The Life and Work of Bob McDill (Part 1/2) ~ Songs By: Dan Seals & Keith Whitley

Salute to a Songwriter ~ The Life and Work of Bob McDill, Part I

Bob McDill was born on April 05, 1944 in Walden, Texas. He began writing songs in his youth and later took up guitar. Bob played in several local bands while in high school (1959-1962), including a band called the Newcomers. Bob met Allen Reynolds during high school. Reynolds would later become a notable Nashville songwriter and record producer. He attended Lamar University (1962-1966), where he studied literature. After ggraduating, he enlisted in the US Navy.

When Bob was in the Navy, he sent Allen some songs of which two were cut, Happy Man (Perry Como) and Black Sheep (Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs). After the Navy he joined Reynolds in Memphis and began writing songs for Allen's small publishing company. The company was bought by fellow publisher, Jack Clement, who was moving to Nashville. Seeing dim prospects in Memphis, McDill followed Clement.

In 1970, he joined Jack Clement's music publishing company. Bob's first composition for a country artist was Catfish John (1972, Johnny Russell). After that, McDill threw himself into writing songs full-time. The dictionary defines an "artist" as "one who makes an art of his employment." Bob did that. He is recognized by peers, critics and fans as an artist who has reached the peak of commercial success without sacrificing the integrity of his craft. In 1975, Bob's devotion and discipline paid off when Don Williams took Bob's Turn out the Light to number one, the first of more than a dozen Williams singles pinned by McDill.

The quantity and quality of Bob's successes is impressive and equally impressive is the number of years over which he has spread them. Bob's songs were the backbone of country music for three decades. McDill made his mark with a string of hits performed by dozens of artists. Things seemed to get better and better for Bob as he eventually penned a total of thirty-one number one country music hits. Bob has received 37 BMI performance awards and 17 ASCAP performance awards, including: Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (1985); NSAI\Songwriter of the Year (1976); BMI\Citation of Achievement (1979); NSAI\Songwriter of the Year, BMI\Songwriter of the Year (1985); NSAI\Songwriter of the Year (1989) and ASCAP\Songwriter of the Year (1994). Bob is a publisher as well as a writer, a sportsman and traveler. But most of all, he is an artist.

Bob's Career Compositions: All of the Good Ones Are Gone -- Pam Tillis (No. 4, 1997); Amanda - Don Williams (No. 33, 1973), Waylon Jennings (No. 1, 1979); Another Place Another Time -- Jerry Lee Lewis (No. 4, 1968); Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On - Mel McDaniel (No. 1, 1984); Big Wheels in the Moonlight - Dan Seals (No. 1, 1988); Catfish John -Johnny Russell (No. 12, 1972); Come Early Morning - Don Williams (No. 12, 1973); Don't Close Your Eyes - Keith Whitley (No. 1, 1988); Everything That Glitters (Is Not Gold) - Dan Seals (No. 1, 1986); Falling Again - Don Williams (No. 6, 1981); Good Ole Boys Like Me - Don Williams (No. 2, 1980); Gone Country - Alan Jackson (No. 1, 1995); I Met a Friend of Yours Today - Mel Street (No. 10, 1976); If Bubba Can Dance (I Can Too) - Shenandoah (No. 1, 1994); If Hollywood Don't Need You - Don Williams (No. 1, 1982); I'll Do It All Over Again - Crystal Gayle (1977) (No. 2, 1977); In a Different Light - Doug Stone (No. 1, 1991); It Must Be Love - Don Williams (No. 1, 1979); I've Been Around Enough To Know - John Schneider (No. 1, 1984); I've Never Seen the Likes of You - Conway Twitty: (No. 6, 1980); Just Like Real People - The Kendalls, (No. 11, 1979); Look Who I'm Cheating on Tonight - Bobby Bare (1967); Lord Have Mercy on a Country Boy -- Don Williams (No. 7, 1991; Louisiana Saturday Night - Mel McDaniel (No. 7, 1981); My Baby's Got Good Timing -- Dan Seals (No. 2, 1985);Nobody Likes Sad Songs - Ronnie Millsap (No.1, 1979); Overnight Sensation - Mickey Gilley: (No. 7, 1975); No, No, No (I'd Rather Be Free) -- Rex Allen, Jr. (No. 8, 1978); Rake and Ramblin' Man - Don Williams (No. 3, 1978); "Rednecks, White Socks and Blue Ribbon Beer - Johnny Russell (No. 4, 1973); Right in the Palm of Your Hand - Mel McDaniel, (No. 10, 1981); Save Your Heart For Me - Jacky Ward (No. 8, 1980); Say It Again - Don Williams, (No. 1, 1976); She Don't Know She's Beautiful - Sammy Kershaw (No. 1, 1993); She Never Knew Me - Don Williams (No. 2, 1976); Song of the South - Alabama (No. 1, 1988); The Closest Thing to You - Jerry Lee Lewis (No. 27, 1977); The Door Is Always Open - Dave & Sugar (No. 1, 1976); They Rage On -- Dan Seals (No. 5, 1989); (Turn Out the Light and) Love Me Tonight - Don Williams, (No. 1, 1975); We Believe In Happy Endings - Earl Thomas Conley: No. 1, 1988); What She Is" (Is a Woman In Love) - Earl Thomas Conley: (No. 1, 1988); Why Don't You Spend the Night - Ronnie Millsap (No.1, 1980); Why I Didn't Think of That -- Doug Stone (No. 1, 1993); You Never Miss a Real Good Thing - Crystal Gayle: (No. 1, 1976)

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[DaveWollenberg]

Thanx Rich, for havin' 'Another place, another time' on here. Can I say 'God bless!' to you, or, would you be offended by it? Please let me know.

[flashbell]

@DaveWollenberg , Who would be offended by God bless?

[hooeybrown]

There is a recording of Bob McDill singing Song of the South.... and it's quite different from the way Alabama did it. I'm a big Alabama fan but I like Bob's version better. I think it was Don Williams who did more McDill songs than anyone else. Everything That Glitters (Is Not Gold) is one of Bob's best songs (and one of Dan's best too). This is my all time favorite Dan Seals song.

[DaveWollenberg]

@DaveWollenberg Well, Rich, maybe the MusicGeeks would, or maybe they didn't like it when I said that because of Dan Seals' belief in the Baha'i religion, he might not've made it to Heaven. Those are the only reason I can think of for them blockin' my comments from their site. Maybe you could get to the bottom of the problem for me. I'd sure appreciate any effort you could put toward that. Thanx. God bless!!

[FAUSTORICCARDO]

Splendide songs and Bravi singers. Grazie Bell.

They will go into my favorites

[johneunson]

this has been great. i watched part 2 first. i look forwards to your posts. thank you.

[highnrising]

It's amazing that Dan Seals was able to hit the top of the charts wit that falsetto voiceed bitchin'.

[jtls8]

Thank you so much for posting!!!!!!