Richard Leigh

" I finished college the day President Nixon resigned.  I was in such a hurry to get to Nashville, that I did not wait around for graduation ceremonies. I have been lucky and never have had to work at any other job but that of songwriting.  Every cut means the world to me but I'd have to say that there is nothing like the first one."

 

Birth Name: Richard Christopher Leigh
Induction Year: 1994
Date of Birth: 5/26/1951
Place of Birth: Washington, D.C.

Education:
Grade School--Franklin Sherman Elementary Grades 1-6 (Public) (from 9/1957 to 6/1964)
Grade School--Flint Hill (private) 4th Grade (repeat) (from 9/1961 to 6/1962)
Grade School--James F. Cooper Intermediate 7th & 8th (from 9/1964 to 6/1966)
High School--Langley High (from 9/1966 to 6/1970)
College--Haywood Technical Institute (from 6/1970 to 3/1971)
College--Virginia Highlands Community College (from 3/1971 to 6/1973); graduated with an Associate of Arts degree
College--Virginia Commonwealth University (from 9/1973 to 8/9/1974); graduated with a B.F.A. degree in Theatre Education

Career Milestones:

1974--moved to Nashville on September 1

1975--signed publishing agreement with United Artists on August 1

1975--first cut "I'll Get Over You" by Crystal Gayle

1976--received a CMA nomination for Best Song for "I'll Get Over You"

1978--won Grammy for "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue"

1983--recorded for Capitol

Awards:

1978--Grammy\Best Country Song (1977)\Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue

1978--CMA\Song of the Year (1977)\Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue

1992--NSAI\Song of the Year (1991)\Somewhere In My Broken Heart

1992--ACM\Song of the Year (1991)\Somewhere In My Broken Heart

Catalog Highlights

I'll Get Over You

  • Artists: Crystal Gayle (1975), Jim Nabors, Kitty Wells

Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue

  • Artists: Crystal Gayle (1977)

Somewhere in My Broken Heart

  • Co-writer: Billy Dean

  • Artists: Billy Dean (1991), Randy Travis

The Greatest Man I Never Knew

  • Co-writer: Layng Martine Jr.

  • Artists: Reba McEntire (1991)

Come From the Heart

  • Co-writer: Susanna Clark

  • Artists: Kathy Mattea (1989)

That's the Thing About Love

  • Co-writer: Gary Nicholson

  • Artists: Don Williams (1984)

Life's Highway

  • Co-writer: Roger Murrah

  • Artists: Steve Wariner (1985)

Only Here For a Little While

  • Co-writer: Wayland Holyfield

  • Artists: Billy Dean

Wish I Had a Heart of Stone

  • Co-writer: Wayland Holyfield

  • Artists: Bailey and the Boys (1989)

Put Your Dreams Away

  • Co-writer: Wayland Holyfield

  • Artists: Mickey Gilley (1981)

It's All I Can Do

  • Co-writer: Archie Jordan

  • Artists: Anne Murray (1981)

In No Time At All

  • Co-writer: Archie Jordan

  • Artists: Ronnie Milsay (1979)

Web Site: www.richardleigh.com