January 23, 2003

Andy Griffith Holds Court at BMI Nashville

It was an unheard-of scene on Music Row -- during presentations, remarks and thank yous at a party at BMI Nashville, you could have heard a pin drop. But with Andy Griffith as guest of honor, no one wanted to miss a word. Griffith was in Nashville recording a Christmas gospel album for Sparrow with Marty Stuart producing, and Stuart, Irving Music and BMI co-hosted the celebration. After welcoming remarks by BMI's Paul Corbin and Irving Music's Bobby Rymer, Stuart introduced the television icon, who was greeted with an adoring ovation.

Pictured at BMI Nashville are BMI's Paul Corbin, Irving Music's Bobby Rymer, Andy & Cindi Griffith, Marty Stuart & Connie Smith, and Sparrow's Billy Ray Hearn.

Presentations were made by Corbin on behalf of BMI, which has represented Griffith's music [from his comedy records to Mayberry-themed songs to gospel arrangements] for a half-century; by Chuck Cannon on behalf of the Nashville Songwriters Association International [NSAI]; and by Mayor Bill Purcell and Sheriff Daron Hall, who gave him a sheriff's badge. Ol' Ange delighted the awe-struck crowd by talking about his early music career and then capped the evening with some story-telling magic about a a poor juggler who gave the only gift he had to God on Christmas Day.

Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall and Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell with Andy Griffith. photo by Alan Mayor

Andy Griffith and Chuck Cannon

Andy Griffith and Terry McBride

Melanie Smith Howard, Andy Griffith, BMI's Thomas Cain

Winston Harless, Andy Griffith, AmSouth's Lisa Harless

photos by Kay Williams