CMA Songwriters
Featuring Dave Berg, Chris Tompkins, Karyn Rochelle, Jedd Hughes and Hosted by Bob DiPiero

Show Description

Joe's Pub and the Country Music Association are proud to announce the continuation of the successful CMA (Country Music Association) Songwriter Series with some of Nashville’s finest songwriters.   Tonight's performances feature:

DAVE BERG - With over a half dozen singles racing up the charts in recent months, songwriter Dave Berg has become one of Nashville's hottest hit makers. His breakout run began in 2004 with his first #1 hit "Somebody" performed by Reba McEntire. In 2006, Dave celebrated a four-week number one for Rodney Atkins' "If You're Goin' Through Hell (Before The Devil Even Knows)." This smash was honored as the R&R/Billboard Country Single of the Year for scoring the most airplay of any Country song for 2006 and was also nominated at the Billboard Music Awards for Single of the Year. Other recent singles include the #1 song "Moments" by Emerson Drive" "Stupid Boy" recorded by Keith Urban, "Don't Make Me" performed by Blake Shelton, and Sarah Buxton's debut single "Innocence." Dave is also a co-writer on the current singles "These Are My People" by Rodney Atkins and "What Kinda Gone" recorded by Chris Cagle.  Originally from Portland, Oregon, Dave moved to Nashville as his Ty Herndon single "I Want My Goodbye Back" became a Top 5 hit. Since then, Dave's songs have been recorded by country music legends and rising stars alike, including Tracy Byrd, Ronnie Milsap, Terri Clark, The Warren Brothers, Lorrie Morgan, Katrina Elam, Jimmy Wayne, Chris Cagle, Bucky Covington, and Tracy Lawrence, to name a few. Dave has recently enjoyed international success ranging from a spot on the #1 album in Hungary to a major ad campaign for Chinese recording artist and movie star Aaron Kwok.

CHRIS TOMPKINS - Hailing from Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and influenced by the likes of Jackson Browne and Neil Young, Chris focused on developing himself as a professional songwriter, vocalist and piano player during his high school years in the marching band. Practice and hard work paid off, leading to full time keyboard work on demo sessions as well as co-writes with various writers in the Muscle Shoals area. Chris decided he and his songs belonged in Nashville, Tennessee.   In the summer of 2000 at age 22, Chris made the move and got his first publishing deal. In 2004, Chris penned his first Top 20 hit single “ME AND EMILY”, co-written with friend and artist, Rachel Proctor. 2005 proved to be a promising year for Chris. American Idol winner Carrie Underwood recorded his song “BEFORE HE CHEATS” and it landed the 1 Spot on Country radio for 5 consecutive weeks. It won a Grammy for 2008 Country Song of the Year and it was nominated for Song of the Year at the 2007 ACM and CMA Awards and was named ASCAP's 2007 Country Song Of The Year. Some other recordings include Hank Williams Jr.’s “THATS HOW THEY DO IT IN DIXIE”, featuring country superstars Gretchen Wilson, Big and Rich and VanZant, and “BAMA BREEZE”, recorded by Jimmy Buffett. Chris is currently a staff songwriter for Big Loud Shirt Industries.

KARYN ROCHELLE - Karyn Rochelle left Wilmington, N.C. packed her bags and headed to Nashville, Tennessee, with only nineteen years under her belt.  Upon arrival in Nashville, Karyn lent her voice to literally hundreds of demos, including Tia Siller's "I Hope You Dance" - a crossover hit for Lee Ann Womack - and Martina McBride's "There You Are," co-written by award-winning songwriters Bob DiPiero, Ed Hill and Mark Sanders.  Her voice may have turned the first heads, but Rochelle had more to give. Her nostalgic composition "Georgia Rain," found a kindred vocalist in Trisha Yearwood. The song earned Rochelle her first BMI Country Award in 2006 - a good omen for the immediate future. She co-penned Kellie Pickler's sassy "Red High Heels," along with Pickler's softer "I Wonder" and "Wild Ponies." George Jones, Reba McEntire, Lee Ann Womack, Ronnie Milsap, LeAnn Rimes, Terri Clark and musician Kenny G have all recorded Rochelle's jewels.


JEDD HUGHES - Currently working on his first project for Capitol Records Nashville, Jedd continues to grow as a performer, songwriter and artist: “Country music still excites me like I’m four years old,” he adds. “There have always been so many possibilities with country. Cash was doing what he was doing, and Merle was doing his own thing, too. There were all these different country artists, but it was always still country music. And country music is still cool.” 

BOB DIPIERO - Bob DiPiero has written multiple #1 hits including Montgomery Gentry’s “If You Ever Stop Loving Me”, George Strait’s “Blue Clear Sky” and Vince Gill’s “World’s Apart” to name a few.  He was awarded CMA’s Triple Play Award in both 1995 & 1996 for having three number ones in a twelve month period for Faith Hill’s “Take Me As I Am”, Neal McCoy’s “Wink”, Reba McEntire’s “Till You Love Me”, George Strait’s “Clear Blue Sky”, Vince Gill’s “World’s Apart” and Ricochet’s “Daddy’s Money”.   Bob penned the classic Oak Ridge Boys song “American Made” and was also named Sony/ATV Nashville’s Songwriter of the Year in 2000.

CMA Songwriters Series is proudly sponsored by American Airlines, ASCAP, BMI and GAC. 

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