Mickey Newbury "Music has never been anything but an escape from depression for me.  How many people have listened to my songs and thought, 'He must have a bottle of whiskey in one hand and a pistol in the other.'  Well, I don't.  I write my sadness.  I call it robbing the dragon." "Decide what you want your music to be for you--a diversion, a hobby, a way to pay the bills.  Basically, however, just write for yourself. Yet if you feel that you have to make a living at it, then approach it more from a 'hook' standpoint.  In my own view, once you write your first song for money, then you are copping out--you're in the business of mass appeal." "I write what I think.  If you don't write what you think, what you write you become." Birth Name: Mickey Newbury Induction Year: 1980 Date of Birth: 5/19/1940 Place of Birth: Houston, TX Date of death: 9-28-02 Place of death: Vida, Oregon Former Occupations: Shrimp board worker Career Milestones: 1956--performed with group the Embers; recorded with the band on Herald label 1963--came to Nashville 1964--signed with Acuff-Rose 1966--had #1 records on four different charts--pop/rock ("Just Dropped in to See What Condition My Condition Was In" by Kenny Rogers and the First Edition), rhythm & blues ("Time is a Thief" by Solomon Burke), easy listening ("Sweet Memories" by Andy Williams), and country ("Here Comes the Rain, Baby" by Eddy Arnold) 1968--recorded first album for RCA, "Harlequin Melodies" 1969--went to Los Angeles to write a John Hartford television special with Kris Kristofferson 1970--performed at The Bitter End in New York City Catalog Highlights She Even Woke Me Up to Say Goodbye Artists: Jerry Lee Lewis (1969), Lonnie Mock, Troy Seals, Ronnie Milsap (1975) Sweet Memories Artists: Mickey Newbury, Andy Williams, Ray Charles, Willie Nelson (1979), Joan Baez, Ray Price, B.B. King, Dottie West & Don Gibson (1969) American Trilogy Artists: Mickey Newbury, Elvis Presley Funny, Familiar, Forgotten, Feelings Artists: Tom Jones, Don Gibson (1967), Joan Baez, Buffy St. Marie Here Comes the Rain, Baby Artists: Eddy Arnold (1968) San Francisco Mabel Joy Artists: Joan Baez Just Dropped in to See What Condition My Condition Was In Artists: Kenny Rogers & the First Edition (1971) 33rd of August Artists: Joan Baez, Waylon Jennings Angelline Artists: Joan Baez Five Miles From Home Got Down on Saturday Weeping Allaleah Artists: Tom Jones I Wish I Could Say No to You Artists: Tom Jones Why You've Been Gone So Long Artists: Johnny Darrell (1969) Time Is a Thief Artists: Solomon Burke Heaven Help the Child Comments: "Heaven Help the child" won the "World Popular Song" contest at the Tokyo Music Festival in April, 1973