Sonny Throckmorton has won many music awards, including 1977 Cashbox\Songwriter of the Year, 1979, ACM's Song of the Year (It’s A Cheating Situation), 1979, NSAI Songwriter of the Year, 1980, DJ Songwriter of the Year, 1980, NSAI Songwriter of the Year 1985, ACM Song of the Year for “Why Not Me.” Artists who have recorded his songs include Jerry Lee Lewis, Merle Haggard, T.G. Sheppard, Emmylou Harris, The Judds, and George Strait. Two of Throckmorton’s songs have been made into movies, “Middle Age Crazy” starring Bruce Dern and Ann Margret in 1980, and "18 Again" in 1987 starring George Burns. This is Sonny's 4th time to serve as an instructor for the ASG Songwriter Symposium and he is a favorite every year. He will be performing in two concerts throughout the weekend, hosting a morning coffee class on the life of the songwriter on Saturday morning, as well as being present all weekend for various events.

Jimmy LaFave has been a “perennial presence” in the Austin music scene since he first landed here from Oklahoma in the late 1980s. Although he has lived in Austin for nearly 20 years, many people still think of him as being from Oklahoma, because of his strong musical ties to the state and what he often refers to as its “red dirt music.” Shortly after his arrival in Austin his career began to take flight when he was asked to help get a songwriter scene going at the now legendary Chicago House, which led to his first self-produced recording, Highway Angels…Full Moon Rain, which went on to his first Austin Chronicle Music Award. In 1992, Jimmy released a self–produced record, Austin Skyline, which drew international attention to his songwriting and vocal talents, and led to a publishing agreement with Polygram Music. Before long, Jimmy was touring the U.S. and Europe to widespread critical acclaim and landed a slot on Austin City Limits in 1996. Jimmy has built his reputation as not only a solid songwriter, but as an outstanding interpreter of songs by others, most notably Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie, both of who are huge influences on his music. In the liner notes for his 1999 record, Trail, music journalist Dave Marsh noted: “Jimmy LaFave has one of America’s greatest voices, and this album is the story of what he has learned to do with it. It’s a unique instrument, with startling range and its own peculiar sense of gravity, liable to swoop in and wreck your expectations at any instant.” He continues to record and tour consistently, meeting critical acclaim and widespread audience acceptance everywhere he goes. This is his first year as an ASG Instructor and he will be leading a class in songwriting, as well as performing a concert with Gurf Morlix Saturday evening.

 

 

Songwriting is a craft, make no mistake about it. That being said, Chuck cannon is a master craftsman. In addition to his most recent hit he wrote with Toby Keith, American Soldier, Chuck is responsible for song like John Michael Montgomery's I Love The Way You Love Me and a whole slew of other hits like We Were In Love, Dream Walkin', and Getcha Some to name a few. Chuck has also served as President of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI, 2001-2003), and continues to serve on their Executive Board and Legislative Committees. Among the honors he has accumulated along the way, he has garnered BMIs Eight-Million-Air award for the song "I Love The Way You Love Me" which was the Academy of Country Music's 1993 Song of the Year.

 

This is Chuck's first year as an ASG Instructor and we are pleased to have him deliver this year's Keynote Presentation at the Saturday lunch. In addition, he will facilitate a song pitch session on Saturday afternoon, which is sure to be well attended after his Keynote speech.