page 1 Monday,Monday, OctoberOctober 19,19, 20092009 Bobby Karl Works The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Banquet Chapter 324 The Song People swarmed and buzzed Maddox, David & Karen Conrad, Jeff at the Renaissance Hotel ballroom Sunday Walker, Jeff Hanna & Matraca Berg, Rita night (10/18). Allison, Allison & Steven Dale Jones, All of the major publishers and hundreds Tim Fink, Tim Nichols, John Scott of top-tier writers gathered for the 39th annual Sherrill, Jon Van Mol, Jon Randall & Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame banquet Jessi Alexander, John Randolph, Perry to salute Kye Fleming, Mark D. Sanders Howard, Melanie Smith Howard, Phil and the late Tammy Wynette and Bill Hall. Everly, Phil Graham, Tony Brown, In addition, the NSAI presented its “10 Songs Doyle Brown, Dan Hill, Dan Keen, Bill I Wish I’d Written” awards and gave special Rice and Billy Burnette. honors to Taylor Swift, Toby Keith, Craig “Come on in,” said host Roger Murrah. Wiseman and Wynn Varble. “You’re going to be so glad you came.” “This is my favorite event,” said Renee The NSAI awards came first. Bart White during the cocktail hour. There are many of us who share that sentiment. Making their entrances were Fred Foster, Jerry Foster, Jerry Crutchfield, Jerry Chesnut, Tom Collins, Pat Collins, Pat Higdon, Patsi Bale Cox, Paul Overstreet, Paul Williams, Mentor Williams & Lynn (L-R): Roger Murrah, Kye Fleming, Mark D. Sanders, Cathy Morton and Anderson, David AT&T TN Pres. Gregg Morton. ©2009, MusicRow Communications, LLC—ALL RIGHTS RESERVED [email protected] page 2 Monday, October 19, 2009 Herbison and Steve Bogard talked of the organization’s legislative efforts then doled out plaques to Mac McAnally (“Down the Road”), Jim Collins & Marty Dodson (“Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven”), Lee Thomas Miller (“In Color”), Erin Enderlin & Shane McAnally (“Last Call”), Bobby Braddock & Troy Jones (“People Are Crazy”), Monty Holmes & Leslie Satcher (“Troubadour”), Don Sampson & Wynn Varble (“Waitin’ on a Woman”), Jeffrey Steele & Steve Robson (“What Hurts the Most”) and Deanna Bryant, Heidi Newfield & Stephony Smith (“Johnny and June”). The 10th song was “I Told You So,” penned by the non-attending Randy Travis. Also absent were “In Color” collaborators Jamey Johnson and James Otto. “Waitin’ on a Woman” won Song of the Year. “I’m tickled to death,” said Varble. “Ain’t nobody writes a song like Wynn Varble,” said his co-writer Sampson. When he was named (L-R): Kye Fleming, Toby Keith, Taylor Swift and Mark D. Sanders Songwriter of the Year, Varble added, “I’m speechless. I’m flabbergasted.” The Artist/Songwriter of the Year award went to super sales Award to the late, colorful Bill Hall and told a number of phenomenon Taylor Swift. “The songwriters were my heroes,” amusing anecdotes in doing so. McDill was one of a number she recalled. “I came to Nashville when I was 14. I was lucky. of attendees whose life was touched by Hall. Foster & Rice, I got a songwriting contract when I was in the 8th grade. You Dickey Lee, Allen Reynolds, Jack Clement and Wayland people are the ones who I always wanted to like me.” Holyfield are among the many others. “Bill knew a hit when This being the last year of the decade, honors were also he heard one,” said McDill. given for the 2000-2009 Songwriter of the Decade and Artist/ “He left us 26 years ago,” said widow Marjorie Hall in Songwriter of the Decade. The latter prize went to Toby Keith. accepting, “and it’s good to know that they still talk about “Songwriters are the lifeblood of this industry,” he said. “I him on the Row today. Now, that’s a legend.” was a songwriter before I got here. And if I’m not an artist Raul Malo scored the first musical homerun of the night tomorrow, I’m still a songwriter.” He also thanked attendee by powerfully performing Tammy Wynette’s ballad “Til I Can Harold Shedd, “Who opened the first door for me….Most of Make it on My Own.” Tammy, via video, sang “Stand By Your all, God bless the songwriters.” Man,” as only she could. “It doesn’t get any better than that,” “This is crazy,” said Songwriter of the Decade Craig Wiseman. observed Murrah. Singer Georgette Jones was in the crowd, “I wrote with I don’t know how many people in this room. I as were Tammy’s other daughters, Tina, Jackie and Gwen. love this town. This goes out to every one of you guys.” “I’m a very fortunate and privileged person to be here this Following a hearty dinner of beef, carrots, broccolini and evening,” said Barbara Mandrell. “What a thrill to see all of mashed potatoes, Murrah re-took the stage, and this is when you tonight. Well written songs are treasures to all who hear the real entertainment began. Bob McDill presented the Mentor them.” She hosted the Kye Fleming portion of the eve. ©2009, MusicRow Communications, LLC—ALL RIGHTS RESERVED [email protected] page 3 Monday, October 19, 2009 Eden’s Edge, an acoustic, mandolin-guitar trio, sang a “I was lucky to be in the room when a lot of those songs medley of Fleming hits. Ronnie Milsap performed “I Wouldn’t were written,” said Sanders humbly. “You know the difference Have Missed it for the World” and “Smoky Mountain Rain,” between a large pizza and a songwriter? A large pizza can drawing a standing ovation. actually feed a family of four.” He recalled driving a tourist “I didn’t prepare anything to say,” commented Fleming in bus in his early Nashville days. When Vince Gill came on the accepting. “Mostly because when I thought about it, how do radio singing “Oh Carolina,” he told his passengers, “I wrote you put 32 years of having so much fun into words?” She this song!” None of them believed him. recalled being discovered by Elvis band member Jerry Scheff “I’ve written about my life,” he concluded. “Now I get to at age 20, being on the Sonny & Cher show, singing in New help other people write about theirs. That’s what I’m here York coffeehouses and finally coming to Music City. “It’s such for, I think. I am deeply, deeply honored to be part of the an honor to be in the same year as Tammy Wynette,” she Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.” added. “When I started, there were not too many women Mayor Karl Dean, Rep. Marsha Blackburn, Guy Clark, writers, and I am so happy there are so many wonderful Joey & Rory, Mark Bright, Vincent Candilora, Clay Myers, women writers doing so well. I hope I helped open the door Bucky Wilkin, Layng Martine, Pete Fisher, Red Lane, a little bit.” Judy Kilgore, Kevin Lamb, Victoria Shaw, Dale Bobo, Tia Sillers was hilarious introducing the induction of Mark Lori Badgett, Barry & Jewel Coburn, Bob Regan, Dennis D. Sanders. Bob DiPiero had plenty of quips, too. Shawn Morgan, Ron Stuve, Steve Davis, Hugh Prestwood, Gary Camp, Megan Mullins and John Bolinger did a Sanders Burr, Tracy Gershon, Mike Dungan, Autumn House, medley. Then Lee Ann Womack performed a transcendent Amy Kurland, Scott Hendricks, Jim Weatherly, Norro version of “I Hope You Dance.” Wilson, Richard Perna, Dave Pomeroy, Lisa Sutton, Taylor Rhodes, Jason Morris and Dwight Wiles cheered and made merry. Spin Zone by Jon Freeman No change at the top of the CountryBreakout™ Chart this week, as Keith Urban’s “Only You Can Love Me This Way” maintains a firm hold on the No. 1 spot. The folks at Capitol must be pleased. Other than Love and Theft’s “Runaway,” which is currently No. 3, all the remaining spots in the Top 5 belong to their artists: Lady Antebellum’s “Need You Now” (No. 2), Luke Bryan’s “Do I” (No. 4), and Trace Adkins’ “All I Ask For Anymore” (No. 5). And yet another Capitol hotshot, Dierks Bentley, is just a few steps behind at No. 7 with “I Wanna Make You Close Your Eyes.” Congratulations to Whitney Duncan and her Warner Bros. team on scoring the singer’s first Top 20 single. “Skinny ©2009, MusicRow Communications, LLC—ALL RIGHTS RESERVED [email protected] page 4 Monday, October 19, 2009 #1 Jack Ingram feat. Patty Griffin/Seeing Stars/Big Machine...... 63 Bucky Covington/Gotta Be Somebody/Lyric Street............... 65 Big Kenny/Long After I’m Gone/Bigger Picture Ent./ Love Everybody.......................................................... 68 Keith Urban Bomshel/19 & Crazy/Curb................................................ 69 "Only You Can Love Hannah McNeil/What Am I Getting Up For/Red Records/ Me This Way" Jerry Duncan Promotions/Spinville................................ 71 Capitol Nashville Lucky Seven Greatest Spin Increase Keith Urban’s “Only You Can Love Me This Artist/song/label spin+ Way” is the CountryBreakout™ No. 1 Eric Church/Hell on the Heart/Capitol............................... 538 song for a second straight week, owing George Strait/Twang/MCA............................................... 480 to the full support of the panel and a Whitney Duncan/Skinny Dippin’/Warner Bros..................... 459 gain of 77 spins. Urban was also just announced among the performers Toby Keith/Cryin’ For Me (Wayman’s Song)/Show Dog........ 433 at the 43rd Annual CMA Awards, where he is nominated for five awards: Rascal Flatts/Why/Lyric Street......................................... 397 Entertainer of the Year, Album (Defying Gravity), Male Vocalist, Lady Antebellum/Need You Now/Capitol........................... 300 Video and Musical Event (for his work with Brad Paisley on “Start A Jimmy Wayne feat. Daryl Hall/John Oates/Sara Smile/Valory.... 286 Band”). As if this wasn’t enough to keep him completely consumed, Urban also hosted a once-in-a-lifetime benefit called We’re All For On Deck—Soon To Be Charting the Hall to benefit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum last Artist/song/label spins Tuesday (Oct.