The Nashville Songwriter Association International (NSAI) recently announced their top 10 songwriters and top 5 songwriter/artists nominees for the hall of fame. Two of the 10 songwriter finalists will be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
The finalists are
- Pat Alger ("The Thunder Rolls")
- Larry Henley ("The Wind Beneath My Wings")
- Mark James ("Suspicious Minds")
- Mac McAnally ("Old Flame")
- Bob Morrison ("You Decorated My Life")
- Gary Nicholson ("One More Last Chance")
- Hugh Prestwood ("Ghost in This House")
- Thom Schuyler ("16th Avenue")
- John Scott Sherrill ("Wild and Blue")
- Jim Weatherly ("Midnight Train to Georgia")
There isn't a person who listens to country or popular music who hasn't heard a song by one of the nominated songwriters. Country fans have and continue to hear the work of many of these writers, particularly Hugh Prestwood, who also wrote Collin Raye's ("On The Verge" as well as Mac McAnally who's written many songs that have been recorded by many successful artists, most notably Sawyer Brown. Gary Nicholson, Mac McAnally and John Scott Sherrill all have been successful producers in their career.
The five nominees in the songwriter/artist category are the late Arthur Alexander ("You Better Move On"), Jimmy Buffett ("Margaritaville"), J.J. Cale ("After Midnight"), John Hiatt ("Have a Little Faith in Me") and Tony Joe White ("Rainy Night in Georgia"). One of five songwriter/artists will be inducted into the hall of fame. Something of note here is the fact that Both J.J. Cale and John Hiatt have seen their songs recorded by country artists, particularly Hiatt who's "Drive South" was a big hit for Suzy Bogguss.
The common thread that all of these songwriters have is a unique ability to tell a story. It's a story style that is perfected in 3 minutes and many of each of these writers songs will continue to be played long after they have passed away. That's the hope and goal of every amateur songwriter, people who are supported by NSAI.
In the coming weeks we will profile some of the writers nomintated for this honor.
