September 21, 1998 Eddie Rabbitt, Merle Kilgore and Kent Robbins Inducted Into Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame NASHVILLE--Eddie Rabbitt and Kent Robbins, hit composers who died within the past year, and generation-bridging Merle Kilgore were inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame Saturday, September 19 at ceremonies held at Loews Vanderbilt Plaza. Conducted by the Nashville Songwriters Foundation, administrator for the Hall Of Fame, the event attracted more than 650 music-industry luminaries and their guests. S-K-O Thom Schuyler, Fred Knobloch and Paul Overstreet), who last performed and recorded together in the late 1980s, re-united for the occasion to sing a medley of Eddie Rabbitt's best-known songs.  His hits include "Kentucky Rain," recorded by Elvis Presley, "Pure Love," cut by Ronnie Milsap, as well as the self-recorded "I Love a Rainy Night," "On Second Thought," "Rocky Mountain Music," "Two Dollars In The Jukebox" and "Drivin' My Life Away."  Hall of Fame member Rory Bourke spoke in tribute to Rabbitt, who died in May of lung cancer.  Rabbitt's wife, Janine, accepted his Hall of Fame citation. Honoring Kent Robbins with song were John Anderson, who turned Robbins' "Straight Tequila Night" into a No. 1 hit, and Gary Allan, who recently scored with "It Would Be You."  Among Robbins' other top compositions are "When I Stop Leaving (I'll Be Gone)" (for Charley Pride), "(I'm A) Stand By My Woman Man" (Ronnie Milsap), "Love Is Alive" (The Judds), "Every Light In The House Is On" (Trace Adkins) and "I Wish I Could Have Been There" (John Anderson).  Layng Martine Jr., Robbins' long-time friend, co-writer and fellow Hall of Fame nominee, eulogized the songwriter.  Robbins was killed in a car wreck last December.  His wife, Kathy, accepted his honor. Connie Smith and Marty Stuart provided musical tributes to Merle Kilgore.  Early in his career, Kilgore performed on the same bills with Hank Williams and Elvis Presley.  He then went on the manage Hank Williams Jr.   Kilgore has penned such standards as "More And More" (for Webb Pierce), "Wolverton Mountain" (Claude King), "Johnny Reb" (Johnny Horton) and "Ring Of Fire" (Johnny Cash).  Hall of Fame member Don Wayne paid tribute to Merle. With these latest additions, there are now 126 members in the Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame.  mail@nashvillesongwritersfoundation.com