Merrimack presents the Music Makers: Mel DiBurpho

ARCHIVE: February 8, 2008

Mel DiBurpho is a group of Nashville’s most prolific songwriters and hit makers that includes Bob Dipiero (The Hit Men of Music Row), Vince Melamed (The Vinyl Kings, Run C&W), Gary Burr (Pure Prairie League, Ringo Starr, Carole King) and Jim Photoglo (Vince Gull, Dan Fogelberg, Andy Gibb). Together, Mel DiBurpho performed many of the numerous chart hits written by them and recorded by country music giants such as Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Montgomery Gentry, Reba McEntire, Brooks and Dunn, Trisha Yearwood and many, more.

About the Musicians

GARY BURR has more than 20 ASCAP Awards and has been named Songwriter of the year by the Nashville Songwriter’s Association (1992 and 1994), ASCAP (1995) and Billboard (1994). While he is most closely identified with chart topping country hits, in recent years he has written songs for pop stars such as Clay Aiken, Michael Bolton, Ricky Martin and Kelly Clarkson. He also performs with Ringo Starr and Carole King.

Once a performer with Pure Prairie League, Gary hit his stride as a composer in 1989 and enjoyed a massive breakthrough in 1992 when he had four nearly simultaneous Top 10 hits. 

VINCE MELAMID is a keyboard player and songwriter who has appeared with bands such as the Eagles, Bob Dylan, Jimmy Buffett and Dan Fogelberg. Vince is a five-time BMI Millionaire (five of his hits have been played a million times on the radio).

BOB DIPIERO sets the bar for today’s songwriters and entertainers. Bob is on the Board of the Country Music Association and former president of the Nashville Songwriter’s Association, Inc. Bob has given the country music industry some of its most memorable moments, crafting 14 Number 1 hits recorded by country music giants including Montgomery Gentry, Reba McEntire, Faith Hill and George Strait. He has been a BMI Millionaire more than three dozen times, has won two CMA Triple Play Awards and has been named Songwriter of the Year at the Nashville Music Awards and by Sony/ATV.

JIM PHOTOGLO former bassist and backup singer for Andy Gibb, Vince Gill and Dan Fogelberg, has had two Number 1 hits and has written for The Nitty Gritty Dirtband, The Oak Ridge Boys, Pam Tillis, Tanya Tucker and Travis Tritt.


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A New Series!

Merrimack Hall will present  a series of evenings with illustrious songwriters that we are calling Merrimack Presents the Music Makers. Additional events will be announced soon.
Stay Tuned!

"Too fun....a night with these guys is like spending a night with a jukebox that only plays hits. We heard hits like Fishin in the Dark, Blue Clear Sky, I Try to Think About Elvis...the list was endless."

Bob, Vince, Gary and Jim have more than 20 Number 1 Chart Hits between them.

This evening offered a unique opportunity to hear these gifted songwriters perform the hits as they wrote them and share the stories behind the music. Not only did each songwriter perform his own hits, they performed each others’, engaging the audience with their signature hilarious banter; they also joined together with a drummer to present some songs as a band.

Their frequent appearances at Nashville’s Bluebird Café are instant sellouts and their story-telling is nearly as famous in Nashville circles as their songwriting.

Click here to watch a video of Mel DiBurpho!