I won my second BMI award in 2007 for “Brand New Girlfriend” which I wrote with Shane Minor and Jeffrey Steele. This was especially cool because Jeff won BMI Songwriter Of The Year that year.
After the Awards show, we were getting ready to leave to go to Jeffrey’s after party. Well I had to go to the restroom before getting our car. That same evening, Willie Nelson had been given The BMI Icon Award. As I approach the men’s room I see and rather burly gent standing by the door. I flash my BMI award, declaring my legitimacy, he nods at me and I go in.
Well I go in and see Willie at the urinal. Weird. He zips up, turns toward me, looks at my BMI medallion, looks up at me, sticks out his hand and says, congratulations! In the time it takes to form a thought I balance between shaking his hand knowing where it has just been OR snubbing Willie Nelsons hand shake.
Of course I shook his hand……..then washed my hand I came out of the rest room to tell my wife that story and we laughed, it still makes me laugh. Thanks Willie!
Receiving my BMI Award for "Brand New Girlfriend." Not pictured, Willie (ha)!