Nashville,
TN (October 13, 2014) – Superstar songwriters Dean Dillon and Jamey
Johnson will salute Hank Cochran at a tribute concert on November 16.
The pair will host the event, gathering friends of the late songwriter
for what promises to be an unforgettable night of music and memories.
Top-tier tunesmith Scotty Emerick (“Beer For My Horses,” “I Love This Bar”), joins the lineup, which also includes hit songwriter/producer Buddy Cannon (“Set ‘Em Up Joe,” “Give It Away;“
Kenny Chesney, Willie Nelson, Jamey Johnson) and singer/songwriter
Jesse Whitley, son of the late Keith Whitley. The tribute kicks off the
final evening of the 10-day long 30th Frank Brown International Songwriters’ Festival, held “live on the line” from the world-famous FloraBama Lounge.
The club is located at 17401 Perdido Key Drive, Perdido Key,Florida;
the music starts at 6 p.m., and more information can be found HERE.
Dillon,
Johnson and Cannon all knew the late Cochran well: Dean and Buddy were
longtime friends and co-writers of Hank’s, while Jamey became close with
the NSAI Hall of Famer in his later years. In 2012, Johnson released the Grammy-nominated LIVING FOR A SONG: A TRIBUTE TO HANK COCHRAN. “If I had to dream up the best influence
for songwriters, I couldn’t have done any better than Hank,” Johnson
says. “That’s what he was – not just for me, but for Willie and for a
lot of people – just a helpful friend. If he knew you needed help with
something, he could help you. He was there.” Johnson hopes this Tribute
will help carry Hank’s philosophy forward. “I want to be that kind of man for the people in my life; same as Hank. He influenced me, not only as an artist and songwriter, but also as a person.”
Dean
and Hank shared a love of boats, and many of their songs were written
on the waterways of Tennessee and Florida. As a writing team, they are
perhaps best known for George Strait’s “Ocean Front Property” and “The Chair,” and Keith Whitley’s classic “Miami, My Amy.”
“Hank was definitely one-of-a-kind,” Dillon reflects. “We had some
remarkable times together and I’m happy to be a part of this tribute.
His legacy deserves a tip of the hat.”
The Cannon and Cochran association was a long and fruitful one. The two shared co-writer credits on the smash hit “Set ‘Em Up Joe”
and, as a producer, Cannon’s door was always open to Hank. “He was
absolutely one of the best writers of our time,” notes Cannon. “He was
the world’s best songplugger and a great friend who is very much
missed.”
A devoted fan of the FBISF, Cochran performed on the event’s many stages over the years. Club owner and Fest
founder Joe Gilchrest recalls, “Hank was a great supporter of this
festival. He was a wonderful friend to me, to songwriters and to
musicians of all stripes. He is sorely missed, but I know these guys
will do him proud.”
Cochran’s
discography reads like a “Who’s Who” of contemporary music. His songs
have been recorded by Chet Atkins, Junior Brown, Jimmy Buffett, Johnny
Cash, Elvis Costello, Bing Crosby, Vern Gosdin, Merle Haggard, Emmylou
Harris, Waylon Jennings, Tom Jones, Loretta Lynn, Dean Martin, Wayne
Newton, Elvis Presley, Reba, Linda Ronstadt, George Strait, and Lee Ann
Womack. He penned numerous classic tunes, including “I Fall To Pieces,” “She’s Got You,” “Set ‘Em Up Joe,” “Is It Raining At Your House,” and “Don’t You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me.”
As a recording artist, Hank first found fame in the 1950s when he and
Eddie Cochran (no relation) formed the rockabilly duo, The Cochran
Brothers. Hank topped the Americana Music Chart in 1997 with DESPERATE MEN: THE LEGEND AND THE OUTLAW. In 2002, he released his last CD, LIVIN’ FOR A SONG: A SONGWRITER’S AUTOBIOGRAPHY,
to much critical acclaim. The disc’s title track was featured on
Johnson’s 2012 CD, with additional vocals by Willie, Merle and Kris
Kristofferson.
Hank will be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame later this month. The award follows his 1967 inclusion in the Country Music Foundation’s Walkway of Stars, the unanimous vote that earned him his place in the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (1974) and a place in the Mississippi Musicians’ Hall of Fame
(2003). His catalog has generated more than 36 million performances,
which, if played back-to-back, would amount to more than 200 years of
continuous airplay.
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