March 7, 2003

They Like To Spend

Industry friends and fans filled Nashville's Douglas Corner Café to congratulate songwriters Jeffrey Steele and Danny Wells on their #1 hit "These Days" (2/26). The crowd included celebrants from the song's team of publishers --Gottahaveable Music, Irving Music, Songs of Teracel, Songs of Windswept Pacific and Sony/ATV Tree -- and producers Mark Bright and Marty Williams. Recorded by Lyric Street artists Rascal Flatts, "These Days" is the group's first #1 hit and appears on their platinum-certified album Melt. BMI's David Preston hosted the party and presented pewter #1 cups to the writers, artists, publishers and producers. The song's other co-writer, Steve Robson, lives in London and was unable to attend.

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

BMI represents more than 500,000 songwriters, composers, and publishers with more than 7.5 million works.