Bob DiPiero, Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs and Hank Williams, Jr. were honored for their songwriting contributions and welcomed to the esteemed ranks of the Nashville Songwriters Hall Fame during the 38th Annual Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony held Sunday, October 14.  Members of the Nashville songwriting and publishing community filled the ballroom of the Renaissance Nashville hotel to celebrate the musical contributions of the newest inductees.

During the evening's ceremonies, each new member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame was inducted by a fellow artist, friend or family member, while star-studded performances highlighted their respective repertoires.

Bluegrass icons Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs were inducted by Marty Stuart, who joined Flatt's band at the age of 13.  The Grammy®-winning Del McCoury Band took the stage to perform the Flatt & Scruggs hits "If I Should Wander Back Tonight," "Earl's Breakdown," "Little Cabin Home on the Hill," "Don't Get Above Your Raisin'" and the Martha White jingle before Stuart joined them on "Foggy Mountain Breakdown."  Flatt's widow Gladys Flatt and granddaughter Tammy Brumfield joined Scruggs to accept the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Manny Award.  "It's been a wonderful ride," Scruggs said.  "Thank you all very much."

Hank Williams, Jr. was inducted in "family tradition" by his daughter, Holly Williams.  "It's a surprise that I'm inducting my dad tonight," she said.  "I'm a songwriter myself. It's my passion, and I am a true fan of my dad."  She then performed three of his songs-"Feelin' Better," "Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound" and "Blues Man"-before country chart-topper Gretchen Wilson took the stage to perform the Bocephus classic, "All My Rowdy Friends Have Settled Down."  With his induction, Williams joins his legendary father as the only father/son members of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.  As he accepted his award, Williams told the crowd that he had taken banjo lessons from Scruggs at the age of 19.  "I'm from the old school," he said.  "I know a lot of you are saying that these awards don't mean anything to old Hank, but this one is special.  I need this, thank you, and I need y'all."

Bob DiPiero's career began when he arrived in Music City in 1979 and found an early supporter in Amy Kurland, owner of the renowned Bluebird Café, so it was fitting that she presided over his induction.  DiPiero's friends in the Hit Men of Music Row-Craig Wiseman, Tony Mullins and Jeffrey Steele-performed a medley of his hits including "American Made," " Take Me As I Am" and "Blue Clear Sky" before Neal McCoy performed his #1 hit "Wink," which was named BMI Country Song of the Year in 1995. "Coming from Youngstown, Ohio, I thought I might be indicted, but not inducted," DiPiero quipped as he accepted his award.   "I definitely didn't get here by myself," he said, before acknowledging a long list of supporters, mentors and fellow writers.  "I love all of you.  Thank you for this honor."

In addition to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductions, the hall's sister organization, the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), presented its annual Songwriter Achievement Awards.  The organization's professional songwriter members named "Bless the Broken Road," by Bobby E. Boyd, Jeff Hanna and Marcus Hummon, their Song of the Year.  BMI singer/songwriter Taylor Swift shared the Songwriter/Artist of the Year honor with Alan Jackson. 2007 was a breakthrough year for Swift, who wrote or co-wrote every song on her platinum-selling eponymous debut. Taylor is the youngest recipient of the award to date.

NSAI's Professional Songwriters Division also voted for their favorite songs of the year. Informally dubbed "The Songs I Wish I'd Written," members select 10 hits each year that fit the bill. Bobby E. Boyd, Jeff Hanna and Marcus Hummon's "Bless the Broken Road," recorded by Selah with Melodie Crittenden; Casey Beathard and Ed Hill's "Find Out Who Your Friends Are," recorded by Tracy Lawrence; Bill Anderson and Jamey Johnson's "Give It Away," recorded by George Strait; Luke Bryan's "Good Directions," recorded by Billy Currington; Bobby Pinson and Trent Tomlinson's "One Wing in the Fire," recorded by Tomlinson; Sarah Buxton's "Stupid Boy," recorded by Keith Urban; Merle Haggard's "The Seashores of Old Mexico," recorded by George Strait; and John Scott Sherrill and Shawn Camp's "Would You Go With Me," recorded by Josh Turner all scored the colleague-voted nods.

Marc Broussard performs on BMI's stage at ACL Fest

BMI sponsored an expanded Singer/Songwriter stage which featured Kacey Crowley, Willy Mason, Marc Broussard, The Honorary Title, J.T. Van Zandt, Jason White, Deadman, Trish Murphy, Holly Williams, Monte Montgomery, Davis Raines, Samantha Stollenwoerck, Papa Mali, Bobby Bare, Jr. and The Greencards.

BMI's Perry Howard and Dale Watson

Produced by Capital Sports & Entertainment, the Festival takes its name from the award-winning PBS series that has been showcasing live music for almost 30 years. This year's stage sponsors in addition to BMI were SBC, HEB, Heineken, Cingular Wireless, Austin Ventures LP, Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Bank of America.

BMI's J.W. Johnson, the Greencards' Kym Warner, Carol Young and Eamon McLoughlin, BMI's Phil Graham

BMI's Mark Mason, Deadman's Pete Coatney, Lee Milton, Steven Collins and Sherilyn Collins, BMI's Phil Graham

BMI's Michael Weeman, Holly Williams, BMI's Mark Mason

BMI's Mark Mason (l) and Jill McGuckin (c) with American Analog Set

BMI's Jill McGuckin, Jason White, BMI's Mark Mason

BMI's Bradley Collins, Kasey Crowley, BMI's Paul Corbin

BMI’s Phil Graham with Los Lonely Boys’ Henry, Ringo and JoJo Garza

BMI's Michael Weeman and Phil Graham, Marc Broussard, J.W. Johnson

BMI's Mark Mason, J.T. Van Zandt, BMI's Paul Corbin, BMI's Bradley Collins and Perry Howard

]]> 2004-10-17T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/events/entry/532940 Artists, Bare Jr., Bobby , Broussard, Marc, Crowley, Kacy, Deadman, Greencards, The, Honorary Title, The, Mali, Papa, Mason, Willy, Montgomery, Monte, Murphy, Trish, Raines, Davis, Stollenwerck, Samantha, Van Zandt, J.T., White, Jason, Williams, Holly, Awards, Musical Styles, Folk, Pop, Rock, Singer-Songwriter, Regions, Austin, Showcase, Showcase Templated

Friday, September 17
11:30-12:00 Kacy Crowley
1:10-1:50 Willy Mason
3:10-3:50 Marc Broussard
5:10-5:50 The Honorary Title
7:10-7:50 J.T. Van Zandt

J.T. Van Zandt	Willy Mason	Marc Broussard

Kacy Crowley	The Honorary Title

Saturday, September 18
11:30-12:00 The Greencards
1:10-1:50 Deadman
3:10-3:50 Trish Murphy
5:10-5:50 Holly Williams
7:10-7:50 Monte Montgomery

Jason White	Deadman

Monte Montgomery	Trish Murphy	Holly Williams

Sunday, September 19
11:20-11:50 Davis Raines
12:55-1:35 Samantha Stollenwerck
2:40-3:20 Papa Mali
4:40-5:20 Bobby Bare, Jr.
6:40-7:20 Jason White

Davis Raines	Samantha Stollenwerck	Papa Mali

Bobby Bare, Jr.	The Greencards

]]> 2004-09-16T02:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/234155 Artists, Adams, Ryan, Alabama, Blind Boys of Alabama, The, Broussard, Marc, Cake, Cash, Rosanne, Crow, Sheryl, Crowley, Kacy, Deadman, Green, Pat, Greencards, The, Honorary Title, The, Mali, Papa, Mason, Willy, Montgomery, Monte, Murphy, Trish, Phish, Raines, Davis, Smith, Mindy, Stollenwerck, Samantha, Van Zandt, J.T., White, Jason, Williams, Holly, Musical Styles, Country, Rock BMI will host a singer/songwriter stage at the 3rd Annual Austin City Limits Music Festival, to be held September 17-19 in Austin's Zilker Park (2100 Barton Springs Road). Writers featured on this year's expanded stage will include J.T. Van Zandt, Samantha Stollenwerck, Marc Broussard, Jason White, Kacy Crowley, the Honorary Title, Davis Raines, Bobby Bare, Jr., Monte Montgomery, Willie Mason, Trish Murphy, Papa Mali, Deadman, Holly Williams, and the Greencards.

Other BMI artists performing throughout the three-day music fest include Sheryl Crow, the Pixies, American Analog Set, Phish's Trey Anastasio, Endochine, Pat Green, Reckless Kelly, Solomon Burke, Cake, Ryan Adams, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Mindy Smith, Rosanne Cash and My Morning Jacket.

The ACL Festival focuses on alternative country and roots music and will present more than 130 bands on eight stages over three days. The Festival takes its name from the award-winning PBS series that has been showcasing live music for almost 30 years. Produced by Capital Sports & Entertainment, this year's stage sponsors also include SBC, HEB, Heineken, Cingular Wireless, Austin Ventures LP, Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Bank of America.

BMI Singer/Songwriter Stage Schedule:

Friday, September 17
11:30-12:00 Kacy Crowley
1:10-1:50 Willy Mason
3:10-3:50 Marc Broussard
5:10-5:50 The Honorary Title
7:10-7:50 J.T. Van Zandt

J.T. Van Zandt	Willy Mason	Marc Broussard

Kacy Crowley	The Honorary Title

Saturday, September 18
11:30-12:00 The Greencards
1:10-1:50 Deadman
3:10-3:50 Trish Murphy
5:10-5:50 Holly Williams
7:10-7:50 Monte Montgomery

Jason White	Deadman

Monte Montgomery	Trish Murphy	Holly Williams

Sunday, September 19
11:20-11:50 Davis Raines
12:55-1:35 Samantha Stollenwerck
2:40-3:20 Papa Mali
4:40-5:20 Bobby Bare, Jr.
6:40-7:20 Jason White

Davis Raines	Samantha Stollenwerck	Papa Mali

Bobby Bare, Jr.	The Greencards

That’s not to say that she isn’t bringing her impeccable lineage into her definitive, cohesive brand of songwriter’s pop, which carries tinges of Patty Griffin, Bob Dylan and Jonatha Brooke. She’s just not letting it overwhelm her. “People always say it must be really hard for you to be Hank’s daughter,” she laughs. “But really, my whole career and everything that’s happened for me has happened the same as if I was not who I am. People have been very cool about it that I’m trying to do my thing. It’s been good.”

Though she’s only been seriously pursuing songwriting for six years or so, she has already become a formidable artist, as her recent signing with Universal South attests. Williams has an album, co-produced by herself and Monroe Jones, due from the label in early fall, and in the meantime her notoriety continues to grow. A hushed, piano-tinged cover of her grandfather’s “How Can You Refuse Him Now” enjoys prominent placement on Songs Inspired By the Passion Of the Christ , which also features Dylan, Leonard Cohen and The Blind Boys of Alabama.

Click here for a complete schedule of BMI events at SXSW.

The "Music For Film" panel will be moderated by BMI Vice President of Film/TV Relations, Doreen Ringer Ross. Panelists include composer Anthony Marinelli ("Mayor of The Sunset Strip," "The Man From Elysian Fields"); director George Hickenlooper ("Mayor of The Sunset Strip," "The Man From Elysian Fields"); Warner Brothers Pictures Vice President of Business Affairs, Music, Dan Butler; film producer Rana Joy Glickman; music supervisor Frankie Pine; Commotion Records/music supervisor Tracy McKnight; and Windswept Music Publishing's John Anderson.

On Tuesday, March 16, BMI will host an invitation-only industry dinner featuring live performances by Universal South recording artist Holly Williams and Austin-based trio The Greencards. Tuesday also marks the start of the BMI/KEYE stage at Highland Lakes Bar at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Singer/songwriters from The Greencards to the South Austin Jug Band to honky tonk legend Dale Watson will perform for arriving passengers on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 2 pm to 6pm.

The "Rojo, Caliente y Verde: Generacion Alternativa" showcase, presented by BMI, Garcia Communications, LATV and The Agency Group, will be held on Wednesday, March 17 at Exodus (302-304 E. 6th Street). The show will feature a diverse array of Latin music including alternative rock band Los Abandoned (Los Angeles, CA), alternative rock group Vaquero (Monterrey, Mexico), hip-hop artists Cartel de Santa (Monterrey, Mexico), pop/rock artist Zo� (MX), alternative rock/electronica duo Plastilina Mosh (Monterrey, Mexico) and rock/hip-hop group Ozomatli (Los Angeles, CA).

That same night, BMI Vice President of Writer/Publisher Relations, Nashville, Paul Corbin and BMI Director, Writer/Publisher Relations, Nashville, Mark Mason, will once again present the Song and Songwriter of the Year awards at the Austin Music Awards at the Austin Music Hall.

Thursday, March 18 will feature the keynote address by noted BMI songwriter/artist Little Richard, as well as the BMI-sponsored songwriter's panel. The "Songwriters Way With Words" panel will be moderated by BMI's Corbin and will feature songwriters Robyn Hitchcock, Charlotte Martin and Ron Sexsmith from 2:35pm to 4pm at the Convention Center.

Thursday night's "BMI Presents..." showcase at the Austin Music Hall once again boasts a stellar lineup, with blues legends the Holmes Brothers, Austin's Jack Ingram, Cake, Little Richard and his ten-piece band, Charlie Robison, and Blues Traveler.

On Friday, March 19, BMI will host another "BMI Presents..." showcase at the Hard Rock Caf� (222 East 6th Street), kicking off with a pre-showcase party at 7pm featuring a special performance by urban/rock Capitol recording artist Van Hunt. Other performers include Luna Halo (Nashville, TN), Atlantic recording artist Kill Hannah (Chicago, IL), Jump, American Minor, V2 recording artist Charlie Mars and the UK's Razorlight.

BMI will also have a booth at the SXSW Music Festival trade show. Click here for complete coverage of BMI events at SXSW.]]> 2004-02-19T17:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/events/entry/532785 Artists, Love Scene, The, Paper Hearts, The, Scatter The Ashes, Starks, Mack, Verde, Williams, Holly, Awards, Musical Styles, Pop, Rock, Singer-Songwriter, Regions, Nashville, Showcase, Showcase Templated 2003-02-10T01:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/podcasts/container/100084 Holly Williams performs Zero Gravity Williams, Holly, Folk, Performance, Video, 2001 2001-08-19T18:00:00-05:00