Byron Hill (April 2005)

'Any true country songwriter should feel that his life is complete if Gene Watson records one of his songs, for Gene Watson is perhaps the finest voice in country music.

I don't think I have ever had a song of mine generate more chatter out there on radio than 'No trash in my trailer'.  Nashville's WSM (Radio) spearheaded the flag-waving, which made this song become sort of an underground die-hard country anthem.  Though the record charted, it never competed with the stuff that was taking over the country chart at the time.

Gene Watson has always been among the top on my list of great country singers.  To be able to say that Gene recorded one of my songs is worth more than the royalties it should have earned.  This was a novelty song, and something quite different for Gene to do, but I appreciate him taking the chance'.

Thank you, Byron Hill, for your support of Gene Watson
 

---

About Byron Hill...

Byron Hill is from Winston-Salem, North Carolina.  He moved to Nashville in April 1978 & signed his first songwriting contract with ATV Music Group in September of that year.

The hits started happening for Byron as a writer in 1979 with Joe Sun's 'Out of your mind' & in 1981 with Johnny Lee's 'Pickin' up strangers'.  Byron co-wrote George Strait's first No.1 'Fool hearted memory' (1 week at No.1 in August/September 1982).

Many other early cuts include recordings by artists such as Ray Charles, Juice Newton, Conway Twitty, Mel McDaniel, Ricky Skaggs, Margo Smith & Reba McEntire.

In 1984, after the sale & closure of ATV Music, Byron spent four years as an independent songwriter & publisher, writing the Ed Bruce No.4 hit 'Nights', as well as songs recorded by Kenny Rogers, Anne Murray, George Jones & Tom Wopat.

In 1988, Byron signed as a staff writer for Collins Music, an association that yielded Alabama's 'Born country', the hit 'Alright already' for Larry Stewart, along with cuts for artists such as Asleep At The Wheel, Barbara Mandrell & Randy Travis.

In 1992, Byron signed with MCA Music Nashville, where he landed singles by Tracy Byrd ('Lifestyles of the not so rich & famous'), Neal McCoy ('If I was a drinkin' man'), George Jones ('High-tech redneck'), Sammy Kershaw ('Politics, religion & her') & River Road ('I broke it, I'll fix it').

In December 1998, Byron signed with Starstruck Writers Group in Nashville, which was sold (in October 2000) to Warner Chappell Music.  In January 2003, Byron signed with Almo Irving Music.  However, Almo Irving closed in October of that year & consolidated with Universal Music Publishing Group, where Byron became a staff songwriter.

Byron Hill's songs have generated more than 544 recordings, earning 71 RIAA certified Gold & Platinum Awards, 9 ASCAP Awards, 20 U.S. & Canadian Top 10 chart hits including 6 No.1's.

Byron has also had his songs recorded by Joe Nichols, Rhonda Vincent, Lantana & Hot Apple Pie.  His work as a producer includes three albums for Gary Allan (on Decca Records) & an album for Kathy Mattea (on Mercury Records).  Byron has also enjoyed a long-time producer/co-writer association with singer/songwriter Mike Dekle which includes four albums.

Gene Watson recorded Byron Hill's 'No Trash in my Trailer' (co-written with Mike Dekle) & included the track on the 'From the Heart' album, which was released on RMG Records in 2001.

Visit Byron Hill's Official Website
Visit Mike Dekle's Official Website