Curb Music at BMI
Curb Music Publishing and BMI Nashville got together recently to share some laughs and lots of music. After a luncheon, publishers Jeff Tweel, Drew Alexander, Brad Kennard and Portis Tanner and songwriters Bobby Tomberlin, Jamie Richards, Jack Sundrud, Billy Montana, Jeremy Campbell, John Barner, Lisa Graham and Gilles Goddard shared demos of new songs and CDs of sneak preview singles.
 (standing) Curb's Jeff Tweel, BMI's Patsy Bradley, songwriters Bobby Tomberlin, Jack Sundrud and Billy Montana, BMI's Perry Howard, songwriters Jeremy Campbell and John Barner, BMI's Paul Corbin, songwriter Lisa Graham, BMI's David Preston, and Curb's Portis Tanner and Brad Kennard; (kneeling) songwriter Gilles Goddard and Curb's Drew Alexander |
Bobby Tomberlin hails from Muscle Shoals, Alabama, an area that has spawned such writers as Walt Aldridge and Mac McAnally. At 12 years of age he began working in country radio and developed a love for its music. In 1990 Bobby moved to Nashville to focus on a career as a writer and has had great success. Bobby wrote the title track and #1 single from Diamond Rio's new album One More Day and Daryl Worley's recent top-10 "A Good Day To Run." "One More Day" is nominated for Song of the Year at the 2001 CMA Awards. Artists who have cut Tomberlin's songs include Chely Wright, Linda Davis, Ty Herndon, Trini Triggs, Billy Dean, Russ Taff and Deana Carter, and he has contributed to three other Diamond Rio albums.
 Melissa Pearce and Bobby Tomberlin, on break from a writing session |  Curb's Portis Tanner and songwriter Jamie Richards |
Billy Montana was first inspired to pick up a guitar as a teenager in rural upstate New York by his musician father. He formed a country/rock band with his brother. In college Billy decided to try music full time and traded studying agriculture at Cornell University for a record deal on Warner Brothers. His 1996 release No Yesterday was acclaimed by such publications as USA Today, Music Row, and Billboard. Montana's songs have been recorded by Tim McGraw, JoDee Messina, Kenny Rogers, Mindy McCready, Bering Strait, LeAnn Womack, Steve Holy and Blake Shelton. He also wrote JoDee Messina's current single, "Bring On The Rain."
 Songwriter Jim Reilley, Curb's Drew Alexander, BMI's Perry Howard, songwriter Jack Sundrud |
Jeremy Campbell moved to Nashville from Bowling Green, Kentucky after winning a six-year battle with bone and lung cancer. While he was in the hospital he learned to play guitar and he says it was those tough times that inspired him to follow his dreams in music. In his first year in Nashville, Campbell has had four major cuts and two singles, including Chalee Tennison's "Go Back." Some of his co-writers include Max T. Barnes, Hal Ketchum, Noah Gordon, Dean Dillon, Dennis Matkowsky and Al Kasha. Campbell writes on keyboard and guitar and is an accomplished drummer, bass player and vocalist.
Lisa Graham is a lyricist who has been writing in Nashville since 1988. Artists who have cut her songs include George Strait, Martina McBride, Alan Jackson, Chris Cagle, Lila McCann, Danielle Alexander, Steve Wariner, Ronnie Milsap, Lisa Brokop, Sawyer Brown, and McBride and The Ride. George Strait's "You Know Me Better Than That" and Steve Wariner's "There For A While" are two her best known songs. Some of Graham's co-writers include Kostas, Tony Martin, Tony Haselden and Ty Herndon.
Gilles Goddard, writer of Ty Herndon's upcoming single, "Heather's Wall," has been coming to Nashville from his native Ontario to write and produce since 1979 and in 1996 he finally made Nashville his permanent home. He has worn many hats in his career as a writer, steel guitarist, artist, producer, and publisher. He has had over 100 cuts throughout his career including a recent single by Patty Loveless, "That's The Kind Of Mood I'm In." Artists who have released Gilles Godard songs as singles include Tracy Byrd, Ty Herndon, Anne Murray, Ricky Skaggs and Lace. Chad Brock, Dan Seals, Emerson Drive, Tamara Walker, Lisa Brokop, Allison Page and Janie Fricke have also cut his songs. He has won and been nominated for numerous CCMA awards throughout his career as an artist, producer and writer.
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