"Nashville's Elite Offer Barry Gibb a Warm Welcome"

 (BMI, December 19, 2006)

When Bee Gees legend Barry Gibb purchased Johnny and June Carter Cash's lakefront home in nearby Hendersonville, Nashville's music community buzzed with excited anticipation. On Wednesday, Dec. 13, BMI hosted an intimate reception at its Music Row offices for Mr. Gibb, along with his wife Linda and their two sons, Ashley and Stephen. The aim was simple: to introduce one of music's most preeminent songwriters to Music City's finest.

Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell, Hendersonville Mayor Scott Foster, BMI President & CEO Del Bryant, industry executive A-listers, and a slew of blue ribbon songwriters and artists were on hand to personally welcome Mr. Gibb to town.

BMI executives with Barry Gibb

   
BMI senior staff with Barry Gibb

   
Phil Everly, Barry Gibb, Del Bryant

   
Barry Gibb with BMI 2006 Country songwriter of the year Ed Hill, 

"Nashville Welcomes Barry Gibb"

(Music Row)

”I plan to make a country album in Nashville,” Barry Gibb told an elite industry crowd of well wishers gathered at BMI to welcome him into the neighborhood. Gibb and wife Linda have purchased the Cash home in Hendersonville and are in the process of renovating it. “It’s been a long time since we met people who are so kind and giving like the people here in Nashville,” Gibb said appreciatively. Mayor Bill Purcell joked, “After all the great things you’ve done, the only thing missing was for you to move to Nashville.” The Mayor of Hendersonville also greeted his new celebrity residents.

”Barry and his brothers have been BMI songwriters since their very first hit, ‘New York Mining Disaster’ which exploded on both sides of the Atlantic in 1967,” said BMI head Del Bryant addressing the crowd. “Barry has had hits in 5 decades and has garnered 45 BMI awards. He’s received 5 BMI Country Awards, 1 BMI Latin Award and 39 BMI Pop Awards. He has 32 ‘Million Performance’ songs including ‘To Love Somebody,’ ‘How Deep is Your Love,’ ‘How Can You Mend a Broken Heart,’ ‘Islands in the Stream,’ ‘Emotion,’ and ‘Too Much Heaven.’ In this respect he stands only behind John Lennon and Sir Elton John.” Bryant also mentioned that Gibb’s song catalog has generated over 80 million performances.”

Luminaries present included Phil Everly, Bobby Braddock, Bob DiPiero, Paul Overstreet, Steve Bogard, Steve Cropper, Duane Eddy, Ray Stevens, Frances Preston, Keith Stegall and Dean Dillon. Best of all, guests were treated to a six-CD set of early Bee Gees gems as a parting holiday favor.