Pat Alger

Induction Year: 2010

Birth Name: Pat Alger
Birth Date: September 23, 1947
Place of Birth: Long Island City, N.Y.

Biography

Pat Alger was born in Long Island City, N.Y., but was raised in his mother’s birthplace of LaGrange, Ga. While in college in the ’60s, Pat started writing songs and performing at Atlanta folk clubs. Moving to Woodstock, N.Y. in the ’70s, he made three albums with the Woodstock Mountain Revue for Rounder Records and a duet album with guitarist Artie Traum. Pat had his first hit with Folk-Pop artist Livingston Taylor (“First Time Love”) in 1980, then decided to move to Nashville. Slowly, established artists like Mickey Gilley, Dolly Parton, Brenda Lee and the Everly Brothers began to record his material, followed by new artists like Kathy Mattea (“Goin’ Gone” and “She Came From Fort Worth”), Nanci Griffith (“Lone Star State Of Mind”) and Hal Ketchum (“Small Town Saturday Night”). Pat’s songwriting collaborations with Garth Brooks yielded four #1 records for him (“The Thunder Rolls,” “Unanswered Prayers,” “What She’s Doing Now” and “That Summer”), as well as the Trisha Yearwood hit “Like We Never Had A Broken Heart.” In 1991, Pat was named NSAI Songwriter of the Year. In 1992, he was ASCAP’s Country Songwriter of the Year.

Discography / Career Highlights

1980 - From The Heart

1991 - True Love & Other Short Stories

1993 - Seeds

1994 - Notes and Grace Notes

1991 - NSAI Songwriter of the Year.

1992 - ASCAP’s Country Songwriter of the Year.

2010 - Inducted Into Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.