August 15, 2023
Invitation-Only Event at BMI’s Nashville Headquarters to Feature Surprise Tributes and Performances Highlighting ZZ Top Legend
NASHVILLE, TN – Aug. 15, 2023 - BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.) will present Billy F Gibbons, the centerpiece and one third of ZZ Top, with its coveted Troubadour Award during a private reception at BMI’s Nashville office on Monday, Sept. 18th. The prestigious accolade recognizes a songwriter who has made a profound impact on the creative community as their craft continues to set the pace for generations to follow. As the chief songwriter for ZZ Top, Gibbons’ credits include iconic hits such as “Sharp Dressed Man,” “Legs,” “Cheap Sunglasses” and “La Grange,” the lead single from ZZ Top’s Tres Hombres album that catapulted the trio into mainstream success fifty years ago.
“With a career spanning several decades, Billy has penned an array of timeless hits that have left an inedible mark on the music industry,” BMI’s VP of Creative Nashville, Clay Bradley said. “His ability to craft lyrics that resonate with audiences across generations is a testament to his songwriting prowess and he is the epitome of what the BMI Troubadour Award represents.”
Dubbed “Nashville’s most glorious low-key party” (Rolling Stone), the night will include unforgettable tribute performances and commemorative speeches by special guests during cocktail reception and dinner. Gibbons joins the ranks of past Troubadour Award recipients including John Hiatt, John Prine, Robert Earl Keen and Lucinda Williams. Falling on the eve of AMERICANAFEST, the night serves as a homecoming for BMI’s Americana family of artists and is sponsored by George Dickel Bourbon and WP Global.
Gibbons has been an essential part of the American musical landscape since ZZ Top’s formation in 1969. Regarded as one of the world’s finest guitarist players, ZZ Top’s signature sound can be credited to Gibbons’ distinct style that has resonated throughout all genres. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band has released 15 studio albums while selling more than 50 million records worldwide.
ABOUT BMI:
Celebrating over 80 years of service to songwriters, composers, music publishers and businesses, Broadcast Music, Inc.® (BMI®) is a global leader in music rights management, serving as an advocate for the value of music. BMI represents the public performance rights in over 20.6 million musical works created and owned by more than 1.3 million songwriters, composers, and music publishers. The Company negotiates music license agreements and distributes the fees it generates as royalties to its affiliated writers and publishers when their songs are performed in public. In 1939, BMI created a groundbreaking open-door policy becoming the only performing rights organization to welcome and represent the creators of blues, jazz, country, and American roots music. Today, the musical compositions in BMI’s repertoire, from chart toppers to perennial favorites, span all genres of music and are consistently among the most-performed hits of the year. For additional information and the latest BMI news, visit bmi.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @BMI or stay connected through Broadcast Music, Inc.‘s Facebook page. Sign up for BMI’s The Weekly™ and receive our e-newsletter every week to stay up to date on all things music.
