DiPiero, friends return for show

The group penned a slew of Top 10 hits for country stars

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The American Made Country Music Songwriters Series, featuring Liberty native Bob DiPiero, will return to Ford Family Recital Hall on April 24.

DiPiero, who is one of the top country music songwriters, will be joined by three of his colleagues in the show: Lee Thomas Miller, John Nite and J.T. Harding.

The four songwriters take turns talking about the hit songs that they wrote for country stars — who made them famous — and then play them, trading banter and humorous barbs in an intimate setting.

Tickets are $42 (lower level) and $22 (upper level) and are available at the DeYor Performing Arts Center box office; online at youngstownsymphony.com, and by phone at 330-744-0264.

A VIP ticket package, which includes a post-show reception with the artists, is available for $75 (includes desserts and beverages).

The show starts at 8 p.m. It benefits Compass Family and Community Services, a Valley agency that provides services to those with mental-health and addiction illnesses.

DiPiero is the originator and host of the series, which brings Nashville’s top songwriters and artists to venues across the country.

He has been inducted into the Nashville Walk of Fame and the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame.

More than 1,200 of his songs have been recorded by other artists.

DiPiero is one of Nashville’s most prolific songwriters and has penned a string of hits — including 15 that hit No. 1 — that began in the early ’80s.

His songs, and the artists who made them famous, include “American Made” (Oak Ridge Boys), “Southern Voice” (Tim McGraw), “I Can See Forever In Your Eyes” (Reba McEntire) and “Lovin You Is Fun” (Corbin Easton).

DiPiero’s songs have been featured in TV shows, commercials and movies, and in 2011, his song “Coming Home” from the “Country Strong” movie soundtrack was nominated for both an Oscar and Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song in a Motion Picture.

Lee Thomas Miller has been penning chart singles for 15 years with seven of them reaching No. 1.

He is a three-time Grammy award nominee and has won other major industry awards including Song of the Year at the Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music awards, as well as Music Row Magazine and Nashville Songwriter’s Association annual awards.

Jon Nite has written several contemporary country hits, including “We Were Us” by Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert, “Whatever She’s Got” by David Nail, “Beachin’” by Jake Owen, “Tip it on Back” by Dierks Bentley, “Glass” by Thompson Square, “Gonna Wanna Tonight” by Chase Rice, “Trouble” by Gloriana and “Smoke” by A Thousand Horses.

“We Were Us” held the top spot on the Billboard Hot Country Chart for three weeks in 2013, and it won the CMA award for vocal event of the year.

J.T. Harding co-wrote Uncle Kracker’s single “Smile” and three additional songs on the album, along with Jake Owen’s single “Alone with You.” He also co-wrote Kenny Chesney’s hit “Somewhere With You.”