Vince Gill honored as BMI Icon

Eleven years ago at the CMA Awards, Vince Gill stood onstage and sang a wistful Music City tribute called "Young Man's Town."

"Just teach 'em what you know, and pass it on down," he sang. "'Cause man, you gotta face it, it's a young man's town."

And it is, sort of. It's the under-40 set that tends to dominate the radio airwaves, and many of the 50 songs that received notice as country's most-performed hits during Tuesday night's 62nd annual Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) country awards were about young romance and a carefree lifestyle that's hard to maintain in later years.

But on Tuesday, 57-year-old Gill was the toast of this young man's town. Hundreds of music industry members rose to their feet in salute as Gill received a BMI Icon award, an accolade that doesn't go to young men. The Icon prize puts him in the company of past honorees including Dolly Parton, Kris Kristofferson, Tom T. Hall and Merle Haggard.

"Long live the old guys," he said. "I are one. I look at the past recipients of this award, and it's pretty heavy. It's amazing people. There are so many people who mentored me and inspired me, and it's a little overwhelming."

Gill's friends Keith Urban, Ashley Monroe and Michael McDonald sang for Gill, with Urban performing "I Still Believe In You" and "Liza Jane," Monroe delivering ballad "Whenever You Come Around" and McDonald offering an emotional take on Gill's "When I Call Your Name."

"I Still Believe In You" and "When I Call Your Name" won CMA Song of the Year trophies in the 1990s.

With writing credits on seven of BMI's 50 most-performed songs of the past year — including Blake Shelton's "Boys Round Here," Billy Currington's "Hey Girl," "Chris Young's "I Can Take It From There," Jason Aldean's "When She Says Baby," Lee Brice's "Parking Lot Party," Justin Moore's "Point At You" and son Thomas Rhett's "It Goes Like This" — Rhett Akins took home the Songwriter of the Year award.

"It has been an incredible year," Akins said. "I got to write a lot of hit songs. But I'm most proud of writing a song with and for my son, Thomas Rhett."

Song of the Year went to "Wagon Wheel," which Ketch Secor of Old Crow Medicine Show based on a little-heard Bob Dylan melody. Old Crow Medicine Show's version sold more than a million copies, but BMI's top song designation is based on Darius Rucker's hit version of the song, which went No. 1 on country radio and sold more than 2.5 million copies.

"It's the 'Bob' magic ju-ju," Secor said. "I feel like I'm here tonight because Bob was here. He helped this whole city along, and everybody here owes a debt of gratitude to Bob Dylan."

Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville won BMI's Publisher of the Year prize for the 13th consecutive year, and the 38th time in BMI's history. Sony/ATV published 28 of BMI's top 50 most-performed songs.

BMI President and CEO Mike O'Neill hosted the ceremony with BMI Nashville Vice President Jody Williams and BMI Nashville Assistant Vice President Clay Bradley.

Peter Cooper can be reached at 615-259-8220 or on Twitter @TNMusicNews

TOP WINNERS

BMI Icon: Vince Gill

BMI Country Songwriter of the Year: Rhett Akins

BMI Song of the Year: "Wagon Wheel," written by Ketch Secor, published by Blood Donor Music; recorded by Darius Rucker

BMI Publisher of the Year: Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville