Wayland Holyfield

"When you write a song," observes Wayland Holyfield, "you're writing a very edited version of a short story." He should know-he's written many of the best-loved "stories" in country music. Holyfield is proudest, he says, of "Could I Have This Dance," which he co-wrote with Bob House. Recorded by Anne Murray, it was a highlight on the Urban Cowboy soundtrack in 1980 and has since become a favorite wedding song.

Holyfield was born in Mallettown, Arkansas, in 1942. He completed his formal education in the state's schools, ultimately earning a degree in marketing from the University of Arkansas. He moved to Nashville in 1972. In 1973, he had his first Top 5 hit-Johnny Russell's "Rednecks, White Socks And Blue Ribbon Beer," which Holyfield co-wrote with Bob McDill and Chuck Neese. Two years later, Don Williams took the Arkansan's "You're My Best Friend" to No. 1.

A remarkably prolific writer, Holyfield can lay claim to such other high-charters as "Some Broken Hearts Never Mend," "Till The Rivers All Run Dry," "Nobody Likes Sad Songs" (with Bob McDill), "Don't Count The Rainy Days," "Only Here For A Little While" (with Richard Leigh), "Down In Tennessee," "She Reminded Me Of You," "(Wish I Had A) Heart Of Stone" and "I'll Do It All Over Again."

Birth Name: Wayland D. Holyfield
Induction Year: 1992
Date of Birth: 3/15/1942
Place of Birth: Mallettown, AR

In 1993, he sang his composition "Arkansas, You Run Deep In Me" at President Bill Clinton's inauguration. He has long been active in protecting songwriters' rights and was the first writer member from Nashville to serve on the board of ASCAP, the performance rights association. Holyfield was elected to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1992.

"I am very proud of being an advocate for songwriters and intellectual property protection. Being elected to the ASCAP Board that represents over 60,000 members and being the only writer member ever from Nashville is an honor and responsibility that I take quite seriously."

"I am proudest of the song "Could I Have This Dance" because it is used in so many weddings (listed as one of the top 5 wedding songs). Touching people's lives is what songwriting is really about.  I am proud to be able to say that I am a professional songwriter and that my music has had an impact in some small way on those who have heard it.  What a wonderful legacy."

Former Occupations:
wholesale appliance salesman
advertising account manager

Education:
Grade School--Springfield, AR (first and second grades)
Grade School--Pulaski Heights Elementary (Little Rock, AR) (from 1948-1956)
High School--Hall High School (graduated in 1960)
College--Hendrix College (Conway, AR) (from 1960-1961)
College--University of Arkansas (from 1961-1965); earned a BA degree in Marketing

Career Milestones:

1972--moved to Nashville on January 5

1973--had 1st #1 hit, "Red Necks, White Socks and Blue Ribbon Beer" (recorded by Johnny Russell) in October, nine months after signing publishing contract with Jack Clement

1974--signed publishing contract with Bill Hall on October 13

1975--"You're My Best Friend" became 1st solely written #1 song

1980--received a Grammy nomination for "Could I Have This Dance"

1993--sang "Arkansas, You Run Deep in Me" at President Clinton's inauguration ceremonies

Awards:

1983--ASCAP\Country Writer of the Year\co-winner
Won 8 BMI performance awards.

Catalog Highlights

Rednecks, White Socks, and Blue Ribbon Beer
Co-writer: Bob McDill, Chuck Neese
Artists: Johnny Russell (197I)

You're My Best Friend
Artists: Don Williams (1975)

Some Broken Hearts Never Mend
Artists: Don Williams (1977), Telly Savalas

Till the Rivers All Run Dry
Artists: Don Williams (1977)

I'll Be Leaving Alone
Co-writer: Dickey Lee
Artists: Charley Pride (1978)

Nobody Likes Sad Songs
Co-writer: Bob McDill
Artists: Ronnie Milsap (1979)

You'll Be Back (Every Night in My Dreams)
Co-writer: Johnny Russell
Artists: The Statler Brothers (1981), Conway Twitty, Johnny Russell (1978), The Oak Ridge Boys

Don't Count the Rainy Days
Artists: Michael Martin Murphey (198I), John Conlee

Could I Have This Dance?
Co-writer: Bob House
Artists: Anne Murray (1980)

You're the Best Break This Old Heart Ever Had
Co-writer: Randy Hatch
Artists: Ed Bruce (1981)

Only Here For a Little While
Co-writer: Richard Leigh
Artists: Billy Dean (1991)

Surround Me With Love
Co-writer: Norro Wilson
Artists: Charlie McClain (1981)

I'll Need Someone to Hold Me When I Cry
Co-writer: Bob McDill
Artists: Janie Fricke (1981)

Never Been So Loved
Co-writer: Norro Wilson
Artists: Charley Pride (1981)

She Never Knew Me
Artists: Don Williams

Down in Tennessee
Artists: John Anderson (198I),
Mark Chestnut (1995)

I'll Do It All Over Again
Artists: Crystal Gayle

Tears of the Lonely
Artists: Don Williams, Mickey Gilley

Put Your Dreams Away
Artists: Mickey Gilley

Your Love Shines Through
Artists: Mickey Gilley

You're Going Out of My Mind
Artists: T.G. Sheppard, Terri Gibbs

Breakaway
Artists: Gail Davies, Nicolette Larson

Stop the Rain
Artists: Shenandoah

When You Get to the Heart
Artists: Barbara Mandrell/The Oak Ridge Boys (1986)

She Reminded Me of You
Artists: Mickey Gilley

The Blues in Black and White
Artists: Randy Travis

(Wish I Had a) Heart of Stone
Artists: Baillie and the Boys

Arkansas You Run Deep in Me
Artists: Wayland Holyfield

A Little Bit Slower
Artists: Charlie McClain

A Piece of My Heart
Artists: Dickey Lee

All I'm Missing Is You
Artists: Don Williams, Eddie Arnold

The Best There Is
Artists: Tammy Wynette

The Blue Ribbon Blues
Artists: Joe Sun, Gary Stewart

Blue Ridge Mountain Girl
Artists: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

The Blues Don't Care Who's Got 'Em
Artists: Gary Stewart, Mickey Gilley

Breezy
Artists: Dickey Lee

Can't Leave That Woman Alone
Artists: Charley Pride

Can't See the Love For the Tears
Artists: Charly McClain

Can't Stop the Mississippi
Artists: Charley Pride

Caroline's Still in Georgia
Artists: Mac Davis

The Country Club
Artists: T.G. Sheppard

Dancing to the Beat of a Broken Heart
Artists: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Daylight Stranger
Artists: Mel Street

The Deeper We Fall
Artists: Johnny Lee

Donna
Artists: Dickey Lee

Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know
Artists: Mel Street

Everyday Love
Artists: Charly McClain

Everything You Say (and Everything You Do)
Artists: Lorrie Morgan

Falling Again
Artists: Don Williams

Falling in Love
Artists: Juice Newton

Give Me One Good Reason
Artists: Dickey Lee

Give It To Me
Artists: Don Williams

Heads I Go Hearts I Stay
Artists: Ronnie Milsap

Hearts Like Mine
Artists: Charly McClain

He's My Best Friend
Artists: American Brothers, Rex Nelson Singers

He's Still All Over You
Artists: Joel Sonnier

(She's) Still All Over You
Artists: Jeanne Pruitt

Hillbilly Hell
Artists: Bobby Bare

How Did We Get Here From There
Artists: Verlon Thompson

I Don't Want to Wake You
Artists: Julio Iglesias, Lee Greenwood

I Feel Charmed
Artists: Stoney Edwards

I Keep Putting Off Getting Over You
Artists: Don Williams

I Never Will Get Over You
Artists: Ava Barber, Dickey Lee

I Might Be a While In New Orleans
Artists: Johnny Russell

I Met a Friend of Yours Today
Artists: Mel Street

I Take My Comfort In You
Artists: Pirates of the Mississippi

I'll Be Leaving Alone
Artists: Charley Pride

I'll Be Blue
Artists: Con Hunley

I'll Believe It When I Feel It
Artists: T. Graham Brown

I'm a Woman
Artists: Jeannie Pruett

I'm Getting Good at Missing You
Artists: Rex Allen Jr.

I'm Gonna Love You Tonight
Artists: Johnny Duncan

I'm Just a Heartache Away
Artists: Dickey Lee

I'm Living a Lie
Artists: Jeannie Pruett

I'm Trusting a Feeling
Artists: Dickey Lee

I've Got a Winner In You
Artists: Don Williams

I've Never Seen the Likes Of You
Artists: Conway Twitty

If a Broken Heart Could Kill

Artists: John Anderson, Keith Whitley

If I Had a Cheating Heart
Artists: Mel Street

If Only
Artists: Reba McEntire

Is There Anything I Can Do
Artists: John Conlee, Bill Medley, T. Graham Brown

It Feels Good Enough To Call It Love
Artists: Zella Lehr

It Took Us All Night Long (To Say Goodbye)
Artists: Danny Wood

It Would Take a Fool
Artists: Ed Bruce

It's Too Late to Stop Us Now
Artists: Mel Street

It's Amazing
Artists: Charley Pride

Just Hanging On
Artists: Con Hunley, Mel Street

Just Because it Feels Good
Artists: Ronnie Milsap

(I'm Gonna) Justify Your Love For Me
Artists: Mickey Gilley

Let's Stay The Way We Are Tonight
Artists: Shelly West

Look Before You Love
Artists: Brentwood

Making the Night The Best Part of My Day
Artists: Lincoln City Sound

Midnight
Artists: Lois Johnson

Midnight Invitation
Artists: Terry Sumsion

My Broken Heart Made Someone Happy
Artists: Eddie Arnold

My Love Shows Thru
Artists: Dickey Lee

New York Wine and Tennessee Shine
Artists: Dave and Sugar

No No No (I'd Rather Be Free)
Artists: Rex Allen Jr.

Now and Then
Artists: Don Williams

Old Fashioned Kind of Love
Artists: Jim Ed Brown & Helen Cornelius

Old Reliable
Artists: Tammy Wynette

The One I Sing My Love Songs To
Artists: Jacky Ward, Tom Cash, Rex Allen Jr.

One More Time For Me
Artists: Charly McClain

The One Song I Never Could Write
Artists: Tammy Wynette

Out of Touch
Artists: Michael Martin Murphy

Rainy Nights and Memories
Artists: Don Williams

River Roll On
Artists: The Judds

Rolling In Love
Artists: the Capitols

Shadows of Love
Artists: Rayburn Anthony

Showtime
Artists: The Tams

Since I Lost Her To You
Artists: Rex Allen Jr.

Something Borrowed Something Blue
Artists: John Anderson

Steal My Heart Away
Artists: Don Williams

Strawberry Women
Artists: Dickey Lee

These Tears
Artists: Keith Stegall

This Heart's For You
Artists: Charly McClain

Turn Me to Love
Artists: Keith Whitley

Two Less Lonely People
Artists: Rex Allen Jr.

Virginia How Far Will You Go
Artists: Dickey Lee, Mel Street

What About When It Rains
Artists: Gus Hardin

When I Get Home To You
Artists: Charley McClain

When Will I Ever Learn
Artists: Don Williams

Where Have You Been All My Life
Artists: Roy Clark

Where the Arkansas Leaves Oklahoma
Artists: Don Williams

Whose Heartache Is This Anyway
Artists: Reba McEntire

Wicked Loving Ways
Artists: Bob Luman

You Are Always There For Me
Artists: Reba McEntire

You Don't Have the Heart
Artists: Charly McClain

You Don't Need to Move a Mountain
Artists: Jeannie Pruett

You Got Me By the Heart
Artists: Charley McClain

You're Here to Remember
(I'm Here to Forget)
Artists: Carol Chase, Merrill Osmond
& Jessica Bouche

You'll Stop Hurting Me
 (When I Stop Loving You)
Artists: Tom Grant

You're Gonna Love Love
Artists: Ava Barber

Your Love Is My Refuge
Artists: Ava Barber, Jack Ruth

Comments:

In 1990, Holyfield was elected to the ASCAP Board of Directors , the first Nashville writer so honored

"Arkansas You Run Deep in Me" was written for the 1986 Arkansas Sesquicentennial celebration; the song was adopted in 1987 by the state legislature as the official state song of Arkansas

Received the NSAI Presidential Award in 1979

Has received 14 BMI performance awards

Has received 16 ASCAP performance awards