Jake Owen, songwriters celebrate No. 1
“I Was Jack (You Were
Diane)” Jake’s 7th No.1
By Preshias Harris
Jake Owen’s NUMBER ONE Party for “I
Was Jack (You Were Diane)” had the CMA Special events room packed with
music industry execs, songwriters, publishers, agents, radio promotion people,
managers, special guests, family and friends. They were all celebrating Jake’s
7th number one song and his first single released on Big Loud Records. The
songwriters being honored were David Ray, Tommy Cecil, Jody Stevens, Craig
Wiseman, and John Mellencamp, along with producer Joey Moi. The party was
co-hosted by ASCAP and BMI.
Kicking off the kudos was David Preston
from Artist/Writer Relations at BMI. David is always very praising of BMI’s
songwriters and their co-writers. This party was no exception.
After giving his accolades for the BMI
writers, David introduced his “co-host” Beth Brinker from ASCAP’s
Artist/Writer’s relations. She is just a bubbly ray of sunshine beaming from
the stage. She also had kind words for all the writers and bragged on David Lee
as it was hit first cut and his first number one, since making Nashville his
home in 2013.
Amazing 350 cuts for Craig Wiseman
Then it was Craig Wiseman’s turn. I thought to myself, I knew he was an AMAZING
WRITER and in the Nashville Songwriter’s Hall Of Fame (2015), but I didn’t
realize he had 350 cuts, 125 singles and 27 Number one singles!! Oh, I almost forgot… In 2009, he was named
NSAI’s Songwriter of the Decade, then in 2014, he won the Heritage Award from
ASCAP as the most performed country songwriter of the century. ASCAP named him
Songwriter of the Year 2003, 2005 & 2007.
With all the songwriters on stage, (except
John Mellencamp) it was ALL smiles across the stage with Jody Stevens, Craig
Wiseman, Tommy Cecil, Jake Owen and David Ray and producer Joey Moi. The song
echoes the feelings of John Mellencamp’s 1982 hit, “Jack and Diane.” Prior to release, Jake secured Mellencamp’s
agreement to incorporate elements of the original song and Mellencamp receives
a writer’s credit.
The best part was seeing everyone sincerely
excited for Jake. He really is a super nice guy.
Jake has also been added to the lineup for
Luke Bryan’s “CRASH MY PLAYA – 5TH YEAR FIESTA,” that is set for
Wednesday January 23rd through Saturday, January 26th, 2019 in Riviera Maya,
Mexico.
FYI: Jake his girlfriend Erica Hartlein
prepares to welcome another daughter in late spring/early summer 2019. More
info on Jake Owen, including tour info, at his website https://jakeowen.net and Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/jakeowen/
PHOTO 1: Pictured, Top Row (L-R): Round
Hill’s Mark Brown, Big Loud’s Seth England, ASCAP’s Beth Brinker, Sony ATV’s
Tom Luteran, BMI’s David Preston, Big Loud Records’ Clay Hunnicutt and Joey
Moi. Bottom Row (L-R): ASCAP songwriters David Ray and Craig Wiseman, BMI
songwriters Jake Owen, Tommy Cecil and Jody Stevens, and Missi Gallimore.
Photo: Ed Rode
PHOTO 2: (L to R): Beth Brinker (ASCAP)
jody Stephens, Craig Wiseman, Tommy Cecil, Jake Owen and David Lee. Photo:
Preshias Harris