Nashville Songwriter Kerry Chater Passes

Singer-songwriter Kerry Chater has died at age 76.

Chater is best known as the co-writer of such chart-topping hits as “You Look So Good in Love” (George Strait, 1984), “I Know a Heartache When I See One” (Jennifer Warnes, 1979), “You’re the First Time I’ve Thought About Leaving” (Reba McEntire, 1983) and the Grammy nominated “I.O.U.” (Lee Greenwood, 1983).

Born in Vancouver, Canada in 1945, Kerry Michael Chater was trained as a keyboardist and arranger. In 1966 in San Diego, he became a founding member of the hit pop band Gary Puckett & The Union Gap (“Woman, Woman,” “Young Girl,” “Lady Willpower,” etc.). Chater played bass in the group, was its bandleader and co-wrote some of its album tracks.

He left the Union Gap in 1970 to pursue a solo career. Chater studied musical theater and wrote several shows that were produced in Los Angeles in the 1970s.

Signed by Warner Bros. Records, he debuted as a solo artist with the 1976 LP Part Time Love. Its title track appeared briefly on the pop charts in 1977. Love on a Shoestring was issued as his second album in 1978.

“I Know a Heartache When I See One” launched his hit-making career as a songwriter in 1979. In addition to its pop and country hit version by Jennifer Warnes, the song was recorded by Jo Dee Messina, Anne Kirkpatrick, Lisa Brokop, Charlotte Whitted, Donna Fargo, Sandy Posey and a number of others.

The big hits by Strait, McEntire and Greenwood ensued in the 1980s. The Strait hit “You Look So Good in Love” has also been sung by such artists as Blake Shelton, Craig Wayne Boyd and Jamie Foxx.

Kerry Chater also co-wrote Alabama’s 1989 No. 1 hit “If I Had You.” Other notable titles by him include Michael Martin Murphey’s “What She Wants” (1985), Charlie Rich’s “Even a Fool Would Let Go” (1980), Paul Brandt’s “I Meant to Do That” (1997) and Jessica Andrews’ “You Go First” (1999).

Among the others who have recorded his songs are Kenny Rogers, Joe Cocker, Mindy McCready, Restless Heart, Highway 101, Loretta Lynn & Conway Twitty, Anne Murray, Eddy Raven, Dolly Parton and Lorrie Morgan.

A resident of Music City since 1987, Chater married songwriter Lynn Gillespie, who became his composing collaborator. In recent years, they have been co-writing with bluegrass star Donna Ulisse.

The couple also wrote books. The Chaters have published three thrillers, Kill Point, Blood Debt and Fortune’s Web. In addition, they have collaborated on a musical and produced four Kerry Charter solo CDs.

Kerry Chater is an alumnus of Leadership Music. He passed away on Feb. 4. No cause of death has been disclosed.

He is survived by his wife Lynn Gillespie Chater, by daughter Jesse Kirchhoff, by sons Kerry Jr. and Christopher and by four granddaughters. Funeral arrangements were handled by Heritage Funeral Home in Columbia, Tennessee.