Hank Cochran (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." Birth Name: Garland Perry Cochran Induction Year: 1974 Date of Birth: 8/2/1935 Place of Birth: Isola, MS Former Occupations: oil field worker Career Milestones: 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: Was listed in Who's Who in America in 1988 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"