Tickets are $50 each; all proceeds go to The Performer's Benefit Fund. For tickets and more information call 615.822.4100 or visit goldenvoiceawards.com.

Congratulations to BMI's Golden Voice Award Nominees:

Entertainer
Bobby Bare
Roy Clark
Jimmy Dean
Ray Price

Songwriter of the Year
Jerry Chesnut
Hank Cochran
Freddie Hart
Willie Nelson

Male Golden Voice
Bobby Bare
John Conlee
Ray Price
Leroy Van Dyke

Female Golden Voice
Donna Fargo
Goldie Hill
Melba Montgomery
Jan Howard
Jeanne Pruett

Golden Voice Group
Carol Lee Singers
Glaser Brothers
Oak Ridge Boys
Riders in the Sky
Statler Brothers

Bluegrass Golden Voice
Country Gentlemen
J.D. Crowe
Del McCoury
Ralph Stanley
Larry Stephenson

Radio Personality
Bill Mack

Golden Voice Legacy
Lefty Frizzell
Roger Miller
Johnny Russell
Hank Snow
Conway Twitty

Career Achievement
Martha Carson
Jimmy Dean
Freddie Hart
Sonny James

Musician Category Nominees
Pete Wade
Tim Atwood
John Hughey
Earl White
Gene Chrisman

BMI's Bradley Collins and Joyce Rice, Sony/ATV's Donna Hilley, Jerry Chesnut and BMI's David Preston. photo by Brian Tipton

Sony/ATV Music president Donna Hilley praised one of Music Row's "Founding Fathers," whose catalog remains one of the most valuable in the company. Chesnut's songs are currently in the marketplace on more than 300 CDs, with many certified Gold and Platinum.

Among his classics are "T-R-O-U-B-L-E," "Four In the Morning," "A Good Year For the Roses," "It's Midnight," "Oney," "Woman Without Love," "Good Time Charley" and "The Wonders You Perform." The list of the hundred+ artists who have recorded his music is stellar and diverse: Elvis Presley, George Jones, Dolly Parton, Tom Jones, George Strait, Kitty Wells, Buddy Knox, Carol Channing, Travis Tritt, Elvis Costello, Wayne Newton, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Tammy Wynette, Jerry Lee Lewis, Brook Benton, Alan Jackson, Marty Robbins, Lorretta Lynn and Hank Williams, Jr.

A native of Loyall, Kentucky and a former railroad conductor, Chesnut moved to Nashville in 1958 and scored his first major hit in 1967 with "A Dime At a Time," recorded by Del Reeves. His first #1 was the Grammy-nominated "Another Place, Another Time," recorded by Jerry Lee Lewis. In his career he has collected nearly two dozen performance honors from BMI, including double Million-Air status for "T-R-O-U-B-L-E." The first Lifetime Member of NSAI, Chesnut joined the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1996.]]> 2003-01-23T17:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/200126 Artists, Cannon, Chuck, Chesnut, Jerry, Hicks, James Dean, Keith, Toby, Steele, Jeffrey, Musical Styles, Country, Type, Important, International Singer/songwriter Toby Keith became the first donor to the Nashville Songwriters Association International�s newly-created �Artist Endowment" fund, formalized during a reception honoring Keith at BMI Nashville on September 18. Keith�s $10,000 contribution to NSAI will help fund the organization�s efforts to fight for copyright protection throughout the world.

BMI's Roger Sovine; Dreamworks Records Nashville's James Stroud; Toby Keith; Marijohn Wilkin; Mark Alan Springer; Chuck Cannon; NSAI's Bart Herbison

�We are honored that Toby became the first contributor to the NSAI Artist Endowment fund,� said NSAI President Mark Alan Springer. �Toby is a great songwriter and it is only fitting that a fellow writer be the first NSAI Artist Endowment donor. Toby recognizes the important work we do to protect copyrights and to assist aspiring songwriters throughout the world.�

Jerry Chesnut, with his 2 Million-Air certificate for "T-R-O-U-B-L-E", and BMI's David Preston

BMI's Thomas Cain and Max D. Barnes

Since his 1993 debut single, "Should�ve Been a Cowboy," the Oklahoma native has racked up his share of mainstream success, both on radio and in record stores. He�s scored six #1 Country hits (including "Cowboy") and earned nominations for Grammy, ACM and CMA awards. He has collected BMI Country Awards as a writer and publisher (Tokeco Tunes) for "Cowboy," "Who's That Man," "Wish I Didn't Know Now," "You Ain't Much Fun," "Me, Too," "He Ain't Worth Missin," "Blue Moon" (all Million-Airs) and "Dream Walkin."

BMI's Harry Warner, Harold Shedd and Toby Keith

BMI's Roger Sovine, Keith's frequent co-writer, Chuck Cannon ("How Do You Like Me Now?!", "Getcha Some") and Dreamworks Records Nashville executive James Stroud joined Herbison and Springer for introductory remarks before Keith presented the check to NSAI, with founding board member Marijohn Wilkin accepting.

Hillary Kanter and Even Stevens

AmSouth's Lisa Harless, James Dean Hicks and Becky Hobbs

All artists who participate in the Artist Endowment program will be permanently honored with a plaque recognizing their contribution. Additionally they will be awarded a �Lifetime Membership� in the organization.

Chuck Cannon with T. K. Kimbrell of TKO Management

Russ Zavitson, Mark Alan Springer and Tony Haselden

�NSAI has achieved some significant copyright protection victories this year,� said NSAI Executive Director Barton Herbison. �From exempting songwriter royalties from a proposed 6% state tax on the self employed, to ensuring that writers are compensated for the use of their works on the Internet, NSAI has served as the �songwriters� voice� on a variety of fronts.�

Liz Hengber, Lari White and Victoria Shaw

Jeffrey Steele and Craig Wiseman

In January 2001, the Nashville Songwriters Association International will change its name to the �National Songwriters Association.� With more than 100 chapters located throughout the United States and 12,000 current or past members, the National Songwriters Association will put even greater emphasis and resources into its efforts to protect songwriter copyrights and assist aspiring songwriters throughout the United States and the world.

For more information check out NashvilleSongwriters.com.