ASCAP Awards Honor Songwriters
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10/16/2007 Kenny Chesney, Big & Rich, Dierks Bentley, Gretchen Wilson and Brad Paisley, were among the artists in attendance at Monday (10/15) night’s ASCAP Country Music Awards. The ceremony marked the 45th annual event for the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), as the performing rights organization honored the songwriters of the year’s most performed country songs. Among the other artists in attendance were Charlie Daniels, Bill Anderson, Emerson Drive, Darryl Worley, Eric Church, Phil Vassar, Deana Carter, Jason Aldean, Keith Anderson, Troy Gentry of Montgomery Gentry, Sarah Johns, Blue County, Trent Willmon, Kellie Pickler, Chuck Wicks, Joanna Cotten, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Blaine Larsen, David Lee Murphy, Jimmy Wayne, and Shannon Lawson. The star-studded awards ceremony was held at the Ryman Auditorium, while the post-awards party, attended by numerous country artists and more than 1,000 music industry VIP’s, was held at the nearby AT&T Building. Highlights of the awards show included a musical tribute to ASCAP Golden Note Award honoree Kenny Rogers. The award is presented to songwriters, composers and artists who have achieved extraordinary career milestones. Chris Stapleton performed “Sweet Music Man;” 2006 ASCAP Songwriter of the Year Rivers Rutherford rocked the crowd with “I Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In);” and songwriter great Don Schlitz performed “The Gambler.” Previous recipients include Garth Brooks, Tom Petty, Stevie Wonder, Michael W. Smith, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and Sean “Diddy” Combs. After the crowd watched a video retrospective of Kenny’s career, he accepted the award and performed his 1999 comeback hit “The Greatest,” which also written by Don Schlitz. Following his performance, Kenny surprised Don with the presentation of the ASCAP Creative Achievement Award “in recognition of exceptional and ongoing contributions as a songwriter to the fabric of American music.” Opening the show in a duet performance of “Jackson” were Gretchen Wilson and the Charlie Daniels Band. In performance of the year’s top 5 ASCAP songs were songwriters Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins and a string trio performing a fierce version of the Carrie Underwood smash, "Before He Cheats;" Dave Berg accompanied by Georgia Middleman giving a stirring acoustic performance of "If You’re Going Through Hell (Before The Devil Even Knows);" Craig Wiseman entertaining the audience with his single "Summertime;” Brad Paisley and co-writer Kelley Lovelace, accompanied by Lee Miller, surprised the crowd with their performance of "The World;" and songwriter and award-winning producer Buddy Cannon, in a rare musical performance, was joined by Bill Anderson, Melonie Cannon and Jamey Johnson on "Give It Away." Awards were presented to the ASCAP writers and publishers of the most performed country songs of the past year, including songwriters Dierks Bentley, Dave Berg, Brett James, Kelley Lovelace, Tony Mullins, Tim Owens, Brad Paisley, John Rich, Jeremy Stover, Phil Vassar, and Craig Wiseman, all of whom received multiple awards. THE ASCAP 2007 COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR: Craig Wiseman “Hillbilly Deluxe”/“Something’s Gotta Give”/”Summertime” SONGWRITER/ARTIST OF THE YEAR: John Rich “8th of November”/“Amarillo Sky”/“Sunshine and Summertime”/“Why” SONG OF THE YEAR: (SHARED) “Before He Cheats” Written by: Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins Published by: Big Loud Shirt, Mighty Under Dog Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing Performed by: Carrie Underwood “If You’re Going Through Hell (Before The Devil Even Knows)” Written by: Dave Berg Published by: BergBrain Music and Cal IV Entertainment Performed by: Rodney Atkins PUBLISHER OF THE YEAR: Sony/ATV Music Publishing “Beer In Mexico"/"Before He Cheats”/“I Loved Her First”/“Life Ain’t Always Beautiful”/“My Wish” “Settle For A Slowdown”/"Some People Change”/"You Save Me” Most Performed Country Songs of 2007: “8th of November” Writer: John Rich Publishers: Rich Texan Music, Warner/Chappell Music Publishing “A Feelin' Like That” Writers: David Lee Murphy, Kim Tribble Publishers: Category 5, Music of RPM, N2D Publishing, Old Desperadoes “A Good Man” Writers: Adrienne Follese, Keith Follese Publishers: Animal Planet Music, Midas Music, U Kicked My Dog “Amarillo Sky” Writers: Bart Pursley, John Rich Publishers: Bar Two Beat One Music, Bound For Sound, Rich Texan Music “Beer In Mexico” Writer: Kenny Chesney Publishers: Islandsoul Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing “Before He Cheats” Writers: Josh Kear, Chris Tompkins Publishers: Big Loud Shirt, Mighty Under Dog Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing “Bring It on Home to Me” Writers: Greg Bieck, Tyler Hayes Publishers: Bieck Music, TT Bloom Music, Warner/Chappell Music Publishing “Building Bridges” Writers: Hank DeVito, Larry Willoughby Publishers: Drunk Monkey Music, Granite Music, Warner/Chappell Music Publishing “Don't Forget To Remember Me” Writers: Ashley Gorley, Kelley Lovelace Publishers: Bug Music/Windswept, Combustion Music, Didn't Have To Be Music, EMI Music Publishing “Down In Mississippi (Up to No Good)” Writers: Kristen Hall, Robert Bret Hartley, Jennifer Nettles, Lisa Simonton Publishers: Greater Good Songs, Drumbum Music, Jennifer Nettles Publishing, Tremelo Blue Music “Every Mile A Memory” Writer: Dierks Bentley Publisher: Big White Tracks “Every Time I Hear Your Name” Writers: Keith Anderson, Tom Hambridge Publishers: EMI Music Publishing, Romeo Cowboy Music, Tom Hambridge Tunes “Feels Just Like It Should” Writer: Brett James Publishers: Brett James Cornelius Music, Stage Three Songs “Findin' a Good Man” Writers: Casey Koesel, Brian Maher, Jeremy Stover Publishers: Major Bob Music, Universal Music Publishing, Welk Music, West Moraine “Give It Away” Writer: Buddy Cannon Publisher: Run Slow Music “Hillbilly Deluxe” Writers: Brad Crisler, Craig Wiseman Publishers: Big Loud Shirt, Brad To The Bone, EMI Music Publishing “How 'Bout You” Writer: Brandon Church Publisher: Mamari Music “I Can't Unlove You” Writer: Wade Kirby Publishers: Scott and Soda, Warner/Chappell Music Publishing “I Don't Know What She Said” Writer: Lane Turner Publisher: Major Bob Music “I Got You” Writer: Tim Owens Publishers: Bud Dog Music, Bug Music/Windswept, Chamaland Music “I Just Came Back From a War” Writer: Darryl Worley Publisher: Pickwick Landing Songs “I Loved Her First” Writers: Walt Aldridge, Elliott Park Publishers: Cedar Sides, Songs of Extreme, Sony/ATV Music Publishing “If You're Going Through Hell (Before The Devil Even Knows)” Writer: Dave Berg Publishers: BergBrain Music, Cal IV Entertainment “Ladies Love Country Boys” Writer: Rivers Rutherford Publisher: Universal Music Publishing “Last Day of My Life” Writers: Tim Ryan Rouillier, Phil Vassar Publisher: Mission Valley Music, Phylvester Music “Leave the Pieces” Writer: Billy Austin Publishers: Songs of R Joseph Music, Warner/Chappell Music Publishing “Life Ain't Always Beautiful” Writer: Cyndi Thomson Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing “Life Is a Highway” Writer: Tom Cochrane Publisher: Universal Music Publishing “Like Red on a Rose” Writer: Melanie Castleman Publisher: Cassamel “Little Bit Of Life” Writer: Tony Mullins Publishers: Mullintone Music, Universal Music Publishing “Long Trip Alone” Writer: Dierks Bentley Publisher: Big White Tracks “Me and My Gang” Writer: Tony Mullins Publishers: Mullintone Music, Universal Music Publishing “My Wish” Writer: Steve Robson Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing “Once in a Lifetime” Writer: John Shanks Publishers: John Shanks Music, Warner/Chappell Music Publishing “Red High Heels” Writers: Chris Lindsey, Kellie Pickler Publishers: Magic Farming Music, Pickle Butt, Universal Music Publishing “Settle For a Slowdown” Writer: Dierks Bentley Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing “Settlin’” Writers: Jennifer Nettles, Tim Owens Publishers: Bud Dog Music, Bug Music/Windswept, Chamaland Music, Jennifer Nettles Publishing “She's Everything” Writer: Brad Paisley Publishers: EMI Music Publishing, Sea Gayle Music “Size Matters (Someday)” Writers: Mike Dekle, Byron Hill Publishers: Great Escape Music, Square D Music, Universal Music Publishing “Some People Change” Writers: Michael Dulaney, Jason Sellers, Neil Thrasher Publishers: Bud Dog Music, Bug Music/Windswept, Funky Junk Music, Lights of Denver, Major Bob Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Sweet Summer Music “Something's Gotta Give” Writers: Tony Mullins, Craig Wiseman Publishers: Mrs. Lumpkin's Poodle, Platinum Plow, Universal Music Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music Publishing “Stand” Writer: Danny Orton Publishers: Danny Orton Songs, Universal Music Publishing “Stupid Boy” Writers: Dave Berg, Deanna Bryant Publishers: BergBrain Music, Big Loud Shirt, Cal IV Entertainment “Summertime” Writer: Craig Wiseman Publisher: Big Loud Shirt “Sunshine and Summertime” Writer: John Rich Publishers: Rich Texan Music, Warner/Chappell Music Publishing “Swing” Writers: Frank Rogers, Chris Stapleton Publishers: EMI Music Publishing, Sea Gayle Music “The Woman in My Life” Writers: Julie Wood-Vassar, Phil Vassar Publishers: Jamminjules Music, Phylvester Music “The World” Writers: Kelley Lovelace, Brad Paisley Publishers: EMI Music Publishing, Didn't Have To Be Music, Sea Gayle Music “Want To” Writer: Jennifer Nettles Publisher: Jennifer Nettles Publishing “Wasted” Writer: Hillary Lindsey Publisher: Raylene Music “Wherever You Are” Writer: Jeremy Stover Publishers: Platinum Plow, Warner/Chappell Music Publishing “Why” Writer: John Rich Publishers: Rich Texan Music, Warner/Chappell Music Publishing “Why, Why, Why” Writer: Billy Currington Publishers: Off My Rocker, Universal Music Publishing “You Save Me” Writer: Brett James Publsihers: Dimensional Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Stage Three Songs
