BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.) presented Billy F Gibbons, the centerpiece and one third of ZZ Top, with its coveted Troubadour Award during a private reception at BMI’s Nashville office on Monday, Sept. 18th. The prestigious accolade recognizes a songwriter who has made a profound impact on the creative community as their craft continues to set the pace for generations to follow. As the chief songwriter for ZZ Top, Gibbons’ credits include iconic hits such as “Sharp Dressed Man,” “Legs,” “Cheap Sunglasses” and “La Grange,” the lead single from ZZ Top’s Tres Hombres album that catapulted the trio into mainstream success fifty years ago.
“With a career spanning several decades, Billy has penned an array of timeless hits that have left an inedible mark on the music industry,” BMI’s VP of Creative Nashville, Clay Bradley said. “His ability to craft lyrics that resonate with audiences across generations is a testament to his songwriting prowess and he is the epitome of what the BMI Troubadour Award represents.”
Dubbed “Nashville’s most glorious low-key party,” the night will included tribute performances and commemorative speeches by special guests during a cocktail reception and dinner. Gibbons joins the ranks of past Troubadour Award recipients including John Hiatt, John Prine, Robert Earl Keen and Lucinda Williams. Falling on the eve of AMERICANAFEST, the night serves as a homecoming for BMI’s Americana family of artists and is sponsored by DAOU, George Dickel Bourbon and WP Global.
