Come join us at The Lawn at Midland Social for the 20th Annual John Jarrard Foundation Concert, Saturday, October 23, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. For sponsorships and tables call (770) 710-9191 or email jjackson@johnjarrardfoundation.com.

Rain or Shine
5:30 p.m. – Gates Open

Songwriters this year include Dean Dillon, Matraca Berg, and Jim Collins.

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Dean Dillon

Dean Dillon’s songwriting has thrived. He has recently written songs for famous faces like Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith and Lee Ann Womack. His association with George Strait over the years has brought him to an ICON STATUS in country music. It’s the relationship with Strait that has, to a large extent, defined both of their careers. And in a genre built on great songwriters writing for great singers, there has never been another team like it. Dillon has composed or co-written 76 songs for Strait, including 19 singles, 11 which went to number 1. Even in a career like Strait’s, the Dillon titles stand out: “Marina del Rey”, “The Chair”, “I’ve Come to Expect it From You”, “Easy Come, Easy Go”, “She Let Herself Go”, and “The Best Day.” His songs all pair instantly catchy melodies with gutbucket country lyrics, signature qualities of a Dillon composition that would also become hallmarks of Strait’s own style and sound.

At his ranch home in Gunnison, Colorado, Dean Dillon’s walls display an array of timely photographs and awards consisting of: 1985 Billboard Country Music Artist Of The Year Award; 1986 Nashville Song Writers Award; 1995, 1996, 1998 CMA TRIPLE PLAY AWARD ; Three Time Grammy Nominee; Lee Iacocca Award (American Automotive Division); Twenty Six (26) Number 1 Records Award; and the coveted 2013 BMI Icon Award.

Matraca Berg

Matraca Berg has had songs recorded by artists such as Reba McEntire, Randy Travis, Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Linda Ronstadt, Tanya Tucker, Keith Urban, Dusty Springfield, Emmylou Harris, Kim Carnes, Ray Price and Loretta Lynn.

“Strawberry Wine,” a #1 hit for Deana Carter co-written by Berg, was named the CMA Song of the Year for 1997. It was also nominated for a Grammy Award as Country Song of the Year, as was 2007’s “I Don’t Feel Like Loving You Today.”

“Wrong Side of Memphis,” “XXX’s and OOO’s,” “You Can Feel Bad,” “Hey Cinderella,” “I’m That Kind of Girl,” “The Last One to Know” and “Strawberry Wine” have all been broadcast on radio and TV more than a million times each.

Berg and fellow Nashville songwriter Marshall Chapman co-wrote the songs for the 2000 stage musical Good Ol’ Girls. She appeared in the 1987 motion picture Made in Heaven and on the soundtrack of the movie The Thing Called Love in 1993. As a backup vocalist, she has been in the studio with Kris Kristofferson, Dolly Parton and Neil Young. As a producer, she has guided recordings for Christian singer-songwriter Christy Sutherland.

Matraca Berg is also a recording artist. Her albums include Lying to the Moon (1990), The Speed of Grace (1993) Sunday Morning to Saturday Night (1997) and The Dreaming Fields (2011). She has been married to singer-songwriter Jeff Hanna of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band since 1993. Berg is the youngest songwriter ever inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Jim Collins

As the songwriter behind some of country music’s biggest hits of the last two decades, Jim Collins is pure and simply a hitmaker. He is a member of the Texas Songwriter’s Hall Of Fame and a two-time GRAMMY® nominee who has written songs that have launched careers for new artists and created peak moments for some of country’s biggest superstars.
Jim’s numerous hit singles are a great example of this consistency, quality and diversity. Jim’s hits include the multi-week #1 smashes “Big Green Tractor” (Jason Aldean) “Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven” (Kenny Chesney) “ and “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not” by Thompson Square, which was iTunes “Country Song Of The Year” and Country Aircheck’s #1 “Country Song Of The Year” in 2011. Jim was also nominated for a GRAMMY® in the “Best Country Song” catagory for “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not.” In 2019 “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not” was named as one of the top 5 songs of the decade by Country Aircheck.
In 2015, Jim co-wrote Easton Corbin’s hit single, “Baby, Be My Love Song,” which was one of the most played songs of the year, peaking at #3 on the Billboard charts.
Chart success is nothing new for Jim, a native of Nacogdoches, Texas. Among his numerous #1 songs is the co-written smash, “The Good Stuff” which was a seven-week #1 for Kenny Chesney in 2002, and was named Billboard “Song of the Year,” ASCAP “Song of the Year” and “Single of the Year” by the Academy of Country Music.
Jim’s next number one song was courtesy of his fellow Texas native and country music legend, George Strait, who took “It Just Comes Natural” to the top of the charts for four weeks in 2006. That same year, Jim was nominated for a GRAMMY® for “Best Country Song” with “I Don’t Feel Like Lovin’ You Today” performed by Gretchen Wilson.
Other hit singles written by Jim include “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy” (Kenny Chesney), “Then They Do” (Trace Adkins), “Hands of A Workin’ Man (Ty Herndon), “Love Workin’ On You” (John Michael Montgomery) and the multi-week #1 “Yes” performed by Chad Brock.