McCartney Inducted Into Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame

Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation Chairman Roger Murrah (l) and CMA board member Bob DiPiero (r) present Paul McCartney with the honor.

The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame has given an Honorary Induction to Sir Paul McCartney, noting his indelible influence on Music City’s creative community.

Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame chairman Roger Murrah and CMA board member/hit songwriter Bob DiPiero presented McCartney with a plaque prior to his performance at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on July 26. “Paul was warm, gracious and visibly moved by the honor,” said Murrah.

Painted and etched into glass, the plaque reads, “In celebration of the art of songwriting and the creative spirit shared by you and our members to which you have so richly contributed, we the board of directors do hereby present to you Sir Paul McCartney an Honorary Induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, July 26th, 2010.”

“Creative exchanges constantly occur between music genres from around the world,” explained Murrah. “In this way, Nashville songwriters have influenced Paul and, with his amazing body of work, Paul has certainly influenced Nashville songwriters.” Click here to see just a few of the Nashville artists who have recorded McCartney’s songs.

“Paul’s songs have always been an inspiration to me,” said Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Kye Fleming. “I still have my original Meet The Beatles LP. It is in my office right now. I bought it when I was 13…coincidence that I started writing songs when I was 14? I don’t think so!”

Fellow inductee Gary Burr noted, “What I learned from Paul McCartney: every time I write a song and get to the bridge I try to make the bridge strong enough and different enough that it could have been another song’s chorus. That’s what Paul always seemed to be able to do. Whether it’s going to a minor chord unexpectedly or changing the rhythm, he always pushed that extra mile in his writing. When you are writing a song in G and go to the E minor for the bridge…you are not trying very hard…and you are NOT channeling Paul McCartney.”

For a more details about McCartney’s induction, read tomorrow’s @MusicRow for paid subscribers.