CategoryKey West and FL Keys

Well this was sure a day that I wont forget anytime soon! Mother nature was NOT kind to us at all! First we had to postpone the Kickoff party until 7:30 and then move it to another venue all together! After many hours of rain the Kickoff party and Pier House events were moved to the very small and very pack Conch Republic Seafood Company. I have to give them a lot of credit they did what they could with the lack of notice and amount of people that piled in to see some of their favorite songwriters. I also wish I had taken a selfie of me walking down the streets of Key West in my trash bag since I don’t actually own an umbrella.

Rhett Akins was up first! He played a ton of songs and was on stage for at least 45mins. He played with 3 band mates and 2 borrowed acoustic guitars! How cool is that!

“Rhett Akins is a Valdosta, GA. native who grew up in a close-knit family that supported his musical interests.

One of Rhett’s song demo tapes found its way to the reactivated Decca Records, who quickly signed Rhett to a recording contract and in 1995 released A Thousand Memories to critical acclaim, spawning his first # 1 single, “That Ain’t My Truck”. That success was duplicated the following year with “Don’t Get Me Started” from Somebody New.

Rhett has an impressive 20 career number one singles and cuts by Brooks & Dunn, Frankie Ballard, Darius Rucker, Trace Adkins, and Lee Brice. All of these hits led to Rhett being named BMI’s songwriter of the year twice.  Rhett was named the #4 Billboard Country Songwriter for 2010.  “Honey Bee” became the highest selling digital debut by a country male solo artist.  He has received the Triple Play Award five times for having three number one singles in a twelve-month period.”

Next up was Wendell Mobley & Randy Montana, They were supposed to perform at the Pier house and they were also moved to the Conch Republic Seafood Company. I can’t say enough times that Wendell is one of my favorite songwriters.

“His songs have been at number 1 for 25 weeks and they’ve sold over 60 million records, but Wendell Mobley continues to create refreshing lyrics and melodies for the biggest acts and brightest newcomers. Since making his way from his hometown of Celina, Ohio, Wendell has had huge success with acts including Rascal Flatts (“Take Me There”, “Fast Cars and Freedom”, “I Melt”), Kenny Chesney (“There Goes My Life”, “How Forever Feels”), (“Tattoos On This Town”) and 12 other cuts by Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan “Shut It Down”, Keith Urban, Dustin Lynch, Brantley gilbert, Rodney Atkins, Alabama, Carrie Underwood, Trace Adkins, Lonestar, Reba McEntire, Trisha Yearwood, Montgomery-Gentry, Andy Griggs, Julianne Hough, John Michael Montgomery, the legendary Kenny Rogers and pop star Edwin McCain among many others. Rascal Flatts had a huge hit with his song “Banjo”, the debut single from their last album Changed, which Wendell also wrote the title track for.  He has been showing his range with national ad campaign for Napa Auto Parts, writing and singing their theme song, “Napa Know How”.  Mobley’s most recent single called, “How Country Feels”, also went #1 with the amazingly talented Randy Houser.”

Randy Montana was someone who I had never heard of and won’t forget anytime soon!

“Nashville native, singer-songwriter Randy Montana’s songs are pure, honest, gritty but still manage to be from the heart.  His style clings to the rough edges of country’s musical highway with clear hints of his childhood musical influences intertwined throughout.  Growing up in the “music business” with a successful songwriter father, Billy Montana, he was familiar with the industry and “good music” before attending grade school.  As a child they listened to Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, and Jackson Brown among others.

He has quite the resume of touring, opening for artist such as Taylor Swift, Little Big Town, Sugarland and many others.  And in the songwriting world, having a George Straight cut isn’t too shabby either.  He has also penned songs recorded by David Nail and Parmalee and wrote “What if I Was Willing,” featured the show Nashville. He currently writes for Sony ATV Publishing and is working on an EP to be released in 2016. ”

Next up was Robert Earl Keen, who truly doesn’t need any other introduction … but we will keep it going with the bio’s.

“Over time, Robert Earl Keen has recorded 19 albums and has thousands of shows under his belt and still no end in sight. He has blazed a trail that’s earned him living legend status in the Americana music world. REK has led his road savvy band from coast to coast where they have carved out a place in the Americana pantheon. Keen has sold out performance halls from New York to Nashville to Austin to San Francisco.  In April of 2015, REK was part of the Grammy’s On The Hill Texas delegation to lobby music creator’s rights before Congress. In March 2015, he was presented the very first BMI Troubadour Songwriter’s Songwriter Award. In 2012, he was inducted into the Texas Heritage Songwriters Hall of Fame. It isn’t always easy being Robert Earl Keen, but somebody’s got to do it. And he’s loving every minute of it.”

He was also onstage with Even Stevens & Robert DiPiero who it turns out is the cousin of someone I know! Small World right?

Even Stevens – “Even’s songwriting career spans many stylistic borders, from the international hit, “When You’re In Love With A Beautiful Woman” by rock’s Dr. Hook, to “ I Love A Rainy Night” by longtime partner and superstar, Eddie Rabbitt. He has accumulated an unprecedented 53 BMI Awards, which includes: 14 Pop Awards – 26 Country Awards – 1 Five Millionaire Award – 1 Four Millionaire Award – 1 Three Millionaire Awards – 4 Two Millionaire Awards – and 6 One Millionaire Awards. The Grammy and NSAI Songwriter Hall of Fame nominated composer has written the ACM Best Country Song winner, “Love Will Turn You Around” by Kenny Rogers and won BMI’s coveted Robert J. Burton Award, Song of the Year for “Suspicions” by Eddie Rabbitt, earning him the distinction as a BMI “Songwriter of the Century.”

Bob DiPiero – “Since his first #1 in 1983, Bob DiPiero has been responsible for more than 1,000 cuts by artists, countless singles, and 15 #1 hits. His songs are on TV and in films, including his Oscar and Golden Globe nominated track “Coming Home” from Country Strong. He has 50 BMI Million-Air honors, multiple Songwriter of the Year awards and 2 consecutive Triple Play awards for 3 #1 songs in a 12 month period. Bob is the host and creator of the CMA Songwriters Series, touring Nashville’s finest artists at home and abroad. In 2007, he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriter’s Hall of Fame and Walk of Fame. In 2014 Bob performed at the Country Music Hall of Fame’s “Poets and Prophets Series” as a “Salute to Bob DiPiero.” The CMA presented Bob their Chairman’s Award in recognition of his contributions   to the industry and songwriting community.”

And lastly on my list is Aaron Lewis … who I met and took photos of earlier in the day and had no idea he was performing later tonight at Rick’s/Durty Harry’s.

“In 2011, Staind frontman, Aaron Lewis, formally arrived in the country world with the release of his debut EP, Town Line. Highlighted by the success of gold-selling single “Country Boy” featuring the legendary George Jones and Charlie Daniels, the seven-song EP reached #1 on the Billboard Country Albums Chart and #7 on the Billboard Top 200 upon release. Critical praise followed from the likes of PEOPLE’s Chuck Arnold and the ASSOCIATED PRESS’ Michael McCall. Lewis also received two Academy of Country Music nominations for “Vocal Event of the Year” for “Country Boy” (for his work as artist and as co-producer) as well as two CMT nominations–one for “USA Weekend Breakthrough Video of the Year” and another for “Collaborative Video of the Year.” Now, he’s carrying on a tradition of storytelling and songwriting himself. This new chapter proves cyclical for Lewis, actually bringing him back to the first style of music he ever heard: country music.”