October 1, 2000 Mac Davis, Allen Reynolds, Billy Edd Wheeler, Randy Goodrum Are Newest Members Of The Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame Garth Brooks Makes Surprise Appearance   NASHVILLE--Musical pacesetters Mac Davis, Allen Reynolds, Billy Edd Wheeler and Randy Goodrum were welcomed into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Sunday (Oct. 1) during black-tie ceremonies held at Loews Vanderbilt Plaza. The Nashville Songwriters Foundation and the Nashville Songwriters Association, International sponsored the annual event. One of the biggest surprises of the evening for the 600 guests was the appearance of superstar Garth Brooks, who came to sing the songs-and praises-of his long-time producer, Allen Reynolds. Also performing songs written by the four new Hall of Fame inductees were Bobby Goldsboro, Michael Johnson, Lari White, Chuck Cannon, Curtis Wright, Sharon Vaughn and JMac Davis was chosen from among songwriter/artists who had their first hits before 1980, outpolling fellow nominees Bobby Bare, Freddie Hart, John Hartford and Jerry Reed. The newest members of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Left to right, Allen Reynolds, Billy Edd Wheeler, Mac Davis, Randy Goodrum. Photo by Kay Williams The Lubbock, Texas, native made his writing breakthrough in 1969-70 when Elvis Presley turned three of his songs into pop hits-"In The Ghetto," "Memories" and "Don't Cry Daddy." Davis followed with "Everything A Man Could Ever Need" (a hit for Glen Campbell), "Something's Burning" (Kenny Rogers & The First Edition), "Watching Scotty Grow" (Bobby Goldsboro) and "I Believe In Music" (Gallery). Davis had his own first No. 1 pop hit in 1972 with his composition, "Baby Don't Get Hooked On Me." Over the next several years, he adorned the pop and country charts with such self-penned efforts as "Stop And Smell The Roses," "It's Hard To Be Humble," "Texas In My Rear View Mirror" and "Hooked On Music." From 1974-76, he hosted and starred in his own musical variety series on NBC-TV. He also acted in movies and played the title role in the Broadway production of The Will Rogers Follies. Reynolds and Wheeler were chosen in a tie vote from among a slate of songwriters who scored their first successes before 1970. The other contenders in that category were Hal Bynum, Billy Gray and Bob Tubert. A native of North Little Rock, Arkansas, Reynolds began his musical career in Memphis, working at the famed Sun Studios. He wrote pop hits during the early '60s, notably "I Saw Linda Yesterday" for Dickey Lee and "Five O'Clock World" for the Vogues. After he moved to Nashville, he became increasingly influential as a record producer, masterminding best-selling albums for Crystal Gayle, Don Williams, Kathy Mattea, Emmylou Harris and, ultimately, Garth Brooks. His compositions include "I Recall A Gypsy Woman," "We Should Be Together," "Wrong Road Again," "Ready For The Times To Get Better" and "Somebody Loves You." Wheeler, who hails from Whitesville, West Virginia, rode in on the folk music boom of the early '60s. He wrote "The Reverend Mr. Black," a 1963 hit for the Kingston Trio. As a recording artist in his own right, he went to No. 3 on the country charts in 1965 with his novelty song, "Ode To The Little Brown Shack Out Back." Other of his classic tunes are "Jackson," "Coal Tattoo," "High Flyin' Bird," "It's Midnight," "Gimme Back My Blues" and "Coward Of The County." Among those who have recorded Wheeler's songs are Johnny Cash and June Carter, Glen Campbell, Elvis Presley, Jerry Reed, Neil Young, Judy Collins and Kenny Rogers. Randy Goodrum, from Hot Springs, Arkansas, won his Hall of Fame niche in the category of songwriters who achieved their first professional triumphs between 1970 and 1980. The other candidates for the honor were Larry Henley, Dennis Linde, Layng Martine Jr. and Dennis Morgan. Goodrum began playing piano for a living when he was 16. After attending college and serving in the U. S. Army Band, Goodrum moved to Nashville in 1973. By the late '70s, his songs were topping both the country and pop charts via such artists as Anne Murray ("You Needed Me," "Broken Hearted Me") and Michael Johnson ("Bluer Than Blue"). During the '80s, Goodrum's chart successes included "What Are We Doin' In Love" for Kenny Rogers and Dottie West, "Oh Sherrie" for Steve Perry and "Who's Holding Donna Now" for DeBarge. His "Lesson In Leavin'," a 1980 country hit for Dottie West, was revived in 1999 by Jo Dee Messina for another trip to the top of the country charts. mail@nashvillesongwritersfoundation.com