Hank Cochran

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News:Hello All,Great Country Singer Mark Chesnutt just released his new single "She Never Got Me Over You" written by Hank Cochran, The late Great Keith Whitley, and fellow NSAI Hall of fame member and old friend Dean Dillon. This is One Heck of a Strong Country Record. Mark is on Loffton Creek Records.If you love Great COUNTRY music be sure to request Mark Chesnutt's new single "She Never Got Me Over You" and buy a copy today!
The demo was a guitar vocal worktape of Keith singing into a jambox. Needless to say, that's all it took for Keith to get the song across. Hank, "Thank you Mark for a Great Record"! You can check out a sample at www.markchesnutt.com Order an autographed copy today.
On any given day, in one of Nashville's myriad recording studios, there's likely to be an artist recording a song written by the legendary Hank Cochran. And that's been the case for the past six decades, as hundreds have mined the massive Hank Cochran catalog for award-winning gems such as "I Fall to Pieces," "She's Got You," "Make the World Go Away," "A Little Bitty Tear," "The Chair," "Don't Touch Me," and "Don't You Ever Get Tired of Hurtin' Me." Not bad for a man whose pre-hit-songwriter resume included job titles such as "roustabout" and "roughneck" in the oil fields of New Mexico, and whose early musical career included a stint with similarly-named (though unrelated) friend & rockabilly star Eddie Cochran.
(L-Eddy R-Hank)
Now at seventy two, Hank Cochran is still as prolific and passionate a songwriter as he ever was, as tireless and successful a pitch man for his own material as one is likely to find on Nashville's Music Row, and as faithful a believer in divine intervention as he's ever been, when it comes to where his songs originate. Take, for example, the one he still calls his favorite: "Don't You Ever Get Tired of Hurtin' Me." A No. 1 record for Ronnie Milsap in 1989, it's also been cut by (hold your breath): Ray Price, George Jones, Willie Nelson, Jeannie Seely, Don Gibson, Jack Greene and Bobby Bare, among others. "I don't know how much I had to do with it," he says. "My name is on it as the only writer, but I know where it came from. People study songs and go over them and all that...and they tell me that's one of the most well-written songs, but that has nothing to do with why it's my favorite. It's my favorite because it can still cut me up just like the day I wrote it."
Hank Cochran emotions are as honest and hard-fought as his own life has been, especially his troubled, nomadic childhood and adolescence. Born Garland Perry Cochran, August 2, 1935 in Isola, Mississippi, his parents divorced when Hank was nine years old. Hank moved to Memphis to live with his father for a while, but the hardscrabble post-Depression-era existence proved too much for them, and Hank was soon placed in the St. Peter's Orphan's Home in St. Peter's Memphis. "I ran off two or three times," Hank recalls. "The last time I run off, he just took me back to Mississippi and took me to my grandparents. What little raising I had was from them." Hank's grandfather was a preacher who also filed saws for a living. At 10 years old, Hank was playing guitar and singing in church. He also had an uncle who played guitar, and like many young hopefuls, tuned in regularly to the Grand Ole Opry for musical inspiration. At 12 years old, Hank and his uncle hitchhiked from Mississippi to Hobbs, New Mexico, to work in the oilfields, working first as roustabouts, cleaning up after the drillers on the oil rigs, then roughnecking, drilling oil wells, for two years. Hank says working the derricks was both physically demanding, and often quite dangerous. When he was ready to move on, though the dream of writing songs for a living was still far beyond his grasp, Hank says he knew there was no looking back.
"They said I'd always be back, because if you ever got that oil in your hair, you'd return to it. Wrong!" Hank did return to Mississippi for a while, but was soon headed out to California, while still in his mid-teens. Once there he went to work on the 10th floor at a Sears & Roebuck store in Los Angeles. "They made me go to school because I was under 16. Here's this kid that had done everything imaginable--was big for his age, and worked in an oilfield--and I'm in there with 4th graders."
With his additional education, a solid work ethic, and success at numerous amateur contests throughout the area under his belt, Hank began entertaining thoughts of forming a group to play at various clubs and events. His search for a guitar player led him to one Eddie Cochran, who, though not related to him, certainly shared his passion for music. The two teens formed a rock 'n' roll duo called The Cochran Brothers. They appeared on KTTV's Town Hall Party and toured with country legend Lefty Frizzell. When the duo disbanded, Eddie found stardom in rock 'n' roll (albeit briefly--he died in a car accident in April 1960) and Hank soon decided to make the move to Music City.
Hank arrived in Nashville in January 1960, and immediately began working with Pamper Music for a mere $50 a week. Along with his duties as a songwriter, he was also helping the company sign other writers and to acquire songs and get them recorded. Among those he brought on to the company's payroll was Willie Nelson. Hank even gave up a spot as a recording artist with Liberty Records to allow the label to sign Willie, though eventually they were able to sign Hank as well.
Though he held down other non-music-related jobs, in April 1961 Hank was able to become a full-time songwriter, with the release of Patsy Cline's No. 1 smash, "I Fall to Pieces," which he co-wrote with Harlan Howard. In fairly short order Hank was playing guitar with Justin Tubb on the Opry, touring some with Ray Price, had scored his first hit as a recording artist, with the Top 20, "Sally Was a Good Old Girl," and earned three BMI Awards for songs he'd written on his own. He also became a co-owner (along with Ray Price) of Pamper Music, which was eventually acquired by the Sony/ATV Tree Organization in 1989. Perhaps the most life-altering experience of all of these was the arrival of Hank's first BMI check for $11,000--a staggering amount, considering this was the early '60s. Hank recalls that at the time, the number of songs he was getting cut was "mind-boggling."
In 1974, Hank Cochran was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Association's International Hall of Fame. He's the only writer ever to receive a unanimous vote. He's also the recipient of numerous BMI awards, including one for two million performances of Patsy Cline's "I Fall To Pieces."
An alphabetical listing of just a few of the artists who've recorded Hank Cochran's tunes reads like a musician's encyclopedia: Lynn Anderson, Eddy Arnold, Chet Atkins, Junior Brown, Jimmy Buffett, Tracy Byrd, Johnny Cash, Elvis Costello, Bing Crosby, Don Gibson, Vern Gosdin, Ty Herndon, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, Joe Henry, Harry James, Waylon Jennings, Tom Jones, Loretta Lynn, Dean Martin, Reba McEntire, Wayne Newton, Buck Owens, Elvis Presley, LeAnn Rimes, Linda Ronstadt, Nancy Sinatra, George Strait, Carla Thomas, Ernest Tubb, Lee Ann Womack.
As a recording artist Hank topped the Americana music chart in 1996 with Desperate Men: The Legend and the Outlaw, and in 2002 he released the album Livin' For A Song: A Songwriter's Autobiography.
Today Hank revels both in reflection, and in looking forward: "I'm sure thankful to be where I am, and that the good Lord has run enough songs through me that I'm seriously satisfied with. As long as He keeps giving them to me, I'm going to try to do something with them." Hank Cochran
(on the secret to success) "Make up your mind what you want to be and what you want to do. Then take every path that might lead in that direction. Let everyone know what you want so they can help you...and they will. Be definite and determined."
"I have a theory that somebody beside me must write my songs because half of the time I don't have the slightest idea where they come from. I even wake up out of a dead sleep and write a song completely. I wrote 'A Funny Way of Laughing' that way. I wrote words and everything. I ran over the melody a couple of times before I went back to sleep to make sure I wouldn't forget it." Birth Name: Garland Perry Cochran Induction Year: 1974 Date of Birth: 8/2/1935 Place of Birth: Isola, MS
Former Occupations: oil field worker
Career Milestones:
Recent Update: Hank Has recently received BMI Awards for three of his works which are some of the biggest classics of all times!
BMI Award for Three Million airplays "I Fall To Pieces"
BMI Award for Three Million airplays "Ocean Front Property"
BMI Award for Three Million airplays "Make The World Go Away"
There are also, now, several more two million air BMI awards on other Hank Songs. That are not listed. We'll update as time allows.
1960--moved to Nashville; hired by Pamper Music to write and plug songs; became a co-owner and stayed with Pamper until 1967
1961--recorded first record as a solo artist for Liberty Records
1961--had first hit as a songwriter, "I Fall to Pieces", recorded by Patsy Cline
1965--signed with RCA; released first album with the label
1967-1989--began writing for Tree International after Tree bought Pamper Music; also acted as a professional consultant for Tree
1979--performed "Make the World Go Away" in the feature film "Honeysuckle Rose" starring Willie Nelson
1989-present--so many things. (look for updates later/ Under construction)
Partial list of Early Awards:
1961--BMI Country Award..I Fall to Pieces
1961--BMI Pop Award..I Fall to Pieces
1961--BMI One Million Airplay..I Fall to Pieces
1962--BMI Pop Award..Funny Way of Laughing
1962--BMI Country Award..He's Got You (aka She's Got You)
1962--BMI Pop Award..He's Got You (aka She's Got You)
1962--BMI Country Award..Little Bitty Tear
1962--BMI Pop Award..Little Bitty Tear
1962--BMI Country Award..Tears Break Out On Me
1963--BMI Country Award..Make the World Go Away
1963--BMI Country Award..You Comb Her Hair
1965--BMI Pop Award..Make the World Go Away
1966--BMI Country Award..Don't Touch Me
1966--BMI Country Award..I Want to Go With You
1966--BMI Country Award..Make the World Go Away
1967--BMI Country Award..Don't Touch Me..One Million Airplay Award
1967--Country Music Association..Walkway of Stars
1973--BMI Country Award..It's Not Love But It's Not Bad
1976--BMI Country Award..Make the World Go Away
1976--BMI Two Million Airplay..Make the World Go Away1978--BMI Country Award..He's Got You (aka She's Got You)
1978--BMI One Million Airplay..He's Got You (aka She's Got You)
1978--BMI Country Award..Why Can't He Be You
1981--BMI Country Award..That's All That Matters to Me
1981--BMI Pop Award..That's All That Matters to Me
1986--BMI Country Award..The Chair
1986--BMI One Million Airplay Award..The Chair
1988--BMI Country Award..Ocean Front Property
1989--BMI Country Award..Set 'Em Up Joe
1990--BMI Country Award..Who You Gonna Blame It On This Time
1990--BMI Country Award..Don't You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me
1990--BMI One Million Airplay..Don't You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me
1991--BMI Country Award..Right In the Wrong Direction
1992--BMI Country Award..Is it Raining At Your House
1993--Betty Clooney Foundation..Singer's Salute to Country Songwriter Award
Catalog Highlights
Make the World Go Away
Artists: Ray Price (1963), Eddy Arnold (1965), Elvis Presley
I Fall to Pieces
Co-writer: Harlan Howard
Artists: Patsy Cline, Jim Reeves (1982), Linda Ronstadt
He's Got You (aka She's Got You)
Artists: Patsy Cline (1962), Loretta Lynn (1977)
It's Not Love (But It's Not Bad)
Artists: Merle Haggard (1973)
Montego Bay
Artists: Merle Haggard
Ocean Front Property
Co-writer: Dean Dillon, Royce Porter
Artists: George Strait (1988)
The Chair
Co-writer: Dean Dillon, Royce Porter
Artists: George Strait (1985)
I Want to Go With You
Artists: Eddy Arnold (1966)
Don't You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me
Artists: Jeannie Seely, Ronnie Milsap (1989)
A Little Bitty Tear
Artists: Burl Ives (1961)
This Ain't My First Rodeo
Co-writer: Vern Gosdin, Max D. Barnes
Artists: Vern Gosdin (1990)
A-11
Artists: Johnny Paycheck
That's All That Matters
Funny Way of Laughin'
Artists: Burl Ives (1962)
Set 'Em Up Joe
Co-writer: Buddy Cannon, Vern Gosdin, Dean Dillon
Artists: Vern Gosdin (1989)
You Comb Her Hair
Co-writer: Harlan Howard
Artists: George Jones (1963)
Don't Touch Me
Artists: Jeannie Seely (1966)
Can I Sleep in Your Arms
Artists: Jeannie Seely (1973)
Lucky Ladies
Artists: Jeannie Seely (1973)
Who You Gonna Blame It On This Time
Artists: Vern Gosdin (1989)
I'd Fight the World Before I'd Ever Let You Go
Artists: Hank Cochran (1962), Jim Reeves (1974)
Is It Raining At Your House
Artists: Vern Gosdin (1991)
Right In the Wrong Direction
Artists: Vern Gosdin (1990)
Tears Break Out On Me
Artists: Eddy Arnold (1962)
What Would Your Memories Do
Artists: Vern Gosdin (1984)
Why Can't He Be You
Artists: Loretta Lynn (1978)
That's All That Matters to Me
Comments:
Was listed in Who's Who in America in 1988
When elected to the Songwriters Hall of Fame--only year that one writer got elected--he got all the votes (there are different election procedures now)
Got Willie Nelson his first break after Willie moved to Nashville--convinced Pamper to hire Willie, forgoing his own $50.00 raise which went to pay Nelson's salary; also, when Joe Allison, who was the head of Liberty Record's country division at the time, offered Cochran a recording deal, Cochran told Allison to hire Willie Nelson first; Liberty signed Cochran soon after anyway.
Went to California before coming to Nashville; appeared on "California Hayride" and "Town Hall Party" and worked at Pamper Music's California office
Billboard 1 Singles: "Don't You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me," "He's Got You," "I Fall to Pieces," "I Want to Go With You," "It's Not Love (But It's Not Bad)," "Make the World Go Away," "Ocean Front Property," "Set 'Em Up Joe," "That's All That Matters to Me," "The Chair"
Billboard Top Five Singles: "A Little Bitty Tear," "Don't Touch Me," "Make the World Go Away," "Who You Gonna Blame It On This Time," "You Comb Her Hair"
Billboard Top Ten Singles: "A Little Bitty Tear," "Can I Sleep In Your Arms," "Funny Way of Laughing," "Is It Raining At Your House," "Right In the Wrong Direction," "Tears Break Out On Me," "What Would Your Memories Do," "Why Can't He Be You"