Songwriting Great John Schweers Passes
Hit songwriter John Schweers has died at age 78.
One of the finest country writers of his generation, Schweers was responsible for such iconic songs as Charley Pride’s “Amazing Love,” Ronnie Milsap’s “Daydreams About Night Things,” Dave & Sugar’s “Golden Tears” and Trace Adkins’ “I Left Something Turned on at Home.”
The songwriter was a native of San Antonio who began playing guitar and writing songs while in high school. During his college years, he performed in a rock group that toured throughout southwest Texas. After graduation, he moved to California to hone his songwriting skills as he played in various bands.
He began to make contacts in Nashville. His first recorded song appears to have been 1970’s “Alabama Bull of the Woods” by Del Reeves. The songwriter’s first charted tune was “Poor Folks Stick Together,” recorded by Stoney Edwards in 1971. Tom T. Hall took note of John Schweers’ talents, mentored him and encouraged him to move to Music City.
Schweers arrived in 1972 at age 26 with $45 in his pocket. Soon after his arrival on Music Row, he was signed as a staff songwriter by Pi-Gem Music, co-owned by Charley Pride. During the next dozen years, Pride recorded more than 20 John Schweers songs. The company’s Tom Collins offered suggestions to help make the fledgling writer’s songs more commercial. Just as Collins and Hall had aided him, Schweers discovered a teenage Dean Dillon and brought him to his publisher.
The first No. 1 hit penned by John Schweers was Pride’s “Don’t Fight the Feelings of Love” in 1973. Pride’s follow-up single was “Amazing Love,” which also topped the country hit parade. In 1975, Nick Nixon charted with the Schweers song “She’s Just an Old Love Turned Memory.” Pride recorded it two years later and turned it into another No. 1 hit.
As Collins evolved into record production, Schweers gained the ears of Barbara Mandrell, Sylvia, Ronnie Milsap and other stars. Milsap hit No. 1 with Schweers’ “Daydreams About Night Things” in 1975. The superstar repeated the chart-topping feat with the Schweers songs “What Goes On When the Sun Goes Down” (1976) and “Let My Love Be Your Pillow” (1977). Milsap recorded 15 John Schweers compositions.
The songwriter’s other No. 1 hit during the 1970s was “Golden Tears” by Dave & Sugar in 1979. During the decade, his songs were also recorded by Eddy Arnold, Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn, David Wills, Johnny Russell, Mel Street, Susan Raye, Jim Ed Brown and Jeanne Pruett, among others. 16 of his songs made the country popularity charts in the ‘70s.
In 1978, the Triple I record label issued Nashville’s Master Songwriters Sing Their Hits. On it, Schweers performed his versions of “Daydreams About Night Things,” “She’s Just an Old Love Turned Memory” and “Early Fall,” all of which he wrote solo. The album featured him alongside Harlan Howard, Danny Dill and Allen Reynolds, each of whom also contributed three songs.
Success continued in the 1980s. During this decade, Schweers wrote such top 10 hits as Steve Wariner’s “Your Memory” (1981), Janie Fricke’s “Do Me With Love” (1982) and Mandrell’s “No One Mends a Broken Heart Like You” (1986). The songwriter’s 10 charing singles in the decade included recordings by R.C. Bannon, Butch.Baker, David Frizzell & Shelly West (1986’s “It’s a Be Together Night”), Louise Mandrell and Tom T. Hall. Others who recorded Schweers songs during the 1980s included The Oak Ridge Boys, Tanya Tucker, The Kendalls, Don Williams, The Osmond Brothers, Waylon Jennings, Conway Twitty, Jeannie C. Riley and Charlie Louvin.
John Schweers continued to create hits in the 1990s. Two of his biggest were “Born Country,” sung by Alabama in 1992 and “I Left Something Turned on at Home,” sung by Trace Adkins in 1997. His songs were also recorded in the ‘90s by George Jones, Mel McDaniel, Roy Clark, Daron Norwood & Travis Tritt (1993’s “Phantom of the Opry”), Larry Stewart, Neal McCoy and Johnny Rodriguez.
Since 2000, John Schweers songs have been sung by Mark Wiils, George Strait, The Mississippi Mass Choir, Marty Raybon, Con Hunley, Don Everly, Brother Slade, Buck Owens and Joe Nichols, among others. In addition, his songs from 25-50 years ago continue to receive airplay. The songwriter picked up BMI or ASCAP awards in three different decades. Few in country music have demonstrated songwriting success over such an extended period of time.
He has been a six-time nominee for the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, but has not yet been elected. His accomplishments are all the more remarkable in that he mainly wrote his songs alone. Of his 12 top 10 hits, only three were co-written (with Byron Hill, Charles Quillen or Billy Lawson). In a songwriting community overwhelmingly comprised of co-writers, Schweers stood out.
John Schweers passed away in the early morning hours of May 28.
He will be honored on Thursday (June 6) at Brentwood Baptist Church. A Celebration of Life event will begin with visitation from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The service will be from 3 to 3:45 p.m. Visitation will resume following the service. The family plans to have a private burial prior to Thursday’s Celebration of Life.
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