Roger Murrah

Roger Murrah
Born	November 20, 1946 Athens, Alabama
Origin	Nashville, Tennessee
Occupation(s)	Songwriter
Website	MurrahMusic.com

Roger Murrah (born 1946) is a songwriter and independent music publisher who has written hits for artists including Waylon Jennings, Alan Jackson, Al Jarreau, and Alabama.^[1]

Biography

Early life

Roger Murrah was born on November 20, 1946 in Athens, Alabama.

Career

After working in the late 1960s as a staff writer, he opened his own studio in Huntsville, Alabama. He then moved to Nashville, Tennessee and in 1972 made his first appearance on the national charts with "It's Raining in Seattle" by Wynn Stewart.^[1] In 1990, he started his own publishing company, Murrah Music and in 1992 was named Billboard's Independent Publisher of the Year.^[1] Murrah signees include: Mark Alan Springer, Neal Coty, Rachel Proctor, Luke Bryan, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Steve Azar, Phillip White, Rachel Thibodeau, Michael Mobley, Jimmy Melton and Jon Henderson. His songs have been recorded by artists including: Al Jarreau, Alan Jackson, Barbara Mandrell, Tanya Tucker, The Oak Ridge Boys, Wynonna, Mel Tillis, Take 6, Alabama, Conway Twitty, Ronnie Milsap, and Waylon Jennings.

He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005.^[2] 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).^[1]

Number one hits

• "Southern Rains" — Mel Tillis 1981^[3]
• "Life's Highway" — Steve Wariner 1986^[4]
• "Hearts Aren't Made to Break" — Lee Greenwood 1986^[5]
• "It Takes a Little Rain" — Oak Ridge Boys 1987^[6]
• "This Crazy Love" — Oak Ridge Boys 1987^[7]
• "High Cotton" — Alabama 1989^[8]
• "Southern Star" — Alabama 1990^[9]
• "Don't Rock the Jukebox" — Alan Jackson 1991^[10]
• "I'm in a Hurry (And Don't Know Why)" — Alabama 1992^[11]
• "If I Could Make a Living" — Clay Walker 1994^[12]

Awards

• 1988 BMI Songwriter of the Year^[1][13]
• 1980's BMI Songwriter of the Decade ^[1][13]
• BMI Millionaire Airplay Award (for over one million radio performances of Al Jarreau’s “We’re in This Love Together.”)^[1]
• 3rd BMI Millionaire Airplay Award (for over three million radio performances of Al Jarreau’s “We’re in This Love Together.”)^[1]
• CMA Song Of The Year Nomination (1991) Alan Jackson’s “Don't Rock the Jukebox.”^[1]
• CMA Song Of The Year Nomination (1992) Alan Jackson’s “Don't Rock the Jukebox.”^[1]
• BMI 2nd Millionaire Airplay Award (for over two million radio performances of Alan Jackson’s “Don't Rock the Jukebox.”)^[1]
• BMI Millionaire Airplay Award (for over one million radio performances of Wynonna’s “Only Love.”)^[1]
• BMI 2nd Millionaire Airplay Award (for over two million radio performances of Alabama’s “High Cotton.”)^[1]
• BMI Millionaire Airplay Award (for over one million radio performances of Alabama’s “Southern Star.”)^[1]
• BMI 2nd Millionaire Airplay Award (for over two million radio performances of Alabama’s “I'm In A Hurry (And Don't Know Why).”)^[1]
• BMI 2nd Millionaire Airplay Award (for over two million radio performances of Tanya Tucker’s “It's a Little Too Late.”)^[1]
• BMI Millionaire Airplay Award (for over one million radio performances of The Oak Ridge Boys’ “This Crazy Love.”)^[1]
• BMI Millionaire Airplay Award (for over one million radio performances of Travis Tritt’s “Where Corn Don't Grow.”)^[1]

References

1. "Indie Publisher Spotlight:Mentoring Role Helps Murrah Music Thrive", Kevin Zimmerman, BMI MusicWorld, June 27, 2006.
2. "Roger Murrah Inducted Into Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame", press release, Top40-Charts.com.
3. "Southern Rains" (Hot Country Songs chart), Billboard, January 31, 1981.
4. "Life's Highway" (Hot Country Songs chart), Billboard, July 19, 1986.
5. "Hearts Aren't Made to Break" (Hot Country Songs chart), Billboard, August 16, 1986.
6. "It Takes a Little Rain" (Hot Country Songs chart), Billboard, July 4, 1987.
7. "This Crazy Love" (Hot Country Songs chart), Billboard, October 24, 1987.
8. "High Cotton" (Hot Country Songs chart), Billboard, February 3, 1990.
9. "Southern Star" (Hot Country Songs chart), Billboard, June 2, 1990.
10. "Don't Rock the Jukebox" (Hot Country Songs chart), Billboard, September 28, 1991.
11. "I'm in a Hurry and I Don't Know Why" (Hot Country Songs chart), Billboard, February 6, 1993.
12. "If I Could Make a Living" (Hot Country Songs chart), Billboard, February 4, 1995.
13. Bio, Alabama Music Hall of Fame

External links

• Murrah Music website
• Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
• In The Spotlight Feature Interview 2010
• Interview, HitQuarters June 2009
• American Songwriter February 19, 2009
• Alabama Music Hall of Fame
• American Chronicle Feature 2006
• Bluegrass Journal February 18, 2010
• BMI Music World Feature Interview, June 2006
• NAMM Oral History Program Interview, July 2009

 http://www.musicrow.com/2010/09/mccartney-inducted-into-nashville-songwriters-hall-of-fame/