Ted Harris
Induction Year: 1980
Birth Name: Theodore Clifford - Ted Harris
Birth Date: August 02, 1937
Place of Birth: Lakeland, FL
Biography
Favorite song: "'The Fool I've Been Today'--I think it best defines 'songwriting' as an art among my songs; Favorite cut: Bobby Wright's 'Here I Go Again' produced by Owen Bradley--it demonstrates in the most absolute fashion emotionally, what I tried to write into the song.
Reflections: I've spent my occupational life doing what I wanted to do and with the good Lord's help, made a living at it for thirty years now. It simply doesn't get any better than that!! Secondly, as a saved man, I hurt for all my friends and peers who live without direction and get lost in a sea of drugs, bad emotions, and booze. I wish I could give them all the good Lord and the best manual and road map for this life...the Good Book! (incidentally, there's a good song (psalm) writer in there named 'David.'. Cheers."
Former Occupations: | Education: |
Discography / Career Highlights
Career Milestones:
1958 - left home in Lakeland, Florida for Nashville on June 11
1958 - first songs placed on June 25; contracted 7 songs to Silver Star Music Publishing Co. (owned by Hank Snow); dealt with Joe Talbot and Ted Daffan
1958 - signed first major recording contract in August as an artist with RCA Victor Records
1958 - first song recorded in September, "My Lucky Friend" by Hank Snow; eventually became "B" side single and album cut
1959 - first top 10 record in Billboard, "Chasin' a Rainbow" by Hank Snow; went to #6 on June 1
1960 - signed to Columbia Records as recording artist in April
1965 - formed first music publishing business, Harbot Music Publishing Co., with Joe Talbot on April 1
1965 - first Grammy nomination for "Crystal Chandelier" (recorded by Carl Belew )
1966 - signed with Mercury Records as recording artist on January 17
1972 - received a record number of 17 SESAC writer & publisher awards
1976 - first #1 record on Cashbox chart, "The Happiness of Having You" recorded by Charley Pride
1987 - Glen Campbell performed "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle" for President & Mrs. Ronald Reagan at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. in June
1987 - 28th week that "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle" remained on the Billboard Singles chart (approx. 7 months)
Awards:
1969 - SESAC\Country Music Writer of the Year
1970 - NSAI\Outstanding Achievement Award\You and Me Against the World
1970 - SESAC\Country Music Writer of the Year
1971 - SESAC\Country Music Writer of the Year
1972 - SESAC\Country Music Writer of the Year
1972 - NSAI\Outstanding Achievement Award\Here I Go Again
1976 - SESAC\Country Music Writer of the Year
1976 - SESAC\Country Single of the Year\The Happiness of Having You
1977 - SESAC\Hall of Fame Award\Crystal Chandelier
1980 - SESAC\International Award\Crystal Chandelier\selected in a nationwide Great Britain poll as "All Time Favorite Country Music Recording Ever" (BBC Radio-2)
1987 - SESAC\National Television Performance Activity Award\The Hand That Rocks the Cradle
1987 - SESAC\Country Music Writer of the Year
1988 - NSAI\Special Achievement Award\The Hand That Rocks the Cradle
Catalog Highlights:
"Chasing a Rainbow" - Artists: Hank Snow (1959)
"Crystal Chandelier " - A rtists: Carl Belew (1965), Charley Pride (1967), Vic Dana (1965), Floyd Cramer, Louis Armstrong
"Rainbows and Roses " - A rtists: Roy Drusky (1966)
"Paper Mansions " - A rtists: Dottie West (1967)
"Once " - A rtists: Ferlin Husky (1967)
"The True and Lasting Kind " - A rtists: Bobby Lord (1968), Kitty Wells, Johnny Duncan & June Sterns, Ferlin Husky
"You and Me Against the World " - A rtists: Bobby Lord (1970), Roy Rogers, Jack Greene & Jeannie Seeley, Jimmy Dean & Dottie West
"Here I Go Again " - A rtists: Bobby Wright (1971), Nat Stuckey, Del Reeves, Lynn Anderson
"The One You Say Good Mornin' To " - A rtists: Jimmy Dean (1971)
"The Fool I've Been Today " - A rtists: Jack Greene (1973), Conway Twitty, Jerry Wallace
"The Happiness of Havin' You " - A rtists: Jay Lee Webb (1971), Charley Pride (1976), Carl Belew
"The Hand That Rocks the Cradle " - A rtists: Glen Campbell with Steve Wariner (1987)
Comments:
On 10/14/1971, Harris was elected to the Board of Directors of the Country Music Association representing composers
Received 87 SESAC performance awards