BOBBY KARL WORKS THE ROOM
Chapter 473
Pictured (L-R): Song of the Year co-writer Ben Hayslip, Songwriter of the Year Ashley Gorley and Song of the Year co-writer Jimmy Robbins. Photo: Ed Rode
ASCAP is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, and appropriately, its 2014 country awards banquet looked backward as well as forward.
The performance-rights society honored superstar Alan Jackson with a Heritage Award recognizing him as its top country songwriter-artist of the past century. “From his dearest friends to his millions of fans, he is…The Real Deal,” said presenter Connie Bradley.
“I’m just a singer of simple songs,” responded the ever-humble Alan. “I just came here to sing country music. I’ve had so much help along the way. I’m just overwhelmed by all of this.” He thanked his steadfast wife, author Denise Jackson, and added, “I’m just an ol’ country boy who’s had a lot of blessin.’”
Chris Oglesby saluted Craig Wiseman with a Heritage Award as ASCAP’s top country songwriter of its first 100 years. “His lyrics connected with fans,” said Chris. “He writes what he knows…and hits America right in the heart.”
“Oh my God,” Craig stammered as he began to weep in acceptance. “Everybody I’ve ever written a song with in this room, please stand.” Dozens did. “I don’t know what to say. God bless Nashville, Tennessee.” He recalled coming to Music City in 1985, living in his van and grabbing free showers at the KOA Campground near Opryland. “God is great. Nashville is great. You guys are great. I am honored beyond words.”
ASCAP Heritage Award Honoree Alan Jackson. Photo: Ed Rode
“Bro country” ruled ASCAP’s contemporary awards. The Thomas Rhett hit “It Goes Like This” won Song of the Year for co-writers Jimmy Robbins and Ben Hayslip. With nine No. 1 songs in the year, Ashley Gorley was named Songwriter of the Year.
“Nashville is just an awesome town,” said Ashley. “It’s one big friendship.”
Publisher of the Year Warner-Chappell Music has both a distinguished history as a heritage firm as well as loads of contemporary country activity. No foolin’ — the company garnered 19 citations during the banquet. ASCAP CEO John LoFrumento presented its award.
The banquet took place Monday evening (11/3) in the Music City Center’s grand ballroom. Star gazing was abundant – Dierks Bentley, David Nail, Kip Moore, Brett Eldredge, Brandy Clark, Eric Paslay, Chris Young (“double dipping” this year as an awardee at both ASCAP and BMI), Billy Currington, Charles Kelley & Dave Haywood of Lady Antebellum, Keith Urban and Jerrod Niemann all mingled at the soiree. Lynn Anderson was on the arm of songwriter Mentor Williams.
Past and present record makers Radney Foster, Jim Photoglo, Blackstone Cherry, Fred Knobloch, Lane Brody, Monty Holmes, David Lee Murphy, Phil Vassar, Rhett Akins, new Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Gretchen Peters, Desmond Child, Neil Thrasher, Richard Young of The Kentucky HeadHunters, Brett James and Jason Sellers also worked the room. Lee Ann Womack began the awards ceremony by performing the gorgeous acoustic gem “Send It On Down.”
In a nice touch, up-and-coming artists introduced the five top ASCAP country songs of the year. Maddie & Tae did the honors for “Don’t Ya.” The Cadillac Three set up “Crash My Party.” John King introduced “Runnin’ Outta Moonlight.” The Swon Brothers talked up “Friday Night.” Sam Hunt was the guest presenter for the Song of the Year winner “It Goes Like This.” Each of the five was performed by its writer or writers.
Pictured (L-R): ASCAP’s Michael Martin, Song of the Year co-writer Ben Hayslip, Songwriter of the Year Ashley Gorley, Song of the Year co-writer Jimmy Robbins, ASCAP Heritage Award Honoree Craig Wiseman, Publisher of the Year Warner/Chappell Music Publishing’s Ben Vaughn and Jon Platt, and ASCAP’s LeAnn Phelan. Photo: Ed Rode
ASCAP President Paul Williams opened the ceremony. “I love Nashville,” he said. “I come full circle in this town….ASCAP is home to country music’s greatest songwriters and publishers.” This was its 52nd country-awards ceremony. Our own Vincent Candilora presented ASCAP’s Partners in Music award to Mike Grimes and Dave Brown of the Nashville alt-nightspot The Basement.
Various other ASCAP execs also presented. Most of the honors were passed out by the Nashville office’s gracious leaders, LeAnn Phelan and Michael Martin. We love them.
The fabulons gathered at a pre-awards cocktail hour, where they were served barbeque chicken salad in cornbread boats, bacon fried shrimp and filo pastry stuffed with brie and walnuts. Pat Alger, Patrick Clifford, Mike Dungan, Mike Hollandsworth, Mike Dekle, Michael Knox, Doug Casmus, Doug Johnson, Doug & Linda Edell Howard, Dave Berg, David Crow, David Corlew, Mark Brown, Mark Ford, Mark Irwin, Mark D. Sanders, Ed Morris, Eddie Bayers, Dale Bobo, Dale Dodson, Chris DuBois, Chris Tompkins, Chris Farren, Chris DeStefano, Josh Kear, Josh Osborne, John Ozier, Jon Nite, John Huie and John Titta were stirred in the mix.
Dinner began with spring greens, sun-dried tomatoes, golden raisins and candied pecans salad. The main course was beef tenderloin medallion with crab cake, French green beans, slivered squash and fingerling potatoes. Chess pie plus berries and whipped cream were served for dessert.
Norbert Nix, Maurice Miner and Dallas Davidson dined alongside Dwight Wiles & Diana Johnson, Bud & Janice Wendell, Ralph Peer, Pete Fisher, Darrell Brown, Shelby Kennedy, Wayland Holyfield and Frank Liddell.
As usual, ASCAP was a fashion parade. Did somebody send out a memo about black lace? Celia Froehlig, Cyndi Hoelzle, Alicia Warwick and Becky Harris all wore it, with the last-named looking especially groovy with her leopard-print high heels and matching-patterned pendant. Brittany A. Shaffer turned heads in a blue-sequined sheath. Jessi Alexander was very pretty in a flowing red, floral, floor-length “hippie” gown, accessorized by her handsome hubby Jon Randall Stewart.
Ben Vaughn’s electric-blue cravat stood out on his black-on-black outfit. Craig Wiseman wore a dapper tan jacket over his customary Hawaiian shirt. Butch Baker swapped his usual vintage brocade tux jacket for a textured gray suit. “I’m starting the bolo-tie movement,” he proclaimed, promising that he’d lined up several gents to emulate his neckwear at the BMI banquet.
The MCC ballroom where ASCAP was staged is an awesome visual spectacle. Its front, rear, sides and ceiling are all covered in positioned panels of wood, so it feels like you are inside a massive guitar. There are no columns. You don’t need much décor in a breath-taking space like this. Dramatic black tablecloths draped the round tables, with blue hydrangeas and white roses in centerpiece bouquets. The stage was trimmed with floor-to-ceiling white drapes and pierced by red and chartreuse pin spotlights.
Herky Williams, Jim Catino, Ralph Murphy, Allen Shamblin, Allison Brown Jones (in beyond-stiletto gold heels), Andrew Kintz, Tommy Rocco, Tim Nichols, Terry Wakefield, Teresa George, Hank Adam Locklin, Kevin Lamb, Van Tucker, bolo-wearing Julian King, Barry Coburn, Dan Keen, Walter Campbell, Garth Fundis, Kyle Young, Bart Herbison, Debbie Carroll, Kelley Lovelace and Shane McAnally were among the approximately 800 who gazed in wonder.
Category: Artist, Awards, Featured, Organizations, Publishing
