SONGWRITER AND LONGTIME HOST OF CMA SONGWRITERS SERIES BOB DIPIERO PRESENTED WITH CMA CHAIRMAN’S AWARD
NASHVILLE – A member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame and longtime host of the popular CMA Songwriters Series, Bob DiPiero’s many contributions to the music industry and songwriting community were recognized today during the CMA Board of Directors meeting in Nashville when DiPiero was presented the CMA Chairman’s Award by CMA Board Chairman Ed Hardy.
“Bob has been a creative force and passionate supporter of songwriters and the CMA Songwriters Series in the U.S. and in Europe – expanding the genre and creating new fans everywhere he goes,” Hardy said. “Bob is highly regarded as a songwriter, but serving with him on the CMA Board, I have a much deeper appreciation for his business acumen, his absolute dedication to the creative process, and his trademark sense of humor.”
“This award is truly a highlight of my ongoing career,” said DiPiero. “To be awarded this by Ed Hardy in front of the CMA Board members humbles me. The dream goes on.”
The Chairman’s Award is given annually at the discretion of the Chairman of the Board. At the presentation, Hardy praised DiPiero’s leadership and tireless efforts on behalf of the format and CMA Songwriters Series, which celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2014.
One of Nashville’s most consistent and prolific hit writers, DiPiero has penned 15 No. 1 songs including his first in 1983 by the Oak Ridge Boys (“American Made”), to chart-toppers recorded by Tim McGraw (“Southern Voice”), George Strait (“Blue Clear Sky”), and Easton Corbin (“Lovin’ You Is Fun”). An impressive list of artists have cut songs by DiPiero including Billy Ray Cyrus, Vince Gill, Faith Hill, Ronnie Milsap, Montgomery Gentry, Reba, Marty Stuart, and Pam Tillis. DiPiero has two CMA Triple Play Awards to his credit (1995, 1996) and is an esteemed member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (inducted 2007). He has been hosting the CMA Songwriters Series since its inception at Joe’s Pub in New York City in 2005.
Throughout the last decade, the CMA Songwriters Series has been exposing fans across the country and the globe to the artisans who, through their craft, pen hits that touch the lives of millions of music fans. Since it began at Joe’s Pub, the CMA Songwriters Series has presented 90 shows in 15 cities, including Austin, Boston, Belfast, Chicago, Dublin, London, Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Phoenix, and Washington, D.C. at the renowned Library of Congress.
The series has featured 138 of music’s most gifted storytellers who collectively have 75 CMA Song of the Year nominations.
Some of the artists that have been part of the series include Clint Black, Kix Brooks, Kenny Chesney, Billy Currington, Randy Houser, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Patty Loveless, Milsap, Kip Moore, David Lee Murphy, Gretchen Peters, Kellie Pickler, Darius Rucker, The Band Perry, Josh Turner, Carrie Underwood, Phil Vassar, and Chris Young.
Founded in 1958, the Country Music Association was the first trade organization formed to promote a type of music. In 1961, CMA created the Country Music Hall of Fame to recognize artists and industry professionals with Country Music’s highest honor. More than 7,400 music industry professionals and companies from around the globe are members of CMA. The organization’s objectives are to serve as an educational and professional resource for the industry and advance the growth of Country Music around the world. This is accomplished through CMA’s core initiatives: the CMA Awards, which annually recognize outstanding achievement in the industry; CMA Music Festival, which benefits music education and is taped for a three-hour TV special; and “CMA Country Christmas,” featuring Country artists performing original music and Christmas classics. All of CMA’s television properties will air on the ABC Television network through 2021.