CMA Visits Los Angeles With Florida Georgia Line, Corey Crowder, Ernest K., Hardy, Raelynn And Canaan Smith

CMA Foundation and U.S. Bank Provide Funding to Harmony Project
CMA Songwriters Series Presented by U.S. Bank Hosts Sold-Out Show at The Novo

The Country Music Association visited Los Angeles Wednesday, Oct. 10 with multi-platinum superstar duo and Tree Vibez Music founders Florida Georgia Line, joined by Corey Crowder, Ernest K., HARDY, RaeLynn and Canaan Smith. During the trip, the songwriters met with students from Harmony Project for conversations about songwriting, followed by a sold-out CMA Songwriters Series Presented by U.S. Bank performance at The Novo.

Wednesday afternoon, Crowder, Ernest K., HARDY, RaeLynn and Smith welcomed students from Harmony Project, ranging in age from middle school through high school, at The Novo for a conversation about the craft of songwriting. Shortly into the discussion, FGL’s Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley surprised the group and shared their own tips on songwriting, just before inviting the students to watch soundcheck. After soundcheck, the CMA Foundation and U.S. Bank surprised students with 102 new musical instruments as well as tickets to attend the CMA Songwriters Series show that evening.

Harmony Project provides comprehensive, tuition-free music education and social support, serving 3,500 youth across Los Angeles, Southern California and beyond. More than 90 percent of students in the program, which begins in elementary school, go on to graduate high school and enter college. The CMA Foundation provided a $50,000 grant to Harmony Project this year and has invested $350,000 through a five-year partnership. Additionally, U.S. Bank granted $25,000 to Harmony Project as part of its Community Possible giving platform and its Places to Play partnership with the CMA Foundation.

Following the visit with Harmony Project students, FGL took The Novo stage for a sold-out performance, which featured Crowder, Ernest K., HARDY, RaeLynn and Smith joining the 11-time nominated and four-time CMA Awards-winning duo to perform and share the stories behind their hit songs. FGL kicked off the night with their 2013 CMA Awards Single of the Year “Cruise,” as songwriters joined the duo on stage throughout the night, praising each other for their work and cracking jokes in between songs. RaeLynn performed new single “Tailgate,” joking, “If my tailgate told on me, it’s a bad day in my household.” Smith performed his hits “Hole in a Bottle” and “Love You Like That,” adding that both songs “helped pay the bills,” while Ernest K. broke out his beat boxing skills during “Locals Only.” Before performing current single “Simple,” Hubbard spoke about writing the song. “We were in the back of a bus and life was feeling complicated. We were talking about how we needed a break, so we talked about writing a song about being simpler.” Crowder played Chris Young’s No. 1 hit “I’m Coming Over,” sharing it was the first record he produced with Young and that Crowder’s son wished in a wishing well for him to have a No. 1. HARDY explained how he is forever grateful to the FGL guys for believing in him before performing “Talk You Out of It” and sharing, “This will be FGL’s new single.” The show closed with the full lineup performing FGL’s record-breaking No. 1 hit “Meant to Be,” that had the entire crowd up on their feet as Kelley addressed the students from Harmony Project in the audience: “Rock on. Don’t take no for an answer. Chase your dreams. If we can do this, you can too!”

See below for the full set list.

Setlist:
Florida Georgia Line – “Cruise”
Corey Crowder – “Think of You” (recorded by Chris Young with Cassadee Pope)
HARDY – “Up Down” (recorded by Morgan Wallen feat. Florida Georgia Line)
Canaan Smith – “Hole In A Bottle” and “Love You Like That”
Florida Georgia Line – “Get Your Shine On”
Corey Crowder and HARDY – “Happy Hour”
HARDY – “Signed, Sober You”
Ernest K.  – “Locals Only”
Florida Georgia Line – “You Make It Easy” (recorded by Jason Aldean)
Corey Crowder – “Can’t Turn You Down” (recorded by Jon Pardi)
HARDY– “Rednecker”
RaeLynn – “Bra Off”
RaeLynn – “Tailgate”
Florida Georgia Line – “Simple”
Corey Crowder – “I’m Comin’ Over” (recorded by Chris Young)
HARDY – “Talk You Out of It”
Florida Georgia Line – “Meant to Be” (recorded by Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line)