BMI's Jody Williams welcomes guests to BMI Nashville's Writer/Publisher lobby. Pictured are (l to r): BMI's Larry Stevens and Jody Williams, Rep. Mary Bono, and BMI's Fred Cannon

Bono's keen interest in copyright issues is genuine: She manages the catalogue of her late husband, BMI songwriter Sonny Bono, and is a key proponent of the creative arts, serving on Congress's Intellectual Property Committee.

BMI's Thomas Cain, Diamond Rio's Brian Prout and BMI's Shelby Kennedy

BMI songwriter Danny Wells and BMI's David Preston

photos by Kay Clary]]> 2006-06-27T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/234384 Artists, Boyd, Bobby E., Hummon, Marcus, LeVox, Gary, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, The, Rascal Flatts, Tomlinson, Trent, Wells, Danny, Musical Styles, Country Rascal Flatts and BMI Award-winning songwriters Bobby E. Boyd and Marcus Hummon were center stage during a party hosted by BMI in honor of their #1 hit, "Bless the Broken Road." Nitty Gritty Dirt Band member Jeff Hanna, who co-wrote the song, was recovering from the flu and unable to attend.

Pictured are BMI's Bradley Collins, Rascal Flatts' Gary LeVox and Joe Don Rooney, Marcus Hummon, Rascal Flatts' Jay DeMarcus, and Bobby E. Boyd

The awards presentations also praised the contributions of publishers Careers-BMG Music Publishing and Jeff Diggs Music (Hanna's company), producers Mark Bright and Marty Williams, and Lyric Street Records. The single is included on the #1, platinum-plus album Feels Like Today.

Producer Mark Bright, RF's Jay DeMarcus, BMI's Bradley Collins, Marcus Hummon, Bobby E. Boyd, RF's Joe Don Rooney and Gary LeVox, and producer Marty Williams

In addition to celebrating their multi-week #1 (six weeks on Billboard and R&R charts), the creative team also shared congratulations on their 2005 Academy of Country Music nominations. "Bless the Broken Road" is up for Song of the Year (nods to Boyd, Hanna, Hummon, Rascal Flatts, Careers-BMG Music and Jeff Diggs Music) and Single of the Year (Rascal Flatts, Bright and Williams). Rascal Flatts also earned a Top Vocal Group mention; they have won the award the past two years.

Danny Wells, Trent Tomlinson, Lyric Street's Doug Howard and Randy Goodman

Collectively, Boyd, Hanna and Hummon have written two dozen songs honored with BMI Awards or Million-Air plaques, including "In Pictures" and "Working Man's Ph.D.," (Boyd); "Baby's Got a Hold On Me" and "Down That Road Tonight" (Hanna); and "Born to Fly," "One of These Days" and "Cowboy Take Me Away" (Hummon).

Famous Music's Glenn Middleworth, David Lee, Famous Music's Curtis Green

"Bless the Broken Road" was written in 1993 and recorded three times prior to the Flatts: by Hummon on his 1995 Sony album, All in Good Time; by Melodie Crittenden, who released it as a single and music video on Asylum Records in 1997; and by Christian group Geoff Moore & the Distance.

Helen Naylor, Careers-BMG's Karen Conrad

Scott Siman, Marcus Hummon, BMI's Paul Corbin

Hope, Bobby, Hallelujah and Stacey Harrison Boyd

Bobby E. Boyd, Bug Music's Dave Durocher (accepting on behalf of Jeff Diggs Music), Careers-BMG Music's Karen Conrad, Marcus Hummon, Careers-BMG Music's Michelle Berlin

photos by Kay Williams

Leading the Jim Beam toast are Troy Gentry, Eddie Montgomery, Sony Nashville's John Grady and BMI's Paul Corbin.

Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry are nominated for two Academy of Country Music Association awards: Top Vocal Duo and Vocal Event of the Year, joining fellow BMI writers Tracy Byrd, Andy Griggs and Blake Shelton for "The Truth About Men."

Danny Wells, BMI’s David Preston, Chris Wallin

Montgomery Gentry's fourth Columbia album, You Do Your Thing -- which is co-produced by Jeffrey Steele and Rivers Rutherford -- hits stores May 18.

Sony Nashville’s Larry Pareigis, Buddy Jewell, Sony Nashville’s Bill Macky, Buffy Cooper and Dale Libby

Troy Gentry, Jeffrey Steele, Eddie Montgomery, Rivers Rutherford

Jack Lameier, BMI’s Paul Corbin, Hallmark Management’s John Dorris

Susan Myers, Sony Nashville’s Shawn Williams, Laura Huie

Photos by Deana Tackett]]> 2004-04-12T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/233867 Artists, Lonestar, McDonald, Richie, Myers, Frank, Wells, Danny, Musical Styles, Country Richie McDonald of Lonestar and Frank Myers along with Don Pfrimmer. Joining in the celebration were Lonestar members Dean Sams, Michael Britt and Keech Rainwater. "My Front Porch Looking In," from Lonestar's BNA album Greatest Hits: From There To Here, is their ninth #1 single.

On the front porch at BMI Nashville are (bottom row) RLG's Butch Waugh; Sony/ATV Tree's Woody Bomar; Sixteen Stars Music's Ronnie Gant; writers Frank Myers, Richie McDonald and Don Pfrimmer; RLG's Tom Baldrica; (top row) Michael Britt, Dean Sams, BMI's Paul Corbin, Keech Rainwater, and BMI's Harry Warner.

In addition to presenting awards to the songwriters, BMI also recognized publishers Frank Myers Music, Sixteen Stars Music, Sony/ATV Tree and producer Dann Huff.

McDonald and Myers previously collaborated on "I'm Already There," named Song of the Year at the 2002 BMI Country Awards. Lonestar -- winner of numerous CMA, ACM and Billboard honors, plus multiple Grammy and AMA nominations -- is nominated for Vocal Group of the Year at the 2003 CMA Awards.

Shane Minor, BMI's David Preston, Danny Wells

Brad Martin with BMI's David Preston

Sixteen Stars Music's Carol Phillips, Belinda & Frank Myers, Sam Cerami

Frank Myers, Sixteen Stars Music's Jason Morris, Richie McDonald

]]> 2003-10-08T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/233848 Alabama, Arnold, David, Bedingfield, Daniel, Brooks & Dunn, BT, Dirty Vegas, Eminem, Fat Joe, Floetry, Gorillaz, Gotti, Irv, Ja Rule, Jackson, Janet, Jackson, Michael, John, Elton, Lennon, John, Minder Music, Morrison, Van, Oakenfold, Paul, Preston, Frances, Rascal Flatts, Smith, Steve, Steele, Jeffrey, Sting, Townshend, Pete, Walden, Christian de, Wells, Danny, Williams, Pharrell, Country, Dance, Latin, Pop, R&B, Rock, Singer-Songwriter, Urban, BMI Europe, BMI London Awards

Ex-Eurythmics guitarist Dave Stewart (center) holds his BMI Crystal for writing the Song of the Year. Stewart is flanked by BMI Senior Vice President Writer Publisher Relations Phil Graham and BMI President and CEO Frances Preston

"Underneath It All," written by Eurythmics co-founder Dave Stewart (PRS), published by BMG Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS), and recorded by No Doubt (featuring Lady Saw), was honored as the Song of the Year and received the organization's highest accolade, The Robert S. Musel Award. The prestigious award is named for the late Robert Musel, BMI's long-time UK consultant.

BMI songwriter/artist Marsha Ambrosius of singing duo Floetry and Dave Stewart

"19-2000," written by Damon Albarn (PRS) and Jamie Hewlett (PRS), and published by EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS), was named College Song of the Year for the most performances on college radio in the US. The Gorillaz' hit is from the virtual cartoon band's self-titled album, which also produced last year's College Song of the Year, "Clint Eastwood."

Marsha Ambrosius and film composer David Arnold

Receiving two Million-Air certificates each this evening were multiple BMI Award-winning songwriter/artists Sting (PRS) and Sir Elton John (PRS). Sting's "Every Breath You Take," published by EMI Music Publishing Ltd./Magnetic Music (PRS), reached the seven million performance plateau and his "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic," also published by EMI Music Publishing Ltd./Magnetic Music (PRS), received a four million performance award. Sir Elton John received a six million performance award for "Your Song," co-written with Bernie Taupin and published by Universal Music Publishing (PRS), and a three million performance certificate for "Island Girl." Van Morrison's "Brown Eyed Girl," published by Universal Music Publishing (PRS), also reached the six million performance plateau, and the Bert Kaempfert (GEMA) classic "Spanish Eyes," co-written with Charles Singleton and Eddie Snyder and published by Doma Edition Bert Kaempfert (GEMA), received a five million performance award. Million-Air awards are given to the writers and publishers of the most performed songs in the BMI repertoire that have achieved more than one million US radio and television performances, or the equivalent of more than 5.7 years of continuous airplay.

BMI's Brandon Bakshi (left) and Phil Graham (right) congratulate songwriters Spencer Davis and Muff Winwood, co-writers of the Spencer Davis Group classic "Gimme Some Lovin'," which received a Million-Air Award for reaching the three million performance plateau.

BMI Pop Awards went to Paul Oakenfold (PRS) for "Starry Eyed Surprise" (co-written with Fred Neil and published by Mute Song [PRS]); Daniel Bedingfield (PRS) for his smash, "Gotta Get Through This," published by Reverb Music Ltd. (PRS); and to Trevor Horn (PRS) and publisher Unforgettable Songs Ltd. (PRS) for the Eminem hit "Without Me," which also received an Urban Award. The multi award-winning rap song was co-written by BMI songwriters Jeff I. Bass, Kevin "DJ Head" Bell and Eminem.

BMI's Phil Graham and Frances Preston present a Million-Air Award to EMI Music Publishing's Peter Reichardt for the Police hit, "Every Breath You Take." The song, which earned a seven million performance award, was written by Sting.

Other awards included both Pop and Urban certificates to the Michael Jackson song "Butterflies," published by Perfect Songs Ltd. (PRS) and written by Marsha Ambrosius, half of female singing duo Floetry; a second Pop Award to the Paul Herman (PRS)-penned and Cheeky Music Ltd. (PRS)-published "Thank You," which was last year's Song of the Year; a Latin Award to "Yo No Soy Esa Mujer," written by Mike Shepstone (PRS), Carlos Toro Montoro (SGAE) and Christian De Walden; and Country Awards to the Brooks & Dunn hit "The Long Goodbye," written by Ronan Keating (IMRO) and published by Universal Music Publishing (PRS), and to the Rascal Flatts song "These Days," written by Steve Robson (PRS), Jeffrey Steele and Danny Wells, and published by Rondor Music (London) Ltd. (PRS). "Emotion," written by Barry and Robin Gibb, and published by Gibb Brothers Music/BMG (PRS), received its second Pop Award for the Destiny's Child cover version; the Bee Gees classic hit won a BMI Pop Award in 1978.

Irish songwriter Ronan Keating (left) is congratulated by BMI's Frances Preston and Phil Graham. Keating took home a BMI Country Award for his Brooks & Dunn smash, "The Long Goodbye."

Music from the top US movies and television shows were also honored including David Bergeaud (SACEM) for the Cable TV Award-winning show Strong Medicine, Pete Townshend (PRS) for the smash TV hits CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and CSI: Miami, David Arnold (PRS) for the James Bond thriller Die Another Day, and George Fenton (PRS), who took home two Film/TV Awards for his Emmy Award-winning documentary Blue Planet: Seas of Life and the hit movie Sweet Home Alabama.

High-resolution photos from the event will be available to registered users only. To request access, please contact mediarelations@bmi.com.

2003 BMI LONDON AWARDS

SONG OF THE YEAR (THE ROBERT S. MUSEL AWARD)
UNDERNEATH IT ALL
Dave Stewart (PRS)
BMG Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
Artist: No Doubt featuring Lady Saw

COLLEGE SONG OF THE YEAR
19-2000
Damon Albarn (PRS)
Jamie Hewlett (PRS)
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
Artist: Gorillaz

MILLION-AIR AWARDS

7 Million Performances
EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE
Sting (PRS)
EMI Music Publishing Ltd./Magnetic Music (PRS)

6 Million Performances
BROWN EYED GIRL
Van Morrison*
Universal Music Publishing (PRS)

YOUR SONG
Sir Elton John (PRS)
Bernie Taupin*
Universal Music Publishing (PRS)

5 Million Performances
SPANISH EYES
Bert Kaempfert (GEMA)
Charles Singleton*
Eddie Snyder*
Doma Edition Bert Kaempfert (GEMA)

4 Million Performances
EVERY LITTLE THING SHE DOES IS MAGIC
Sting (PRS)
EMI Music Publishing Ltd./Magnetic Music (PRS)

GET BACK
John Lennon (PRS)

THE HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN
Alan Price (PRS)
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)

NEVER ON SUNDAY
Manos Hadjidakis (SACEM)
Billy Towne*
EMI United Partnership Ltd. (PRS)

WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT
Graham Lyle (PRS)
Goodsingle Ltd. (PRS)
Hornall Brothers Music Ltd. (PRS)

3 Million Performances
BUILD ME UP BUTTERCUP
Michael d'Abo (PRS)
EMI United Partnership Ltd. (PRS)

BUS STOP
Graham Gouldman (PRS)
Hournew Music Ltd./Music Sales (PRS)

GIMME SOME LOVING
Spencer Davis (PRS)
Muff Winwood (PRS)
Steve Winwood (PRS)
FS Ltd. (PRS)
Universal Music Publishing (PRS)

ISLAND GIRL
Sir Elton John (PRS)

MY LOVE
Tony Hatch (PRS)
Sony/ATV Music Publishing (UK) Ltd. (PRS)

TALKIN' IN YOUR SLEEP
Roger Cook (PRS)
Bobby Wood*
Music 1 Limited (PRS)

POP AWARDS
BUTTERFLIES
Marsha Ambrosius*
Perfect Songs Ltd. (PRS)
Artist: Michael Jackson

DAYS GO BY
Steve Smith (PRS)
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
Artist: Dirty Vegas

EMOTION (2nd Award)
Barry Gibb (PRS)
Robin Gibb (PRS)
Gibb Brothers Music/BMG (PRS)
Artist: Destiny's Child

FEEL IT BOY
Beenie Man (PRS)
Pharrell Williams*
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
Artist: Beenie Man featuring Janet Jackson

GOTTA GET THRU THIS
Daniel Bedingfield (PRS)
Reverb Music Ltd. (PRS)
Artist: Daniel Bedingfield

A MOMENT LIKE THIS
Jorgen Elofsson (STIM)
John Reid (PRS)
BMG Music Publishing Scandinavia AB (STIM)
Sony/ATV Music Publishing (UK) Ltd. (PRS)
Artist: Kelly Clarkson

STARRY EYED SURPRISE
Paul Oakenfold (PRS)
Fred Neil*
Mute Song (PRS)
Artist: Paul Oakenfold featuring Shifty Shellshock

THANK YOU (2nd Award)
Paul Herman (PRS)
Cheeky Music Ltd. (PRS)
Artist: Dido

THIS WOMAN'S WORK
Kate Bush (PRS)
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
Artist: Maxwell

UNDERNEATH IT ALL
Dave Stewart (PRS)
BMG Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
Artist: No Doubt featuring Lady Saw

WHAT'S LUV?
Graham Lyle (PRS)
Irv Gotti*
Ja Rule*
Goodsingle Ltd. (PRS)
Hornall Brothers Music Ltd. (PRS)
Artist: Fat Joe featuring Ashanti

WITHOUT ME
Trevor Horn (PRS)
Jeff I. Bass*
Kevin "DJ Head" Bell*
Eminem*
Unforgettable Songs Ltd. (PRS)
Artist: Eminem

WRONG IMPRESSION
Gary Clark (PRS)
Chrysalis Music Ltd. (PRS)
Artist: Natalie Imbruglia

URBAN AWARDS
BUTTERFLIES
Marsha Ambrosius*
Perfect Songs Ltd. (PRS)
Artist: Michael Jackson

GANGSTA LOVIN'
Jonah Ellis*
Lonnie Simmons*
Alisa Yarbrough*
Minder Music Ltd. (PRS)
Artist: Eve with Alicia Keys

HALFCRAZY
Francis Lai (SACEM)
Artist: Musiq

HAPPY
Raymond James Calhoun*
Irv Gotti*
Minder Music Ltd. (PRS)
Artist: Ashanti

WHAT'S LUV?
Graham Lyle (PRS)
Irv Gotti*
Ja Rule*
Goodsingle Ltd. (PRS)
Hornall Brothers Music Ltd. (PRS)
Artist: Fat Joe featuring Ashanti

WITHOUT ME
Trevor Horn (PRS)
Jeff I. Bass*
Kevin "DJ Head" Bell*
Eminem*
Unforgettable Songs Ltd. (PRS)
Artist: Eminem

LATIN AWARD
YO NO SOY ESA MUJER
Mike Shepstone (PRS)
Carlos Toro Montoro (SGAE)
Christian De Walden*
Artist: Paulina Rubio

COUNTRY AWARDS
HELP ME UNDERSTAND
Wayne Hector (PRS)
Steve Mac (PRS)
Rokstone Music (PRS)
Rondor Music (London) Ltd. (PRS)
Artist: Trace Adkins

THE LONG GOODBYE
Ronan Keating (IMRO)
Universal Music Publishing (PRS)
Artist: Brooks & Dunn

THESE DAYS
Steve Robson (PRS)
Jeffrey Steele*
Danny Wells*
Rondor Music (London) Ltd. (PRS)
Artist: Rascal Flatts

YOUNG
Steven McEwan (PRS)
BMG Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
Trinifold Music Ltd. (PRS)
Artist: Kenny Chesney

DANCE AWARD
DAYS GO BY
Steve Smith (PRS)
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
Artist: Dirty Vegas

EMMY AWARD
BLUE PLANET: SEAS OF LIFE
George Fenton (PRS)

FILM MUSIC AWARDS
DIE ANOTHER DAY
David Arnold (PRS)

SWEET HOME ALABAMA
George Fenton (PRS)

TV MUSIC AWARDS
CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION
Pete Townshend (PRS)

CSI: MIAMI
Pete Townshend (PRS)

PROVIDENCE
John Lennon (PRS)

CABLE TV AWARD
STRONG MEDICINE
David Bergeaud (SACEM)

* Share licensed directly through BMI

[kneeling] RLG's Joe Galante, Diamond Rio's Marty Roe, BMI's Thomas Cain, Diamond Rio's Brian Prout, producer Mike Clute, [standing] Modern Management's Ted Greene, Arista's Bobby Kraig, Diamond Rio's Dan Truman, songwriters Skip Ewing and Donny Kees, Diamond Rio's Jimmy Olander, Dana Williams and Gene Johnson

The multi-week hit, recorded by Diamond Rio on their Arista album Completely and produced by Mike Clute, is published by Sony/ATV/Acuff-Rose Music and Write On Music. In charge of handing out the commemorative #1 cups was BMI's Thomas Cain, who played the healing angel in the accompanying "I Believe" video.

Kees and Ewing previously topped the country charts with "I'm Not Supposed To Love You Anymore" (Bryan White) and "If I Never Stop Loving You" (David Kersh). Other hits for Ewing -- BMI's 2000 Country Songwriter of the Year -- include "Wish You Were Here," "Someone Else's Star" and "Love, Me." This #1 success is Kees' second this year, following Joe Nichols' smash "Brokenheartsville."

Donny Kees, Sony/ATV's Troy Tomlinson, BMI's Thomas Cain, Skip Ewing

Lily Prout [center] with parents Stephanie Bentley and Brian Prout

Skip Ewing, Claudia Young, Angela Kaset

Danny Wells, Donny Kees, Randy Boudreaux

Isabella Roe and dad Marty

Bobby Tomberlin, Gilles, Jazz, Chloe & Susan Godard, Andrew Dorff

Sony/ATV's Mike Whelan, BMI's Perry Howard, Clint Daniels, Blake Mevis, Buddy Brock

photos by Kay Williams]]> 2003-07-21T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/233781 Artists, Rascal Flatts, Wells, Danny, Musical Styles, Country Danny Wells recently added to his collection when he was presented with Million-Air certificates for three songs: the three-million performance "Check Yes Or No," a #1 smash for George Strait; and the one-million performance hits "Couldn't Last A Moment," recorded by Collin Raye, and "This Everyday Love," by Rascal Flatts.

Based on an average length of three minutes, one million airplays is equivalent to 50,000 hours or 5.7 years of continuous airplay; Wells's Million-Airs total 28.5 years of broadcasting.

BMI's David Preston, Rascal Flatts' Joe Don Rooney and Gary LeVox, Jeffrey Steele, Danny Wells and Rascal Flatts' Jay DeMarcus

Steele and Wells previously co-wrote the hits "Hello L-O-V-E" (John Michael Montgomery) and "I Couldn't Last A Moment" (Collin Raye), which earned a BMI Country Award in 2001. Steele's most recent charting hits include "Speed" and "My Town" (Montgomery Gentry), "When The Lights Go Down" (Faith Hill) and "Chrome" (Trace Adkins); his #1 single "The Cowboy In Me" (Tim McGraw) earned him a BMI Award in 2002. Wells also received a BMI Award in 1996 for his #1 hit "Check Yes Or No" (George Strait).

Bob DiPiero and Jeffrey Steele

Stephanie and Jeffrey Steele

Jeffrey Steele, Chris Wallin, Teracel's Mark Bright, and Shane Minor

BMI's LuAnn Davidson, Danny Wells, US Bank's Cheryl Martin, and Sherrill Blackman

BMI's David Preston, Jeffrey Steele, and Al Anderson

photos by Beth Gwinn

photo: BMI/Brian Tipton

BMI recently visited Windswept Pacific Music in Nashville for lunch and a sampling of songs from its top writers. Among those attending the luncheon were BMI writers Jeffrey Steele, Sherri� Austin, Bobby Bare Jr., John Hobbs, and Al Anderson (2000 BMI Country Songwriter of the Year.)

Jeffrey Steele fronted the band Boy Howdy and wrote the popular "She'd Give Anything" with band producer Chris Farren. Steele has been prolific: he co-wrote the title track for Diamond Rio's album Unbelievable; wrote three songs on Kevin Sharp's gold Measure Of a Man; Aaron Tippin recorded "Her"; Paul Brandt sung Steele's "It's a Beautiful Thing"; LeAnn Rimes belted "Big Deal"; Collin Raye professed he "Couldn't Last a Moment"; and Randy Travis crooned "I'll Be Right Here Lovin' You." "Couldn't Last a Moment" earned Steele and co-writer Danny Wells a 2001 BMI Country Award. Steele's next full-length release, Something In the Water, is due in early 2002.

Writer/producer/keyboardist John Hobbs wrote and played on all three of Collin Raye's platinum albums and produced Extremes and The Best of Collin Raye: Direct Hits. In addition to Raye's smash "If I Were You," his writing credits include "That's All She Wrote" for Reba McEntire and "She's Gone" for Ricochet. Hobbs recently played on Trace Adkins' Chrome and is currently involved in an album and accompanying video project titled "The Players," honoring Nashville's finest session players. Hobbs was also nominated for 2001 CMA Musician of the Year.

A longtime member of the influential band N.R.B.Q., Al Anderson's songs have been covered by a variety of recording greats, ranging from the Allman Brothers to the Fabulous Thunderbirds. Since relocating to Nashville, Al Anderson has had hits with a variety of acts, including "All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down" recorded by the Mavericks, "Unbelievable" recorded by Diamond Rio, "Powerful Thing" by Trisha Yearwood, and "Big Deal" by Le Ann Rimes, to name a few. Anderson continues to write, with up-coming releases by Diamond Rio, Alabama, Tim McGraw, Lonestar, Jolie, and The Wanted, among others.

Bobby Bare, Jr. fronts the Nashville-based group Bare Jr. Son of the legendary country singer, Bobby Jr. was reared on a healthy diet of touring and musical stardom, and he regularly appeared with his father on television. Even with country music in his blood, Bobby Jr.'s music is better suited in the alt-country or Southern-rock genres. Acting as vocalist/guitarist, Bobby Bare Jr. formed his band in the mid-'90s, recruiting bassist Dean Tomasek and drummer Keith Brogdon to join him. After a few gigs, they were approached by dulcimer player Tracy Hackney who brought his instrument to a jam session. The combination worked, and with the addition of pajama-clad guitarist Mike "Grimey" Grimes, the lineup was complete.