‘Cowboy’ Rides to the Peak
Songwriters Al Anderson, Jeffrey Steele and Craig Wiseman and Curb artist Tim McGraw were the guests of honor at a #1 party hosted by BMI Nashville to celebrate "The Cowboy In Me" (5/6). Published by Songs of Windswept Pacific, Gottahaveable Music, and Stairway To Bittner's Music, the single is the first #1 for BMI writers Anderson and Steele, who collaboratively penned BMI Country Award winners "Big Deal" (Leann Rimes) and "Unbelievable" (Diamond Rio).
 BMI's Paul Corbin, producer Byron Gallimore, Craig Wiseman, Tim McGraw, Al Anderson, Jeffrey Steele and BMI's David Preston. |
Steele is also enjoying radio spins with his current single "Good To Go," from his second Monument Records album (the as-yet untitled project will be released later this year, as a follow-up to his debut Somethin' In The Water). Winner of multiple BMI Country, Pop and Million-Air honors, Steele has written for other top acts including John Michael Montgomery ("Hello L-O-V-E"), Trace Adkins ("I'm Trying") and Collin Raye ("Couldn't Last A Moment"). Steele previously scored as the lead singer of the band Boy Howdy, penning the BMI Country Award-winning "They Don't Make 'Em Like That Anymore" and "She'd Give Anything."
 rpm management's Scott Siman, BMI's Joyce Rice, Tim McGraw |
Anderson, 2000 BMI Country Songwriter of the Year, has written for artists of many genres, including Trisha Yearwood ("Powerful Thing"), Irma Thomas ("Love Don't Change"), Delbert McClinton ("Blues About You Baby"), Asleep At The Wheel ("In My Dreams") and Patty Loveless ("Last Thing On My Mind"). A 24-year veteran of the cult act NRBQ, he was named one of the top 100 guitar players of the 20th century by the editors of Musician Magazine.
 Lari White, Jeffrey Steele |
 BMI's David Gleason, Craig Wiseman, Almo-Irving Music's Kimberly Gleason |
 This award-guarding shih-tzu definitely has the cowboy in him. |
photos by Beth Gwinn
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