Bob Dylan's Coffee Table

Audie Murphy, songwriter

2010-03-12T09:21:00.000-08:00

Audie Leon Murphy (June 20, 1925 – May 28, 1971) was the most decorated American soldier of World War II and a celebrated movie star for many years in the post-war era, appearing in 44 films. He also found some success as a country music composer.

"When The Wind Blows In Chicago"
Words and Music by Audie Murphy and Scott Turner
Performed by Robert Bouchard

"Shutters and Boards"
Words and Music by Audie Murphy and Scott Turner
Performed by Jerry Wallace

Laura Nyro, songwriter

2010-01-13T23:39:00.000-08:00

Laura Nyro (born Laura Nigro) (October 18, 1947 – April 8, 1997) was an American composer, lyricist, singer, and pianist. Her style was a hybrid of Brill Building-style New York pop, jazz, gospel, rhythm and blues, show tunes and rock.

She was best known, and enjoyed her most commercial success, as a composer and lyricist rather than as a performer. Between 1968 and 1970 a number of other singers had significant hits with her songs: The 5th Dimension with "Blowing Away", "Wedding Bell Blues", "Stoned Soul Picnic", "Sweet Blindness", "Save The Country" and "Black Patch"; Blood, Sweat & Tears and Peter, Paul & Mary with "And When I Die"; Three Dog Night with "Eli's Coming"; and Barbra Streisand with "Stoney End", "Time and Love", and "Hands off the Man (Flim Flam Man)". Nyro's best-selling single was her recording of Carole King and Gerry Goffin's "Up on the Roof."

"Stoned Soul Picnic"
Performed by The Fifth Dimension
Words and Music by Laura Nyro

"And When I Die"
Performed by Blood, Sweat, & Tears
Words & Muisc by Laura Nyro

"Wedding Bell Blues"
Performed by The Fifth Dimension
Words and Music by Laura Nyro

"Up On The Roof"
Performed by Laura Nyro
Words and Music by Goffin & King

Tom Paxton, songwriter

2010-01-13T08:11:00.000-08:00

Thomas Richard Paxton (born October 31, 1937) is an American folk singer and singer-songwriter who has been writing, performing and recording music for over forty years. In 2009, Paxton received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

"Bottle of Wine"
Performed by The Fireballs
Words and Music By Tom Paxton

Performed by the Rovers
Words and Music by Tom Paxton

Performed by Dolly Parton & Porter Wagoner
Words and Music by Tom Paxton

Songwriters on the "Hilltop"

2009-06-25T13:27:00.000-07:00

In 1971, Coca Cola released their iconic "Hilltop" TV commercial. The underlying jingle "I'd Like To Teach the World To Sing" proved so popular that radio station listeners started requesting it. Two separate versions of the song reached the Billboard Top 20 in 1972. (Hillside Singers, #13; The New Seekers, #7)

"I'd Like to Teach The World to Sing"
(Spot name: "Hilltop", McCann-Erickson, 1971)
Music by Bill Backer, Billy Davis, Roger Greenaway and Roger Cook
Performed by The New Seekers

"I'd Like to Teach The World To Sing" was written by four interesting characters, Bill Backer, Billy Davis, Roger Greenaway and Roger Cook.

Bill Backer (1926- ) was an executive at the McCann-Erickson advertising agency, the Charleston, S.C., native created some of the most successful ad campaigns in history. Backer contributed his songwriting skills to the jingles on more than one of the spots he created.

"Here's to Good Friends"
Words and Music by Bill Backer
Performed by Arthur Prysock

Roquel Billy Davis (July 11, 1932 - September 2, 2004) of Detroit was an American songwriter, record producer, and singer.

"Reet Petite"
Words and Music by Billy Davis & Berry Gordy, Jr.
Performed by Jackie Wilson

"Lonely Teardrops"
Words and Music by Billy Davis, Gwen Fuqua & Berry Gordy, Jr.
Performed by Jackie Wilson

Roger Frederick Cook (born 19 August 1940, in Fishponds, Bristol, England) is a well-known songwriter who has written many hits for other recording artists. He has also had a successful recording career in his own right. Most of the hits he has written have been in collaboration with Roger Greenaway, whom he originally met while they were members of a close harmony group, The Kestrels.

Roger Greenaway (born Roger John Greenaway, 23 August 1938, [1] Fishponds, Bristol), is a popular English songwriter, best remembered for his collaborations with Roger Cook.

"Talking In Your Sleep"
Words & Music by Roger Cook & Bobby Wood
Performed by Crystal Gayle

"Long, Cool Woman in a Black Dress"
Words & Music by Roger Cook & Roger Greenaway
Performed by The Hollies

"You've Got Your Troubles"
Words & Music by Roger Cook & Roger Greenaway
Performed by The Fortunes

Ron Miller, songwriter

2008-11-13T14:18:00.001-08:00

Ronald Norman Miller (c. 1933 - July 23, 2007) was an American popular songwriter and record producer, who attained many Top 10 hits with ballads written for Motown artists in the 1960s and 1970s. Miller was born in Chicago and was discovered playing in a bar by Motown founder Berry Gordy. He penned a number of songs for Stevie Wonder, including four hit singles, in the period prior to 1971 when Wonder took control of his own recordings.

"For Once In My Life"
Words and Music by Ron Miller and Orlando Murden
Performed by Stevie Wonder
Note: Clip also contains "If You Really Love Me" by Stevie Wonder and Syreeta Wright

"Touch Me In The Morning"
Words and Music by Ron Miller and Michael Masser
Performed by Diana Ross

"I've Never Been To Me"
Words and Music by Ron Miller and Ken Hirsch
Performed by Charlene

"A Place In The Sun"
Words and Music by Ron Miller and Bryan Wells
Performed by Stevie Wonder

"Heaven Help Us All"
Words and Music by Ron Miller
Performed by Ray Charles

Mac Davis, songwriter

2008-11-13T13:37:00.000-08:00

Morris Mac Davis, known as Mac Davis (born January 21, 1942), is a country music singer and songwriter originally from Lubbock, Texas who has enjoyed much pop music crossover success. He became one of the most successful country singers of the 1970s and 1980s. He is also an actor.

"It's Hard to Be Humble"
Words and Music by Mac Davis
Performed by Mac Davis and Jim Henson

"Baby Don't Get Hooked on Me"
Words and Music by Mac Davis
Performed by Lynn Anderson and Mac Davis

"I Believe In Music"
Words and Music by Mac Davis
Performed by Cliff Richard and Nana Mouskouri

In The Ghetto
Words and Music by Mac Davis
Performed by Elvis Presley

The Sherman Brothers, songwriters

2008-07-25T08:44:00.000-07:00

The Sherman Brothers are Academy Award-winning American songwriters who specialize in musical films. They are Robert B. Sherman (born December 19, 1925) and Richard M. Sherman (born June 12, 1928). The Sherman Brothers wrote more motion picture musical song scores than any other songwriting team in history, working for Walt Disney during the last six years of his life. Film scores of the Sherman Brothers include Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Jungle Book, The Aristocats and The Tigger Movie.

"Jolly Holiday"
Words and Music by Robert Sherman and Richard Sherman
Performed by Dick Van Dyke, Julie Andrews, & ensemble
From the film "Mary Poppins"

"I Wan'na Be Like You"
Words and Music by Robert Sherman and Richard Sherman
Performed by Louis Prima
From the film "The Jungle Book"

"It's a Small World"
Words and Music by Robert Sherman and Richard Sherman
Narrated by Walt Disney

"Let's Get Together"
Words and Music by Robert Sherman and Richard Sherman
Performed by Hayley Mills & Hayley Mills
From the film "The Parent Trap"

"On The Front Porch"
Words and Music by Robert Sherman and Richard Sherman
Performed by Burl Ives
From the film "Summer Magic"

Authors who moonlighted as songwriters, (#1)

2008-07-25T07:16:00.001-07:00

Dorothy Parker (August 22, 1893–June 7, 1967) was an American writer and poet, best known for her caustic wit, wisecracks, and sharp eye for 20th century urban foibles. From a conflicted and unhappy childhood, Parker rose to acclaim, both for her literary output in such venues as The New Yorker and as a founding member of the Algonquin Round Table, a group she would later disdain. Parker survived three marriages (two to the same man) and several suicide attempts, but grew increasingly dependent on alcohol. Although she would come to dismiss her own talents and deplore her reputation as a "wisecracker," her literary output and her sparkling wit have endured long past her death.

"I Wished On the Moon"
Words & Music by Dorothy Parker and Ralph Rainger
Performed by Billie Holliday with The Teddy Wilson Orchestra

Michael O'Donoghue (January 5, 1940 - November 8, 1994) was a 20th century American writer and performer. He was known for his dark and destructive style of comedy and humor, was a major contributor to National Lampoon magazine, and was the first head writer of the highly influential American television program Saturday Night Live.

"Single Women"
Words & Music by Michael O'Donoghue
Performed by Dolly Parton

William Saroyan (August 31, 1908 - May 18, 1981) was an American author. A few of his early short articles were published in The Overland Monthly. His first stories appeared in the 1930s. Among these was "The Broken Wheel", written under the name Sirak "Goryan" and published in the Armenian journal Hairenik in 1933. Many of Saroyan's stories were based on his childhood experiences among the Armenian-American fruit growers of the San Joaquin Valley, or dealt with the rootlessness of the immigrant. The short story collection My Name is Aram (1940), an international bestseller, was about a young boy and the colorful characters of his immigrant family. It has been translated into many languages.

"Come On-A My House"
Words & Music by William Saroyan and Ross Bagdasarian
Performed by Rosemary Clooney
Song starts around 1:40, Look for Ross Bagdasarian (see below) as the song promoter!

And while we're here...

Rostom Sipan Bagdasarian aka Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. (January 27, 1919 – January 16, 1972) was an American pianist, singer, songwriter, actor and record producer. In his professional life, he was better known by the stage name David Seville, which he used on his recordings featuring Alvin and the Chipmunks. Bagdasarian was of Armenian descent. As a young man, Bagdasarian was in the Broadway cast of The Time of Your Life, written by his famous cousin, William Saroyan. Bagdasarian's first musical success was the song he wrote with Saroyan, "Come on-a My House", sung by Rosemary Clooney.

"The Chipmunk Song"
Words & Music by Ross Bagdasarian
Performed by David Seville & the Chipmunks

Randy Newman, songwriter

2008-07-21T13:19:00.000-07:00

Randall Stuart “Randy” Newman (born November 28, 1943) is an Academy Award–winning American songwriter, arranger, composer, singer and pianist who is notable for his mordant (and often satirical) pop songs and for his many film scores. Newman was born in Los Angeles, California. As an infant, Newman moved with his family to New Orleans, Louisiana. He lived in New Orleans as a small child and spent summers there until he was eleven years old, when he returned to Los Angeles. The paternal side of his family includes three uncles who were noted Hollywood film-score composers: Alfred Newman, Lionel Newman and Emil Newman. Newman's cousins Thomas and David, and nephew Joey are also composers for motion pictures. Graduated from University High, Los Angeles. Newman attended the University of California, Los Angeles.

"Mama Told Me Not To Come"
Words and Music by Randy Newman
Performed by Three Dog Night

"Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear"
Words and Music by Randy Newman
Performed by Fozzie (Frank Oz) and Scooter (Richard Hunt)

"You Can Leave Your Hat On"
Words and Music By Randy Newman
Performed by Tom Jones

"I Think It's Going To Rain Today"
Words and Music by Randy Newman
Performed by Randy Newman

"Knock The Cover Off The Ball"
Music by Randy Newman
From the film "The Natural

Same songwriter. Different year. (#4)

2008-07-21T09:21:00.000-07:00

Robbie Nevil (born Robert S Nevil, 2 October 1958, in Los Angeles, California) is an American pop singer-songwriter/producer/guitarist. Nevil's self-titled debut album in 1986 gave him a string of Billboard Hot 100 hits. He is best remembered for the song "C'est La Vie," a #1 dance hit that spent two weeks at #2 on the Hot 100 in early 1987. Between 1986 and 1991, Nevil recorded three solo albums, the self-titled first being the most successful. In recent years, Nevil has been more involved in producing and writing for other artists than in solo performance. He co-wrote three songs on the chart-topping High School Musical soundtrack: "The Start of Something New", "We're All In This Together" and "I Can't Take My Eyes Off of You." He co-wrote the theme song to Hannah Montana, "The Best of Both Worlds", and co-wrote three other songs that appear on the Hannah Montana soundtrack album.

"C'est La Vie"
Words and Music by Mark Holding, Robbie Nevil, Duncain Pain
Performed by Robbie Nevil

"Best of Both Worlds"
Words and Music by Matthew Gerrard & Robbie Nevil
Performed by Miley Cyrus

Gus Kahn, songwriter

2008-07-10T13:46:00.000-07:00

Gustav Gerson Kahn (November 6, 1886 – October 8, 1941) was a musician, songwriter and lyricist. Kahn was born in Koblenz, Germany in 1886. The family immigrated to the United States and moved to Chicago, Illinois in 1890. After graduating from high school, he worked as a clerk in a mail order business before launching one of the most successful and prolific careers from Tin Pan Alley.

"Toot, Toot Tootsie!"
Words & Music by Gus Kahn, Ted Fiorito, Robert King, & Ernie Erdman
Performed by Al Jolson

"Dream a Little Dream of Me"
Words & Music by Gus Kahn, Fabian Andre, & Wilbur Schwandt
Performed by Ella Fitzgerald

"It Had to Be You"
Words & Music by Gus Kahn & Isham Jones
Performed by Harry Connick, Jr.

"Makin' Whoopee"
Words & Music by Gus Kahn & Walter Donaldson
Performed by Eddie Cantor

Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff, songwriters

2008-07-10T08:23:00.000-07:00

Kenneth Gamble (born on August 11, 1943 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) and Leon Huff (born April 8, 1942 in Camden, New Jersey) are an American songwriting and record production team. Gamble and Huff have, both separately and together, written and produced over 170 gold and platinum records and were pioneers of Philadelphia soul and the in-house creative team for the Philadelphia International record label. On March 10, 2008 the team was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the non-performer category.

"Me and Mrs. Jones"
Words & Music by Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff, & Cary Grant Gilbert
Performed by Billy Paul

"You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine"
Words & Music by Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff
Performed by Lou Rawls

"For The Love of Money"
Words & Music by Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff
Performed by The O'Jays

"If You Don't Know Me"
Words & Music by Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff
Performed by Patti LaBelle

"I'm Gonna Make You Love Me"
Words & Music by Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff
Performed by Stevie Wonder & Diana Ross

Jim Steinman, songwriter

2008-07-08T12:30:00.000-07:00

Jim Steinman (born November 1, 1947 in New York City, New York) is an American record producer, composer, and lyricist responsible for several hit songs. He has also worked as an arranger, pianist, and singer. His work has included songs in the adult contemporary, rock and roll, dance/techno, pop, musical theater, and film score genres. His work includes the Meat Loaf albums Bat out of Hell and Bat out of Hell II: Back into Hell, and producing albums for Bonnie Tyler. His most successful chart singles include Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart", Air Supply's "Making Love out of Nothing at All", Meat Loaf's "I'd Do Anything for Love (but I Won't Do That)", Barry Manilow's "Read 'Em and Weep" and Celine Dion's "It's All Coming Back to Me Now."

"Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad"
Words and Music by Jim Steinman
Performed by Meat Loaf

"Making Love Out of Nothing At All
Words and Music by Jim Steinman
Performed by Air Supply

"Total Eclipse of The Heart"
Words and Music by Jim Steinman
Performed by Bonnie Tyler

"Paradise By The Dashboard Light"
Words and Music by Jim Steinman
Performed by Meat Loaf & Ellen Foley

"Holding Out For a Hero"
Words and Music by Jim Steinman & Dean Pitchford
Performed by Bonnie Tyler

Bob Nolan, Songwriter

2008-07-08T12:08:00.000-07:00

Bob Nolan (April 13, 1908 - June 16, 1980) was a Canadian-born singer, songwriter, and actor. Born Clarence Robert Nobles on April 13, 1908 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, at the age of thirteen he moved to live with his father, Harry, in Tucson, Arizona. Harry had changed his name to Nolan and it was as Bob Nolan that he began a career as a singer. In 1933, with Leonard Slye (Roy Rogers) and Tim Spencer, he became a co-founder of the singing group the Sons of the Pioneers for which he was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1980. The Sons of the Pioneers recorded a great number of albums for Columbia, Decca and RCA Victor.

"Cool Water"
Words and Music by Bob Nolan
Performed by Marty Robbins

"When Pay Day Rolls Around"
Words and Music by Bob Nolan
Performed by Wesley Tuttle

"Tumbling Tumbleweeds"
Words and Music by Bob Nolan
Performed by The Sons of the Pioneers

"Cool Water"
Words and Music by Bob Nolan
Performed by The Sons of the Pioneers

Chips Moman, songwriter

2008-06-25T10:03:00.000-07:00

Lincoln Wayne "Chips" Moman (born 1936, La Grange, Georgia) is an American record producer, guitarist and songwriter. As a record producer, Moman is known for recording Elvis Presley, Bobby Womack, Carla Thomas, Merrilee Rush and guiding the career of The Box Tops in Memphis during the 1960s. As a songwriter, he is responsible for standards associated with Aretha Franklin, James Carr, Waylon Jennings and B. J. Thomas. He has been a session guitarist for Franklin and other artists.

"The Wurlitzer Prize"
Words and Music by Bobby Emmons & Chips Moman
Performed by Norah Jones & Willie Nelson

"Hey Won't You Play (Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song)"
Words & Music by Larry Butler & Chips Moman
Performed by Sammy Davis, Jr.

"Do Right Woman, Do Right Man"
Words and Music by Chips Moman & Dan Penn
Performed by Aretha Franklin (live unembeddable video here)

"Luckenbach, Texas (Back To The Basics of Love)"
Words and Music by Bobby Emmons & Chips Moman
Performed by Waylon Jennings

Jimmy Reed, songwriter

2008-05-27T14:27:00.000-07:00

Mathis James "Jimmy" Reed (September 6, 1925 - August 29, 1976[1]) was an American blues singer notable for bringing his distinctive style of blues to mainstream audiences. Reed was a major player in the field of electric blues, as opposed to the more acoustic-based sound of many of his contemporaries. His lazy, slack-jawed singing, piercing harmonica and hypnotic guitar patterns were one of the blues most easily identifiable sounds in the 1950s and 1960s.

"Ain't That Lovin' You Baby"
Words and Music by Jimmy Reed
Performed by Elvis Presley

"Shame, Shame, Shame"
Words and Music by Jimmy Reed
Performed by Willie Green

"Baby What You Want Me To Do"
Words and Music by Jimmy Reed
Performed by Elvis Presley

"Bright Lights, Big City"
Words and Music by Jimmy Reed
Performed by Jerry Lee Lewis

"Ain't No Big Deal"
Words and Music by Jimmy Reed
Performed by Jimmy Reed

Dave Bartholomew, songwriter

2008-05-27T13:28:00.000-07:00

Dave Bartholomew (born 24 December 1920, Edgard, Louisiana, United States of America) is a musician, band leader, composer, and arranger, prominent in the music of New Orleans throughout the second half of the 20th century. Bartholomew has been active in many musical genres, including rhythm & blues, big band, swing music, rock and roll, New Orleans jazz, Dixieland. Although many artists have recorded Bartholomew's songs, his partnership with Fats Domino produced some of his greatest successes. In the mid 1950s they wrote more than 40 hit songs for their record label, Imperial Records, including two songs that reached Number One on the Billboard rhythm and blues charts "Goin' Home" and "Ain't That a Shame". He is a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

"Ain't That A Shame"
Words and Music by Dave Bartholomew and Antoine "Fats" Domino
Performed by Fats Domino

"One Night With You"
Words and Music by Dave Bartholomew, Pearl King, and Anita Steiman
Performed by Elvis Presley

"My Ding-a-Ling"
Words and Music by Dave Bartholomew and Sam Rhodes
Performed by Chuck Berry

"I Hear You Knocking"
Words and Music by Dave Bartholomew and Pearl King
Performed by Dave Edmunds

"Monkey Speaks His Mind"
Words and Music by Dave Bartholomew and Pearl King
Performed by Dave Bartholomew

Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil, songwriters

2008-05-02T10:15:00.000-07:00

Barry Mann (born Barry Imberman, 9 February 1939, Brooklyn, New York) is an American songwriter, and part of one of the most prolific songwriting partnerships in the world of rock music with his partner and wife, Cynthia Weil.

Weil (born October 18, 1940, New York) was trained as an actress and dancer but soon demonstrated a songwriting ability that led to her collaboration with Barry Mann whom she would eventually marry. Together, Mann & Weil became one of the most important songwriting teams during the emergence of rock and roll.

"Who Put The Bomp?"
Words & Music by Barry Mann & Gerald Goffin
Performed by Barry Mann

"Kicks"
Words & Music by Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil
Performed by Paul Revere & The Raiders

Saturday Night at the Movies
Words & Music by Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil
Performed by The Drifters

"You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'"
Words & Music by Phil Spector, Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil
Performed by The Righteous Brothers

"Here You Come Again"
Words & Music by Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil
Performed by Dolly Parton

"Somewhere Out There"
Words & Music by James Horner, Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil
Performed by Fievel Mousekewitz (Phillip Glasser)

Johnny Mercer, songwriter

2008-04-29T11:42:00.000-07:00

John Herndon "Johnny" Mercer (November 18, 1909 – June 25, 1976) was a popular American songwriter and singer. As a songwriter, he is best known as a lyricist but also composed music. He was also a popular singer who recorded his own songs as well as those written by others. From the mid-1930s through the mid-1950s, many of the songs Mercer wrote and performed were among the most popular hits of the time. He wrote the lyrics to more than a thousand songs, including compositions for movies and Broadway shows.

"Lazybones"
Words by Johnny Mercer, Music by Hoagy Carmichael
Performed by Dr Teeth & The Electric Mayhem

"Goody Goody"
Words by Johnny Mercer, Music by Matty Malneck
Performed by Frankie Lymon

"I'm an Old Cowhand from the Rio Grande"
Words and Music by Johnny Mercer
Performed by Lucy Lawless

"Too Marvelous for Words"
Words by Johnny Mercer, Music by Richard A. Whiting
Performed by Ella Fitzgerald

"Jeepers Creepers"
Words by Johnny Mercer, Music by Harry Warren
Performed by Louis Armstrong

"Fools Rush In"
Words by Johnny Mercer, Music by Rube Bloom
Performed by Ricky Nelson

Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson, songwriters

2008-04-28T12:34:00.000-07:00

Nickolas Ashford (born May 4, 1942, in Fairfield, South Carolina) and Valerie Simpson (born August 26, 1946 in The Bronx, New York) are a successful husband and wife songwriting/production team, as well as being recording artists in their own right. This performing and songwriting team met in the choir of Harlem's White Rock Baptist Church.

"Lets Go Get Stoned"
Words & Music by Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson, & Josephine Armstead
Performed by Joe Cocker

"Ain't No Mountain High Enough"
Words & Music by Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson
Performed by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

"Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing"
Words & Music by Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson
Performed by Aretha Franklin

"Reach Out And Touch (Somebody's Hand)"
Words & Music by Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson
Performed by Diana Ross

"You're All I Need/I'll Be There for You"
Words & Music by Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson
Performed by Mary J. Blige & Method Man

"Solid"
Words & Music by Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson
Performed by Ashford & Simpson

Jerry Chesnut, songwriter

2008-04-23T09:13:00.000-07:00

Jerry Donald Chesnut (born May 7, 1931) is an American country music songwriter. His hits include "A Good Year for the Roses" (recorded by George Jones) and "T-R-O-U-B-L-E" (recorded by Elvis Presley). Born and raised in Harlan County, Kentucky he moved to Nashville in 1958 to pursue his career. In 1968 Jerry Lee Lewis' hit recording of Chesnut's "Another Place, Another Time" was nominated for a Grammy Award. Chesnut is a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

"A Good Year For The Roses"
Words & Music by Jerry Chesnut
Performed by Alan Jackson & George Jones

"Another Place, Another Time"
Words & Music by Jerry Chesnut
Performed by Don Williams

"It's Four In the Morning"
Words & Music by Jerry Chesnut
Performed by Faron Young

"Oney"
Words & Music by Jerry Chesnut
Performed by Johnny Cash

"T-R-O-U-B-L-E"
Words & Music by Jerry Chesnut
Performed by Elvis Presley

Irving Berlin, songwriter

2008-04-21T09:45:00.000-07:00

Irving Berlin (May 11, 1888 – September 22, 1989) was a Russian-born naturalized American composer and lyricist, and one of the most prolific American songwriters in history. Berlin was one of the few Tin Pan Alley/Broadway songwriters who wrote both lyrics and music for his songs. He also published his own songs. Although he never learned to read music beyond a rudimentary level, with the help of various uncredited musical assistants or collaborators, he eventually composed over 3,000 songs, many of which (e.g. "God Bless America", "White Christmas", "Anything You Can Do", "There's No Business Like Show Business") left an indelible mark on American music and culture. He composed seventeen film scores and twenty-one Broadway scores.

"Oh, How I Hate to get up in the Morning"
Words & Music by Irving Berlin (1918)
Performed by Irving Berlin

"Always"
Words & Music by Irving Berlin (1925)
Performed by Billie Holiday

"Blue Skies"
Words & Music by Irving Berlin (1927)
Performed by Willie Nelson

"Puttin' On the Ritz"
Words & Music by Irving Berlin (1928)
Performed by Fred Astaire

Harry M. Woods, songwriter

2008-04-11T13:54:00.000-07:00

Henry MacGregor Woods (November 4, 1896 - January 14, 1970) was a Tin Pan Alley songwriter and pianist. Born in North Chelmsford, Massachusetts, Woods' mother, a concert singer, encouraged him to play the piano, in spite of being born with no fingers on his left hand. His musical training would help when he attended Harvard University and supported himself there by singing in church choirs and giving piano recitals. After graduation, Woods settled on Cape Cod and began life as a farmer. He began cultivating his talent for songwriting while in the Army during World War I. After his discharge, Woods settled in New York and began his successful career as a songwriter.

According to legend, Woods once exchanged heated words with a man in a nightclub after consuming a large quantity of alcohol. The argument escalated into a physical fight with Woods pinning the man to the floor while hitting him with his right hand and bashing him in the face with the stump of his left hand. When police arrived at the club and arrested Woods, a woman entered the club and asked, "Who is that horrible man?". Still seated at the bar, a friend of the composer proudly announced, "That's Harry Woods. He wrote 'Try a Little Tenderness'."

(Editor's note: I found this anecdote a couple of places on the internet, including Wikipedia. I first read it in Philip Furia and Michael Lasser's excellent book: America's Songs: The Stories Behind the Songs of Broadway, Hollywood, and Tin Pan Alley. If you like this website, you will love this book.)

"Try A Little Tenderness"
Words & Music by Harry M. Woods & Irving King
Performed by Otis Redding

"Side By Side"
Words & Music by Harry M. Woods
Performed by The Ames Brothers & The McGuire Sisters

"What A Little Moonlight Can Do"
Words & Music by Harry M. Woods
Performed by Billie Holliday

"When the Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbing Along"
Words & Music by Harry M. Woods
Performed by Ethel Merman & Perry Como

Eddie Miller, songwriter

2008-03-06T09:27:00.000-08:00

Edward Monroe "Eddie" Miller (December 10, 1919 - April 11, 1977) was an American songwriter, in the country music genre. He was born in Camargo, Oklahoma and worked as a locomotive engineer before becoming a songwriter. Though he never went beyond high school, he taught songwriting at the University of Tennessee. He was the founder of the Academy of Country and Western Music in Hollywood, as well as a co-founder of the Nashville Songwriters Association International. He wrote a country opera, "The Legend of Johnny Brown," and a gospel opera, "It Was Jesus."

"Release Me"
Words and Music by Eddie Miller, Dub Williams, and Robert Yount
Performed by Engelbert Humperdinck

"There He Goes"
Words and Music by Eddie Miller, Durwood Haddock, and W.S. Stevenson
Performed by Lorrie Collins

"Thanks A Lot"
Words and Music by Eddie Miller and Don Sessions
Performed by Ernest Tubb

Bobby Day, songwriter

2008-02-15T11:28:00.000-08:00

Bobby Day (born Robert James Byrd, Sr. July 1, 1928 - died July 27, 1990), was an early African American rock and roll and R&B musician. Born in Fort Worth, Texas, he moved to Los Angeles, California at the age of fifteen. As a member of the R&B group, the Hollywood Flames, he used the stage name Bobby Day to perform and record.

"Buzz Buzz Buzz"
Words and Music by Bobby Day
Performed by the Hollywood Flames

"Little Bitty Pretty One"
Words and Music by Bobby Day
Performed by Thurston Moore

"Over and Over"
Words and Music by Bobby Day
Performed by The Dave Clark Five

"Rockin Robin"
Words and Music by Bobby Day
Performed by The Jackson 5

"Rockin Robin"
Words and Music by Bobby Day
Performed by Bobby Day

Curly Putnam, songwriter

2008-02-12T07:25:00.000-08:00

Claude "Curly" Putman Jr. (born November 20, 1930 in Princeton, Alabama) is an American singer and songwriter, based in Nashville.

"Green, Green Grass of Home"
Words and Music by Curly Putnam
Performed by Tom Jones

"D-I-V-O-R-C-E"
Words and Music by Curly Putnam and Bobby Braddock
Performed by Tammy Wynette

"He Stopped Loving Her Today"
Words and Music by Curly Putnam and Bobby Braddock
Performed by George Jones

"Dumb Blonde"
Words and Music by Curly Putnam
Performed by Dolly Parton

"My Elusive Dreams"
Words and Music by Curly Putnam & Billy Sherrill
Performed by Glen Campbell

Same songwriter. Different year. (#3)

2008-02-08T12:59:00.000-08:00

Ray Charles (born Charles Raymond Offenberg, September 13, 1918 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, vocal arranger and conductor who is best- known as organizer and leader of The Ray Charles Singers. The Ray Charles Singers were featured on Perry Como's records, radio shows and television shows for 35 years. The Ray Charles Singers are also known for a series of 30 choral record albums produced in the 1950s and 1960s for Essex, MGM, Decca and Command labels. He self-deprecatingly now bills himself as "The other Ray Charles" in a humorous tribute to the blues singer with whom he worked on several occasions. His song "We Get Letters" is currently heard regularly on The Late Show with David Letterman.

"We Get Letters"
Words and Music by Ray Charles
Performed by the Ray Charles Singers

"Fifty Nifty"
Words and Music by Ray Charles

Joe Raposo, songwriter

2008-02-08T09:48:00.000-08:00

Joseph Guilherme Raposo Jr., OIH (February 8, 1937 – February 5, 1989), right, was an American composer, pianist, television writer and lyricist, best known for his work on the children's television series Sesame Street. Joe Raposo's sonic trademark was his authentic live replication of the tonal quality and exact playback cadence of the 20th-century self-operating player piano when composing for and performing on a grand, baby grand or upright piano. He appears to have specifically tuned his Children's Television Workshop pianos not only to blatantly mimic the player piano in its antique tonality, but to achieve and then maintain what became a signature ragtime tack or "saloon" piano sound by them.

"There Used to Be a Ballpark"
Performed by Frank Sinatra
Words and Music by Joe Raposo

"Everybody Wash"
Performed by Ernie (Jim Henson) & Bert (Frank Oz)
Words and Music by Joe Raposo

"Batty Bat"
Performed by Count von Count (Jerry Nelson)
Words and Music by Joe Raposo

"Three's Company"
Performed by Ray Charles & Julia Rinker
Words and Music by Joe Raposo

"Bein' Green"
Performed by Ray Charles
Words and Music by Joe Raposo

Jeff Moss, songwriter

2008-02-07T08:57:00.000-08:00

Jeff Moss (June 19, 1942 - September 24, 1998) helped to create the children's television series Sesame Street. He was a head writer, composer, and lyricist for the series, for which he won fifteen Emmy Awards. Moss worked on Captain Kangaroo before being recruited to work on Sesame Street. He was nominated for an Academy Award for the music and lyrics he wrote for The Muppets Take Manhattan.

"I Love Trash" performed by Oscar the Grouch (Carroll Spinney)
Words and Music by Jeff Moss

"People In Your Neighborhood" performed by Bob (Bob McGrath) & the Muppets
Words and Music by Jeff Moss

"Rubber Duckie" performed by Ernie (Jim Henson)
Words and Music by Jeff Moss

"Nasty Dan" performed by Johnny Cash & Oscar the Grouch
Words and Music by Jeff Moss

Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb, songwriters

2008-02-05T10:11:00.000-08:00

Barry Alan Crompton Gibb CBE (b. 1 September 1946 in Douglas, Isle of Man) is a singer, songwriter and producer. He was born in Douglas, Isle of Man, to English parents. Three years later, his twin brothers Robin Hugh Gibb CBE (b. 22 December 1949) and Maurice Ernest Gibb CBE (December 22, 1949 – January 12, 2003) were born. In the late 1950s they formed The Bee Gees, which went on to become one of the most successful singing-songwriting musical acts of all time.

"To Love Somebody" performed by Janis Joplin
Words and Music by Barry Gibb & Robin Gibb

"Grease" performed by Franki Valli
Words and Music by Barry Gibb

"How Can You Mend A Broken Heart?" performed by Al Green
Words and Music by Barry Gibb, & Robin Gibb

"Islands In the Stream" performed by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton
Words and Music by Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, and Maurice Gibb

"Massachusetts" performed by the Bee Gees
Words and Music by Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, and Maurice Gibb

Fats Waller, songwriter

2008-02-01T11:48:00.000-08:00

Fats Waller (born Thomas Wright Waller on May 21, 1904, died December 15, 1943) was an American jazz pianist, singer, songwriter, organist, and composer. Widely recognized as a master of stride piano -- Waller was one of the most popular performers of his era, finding critical and commercial success in his homeland and in Europe.

"Joint Is Jumpin'" performed by Fats Waller
Words and Music by Fats Waller, Andy Razaf, J.C. Johnson

"Squeeze Me" performed by Mildred Bailey & Her Alley Cats
Words and Music by Fats Waller & Clarence Williams

"Ain't Misbehavin'" performed by Sammy Davis, Jr.
Words and Music by Fats Waller & Andy Razaf

"Honeysuckle Rose" performed by Anita O'Day with the Buddy DeFranco Quartet
Words and Music by Fats Waller, Andy Razaf, & Harry Brooks

Fred Rose, songwriter

2008-02-01T09:13:00.000-08:00

Fred Rose (August 24, 1897 - December 1, 1954) was an American Hall of Fame songwriter and music publishing executive. Born in Evansville, Indiana, Fred Rose started playing piano and singing as a small boy. In his teens, he moved to Chicago, Illinois where he worked in bars busking for tips and eventually made it into vaudeville. Eventually he became successful as a songwriter, penning his first hit for entertainer Sophie Tucker. On its founding in 1961, Fred Rose was made a charter member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970 and into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1985.

"Red Hot Mama" performed by Sophie Tucker
Words and Music by Fred Rose

"Kaw-Liga" performed by Charlie Pride
Words and Music by Fred Rose and Hank Williams

"Take These Chains From My Heart" performed by Ray Charles
Words and Music by Fred Rose and Hy Heath

"Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain" performed by Walter Ostanek (Canada's Polka King!)
Words and Music by Fred Rose

"'Deed I Do" performed by Diana Krall
Words and Music by Fred Rose and Walter Hirsch

Otis Blackwell, songwriter

2008-01-31T07:45:00.000-08:00

Otis Blackwell (16 February 1931 – 6 May 2002) was an American songwriter, singer, and pianist whose work significantly influenced rock 'n' roll. His compositions include Little Willie John's "Fever", Jerry Lee Lewis' "Great Balls of Fire" and "Breathless", Elvis Presley's "Don't Be Cruel", "All Shook Up" and "Return to Sender" (with Winfield Scott), and Jimmy Jones' "Handy Man".

"Breathless" performed by Jerry Lee Lewis
Words and Music by Otis Blackwell

"Return to Sender" performed by Elvis Presley
Words and Music by Otis Blackwell & Winfield Scott

"Great Balls of Fire" performed by Dolly Parton
Words and Music by Otis Blackwell & Jack Hammer

"Fever" performed by Rita Moreno & the Muppets
Words and Music by Otis Blackwell & Eddie J. Cooley

"Don't Be Cruel/All Shook Up" performed by Otis Blackwell & Foghat
Words and Music by Otis Blackwell

Songs of the gentlemen wrote "Always On My Mind"

2008-01-30T07:59:00.000-08:00

"Always on My Mind" was written by Johnny Christopher, Mark James and Wayne Carson Thompson, all three of whom were songwriters on the staff of Chips Moman. Originally recorded by Brenda Lee and released on June 12, 1972, the song was later a hit for both Elvis Presley and Willie Nelson.

Wayne Carson (born Wayne Carson Thompson) is a songwriter from Denver Colorado who moved to Nashville in 1962. The author of eleven BMI award winning songs, he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriter's Hall of Fame in 1997. In 2002, Carson released a CD, "Writer" on which he plays solo versions of many of his hit songs.

"The Letter" performed by Joe Cocker
Words and Music by Wayne Carson

"She's Acting Single (I'm Drinking Doubles)" performed by Gary Stewart.
Words and Music by Wayne Carson

"Slide Off Of Your Satin Sheets" performed by Johnny Paycheck
Words and Music by Wayne Carson & Donn Tankersly

Johnny Christopher is the author of five BMI award winning songs. His songs have been covered by Merle Haggard, Elvis Presley, Little Milton, Willie Nelson, and more. He is a frequent co-writer of Bobby Wood.

"If You Talk In Your Sleep" performed by Elvis Presley
Words and Music by John Christopher & Red West

Mark James is the author of seven BMI award winning songs. James grew up in Houston, Texas, befriending BJ Thomas while both were still young. By the late 1960s, James was signed as a staff songwriter to Memphis producer Chips Moman’s publishing company, Moman producing Thomas’ versions of "The Eyes Of A New York Woman," "Hooked On A Feeling" and "It's Only Love" in 1968-69, all of which achieved success. James also wrote the song "Moody Blue", which is also the name of Elvis's last studio album (named after the song).

"One Hell of A Woman" performed by Vikki Carr
Words and Music by Mark James & Mac Davis

"Suspicious Minds" performed by Elvis Presley
Words and Music by Mark James

"Hooked On a Feeling" performed by David Hasselhoff
Words and Music by Mark James

"Always On My Mind" performed by Willie Nelson
Words and Music by Wayne Carson, Johnny Christopher, and Mark James

"Always On My Mind" performed by Pet Shop Boys
Words and Music by Wayne Carson, Johnny Christopher, and Mark James

Songwriters who taught high school history #1

2008-01-29T08:16:00.000-08:00

James Corbitt Morris (20 June 1907 – 12 July 1998) — better known as Jimmy Driftwood or Jimmie Driftwood; was a prolific United States folk songwriter and musician, most famous for his songs "The Battle of New Orleans" and "Tennessee Stud." Driftwood used a homemade guitar throughout his career and noted that its neck was made from a fence rail, its sides from an old ox yoke, and the head and bottom from the headboard of his grandmothers bed. Driftwood attended John Brown College in northwest Arkansas and later received a degree in education from Arkansas Teacher's College. He started writing songs during his teaching career to teach his students history in an entertaining manner.

"Tennessee Stud" performed by Johnny Cash
Words and Music by Jimmie Driftwood

"Battle of New Orleans" performed by Johnny Horton
Words and Music by Jimmie Driftwood

Sherman Edwards (April 4, 1919 - March 30, 1981) was a Jewish-American songwriter. He was born in New York City. Edwards taught history at high school before entering the entertainment industry. Edwards' crowning achievement was the musical 1776 for which he wrote both lyrics and music. It opened at the 46th Street Theatre on March 16, 1969 and ran for 1217 performances. It won a Tony Award for Best Musical.

"See You In September" performed by The Happenings
Words and Music by Sherman Edwards & Sid Wayne

"But, Mr. Adams" from the musical 1776
performed by William Daniels, Howard DaSilva, Ken Howard, Rex Robbins, & John Myhers
Words and Music by Sherman Edwards

Same songwriter. Different year. (#2)

2008-01-16T08:23:00.000-08:00

Michael Sembello (born 17 April 1954 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an Oscar nominated American musician. He began his career as a professional musician by becoming a studio guitarist. The list of pop music personalities he worked with, or wrote for, includes Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Chaka Khan, George Benson, Barbra Streisand, Stanley Clarke and Donna Summer.

"Saturn" performed by Yusuf Islam
Words and Music by Stevie Wonder & Michael Sembello

"Maniac" performed by Michael Sembello
Words and Music by Michael Sembello and Dennis Matkosky

"Maniac" performed by Michael Sembello and Stevie Wonder
Words and Music by Michael Sembello and Dennis Matkosky

Leon Payne, songwriter

2008-01-15T08:00:00.000-08:00

Leon Roger Payne was born in Alba, Texas on June 15, 1917. He was blind in one eye at birth, and lost the sight of the other eye in early childhood. He attended the Texas school for the blind from 1924 to 1935, where he met his future wife, Myrtie Velma Courmier. Leon wrote hundreds of country songs in a prolific career that lasted from 1941 until his death in 1969. He is perhaps best known for his hits "I Love You Because," "You've Still Got A Place In My Heart," "Lost Highway," and "They'll Never Take Her Love From Me." He began his music career in the mid-1930s, playing a variety of instruments in public, and later performing on KWET radio in Palestine, Texas starting in 1935. He also had a stint playing with Bob Wills' Texas Playboys in 1938. Eventually he formed his own group, the Lone Star Buddies, in 1949 and performed regularly on the Louisiana Hayride show in Shreveport, Louisiana and later on the Grand Ole Opry.

"They'll Never Take Her Love From Me" performed by Hank Williams
Words and Music by Leon Payne

"I Love You Because" performed by Jim Reeves
Words and Music by Leon Payne

"Take Me" performed by Kelly Willis and Dwight Yoakam
Words and Music by Leon Payne and George Jones

"Lost Highway" performed by Mac
Words and Music by Leon Payne

Henry Glover, songwriter

2008-01-14T09:01:00.000-08:00

Henry Glover (May 21, 1921 - April 7, 1991). A pioneering behind-the-scenes figure, Henry Glover was one of the first truly successful black executives in the music business, rising to prominence in the late '40s with Syd Nathan's independent (and white-owned) King label. No mere pencil-pusher, Glover was a talented jack of all trades who served at various times as a producer, arranger, songwriter (sometimes under the alias Henry Bernard), engineer, trumpet player, talent scout, A&R rep, studio builder, and -- later on -- label owner in his own right.

"Blues Stay Away From Me" performed by the Delmore Brothers
Words and Music by Henry Glover, Alton Delmore, Rabon Delmore, & Wayne Raney

"Honky Tonk Pt. 1 & 2" performed by Bill Doggett
Words and Music by Henry Glover, Shep Shepherd, Clifford Scott, Billy Butler, & Bill Doggett

"Peppermint Twist" performed by Joey Dee & the Starliters
Words and Music by Henry Glover & Joseph DiNicola

"California Sun" performed by The Ramones
Words and Music by Henry Glover & Morris Levy

"Drown In My Own Tears" performed by Norah Jones
Words and Music by Henry Glover

Harlan Howard, songwriter

2008-01-10T10:52:00.000-08:00

Harlan Perry Howard (September 8, 1927 - March 3, 2002) was born in Detroit, Michigan, he began writing country music at a young age. After serving as a paratrooper with the United States Army, he went to Los Angeles, California, hoping to sell his music. Among his biggest hits was "I Fall to Pieces," co-written with Hank Cochran and recorded by Patsy Cline and the song "Busted", a hit for both Ray Charles and Johnny Cash. Harlan Howard was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1973 and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1997. He died in 2002, aged 74, and was buried in Nashville City Cemetery.

"Tiger By The Tail" performed by Buck Owens & the Buckeroos
Words and Music by Harlan Howard and Buck Owens

"Busted" performed by Ray Charles
Words and Music by Harlan Howard

"I Fall to Pieces" performed by Patsy Cline
Words and Music by Harlan Howard and Hank Cochran

"Streets of Baltimore" performed by Bobby Bare
Words and Music by Harlan Howard and Tompall Glaser

"Pick Me Up On Your Way Down" performed by Del McCoury Band
Words and Music by Harlan Howard

Prince, songwriter

2008-01-10T08:33:00.000-08:00

Prince Rogers Nelson (born June 7, 1958, in Minneapolis, Minnesota) is an American musician and songwriter. His career has spanned several styles: from his early material, rooted in R&B, funk, and soul, he has consistently expanded his musical palette throughout his career, absorbing many other genres including New Wave, pop, rock, jazz, and hip hop. Prince is a prolific artist, having released several hundred songs both under his own name and with other artists. Regarded by many as a perfectionist, Prince is known for being highly protective of his music. He produces, composes, arranges and performs nearly all of the songs on his albums.

"I Feel For You" performed by Chaka Khan
Words and Music by Prince

"Nothing Compares 2 U" performed by Sinead O'Connor
Words and Music by Prince

"Glamorous Life" performed by Sheila E.
Words and Music by Prince

"Manic Monday" performed by the Bangles
Words and Music by Prince

"Jungle Love" performed by Morris Day & the Time
Words and Music by Prince and Morris Day

Carole King and Gerry Goffin, songwriters

2008-01-10T07:18:00.000-08:00

Carole King (born February 9, 1942) is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. King has won four Grammy Awards and has been inducted into both the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for her songwriting, along with long-time partner Gerry Goffin.

Gerry Goffin (born February 11, 1939) is an American lyricist. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 with former songwriting partner, Carole King, in 1990. Marrying Carole King in 1960, he and his wife together pursued a successful song writing career, notably as part of the famous Brill Building song writing team. Their breakthrough hit was 1961's "Will You Love Me Tomorrow?", which was recorded by The Shirelles and later, Dusty Springfield. Although they divorced in 1968, the two continued to work together for some years afterwards.

"(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman" performed by Aretha Franklin
Words and Music by Carole King, Gerry Goffin, & Gerry Wexler

"Don't Bring Me Down" performed by The Animals
Words and Music by Carole King and Gerry Goffin

"Up on the Roof" performed by Viola Wills
Words and Music by Carole King and Gerry Goffin

"Pleasant Valley Sunday" performed by The Monkees
Words and Music by Carole King and Gerry Goffin

"One Fine Day" performed by Carole King
Words and Music by Carole King and Gerry Goffin

Bonus original version with Carole King on piano!

"One Fine Day" performed by The Chiffons
Words and Music by Carole King and Gerry Goffin

Jeff Barry & Ellie Greenwich, songwriters

2008-01-09T12:38:00.000-08:00

Jeff Barry (born April 3, 1938) is an American pop music songwriter, singer, and record producer. Barry was born Joel Adelberg in Brooklyn, New York.

Ellie Greenwich (born October 23, 1940, Brooklyn, New York), is an American pop music singer, songwriter, and record producer, who wrote some of the most recognizable songs of the 1960s.

By 1963, Barry and Ellie Greenwich had joined forces, as husband and wife and as songwriting partners. Barry and Greenwich comprised one of the most prolific and successful Brill Building songwriting teams, often working with producer Phil Spector. The couple divorced in late 1965 but would continue to work together for much of the following year, and sporadically after that until the late 1960s.

Leader of the Pack performed by The Shangri-Las
Words and Music by Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich

Da Doo Ron Ron performed by The Crystals
Words and Music by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, & Phil Spector

River Deep, Mountain High performed Ike & Tina Turner
Words and Music by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, & Phil Spector

Movin' On Up performed by Ja'net DuBois
Words and Music by Jeff Barry & Ja'net DuBois

Sunshine After the Rain performed Elkie Brooks
Words and Music by Ellie Greenwich

Merry Christmas from Bob Dylan's Coffee Table

2007-12-21T11:58:00.000-08:00

"Jingle Bells", also known as "One Horse Open Sleigh", is one of the best known and commonly sung secular Christmas songs in the world. It was written by James Lord Pierpont (1822–1893) and copyrighted under the title 'One Horse Open Sleigh' on September 16, 1857. The song has been translated into many languages. The Singing Dogs version was originally created by Danish recording engineer Carl Weissmann. Awesome guitar solo added later.

Jingle Bells performed by the Singing Dogs
Words and Music by James Lord Pierpont

Merle Travis, songwriter

2007-12-18T09:08:00.000-08:00

Merle Robert Travis (November 29, 1917 – October 20, 1983) was an American country and western singer, songwriter, arranger, and musician born in Rosewood, Kentucky. "Travis picking", a style of guitar picking, is named after him. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970 and elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1977.

"Sixteen Tons" performed by Tennessee Ernie Ford
Words and Music by Merle Travis

"Dark as a Dungeon" performed by Jackie DeShannon
Words and Music by Merle Travis

"Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)" performed by Tex Williams
Words and Music by Merle Travis & Tex Williams

"Nine Pound Hammer" performed by Glen Campbell
Words and Music by Merle Travis

Julius Dixon, Beverly Ross, and Fred Neil

2007-11-30T10:00:00.000-08:00

Julius Edward Dixson (who also used the spelling Dixon) (May 20, 1913 - January 30, 2004) was born in Barnwell, South Carolina. He had greatest success co-writing with Beverly Ross, a rare musical pairing of an African-American male and a white female in the 1950s. Their first major hit was "Dim, Dim The Lights", which Bill Haley recorded in 1954. Also with Ross, Dixson co-wrote "Lollipop" for the duo Ronald and Ruby. It was later an even bigger hit for the Chordettes.

Fred Neil (March 16, 1936 – July 7, 2001) was an important American blues and folk singer and songwriter in the 1960s and early 1970s. He is best remembered for writing the top 40 hits "Candy Man" (with Beverly Ross) and "Everybody's Talkin'".

"Dim, Dim the Lights" performed by Bill Haley & the Comets
Words and Music by Beverly Ross & Julius Dixson

"Lollipop" performed by The Chordettes
Words and Music by Beverly Ross & Julius Dixson

"Candy Man" performed by Roy Orbison
Words and Music by Beverly Ross & Fred Neil

"Everybody's Talkin'" performed by Nilsson
Words and Music by Fred Neil

John D. Loudermilk, songwriter

2007-11-29T11:00:00.000-08:00

John D. Loudermilk (born March 31, 1934 in Durham, North Carolina) is an American singer and songwriter. Loudermilk grew up in a family who were members of the Salvation Army faith and was influenced by the church singing. His cousins Ira and Charlie Loudermilk were known professionally as the Louvin Brothers. As a boy he learned to play the guitar, and while still in his teens wrote a poem that he set to music. The owners of the local television station, where he worked as a handyman, allowed him to play it on air resulting in country musician George Hamilton IV putting it on record. After Eddie Cochran had his first hit record with Loudermilk's song, "Sittin' in the Balcony", his career path in music was firmly set.

"Indian Reservation" performed by Paul Revere & the Raiders
Words & Music by John D. Loudermilk

"Tobacco Road" performed by the Nashville Teens
Words & Music by John D. Loudermilk

"Turn Me On" performed by Norah Jones
Words & Music by John D. Loudermilk

"Waterloo" performed by Stonewall Jackson
Words & Music by John D. Loudermilk & Marijohn Wilkin*
(*Marijohn Wilkin was also a co-writer on Long Black Veil.)

"Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye" performed by John D. Loudermilk
Words & Music by John D. Loudermilk

Jimmy Webb, songwriter

2007-11-28T12:17:00.000-08:00

Jimmy Webb is an American songwriter who has written some of the most memorable and innovative music of his generation. From his initial musical success with "Up, Up, and Away," "By the Time I Get to Phoenix," "Wichita Lineman," "Galveston," and "MacArthur Park" to his critically acclaimed solo albums, Webb has had an enduring influence on popular songwriting.

"The Highwayman" performed by The Highwaymen
Words and Music by Jimmy Webb

"Wichita Lineman" performed by Glen Campbell
Words and Music by Jimmy Webb

"Up, Up and Away" performed by The 5th Dimension
Words and Music by Jimmy Webb

"Worst That Could Happen" performed by Johnny Maestro & Brooklyn Bridge
Words and Music by Jimmy Webb

Paul Anka, songwriter

2007-11-28T11:12:00.000-08:00

Paul Albert Anka, OC (born 30 July 1941, in Ottawa Ontario) is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and actor. Anka first became famous as a teen idol in the late 1950s and 1960s with hits songs like 'Diana', 'Lonely Boy', and 'Put Your Head on My Shoulder'. He went on to write such well known music as 'It Doesn't Matter Anymore' for Buddy Holly, the theme for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Tom Jones' biggest hit 'She's A Lady', and the English lyrics for Frank Sinatra's signature song 'My Way.'

"She's a Lady" performed by Tom Jones
Words and Music by Paul Anka

"It Doesn't Matter Anymore" performed by Linda Ronstadt
Words and Music by Paul Anka

"Johnny's Theme" performed by the Tonight Show Band
Music by Paul Anka and Johnny Carson
(based on Paul's song "Toot Sweet", see below)

"Toot Sweet" performed by Annette Funicello
Words and Music by Paul Anka

"My Way" performed by Sid Vicious
Words and Music by Jacques Revaux, Claude François, Gilles Thibault (en francais) & Paul Anka (english words)

Cindy Walker, songwriter

2007-11-26T11:44:00.000-08:00

Cindy Walker, (July 20, 1918 - March 23, 2006) was an American singer/songwriter and dancer. Born in Mart, Texas, Walker wrote a great many hit songs for a number of country music stars such as Bob Wills, Eddy Arnold, and Carl Smith. In 2006 American music icon Willie Nelson released a CD album featuring 13 of Walker's well-known songs. The album title is You Don't Know Me: The Songs of Cindy Walker.

"You Don't Know Me" performed by Willie Nelson
Words and Music by Cindy Walker and Eddy Arnold

"I Don't Care" performed by Webb Pierce
Words and Music by Cindy Walker and Webb Pierce

"Cherokee Maiden" performed by Asleep At The Wheel & special guests
Words and Music by Cindy Walker

"Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream?)" performed by Roy Orbison & special guests
Words and Music by Cindy Walker

Same songwriter. Different year. (#1)

2007-11-20T12:14:00.000-08:00

Jim Peterik (born November 11, 1950 Berwyn, Illinois) is an American musician and songwriter, best known as the keyboard player of the band Survivor and as vocalist & songwriter of the hit song "Vehicle" by The Ides of March. (Jim Peterik myspace)

"Vehicle" performed by The Ides of March
Words and Music by Jim Peterik

"Eye of the Tiger" performed by Survivor
Words and Music by Jim Peterik & Frankie Sullivan

Boudleaux & Felice Bryant, songwriters

2007-11-20T12:02:00.000-08:00

Felice Bryant (August 7, 1925 – April 22, 2003) and Boudleaux Bryant – (February 13, 1920June 26, 1987) were an American wife and husband country music songwriting team who were also at the forefront of the evolution of pop music. They were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1991.

"Hey Joe" performed by Carl Smith
Words and Music by Boudleaux Bryant

"Love Hurts" performed by Nazareth
Words and Music by Boudleaux Bryant

"Rocky Top" performed by Bobby Osborne of The Osborne Brothers
Words and Music by Boudleaux & Felice Bryant

"Wake Up, Little Suzie" performed by The Everly Brothers
Words and Music by Boudleaux & Felice Bryant

Hoyt Axton, songwriter

2007-11-20T10:42:00.000-08:00

Hoyt Axton (March 25, 1938 – October 26, 1999) was an American country music singer-songwriter, and a film and television actor. He was born in Duncan, Oklahoma and was raised in Comanche, Oklahoma.

"Never Been to Spain" performed by Elvis Presley
Words and Music by Hoyt Axton & David Jackson

"No No Song" performed by Ringo Starr & the Smothers Brothers
Words and Music by Hoyt Axton

"Joy to the World" performed by Three Dog Night
Words and Music by Hoyt Axton

"Lion in the Winter" performed by Hoyt Axton and Linda Ronstadt
Words and Music by Hoyt Axton

Shel Silverstein, songwriter

2007-11-20T07:52:00.000-08:00

Shel Silverstein (September 25, 1930 – May 10, 1999) kept a low profile but cast a long shadow. Silverstein was a true Renaissance man who was accomplished in several fields including songwriting.

"The Winner" performed by Bobby Bare
Words and Music by Shel Silverstein

"A Boy Named Sue" performed by Johnny Cash
Words and Music by Shel Silverstein

"Cover of the Rolling Stone" performed by Dr. Hook
Words and Music by Shel Silverstein

"One's On the Way" performed by Loretta Lynn and the Muppets
Words and Music by Shel Silverstein