Hank Cochran
Induction Year: 1974
Birth Name: Garland Perry - HankCochran
Birth Date: August 02, 1935
Place of Birth: Isola, MS
Biography
(Hank speaking on the secret to success) "Make up your mind what you want to be and what you want to do. Then take every path that might lead in that direction. Let everyone know what you want so they can help you...and they will. Be definite and determined."
"I have a theory that somebody beside me must write my songs because half of the time I don't have the slightest idea where they come from. I even wake up out of a dead sleep and write a song completely. I wrote 'A Funny Way of Laughing' that way. I wrote words and everything. I ran over the melody a couple of times before I went back to sleep to make sure I wouldn't forget it."
Former Occupations: |
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Discography / Career Highlights
1960-moved to Nashville; hired by Pamper Music to write and plug songs; became a co-owner and stayed with Pamper until 1967
1961-recorded first record as a solo artist for Liberty Records
1961-had first hit as a songwriter, "I Fall to Pieces", recorded by Patsy Cline
1965-signed with RCA; released first album with the label
1967-1989-began writing for Tree International after Tree bought Pamper Music; also acted as a professional consultant for Tree
1979-performed "Make the World Go Away" in the feature film "Honeysuckle Rose" starring Willie Nelson
1989-present-co-owner/writer/professional consultant of Co-Heart Music Group
Awards:
1961--BMI Country Award\I Fall to Pieces
1961--BMI Pop Award\I Fall to Pieces
1961--BMI One Million Airplay\I Fall to Pieces
1962--BMI Pop Award\Funny Way of Laughing
1962--BMI Country Award\He's Got You (aka She's Got You)
1962--BMI Pop Award\He's Got You (aka She's Got You)
1962--BMI Country Award\Little Bitty Tear
1962--BMI Pop Award\Little Bitty Tear
1962--BMI Country Award\Tears Break Out On Me
1963--BMI Country Award\Make the World Go Away
1963--BMI Country Award\You Comb Her Hair
1965--BMI Pop Award\Make the World Go Away
1966--BMI Country Award\Don't Touch Me
1966--BMI Country Award\I Want to Go With You
1966--BMI Country Award\Make the World Go Away
1967--BMI Country Award\Don't Touch Me\One Million Airplay Award
1967--Country Music Association\Walkway of Stars
1973--BMI Country Award\It's Not Love But It's Not Bad
1976--BMI Country Award\Make the World Go Away
1976--BMI Two Million Airplay\Make the World Go Away
1978--BMI Country Award\He's Got You (aka She's Got You)
1978--BMI One Million Airplay\He's Got You (aka She's Got You)
1978--BMI Country Award\Why Can't He Be You
1981--BMI Country Award\That's All That Matters to Me
1981--BMI Pop Award\That's All That Matters to Me
1986--BMI Country Award\The Chair
1986--BMI One Million Airplay Award\The Chair
1988--BMI Country Award\Ocean Front Property
1989--BMI Country Award\Set 'Em Up Joe
1990--BMI Country Award\Who You Gonna Blame It On This Time
1990--BMI Country Award\Don't You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me
1990--BMI One Million Airplay\Don't You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me
1991--BMI Country Award\Right In the Wrong Direction
1992--BMI Country Award\Is it Raining At Your House
1993--Betty Clooney Foundation\Singer's Salute to Country Songwriter Award
Catalog Highlights:
"Make the World Go Away" - Artists: Ray Price (1963), Eddy Arnold (1965), Elvis Presley
"I Fall to Pieces" - Co-writer: Harlan Howard, Artists: Patsy Cline, Jim Reeves (1982), Linda Ronstadt
"He's Got You (aka She's Got You)" - Artists: Patsy Cline (1962), Loretta Lynn (1977)
"It's Not Love (But It's Not Bad)" - Co-writer: Glenn Martin, Artists: Merle Haggard (1973)
"Montego Bay" - Co-writer: Glenn Martin, Artists: Merle Haggard
"Ocean Front Property" - Co-writer: Dean Dillon, Royce Porter, Artists: George Strait (1988)
"The Chair" - Co-writer: Dean Dillon, Royce Porter, Artists: George Strait (1985)
"I Want to Go With You"- Artists: Eddy Arnold (1966)
"Don't You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me" - Artists: Jeannie Seely, Ronnie Milsap (1989)
"A Little Bitty Tear" - Artists: Burl Ives (1961)
"This Ain't My First Rodeo" Co-writer: Vern Gosdin, Max D. Barnes, Artists: Vern Gosdin (1990)
"A-11" - Artists: Johnny Paycheck
"That's All That Matters"
"Funny Way of Laughin'" - Artists: Burl Ives (1962)
"Set 'Em Up Joe" - Co-writer: Buddy Cannon, Vern Gosdin, Dean Dillon, Artists: Vern Gosdin (1989)
"You Comb Her Hair" - Co-writer: Harlan Howard, Artists: George Jones (1963)
"Don't Touch Me" - Artists: Jeannie Seely (1966)
"Can I Sleep in Your Arms" - Artists: Jeannie Seely (1973)
"Lucky Ladies" - Artists: Jeannie Seely (1973)
"Who You Gonna Blame It On This Time" - Artists: Vern Gosdin (1989)
"I'd Fight the World Before I'd Ever Let You Go" - Artists: Hank Cochran (1962), Jim Reeves (1974)
"Is It Raining At Your House" - Artists: Vern Gosdin (1991)
"Right In the Wrong Direction" - Artists: Vern Gosdin (1990)
"Tears Break Out On Me" - Artists: Eddy Arnold (1962)
"What Would Your Memories Do" - Artists: Vern Gosdin (1984)
"Why Can't He Be You" - Artists: Loretta Lynn (1978)
"That's All That Matters to Me"
Comments:
When elected to the Songwriters Hall of Fame--only year that one writer got elected--he got all the votes (there are different election procedures now)
Got Willie Nelson his first break after Willie moved to Nashville--convinced Pamper to hire Willie, forgoing his own $50.00 raise which went to pay Nelson's salary; also, when Joe Allison, who was the head of Liberty Record's country division at the time, offered Cochran a recording deal, Cochran told Allison to hire Willie Nelson first; Liberty signed Cochran soon after anyway.
Went to California before coming to Nashville; appeared on "California Hayride" and "Town Hall Party" and worked at Pamper Music's California office
Billboard #1 Singles: "Don't You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me," "He's Got You," "I Fall to Pieces," "I Want to Go With You," "It's Not Love (But It's Not Bad)," "Make the World Go Away," "Ocean Front Property," "Set 'Em Up Joe," "That's All That Matters to Me," "The Chair"
Billboard Top Five Singles: "A Little Bitty Tear," "Don't Touch Me," "Make the World Go Away," "Who You Gonna Blame It On This Time," "You Comb Her Hair"
Billboard Top Ten Singles: "A Little Bitty Tear," "Can I Sleep In Your Arms," "Funny Way of Laughing," "Is It Raining At Your House," "Right In the Wrong Direction," "Tears Break Out On Me," "What Would Your Memories Do," "Why Can't He Be You"
