No. 1 Party Toasts Whirlwind Hit ‘Tornado’

Pictured are, back row (l-r): Capitol Nashville’s Mike Dungan, BMI’s Jody Williams, and EMI Blackwood Music’s Josh Van Valkenburg; front row (l-r): Little Big Town’s Jimi Westbrook, Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman and Phillip Sweet; and co-writers Delta Maid and Natalie Hemby. Photo by Rick Diamond

“We’d never heard a girl call herself a tornado,” said Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild yesterday (May 6) during a No. 1 party for “Tornado” at BMI, as she recalled the decision to record the song after hearing a rough demo. Penned by Natalie Hemby and Delta Maid, “Tornado” went on to become the title track of Little Big Town’s latest studio album and the band’s second chart-topper.

The song was the result of Hemby and Delta Maid’s first meeting—a meeting that almost didn’t happen.

It was Hemby’s last writing appointment of 2011, and Delta Maid’s last writing appointment during her first-ever visit to Nashville. For various reasons, they almost cancelled on each other. “Coming to Nashville was a massive dream,” shared Delta Maid, a native of Liverpool, England who grew up on a steady diet of traditional country music from Lefty Frizzell to Hank Williams. In recent years she has opened for Ray LaMontagne and Ron Sexsmith. Her career is being shepherded locally by manager Stuart Dill, who helped arrange her initial trip to Music City. “The first time I came to Nashville, I wrote a No. 1 song, which is mad,” she exclaimed. BMI’s Jody Williams presented a guitar to commemorate the occasion.

UMG Nashville boss Mike Dungan took the stage and described an “ugly” race to the pinnacle of the radio charts, with the goal of securing back-to-back No. 1s for Little Big Town. “We went to war,” he said as he handed over pointed crystal trophies he jokingly referred to as the “impaler award.” In fact, UMG was so proud of the accomplishment that several out-of-town team members flew in for yesterday’s party.

“We live for that passion and energy,” exclaimed LBT’s Phillip Sweet as he toasted the radio promotion crew.

Hemby, who also had a writing credit on Little Big Town’s previous No. 1 “Pontoon,” was celebrating her fourth No. 1 yesterday. The hot-as-fire tunesmith has at least two other current singles: “Don’t Rush,” by Kelly Clarkson ft. Vince Gill, and “Downtown,” by Lady Antebellum.

Josh Van Valkenburg, who works with Hemby at Sony/ATV, saluted her with a series of quotes from her peers. Among the touching tributes describing her character and talents: “a unique truth,” “liked and respected,” and “literally making history with her words and music.”

Hemby thanked her loved ones, including hubby Mike Wrucke, and her music biz parents who taught her the importance of integrity.

Representatives from CRS, CMA and Avenue Bank also toasted the writers and artists. Several people thanked Little Big Town producer Jay Joyce, who was absent from the event.

“We like the way this feels,” summed Fairchild.

Here’s betting they have that feeling many more times.