Jerry Chesnut
By Robert K. Oermann
Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Jerry Chesnut has passed away at age 87.
The folksy, charming personality was noted for writing “T-R-O-U-B-L-E,” “It’s Four in the Morning,” “A Good Year for the Roses” and other classics.
His songs were recorded by a country who’s-who, including Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Jerry Lee Lewis, Tammy Wynette, Hank Williams Jr., George Strait, Willie Nelson, Alan Jackson, Elvis Presley and George Jones.
Chesnut died on Saturday (Dec. 15). He had been suffering with a respiratory problem, but his death was unexpected, said Hall of Fame executive director Mark Ford.
Jerry Chesnut grew up in the coal camps of Eastern Kentucky. Following a stint in the Air Force during the Korean War, he settled in St. Augustine, Florida. He was a railroad conductor by day and a country entertainer in area honky-tonks at night for seven years.
He moved to Nashville in 1958, aiming to become a recording artist. Country star Webb Pierce advised him to concentrate on songwriting, rather than singing.
But Chesnut had no success with either endeavor for nine long years. He kept on writing, but sold vacuum cleaners to make a living. He worked without a publisher, doing his own song plugging on Music Row.
In 1967, Del Reeves recorded Chesnut’s “A Dime at a Time,” which rose to No. 12 on the country charts. The following year, Reeves scored an even bigger hit with “Looking at the World Through a Windshield,” cementing the songwriter’s status.
Jerry Chesnut’s “Another Place, Another Time,” launched rock pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis’s new career as a country singer in 1968. Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton had a duet hit with Chesnut’s “Holding On to Nothing” in that year, as well.
Other early songwriting successes included “Weakness In a Man” (Roy Drusky, 1968), “Good Time Charlie’s” (Del Reeves, 1969), “If Not for You” (George Jones, 1969), “When We Tried” (Jan Howard, 1970) and “The Wonders You Perform” (Tammy Wynette, 1970).
“Woman Without Love” proved to be an evergreen. After Johnny Darrell made it a hit in 1969, it was recorded by Waylon Jennings, Bob Luman, Ray Price, Bobby Goldsboro, Brook Benton, Joe Simon and Elvis Presley.
Similarly, “A Good Year for the Roses” had staying power. George Jones had a hit with it in 1970. Elvis Costello picked it up and had a major success in the U.K. with the song in 1981. Alan Jackson revived it as a duet with Jones in 1994. Lorrie Morgan, Johnny Paycheck and others have also sung the standard.
Jerry Chesnut recorded some singles for United Artists in the early 1970s, but never had a singing hit. However, he did find success as a TV personality. His natural wit and comedic talent, as well as his musical ability, led to him being cast as a regular on Hee Haw in 1971.
But he gave up both television and recording work because he felt that they interfered with his songwriting. Chesnut established an office on Music Row and continued to pursue his career as an independent song craftsman.
In 1972, his “It’s Four in the Morning” became an international smash. Faron Young took the waltz to the top of the country charts in America, and then the song became a huge pop hit in the U.K. It was subsequently recorded by Eddy Arnold, Ernest Tubb, Kitty Wells, Hank Snow, Tom Jones, Hank Thompson, Willie Nelson and others.
Other big songwriting hits in the 1970s included “Oney” (Johnny Cash, 1972), “Don’t She Look Good” (Bill Anderson, 1972), “Pride’s Not Hard to Swallow” (Hank Williams Jr., 1972), “If It Feels Good, Do It” (Dave Dudley, 1972), “They Don’t Make ‘Em Like My Daddy” (Loretta Lynn, 1974), “It’s Midnight” (Elvis Presley, 1975) and “Best Way I Know How” (Mel Tillis, 1975).
Jerry Chesnut was named Billboard’s Country Songwriter of the Year in 1972. “Another Place, Another Time” was nominated for a Grammy Award.
He retired from songwriting in 1980, but continued to perform from time to time. Revivals of his songs provided ongoing income. For instance, “T-R-O-U-B-L-E” became a big hit for Travis Tritt in 1993. Chesnut had originally written it for Elvis Presley, who had a big hit with the song in 1975.
Mark Chesnutt (no relation) brought back “Pride’s Not Hard to Swallow” in 1995. Son Volt recorded “Looking at the World Through a Windshield in 1996. George Strait sang “Good Time Charlie’s” in 2001, and Marty Stuart revived “Holding On to Nothing” in 2012.
Jerry Chesnut was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1996. In 2004, he was inducted into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame.
In 2010, BMI certified that “T-R-O-U-B-L-E” had been performed more than four million times. The portion of Kentucky State Highway 840 that runs through Chesnut’s hometown of Loyall has been named in his honor.
To date, more than 100 artists have recorded Jerry Chesnut songs, including 30 members of the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Funeral arrangements have not been announced.
Ronnie Milsap To Launch 2019 Tour With Birthday Show At Ryman Auditorium
/by Jessica NicholsonRonnie Milsap
For nearly 76 years, Ronnie Milsap‘s life has been consumed with music. His breakthrough hit may have come in 1973 with a track called “I Hate You,” but his fans have loved the classic music (and 40 No. 1 hits) he has offered for the past 45 years. Among those are his signature hits “Daydreams About Night Things,” “A Stranger In Love,” “Smokey Mountain Rain,” “Stranger In My House,” and many more.
Milsap will celebrate his upcoming 76th birthday (Jan. 16, 2019) by launching his 76 for 76 Tour on his birthday with a show at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.
Two days later (Jan. 18), he will release the album The Duets, which features collaborations with artists including Kacey Musgraves, Dolly Parton, Jason Aldean, Little Big Town, George Strait, Steven Curtis Chapman, and more.
76 For 76 Tour Dates:
JANUARY
16 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
17 – Mayetta, KS – Prairie Band Casino & Resort – Great Lakes Ballroom
18 – Stafford, TX – The Redneck Country Club
19 – Bossier City, LA – Horseshoe Bossier City – The Riverdome
27 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – Country Music Cruise 2019
28 – Key West, FL – Country Music Cruise 2019
FEBRUARY
9 – Glasgow, KY – Plaza Theatre MOVE FROM PRIOR
16 – Shelby, NC – Malcolm Brown Auditorium
21 – Morgantown, WV – Metropolitan Brown Auditorium
22 – Madisonville, KY – Glema Mahr Center For the Arts
28 – Lexington, KY – Opera House
MARCH
1 – Lorain, OH – Palace Theater
2 – Lancaster, PA – American Music Theater
8 – Hinckley, MN – Grand Casino Hinkley
9 – Lac De Flambeau, WI – Lake Of The Torches Casino
22 – St. Louis, MO – River City Casino
24 – Austin, TX – Travis County Expo Center
APRIL
4 – Mobile, AL – Saenger Theatre
5 – Beaumont, TX – Jefferson Theatre
6 – Texarkana, TX – PRIVATE Pleasant Grove
26 – Hopewell, VA – The Beacon Theatre
27 – Cincinnati, OH – JACK Casino – Event Center
MAY
3 – Eutis, FL – Lake County Fairgrounds Expo Center
10 – Quapaw, OK – Downstream Casino Resort
11 – Hinton, OK – Sugar Creek Casino
17 – Riverside, IA – Riverside Casino and Golf Resport
23 – Charenton, LA – Cypress Bayou Casino Hotel
Lauren Duski Finds Her Voice On New Music
/by Jessica NicholsonLauren Duski performs. Photo: Haley Crow/MusicRow
Last month, singer/songwriter Lauren Duski was named part of CMT Next Women of Country’s current class.
In front of several of her music industry peers, the Michigan native offered a rendition of her first single, “Costume Party,” an uplifting and confessional ballad born from years she has spent overcoming self-doubt to pursue her dream of music.
Duski began performing at age seven, took up guitar at 13, and by her teens, she was balancing her schoolwork at a private Catholic school with evenings and weekend performances with a country band. Creative-yet-practical minded, Duski then put music on the back burner while she enrolled at University of Michigan. After initially pursuing a major in pre-dental, Duski earned her Bachelors in Biopsychology, Cognition and Neuroscience in 2013.
“After graduating I thought, ‘If I don’t move to Nashville and try to pursue this dream, I’ll never forgive myself.’”
Even after arriving in Nashville, Duski struggled to find herself as a performer. “I was so nervous and I was dealing with a lot of self-confidence issues that I have no idea where they came from, and I let the opinions of others control me. I moved here five years ago, but after the first three years had gone by, I realized I didn’t have much to show for those years.”
In fact, Duski came very close to abandoning her hopes of a music career and returning to dental school—until The Voice came calling.
“It was a path I never envisioned for myself. I told my mom I was going back to dental school, and then I got a message two days later from The Voice to come audition.”
Lauren Duski with MusicRow Magazine Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson. Photo: Haley Crow/MusicRow
After a successful blind audition with her rendition of Jewel’s “You Were Meant For Me,” Duski kept winning, ultimately being named Season 12’s runner up.
“The Voice was a crash course for me in confidence; I had no choice.” She says. “I was nervous at first, but you realize it’s one big family. The hardest part is not having a lot of creative control and you are just one of 98 people auditioning and there are a lot of producers involved. But I was on team Blake [Shelton] and he was such a champion for me. Blake was a hoot to work with and it was such a gift during that process. He’s got a heart of gold.”
While most artists who earned runner-up status would release a single immediately after the show to make the most of television exposure, Duski has taken her time to write, record and develop her craft and message.
“I’ve never been in the business of releasing music just to release music. I came off the show and there was a lot of ‘When is the single coming?’ And I didn’t have a single then. I had no idea what I wanted to say as a woman, as a young artist.”
Instead, she asked her music fans to share their experiences with her.
“I asked them to be my pen pal, and write me letters,” she says. “I expected 20, maybe 30 letters, but I got hundreds. That was my full-time job, just reading and responding to them. I couldn’t believe the vulnerability coming from complete strangers, just sharing their stories.
“It gave me the courage to open up in the room that day to write “Costume Party.” It’s for anyone who has ever felt uncomfortable in their own skin and I definitely am, most of the time. I’ll probably always be a work in progress and I’m finally feeling like that’s ok.”
During a visit to the MusicRow offices, Duski performed a trio of songs, including “Costume Party,” as well as the love song “Heart For good,” and “The Weather,” which was penned after Duski’s grandmother died just over a year ago.
“We knew it was coming because she was sick for a long time,” Duski recalls. “The hardest part about losing her is watching grandpa live life without her. When I came back from that trip a year ago I wrote ‘The Weather.'”
Earlier this year, Duski performed shows opening for Bobby Bones and Raging Idiots tour. Duski has a manager and is with WME for booking, but is currently not signed to a publishing or recording deal.
The fanbase she has earned since her time on The Voice won’t have to wait much longer for new music. Duski revealed plans to release her first EP, titled Midwestern Girl Part 1, in January 2019.
Lauren Duski with MusicRow staffers.
Chris Stapleton, Emmylou Harris, Eric Church Added To Willie Nelson Tribute Concert
/by Lorie HollabaughPreviously announced performers for the Willie love fest include Alison Krauss, The Avett Brothers, George Strait, Jack Johnson, John Mellencamp, Kris Kristofferson, Lee Ann Womack, Lyle Lovett, Norah Jones and The Little Willies, Sheryl Crow, Susan Tedeschi & Derek Trucks, Vince Gill, and the legend himself. The event is set to be filmed for a TV special airing on A&E in 2019.
Additional tickets have just been released and are on sale now online at livenation.com, by phone at 800-745-3000, and at the Bridgestone Arena box office. VIP packages including great seats and exclusive merchandise are also available.
“Willie and his songs mean everything to music artists and fans alike. Like Willie, they have inspired us to remain true to ourselves in every possible way. This incredible lineup of artists on this show is a testament to that,” says Blackbird Presents CEO Keith Wortman.
Brett Young Earns No. 1 Country Album With Sophomore Effort ‘Ticket To L.A.’
/by Lorie HollabaughBrett Young wraps final week of CMT On Tour: Here Tonight Tour with Tyler Rich and Rachel Wammack in Louisville, KY (12/15)
Brett Young has debuted atop the country albums chart with his sophomore album, Ticket To L.A. (BMLG Records), which reached No. 1 following its release Dec. 7. Music Connect puts total consumption of the album in its first week at 36,257.
Last week in support of the new project Young visited the TODAY show for multiple performances including the album’s title track, and also stopped by The Ellen DeGeneres Show to perform his new single. Fans can tune in to catch him perform on NBC’s New Year’s Eve from the Jack Daniel’s Music City Midnight: New Year’s Eve in Nashville.
Ticket To L.A. follows Young’s blockbuster debut, which earned Platinum certification and yielded four consecutive No. 1 Platinum hits including the monster hit “In Case You Didn’t Know.”
Capping off a monumental year, Young just wrapped up the final week of CMT On Tour: Here Tonight Tour along with Tyler Rich and Rachel Wammack in Kansas City on Dec. 16.
Developer Hall Emery Puts Ray Stevens’ 17th Avenue Nashville Property Under Contract
/by Jessica NicholsonCountry legend Ray Stevens’ 1.26-acre, six-parcel site located at the corner of 17th Avenue and Grand Avenue in the heart of Nashville’s Music Row area, is now under contract. The property’s total parcels include 1701 and 1707 Grand Ave., as well as 1007, 1009, 1011 and 1013 17th Ave S. The six parcels had been listed for sale at $13.5 million.
Real estate developer Hall Emery has purchased the property, with plans to demolish the current structure in favor of a modern business office, aptly called 17th & Grand.
According to both Stevens’ business associate “Buddy” Kalb and Hall Emery president David Wells, the vision for the new space will focus on offering a modern layout and technological amenities to attract and retain various music industry operations and businesses to return to the Music Row area.
Kalb tells MusicRow.com, ‘I remember when you would have a songwriter write a song and take it to their publisher in one building and the publisher could take it across the street to the label or the producer and you would get a hit. I could see someone writing a song on the fourth floor and taking it downstairs to the second floor or third floor to pitch it to the right person.”
According to Wells, current plans for the location include one building, up to seven stories high, and 160,000 square feet, as well as accommodation for 450 parking spaces. Wells notes the building will also have a retail component.
He adds that they are considering the possibility of adding more floors, totaling 10 floors if needed, to accommodate the right tenant. He says he has been in discussions with the city’s planning department, as well as with neighboring businesses around the property.
“We want to offer space that can fit the needs of larger companies, but we will also have smaller offices and co-working spaces for individual music industry members who need office space,” Wells tells musicrow.com. “We will have the modern efficient space that larger companies need, and smaller office spaces, like 5,000-6,000 square feet.”
Wells estimates the new facility could open as early as 2021, but says 2022 is a more likely time frame. Only tentative renderings for the building’s design have been made at this point.
Wells declined to name a purchase price for the property, as well as possible rent prices for the new office spaces.
Stevens has held the majority share of ownership in the property for 45 years, with the estate of country guitarist/producer/industry executive Chet Atkins controlling the remainder of the property’s ownership. The Atkins estate has signed off on the sale of the property.
“Ray has had numerous offers for the property, and he’s not been happy with Music Row facilities being gobbled up, to build apartments and condos,” Kalb states. “Hall Emery had a vision for a music business center that would retain companies already here and attract new ones.”
Stevens owns five pieces of property in the Music Row area. In January, Stevens opened the Ray Stevens CabaRay Show Room, a 35,000-square-feet dinner theater located at 5724 River Road out by Nashville West. Stevens previously moved his recording and TV production businesses to the location, and has opted to also relocate his business operations to the CabaRay Show Room.
Wells says as designs for the building are detailed, they hope to incorporate pieces from the current building into the design of the new space, and will include elements in the common areas that celebrate the history of the Music Row area, as well as Stevens’ career.
“It is going to be something special and it checks all the boxes that the city wants,” Wells says. “Having people like Ray give their support, the people of Music Row are very supportive.”
The development is the latest in a swiftly changing tide in the Music Row area, as the older homes that have long housed the labels, publishing companies and other businesses that helped create the legendary hits that the Music Row area is known for, have been purchased to make way for an assortment of condos, apartments and hotels.
The changes have sparked tension in the Music Row community, most notably in 2014, when historic RCA Studio A was nearly demolished in favor of a condo development, before an 11th hour save by preservationist Aubrey Preston. Condos and apartments have sprung up on 16th and 17th Avenues, and most recently, developer Pannatoni brought anger to some in the music row community when it was announced that a six-story office building was being planned for property on 16th Ave. S., including land where long-time industry watering hole Bobby Idle Hour stands.
Over the past decade, several top labels and music companies, including Sony Music Nashville, WME, Triple 8 Management, MCA Nashville (under the UMG umbrella) have moved off the row, in search of modern business space that can accommodate expanding staffs and modern technological needs.
Other businesses such as SESAC and the Country Music Association, have moved locations while still keeping their operations centered in the Music Row area. Publisher and label BBR Music Group/BMG has signed on as a tenant in a property that is currently being constructed at the CMA’s former office at One Music Circle S.
Wells and Stevens hope the development of 17th & Grand will offer one more enticement for both current and interested music industry businesses to keep their offices in the Music Row area.
“When I first moved to Nashville 20 years ago, we drove down Music Row to see where the music is made and where the industry happens, and I was like, ‘This is it?’ It’s not quite what you expect.’” Wells says.
“We want to transform the Row into the business mecca it was,” he continues. “We can add by adding new facilities to “knock the dust” off the row. Companies from New York and Los Angeles want to move parts of their operation here and we want to make that feasible.”
G7 Entertainment Expands Staff
/by Lorie HollabaughJessica Abel, Michael Boltzman
Save The Date: 2019 MusicRow Events
/by Eric T. ParkerMusicRow Magazine, Nashville’s leading music trade publication, is proud to announce dates for its 2019 events. More details will be sent to current MusicRow Subscribed Members in the new year.
The Country Radio Meet & Greet and CountryBreakout Awards is invitation only. MusicRow‘s 2019 Rising Women On The Row and this year’s newly expanded MusicRow Awards will be open to ticket holders. To make sure you receive invitations, ballots and advance ticket notice, subscribe now.
Country Radio Meet & Greet and CountryBreakout Awards (invite-only): Monday, Feb. 13, 2019 (morning)
Photo: Bev Moser/Moments By Moser Photography
The morning event occurs prior to Country Radio Seminar’s Warner Music Nashville luncheon. MusicRow will recognize artists who earned the most airplay on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart during the preceding year. Read more about last year’s exciting event at MusicRow.com
Rising Women on the Row (ticketed): March 26, 2019 at the Omni Nashville Hotel (morning)
MusicRow Awards (ticketed/invite-only): June 26, 2019 (evening)
28th Annual MusicRow Awards. Photo: Moments By Moser Photography
The invitation-only, evening event is slated to be bigger and better than ever for 2019, featuring award presentations for Breakthrough Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Producer of the Year and Breakthrough Songwriter/Artist of the Year and the 2019 Top 10 Album All-Star Musician Awards. Priority tables will be available as an upgrade. Read more about last year’s exciting event at musicrow.com
Industry Ink: Brett Young, Chris Janson, Kane Brown, Caroline Jones
/by Haley CrowBrett Young Celebrates New Music With Spotify Fans First Album Release Party
Pictured (L-R): 377 Management’s Van Haze, Big Machine Label Group’s Laurel Kittleson, Katherine Susemichel and Dave Kelly, Brett Young, and Spotify’s Blaike Ford and Mary Catherine Kinney.
Fans, industry and friends gathered at the Spotify Fans First event at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles last Wednesday night (Dec. 12) to celebrate the release of Brett Young’s new album Ticket to L.A. Young treated some of his most loyal listeners to an acoustic performance of his new songs and shared behind-the-scenes details of the making of his sophomore release.
Chris Janson Hosts First Opry Segment At Opry At The Ryman
Pictured (L-R): Chris Janson and Grand Ole Opry’s Sally Williams. Photo: Grand Ole Opry LLC/Chris Hollo, photographer
Grand Ole Opry member Chris Janson returned to the stage of the Ryman Auditorium to not only perform, but to host an Opry segment for the first time at Friday night’s (Dec. 14) Opry at the Ryman.
As part of his hosting duties, Janson performed his platinum-selling, No. 1 anthem, “Buy Me A Boat,” to open his segment. He then introduced one of his favorite bands, Sawyer Brown, who performed three songs and received a standing ovation. As Sawyer Brown member Mark Miller was leaving the stage, Janson asked him if he would join him on “Folsom Prison Blues” to close out the first-time host’s portion of the show.
Janson will return for Opry at the Ryman on Dec. 22.
Kane Brown Celebrates New Album With Fans At Spotify Event
Pictured (L-R): Aaron Melaragno (Spotify), Eric Swenson (Spotify), Kane Brown, Blaike Ford (Spotify), Brittany Schaffer (Spotify), Laura Ohls (Spotify), and Ryan Lassi (Spotify).
Kane Brown celebrated the release of his latest album, Experiment, with a Spotify Fans First event at Moonlight Studios in Chicago last Thursday night (Dec. 13). Two hundred of Brown’s top fans were treated to an intimate performance, a photo op recreating his video for “Lose It,” temporary tattoos inspired by Brown’s actual tattoos, and an “Experiment” cocktail bar featuring experimental cocktails named after songs from the album.
Caroline Jones Inks Deal With Social Family Records
Caroline Jones
Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Caroline Jones, has signed a deal with Social Family Records for the Australian and UK release of her album, Bare Feet, which she co-produced with Grammy and Academy Award-winning producer Ric Wake (Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Trisha Yearwood). Jones is the first international signing for the Aussie indie record label.
Jones was recently tapped to open for Kenny Chesney’s upcoming Songs for the Saints Tour in 2019.
Zach Kale Signs With Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Jon Nite
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Troy Tomlinson, Sony/ATV; Dane Schmidt, Sony/ATV; Zach Kale; Jon Nite; Josh Van Valkenburg, Sony/ATV
Zach Kale has signed a worldwide publishing agreement with Sony/ATV Music Publishing and songwriter Jon Nite.
Kale’s songs have been recorded by Florida Georgia Line and Elevation Worship Group.
“Zach truly is one of the hardest working writers in our community, and we’re honored for him to join our Sony/ATV family,” said Dane Schmidt, Creative Director at Sony/ATV.
“I can’t believe I get the opportunity to partner with someone who has the character, the drive, and the musical gifts that Zach does,” Nite adds.
Hit Country Songwriter Jerry Chesnut Passes
/by Robert K OermannJerry Chesnut
By Robert K. Oermann
Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Jerry Chesnut has passed away at age 87.
The folksy, charming personality was noted for writing “T-R-O-U-B-L-E,” “It’s Four in the Morning,” “A Good Year for the Roses” and other classics.
His songs were recorded by a country who’s-who, including Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Jerry Lee Lewis, Tammy Wynette, Hank Williams Jr., George Strait, Willie Nelson, Alan Jackson, Elvis Presley and George Jones.
Chesnut died on Saturday (Dec. 15). He had been suffering with a respiratory problem, but his death was unexpected, said Hall of Fame executive director Mark Ford.
Jerry Chesnut grew up in the coal camps of Eastern Kentucky. Following a stint in the Air Force during the Korean War, he settled in St. Augustine, Florida. He was a railroad conductor by day and a country entertainer in area honky-tonks at night for seven years.
He moved to Nashville in 1958, aiming to become a recording artist. Country star Webb Pierce advised him to concentrate on songwriting, rather than singing.
But Chesnut had no success with either endeavor for nine long years. He kept on writing, but sold vacuum cleaners to make a living. He worked without a publisher, doing his own song plugging on Music Row.
In 1967, Del Reeves recorded Chesnut’s “A Dime at a Time,” which rose to No. 12 on the country charts. The following year, Reeves scored an even bigger hit with “Looking at the World Through a Windshield,” cementing the songwriter’s status.
Jerry Chesnut’s “Another Place, Another Time,” launched rock pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis’s new career as a country singer in 1968. Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton had a duet hit with Chesnut’s “Holding On to Nothing” in that year, as well.
Other early songwriting successes included “Weakness In a Man” (Roy Drusky, 1968), “Good Time Charlie’s” (Del Reeves, 1969), “If Not for You” (George Jones, 1969), “When We Tried” (Jan Howard, 1970) and “The Wonders You Perform” (Tammy Wynette, 1970).
“Woman Without Love” proved to be an evergreen. After Johnny Darrell made it a hit in 1969, it was recorded by Waylon Jennings, Bob Luman, Ray Price, Bobby Goldsboro, Brook Benton, Joe Simon and Elvis Presley.
Similarly, “A Good Year for the Roses” had staying power. George Jones had a hit with it in 1970. Elvis Costello picked it up and had a major success in the U.K. with the song in 1981. Alan Jackson revived it as a duet with Jones in 1994. Lorrie Morgan, Johnny Paycheck and others have also sung the standard.
Jerry Chesnut recorded some singles for United Artists in the early 1970s, but never had a singing hit. However, he did find success as a TV personality. His natural wit and comedic talent, as well as his musical ability, led to him being cast as a regular on Hee Haw in 1971.
But he gave up both television and recording work because he felt that they interfered with his songwriting. Chesnut established an office on Music Row and continued to pursue his career as an independent song craftsman.
In 1972, his “It’s Four in the Morning” became an international smash. Faron Young took the waltz to the top of the country charts in America, and then the song became a huge pop hit in the U.K. It was subsequently recorded by Eddy Arnold, Ernest Tubb, Kitty Wells, Hank Snow, Tom Jones, Hank Thompson, Willie Nelson and others.
Other big songwriting hits in the 1970s included “Oney” (Johnny Cash, 1972), “Don’t She Look Good” (Bill Anderson, 1972), “Pride’s Not Hard to Swallow” (Hank Williams Jr., 1972), “If It Feels Good, Do It” (Dave Dudley, 1972), “They Don’t Make ‘Em Like My Daddy” (Loretta Lynn, 1974), “It’s Midnight” (Elvis Presley, 1975) and “Best Way I Know How” (Mel Tillis, 1975).
Jerry Chesnut was named Billboard’s Country Songwriter of the Year in 1972. “Another Place, Another Time” was nominated for a Grammy Award.
He retired from songwriting in 1980, but continued to perform from time to time. Revivals of his songs provided ongoing income. For instance, “T-R-O-U-B-L-E” became a big hit for Travis Tritt in 1993. Chesnut had originally written it for Elvis Presley, who had a big hit with the song in 1975.
Mark Chesnutt (no relation) brought back “Pride’s Not Hard to Swallow” in 1995. Son Volt recorded “Looking at the World Through a Windshield in 1996. George Strait sang “Good Time Charlie’s” in 2001, and Marty Stuart revived “Holding On to Nothing” in 2012.
Jerry Chesnut was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1996. In 2004, he was inducted into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame.
In 2010, BMI certified that “T-R-O-U-B-L-E” had been performed more than four million times. The portion of Kentucky State Highway 840 that runs through Chesnut’s hometown of Loyall has been named in his honor.
To date, more than 100 artists have recorded Jerry Chesnut songs, including 30 members of the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Funeral arrangements have not been announced.