Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 30, 1993 TAG: 9309300228
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NASHVILLE, TENN. LENGTH: Medium
Gill, who recorded the tune, shared the songwriting award with John Barlow Jarvis, who co-wrote the song with him.
"This to me is the epitome of what we do," Gill said in his acceptance remarks at the Grand Ole Opry House. "These songs will last a lifetime. We'll come and go. Songs are definitely the reason this town lives."
The duo Brooks & Dunn, who have helped inspire the country dance craze with hits like "Boot Scootin' Boogie," won vocal duo of the year. Diamond Rio was voted vocal group for the second straight year.
Also Wednesday, Willie Nelson was to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Gill led in awards nominations with eight, with Alan Jackson nominated in seven categories. Garth Brooks, who dominated the awards the past two years, had four.
But Brooks was nominated for a third straight year as entertainer of the year. Only one act has ever won that honor three times: Alabama, in 1982, 1983 and 1984.
Brooks faced competition from Gill, Jackson, Reba McEntire and Brooks & Dunn.
Vying for album of the year were Jackson's "A Lot About Livin' (And a Little 'Bout Love)," Brooks' "The Chase," Gill's "I Still Believe in You," Mary-Chapin Carpenter's "Come On Come On" and "Hard Workin' Man" by Brooks & Dunn.
Jackson, whose rollicking "Chattahoochee" was a summer smash, was the favorite to win top male vocalist. Gill won the award in 1991 and 1992, and the 7,000 country music industry professionals who choose the winners rarely vote a performer the same honor three times.
Other finalists for best male vocalist were Brooks, Gill, George Strait and John Anderson.
Gill's eight nominations were the most since Merle Haggard received nine in 1970.
Nominees for best female vocalist were Carpenter, who was last year's winner, Wynonna Judd, Pam Tillis, Tanya Tucker and McEntire.
Nelson joins such country music legends as Johnny Cash, Roy Acuff, Minnie Pearl and Tennessee Ernie Ford in the Hall of Fame.
Nelson's first success as a songwriter came in the early 1960s with "Crazy" for Patsy Cline and "Hello Walls" for Faron Young. As a singer, his first hit was "Touch Me" in 1962, but it took 20 albums and 13 years before his next hit: "Blue Eyes Cryin' in the Rain."
He stayed in the spotlight with "Always on My Mind," "On the Road Again," and duets like "Luckenbach, Texas" with Waylon Jennings and "To All the Girls I've Loved Before" with Julio Iglesias.
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by CNB