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Grammy Winners and Nominees to Discuss ‘How I Wrote That Song’ at Key Club in LA

Posted in News on January 28, 2009
BMI Panel Discussion will Feature will.i.am, T-Pain, Chad Hugo (Neptunes), Makeba Riddick, Keri Hilson and Surprise Guests

BMI will present its annual “How I Wrote That Song” panel Saturday, February 7, from 1 until 3 p.m. at the Key Club (9039 Sunset Blvd.) in Los Angeles. Led by BMI’s Catherine Brewton, the discussion will feature insight from Grammy Award-winning singer, rapper, songwriter, and producer will.i.am, Grammy Award-winning rapper, songwriter, and producer T-Pain, Grammy-nominated songwriter Makeba Riddick, Grammy-winning producer Chad Hugo, and singer-songwriter Keri Hilson.In addition to delving into the songwriting process, each panelist will perform one of his or her hit songs. This pre-Grammy Awards event is open to the public for individuals 15 years old and older. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 day of admission and are on sale now through Ticketmaster at www.keyclub.com, or at the Key Club box office.

will.i.am
Three-time Grammy award-winner will.i.am helped propel The Black Eyed Peas to international superstardom. He has also become one of music’s top producers on the strength of collaborations with Justin Timberlake, Mariah Carey, John Legend, Pussycat Dolls and others. will.i.am’s 2007 debut solo album Songs About Girls met enthusiastic critical acclaim. In January 2008, will.i.am wrote a song, "Yes We Can," in support of the 2008 U.S. presidential campaign of Barack Obama, and after President Obama’s victory, he released the celebratory "It's a New Day." The Black Eyed Peas’ new album is slated for release in March of this year.


Keri Hilson
Atlanta-based singer, songwriter, arranger and background vocalist Keri Hilson has written songs for Mary J. Blige, Chris Brown, Ciara, and Usher, in addition to making ear-catching cameos in hit songs including “After Love” by Diddy, “Promiscuous” by Nelly Furtado, and “Good Things” by Britney Spears. She signed with Timbaland’s Interscope Records label Mosley Music in 2006, and released her debut album In a Perfect World in 2008. Her single "Return the Favor" was released officially as a digital download on October 7, 2008, and the video, directed by Melina, premiered on October 23, 2008.


T-Pain
One of 2008’s break-out stars, hip-hop/r&b singer, songwriter, and producer T-Pain is the reigning BMI Urban Music Awards Songwriter of the Year, a Grammy, BET and Vibe Awards winner, and American Music Award and MTV Video Awards nominee. He began his career as a rapper in the group Nappy Headz, and in 2005, his debut album Rappa Ternt Sanga was released, spawning the hits “I'm Sprung” and “I'm N Luv.” Since the release of that album, he has produced numerous hits of his own in addition to helming the boards for other rappers and r&b stars. Thanks to his potent, cross-genre appeal, T-Pain has earned than 10 top ten singles on Billboard Hot 100.


Makeba Riddick
Grammy-nominated songwriter Makeba Riddick boasts a portfolio of writing credits for a who’s who of the entertainment industry elite that includes the co-written hit songs “Déjà Vu” by Beyoncé, “Do What You Do” by Katharine McPhee, “If It’s Lovin’ That You Want” by Rihanna and one of her first hit singles, “All I Have,” by Jennifer Lopez.


Chad Hugo
Grammy award-winning producer Chad Hugo easily emerges as one of the most influential artistic forces in contemporary music. Along with Pharrell Williams, Hugo makes up producing and songwriting duo The Neptunes, whose indefatigable hook-savvy has created and polished chart-toppers including Snoop Dogg’s “Beautiful” and “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” Jay Z’s “Excuse Me Miss,” “Change Clothes,” “I Just Wanna Love you (Give It 2 Me),” Ludacris’ “Money Maker,” and Robin Thicke’s “Wanna Love You Girl.” A diverse slew of international game changers including Usher, T.I., Common, Mary J. Blige, Busta Rhymes, Kelis, Britney Spears, Justine Timberlake, Mariah Carey, Maroon 5, Fallout Boy, Clipse, Beenie Man, Madonna, and Gwen Stefani have enlisted The Neptunes’ production. A capable saxophonist, guitarist, and pianist, Hugo also performs in funk-rock band NER*D, along with Williams and third member Shae. The trio’s endearingly quirky releases include In Search of…, Fly or Die, and most recently, Seeing Sounds.

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