Photo credit: Moments by Moser
It was a night of surprises, tributes and celebration as Leadership Music staged its 10th Dale Franklin Awards presented by BMLG last night (Nov. 16th) by honoring industry giants Jo Walker-Meador, Steve Buchanan and Reba McEntire. Attended by more than 400 Music Row well-wishers, the event was held for the first time in the Country Music Hall of Fame’s CMA Theater. The Dale Franklin Awards are named for Leadership Music’s founding executive director, the late Dale Franklin. Hosted by Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott, the presentation of the awards was punctuated with video tributes and musical performances from a variety of artists including Alabama, Mac Davis, Trisha Yearwood, the cast of the ABC-TV show, Nashville, Ronnie Dunn, Martina McBride, and Don Schlitz. “This is like a family reunion for me,” Scott proclaimed, referring to the artists and executives in attendance.
The Dale Franklin Award was presented to entertainment icon, Reba McEntire, celebrating her 40th anniversary in the music business. The visibly-moved McEntire accepted her award from Ronnie Dunn and her race-car driver son, Shelby, who had flown in just for the event, and whose appearance was a surprise to his mother. Martina McBride and Hillary Scott performed a powerful duet of “Does He Love You,” with Scott assuming the role her mother, Linda Davis, who sang on the original chart-topping single with McEntire. Trisha Yearwood stunned the audience with her version of “Fancy,” and Dunn performed one of McEntire’s favorite songs, “Keep on Loving You.”
Leadership Music unveiled a new award, the Founding Council Award, presented to CMA’s long-serving executive director, Jo Walker-Meador. The award honors those in the music industry whose legacy is undeniable-the risk takers, trailblazers, creators and entrepreneurs and those who leave an indelible imprint on the industry. Walker-Meador is credited with spearheading the worldwide growth of country music from 1958 through the early 1990s. The Country Music Hall of Fame member has continued to serve as a leading ambassador for the genre throughout the world. In presenting the award, Brenda Lee serenaded Walker-Meador with “Unforgettable,” before being joined by Garth Brooks to hand off the crystal trophy. Alabama and Mac Davis offered songs in tribute.
Opry Entertainment Group President Steve Buchanan was presented with the Brian Williams Ambassador Award. Formerly known as the Bridge Award, the award was renamed for beloved Music Row banker and Leadership Music visionary, Brian Williams, in 2009. The award is given to those individuals who bridge and help strengthen the ties between the Nashville music and business communities. Buchanan has spent most of his career with the Opry Entertainment Group, starting at the Ryman Auditorium before moving to the Grand Ole Opry before being named president of Opry Entertainment Group. Don Schlitz, who has known the recipient since Buchanan was a student at Vanderbilt, debuted a new song, “The Ryman.” Six members of the cast of ABC-TV’s Nashville, which Buchanan created, performed “I Have a Life That’s Good,” before Nashville producer Callie Khouri and college friend, Ken Levitan, presented the award.
Previous Leadership Music Dale Franklin Award honorees include: Tony Brown (2004), Gerry House (2005), Emmylou Harris (2006), Frances W. Preston (2007), The Bradley Family: Owen (posthumously), Harold, Jerry, Connie and Patsy (2008), Garth Brooks, Jim Foglesong and Allen Reynolds (2009), Fred Foster, Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson (2010), CMA (2011) and Charlie Daniels, Vince Gill and Alabama’s Randy Owen (2012). Mayor Karl Dean was named the Brian Williams Ambassador Award recipient in 2010.
The event was sponsored by BMLG, City National Bank, CMA, ACM, Ryman Hospitality, SESAC, CAA, Avenue Bank, Radio Music Licensing Committee, and Country Music Hall of Fame. Tangible Vision produced the tribute concert.
Attached Photo: (l. to r.) Debbie Linn, Leadership Music Executive Director; Reba McEntire; Opry Entertainment Group President Steve Buchanan; Former CMA Executive Director Jo Walker-Meador; Nashville Mayor Megan Barry; Mike Craft, Leadership Music President and BMLG VP Finance.
Leadership Music
is an educational non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to nurture a knowledgeable, issue-oriented community of music industry professionals through an annual educational program and events. This is accomplished through the identification and exploration of topical issues in an annual series of off-the-record educational seminars (the Program), and continued alumni nurturing and education. Over the past 26 years, Leadership Music has graduated more than 1000 music industry-related executives.
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