna, Jessi Alexander, Jon Randall, Tim Rushlow, Chuck Cannon, Doug Johnson, Wayne Kirkpatrick and Chas Sanford.

Front row: Gary Chapman, Jennifer Chapman, Equity Music Group President Mike Kraski, Equity Chief Creative Officer Tim Wipperman, Kimberly Roads (LBT), Clint Black, Frances Preston, Karen Fairchild (LBT), Jimi Westbrook (LBT); Back Row: BMI's Paul Corbin, and Phillip Sweet (LBT)

"Country in the Rockies is a magical event filled with music, fun, friendships and most importantly, the mission of raising vital funds to support cutting-edge research for leukemia, cancer and AIDS through the Frances Williams Preston Laboratories at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center," stated Laura Heatherly, Executive Director of the T.J. Martell Foundation.

Clint Black

The inaugural "Music for Life Concert & Auction" held at the Crested Butte Center for the Arts raised $65,000. The event was spearheaded by a committee of local citizens and presented by Redden Group Realty of Crested Butte. Performers included Blue County, Suzy Boggus, Dean Dillon, Aaron Barker, Hanna-McEuen and Gary Morris.

Clint Black and Little Big Town

Since 1993, the Martell Foundation has enabled physicians and scientists of the Frances Williams Preston Laboratories at VICC to conduct cutting-edge research and quickly transition promising new findings from laboratory benches to patient bedsides. To date, the Nashville division has raised $14 million in support of the VICC's pilot projects. In turn, these contributions have been leveraged to obtain additional funding - totaling more than $100 million - from public and private sources to further advance ongoing efforts to alleviate suffering from cancer.

Jaime Hanna and Jonathan McEuen "busk" on the top of Mt. Crested Butte

The Frances Williams Preston Labs of Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center are named in honor of former BMI President and CEO Frances Preston. Preston is the founder of Country in the Rockies and also serves as President of the Martell board and as a VICC board member.

SHOF inductees Robert and Richard Sherman, Towering Song Award winners Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, BMI's Del Bryant, and SHOF inductees David Porter, Isaac Hayes and Steve Cropper

Also honored was "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'," written by BMI writers Phil Spector, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. The Righteous Brothers' classic received this year's Towering Song Award. "Lovin' Feelin'" recently surpassed the 10 million performance plateau and was recognized at BMI's 2005 Pop Awards held in May.

Gathered before the induction ceremony are (back row) EMI Publishing's Marty Bandier, BMI's Del Bryant, SHOF President Linda Moran, SHOF inductee Steve Cropper, performer Lalah Hathaway, SHOF inductees John Fogerty, Smokey Robinson, and Bill Withers, Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr., songwriter Jimmy Webb, SHOF Chairman Hal David, Gibson Guitar Chairman Henry Juszkiewicz , Towering Song Award winner Cynthia Weil, (kneeling) performers Debra Gibson and Ryan Cabrera, Towering Song Award winner Barry Mann, and SHOF inductees Les Paul and Richard Sherman

Dedicated to recognizing the work and lives of those composers and lyricists who create popular music around the world, National Academy of Popular Music/Songwriters Hall of Fame was founded in 1969 by songwriter Johnny Mercer and publishers Abe Olman and Howie Richmond. The NAPM/SHOF is also devoted to the development of new songwriting talent through workshops, showcases and scholarships. BMI is a long-time supporter of the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

SHOF inductees David Porter, Isaac Hayes and Steve Cropper

SHOF inductees David Porter, Les Paul and Isaac Hayes, BMI former President & CEO Frances Preston, Towering Song Award winners Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, and SHOF Chairman Hal David

BMI President and CEO Del Bryant (right) congratulates brothers Richard and Robert Sherman

photos by Gary Gershoff