Roger Alan Murrah (born November 20, 1946) is a songwriter and independent music publisher who has written hits for artists including

Waylon Jennings Waylon Jennings (June 15, 1937 – February 13, 2002) was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. He pioneered the Outlaw Movement in country music. Jennings started playing guitar at the age of eight and performed at age f ...

Alan Jackson Alan Eugene Jackson (born October 17, 1958) is an American singer-songwriter. He is known for blending traditional honky-tonk and mainstream country pop sounds (for a style widely regarded as "neotraditional country"), as well as penning many o ...

, Al Jarreau, and

Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = "Alabama (state song), Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery, Alabama, Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville, Alabama, Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County, Al ...

."Indie Publisher Spotlight:Mentoring Role Helps Murrah Music Thrive"
Kevin Zimmerman, BMI ''MusicWorld'', June 27, 2006.

Biography

Early life

Roger Murrah was born on November 20, 1946, in

Athens, Alabama Athens is a city in and the county seat of Limestone County, in the U.S. state of Alabama; it is included in the Huntsville-Decatur-Albertville, AL Combined Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the population of the city is 21,897. Histo ...

Career

After working in the late 1960s as a staff writer, he opened his own studio in

Huntsville, Alabama Huntsville is a city in Madison County, Limestone County, and Morgan County, Alabama, United States. It is the county seat of Madison County. Located in the Appalachian region of northern Alabama, Huntsville is the most populous city in t ...

. He then moved to

Nashville, Tennessee Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the List of muni ...

and in 1972 made his first appearance on the national charts with "It's Raining in Seattle" by

Wynn Stewart Winford Lindsey Stewart (June 7, 1934 – July 17, 1985), better known as Wynn Stewart, was an American country music performer. He was one of the progenitors of the Bakersfield sound. Although not a huge chart success, he was an inspiration t ...

. In 1990, he started his own publishing company, Murrah Music and in 1992 was named '' Billboards Independent Publisher of the Year. Murrah signees include: Mark Alan Springer,

Neal Coty Neal Lee Angleberger (born May 13, 1964), known professionally as Neal Coty, is an American country music singer and songwriter. He has released two albums for Mercury Records Nashville, and has written several singles for other artists. Biograp ...

Rachel Proctor Rachel Christine Proctor (born August 11, 1974) is an American country music artist. Before signing to a record deal, she co-wrote Martina McBride's 2002 single " Where Would You Be". By 2003, Proctor had signed to BNA Records, releasing her de ...

, Luke Bryan,

Rebecca Lynn Howard Rebecca Lynn Howard (born April 24, 1979) is an American country music artist. She has charted seven singles on the '' Billboard'' Hot Country Songs charts, and has released three studio albums. Her highest-charting single, "Forgive", peaked at ...

, Steve Azar, Phillip White, Rachel Thibodeau, Michael Mobley, Jimmy Melton and

Jon Henderson Jon Elliott Henderson (December 17, 1944 – August 2, 2020) is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Redskins. He also played one season in the Canadian Footbal ...

. His songs have been recorded by artists including: Al Jarreau, Alan Jackson,

Barbara Mandrell Barbara Ann Mandrell (born December 25, 1948) is an American country music singer and musician. She is also credited as an actress and author. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, she was considered among country's most successful music artist ...

Tanya Tucker Tanya Denise Tucker (born October 10, 1958) is an American country music singer and songwriter who had her first hit, "Delta Dawn", in 1972 at the age of 13. Over the succeeding decades, Tucker became one of the few child performers to mature int ...

The Oak Ridge Boys The Oak Ridge Boys are an American country and gospel vocal quartet originating in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The group was founded in the 1940s as the Oak Ridge Quartet. They became popular in Southern gospel during the 1950s. Their name was chang ...

Wynonna Judd Wynonna Ellen Judd or simply Wynonna ( ; born Christina Claire Ciminella; May 30, 1964) is an American country music singer. She is one of the most widely recognized and awarded female country singers. In all, she has had 19 No. 1 singles, incl ...

Mel Tillis Lonnie Melvin Tillis (August 8, 1932 – November 19, 2017) was an American country music singer and songwriter. Although he recorded songs since the late 1950s, his biggest success occurred in the 1970s as part of the outlaw country movement, ...

Take 6 Take 6 is an American a cappella gospel sextet formed in 1980 on the campus of Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama. The group integrates jazz with spiritual and inspirational lyrics. Take 6 has received several Grammy Awards as well as Dove ...

, Alabama, Conway Twitty, Ronnie Milsap, and Waylon Jennings. He was inducted into the

Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame was established in 1970 by the Nashville Songwriters Foundation, Inc. in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. A non-profit organization, its objective is to honor and preserve the songwriting legacy that is u ...

in 2005. Additionally, he has served five terms as Chairman of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation (NaSHOF), and two consecutive terms as president of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI).

Number one hits

* "

Southern Rains "Southern Rains" is a song written by Roger Murrah, and recorded by American country music artist Mel Tillis Lonnie Melvin Tillis (August 8, 1932 – November 19, 2017) was an American country music singer and songwriter. Although he recorded ...

" — Mel Tillis 1981 * " Life's Highway" — Steve Wariner 1986 * "

Hearts Aren't Made to Break (They're Made to Love) "Hearts Aren't Made to Break (They're Made to Love)" is a song written by Roger Murrah and Steve Dean, and recorded by American country music Country (also called country and western) is a genre of popular music that originated in the Souther ...

" — Lee Greenwood 1986 * "

It Takes a Little Rain (To Make Love Grow) "It Takes a Little Rain (To Make Love Grow)" is a song written by Roger Murrah, Steve Dean and James Dean Hicks, and recorded by American country music group The Oak Ridge Boys The Oak Ridge Boys are an American country and gospel vocal quart ...

" — Oak Ridge Boys 1987 * " This Crazy Love" — Oak Ridge Boys 1987 * " High Cotton" — Alabama 1989 * " Southern Star" — Alabama 1990 * "

Don't Rock the Jukebox ''Don't Rock the Jukebox'' is the second studio album by American country music artist Alan Jackson. It was released on May 14, 1991, and produced five singles on the Hot Country Songs charts; the title track, "Someday", "Dallas", and "Love's Go ...

" — Alan Jackson 1991 * "

I'm in a Hurry (And Don't Know Why) "I'm in a Hurry (And Don't Know Why)" is a song written by Roger Murrah and Randy VanWarmer, and recorded by American country music band Alabama. It was released in September 1992 as the second single from their album '' American Pride''. The son ...

" — Alabama 1992 * " If I Could Make a Living" — Clay Walker 1994"If I Could Make a Living" (Hot Country Songs chart)
'' Billboard'', February 4, 1995.

Awards

* 1988 BMI Songwriter of the YearBio
Alabama Music Hall of Fame * 1980's BMI Songwriter of the Decade * BMI Millionaire Airplay Award (for over one million radio performances of Al Jarreau's " We're in This Love Together.") * 3rd BMI Millionaire Airplay Award (for over three million radio performances of Al Jarreau's " We're in This Love Together.") * CMA Song Of The Year Nomination (1991)

's "

." * CMA Song Of The Year Nomination (1992)

's "

." * BMI 2nd Millionaire Airplay Award (for over two million radio performances of

's "

.") * BMI Millionaire Airplay Award (for over one million radio performances of

Wynonna Wynonna Ellen Judd or simply Wynonna ( ; born Christina Claire Ciminella; May 30, 1964) is an American country music singer. She is one of the most widely recognized and awarded female country singers. In all, she has had 19 No. 1 singles, incl ...

's " Only Love.") * BMI 2nd Millionaire Airplay Award (for over two million radio performances of

's " High Cotton.") * BMI Millionaire Airplay Award (for over one million radio performances of

's " Southern Star.") * BMI 2nd Millionaire Airplay Award (for over two million radio performances of

's "

I'm In A Hurry (And Don't Know Why) "I'm in a Hurry (And Don't Know Why)" is a song written by Roger Murrah and Randy VanWarmer, and recorded by American country music band Alabama. It was released in September 1992 as the second single from their album '' American Pride''. The son ...

.") * BMI 2nd Millionaire Airplay Award (for over two million radio performances of

's " It's a Little Too Late.") * BMI Millionaire Airplay Award (for over one million radio performances of

' " This Crazy Love.") * BMI Millionaire Airplay Award (for over one million radio performances of

Travis Tritt James Travis Tritt (born February 9, 1963) is an American country music singer and songwriter. He signed to Warner Bros. Records in 1989, releasing seven studio albums and a greatest hits package for the label between then and 1999. In the 20 ...

's "

Where Corn Don't Grow "Where Corn Don't Grow" is a song written by Roger Murrah and Mark Alan Springer. It was first recorded by Waylon Jennings on his 1990 album ''The Eagle'', peaking at #67 on the country singles charts that year. Six years later, Travis Tritt J ...

.")

References

External links

Murrah Music website

Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame

In The Spotlight Feature Interview 2010

American Songwriter February 19, 2009

American Chronicle Feature 2006

Bluegrass Journal February 18, 2010

BMI Music World Feature Interview, June 2006

NAMM Oral History Program Interview, July 2009

MusicRow September 7, 2010
{{DEFAULTSORT:Murrah, Roger 1946 births Living people People from Athens, Alabama Musicians from Nashville, Tennessee American country songwriters American male songwriters Songwriters from Tennessee Songwriters from Alabama