BILL ANDERSON, KRISTIAN BUSH, BOBBY PINSON, AND HOST BOB DIPIERO PERFORM JUNE 26 AND 27
The CMA Songwriters Series heads west bringing some of Nashville’s best tunesmiths to Los Angeles’ House of Blues on Tuesday, June 26 (8:00 PM), and Phoenix’s Musical Instrument Museum on Wednesday, June 27 (7:00 PM). Bill Anderson, Kristian Bush, and Bobby Pinson will join host Bob DiPiero for two nights of music and storytelling.
“Nashville has always known how amazing our songwriters are,” said Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “And now CMA wants to share these treasured tunesmiths with the rest of the country.”
With a career spanning more than 50 years, “Whisperin’ Bill” Anderson is one of the most awarded songwriters in the history of Country Music. He composed his first big hit, "City Lights," at the age of 19 and was soon setting the charts on fire with such classics as "Once A Day," "That's What It's Like To Be Lonesome," "Tips Of My Fingers," "Saginaw, Michigan," "When Two Worlds Collide," "Mama Sang A Song," "Cold Hard Facts Of Life," "Still," and countless other huge hits. A Country Music Hall of Famer and member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Anderson has continued writing hits well into the 21st Century including two CMA Song of the Year Award winners, "Whiskey Lullaby," recorded by Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss, and "Give It Away," recorded by George Strait.
"I have not taken my music to the west coast in a long time, and I'm really looking forward to this opportunity,” said Anderson. “I lived in southern California briefly in the early ‘60s and have many friends there from my game show hosting days in the late ‘70s. It's been awhile since I've performed in Phoenix as well. I'm grateful to the CMA Songwriters Series for giving me the chance to head west again."
As one half of Country Music duo Sugarland, Bush has garnered five CMA Vocal Duo of the Year Awards, exceeded sales of more than 22 million units, and garnered eight No. 1 singles. An accomplished producer and songwriter, Bush is responsible for hits such as “Baby Girl,” “All I Want To Do,” and “Stuck Like Glue,” all recorded by Sugarland. This is Bush’s first time participating in the CMA Songwriter Series.
"It all starts with a song,” said Bush. “Songwriting has been important to me since I was a kid listening to the radio. I'm always overwhelmed by the joy I feel when I'm writing, and how humbling it is to see people sing my songs back to me when I play. The CMA has always recognized the song as well as the songwriter and the artist, and I am honored and excited to be playing in the CMA Songwriter Series."
Rounding out the line up for both shows is Bobby Pinson (“She Never Cried in Front of Me” recorded by Toby Keith, and “All I Want To Do,” “It Happens,” and “Want To,” all recorded by Sugarland); and a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame as well as the host for each evening, Bob DiPiero (“Southern Voice” recorded by Tim McGraw, “Blue Clear Sky” recorded by George Strait, and “You Can’t Take the Honky Tonk Out of the Girl” recorded by Brooks & Dunn).
Tickets for the June 26 Los Angeles Show are $40 for General Admission Seating and $25 for General Admission; tickets for the June 26 show in Phoenix are $35 and $27. Tickets for both shows will go on sale Friday, June 1. For details on purchasing tickets, log on to www.CMAworld.com or www.hob.com.
ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and GAC are the official partners of the CMA Songwriters Series.