Pictured at BMI Nashville are (front row) Anthony Smith, Jennifer Schott and Bekka Bramlett; (back row) BMI's Thomas Cain, guitarist Bobby Terry, and Almo-Irving Music's Cyndi Forman and Kimberly Gleason. Photo by Caroline Davis

]]> 2003-09-10T18:00:00-05:00 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/200028 Artists, Gentry, Montgomery, Hill, Faith, Lonestar, Rascal Flatts, Smith, Anthony, Musical Styles, Country Anthony Smith, whose debut album, If That Ain't Country, was one of country music's most exciting releases of 2002, recently signed a songwriters agreement with BMI. In addition to the title track, the album also boasts "John J. Blanchard" and the current single, "Half A Man."

Brooks Collier of The Firm management company, Anthony Smith and BMI's David Preston

As a songwriter, Anthony has scored with George Strait's "Run," Trace Adkins' "Chrome" and "I'm Tryin'," Montgomery Gentry's "Didn't I," Lonestar's "Without You," and album cuts with Faith Hill and Rascal Flatts, among others. Named "Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year" at the 2002 Music Row Magazine Awards, Anthony also won a 2002 Songwriter Achievement Award for "I'm Tryin'" from the Nashville Songwriters Association International.

BMI's Mark Mason, Bradley Collins and Joyce Rice, Brooks Collier, Anthony Smith, BMI's Perry Howard, David Preston and Thomas Cain

An east Tennessee native, Anthony moved to Kentucky in his early 20s, joining a house band called Sneaky Pete at the Soundstage club. After playing in his own band for a few more years, he made the move to Nashville. He was soon invited to play at a writers night at the Broken Spoke, which turned into an extended gig. He garnered interest from publishers and record label executives; when Mercury Nashville head Luke Lewis heard one of his demos, he immediately offered the writer a home.

For more information, visit http://www.anthonysmith.com.

photos by Brian Tipton]]> 2003-02-20T17:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/232913 Artists, Lonestar, Smith, Anthony, Musical Styles, Country

Songwriter Aaron Barker celebrated his seventh #1 song during a recent party at BMI Nashville; in fact, ""What About Now" spent five weeks at the top of the country charts. Recorded by Lonestar on their 3x-platinum BNA Records release Lonely Grill, "What About Now" is published by O-Tex Music and Barker's company, Blind Sparrow Music. Among Barker's other #1 hits are the George Strait classics "Love Without End, Amen," "Baby Blue,' "Easy Come, Easy Go," "I'd Like To Have That One Back," "I Know She Still Loves Me," and "I Can Still Make Cheyenne."

BMI's Harry Warner, Lonestar's Keech Rainwater, BNA's Joe Galante, Lonestar's Dean Sams and Michael Britt, writer Aaron Barker, O-Tex Music's Connie Woolsey and BMI's David Preston

Theresa Paul & Aaron Barker with longtime BMI friend Patsy Bradley

"What About Now" songwriters Ron Harbin, Aaron Barker and Anthony Smith with BMI's David Preston

Country In the Rockies buddies: BMI's Dennis DiTraglia, Aaron Barker, BMI's Tom Annastas and Kathy Crow

BMI's Harry Warner, songwriters Charlie Black ("Right On the Money") and Dana Hunt ("Write This Down"), O-Tex Music's Connie Woolsey, and BMI's David Preston

photos by Alan L. Mayor