Mark D. Sanders

California native Mark Daniel Sanders was a literature major, basketball player and a surfer who, at age 29, came to Nashville to write songs. After 10 years, his career skyrocketed in the early 1990s, thanks to hits by Diamond Rio ("Mirror, Mirror"), Tracy Lawrence ("Runnin’ Behind") and John Anderson ("Money in the Bank"), and he’s gone on to rack up 14 #1 singles. Mark has twice been named NSAI Songwriter of the Year (in 1995, with 5 #1 songs that year alone, and in 1996) and has won two of ASCAP’s highest awards: Country Songwriter of the Year (1997) and Country Song of the Year (1996) for writing "No News" (recorded by Lonestar). He’s also collected four CMA Triple Play Awards, given for charting three #1 songs in a 12-month period. His "I Hope You Dance" (recorded by Lee Ann Womack) won a Grammy Award in 2000 for Best Country Song, and was declared Song of the Year by virtually every music industry awards organization — NSAI, ASCAP, BMI, the ACM and the CMA. He and co-writer Tia Sillers later authored a book inspired by the song that has sold two million copies. Additionally, Mark’s songs have been hits for artists such as George Strait ("Blue Clear Sky"), Ricochet ("Daddy’s Money"), Faith Hill ("It Matters to Me") and Jack Ingram ("That’s a Man").

“(This Ain’t) No Thinkin’ Thing” [#1] – Trace Adkins
“Blue Clear Sky” [#1] – George Strait
“Come Cryin’ to Me” [#1], “Runnin’ Away With My Heart,” “No News” [#1] – Lonestar
“Daddy’s Money” [#1] – Ricochet
“Don’t Get Me Started” [#1] – Rhett Akins
“Heads Carolina, Tails California” – Jo Dee Messina

“I Hope You Dance” [#1 Country and #1 AC]
“I’d Rather Ride Around With You,” “The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter” [#1] – Reba McEntire
“If You’ve Got Love” [#1] – John Michael Montgomery
“It Matters to Me” [#1] – Faith Hill
“Mirror, Mirror” – Diamond Rio
“Money in the Bank” [#1] – John Anderson
“Runnin’ Behind” [#1] – Tracy Lawrence
“That’d Be Alright” – Alan Jackson
“That’s One You Owe Me” – Johnny Cash
“There You Are” – Martina McBride
“They’re Playin’ Our Song” [#1] – Neal McCoy
“Whatcha Gonna Do With a Cowboy” [#1] – Chris LeDoux & Garth Brooks

(This Ain’t) No Thinkin’ Thing: Trace Adkins, 1997 (#1 Country)
A Door: Aaron Tippin, 1997 (#65 Country)
A Matter Of Wine: Mel Tillis, 1983
A River Like You: Vince Gill, 2006
Ain’t That The Way It Goes: Dave Kemp, 1983 (#75 Country)
Another Friday Night: Kenny Chesney, 1996
Anytime: Rick Trevino, 1996
Baby’s Gone: Trace Adkins, 2003
Backslider’s Prayer: Ty England, 1996 Lesley McDaniel, 2000
Better Than It Used To Be: Rhett Akins, 1998 (#47 Country)
The Big Bad Broken Heart: Regina Regina, 1997 Kimberlee Nash, 2003
Blue Clear Sky: George Strait, 1996 (#1 Country) Bob DiPiero, 2001
Bobbie Ann Mason: Rick Trevino, 1995 (#6 Country)
Buckaroo: Lee Ann Womack, 1998 (#27 Country)
Careful What You Wish For: Ricky Lynn Gregg, 2001 Texas Unlimited Band, 2005
Cheatin’ On Her Heart: Jeff Carson, 1998 (#52 Country)
Cold Dog Soup: Guy Clark, 1999
Come Cryin’ To Me: Lonestar, 1997 (#1 Country)
Come Home: Trace Adkins, 2001
Come With Me: Zane Lewis, 2008
Daddy’s Money: Ricochet, 1996 (#1 Country) Country Kickers, 1997
Divine Intervention: Greg Holland, 1994 Jeff Carson, 2001
Don’t Get Me Started: Rhett Akins, 1996 (#1 Country)
Don’t Take Your Love Away From Me: Randy Travis, 1996
Drinkin’ Problem: Lori McKenna, 2007
Fools Hall Of Fame: Barry & Holly Tashian, 1997
Geronimo: Andy Childs, 1993 James T. Horn, 1997
Get A Guitar: Jeff Carson, 1995
Girls Ride Horses Too: Judy Rodman, 1987 (#7 Country)
Hands On Man: Jeff Bates, 2006
Happy As We Wanna Be: Rhett Akins, 1998
Have A Nice Rest Of Your Life: Randy Travis, 1989
Heads Carolina, Tails California: Jo Dee Messina, 1996 (#2 Country)
The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter: Reba McEntire, 1995 (#1 Country)
Here’s Hopin’: Kathy Mattea, 1989 Roy Rogers & Randy Travis, 1991
Hills & Hollers: Adrienne Young & Little Sadie, 2005
Hotwired: Shawn Camp, 2006 Porter Wagoner, 2007
House Huntin’: Matthews, Wright & King, 1992 (#68 Country)
I Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere: Martina McBride, 1999
I Hope You Dance: Lee Ann Womack, 2000 (#1 Country/#1 AC /#14 Pop)
— NSAI Song of the Year for 2000-2001; 2000 ACM and 2000 CMA Song and Single of the Year; 2000 Grammy for Best Country Song; 2001 ASCAP Country Song of the Year; 2001 BMI Country Song of the Year Sons of the Desert, 2000 Oleta Adams, 2001 Reigning Mercy, 2001 Dennis Caplinger, 2002 Willie Jolley, 2003 Lisa Otey & the Desert Divas, 2004 Ronan Keating, 2004 Deborah Lippman, 2005 Tia Sillers, 2005 Glendon Smith Quintet, 2006 Kim McAbee, 2006 Gladys Knight, 2008
I’m Up For Gettin’ Down Tonight: Clifford Curry, 1985 Savannah, 1985
I’d Rather Ride Around With You: Reba McEntire, 1997 (#2 Country)
I’d Say That’s Right: Clay Walker, 1997
If I Could Live Your Life: Linda Davis & Reba McEntire, 1996
If I’m Ever Over You: Michelle Wright, 1992
If You’ve Got Love: John Michael Montgomery, 1995 (#1 Country)
I’ll Take Care Of You: Kathy Mattea, 1989
I’m Your Man: Jason Sellers, 1997 (#37 Country)
In The Blood: Rob Crosby, 1992 (#48 Country)
It Goes Without Saying: Tim Malchak, 1988 (#35 Country)
It Matters To Me: Faith Hill, 1996 (#1 Country / #74 Pop)
It’s About Time: Julie Reeves, 1999 (#51 Country)
Just Another Heartache: Chely Wright, 1998 (#39 Country)
Just As Dead Today: Shawn Camp, 2006
Knocked Up: Heidi Newfield, 2008
Leaving This Life: Lori McKenna, 2007
Like A Hurricane: Kathy Mattea, 1987 Pat Alger, 1991 The Dillards, 1992
Little Miracles: Jenny Simpson, 1998
Loretta Lynn’s Lincoln: Josh Turner, 2006
Love And Gravity: BlackHawk, 1997
Love Like A River: Daylon Wear, 2001
Love Will Carry The Load: Susie Luchsinger, 1995
Love Won’t Wait: The Whites, 1986 (#36 Country)
Macon Love: David Wills, 1984 (#69 Country)
The Man Behind The Wheel: Charlie Floyd, 1993
Many A Mile: Collin Raye, 1992
Many Mansions: Moe Bandy, 1989 (#34 Country)
The Memories Remain: Emmylou Harris, 1983 Barry & Holly Tashian, 1993
Mirror, Mirror: Diamond Rio, 1991 (#3 Country) Bob DiPiero, 2001
Money In The Bank: John Anderson, 1993 (#1 Country)
My Heart Has A History: Paul Brandt, 1996 (#5 Country)
Never Had A Reason To: Reba McEntire, 1996
New Orleans: Oak Ridge Boys, 1999 Toby Keith, 1999
No News: Lonestar, 1996 (#1 Country) — 1997 ASCAP Country Song of the Year
Off My Rocker: Billy Currington, 2002
Off To Join The World: Blaine Larson, 2003 Cowboy Jack Clement, 2004
Oh Carolina: Vince Gill, 1984 (#38 Country)
On Again, Off Again: Nashville Bluegrass Band, 1993
One Love, One You: Oak Ridge Boys, 1987
The Other Side Of This Kiss: Mindy McCready, 1998 (#41 Country)
Preachin’ To The Choir: Jeff Carson, 1995
The Quittin’ Kind: Joe Diffie, 1999 (#21 Country / #90 Pop)
Runnin’ Away With My Heart: Lonestar, 1996 (#8 Country)
Runnin’ Behind: Tracy Lawrence, 1992 (#1 Country)
Save This One For Me: Rick Trevino, 1995 (#45 Country)
See Rock City: Rick Trevino, 1997 (#44 Country) Kentucky HeadHunters, 1997
She’s Still There: Trace Adkins, 1999
Small Towns Are Smaller For Girls: Holly Dunn, 1987
Spinning Straw Into Gold: Barry & Holly Tashian, 1994
Straight To You: Brian McComas, 2003
Talk To My Heart: Joan Kennedy, 1994
That’d Be Alright: Alan Jackson, 2003 (#2 Country / #29 Pop)
That’s A Man: Jack Ingram, 2009 (#15 Country)
That’s Enough Of That: Mila Mason, 1996 (#18 Country)
That’s Me (Every Chance I Get): George Strait, 1997
That’s One You Owe Me: Johnny Cash, 1989
That’s The Way I Feel: Delbert McClinton, 1990
That’s What I Like About Love: Billy Dean, 1993
That’s What Love’ll Get You: Joe Nichols, 2005
The Day That She Left Tulsa (In A Chevy): Wade Hayes, 1998 (#5 Country / #86 Pop)
There You Are: Martina McBride, 2000 (#10 Country / #15 AC / #60 Pop)
They’re Playin’ Our Song: Neal McCoy, 1995 (#3 Country) Bob DiPiero, 2001
Thinking ’Bout Leaving: James & Michael Younger, 1983 Gene Watson, 1983 Butch Baker, 1984 (#56 Country)
This’d Be A Real Good Day: Chad Austin, 2000
Those Hands: Rhett Akins, 1995
Time Is A Bandit: Ricky Skaggs, 1997
Tune Of A Twenty Dollar Bill: Lonesome River Band, 2002 Shawn Camp, 2004 Joey & Rory, 2008
Two Ways To Fall: Barry & Holly Tashian, 1997 Rodney Redman, 2002 Ty England, 1996
Victim Of The Game: Garth Brooks, 1990 Trisha Yearwood, 1991
Vidalia: Sammy Kershaw, 1996 (#10 Country)
Waitin’ For The Day To Break: Shawn Camp, 2006
Walking To Jerusalem: Tracy Byrd, 1995 (#15 Country / #92 Pop)
Way Beyond The Blue: The Bonners, 1988 (#99 Country) Roger Ballard, 1993
The Way Things Are Goin’: Darryl Worley, 2000
What If I Do: Mindy McCready, 1997 (#26 Country)
What More Do You Want From Me?: Rhonda Vincent, 1996 Diamond Rio, 1998
Whatcha Gonna Do With A Cowboy: Chris LeDoux & Garth Brooks, 1992 (#7 Country) Country Dance Kings, 1993
When Her Love Was Mine: Pirates of the Mississippi, 1995
When I Get Where I’m Goin’: Nashville Bluegrass Band, 1993
When Life Hits Hard: Ricky Skaggs, 1997
Willow In The Wind: Kathy Mattea, 1989
Yeah Buddy: Jeff Carson, 1995 (#69 Country)
You Are What You Do: Highway 101, 1993 The Moffatts, 1995
Your Woman Misses Her Man: Chely Wright, 1997

Plus recordings by Vince Gill, Kenny Chesney, Trisha Yearwood, Joe Nichols, Guy Clark, Randy Travis, Roy Rogers, Kathy Mattea, Josh Turner, Emmylou Harris, Toby Keith, Billy Currington, Lori McKenna, Heidi Newfield, Jack Ingram, Rhonda Vincent, Clifford Curry, Delbert McClinton, Gladys Knight.