NASHVILLE, TN--(Marketwire - Sep 12, 2011) - ASCAP (the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) will honor country music star Don Williams with the prestigious ASCAP Golden Note Award during its 49th Annual Country Music Awards, taking place on Sunday, November 6, 2011 at Nashville's Gaylord Opryland. The invitation-only event will also honor the songwriters and publishers of ASCAP's most performed country songs from April 1, 2010 through March 31, 2011.
ASCAP's Golden Note Award is presented to songwriters, composers and artists who have achieved extraordinary career milestones. Past recipients include Garth Brooks, Lindsey Buckingham, Sean "Diddy" Combs, Alan Jackson, Quincy Jones, Reba McEntire, JD Souther, Stevie Wonder, André Previn and Tom Petty among others.
Commenting on the award to Williams, ASCAP President and Chairman Paul Williams said, "Don is one of country music's most successful performers of the past four decades. His knack for finding songs that speak directly to people's hearts has earned him millions of fans worldwide. He is a true international country music star, and we are very proud to honor him with ASCAP's Golden Note Award in recognition of his extraordinary career."
Texas-born recording artist and songwriter Don Williams has enjoyed 45 Top Ten hits and 17 Number One singles. The epitome of the "laid back" Country sound, Williams made his initial impact as a member of the mid-1960's folk-pop trio, the Pozo-Seco Singers. Williams' self-penned hits include "The Shelter of Your Eyes," "Lay Down Beside Me," "Love Me Over Again," and his collaboration with Wayland Holyfield, "Till the Rivers All Run Dry." Williams is closely associated with songwriters Bob McDill ("Amanda," "It Must Be Love"), Wayland Holyfield ("You're My Best Friend," "Some Broken Hearts Never Mend") and Danny Flowers ("Tulsa Time"), recording hit versions of their songs. With a personality as understated as his music, Williams' wide-ranging success occurred in spite of the singer's well-known aversion to the spotlight. Don Williams' enduring place in music was recognized in 2010 with his election to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
The 49th Annual ASCAP Country Music Awards will also include the announcements of the Songwriter of the Year, Songwriter/Artist of the Year, Song of the Year and Publisher of the Year. The evening will feature performances by several award-winning songwriter/performers.
About ASCAP
Established in 1914, ASCAP is the first and leading U.S. Performing Rights Organization (PRO) representing the world's largest repertory totaling over 8.5 million copyrighted musical works of every style and genre from more than 415,000 songwriter, composer and music publisher members. ASCAP has representation arrangements with similar foreign organizations so that the ASCAP repertory is represented in nearly every country around the world where copyright law exists. ASCAP protects the rights of its members and foreign affiliates by licensing the public performances of their copyrighted works and distributing royalties based upon surveyed performances. ASCAP is the only American PRO owned and governed by its writer and publisher members. www.ascap.com