Dan Tyler (November 2006)

Gene Watson's peers within the country music industry believe in the sheer talent of this unassuming man from east Texas, so much so that Gene is regarded by many of them as 'the singer's singer' - and rightly so!

All of Gene's Peers who were contacted in 2006 were most gracious with their time & words.  It is here, within this special part of gene-watson.com, that you have an opportunity to read Dan Tyler's quote, which he submitted to this site on Tuesday 14 November 2006.

I (Sean Brady) would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to Dan Tyler who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.

Dan Tyler
This quote was submitted on Tuesday 14 November 2006



 

About Dan Tyler...

Dan Tyler is a native of McComb, Mississippi & music has played an important role all his life.  He was named after the song 'Danny Boy' &, when Elvis Presley came to his hometown of McComb, appearing with Johnny Cash (RIP), in August 1954, Dan remembers the excitement of Elvis' music.  Dan's father, Bill, had promoted the concert, through his position at a local radio station.

A local band, The New Generation, based in McComb, Mississippi recorded two of Dan's original songs.  He was sixteen years old.  Throughout his years in McComb & later, at the University of Mississippi, Dan wrote songs, fronted a rock band & entertained his friends & family with his compositions.

Following graduation from law school & a clerkship with a federal magistrate, Dan and his wife Adele moved to Nashville in order that he could pursue his dream of becoming a professional songwriter.

Success came quickly.  Eddie Rabbitt took Dan's song 'Hearts on fire' (Eddie Rabbitt, Even Stevens & Dan Tyler) to No.2 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1978.  Eddie also recorded two other songs that Dan had a hand in writing namely 'The room at the top of the stairs' & 'Amazing love'.

With the responsibilities that came with a new son (William), Dan was reluctant to give up the practice of law for the vagaries of the music business.  He struggled to balance the demands of practicing law with his love for music.

In 1982, the Oak Ridge Boys enjoyed a major hit with Dan's song 'Bobbie Sue' (co-written by Dan Tyler, Adele Tyler & Wood Newton); the song spent one week at No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart in April 1982.  Dan then left the law profession & established, with Adele as his creative & business partner, Intuit Music Group, a music publishing venture.

In 1985, 'Modern day romance', a tune Dan co-wrote with Kix Brooks, spent one week at No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart in September of that year.

Another Tyler hit from that era is 'Baby's got a new baby' (co-written by Dan Tyler & J. Fred Knobloch) from S-K-O (a trio of songwriters comprising of Thom Schuyler, Fred Knobloch & Paul Overstreet); the song spent one week at No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart in March 1987.

In 1989, Dan needed a break from the demands of the music business, so he & his family, which now included a daughter, Elise, moved to McComb.  Asa result, he rediscovered his ability & desire to write songs by himself.  The family returned to Nashville in 1991 with Dan committed to writing songs closer to his heart.

In 1996, LeAnn Rimes recorded Dan's 'The light in your eyes'.  The track was included on LeAnn's 'Blue' album & climbed to No.5 on the country charts.

It was also in 1996 that Eggman Publishing in Nashville released Dan's novel 'Music City Confidential', an insider's fictional take on the colourful country music industry.  Despite limited distribution, the book sold over 2,000 hardback copies.

In the late 1990s, Dan was deeply involved musically with his son William, who has established himself as an important musician & songwriter; William plays with the seminal Nashville group Lambchop.

Dan Tyler has been a successful singer songwriter for the part of forty years.  His songs have been recorded by over 50 major recording artists, including LeAnn Rimes ('The light in your eyes'), Kenny Rogers ('Twenty years'), The Oak Ridge Boys ('Bobbie Sue'), The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band ('Modern day romance' & 'Turn of the century'), Eddy Arnold ('Too life'), BJ Thomas ('The whole world's in love when you're lonely'), Eddie Rabbitt ('Hearts on fire', 'The room at the top of the stairs' & 'Amazing love'), Keith Whitley ('Somebody's doin' me right'), Paul Overstreet ('Homemaker') & Joni Harms ('I need a wife' & 'A woman knows').

Visit Dan Tyler's Official Website

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