Nickels And Dimes, Tydus Alley, Nashville Songwriter, Demo

Tydus Alley was a brilliant songwriter in Nashville who was at the top of his craft in the late 1990's.

He co-wrote often with some of todays top songwriters, who now have numerous high charting country hits, cut and under their belt. Brett Jones (Lee Ann Womack - A Little Past Little Rock), just to name one of the hit songwriter's Tydus wrote with ...

Tydus cut this rough, guitar / vocal demo of Nickels And Dimes at his homegrown studio on Fatherland Drive in Nashville.

Tydus was living with a life threatening illness and had to take a lot of medication to keep his illness in check. He was covered under Tennesse's TennCare for health insurance and prescription drug coverage and his health was holding out very well.

(By the way, Tydus Alley was not a drinker, nor did his illness have anything to do with being alcohol related - just wanted to clear that up because this is a 'drinking song'. It just goes to show that a great songwriter can write a drinking song, without being a drinker themselves).

In 1999, TennCare went on an all out campagn to cut their healthcare costs. Thousands of citizens of Tennessee were suddenly faced with their medicines being changed and their medical care being diminished to save TennCare and the state of Tennessee money on healthcare costs.

Tydus Alley was one of these citizens. When his doctor informed him that one of the medicines he was taking would no longer be covered by TennCare, Tydus told his doctor that he could not live without the medication.

The doctor attempted to convince Tydus that there was a cheaper alternative to the medicine he was taking and asked that he try the medicine. The doctor told Tydus that he would do just fine on the new, cheaper medicine. Tydus did not believe the new medication would work, (because he had already tried scores of medicines that didn't work), and told the doctor he had given him a death sentence.

Not long after his medicine was changed, Tydus slipped into a coma and died. There was nothing the doctors could do to save him.

This video is dedicated to the memory of the great Nashville songwriter - Tydus Alley.

If anyone is interested in this song for any commercial venture or wishes to perform it in public, please contact the producer of this video.

This song is protected by a United States Copyright. All Rights Are Reserved by the publisher.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Tydus
• Alley
• Nashville
• Songwriter
• Publisher
• Acoustic
• Guitar
• Nickels
• And
• Dimes
• Old
• School
• Country
• Bluegrass
• Drinking
• Song
• greenteawoman

[MrJim408]

Tydus was a good friend and songwriting pal of mine. I miss him. Thanks for posting this song.

[greanteawoman]

Thank you for your comment MrJim. I miss Tydus. So happy to know that you had the privilege of kowing Tydus and writing with him. Such a great guy ... gone too soon.

[samson4077]

I would like to know more about Tydus Alley. Is their a bio posted somewhere?Reminds me of a story from Eastern Kentucky about a man awaiting a transplant,the doc offered to do it for free,the hospital wanted about $100,000 up front(as I recall). His story was on the news everynight in effort to raise money for him.After continually refusing him assistance,medicaid gave in and called to tell his wife that they would give him assistancefor the surgery,but he died the day before.

[greanteawoman]

Samson - Tydus was from the small town of Erwin, TN. He'd been living in Nashville with his long time girlfriend Pam, for many years by the time I met him in the late 1980's. If he had lived, he'd be about 60 years old now - he passed away at approx. 49 years of age. I don't know of any bios online about Tydus. After his death, he just disappeared from the Music Row scene, after a few benefit concerts to help raise money for his funeral. I will never forget Tydus Alley, his music and generosity

[DAVIDDAMIENR]

!!!! WOW ... !!!! This is a GREAT Song. Better then 98% of what is coming out of the Radio Today.

This is the Perfect Song for Trent Tomlinson. He LOVES these types of Emotional Songs about pain and drinkin'. . He has a song called the Bottle that reminds me a little of this song. Trent also LOVES to sing these songs in 3/4.

I love the b6 Chord and the b7 Chord at the End of this Song.

Thank you for Sharing,

DDR

[greanteawoman]

DDR - Thank you so very much for your comment! When Tydus Alley passed away, the country music industry lost a man who would have enriched the music coming out of Nashville ten fold. Thank you for being receptive to his talent. RIP Tydus.

[curbshoppin]

great great writer thanks for the info...im a songwriter fan id rather hear the people who wrote the song sing it  youtube has opened my life to so many singer song writers i would have never have had the chance to hear i get the best music in the world right here thanks for the music

[songcovers]

very moving song. had a good chord change there and loved the outro.

RIP Tydus Alley

[davidadurr]

Great song. Love real country like this. I write an sing too :)

[grubbacaster]

wow, that one got me good. I felt it.