Allen Reynolds

Allen Reynolds (born August 18, 1938) is an American record producer and songwriter who specializes in country music.[1] He has been inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame[2][3] and the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum.

Allen Reynolds
Born (1938-08-18) August 18, 1938
North Little Rock, Arkansas
OriginUnited States
GenresCountry music
Occupation(s)Record producer and songwriter
Years active1962–present
LabelsJMI Records, UA Records
Associated actsThe Vogues, Hal Ketchum, Crystal Gayle, Don Williams, Garth Brooks

Biography

Early life and career

Reynolds was born in North Little Rock, Arkansas, and grew up in Memphis, Tennessee.[2] He started writing songs during his college years and eventually teamed up with Dickey Lee to form their own publishing and production company. They had a minor regional hit with the song "Dream Boy."[1]

In the early 1960s, Reynolds most notably wrote the 1965 pop hit "Five O'Clock World" for the Vogues. Reynolds worked at Sun Records in Memphis, and he became good friends with Jack Clement, a leading producer and writer at the label.[1]

Commercial success

In the early 1970s, Reynolds' friend, producer and writer Jack Clement, left Memphis to start his own publishing company and record label in Nashville, JMI Records. Clement convinced Reynolds to sign on as vice-president. Reynolds built a roster of talented writers at the label, including Bob McDill (writer of the country standard "Amanda") and Don Williams.[4] Reynolds went on to write and produce on Wiliams' first two albums, and was instrumental in helping Williams to launch his career.[5]

When JMI Records closed in 1975, Reynolds continued to actively write and produce around Nashville, including Waylon Jennings' "Dreaming My Dreams with You." However, he achieved his greatest commercial success during this time working as writer and producer for Crystal Gayle.[2] Some of their notable collaborations included "Wrong Road Again," "Somebody Loves You" and "Ready For the Times to Get Better."[6] When Gayle left Decca records 1975, she signed with UA Records where she was teamed up with Reynolds, and he is credited with developing her signature soft rock sound.[7][8]

Later career

Allen Reynolds' songs have left a lasting legacy on the country music scene. Hal Ketchum covered the 1960s hit "Five O'Clock World" on his 1991 debut album Past the Point of Rescue, with Reynolds as co-producer alongside Jim Rooney, which became a Top 20 country single for Ketchum.[9]

Reynolds has kept busy in the music industry working as a noted record producer. Reynolds produced many of Garth Brooks's hit albums. He has also produced albums for Kathy Mattea, Hal Ketchum, Emmylou Harris, George Hamilton IV and the O'Kanes.[2]

Compositions
Title Co-writer(s) Year Artist Album Chart Ref.
"I Saw Linda Yesterday" Dickey Lee 1962 Dickey Lee
"Five O'Clock World" 1965 The Vogues
"Her and Him" Dickey Lee 1965 Bruce and Carroll
"Medicine Man" Mitt Addington 1965 Sam The Sham and the Pharaohs
"He's Not Your Friend" Dickey Lee 1966 Dee Jay and the Runnaways
"I Sowed Love and Reaped Heartache" Dickey Lee 1968 James Carr
"Everybody's Reaching Out For Someone" Dickey Lee 1971 Dickey Lee
"Catfish John" Bob McDill 1972 Bob McDill Short Stories
"Stainless Steel" Bob McDill 1972 Bob McDill Short Stories
"Too Late To Turn Back Now" Don Williams 1973 Don Williams Don Williams Volume One
"I Recall a Gypsy Woman" Don Williams, Bob McDill 1973 Don Williams Don Williams Volume One
"Loving You So Long" 1974 Don Williams Don Williams Volume Two
"It Amazes Me" Wayland Holyfield 1974 Charley Pride
"Before I'm Fool Enough" 1974 Mary Kay James
"We Should Be Together" 1974 Don Williams Don Wliliams Volume Two
"Dreaming My Dreams of You" 1975 Waylon Jennings Dreaming My Dreams
"My Ship Will Sail" 1975 Mary Kay James
"Loving You So Long Now" 1975 Crystal Gayle Crystal Gayle
"Wrong Road Again" 1975 Crystal Gayle Crystal Gayle
"Somebody Loves You" 1975 Crystal Gayle Somebody Loves You
"All I Wanna Do In Life" Sandy Mason 1976 Chip Hawkes
"Ready For the Times To Get Better" 1976 Crystal Gayle Crystal
"We Must Believe In Magic" Bob McDill 1977 Crystal Gayle We Must Believe In Magic
"Trail of Tears" Roger Cook 1982
"Coming to the Dance" Charles Cochran 1985 Crystal Gayle Nobody Wants to Be Alone

References
  1. "Allen Reynolds Biography & History". All Music. November 17, 2019. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
  2. "Songwriter Allen Reynolds to be Honored as Poet and Phrophet". Cybergrass. September 15, 2012. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
  3. "Allen Reynolds: Inductee Year 2000". Nashville Songwriters Foundation. 2000. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
  4. Stambler and Landon, Irwin and Grelun (1997). Country Music: The Encyclopedia. New York, NY: St. Martin's Griffin. p. 539. ISBN 0312151217.
  5. Carlin, Richard (2014). Country Music: A Biographical Dictionary. Routledge. pp. see URL. ISBN 9781135361044.
  6. Erlewine, Michael (1997). All Musics Guide to Country. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 171. ISBN 9780879304751.
  7. "We Should Be Together". AllMusic. November 23, 2019. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
  8. Henderson, Lol, Stacey, Lee (2014). Encyclopedia of Music from the 20th Century. Routledge. p. 239. ISBN 9781579580797.
  9. Hal Ketchum Hot Country Songs Chart History


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