EATONTON, Ga. — On Oct. 19 at the Briarpatch Farm off Pea Ridge Road in Putnam County, the latest Songwriter’s Night concert will benefit the performing arts program at Gatewood School.

At Songwriter’s Night, the guests are just that, songwriters. They are performers as well. On this occasion, they present a behind-the-scenes glimpse into “how” and “why” the songs were written, with many of these songs being hits spanning the past 30 years.

One of the three featured performers in October is Corey Crowder. He and his wife Laney recently relocated from Nashville, Tennessee, to the Lake Oconee area.

“Corey and I have children at Gatewood and knew there was a need to get the new center outfitted with sound equipment, curtains and lighting for their amazing performing arts program that Mrs. Mappes leads and our children are a part of,” said Laney. “We figured the best way to raise some of the money (and one of the more fun ways) was to partner with Mike (Rainey) and Briarpatch Farm for a Songwriter’s Night since he is the best of the best in putting those on. Once Mike gave us the green light, we invited some of our favorite songwriter friends in from Nashville and started the planning. Should be a great event.”

Those friends coming to perform are Bob DiPiero and The Dryes.

A Hall of Fame songwriter, DiPiero had his first No. 1 hit in 1983. He now has more than 1,000 of his songs recorded with 15 going to No. 1. Those songs appear on T.V. shows, commercials and movies.

His string of awards include 50 BMI Million Air honors, multiple Songwriter of the Year honors and two consecutive Triple Play awards for three No. 1 songs within a 12-month period.

In November 2017, BMI presented Dipiero with the Icon Award celebrating his achievements and honoring his influence on generatons of music makers.

In 2007, Dipiero was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Nashville’s Walk of Fame. The Country Music Hall of Fame honored him in 2014 with their prestigious “Poets and Prophets Series: Salute to Legendary Songwriter Bob DiPiero,” and the Country Music Association presented him with the first CMA Chairman’s Award. In 2020, Dipiero received the first CMA Advocate Award.

The Dryes, a husband and wife duo, began their career in 2018 and gained legions of fans. Country Living Magazine calls them, “The new hot country duo to watch” after their appearance on season 22 of NBC’s “The Voice,” Songs inclulde “Dolly Would,” and the soulful track, “House on Fire,” both reaching No. 1 on CMT’s 12 Pack Countdown. Their latest music video, “A Little Longer,” is in rotation on CMT’s 12-Pack Countdown, as well.

The Dryes toured with Jo Dee Messina on her national “Heads Carolina, Tails California” Tour. Their latest EPs, “Raisin’ Beers & Hallelujahs” and “Dear Heart,” show the full spectrum of who they are.

Crowder himself opened for Willie Nelson, Lady A, LeAnn Rimes. and others. He is a Georgia native who moved to Nashville in 2010 to focus on hit-making. He had success as a songwriter with Chris Young’s platinum three-week No. 1, “I’m Comin’ Over,” platinum No. 1 “Think of You” (featuring Cassadee Pope), and “Hangin’ On.” He scored his first No. 1 as a producer with Young’s platinum-certified album, “I’M COMIN’ OVER.”

In 2022, Crowder received the ASCAP award for Country Song of the Year for co-writing Chris Young’s and Kane Brown’s chart-topper “Famous Friends.” A multi-week No. 1 song on country radio, “Famous Friends,” received Billboard’s award for the most played song of the year for 2021.

As a songwriter, he has co-written multiple radio singles, including Florida Georgia Line’s “I Love My Country” and “Long Live,” Blake Shelton’s “Minimum Wage,” Chase Rice’s “Drinkin Beer. Talking God. Amen,” and Chris Tomlin’s “Thank You Lord,” among many others. In all, Crowder’s had 16 No. 1 songs in the U.S. and Canada.

Ticket information for Songwriter’s Night Oct. 19 is at https://bit.ly/3z7MMvFand gatewoodschool.com/calendar/event/986/. Barn doors open at 5 p.m. and the show starts at 7. No food or beverages are sold at Songwriter’s Night. Attendees can bring their dinner and fellowship. Small coolers are welcome.