World Renowned Songwriter Harlan Howard to Receive Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award from the Academy of Country Music

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (April 20, 2007)  - Legendary songwriter Harlan Howard has been named as a recipient of this year’s Academy of Country Music “Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award.”  The award is presented each year to outstanding “pioneers” of country music and is among the ACM’s highest honors.  The ACM Awards will be telecast live on May 15 from Las Vegas, Nevada.
 
A special ceremony, hosted by Marty Stuart, will take place at the Tennessee State Museum in Nashville, Tennessee on June 20th, 2007.  The museum is currently hosting an exhibit called, "Sparkle & Twang: Marty Stuart's American Musical Odyssey."  Howard is named along with Waylon Jennings, Dolly Parton and Don Williams for this year’s honor. Jack Lameier and Buck Owens will receive other lifetime achievement awards at the reception.
 
“This is great recognition for Harlan and his musical legacy,” said Melanie Howard, Harlan’s widow. “ Harlan would be proud to be honored among these other recipients and grateful to the Academy of Country Music for the bestowment. All Harlan ever wanted to do was to be a songwriter. Songwriting was his passion and it gave him great joy to pair the perfect song with a great singer.”
 
Harlan Howard was one of the most prolific and influential songwriters of the 20th Century. During his remarkable six-decade career, he wrote over 4,000 songs and racked up 100 top-tens. Howard crafted hits for some of the biggest names in music, including Patsy Cline, Ray Charles, Reba McEntire, Waylon Jennings, Dolly Parton, The Judds, Buck Owens, Dean Martin and Glen Campbell.
 
Songs like “Pick Me Up on Your Way Down,” “Heartaches by the Number,” “Life Turned Her That Way” and “I Fall To Pieces” are among only a few in Harlan Howard’s memorable legacy.  At one point in his career, he held 15 songs in the top 40 country charts; a feat unequaled to this day. Harlan Howard passed away in 2002 but his impact on Nashville’s Music Row is still felt today. Contemporary country artists continue to dip into the deep well of his song catalog in the hopes of making their own mark in country music history.

For more information, please contact Alisa Moore at Harlan Howard Songs, Inc.  615-327-9098.