• ABOUT
    • Contact
    • The Team
    • FAQ
    • Use & Privacy Policy
  • ADVERTISE
  • JOB LISTINGS
MusicRow.com
  • CALENDARS
    • Album Releases
    • Single Releases
    • Industry Events
  • EVENTS
  • OBITS
  • REVIEWS
  • CHARTS
    • CountryBreakout Radio Chart
      • Current CountryBreakout Chart
      • CountryBreakout Chart Archives
    • No. 1 Challenge Coin
    • Top Songwriter Chart
      • Current Top Songwriter Chart
      • Top Songwriter Chart Archive
  • ROWFAX
  • NEWSLETTER
  • SIGN UP
  • STORE
  • Search
  • Menu

Songwriter George Green Passes

August 31, 2011/in Featured /by Robert K Oermann

The Oaks had a major hit with "Come On In," written by George Green and Rick Giles. (Editor's note: no photos of Green are available.)

George Michael Green, a hit songwriter in both the country and pop fields, has died at age 59 of lung cancer.

Green is best known for his collaborations with John Mellencamp on such hits as “Hurts So Good,” “Crumblin’ Down” and “Rain on the Scarecrow.” Over the years, Mellencamp has recorded more than a dozen of their co-written songs. The two were school classmates and boyhood friends in Seymour, Indiana, and Green spent most of his career in Bloomington.

He also often collaborated with Nashville songwriters. The Oak Ridge Boys scored a major hit with “Come On In (You Did the Best That You Could Do),” a 1985 song co-written by Green and Rick Giles. Ricky Skaggs recorded Green’s “My Father’s Son,” Gary Morris sang the songwriter’s “South December Road,” Dwight Yoakam recorded his “Common Day Man,” The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band did “America My Sweetheart” and Lacy J. Dalton recorded Green’s “This Ol’ Town” and “Up with the Wind.”

Kenny Chesney, who released a cover version of “Hurts So Good,” co-wrote “Hook in the Heart,” “Home Sweet Home” and “Girl in the Coffee Shop” with George Green.

Others who have recorded the late songwriter’s efforts include Nashville rocker Tom Kimmell, Barbra Streisand, Hall & Oates, Van Zant, Christopher Cross, Vanessa Williams and Melissa Manchester.

Singer-songwriter Jude Cole called Green, “a gifted and humble gentleman.” Mellencamp eulogized him as, “a dreamer.” In addition to Cole, Giles and Mellencamp, Green’s songwriting collaborators included Dennis Matkosky, Steve Dorff, Kent Agee, Dave Robbins and the late Van Stephenson.

On Sunday, August 28, George Green died in Albuquerque, NM, where he had lived for the past decade. He is survived by his wife Kathryn and children Nicholas Green, Carrie Evans, Ian Green and Sarah Bolivar, as well as 16 grandchildren. He was cremated in Albuquerque, and a memorial service is being planned in Bloomington.

Memorial contributions may be made to: Riley Hospital Foundation, 545 Barnhill Dr., Ste. 215, Indianapolis, IN 46202 or online at www.rileykids.org to the George M. Green Memorial Fund.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Robert K Oermann
Robert K. Oermann is a longtime contributor to MusicRow. He is a respected music critic, author and historian.
Latest posts by Robert K Oermann (see all)
  • DISClaimer Single Reviews: Marty Stuart, Blake Shelton, Tiera, Caitlyn Smith, Old Dominion - January 21, 2021
  • Country Entertainer Hugh X. Lewis Dies At Age 90 - January 19, 2021
  • DISClaimer Single Reviews: Rhonda Vincent, Sister Sadie, Carolina Blue, The Grascals - January 14, 2021
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share by Mail
https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png 0 0 Robert K Oermann https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png Robert K Oermann2011-08-31 14:28:332011-08-31 14:28:33Songwriter George Green Passes

RECENT NEWS

  • Chris Janson Celebrates Fourth Career No. 1, “Done” January 22, 2021
  • Tim Mcgraw, Tyler Hubbard Claim Most Added At Country Radio January 22, 2021
  • Lucas Hoge Shares Gospel Favorites On New ‘Sunday Sessions’ Project January 22, 2021
  • Pat Barrett Readies Sophomore Album For February January 22, 2021
  • Off The Record: Is It Time To Cut The Net? January 22, 2021
  • Americana Meets Eastern Europe On David Olney’s Final Album January 22, 2021
  • Sundance ASCAP Music Cafe’ Returns To 2021 Virtual Festival With New Talent Added January 22, 2021
  • Thomas Rhett Reigns On ‘MusicRow’ CountryBreakout Radio Chart January 22, 2021
  • Lainey Wilson Readies Studio Album, ‘Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’’ January 22, 2021
  • Adam Sanders Celebrates Milestones With New Live Album January 22, 2021
  • JUST IN: Lady A Invited To Become Members of Grand Ole Opry January 21, 2021
  • DISClaimer Single Reviews: Marty Stuart, Blake Shelton, Tiera, Caitlyn Smith, Old Dominion January 21, 2021
  • Darryl Worley Returns To The Road For Country Rewind Tour January 21, 2021
  • CMA’s Sarah Trahern, Rascal Flatts To Receive CRB Honors at CRS 2021: The Virtual Experience January 21, 2021
  • JUST IN: Eric Church To Release Three-Album Project: Heart & Soul January 21, 2021

Likes us on Facebook

Recently on Twitter

Tweets by MusicRow
© 2020 Music Row Enterprises, LLC – All rights reserved.
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
Scroll to top