Frances Preston Honored as 2007 Leadership Music Dale Franklin Award recipient
NASHVILLE – Last week the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in downtown Nashville celebrated the career of Frances Preston, former President and CEO of Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI). Long considered one of the most powerful music executives in the world, Preston was the 2007 recipient of the Leadership Music Dale Franklin Award. The annual award was given for her leadership year after year, decade after decade and her dedication to her lifelong career in music.
The sold-out gala was hosted by Vince Gill and included a virtual 'Who's Who" in entertainment, business, politics and medicine. The show opened with gospel star Mandisa and the Greater Nashville Community Choir and veteran country artists The Oak Ridge Boys sang the national anthem before dinner. Production guru David Holloway produced the musical tribute including Sheryl Crow (If It Makes You Happy, All I Wanna Do, Strong Enough), Randy Owen, Sam Moore (I Can’t Stand the Rain, You Are So Beautiful) and Callaway, Steve Cropper (Dock of the Bay) Gary Morris (Wind Beneath My Wings), and pianist Greg Colson. But Preston’s favorite performance of the evening was given by new artist Taylor Preston, her grandson, who serenaded her with “Forever Young”.
Video tributes were given by Clive Davis, Dolly Parton, Big & Rich and Al Gore. Addressing Preston's outstanding career were: Orrin Ingram, Dr. Hal Moses, Bill Ivey, and Bill Denny. Though retired from BMI, Preston still maintains a demanding schedule with consulting and advocacy for cancer research. Proceeds from the event were to benefit the Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center, and the Frances Williams Preston lab at Vanderbilt.
NASHVILLE – Last week the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in downtown Nashville celebrated the career of Frances Preston, former President and CEO of Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI). Long considered one of the most powerful music executives in the world, Preston was the 2007 recipient of the Leadership Music Dale Franklin Award. The annual award was given for her leadership year after year, decade after decade and her dedication to her lifelong career in music.
The sold-out gala was hosted by Vince Gill and included a virtual 'Who's Who" in entertainment, business, politics and medicine. The show opened with gospel star Mandisa and the Greater Nashville Community Choir and veteran country artists The Oak Ridge Boys sang the national anthem before dinner. Production guru David Holloway produced the musical tribute including Sheryl Crow (If It Makes You Happy, All I Wanna Do, Strong Enough), Randy Owen, Sam Moore (I Can’t Stand the Rain, You Are So Beautiful) and Callaway, Steve Cropper (Dock of the Bay) Gary Morris (Wind Beneath My Wings), and pianist Greg Colson. But Preston’s favorite performance of the evening was given by new artist Taylor Preston, her grandson, who serenaded her with “Forever Young”.
Video tributes were given by Clive Davis, Dolly Parton, Big & Rich and Al Gore. Addressing Preston's outstanding career were: Orrin Ingram, Dr. Hal Moses, Bill Ivey, and Bill Denny. Though retired from BMI, Preston still maintains a demanding schedule with consulting and advocacy for cancer research. Proceeds from the event were to benefit the Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center, and the Frances Williams Preston lab at Vanderbilt.
posted by cathy at 7:02 PM
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