BMI hosted two-parties-in-one on Fri., Nov. 16. The event was a going away party for BMI’s Executive Director, Media Relations Kay Clary and an album release party for soul singer Charles Walker. He performed with a band featuring Charles Treadway, Pat Bergeson and Pete Abbott.
After the show, a reception was held for industry members to bid farewell to Clary who exited BMI after seven years of service. BMI, VP Writer/Publisher Relations, BMI VP, Writer-Publisher Relations Jody Williams says, “Kay Clary is a treasure.” And we all couldn’t agree more.
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The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum recently (11/17) honored Billy Sanford in its quarterly series Nashville Cats: A Celebration of Music City Musicians. Sanford played on hits for the Oak Ridge Boys (“Elvira”), Roy Orbison (“Oh, Pretty Woman”), Kenny Rogers (“The Gambler”), Keith Whitley (“I’m No Stranger to the Rain”) and many others. Sanford is a longtime member of Don Williams’ band.
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Monthly concert series 45rpm saluted Connie Smith during a special installment on Nov. 7. The event was held at Douglas Corner. Created by steel guitar player Mike Johnson, songwriter Jimmy Melton, and UMPG’s Cyndi Forman, 45rpm highlights the great artists, songs, songwriters and producers from the ’60s and ’70s such as Mel Street, Don Williams, Gary Stewart, Gene Watson and Tammy Wynette. The band is led by Johnson and Melton, and includes some of Nashville’s top studio musicians.