Billy Joe Shaver http://www.bmi.com/affiliate/rss/C682 This BMI RSS feed contains news articles, events, and musicworld articles for a specific affiliate or group. en affiliates@bmi.com Copyright 2008 2008-10-07T01:00:00-05:00 John Hiatt to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award from AMA http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/536521 Cash, Rosanne, Clapton, Eric, Hiatt, John, King, B.B., Nelson, Willie, Prine, John, Shaver, Billy Joe, Singer-Songwriter BMI singer/songwriter John Hiatt will receive the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting from the Americana Music Association at the organization's annual award ceremony September 18 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. As a Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting honoree, Hiatt joins an elite list that includes Willie Nelson, Rodney Crowell, Cowboy Jack Clement, Guy Clark, John Prine and Billy Joe Shaver.

John Hiatt's deep catalog includes many American staples. A true writer's writer, Hiatt has penned songs recorded by legends including Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, Three Dog Night, Iggy Pop, Rosanne Cash, Eric Clapton, B.B. King and Willie Nelson. Hiatt has joined Guy Clark, Joe Ely and Lyle Lovett on an acoustic tour, and his upcoming album Same Old Man promises more signature Hiatt observations and inviting self-reflections.

The Americana Honors and Awards ceremony will toast the eclectic genre's best, feature live performances and serve as the resounding conclusion of the Americana Music Conference and Festival, September 17-20 in Nashville.

For more information on the Americana Music Association, please visit www.americanamusic.org.

The Americana Music Association is a professional trade organization whose mission is to provide a forum for the advocacy of Americana music and to promote public awareness of the genre. The Americana Music Association works closely with artists, labels, radio stations, retailers, print media, festivals, agents, publishers and more to help organize and build the infrastructure necessary for the Americana genre to achieve success both creatively and financially.

]]> 2008-04-28T19:02:00-05:00 BMI Writers Morgan, Shaver and Hart Join Nashville Hall of Fame http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/234243 November, Alexander, Jessi, Anderson, Bill, Beavers, Brett, Bryant, Del, Cannon, Chuck, DiPiero, Bob, Emerick, Scotty, Hall, Tom T., Keith, Toby, Kristofferson, Kris, Lee, David, Mobley, Wendell, Nichols, Tim, Nichols, Tim, Preston, Frances, Randall, Jon, Regan, Bob, Shaver, Billy Joe, Slater, James, Thrasher, Neil, Train, Urban, Keith, Wiseman, Craig, Country, Urban, International Billy Joe Shaver and Freddie Hart are the newest members of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Morgan, Shaver and Hart, along with Guy Clark, were inducted November 7 during annual ceremonies hosted by the Nashville Songwriters Foundation at Loews Vanderbilt Plaza Hotel in Nashville.

NSF Board member David Conrad, NSF Chairman Mark Alan Springer, Dennis Morgan, BMI's Frances Preston, Freddie Hart, Billy Joe Shaver, BMI's Del Bryant, and Kris Kristofferson

Keith Urban, Jessica Andrews, Marcel and James Slater saluted Morgan, whose hits include "Smoky Mountain Rain," "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool," "I Wouldn't Have Missed It For the World," "Nobody" and "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me). NSF Board member David Conrad made the presentation to Morgan.

Craig Wiseman and Tim Nichols celebrate their Song of the Year win for �Live Like You Were Dying�

Kris Kristofferson and Joe Ely led the celebration for Shaver, whose classics include "Good Christian Soldier," "I Been To Georgia On a Fast Train," "Old Five and Dimers," "I'm Just an Old Chunk of Coal" and "Live Forever." Tom T. Hall gave the induction speech.

Scotty Emerick accepts NSAI Songwriter of Year honors President Emeritus Frances Preston was recognized for her longtime support of NSAI and NSF

After an introduction by Bill Anderson, T. Graham Brown reprised Hart's classic "Easy Lovin'," while Freddy Weller, Jim Casey and Dickey Lee performed the Hart hits "Bless Your Heart," "My Hang-Up Is You," "If You Can't Feel It (It Ain't There)" and "The Want-Tos."

�Whiskey Lullaby�: Bill Anderson, NSAI President Bob Regan, Jon Randall

In conjunction with the Hall of Fame inductions, the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) conferred a series of Songwriter Achievement Awards, with the top songwriter prizes won by BMI affiliates. The writing duo of Scotty Emerick and Toby Keith placed a pair of Keith songs among the top 40 vote-getters ("Beer for My Horses" and "I Love This Bar") to earn Songwriter of the Year for Emerick and Songwriter/Artist of the Year for Keith. BMI affiliate Tim Nichols accepted the Song of the Year prize for "Live Like You Were Dying," an honor he shared with his co-writer, Craig Wiseman.

It�s Five O�Clock Somewhere�: Jim Brown, Bob Regan, Don Rollins

Besides honoring the Song, Songwriter and Songwriter/Artist of the Year, the writers of NSAI's Professional Songwriters Division also singled out 10 songs and their writers for its 2004 Achievement Awards (using the criteria of "The Songs I Wish I'd Written").

�Letters From Home�: Tony Lane, Bob Regan, David Lee

BMI recipients were Don Rollins for "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere," David Lee for "Letters From Home," Tim Nichols for "Live Like You Were Dying," Gary Duffey and Buck Moore for "Paint Me a Birmingha," Wendell Mobley for "There Goes My Life," Brett Beavers for "What Was I Thinkin'," and Bill Anderson and Jon Randall for "Whiskey Lullaby."

�Paint Me a Birmingham�: Buck Moore, Bob Regan, Gary Duffey

�There Goes My Life�: Neil Thrasher, Bob Regan, Wendell Mobley

�What Was I Thinkin��: Bob Regan, Brett Beavers

Keith Urban and surprise guest Ronnie Milsap

BMI�s Phil Graham with Billy Joe Shaver and Joe Ely

Chuck Cannon, Sony�s Tracy Gershon, Jon Randall, Lari White, Jessi Alexander, Beth Nielsen Chapman

Sony�s John Grady, Bob DiPiero, Scotty Emerick, Russ Emerick, Rivers Rutherford

Photos by Kay Williams]]> 2004-11-07T17:00:00-05:00 Loretta Lynn Top Winner at Americana Honors & Awards Show http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/234217 Artists, Lynn, Loretta, Shaver, Billy Joe, Smith, Mindy Loretta Lynn was the night's big winner at the 2004 Americana Honors & Awards Show in Nashville. Among other BMI-affiliated winners were newcomer Mindy Smith, named New/Emerging Artist of the Year, and Will Kimbrough, recognized as Best Instrumentalist. Also during the ceremony, Lifetime Achievement Awards were issued to Chris Hillman (performer) and Cowboy Jack Clement (songwriter). The Carter Family was the recipient of the President's Award.

Mindy Smith performs Loretta Lynn Chris Hillman
mindy smith photo: Adam Menter for echomusic.com
chris hillman photo: echomusic.com

The Americana Honors & Awards Show was held at the 5th annual Americana Music Association Conference in Nashville, where registrants enjoyed Americana artist showcases, panels and other events.

Billy Joe Shaver presents the New/Emerging Artist award to Mindy Smith. photo: Mark Montgomery for echomusic.com

Lorrie Bennett, Janette Carter, Rita Forrester and Carlene Carter accept the President's Award. photo: echomusic.com

Jack Clement and Americana Music Association Executive Director J.D. May. photo: echomusic.com

Will Kimbrough gives thanks after being named Instrumentalist of the Year. photo: Adam Menter for echomusic.com

Congratulations to BMI's Americana Honors & Awards winners:

Album of the Year
Loretta Lynn
Van Lear Rose

Artist of the Year
Loretta Lynn

Instrumentalist of the Year
Will Kimbrough

New/Emerging Artist of the Year
Mindy Smith

Lifetime Achievement Performer
Chris Hillman

Lifetime Achievement Songwriter
Cowboy Jack Clement

President's Award
The Carter Family]]> 2004-10-17T18:00:00-05:00 Billy Joe Shaver Honored at 65th Birthday Bash http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/234184 Artists, Shaver, Billy Joe, Musical Styles, Country Billy Joe Shaver, on the eve of the release of his new album Billy and the Kid, celebrated his 65th birthday in Austin, Texas with a show billed as the "Billy Joe Shaver Birthday Bash" at the city's Paramount Theater. Friends who paid tribute to Shaver included Todd Snider, Bruce Robison, Kelly Willis, Jack Ingram, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Joe Ely and Robert Duvall.

Seen wishing Shaver (center) a happy 65th birthday are Texas Music Office Director Casey Monohan, who surprised him with a letter of thanks from Texas Governor Rick Perry, and BMI's Jill McGuckin, who presented Shaver with a Special Citation of Appreciation recognizing his many contributions to the world of music.

photo by Lynne Margolis]]> 2004-09-16T18:00:01-05:00 Praises for Lauderdale at Americana Awards http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/233168 Artists, Douglas, Jerry, Krauss, Alison, Lauderdale, Jim, Sahm, Doug, Shaver, Billy Joe, Stanley, Ralph Jim Lauderdale claimed two top honors at the inaugural Americana Awards show, held September 13 in Nashville during the Americana Music Association's third annual conference. Lauderdale was named Artist of the Year and also won Song of the Year kudos for "She's Looking At Me," which he recorded with Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys on the album, Lost In the Lonesome Pines. The DualTone recording artist also has another album currently on the Americana chart, a solo effort entitled The Hummingbirds. Lauderdale will soon reprise his role as George Jones in the musical Stand By Your Man: The Tammy Wynette Story, for which he won a 2001 Tennessean Theatre Award. The show returns to the Ryman Auditorium September 19 through October 26.


Ralph Stanley and Jim Lauderdale
T Bone Burnett

Dobro master Jerry Douglas, who performs solo and as a featured member of Alison Krauss + Union Station, received the Instrumentalist of the Year title.


Jerry Douglas
Doug Sahm
Billy Joe Shaver

The AMA also presented lifetime achievement awards in several categories. Singer/songwriter T Bone Burnett, who produced the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack, won in the executive's category and the late Doug Sahm became the first recipient of the organization's President's Award. Billy Joe Shaver picked up a Lifetime Achievement award in the songwriter category; his next album, on Compadre Records, will be released this November.

]]> 2002-09-19T18:00:00-05:00 NSF Composes List of Hall of Fame Finalists http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/233003 November, Everly, Don, Henley, Larry, Linde, Dennis, Russell, Johnny, Shaver, Billy Joe, Williams, Hank, Country, Pop November 4. BMI songwriters earned 12 of the 15 nominations, including all in the "Songwriter/Artist Pre-1981" field.

BMI nominees in the "Songwriters Pre-1971" division are Jim Anglin ("Ashes of Love," "Down South In New Orleans," "Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide"); Johnny Russell ("Act Naturally," "Let’s Fall To Pieces Together," "Making Plans") and Nat Stuckey ("Pop A Top," "Sweet Thang," "Waitin’ In Your Welfare Line")

BMI contenders in the "Songwriters 1971-1981" category are Larry Henley ("Wind Beneath My Wings," “’Til I Get It Right," "Lizzie and the Rain Man"), Dennis Linde ("Callin’ Baton Rouge," "Burnin’ Love," "John Deere Green"), Layng Martine Jr. ("The Greatest Man I Never Knew," "Rub It In," "Way Down") and Dennis Morgan ("I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool," "I Wouldn’t Have Missed It For the World," "Smoky Mountain Rain")

Competing for the "Songwriter/Artist Pre-1981" award are BMI affiliates Phil and Don Everly ("When Will I Be Loved," "Cathy’s Clown," "So Sad"), Freddie Hart ("Easy Lovin’," "My Hang Up Is You," "Loose Talk"), Jerry Reed ("Amos Moses," "East Bound and Down," "When You’re Hot, You’re Hot"), Billy Joe Shaver ("I’m Just an Old Chunk of Coal," "Old Five and Dimers Like Me," "You Asked Me To") and Hank Williams Jr. ("All My Rowdy Friends Have Settled Down," "Family Tradition," "A Country Boy Can Survive").

]]> 2001-08-05T18:00:00-05:00 Happy Day for Keith Whitley’s http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/200104 Artists, Haggard, Merle, Hall, Tom T., Krauss, Alison, Nelson, Willie, Shaver, Billy Joe, Whitley, Keith, Wright, Mark, Musical Styles, Bluegrass, Country Rounder Records celebrated the release of a new album from the late Keith Whitley during a reception at BMI Nashville (9/20). Sad Songs and Waltzes is a collection of previously released and never-before-released tracks recorded for Rounder between 1981 and 1983. Drenched in the echoes of classic hardcore honky-tonk influences (Frizzell, Jones, Haggard), the music on Sad Songs and Waltzes predated and doubtlessly influenced the acclaimed "New Traditionalist" movement that reinvigorated country music in the late 1980s. The performances here are arguably the most resonant and emotional of Whitley's entire career: classic country imbued with his own unique sense of twang and timing. Available on CD for the first time, they have been remixed and overdubbed for reissue by original producer J. D. Crowe.


Dirk Johnson, Steve Chandler, Gene Johnson, Jeff White, Dale Ann Bradley, J. D. Crowe, Steve Gulley and Doug Jernigan

In addition to all of 1982's Somewhere Between album -- the record that introduced Whitley -- Sad Songs and Waltzes boasts five previously unreleased cuts, including the four demos that landed Whitley his record deal with RCA. Longtime Whitley admirer Alison Krauss contributes harmonies to the new project, as does noted writer/performer Carl Jackson, Diamond Rio's Gene Johnson, Dale Ann Bradley, Jeff White and Steve Gulley of bluegrass band Mountain Heart. Among the songwriters included are Lefty Frizzell, Whitey Shafer, Billy Joe Shaver, Mark Wright, Lewis Anderson, Glenn Martin, Merle Haggard, Kix Brooks, Willie Nelson and Tom T. Hall.


David Skepner and BMI's Patsy Bradley
Carson Chamberlain, Rounder Records' Ken Irwin and Brad Paul


J. D. Crowe, BMI's Roger Sovine, Tom T. Hall and Rounder's Ken Irwin

photos by Beth Gwinn

]]> 2000-10-01T18:00:00-05:00