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BILLY JOE SHAVER
Billy Joe Shaver has never been a household name, but his songs became country standards during the 1970s and his reputation among musicians and critics has remained legendary throughout the ensuing decades. All Music Guide lists 23 albums, from 1973’s “Old Five & Dimers Like Me” through 2007’s “Everybody’s Brother.” Among his many classic songs are “I'm Just an Old Chunk of Coal (But I'm Gonna Be a Diamond Some Day),” “Honky Tonk Heroes,” “Georgia on a Fast Train,” “Live Forever,” “Tramp on Your Street,” and “Try and Try Again.”
In 1999, Shaver was invited to perform at the Grand Ole Opry. In 2005, Billy Joe Shaver performed on CMT Outlaws. In 2006, he was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame. He recently served as spiritual advisor to Texas independent gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman and his 2007 album “Everybody’s Brother” was nominated for a GRAMMY. For his efforts, the Americana Music Association awarded him their Lifetime Achievement Award in Songwriting.
Shaver is truly one of the most respected living figures in American music. Elvis, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and many others have cut his songs. Bob Dylan, who rarely covers other writers, often plays Billy Joe‘s “Old Five And Dimers Like Me” in concert and Johnny Cash called him “my favorite songwriter.” The Washington Post noted, “When the country outlaws were collecting their holy writings, Billy Joe Shaver was carving out Exodus.”
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ALBERT S. RUDDY
Ruddy got his start in 1965 by pitching an original, yet offbeat, television idea about a POW camp. CBS loved the idea and HOGAN’S HEROES was created. The show’s 240 segments ran for eight seasons. After succeeding in television, Ruddy decided to try his luck at movies. He cast an unknown Robert Redford in LITTLE FAUSS AND BIG HALSY, which led to his involvement in THE GODFATHER. In1972, Clint Eastwood presented Albert S. Ruddy with the best picture Oscar for THE GODFATHER, putting Ruddy on the map as an icon in independent movie making.
He followed up the success of THE GODFATHER with writing and producing THE LONGEST YARD, a cult classic, launching Burt Reynolds into leading man status and creating a friendship between the two that lasts to this day. It is one of the highest grossing films of its time. THE LONGEST YARD earned Ruddy his second Golden Globe and continued respect in the industry.
In 2004, 32 years after Clint Eastwood handed Ruddy his first Oscar, they had a full circle moment by winning another best picture Oscar together for MILLION DOLLAR BABY. This movie also earned Morgan Freeman his first Academy Awardâ and Hilary Swank’s second. Ruddy continues to produce film and recently finished CAMILLE: A LOVE STORY, starring Sienna Miller and James Franco.
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