Byron Hill
Encyclopedia
Byron Hill is an American songwriter
from Winston-Salem, North Carolina
. Working professionally in Nashville, TN for more than thirty years, his songs have been recorded by over 650 Country
and Pop
artists.
"Out Of Your Mind", and in 1981 with Johnny Lee's
"Pickin' Up Strangers
", with many other recordings and singles along the way, songs recorded by George Strait
, Ray Charles
, Anne Murray
, Kenny Rogers
, Juice Newton
, Alabama
, Randy Travis
, Keith Whitley
, Johnny Lee
, George Jones
, Reba McEntire
, Toby Keith
, Joe Nichols, Gary Allan
, Tracy Byrd, Doc & Merle Watson
, Joe Sun
, Rhonda Vincent
, The Whites
, Neal McCoy
, Trace Adkins
, John Michael Montgomery
, Conway Twitty
, Asleep At The Wheel
, Clint Eastwood
, Hank Thompson
, Sammy Kershaw
, Gene Watson
, Mila Mason
, The Road Hammers
, Porter Wagoner
, Ed Bruce
, Gord Bamford
, Brooks & Dunn
, Bill Medley
, BlackHawk, Highway 101
, Jeff Bates
, Barbara Mandrell
, Mel McDaniel
, Rhett Akins
, The Oak Ridge Boys
, The Seekers
, Daniel O'Donnell, and others. Several of his songs have been number one hits including George Strait's
"Fool Hearted Memory
" in 1982, Alabama's
"Born Country
" in 1992, and Gary Allan's
"Nothing On But The Radio
" in 2005. His songs have since generated more than 650 recordings, earning seventy-five RIAA certified gold and platinum awards, ten ASCAP awards, twenty-nine U.S. and Canadian top-ten chart hits including numerous hits in other worldwide markets.,,,
He has also been the producer of various artists including: Roger Bowling
1981-1982 (Mercury Records, Avco Embassy Pictures, select recordings only), Renate Kern 1981 (Ariola Records/Germany), Mike Dekle 1982–present, (Parlay Records), Kathy Mattea
1983-1984 (Mercury Records, co-producer), Nancy Wood 1983-1984 (Lovelight Records/Germany, co-producer), Richard Gachner 1984 (WEA/France, Polydor Records/France), Marie Bottrell
1991 (BMG Records/Canada, Cardinal Records/Canada, co-producer), Gary Allan
1996-2000, (Decca Nashville, co-producer), Gil Grand
1998, (Monument Records/USA/Canada), Gord Bamford
2005–present (GWB Records/Canada, Royalty Records/Canada), Hey Romeo
2008–present, and numerous other independent artists 1978–present. He was awarded the CCMA 2008 and 2010 Producer Of The Year for his work with Canadian artist Gord Bamford.
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
from Winston-Salem, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. Working professionally in Nashville, TN for more than thirty years, his songs have been recorded by over 650 Country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
and Pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
artists.
Music career
After moving to Nashville in 1978 and signing his first songwriting contract in September of that year, the hits started for Byron as a songwriter in 1979 with Joe Sun'sJoe Sun
James Joseph Paulsen is an American country music singer, songwriter of Danish descent, known professionally as Joe Sun. Recording for the Ovation and Elektra Records labels, Sun charted fourteen singles on the Hot Country Songs charts...
"Out Of Your Mind", and in 1981 with Johnny Lee's
Johnny Lee
Johnny Lee is an American country music singer. His 1980 single, "Lookin' for Love" not only spent three weeks at the top of the Billboard country singles chart in the second half of 1980 but also went to the Top 5 on the Pop charts, and Top 10 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary survey...
"Pickin' Up Strangers
Pickin' Up Strangers
"Pickin' Up Strangers" is the title of a song written by Byron Hill and recorded by American country music artist Johnny Lee. The single was originally recorded for the soundtrack of the feature film "Coast To Coast", and was also included on Johnny Lee's album "Lookin' For Love". The song won an...
", with many other recordings and singles along the way, songs recorded by George Strait
George Strait
George Harvey Strait is an American country music singer, actor, and music producer. Strait is referred to as the "King of Country," and critics call Strait a living legend. He is known for his unique style of western swing music, bar-room ballads, honky-tonk style, and fresh yet traditional...
, Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
, Anne Murray
Anne Murray
Morna Anne Murray CC, ONS is a Canadian singer in pop, country and adult contemporary styles whose albums have sold over 54 million copies....
, Kenny Rogers
Kenny Rogers
Kenneth Donald "Kenny" Rogers is an American singer-songwriter, photographer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur...
, Juice Newton
Juice Newton
Judith Kay "Juice" Newton is an American Pop music and Country singer, songwriter and guitarist...
, Alabama
Alabama (band)
Alabama is a country music and southern rock band from Fort Payne, Alabama, United States. The band was founded in 1969 by Randy Owen and his cousin Teddy Gentry , soon joined by Jeff Cook...
, Randy Travis
Randy Travis
Randy Travis is an American country music singer and actor. Since 1985, he has recorded 20 studio albums and charted more than 30 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, 22 of which were number one hits...
, Keith Whitley
Keith Whitley
Jackie Keith Whitley , known professionally as Keith Whitley, was an American country music singer. Whitley's brief career in mainstream country music lasted from 1984 until his death in 1989, but he continues to influence an entire generation of singers and songwriters...
, Johnny Lee
Johnny Lee
Johnny Lee is an American country music singer. His 1980 single, "Lookin' for Love" not only spent three weeks at the top of the Billboard country singles chart in the second half of 1980 but also went to the Top 5 on the Pop charts, and Top 10 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary survey...
, George Jones
George Jones
George Glenn Jones is an American country music singer known for his long list of hit records, his distinctive voice and phrasing, and his marriage to Tammy Wynette....
, Reba McEntire
Reba McEntire
Reba Nell McEntire is an American country music artist and actress. She began her career in the music industry as a high school student singing in the Kiowa High School band , on local radio shows with her siblings, and at rodeos. As a solo act, she was invited to perform at a rodeo in Oklahoma...
, Toby Keith
Toby Keith
Toby Keith Covel , best known as Toby Keith, is an American country music singer-songwriter, record producer and actor. Keith released his first four studio albums — 1993's Toby Keith, 1994's Boomtown, 1996's Blue Moon and 1997's Dream Walkin, plus a Greatest Hits package for various divisions of...
, Joe Nichols, Gary Allan
Gary Allan
Gary Allan Herzberg is an American country music artist, known professionally as Gary Allan.Signed to Decca Records in 1996, Allan made his debut on the United States country music scene with the release of his single "Her Man", the lead-off to his gold-certified debut album Used Heart for Sale,...
, Tracy Byrd, Doc & Merle Watson
Doc Watson
Arthel Lane "Doc" Watson is an American guitar player, songwriter and singer of bluegrass, folk, country, blues and gospel music. He has won seven Grammy awards as well as a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Watson's flatpicking skills and knowledge of traditional American music are highly regarded...
, Joe Sun
Joe Sun
James Joseph Paulsen is an American country music singer, songwriter of Danish descent, known professionally as Joe Sun. Recording for the Ovation and Elektra Records labels, Sun charted fourteen singles on the Hot Country Songs charts...
, Rhonda Vincent
Rhonda Vincent
Rhonda Lea Vincent is a bluegrass singer, songwriter, mandolin player, guitarist, and fiddle player.Her musical career started as a child in her family's band, The Sally Mountain Show, and has spanned almost four decades...
, The Whites
The Whites
The Whites is an American country music vocal group consisting of lead singer Sharon White, her sister Cheryl , and their father Buck...
, Neal McCoy
Neal McCoy
Hubert Neal McGaughey, Jr. is an American country music singer of mixed Irish and Filipino descent. Known professionally as Neal McCoy, he has released ten studio albums on various labels, and has released 34 singles to country radio...
, Trace Adkins
Trace Adkins
Tracy Darrell "Trace" Adkins is an American country music artist. He made his debut in 1996 with the album Dreamin' Out Loud, released on Capitol Records Nashville. Since then, Adkins has released seven more studio albums and two Greatest Hits compilations...
, John Michael Montgomery
John Michael Montgomery
John Michael Montgomery is an American country music artist. He has produced more than thirty singles on the Billboard country charts, including two of Billboard’s Number One country singles of the year: "I Swear" and "Sold "...
, Conway Twitty
Conway Twitty
Conway Twitty , born Harold Lloyd Jenkins, was an American country music artist. He also had success in early rock and roll, R&B, and pop music. He held the record for the most number one singles of any act with 55 No. 1 Billboard country hits until George Strait broke the record in 2006...
, Asleep At The Wheel
Asleep at the Wheel
Asleep at the Wheel is a American country music group that was formed in Paw Paw, West Virginia, but based in Austin, Texas. Altogether, they have won nine Grammy Awards since their 1970 inception. In their career, they have released more than twenty studio albums, and have charted more than twenty...
, Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood
Clinton "Clint" Eastwood, Jr. is an American film actor, director, producer, composer and politician. Eastwood first came to prominence as a supporting cast member in the TV series Rawhide...
, Hank Thompson
Hank Thompson (music)
Henry William Thompson , known professionally as Hank Thompson, was an American country music entertainer whose career spanned seven decades...
, Sammy Kershaw
Sammy Kershaw
Samuel Paul "Sammy" Kershaw is an American country music artist. A third cousin of Cajun fiddler Doug Kershaw and ex-husband of Lorrie Morgan, he has been active in country music since 1991. He has released ten studio albums, with three RIAA platinum certifications and two gold certifications...
, Gene Watson
Gene Watson
Gary Gene Watson is an American country singer. He is most famous for his 1975 hit "Love in the Hot Afternoon," his 1982 hit "Fourteen Carat Mind," and his signature song "Farewell Party." Watson's long career has notched six number ones, 23 top tens and over 75 charted singles.-Biography:Watson...
, Mila Mason
Mila Mason
Mila Mason is an American country music artist. She made her debut on the country music scene in 1996 with the release of her debut album That's Enough of That, which produced three hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts, including its title track...
, The Road Hammers
The Road Hammers
The Road Hammers was a Canadian Country music group composed of Jason McCoy, Clayton Bellamy and Chris Byrne. Formed by McCoy as a side project, the trio's music is influenced by 1960s and 1970s trucker music and Southern rock. Their first self-titled album included remakes of several classic...
, Porter Wagoner
Porter Wagoner
Porter Wayne Wagoner was a popular American country music singer known for his flashy Nudie and Manuel suits and blond pompadour. He introduced the young Dolly Parton near the beginning of her career on his long-running television show, and they were a well-known duet throughout the late 1960s and...
, Ed Bruce
Ed Bruce
William Edwin "Ed" Bruce, Jr. is an American country music songwriter and singer. He is known for penning the 1975 song "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" .-Early life & songwriting career:...
, Gord Bamford
Gord Bamford
Gord Bamford is a Canadian country music singer. He has released four albums and charted more than 20 singles on the Canadian country charts from 2000 to present. This total includes 8 songs that have charted on the Canadian Hot 100 chart, which began publication in 2007.-Early years:Bamford was...
, Brooks & Dunn
Brooks & Dunn
Brooks & Dunn was an American country music duo consisting of Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn, who were both vocalists and songwriters. They were paired by record producer Tim DuBois in 1990. Before the duo's foundation, both members of the duo were solo recording artists...
, Bill Medley
Bill Medley
William Thomas Medley is an American singer and songwriter, best known as one half of The Righteous Brothers....
, BlackHawk, Highway 101
Highway 101 (band)
Highway 101 is an American country music band founded by Paulette Carlson , Jack Daniels , Curtis Stone and Scott "Cactus" Moser . With Carlson as lead vocalist, the band recorded three albums for Warner Bros. Records Nashville and charted ten consecutive Top Ten hits on the Hot Country Songs...
, Jeff Bates
Jeff Bates
Jeffery Wayne "Jeff" Bates is an American country music artist. Signed to RCA Records in 2003, Bates released his debut album Rainbow Man that year. A second album, Leave the Light On, was released in 2005 on RCA. He left RCA in 2006. This album was followed by Jeff Bates in 2008 on the...
, Barbara Mandrell
Barbara Mandrell
Barbara Ann Mandrell is an American country music singer best known for a 1970s–1980s series of Top 10 hits and TV shows that helped her become one of country's most successful female vocalists of the 1970s and 1980s...
, Mel McDaniel
Mel McDaniel
Mel McDaniel was an American country music artist. His chart making years were mainly the 1980s and his hits from that era include "Louisiana Saturday Night", "Big Ole Brew", "Stand Up", the Number One "Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On", "I Call It Love", "Stand on It", and a remake of Chuck Berry's...
, Rhett Akins
Rhett Akins
Thomas Rhett Akins Sr. is an American country singer and songwriter. Signed to Decca Records between 1994 and 1997, he released two albums for the label , followed by 1998's What Livin's All About on MCA Nashville. Friday Night in Dixie was released in 2002 on Audium Entertainment...
, The Oak Ridge Boys
The Oak Ridge Boys
The Oak Ridge Boys are an American country and gospel vocal quartet.The group was founded in the 1940s as the Oak Ridge Quartet. They became popular in southern gospel during the 1950s...
, The Seekers
The Seekers
The Seekers are an Australian folk-influenced pop music group which were originally formed in 1962. They were the first Australian popular music group to achieve major chart and sales success in the United Kingdom and the United States...
, Daniel O'Donnell, and others. Several of his songs have been number one hits including George Strait's
George Strait
George Harvey Strait is an American country music singer, actor, and music producer. Strait is referred to as the "King of Country," and critics call Strait a living legend. He is known for his unique style of western swing music, bar-room ballads, honky-tonk style, and fresh yet traditional...
"Fool Hearted Memory
Fool Hearted Memory
"Fool Hearted Memory" is the title of a song written by Byron Hill and Blake Mevis, and was American country music singer George Strait's first #1 single . The single was from George Strait's 1982 Strait from the Heart album on MCA Records and was included in the soundtrack of the feature film "The...
" in 1982, Alabama's
Alabama (band)
Alabama is a country music and southern rock band from Fort Payne, Alabama, United States. The band was founded in 1969 by Randy Owen and his cousin Teddy Gentry , soon joined by Jeff Cook...
"Born Country
Born Country
"Born Country" is the title of a song written by Byron Hill and John Schweers, and recorded by the American country music band Alabama. It was released in December 1991 as the second and final single on their compilation album, Greatest Hits Vol. II. It reached No...
" in 1992, and Gary Allan's
Gary Allan
Gary Allan Herzberg is an American country music artist, known professionally as Gary Allan.Signed to Decca Records in 1996, Allan made his debut on the United States country music scene with the release of his single "Her Man", the lead-off to his gold-certified debut album Used Heart for Sale,...
"Nothing On But The Radio
Nothing On but the Radio
"Nothing On but the Radio" is the title of a song written by Byron Hill, Odie Blackmon and Brice Long, recorded by American country music artist Gary Allan. It was released in June 2004 as the last single release from his 2004 album See If I Care. The song was Allan's third Number One single on the...
" in 2005. His songs have since generated more than 650 recordings, earning seventy-five RIAA certified gold and platinum awards, ten ASCAP awards, twenty-nine U.S. and Canadian top-ten chart hits including numerous hits in other worldwide markets.,,,
He has also been the producer of various artists including: Roger Bowling
Roger Bowling
Roger D. Bowling was a Nashville songwriter in the 1970s who specialized in Country music...
1981-1982 (Mercury Records, Avco Embassy Pictures, select recordings only), Renate Kern 1981 (Ariola Records/Germany), Mike Dekle 1982–present, (Parlay Records), Kathy Mattea
Kathy Mattea
Kathleen Alice "Kathy" Mattea is an American country music and bluegrass performer who often brings folk, Celtic and traditional country sounds to her music. Active since 1983 as a recording artist, she has recorded seventeen albums and has charted more than thirty singles on the Billboard Hot...
1983-1984 (Mercury Records, co-producer), Nancy Wood 1983-1984 (Lovelight Records/Germany, co-producer), Richard Gachner 1984 (WEA/France, Polydor Records/France), Marie Bottrell
Marie Bottrell
Marie Bottrell is a Canadian country music singer-songwriter. Eighteen of Bottrell's singles made the RPM Country Tracks charts, including five which reached the Top Ten...
1991 (BMG Records/Canada, Cardinal Records/Canada, co-producer), Gary Allan
Gary Allan
Gary Allan Herzberg is an American country music artist, known professionally as Gary Allan.Signed to Decca Records in 1996, Allan made his debut on the United States country music scene with the release of his single "Her Man", the lead-off to his gold-certified debut album Used Heart for Sale,...
1996-2000, (Decca Nashville, co-producer), Gil Grand
Gil Grand
Gil Grand is a country music singer, best known for his hit "Famous First Words." Active since 1998, he has released three studio albums to date: 1998's Famous First Words, 2002's Burnin′ and 2006's Somebody's Someone...
1998, (Monument Records/USA/Canada), Gord Bamford
Gord Bamford
Gord Bamford is a Canadian country music singer. He has released four albums and charted more than 20 singles on the Canadian country charts from 2000 to present. This total includes 8 songs that have charted on the Canadian Hot 100 chart, which began publication in 2007.-Early years:Bamford was...
2005–present (GWB Records/Canada, Royalty Records/Canada), Hey Romeo
Hey Romeo
Hey Romeo is a Canadian country music group from Edmonton, Alberta composed of Stacie Roper , Darren Gusnowsky and Rob Shapiro . Their 2007 single "Second Hand News," a cover of the 1977 Fleetwood Mac song, reached the Top 50 on the Radio & Records Canadian country singles chart...
2008–present, and numerous other independent artists 1978–present. He was awarded the CCMA 2008 and 2010 Producer Of The Year for his work with Canadian artist Gord Bamford.
Songs in Films
- Coast To CoastCoast to Coast (1980 film)Coast to Coast is a 1980 comedy film starring Dyan Cannon and Robert Blake, directed by Joseph Sargent. The screenplay was written by Stanley Weiser. The original score was composed by Charles Bernstein. The film was shot in Stockton, California...
, 1980, Paramount PicturesParamount PicturesParamount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
, includes "Pickin' Up StrangersPickin' Up Strangers"Pickin' Up Strangers" is the title of a song written by Byron Hill and recorded by American country music artist Johnny Lee. The single was originally recorded for the soundtrack of the feature film "Coast To Coast", and was also included on Johnny Lee's album "Lookin' For Love". The song won an...
" recorded by Johnny LeeJohnny LeeJohnny Lee is an American country music singer. His 1980 single, "Lookin' for Love" not only spent three weeks at the top of the Billboard country singles chart in the second half of 1980 but also went to the Top 5 on the Pop charts, and Top 10 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary survey...
. - The ExterminatorThe ExterminatorThe Exterminator is a 1980 action film written, produced and directed by James Glickenhaus and starring Robert Ginty as Vietnam veteran vigilante John Eastland, also known as "The Exterminator", who takes out the street punks and those involved in organized crime when the law fails to do justice.-...
, 1980, Avco Embassy Pictures, includes "Heal It" recorded by Roger BowlingRoger BowlingRoger D. Bowling was a Nashville songwriter in the 1970s who specialized in Country music...
. - The Soldier, 1982, Embassy PicturesEmbassy PicturesEmbassy Pictures Corporation was an independent studio and distributor responsible for such films as The Graduate, The Lion in Winter, This Is Spinal Tap and Escape from New York.-Founding:The company was founded in 1942 by producer Joseph E...
, includes "Fool Hearted MemoryFool Hearted Memory"Fool Hearted Memory" is the title of a song written by Byron Hill and Blake Mevis, and was American country music singer George Strait's first #1 single . The single was from George Strait's 1982 Strait from the Heart album on MCA Records and was included in the soundtrack of the feature film "The...
" recorded by George StraitGeorge StraitGeorge Harvey Strait is an American country music singer, actor, and music producer. Strait is referred to as the "King of Country," and critics call Strait a living legend. He is known for his unique style of western swing music, bar-room ballads, honky-tonk style, and fresh yet traditional...
. - Pink Cadillac, 1989, Warner Bros. Pictures, includes "Card-Carryin' Fool" recorded by Randy TravisRandy TravisRandy Travis is an American country music singer and actor. Since 1985, he has recorded 20 studio albums and charted more than 30 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, 22 of which were number one hits...
. - Elvis, Up Close and Personal with Sonny West, 2008, Rochford Films, Scoring/Music composer/Music licensing consultant.
- Lake Effects, 2011, Life Out Loud Films, includes "Stars Are Falling" recorded by Diamondback.
Solo Albums (as a featured performer)
- "Gravity... and other things that keep you down to Earth" (BHP Recordings/BHP-4501), 1999
- "Ramblings" (BHP Recordings/BHP-5002), 2004
- "Stay A While" (BHP Recordings/BHP-5503), 2009
- "Radio Songs" (BHP Recordings/BHP-5704), 2011
Albums (as a guest performer)
- "A Songwriters Tribute To George Strait, Vol 1" (Compadre Records/CRC-010), with various artists, 2004