Family Of Country Music Hall of Famer
Hank Cochran Launch The Pen Fund In His Honor
Fund To Aid Songwriters Diagnosed With Pancreatic Cancer,
Further Research & More
Nashville, TN (May 20, 2015) – The family of Country Music Hall of Fame member and award-winning singer/songwriter Hank Cochran has launched The Pen Fund in his honor. In conjunction with the Nashville-based non-profit organization, The Nikki Mitchell Foundation, Hank’s widow Suzi Cochran and daughter Booth Calder hope The Pen Fund will
aid songwriters with Pancreatic Cancer, support awareness, and further
cutting-edge breakthroughs in research and development for the early
detection and treatment of the disease. To donate to The Pen Fund, go to www.thepenfund.org or log on your PayPal Account.
aid songwriters with Pancreatic Cancer, support awareness, and further
cutting-edge breakthroughs in research and development for the early
detection and treatment of the disease. To donate to The Pen Fund, go to www.thepenfund.org or log on your PayPal Account.
“Hank loved songwriting, and he loved other songwriters,” recalls his daughter Booth, Co-Founder of The Pen Fund.
“He passed that love on to me, and that gave me an incredible drive to
help others. Writers give up so much, and we believe that they deserve
help, especially when facing a life-changing illness such as this.”
“He passed that love on to me, and that gave me an incredible drive to
help others. Writers give up so much, and we believe that they deserve
help, especially when facing a life-changing illness such as this.”
During
his long and prolific songwriting career, Cochran penned thousands of
songs and earned over 40 B.M.I. awards in both the Pop & Country
categories. In 1975, Hank was the sole writer to be inducted, by unanimous vote, into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. In the ’60s, he had five songs in Billboard’s Top 10. In 2003, three of his compositions (“I Fall To Pieces,” “The Chair,” “Make The World Go Away”) were included in CMT’s “100 Greatest Songs of Country Music” list. In 2007, Hank was honored as the first songwriter invited to perform in the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum’s POETS And PROPHETS
songwriter series. In 2012, acclaimed singer/songwriter Jamey Johnson
released LIVIN’ FOR A SONG: A TRIBUTE TO HANK COCHRAN (Mercury
Nashville).
his long and prolific songwriting career, Cochran penned thousands of
songs and earned over 40 B.M.I. awards in both the Pop & Country
categories. In 1975, Hank was the sole writer to be inducted, by unanimous vote, into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. In the ’60s, he had five songs in Billboard’s Top 10. In 2003, three of his compositions (“I Fall To Pieces,” “The Chair,” “Make The World Go Away”) were included in CMT’s “100 Greatest Songs of Country Music” list. In 2007, Hank was honored as the first songwriter invited to perform in the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum’s POETS And PROPHETS
songwriter series. In 2012, acclaimed singer/songwriter Jamey Johnson
released LIVIN’ FOR A SONG: A TRIBUTE TO HANK COCHRAN (Mercury
Nashville).
Country
icon Merle Haggard called Cochran “the Hemingway of Country music,” and
award-winning songwriter/producer Buddy Cannon called him “the
cornerstone of Country music.” Hank remains one of the most beloved
songwriters to ever walk the streets of Music Row. He was diagnosed with Pancreatic
Cancer in July 2008, following the removal of several cancerous tumors
from his pancreas and lymph nodes. He passed away on July 15, 2010 at
the age of 74.
icon Merle Haggard called Cochran “the Hemingway of Country music,” and
award-winning songwriter/producer Buddy Cannon called him “the
cornerstone of Country music.” Hank remains one of the most beloved
songwriters to ever walk the streets of Music Row. He was diagnosed with Pancreatic
Cancer in July 2008, following the removal of several cancerous tumors
from his pancreas and lymph nodes. He passed away on July 15, 2010 at
the age of 74.
“The
statistics for the disease are awful,” Calder states. “There will be
an estimated 37,000 – 48,000 people diagnosed this year. Although, those
numbers are smaller than most cancers, the percentage of people who die
in the first five years following diagnosis is 94%, the highest of any
cancer.”
statistics for the disease are awful,” Calder states. “There will be
an estimated 37,000 – 48,000 people diagnosed this year. Although, those
numbers are smaller than most cancers, the percentage of people who die
in the first five years following diagnosis is 94%, the highest of any
cancer.”
Currently, there is no early detection method in place for Pancreatic Cancer. “That’s one of the goals of The Pen Fund,” adds
Suzi Cochran. “Early detection is critical to survival, but research
dollars are at a premium. We hope to help in that area, while also
making a positive impact on individual songwriters who are suffering
through the disease. Hank’s songs will always be remembered,” Suzi
adds. “And we hope his passion for the songwriting community lives on
through The Pen Fund.”
Suzi Cochran. “Early detection is critical to survival, but research
dollars are at a premium. We hope to help in that area, while also
making a positive impact on individual songwriters who are suffering
through the disease. Hank’s songs will always be remembered,” Suzi
adds. “And we hope his passion for the songwriting community lives on
through The Pen Fund.”
Suzi and Booth joined forces with The Nikki Mitchell Foundation
because of the close-knit environment shared by its staff and
supporters. “Nikki was Waylon Jennings’ assistant for 21 years and a
longtime friend to us all,” Suzi recalls. “And it’s a just a great
organization.” Country
superstars Jamey Johnson, Keith Urban, Shooter Jennings, and Jessie
Colter are just a few of the supporters of NMF, which recently teamed
with another newly-formed organization, The Autumn Leaves Project. Launched
by Grammy-nominated producer/songwriter/musician Butch Walker, their
combined efforts will put the need for disease-specific research on the
map, expand efforts for an early detection methodology, and ultimately,
find a cure for this deadly disease.
because of the close-knit environment shared by its staff and
supporters. “Nikki was Waylon Jennings’ assistant for 21 years and a
longtime friend to us all,” Suzi recalls. “And it’s a just a great
organization.” Country
superstars Jamey Johnson, Keith Urban, Shooter Jennings, and Jessie
Colter are just a few of the supporters of NMF, which recently teamed
with another newly-formed organization, The Autumn Leaves Project. Launched
by Grammy-nominated producer/songwriter/musician Butch Walker, their
combined efforts will put the need for disease-specific research on the
map, expand efforts for an early detection methodology, and ultimately,
find a cure for this deadly disease.