ASCAP, the performance rights society, toasted the Bellamy Brothers' 25 years in country music with a reception Tuesday (April 17) at its Nashville offices. Dropping by to join in the applause were Howard and David Bellamy's fellow recording artists Eddy Raven, Becky Hobbs and Beverly Ellis. Observing that David has been an ASCAP member for 27 years, Connie Bradley, ASCAP's senior vice president, presented him a plaque for his "excellence in the craft of songwriting." Jim Sharp, publisher of American Songwriter magazine, gave each brother a framed cover of the current issue, on which their picture appears. David first drew attention as the writer of Jim Stafford's 1973 pop hit, "Spiders & Snakes." He then made his own debut on the pop charts in 1975 with the single "Nothin' Heavy." The following year, the Bellamy Brothers made their chart debut with "Let Your Love Flow," which went No. 1 pop and No. 21 country. The duo's current album is The 25 Year Collection, Vol. 1 on Delta Disc Records.