Monday, June 18, 2012

LONG LIVE FRANCES !


Dubbed “one of the true powerhouses of the pop music business” by Fortune magazine in 1986, the year she became BMI’s president and chief executive, Preston fought passionately for the rights of songwriters, composers and music publishers. (Ed Rode / Associated Press / September 30, 2001)
LOS ANGELES TIMES ~ OBITUARY 

















By Gigi de Lugo, CEO - Tropic Heat Studios, Inc.

The Memorial yesterday at The Country Music Hall of Fame for Music Matriarch Frances Preston was such a journey of memories & emotions for me - looking back on my 19 years in Music City while standing next her casket.....I lost it. Melanie lost it ....we both were walking around grabbing tissues and trying not to ball like lost super heroes without our guiding light. Each of us with our own history of memories -- hers of both a personal & professional nature, mine only a professional one. - I felt like a child reflecting on how unfair I had been at times (in my love/hate opinions) toward my BMI & some of their bylaws not even their NYC office would make an exception to (when the Publisher's won the BMI award for our song Love A Little Stronger)- politics - oh the POLITICS of Music Row in the 90's *sigh*. Standing beside her today - my silent communion of heart thanked Frances for her enduring strength and profound GRACE she showed while up against "the old boys" as she stayed her course for ALL the writers & publishers she had under her wing during her reign as Queen of BMI. Long Live Frances!
Melanie Knupp & Gigi de Lugo (CEO - Tropic Heat Studios, Inc)
pile of tissues on the table in front of us
June 17, 2012 Frances Preston Memorial