LOCASH Revels in First No. 1 Single, "I Know Somebody"
You could have crowd-surfed the entire length of Nashville's Lower Broadway late Thursday evening (Feb. 23) as guests trampling each other's feet poured into the Valentine saloon to celebrate the writers of LOCASH's first No. 1 single, "I Know Somebody."
Jointly written by Rhett Akins, Ross Copperman and Jeremy Stover, "I Know Somebody" was also the first country chart-topper for Reviver Records.
LOCASH is the duo of Chris Lucas and Preston Brust, formerly known as the LoCash Cowboys.
The apparent insanity of scheduling a party at 5 p.m. in Nashville's most traffic-clogged area became less loony when BMI's David Preston, who hosted the event, began greeting conventioneers who were in town for Country Radio Seminar, which was being staged at the nearby Omni Hotel.
Radio airplay is basically the life's blood of country music and those who make their living from it.
Akins and Copperman are both affiliated with BMI, the performance rights organization, while Stover belongs to the competing PRO, ASCAP.
Inside the long narrow room with its dim lights and thumbnail-size stage beside the front door, people had to edge sideways through the chattering crowd -- if they dared move at all -- to gouge out a place at the bar.
As is the case in all these No. 1 soirees, there was a parade of people who wanted to talk and shower praise on the writers, LOCASH and its support team. At times, as many as 10 people were sitting or standing onstage and waiting for their turn at the mic.
Preston noted that "I Know Somebody" was Cooperman's 15th No. 1 song and Akins' 26th.
Speaking on behalf of ASCAP, Michael Martin congratulated Stover on his fourth No. 1 and pointed out the wide array of artists Stover has written for and produced, among them Justin Moore, Emerson Drive, Lonestar and Jack Ingram.
When the celebrants became so loud they virtually drowned out the presentations, Martin scolded, "You guys gotta be quiet. It's about these guys."
Publisher Tom Luteran announced that Akins was soon to be a grandfather. He's the father of Thomas Rhett, who recently revealed that he and his wife, Lauren, are expecting a baby -- as well as adopting a child from Africa.
Luteran further praised Akins for writing songs that "molded the sound" of country music over the past several years.
Lindsey Rimes, who produced the song being honored, also came in for rounds of applause. It was his first No. 1.
Akins said he was impressed by the hard work Brust and Lucas put into their careers.
"I've never seen these guys when they weren't getting off a bus or getting on a bus."
Brust recalled Akins phoning him with a surprising invitation.
"Why don't you meet me at Kroger's [supermarket] at 4:30 in the morning," he said, "and we'll go turkey hunting?"
It turned out to be a better day for the turkey than the hunters, Brust continued. But because he and Akins had loaded shotguns, he said Akins insisted that, as a matter of good luck, he shoot his gun rather than simply remove the shells.
Akins set up a target and Brust blazed away. However, his gun kicked back so hard it "busted open" his nose. Akins asked if he needed to go to a hospital, and Brust replied that he had no health insurance. Upon hearing this news, Akins took him to his truck and "superglued" his nose together.
"And then we went to a party," Brust said incredulously. "We've got insurance now, thanks to these boys."
Lucas thanked the radio programmers in the crowd for standing behind LOCASH.
"We got the No. 1 because you believed in us," he said.