More than a musical experience, Taxi Amarillo is also the vehicle that has brought together two incredible talents from opposite sides of the spectrum for the same ride. Born in the Dominican Republic, 23-year-old Pedro Cruz Montesino, better known as Cruzmonty, has gained fame as one of the country’s fastest rising pop stars. In 2002, after years of forming part of various musical acts such as On Stage, 5ynko and Código Postal, Cruzmonty decided to take the reigns of his career and step out as a soloist. By 2005, not only had the ambitious singer/songwriter released Yo Sabré Perder, his first solo venture, but he had also packed his bags and made his way to New York City, determined to make his mark on the scene, yet unaware of the new path his career was about to take.

While Cruzmonty captivated audiences with his soothing voice and expressive lyrics, it was 21-year-old Christopher Hierro’s writing and producing skills behind the scenes that made a powerful impression. As the son of famed merengue artist Henry Hierro (lead member of the legendary group La Gran Manzana) and singer Lucia Guzman, Chris is music royalty. The skills Chris developed while growing up and the musical circle he belonged to allowed him to write and produce for noted artists such as Los Toros Band and Andy Andy, and also sing back-up for Obie Bermudez and Jerry Rivera, but this talented artist wanted more. Determined to make an impact in his own right, Chris began doing his own showcases with his own music throughout many New York City venues.

It is at this point that fate had its hand in bringing Cruzmonty and Chris Hierro together. One night as Chris performed at Mirage, a popular nightclub in the Bronx, Cruzmonty sat with his manager in the audience completely taken away with what he heard and amazed at how much he could relate to Chris’ musical style. Within minutes, Cruzmonty’s manager arranged to get his artist onstage for a duo with Chris and what happened next was perfect musical chemistry. Once offstage, the two soon became inseparable, endlessly collaborating back and forth on lyrics and melodies over the next few months. 

What bonds these two artists together are not only shared musical influences such as Sin Bandera, Boyz II Men and Stevie Wonder, but more importantly, the same passion for bringing forth true sentiment in music instead of following the manufactured formulas of today. “As a musician,” Chris notes, “I have concerns about music. Cruzmonty and I make music naturally, it’s our truth.”

And that truth is that two distinct artists can come together, bringing with them their individual prospective and style of music to form something much bigger. Together as Taxi Amarillo, Cruzmonty and Chris Hierro accomplish their goal of creating a journey of sound and sentiment by blending together into pop ballads their penchant for r&b, rock and Latin rhythms. “We are Taxi Amarillo,” says Chris, “two halves that have come together to take a ride to the same destination.”

“We’re about expressing ourselves and evoking emotion” adds Cruzmonty.

That sense of expression and ability to stir the soul is being honed into their self-titled debut album. Taxi Amarillo’s collaborative writing and production endeavor has borne fruit in the form of a 12-track journey that delivers truth and emotion.

With lyrics that will move you, voices that will elevate you and a style that will blow you away, one thing is for sure, you will never be the same once you go on a ride with Taxi Amarillo.

“It’s one of those moments that I cherish and I’ll never forget,” says McDonald of winning Songwriter of the Year, and though Lonestar has won top vocal group honors from the Country Music Assn. and Academy of Country Music, McDonald says awards won for his songwriting are especially close to his heart. “They are all special, the CMA and ACM Awards, but there’s something about an award for songwriting. Songwriting is where you are pouring out your feelings. You open up your heart.”

It wasn’t McDonald’s first time in the spotlight at BMI’s annual Country Awards gala. He’s received numerous BMI citations and took home the Song of the Year accolade in 2002 for the Lonestar hit “I’m Already There.”

McDonald has come a long way from riding around Dallas in a Coca-Cola truck writing songs while working for the beverage company. “There’s a night and day difference,” he says of his writing then and now. “I came to Nashville 12 years ago thinking I was a songwriter and I found out real fast that I had a lot to learn. You find out that there’s a difference in where you are and where you want to be when you go out to writer’s night and hear great writers.”

He says he learned a great deal by co-writing with Ron Harbin, Tommy Lee James, Gary Baker and Bob DiPiero, among others. “I could go on and on and don’t want to leave somebody out, but these are the guys I’ve learned from,” he says. “They made me a better songwriter.”

McDonald says writing is a passion and, unlike some writer/artists, he has no problem writing on the road. In fact, he’ll frequently invite collaborators out on tours to co-write. “I’m always writing; it’s something I never turn off,” he says. “By the time we go back in the studio, I’ll have 60 songs that I’ve written, but there are a lot of other songs I have to compete with.”

On Lonestar’s latest BNA Records album, Coming Home, McDonald contributes six songs, but he says the group is always open to outside material. “I think that’s one of the reasons we’ve had the success that we’ve had,” says McDonald. “There are great songwriters in Nashville, and that’s all they do every single day. If we didn’t look at outside songs, we wouldn’t have gotten songs like ‘Amazed,’ ‘What About Now,’ and ‘No News,’ songs that have had a big impact on our career.”

On the other side of the coin, McDonald has had his songs recorded by other artists, including John Michael Montgomery, Billy Dean, Clay Walker and Sara Evans, who opens her new album, A Real Fine Place, with McDonald’s “Coal Mine.” “I just want to write a great song,” says McDonald. “If it’s cut by Lonestar, so be it. But if it sounds like somebody else, let’s pitch it.”

McDonald spent seven years as a Sony/ATV Tree songwriter, but now has his own publishing company called Loremoma Music, which combines letters of his wife Lorie’s name and that of their children Rhett, Mollie and Maisie. Though he hasn’t signed any other writers yet, he relishes the idea of mentoring novice songwriters. “I’m looking to [sign] some young writers and nurture them along,” he says. “There are some great ones out there and they just need a shot.”

When he tries to analyze what has made him successful as a songwriter, McDonald says it all comes down to writing about the people and things that are closest to him. “What’s worked best for me is to write from the heart,” he says. “That’s what I’ve had success with is songs like ‘I’m Already There,’ ‘My Front Porch Looking In,’ and ‘Let Them Be Little,’ songs that have really come from the heart.”

“It’s one of those moments that I cherish and I’ll never forget,” says McDonald of winning Songwriter of the Year, and though Lonestar has won top vocal group honors from the Country Music Assn. and Academy of Country Music, McDonald says awards won for his songwriting are especially close to his heart. “They are all special, the CMA and ACM Awards, but there’s something about an award for songwriting. Songwriting is where you are pouring out your feelings. You open up your heart.”

It wasn’t McDonald’s first time in the spotlight at BMI’s annual Country Awards gala. He’s received numerous BMI citations and took home the Song of the Year accolade in 2002 for the Lonestar hit “I’m Already There.”

McDonald has come a long way from riding around Dallas in a Coca-Cola truck writing songs while working for the beverage company. “There’s a night and day difference,” he says of his writing then and now. “I came to Nashville 12 years ago thinking I was a songwriter and I found out real fast that I had a lot to learn. You find out that there’s a difference in where you are and where you want to be when you go out to writer’s night and hear great writers.”

He says he learned a great deal by co-writing with Ron Harbin, Tommy Lee James, Gary Baker and Bob DiPiero, among others. “I could go on and on and don’t want to leave somebody out, but these are the guys I’ve learned from,” he says. “They made me a better songwriter.”

McDonald says writing is a passion and, unlike some writer/artists, he has no problem writing on the road. In fact, he’ll frequently invite collaborators out on tours to co-write. “I’m always writing; it’s something I never turn off,” he says. “By the time we go back in the studio, I’ll have 60 songs that I’ve written, but there are a lot of other songs I have to compete with.”

On Lonestar’s latest BNA Records album, Coming Home, McDonald contributes six songs, but he says the group is always open to outside material. “I think that’s one of the reasons we’ve had the success that we’ve had,” says McDonald. “There are great songwriters in Nashville, and that’s all they do every single day. If we didn’t look at outside songs, we wouldn’t have gotten songs like ‘Amazed,’ ‘What About Now,’ and ‘No News,’ songs that have had a big impact on our career.”

On the other side of the coin, McDonald has had his songs recorded by other artists, including John Michael Montgomery, Billy Dean, Clay Walker and Sara Evans, who opens her new album, A Real Fine Place, with McDonald’s “Coal Mine.” “I just want to write a great song,” says McDonald. “If it’s cut by Lonestar, so be it. But if it sounds like somebody else, let’s pitch it.”

McDonald spent seven years as a Sony/ATV Tree songwriter, but now has his own publishing company called Loremoma Music, which combines letters of his wife Lorie’s name and that of their children Rhett, Mollie and Maisie. Though he hasn’t signed any other writers yet, he relishes the idea of mentoring novice songwriters. “I’m looking to [sign] some young writers and nurture them along,” he says. “There are some great ones out there and they just need a shot.”

When he tries to analyze what has made him successful as a songwriter, McDonald says it all comes down to writing about the people and things that are closest to him. “What’s worked best for me is to write from the heart,” he says. “That’s what I’ve had success with is songs like ‘I’m Already There,’ ‘My Front Porch Looking In,’ and ‘Let Them Be Little,’ songs that have really come from the heart.”

Richard and Robert Sherman, that’s who. Their first hit, “Things I Might Have Been,” struck gold in 1952, and that was just the beginning. BMI brought attention to the brothers’ achievements when a cover story on the Walt Disney classic Mary Poppins appeared in the October 1964 BMI magazine. Reviewers at the time called the film “one of the most magnificent pieces of entertainment ever to come out of Hollywood” and praised the score as filled with “bright, catchy songs.”

The Sherman brothers have never stood on their laurels, and, if anything, have reached an even higher peak of popularity today. They have two hit musicals playing around the world and their first original score for the stage is waiting in the wings.

The duo’s embrace of the musical theatre begin in 2001 when the producers of the 1968 film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang—the same group behind the James Bond series—suggested creating a stage version with new songs added to the original score. The show took off successfully in London in 2002, and was transferred to New York City in 2004, and has been playing to packed houses ever since.

Making a magic car fly is one thing, but making a nanny named Mary Poppins take to the air on stage was quite another. However, in 2004, the London premiere of the stage version took off. Reviewers called it “better in every way than the Disney film, delightful though that seemed 40 years ago” and suggested that “like Peter Pan, it will live for as long as there are children to celebrate it and be amazed by the wonder of human flight.” And it won’t be long before Mary spreads her wings and comes to America and Broadway.

The Sherman Brothers themselves are not afraid to take their talents to even greater heights, for they are preparing their first musical written originally for the stage. Although it possesses elements of fantasy, Merry-Go-Round is aimed at an adult audience. Producer Jack Stein describes it as a mixture of ”It’s a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Carol.” He states, “A father and his grown son get on a merry-go-round that takes them back in time to relive moments from the son’s childhood.”

Sounds like another hit that will take to the stage in Los Angeles for a workshop appearance this fall, as the Sherman Brothers continue their sixth decade of stellar musical achievements. 

Pictured with their BMI Million-Air certificates are (seated) songwriters Marv Green, Aimee Mayo and Chris Lindsey; (standing) Warner-Tamerlane Publishing's Dale Bobo; Career-BMG Music's Michelle Berlin and Karen Conrad; Lonestar's Michael Britt, Keech Rainwater, Richie McDonald and Dean Sams; BMI's David Preston; Golden Wheat Music's Jason Krupek; and RCA Label Group's Renee Bell. Photo by Kay Williams

]]> 2005-03-09T17:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/musicworld/entry/234301 Artists, Alabama, Amazed, Davis, Mac, Lonestar, McDonald, Richie, Owen, Randy, Musical Styles, Country, Musicworld, Feature, Type, Foundation One of Richie McDonald’s most vivid childhood memories is watching the Mac Davis television specials. When they got to the segment where an audience member would throw out an idea and Davis would take it and make up a little ditty right on the spot, the little boy from Lubbock was enthralled.

“I was so impressed with that,” says the multi-BMI Award winner, lead singer and chief songwriter of country supergroup Lonestar. “So when I started playing guitar, I always remembered that and I wrote my first song in, I guess, 8 th grade. When I moved to Nashville, I moved there to be an artist, but also to be a songwriter.”

That beginning as a tunesmith laid the foundation for McDonald’s excellent song sense and skill, and he wrote or co-wrote 10 of the 13 songs on Lonestar’s new BNA album, Let’s Be Us Again, including the top-five title track. In “Somebody’s Someone,” solo-penned by McDonald, the singer empathizes with the loved ones of a fallen soldier. “From There to Here,” a duet with Alabama’s Randy Owen, is an epic tale of three segments of humanity: the Wright Brothers and air travel, a 50-year marriage, and, fittingly for that duo, a band’s rise from obscurity to fame. Another highlight is the #1 single “Mr. Mom,” a real-life look at an out-of-work dad gaining new respect for a stay-at-home mom’s reality.

And it’s that sort of real-life storytelling that has connected Richie McDonald and Lonestar to their fans, both with this album and throughout their career. The 1999 smash “Amazed” spent two weeks atop Billboard ’s Hot 100 chart. The six-week #1 “I’m Already There,” co-written by McDonald, was BMI’s 2002 Country Song of the Year. The multi-week #1 “My Front Porch Looking In,” also co-written by McDonald, was a 2003 BMI Country Award winner. So Richie McDonald knows from a song, as they say.

Now, McDonald and Lonestar -- Dean Sams, Keech Rainwater and Michael Britt -- demonstrate by their lives and careers that longevity comes from within. “The four of us have always had the same goals,” he says. It’s an unerring commitment to the music, to their families, and to the fans. And that focus has led them to pinnacles they dared not dream of when they got together in 1995. The dozens of accolades include CMA Vocal Group of the Year, ACM Top Vocal Group, Song and Single of the Year, and six Grammy nominations. They’ve sold 10 million records, and placed more singles in Billboard’s Top Ten Country Singles Chart than any other artist this decade.

McDonald is quick to give credit where credit is due, first to his bandmates, then to the songwriters with whom he writes the hits. And though the standard writing time in Music City is 10 to 2, he and some of his co-writers like to mix it up and write at dawn -- hence the name of his publishing company, Early Bird Gets the Word. While McDonald prefers his own little writing haven called the Birdhouse -- which is at his home, the inspiration for “My Front Porch Looking In” -- anywhere is fine, as long as he’s with a couple of those great writers. “I love it,” he nearly gushes. “Very seldom do I sit down and write a song from beginning to end by myself. My motto is. ‘Two or three heads are better than one’.”

Little Richard; Frances W. Preston, BMI President & CEO; Chuck Berry; and Bo Diddley

“If You’re Gone” earned the BMI Pop Song of the Year crystal for songwriter Rob Thomas of matchbox twenty and publishers Bidnis, Inc. and EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc. This distinction is given to the song tallying the most feature broadcast performances during the eligibility period. A #1 single from matchbox twenty’s Lava/Atlantic album Mad Season, “If You’re Gone” brings Thomas’s BMI Awards total to 11. With this win, Thomas, who was named 1999 BMI Pop Songwriter of the Year, joins an illustrious list of those who have taken both Song and Songwriter trophies, including Stephen Bishop, Michael Bolton, Mariah Carey, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, Barry and Robin Gibb, Will Jennings, Bert Kaempfert (GEMA), Dolly Parton, Carole Bayer Sager and Shania Twain.

Rob Thomas

Brad Arnold

Brad Arnold of 3 Doors Down placed four songs on the Most Performed List of 50 to collect the BMI Pop Songwriter of the Year reward. From the band’s debut album The Better Life on Republic/Universal Records, the songs earning Arnold the crown were “Be Like That,” “Duck and Run,” “Kryptonite” (2nd award) and “Loser.”

BMI's Barbara Cane, Universal Music Publishing's David Renzer, BMI's Frances W. Preston, Songwriter of the Year Brad Arnold, BMI's Del Bryant and Universal Music Publishing's Tom Sturges

With 11 songs cited - including Arnold’s four - Universal Music Publishing (through its companies Irving Music, Songs of Universal, Inc., and Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.) claimed the BMI Pop Publisher of the Year prize; David Renzer, President, Worldwide Universal Music Group, accepted the crystal obelisk. The Publisher of the Year title is given to the publishing concern with the highest percentage of copyright ownership in award songs. Universal’s other top performing tunes were “All Or Nothing,” “Breathe,” “Breathless,” “Change Your Mind,” “Hemorrhage (In My Hands),” “Play” and “Ride Wit Me.”

Johnny Lang performing during the Chuck Berry tribute

3 Doors Down lead singer Brad Arnold shows off his Songwriter of the Year crystal

Of the 86 songwriters recognized, ten, in addition to Arnold, were multiple winners. Placing three songs each on the list were 3 Doors Down members Todd Harrell and Matt Roberts and previous songwriter victors Janet Jackson (1990) and Cory Rooney (2000); double honorees were Mirwais Ahmadzai, 3 Doors Down’s Chris Henderson, and Red Hot Chili Peppers Flea, John Frusciante, Anthony Kiedis and Chad Smith.

Little Richard and Ivan Neville (Neville performed the Little Richard tribute)

Publishers gathering three or more awards were Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc., Escatawpa Songs, Sony/ATV Songs LLC, Black Ice Publishing, Cori Tiffani Publishing and Ensign Music Corporation.

Mavis Staples

“Hanging By A Moment” grabbed Most Performed Song on College Radio kudos for songwriter Jason Wade of Lifehouse. The song, from Lifehouse’s debut DreamWorks album No Name Face, is published by G-Chills Music and Songs of DreamWorks.

Josh Groban and Chuck Berry

Among this year’s honorees, 15 songs have earned the status of BMI Million-Air (accumulating at least one million broadcast performances) for a total of more than 22 million performances. Based on an average length of three minutes, one million airplays is the equivalent of 50,000 hours or 5.7 years, continuously. Million-Airs on the 2001 list translate into over 1.1 million hours or 125.4 years of airplay.

BMI's Tracie Verlinde (2nd left) and Myles Lewis (right) with members of Lifehouse

Five of the 50 top Pop are repeat achievers. “Amazed” collected its third consecutive Pop Award; the 2000 BMI Country Song of the Year has accrued nearly four million performances. Four songs picked up second Awards: last year’s honorees “Kryptonite,” “With Arms Wide Open” and “Breathe” (also Pop Song of the Year), and “Lady Marmalade,” first recognized in 1975.

BMI songwriter/producer Dallas Austin, BMI Board member Frank Melton and Chuck Berry

BMI’s Citation of Achievement is given annually in recognition of popularity in the field of popular music, as measured by feature broadcast performances on American radio and television. This year’s Pop Awards' eligibility period ran October 1, 2000 through September 30, 2001.

Evan and Jaron

High-resolution photos are available for downloading on the BMI Media Relations web site at press.bmi.com.

ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons and Bo Diddley

Tatiana Litvin, BMI songwriter Tre Hardson, BMI songwriter Dallas Austin, BMI's Catherine Brewton, Jody Gerson and actor Orlando Jones

George Thorogood

members of CrazyTown

Pictured are BMI Nashville Vice President Paul Corbin, FDNY Lt. Vincent Louis, NYPD Lt. Stephen Reardon, FDNY Lt. Michael Dilena, BMI President & CEO Frances Preston, and Tennessee Speaker of the House James Naifeh.

Click here to see pictures from the awards ceremony. High-resolution photos from the event are available for downloading at press.bmi.com.

Highlights of the evening included a special tribute to the victims and rescuers of the September 11th disaster. After a video collage, Preston introduced three men who were on duty that day and responded to the call at the World Trade Center: New York Fire Department Lieutenants Michael Dilena and Vincent Louis of Engine Co. 236 in East New York, Brooklyn, and New York Police Department Lieutenant Stephen Reardon of the Emergency Service Unit (ESU) in Brooklyn. The officers, who have been at Ground Zero since the terrorist attacks, were presented with Profile In Courage certificates on behalf of the FDNY and the NYPD. The remembrance tribute continued with a stirring performance by Lee Greenwood of “God Bless The USA”; Greenwood was later honored with the Words of Freedom Award.

“I Hope You Dance” earned writer Tia Sillers the 33rd Robert J. Burton Award as Most Performed Country Song of the Year. A multi-week, multi-format #1 smash for MCA recording artist Lee Ann Womack, “I Hope You Dance” is published by Choice Is Tragic Music (Sillers accepting) and Ensign Music Corporation (Chairman & CEO Irwin Z. Robinson and Vice President Pat Finch of parent The Famous Music Publishing Companies accepting). Sillers, who previously garnered BMI Country accolades for “There’s Your Trouble,” “Lipstick Promises” and “Land Of The Living,” wrote the song with Mark D. Sanders (share not licensed through BMI).

Toby Keith (Read Bio)

Aimee Mayo (Read Bio) and Marv Green (Read Bio)

Tia Sillers (Read Bio)

Pictured (l to r) onstage at BMI Nashville are BMI Country Songwriters of the Year Marv Green and Aimee Mayo, "I Hope You Dance" writer Tia Sillers, Ensign Music's Pat Finch, Lee Greenwood, BMI Country Songwriter/Artist of the Year Toby Keith, BMI President & CEO Frances Preston, Willie Nelson, BMI Country Song of the Ensign Music's Irwin Z. Robinson and Les Bider of BMI Country Publisher of the Year Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

Toby Keith, Marv Green and Aimee Mayo each contributed three songs to the list of 50 to form a Country Songwriter of the Year triumvirate. Keith was presented with a BMI Crystal inscribed “Songwriter/Artist of the Year,” Green and Mayo with “Songwriter of the Year” Crystals.

Keith took the prize via his recordings of “Country Comes To Town,” “How Do You Like Me Now?!” (co-written with Chuck Cannon) and “You Shouldn’t Kiss Me Like This,” all from his platinum DreamWorks album How Do You Like Me Now?! Keith’s BMI Awards total now stands at 12, including “Wish I Didn’t Know Now,” “You Ain’t Much Fun,” “Dream Walkin,” “Who’s That Man” and “He Ain’t Worth Missing.”

Green and Mayo teamed to write Amazed”> [2nd award] (Lonestar), “Let’s Make Love” (Faith Hill & Tim McGraw) and “It’s Always Something” (Joe Diffie). Last year the writers shared, along with Chris Lindsey, BMI Country Song of the Year honors for “Amazed.” Green’s previous BMI honors came courtesy of “Day In, Day Out” and “True”; Mayo has BMI Citations for “My Best Friend” and “Places I’ve Never Been.”

Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. claimed BMI Country Publisher of the Year by accumulating the highest percentage of copyright ownership in award songs. Accepting the BMI Crystal for the publisher, which placed 11 songs on the most-performed list, were Chairman & CEO Les Bider and Executive VP/GM Tim Wipperman of parent company Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

Legendary singer/songwriter Willie Nelson was saluted with the President’s Award. BMI created the President’s Award in 1993 to honor an exceptional person or persons in the entertainment industry deserving of special recognition. Presented tonight for only the fifth time, the honor has previously been bestowed on Harlan Howard, Brian Wilson, Earle Hagen and Alabama.

Of the 64 songwriters recognized, eight, in addition to Keith, Green and Mayo, were multiple winners: Chris Lindsey, Chad Brock, Tom Douglas, Rick Giles, Bill Luther, Bobby Tomberlin, Danny Wells and Darryl Worley.

Additional publishers collecting three or more awards were Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc.; EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.; Sony/ATV Tree; Universal Music Publishing Group (Irving Music, Songs of Universal, Inc., and Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.); Golden Wheat Music; Mike Curb Music; Songs of Nashville DreamWorks; and Tokeco Tunes.

“Flowers On The Wall” was recognized with its third BMI Country Award. Written by the late Lew Dewitt of the Statler Brothers, the song was honored in 1966 and 1967 (plus a 1966 Pop Award), and has accumulated more than two million performances. Three songs were cited for the second consecutive year: “Amazed” (2000 BMI Country Song of the Year); “Breathe” (2001 BMI Pop Song of the Year); and “How Do You Like Me Now?!”

Among this year’s honorees, 25 songs have reached the status of BMI Million-Air (accumulating at least one million broadcast performances) for a total of over 30 million performances. Based on an average length of three minutes, one million airplays is the equivalent of 50,000 hours or 5.7 years, continuously; Million-Airs on the 2001 Country list translate into 1.5 million hours or 171 years of continuous airplay.

BMI’s Citations of Achievement are given annually in recognition of popularity in the field of country music, as measured by feature broadcast performances on American radio and television; the 2001 Country Awards eligibility period ran April 1, 2000 through March 31, 2001.

2001 BMI Country Awards

AMAZED (2nd Award)
Marv Green
Chris Lindsey
Aimee Mayo
Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc.
Golden Wheat Music
Silverkiss Music
Songs of Nashville DreamWorks
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Lonestar: BNA

ANOTHER NINE MINUTES
Billy Crain
Tom Douglas
Nick N' Ash Music
Sony/ATV Tree
Yankee Grey: Monument

BEEN THERE
Clint Black
Steve Wariner
Blackened Music
Steve Wariner Music
Clint Black with Steve Wariner: RCA

THE BEST DAY
Carson Chamberlain
Dean Dillon
Acuff-Rose Music, Inc.
Everything I Love Music
Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.
George Strait: MCA Nashville

BEST OF INTENTIONS
Travis Tritt
Post Oak Publishing
Travis Tritt: Columbia

BORN TO FLY
Sara Evans
Marcus Hummon
Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc.
Floyd's Dream Music
Sony/ATV Tree
Sara Evans: RCA

BREATHE (2nd Award)
Stephanie Bentley
Hopechest Music
Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.
Faith Hill: Warner Bros.

BURN
Tina Arena (APRA)
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Jo Dee Messina: Curb

BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD
keith urban
Coburn Music, Inc.
keith urban: Capitol Nashville

BUY ME A ROSE
Jim Funk
Erik Hickenlooper
Blue Plate Music Publishing
Rex Benson Music
Kenny Rogers with Alison Krauss & Billy Dean: Dreamcatcher

CARLENE
Charlie Black
Rory Bourke
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Flybridge Tunes
Rory Bourke Music Co.
Phil Vassar: Arista

THE CHAIN OF LOVE
Jonnie Barnett
Pugwash Music
Waterdance Music
Clay Walker: Giant

COULDN'T LAST A MOMENT
Jeffrey Steele
Danny Wells
Irving Music
My Life's Work Music
Songs of Windswept Pacific
Yellow Desert Music
Collin Raye: Epic

COUNTRY COMES TO TOWN
Toby Keith
Tokeco Tunes
Toby Keith: DreamWorks

FEELS LIKE LOVE
Vince Gill
Vinny Mae Music
Vince Gill: MCA Nashville

FLOWERS ON THE WALL (3rd Award)
Lew DeWitt
Wallflower Music
Eric Heatherly: Mercury Nashville

GO ON
Tony Martin
Mark Nesler
Baby Mae Music
Buna Boy Music
Glitterfish Music, Inc.
Hamstein Cumberland Music
George Strait: MCA Nashville

A GOOD DAY TO RUN
Bobby Tomberlin
Darryl Worley
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Hatley Creek Music
Mike Curb Music
Darryl Worley: DreamWorks

HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW?! (2nd Award)
Chuck Cannon
Toby Keith
Tokeco Tunes
Wacissa River Music, Inc.
Toby Keith: DreamWorks

I HOPE YOU DANCE
Tia Sillers
Choice Is Tragic Music
Ensign Music Corporation
Lee Ann Womack with Sons of the Desert: MCA Nashville

I LOST IT
Jimmy Olander
Taxicaster Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Kenny Chesney: BNA

IT WAS
Mark Wright
Marketwright Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Chely Wright: MCA Nashville

IT'S ALWAYS SOMETHIN'
Marv Green
Aimee Mayo
Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc.
Golden Wheat Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Joe Diffie: Epic

KISS THIS
Aaron Tippin
Thea Tippin
Acuff-Rose Music, Inc.
Thea Later Music
Aaron Tippin: Lyric Street

LET'S MAKE LOVE
Marv Green
Chris Lindsey
Bill Luther
Aimee Mayo
Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc.
Golden Wheat Music
Silverkiss Music
Songs of Nashville DreamWorks
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Faith Hill with Tim McGraw: Warner Bros.

LIGHTNING DOES THE WORK
Chad Brock
Kelly Garrett
John Hadley
Bluesabilly Music
John Hadley Songs
Lehsem Songs
Sony/ATV Tree
Chad Brock: Warner Bros.

A LITTLE GASOLINE
Dean Miller
Mighty Nice Music
Terri Clark: Mercury Nashville

THE LITTLE GIRL
Harley Allen
Coburn Music, Inc.
John Michael Montgomery: Atlantic

LOVE'S THE ONLY HOUSE
Tom Douglas
Sony/ATV Tree
Martina McBride: RCA

MAKE UP IN LOVE
Tony Ramey
O-Tex Music
Doug Stone: Atlantic

A MAN AIN'T MADE OF STONE
Franne Golde
Robin Lerner
Franne Gee Music
Puckalesia Songs
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Randy Travis: DreamWorks

MORE
Thom McHugh
Golden Wheat Music
McHuge Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Trace Adkins: Capitol Nashville

ONE MORE DAY
Bobby Tomberlin
Mike Curb Music
Diamond Rio: Arista

PRAYIN' FOR DAYLIGHT
Steve Bogard
Rick Giles
Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc.
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Rascal Flatts: Lyric Street

THE QUITTIN' KIND
Phil Barnhart
Sam Hogin
Sam's Jammin' Songs
Sony/ATV Tree
Suffer In Silence Music
Joe Diffie: Epic

SHE'S MORE
Rob Crosby
Crutchfield Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Andy Griggs: RCA

THAT'S THE KIND OF MOOD I'M IN
Rick Giles
Gilles Godard (SOCAN)
Tim Nichols
Buzz Cut Music
Diamond Storm Music, Inc.
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Mike Curb Music
Ty Land Music
Patty Loveless: Epic

THERE IS NO ARIZONA
Shaye Smith
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Zomba Songs Inc.
Jamie O'Neal: Mercury Nashville

THERE YOU ARE
Bob DiPiero
Ed Hill
Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc.
Love Monkey Music
Music Hill Music
Sony/ATV Tree
Martina McBride: RCA

THIS EVERYDAY LOVE
Danny Wells
Irving Music
Rascal Flatts: Lyric Street

UNCONDITIONAL
Rivers Rutherford
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Clay Davidson: Virgin

WHAT ABOUT NOW
Aaron Barker
Blind Sparrow Music
O-Tex Music
Lonestar: BNA

WHAT I NEED TO DO
Bill Luther
Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc.
Kenny Chesney: BNA

WHEN YOU NEED MY LOVE
Wynn Varble
Darryl Worley
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Hatley Creek Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Darryl Worley: DreamWorks

WILD HORSES
Bill Shore
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Garth Brooks: Capitol Nashville

YES!
Chad Brock
Jim Collins
Stephony Smith
Cuts R Us Songs, Inc.
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Lehsem Songs
Make Shift Music
Singles Only Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Chad Brock: Warner Bros.

YOU SHOULDN'T KISS ME LIKE THIS
Toby Keith
Tokeco Tunes
Toby Keith: DreamWorks

YOU'LL ALWAYS BE LOVED BY ME
Ronnie Dunn
Terry McBride
Showbilly Music
Sony/ATV Tree
Brooks and Dunn: Arista

YOU'VE GOT A WAY
Shania Twain
Loon Echo, Inc.
Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.
Shania Twain: Mercury Nashville

YOUR EVERYTHING
Chris Lindsey
Songs of Nashville DreamWorks
Keith Urban: Capitol Nashville

Nashville, October 3 — Performing rights organization BMI staged the 48^th edition of its Country Awards tonight, with superlative honors reserved for "Amazed," songwriters Al Anderson and Skip Ewing, songwriter/artists Martie Seidel and Shania Twain, and publishing giant Sony/ATV Tree. BMI Citations of Achievement were presented by President & CEO Frances W. Preston and Vice President Roger Sovine to the songwriters and publishers of the past year’s 50 most performed songs during a black-tie gala at the company’s Music Row offices. This celebration -- the oldest awards program saluting country music’s creators -- culminated in the announcements of Country Song, Songwriter, and Publisher of the Year.

Sony/ATV Tree was proclaimed Publisher of the Year at the 48th BMI Country Awards, with nine songs on the list of the 50 most performed songs of the past year. Onstage for the presentation are BMI's Roger Sovine, Sony/ATV Tree's Woody Bomar and Donna Hilley, BMI's Frances Preston and Sony/ATV Tree's Don Cook.

"Amazed" earned writers Marv Green, Chris Lindsey and Aimee Mayo the 32^nd Robert J. Burton Award as Most Performed Country Song of the Year. An unprecedented 8-weeks-at-#1-Billboard smash for RCA recording artists Lonestar, "Amazed" is published by Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc. (Nick Firth and Karen Conrad accepting); Golden Wheat Music (Scott Hendricks accepting); Silverkiss Music (Aimee Mayo accepting); Songs of Nashville DreamWorks (Chuck Kaye and James Stroud accepting) and Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (Les Bider and Tim Wipperman accepting).

BMI's Roger Sovine, Al Anderson, Skip Ewing, Shania Twain, BMI's Frances Preston, Martie Seidel and BMI's Del Bryant

Al Anderson, Skip Ewing, Martie Seidel and Shania Twain each placed three songs on the list of 50 to form a Country Songwriter of the Year quadrumvirate. Anderson and Ewing were presented with BMI Crystals inscribed with Songwriter of the Year; Seidel and Twain were gifted with the inaugural Songwriter/Artist Crystal.

Stephony Smith and Toby Keith

Al Anderson’s winning titles were "Powerful Thing," "Big Deal" and "Unbelievable" (the last two co-written with Jeffrey Steele). Anderson, former NRBQ guitarist who has written hits for Carlene Carter, Hal Ketchum and The Mavericks, previously earned BMI Awards for "All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down" and "Should’ve Asked Her Faster."

Skip Ewing, who has scored hits for Kenny Chesney, Clint Black and Bryan White as well as for himself, brought his BMI Awards total to 14 citations with the success of "Put Your Hand In Mine," "Wish You Were Here" and "You Had Me From Hello."

Martie Seidel of the Dixie Chicks saw her first-ever BMI Awards — for "Cowboy Take Me Away," "Ready To Run" and "You Were Mine" — deliver a share of the night’s top songwriting prize. "You Were Mine" (composed with sister/Chick Emily Robison) is from the Monument trio’s 10-million-selling Wide Open Spaces album; the other two songs (with collaborator Marcus Hummon) were #1 hits from six-times-platinum album Fly.

Returning champ Shania Twain’s award-winning compositions were "Come On Over," "Man! I Feel Like A Woman" and "That Don’t Impress Me Much," all from the 17-times platinum Mercury release Come On Over (the best-selling album in country music history and the best-selling album ever by a female solo artist). The 1999 CMA Entertainer of the Year, who captured both BMI Country Songwriter and Song ("You’re Still The One") honors last year, was also crowned BMI Pop Songwriter of Year the past two years; she now owns 22 BMI Country and Pop Awards.

Sony/ATV Tree basked in the spotlight as BMI Country Publisher of the Year by accumulating the highest percentage of copyright ownership in award songs. Sony/ATV Tree Publishing President & CEO Donna Hilley and Sony/ATV Music Publishing President Richard Rowe accepted the BMI Crystal for the publisher, which placed nine songs on the most-performed list.

Highlights of the evening included the presentation of the President’s Award to Alabama; songwriter members Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry accepted the sterling silver loving cup. BMI created the President’s Award in 1993 to honor an exceptional person or persons in the entertainment industry deserving of special recognition. Presented tonight for only the fourth time, the honor has previously been bestowed on Harlan Howard, Brian Wilson and Earle Hagen. Preston also recognized the family of the late Faron Young on the eve of the BMI songwriter’s induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

The BMI Country Awards, the first songwriter awards event to be carried live on the internet, were made available to the world wide web audience through coverage by liveonthenet.com.

Of the 59 songwriters recognized, nine were double winners: Bill Anderson, Jim Collins, Andy Griggs, Marcus Hummon, Tony Martin, Jeffrey Steele, Steve Wariner and "Amazed" authors Aimee Mayo and Chris Lindsey.

Additional publishers collecting four or more awards were Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp; Universal Music Publishing Group (Songs of Universal, Inc. and Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.); EMI Music Publishing (Beechwood Music Corporation, EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc., EMI-Tower Street Music and EMI-Longitude Music); Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc.; and Mighty Nice Music.

Four songs were cited for the second time. The Nat Stuckey-penned "Pop A Top" picked up its first Country Award in 1968; "Stand Beside Me," "This Kiss" and "Unbelievable" each posted a previous win in 1999.

Among this year’s honorees, 31 songs have earned the status of BMI Million-Air (accumulating at least one million broadcast performances) for a total of over 36 million performances. "God Must Have Spent A Little More Time On You" and "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" have each reached the two million milestone; "Missing You" has hit the four million mark. All three songs have also previously garnered BMI Pop Awards. Based on an average length of three minutes, one million airplays is the equivalent of 50,000 hours or 5.7 years, continuously; Million-Airs on the 2000 Country list translate into 1.8 million hours or 205+ years of continuous airplay.

BMI’s Citations of Achievement are given annually in recognition of popularity in the field of country music, as measured by feature broadcast performances on American radio and television; the 2000 Country Awards eligibility period ran April 1, 1999 through March 21, 2000.

Founded in 1940, BMI is an American performing rights organization represent-ing more than 250,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers in all music genres. Through music performance and reciprocal agreements, it grants businesses and media access to its repertoire of more than 4.5 million musical works from around the world.

BMI Country Awards 2000

The 50 Most Performed Songs
 

ALL THINGS CONSIDERED
Tim Hunt
Smith Haven Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. Yankee Grey: Monument

AMAZED
Marv Green
Chris Lindsey
Aimee Mayo
Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc.
Golden Wheat Music
Silverkiss Music
Songs of Nashville DreamWorks
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Lonestar: BNA

BECAUSE YOU LOVE ME
Kostas
John Scott Sherrill
Nothing But The Wolf Music
Seven Angels Music
Sony/ATV Tree
Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.
Jo Dee Messina: Curb

BIG DEAL
Al Anderson
Jeffrey Steele
Al Andersongs
Mighty Nice Music
My Life's Work Music
Songs of Windswept Pacific
Yellow Desert Music
LeAnn Rimes: Curb

BREATHE
Stephanie Bentley
Hopechest Music
Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.
Faith Hill: Warner Bros.
 
COME ON OVER
Shania Twain
Loon Echo, Inc.
Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.
Shania Twain: Mercury

COWBOY TAKE ME AWAY
Marcus Hummon
Martie Seidel
Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc.
Floyd's Dream Music
Woolly Puddin' Music
Dixie Chicks: Monument

CRAZY LITTLE THING CALLED LOVE
Freddie Mercury (PRS)
Beechwood Music Corporation
Dwight Yoakam: Reprise

EVERYTIME I CRY
Karen Staley
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Terri Clark: Mercury

GOD MUST HAVE SPENT A LITTLE MORE TIME ON YOU
Evan Rogers
Carl Sturken
Bayjun Beat Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Alabama: RCA
View website

HANDS OF A WORKING MAN
Jim Collins
David Vincent Williams
Megalex Music
Sugar Bend Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Ty Herndon: Epic
  
HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW?!
Chuck Cannon
Toby Keith
Tokeco Tunes
Wacissa River Music, Inc.
Toby Keith: DreamWorks

HOW FOREVER FEELS
Wendell Mobley
New Works Music Co.
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Kenny Chesney: BNA

I CAN'T GET OVER YOU
Ronnie Dunn
Terry McBride
Constant Pressure Publishing
Showbilly Music
Sony/ATV Tree
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Brooks & Dunn: Arista

I'LL GO CRAZY
Andy Griggs
Zack Turner
Sony/ATV Tree
Andy Griggs: RCA

I'LL THINK OF A REASON LATER
Tony Martin
Tim Nichols
Baby Mae Music
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Hamstein Cumberland Music
Ty Land Music
Lee Ann Womack: Decca

I'M ALREADY TAKEN
Terry Ryan
Steve Wariner
Fleetside Music
Steve Wariner Music
Steve Wariner: Capitol

LESSONS LEARNED
Paul Nelson
Asifits Music
Sony/ATV Tree
Tracy Lawrence: Atlantic
 
LITTLE GOOD-BYES
Kenny Greenberg
Kent Greene Music
Sony/ATV Tree
SheDaisy: Lyric Street

LONELY AND GONE
Greg Crowe
Dave Gibson
Bill McCorvey, Jr.
House of Integrity Music
Little Tornadoes Music
Timberock Music
Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Montgomery Gentry: Columbia

MAN! I FEEL LIKE A WOMAN!
Shania Twain
Loon Echo, Inc.
Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.
Shania Twain: Mercury

MISSING YOU
John Waite
Paperwaite Music
Brooks & Dunn: Arista

MY BEST FRIEND
Aimee Mayo
Bill Luther
Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc.
Tim McGraw: Curb

(NOW YOU SEE ME) NOW YOU DON'T
David Lee
Ken Ten Publishing, Inc.
Lee Ann Womack: MCA Nashville

ONE HONEST HEART
David Malloy
Malloy's Toys Music
Starstruck Angel Music, Inc.
Reba: MCA Nashville

PLEASE REMEMBER ME
Will Jennings
Blue Sky Rider Songs
Tim McGraw: Curb
 
POP A TOP
(2nd Award: 1968)
Nat Stuckey
Sony/ATV Tree
Alan Jackson: Arista

POWERFUL THING
Al Anderson
Al Andersongs
Mighty Nice Music
Trisha Yearwood: MCA Nashville

PUT YOUR HAND IN MINE
Skip Ewing
Acuff-Rose Music, Inc.
Write On! Music
Tracy Byrd: RCA

READY TO RUN
Marcus Hummon
Martie Seidel
Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc.
Floyd's Dream Music
Woolly Puddin' Music
Dixie Chicks: Monument

SHE THINKS MY TRACTOR'S SEXY
Jim Collins
Paul Overstreet
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Jelinda Music
Scarlet Moon Music, Inc.
Kenny Chesney: BNA

SHE'S IN LOVE
Keith Stegall
EMI-Tower Street Music
Little Cayman Music
Mark Wills: Mercury

SINGLE WHITE FEMALE
Shaye Smith
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Zomba Songs, Inc.
Chely Wright: MCA Nashville

SMILE
Chris Lindsey
Songs of Nashville DreamWorks
Lonestar: BNA

SOMETHING LIKE THAT
Rick Ferrell
Mr. Noise Music
We Make Music
Tim McGraw: Curb

STAND BESIDE ME
(2nd Award: 1999)
Stephen Allen Davis
Hamstein Cumberland Music
Jo Dee Messina: Curb

THAT DON'T IMPRESS ME MUCH
Shania Twain
Loon Echo, Inc.
Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.
Shania Twain: Mercury

THIS KISS
(2nd Award: 1999)
Robin Lerner
Puckalesia Songs
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Faith Hill: Warner Bros.

TWO TEARDROPS
Bill Anderson
Steve Wariner
Mr. Bubba Music, Inc.
Sony/ATV Tree
Steve Wariner Music
Steve Wariner: Capitol

UNBELIEVABLE
(2nd Award: 1999)
Al Anderson
Jeffrey Steele
Al Andersongs
EMI-Longitude Music
Mighty Nice Music
My Life's Work Music
Songs of Windswept Pacific
Yellow Desert Music
Diamond Rio: Arista

WHAT DO YOU SAY
Michael Dulaney
Dulaneyhouse Music
Ensign Music Corporation
Michael Dulaney Music
Reba: MCA Nashville

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT
Jim Lauderdale
Melba Montgomery
Caroljac Music
Laudersongs
Mighty Nice Music
George Strait: MCA Nashville
WHATEVER YOU SAY
Ed Hill
Tony Martin
Baby Mae Music
Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc.
Hamstein Cumberland Music
Music Hill Music
Martina McBride: RCA
WHEN I SAID I DO
Clint Black
Blackened Music
Clint Black with Lisa Hartman Black: RCA

WISH YOU WERE HERE
Bill Anderson
Skip Ewing
Debbie Moore
Acuff-Rose Music, Inc.
Belton Uncle Music
Mr. Bubba Music, Inc.
Sony/ATV Tree
Write On! Music
Mark Wills: Mercury

WRITE THIS DOWN
Kent Robbins
Colter Bay Music
Irving Music
George Strait: MCA Nashville

WRONG NIGHT
Rick Bowles
Josh Leo
Hellmaymen Music
Starstruck Angel Music, Inc.
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Reba: MCA Nashville
 
YOU HAD ME FROM HELLO
Kenny Chesney
Skip Ewing
Acuff-Rose Music, Inc.
Roots and Boots Music
Write On! Music
Kenny Chesney: BNA

YOU WERE MINE
Emily Robison
Martie Seidel
Woolly Puddin' Music
Dixie Chicks: Monument

YOU WON'T EVER BE LONELY
Andy Griggs
Sony/ATV Tree
Andy Griggs: RCA

Huff understood that the band needed a fresh sound and a new direction, says Lonestar guitarist and lead singer Richie McDonald. John Rich, the group's second principal vocalist, had left the group, formed as Texassee in 1992.

McDonald and bandmates Michael Britt, Keech Rainwater and Dean Sams had established a reputation for delivering radio-ready, harmony-driven hits, beginning with their first Top 10 country song, "Tequila Talkin'," in 1995, and continuing through a repertoire that includes "No News," "Come Cryin' to Me," "Everything's Changed" and "Runnin' Away With My Heart."

"We were looking for some growth, and to have some songs with some substance and passion," McDonald says of the preparation for Lonely Grill. "When Dann first came to us, he said, 'I want to make this band sonically correct.' We did have some success before this album came along, but we were at a point where we needed to make some noise, and we felt Dann was the person to make that noise with."

Released in July 1999, Lonely Grill has been certified double platinum, thanks largely to the success of "Amazed." The song stayed at number one on Billboard's country singles chart for eight consecutive weeks, the first song to achieve that feat since 1966. In March, "Amazed" reached number one on Billboard's Hot 100 pop chart. The same week, Lonestar's follow-up single, "Smile," topped Billboard's country singles chart. In May, the Academy of Country Music awarded "Amazed" honors for Single and Song of the Year.

All members of the group write. McDonald co-wrote three songs on Lonely Grill, and is also co-writer of the Wilkinsons' recent single, "Jimmy's Got a Girlfriend," and Clay Walker's Top 20 hit, "She's Always Right." "Writing, to me, is a priority," he says. The group has recorded its first Christmas album ("Lonely Grill with bells," says McDonald) and when they find the time, they work on their next project, tentatively slated for summer, 2001.

"I have a passion for writing," McDonald says. "I don't ever want to lose that. I'm always looking for melodies and ideas and putting them on tape. That's the way I can express myself: through a song."