Carrie Rodriguez

Alejandro Escovedo Gives Ferocious Performance for ‘Real Animal’

2008-10-01T14:22:00-05:00

Austin-based BMI singer-songwriter Alejandro Escovedo made his way west for a performance at the world-famous Troubadour, where he was met by BMI's Marissa Lopez and a packed house. Escovedo gave a fiery and passionate performance in celebration of his current release and 9th solo album, Real Animal (Back Porch/Manhattan), produced by Tony Visconti (David Bowie, T.Rex, Thin Lizzy).

The set featured songs "Chelsea Hotel '78," "Sister Lost Soul," which had opener Carrie Rodriguez joining the band on violin, "By the Hand of the Father," and "Real as an Animal," all from the new album. The evening closed in grand style with covers of Mott the Hoople's "All the Young Dudes" and the Stones' "Beast of Burden, the latter with other opener David Garza on guitar and vocals.

Openers Davíd Garza and Carrie Rodriguez

Alejandro Escovedo

Jan Stabil (Jon Landau Management), BMI's Marissa Lopez, Alejandro Escovedo and Gilbert Gastelum (Cosmica-Artists)

Americana Music Elite Gather at BMI Nashville for AMA Announcement Party

2006-06-25T18:00:00-05:00

Roots music aficionados and creators gathered in BMI Nashville's main lobby on June 15 to hear Americana giants Steve Earle and Allison Moorer announce the 2006 Americana Music Association Awards nominees. The packed house enjoyed margaritas and tapas, while the audience's ears feasted on the music of the AMA nominees drifting from the speakers.

Pictured are (l to r): AMA Board President Tamara Saviano, BMI VP Jody Williams, Allison Moorer, Steve Earle, Buddy Miller, AMA Executive Director Jeff Green and BMI's Mark Mason. Photo by Alan Mayor

BMI singer/songwriter James McMurtry led the pack with three nominations, including Album and Artist of the Year. Rosanne Cash and Marty Stuart followed closely behind with two nods apiece. Other noteworthy picks include the second New/Emerging Artist of the Year nomination for the Greencards (their first came in 2004), and Dixie Chick Martie Maguire's Song of the Year mention for the band's controversial single, "Not Ready to Make Nice."

Tennessean music critic Peter Cooper, BMI's Kay Clary and Elisabeth Dawson, and Grimey's Music co-owner and AMA board member Doyle Davis. Photo by Sonata Stanton

The 5th Annual Americana Honors & Awards show will take place on Friday, September 22 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Hosted by perennial favorite, Jim Lauderdale, the Americana Honors & Awards will once again feature an all-star "house band" led by Buddy Miller. The ceremony is scheduled to be broadcast around the world by both Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio, as well as by BBC Radio 2 and Voice of America.

Vector Management's Lisa Jenkins, AMA Board President/Saviano Media Owner Tamara Saviano, Sugar Hill's Kim Fowler, Vector Management's Kathi Whitley and GAC's Shaun Moseley. Photo by Elisabeth Dawson

BMI is a major sponsor of the Americana Music Association and its convention held in Nashville each fall.

ASCAP's Michelle Goble, BMI's Mark Mason and ASCAP's Mike Sistad Photo by Kay Clary

BMI's 2006 Americana Music Association Award Nominees:

Album of the Year
James McMurtry -- Childish Things
Delbert McClinton -- Cost of Living
Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives -- Souls' Chapel

Artist of the Year
Rosanne Cash
James McMurtry
Marty Stuart

Duo/Group of the Year
Caitlin Cary
The Drive-By Truckers
Fats Kaplin
Chip Taylor & Carrie Rodriguez

Instrumentalist of the Year
Jerry Douglas
Kenny Vaughan

New/Emerging Artist of the Year
The Greencards
James Hunter
Robinella

Song of the Year (songwriter award)
"Black Cadillac" written by Rosanne Cash
"Not Ready to Make Nice" written by Martie Maguire
"We Can't Make It Here" written by James McMurtry

Carrie Rodriguez Joins BMI Family

2003-08-21T18:00:00-05:00

Newcomer Carrie Rodriguez stopped by the BMI New York office recently to sign some paper work. Rodriguez is an accomplished fiddle player who was discovered at Austin's South by Southwest music convention in 2001 by legendary BMI songwriter Chip Taylor. The pair's second album of duets entitled The Trouble With Humans is due out in September. Their first album, Let's Leave This Town, is a blend of folk, bluegrass, country and Texas swing and marked Rodriguez's debut as a singer. That CD was recently nominated for the Shortlist Music Prize, an award given to the industry's most creative albums as selected by the world's top musicians.

Pictured in the BMI New York office are (seated) Carrie Rodriguez, Chip Taylor, and (standing) BMI's Charlie Feldman and J.W. Johnson. photo: Dana Rodriguez

Chip Taylor, Carrie Rodriguez: The Next Big (Wild) Thing

2003-04-29T18:00:00-05:00

Legendary BMI singer/songwriter Chip Taylor, best know for writing such rock and country classics as "Wild Thing," "Angel of the Morning" and "Son of a Rotten Gambler," stopped by the BMI New York office recently with newcomer Carrie Rodriguez to perform some songs. Chip and Carrie played a short set for BMI executives and staff, debuting several new songs including "Memphis, Texas" and "Confessions from Newport News" before heading to Holland to play at the Blue Highway Festival. The pair recently released an album of duets entitled Let's Leave This Town, a blend of folk, bluegrass, country and Texas swing that marked Rodriguez's debut as a singer. Taylor, who has penned numerous hits over the last 40 years, discovered the young fiddle player at Austin's South by Southwest music convention in 2001.

BMI's New York Writer/Publisher Relations department greets Carrie and
Chip (center). Pictured are BMI's Samantha Cox and Charlie Feldman,
Rodriguez, Taylor, BMI's J.W. Johnson and Brooke Primont

Chip Taylor and Carrie Rodriguez perform with bass player Tony Mercadante (seated)

photos: Gary Gerhshoff