Paul Kennerley

Last updated

Paul Kennerley
Born Hoylake, Cheshire, England
Genres Country music
Occupation(s)Vocalist
Songwriter
Guitarist
InstrumentGuitar
Years active1972–present
Labels A&M
Spinout

Paul Kennerley (born 1948) is an English singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer working in the American contemporary country music industry.

Contents

Biography

Kennerley was born in Hoylake, Cheshire, England in 1948. In 1976, he was living in London and working in advertising when he first heard country music — particularly, the song "Let's All Help the Cowboys Sing the Blues" by Waylon Jennings. "It really excited me," Kennerley recalls in his artist biography for Universal Music Group. "I immediately hunted down every Waylon record I could find."

Kennerley quit his job in advertising and allowed himself three months to develop his talents as a songwriter.

Recordings

In 1972, Kennerley recorded an album with a rock band called 'Holy Roller' at Virgin Records' newly opened Manor studio, with Tom Newman (Mike Oldfield, Tubular Bells etc.) and Philip Newell, and Newman subsequently sang all the songs on the demonstration tapes of the White Mansions album.

Kennerley's first project was White Mansions , a 1978 concept album set in the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. The project was picked up by A&M Records, with Glyn Johns producing. A number of notable artists recorded the music, including Waylon Jennings, Jessi Colter, Steve Cash of the Ozark Mountain Daredevils and Eric Clapton.

In 1980, a second concept album was released, The Legend of Jesse James , which featured more notable artists, including Johnny Cash, Emmylou Harris, Charlie Daniels, Albert Lee and Levon Helm. [1]

Misery with a Beat, his 1995 EP, featured Richard Bennett and Billy Bremner on guitar, Michael Rhodes on bass, and Chad Cromwell on drums with songs including "Love Match"; - "Heart Full of Rain"; - "Tryin' to Get Over You" (co-written with J Ford & Bobby Womack); - "She was Mine" - and - "The Heartbreak Kind" (co-written with Marty Stuart) [2]

Songwriting

Neither White Mansions nor Jesse James were commercially successful, but they did establish Kennerley as a serious songwriter. Among his early compositions was "Born to Run", which Emmylou Harris recorded in 1981 for her album, Cimarron , and she continues to frequently perform the song in her concerts.

Kennerly continued to live in London while he wrote songs, but in 1983 moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where he started working with Harris on her semi-autobiographical concept album, The Ballad of Sally Rose , co-writing and producing the album. [3] Kennerley also collaborated with Harris on her albums Thirteen and Bluebird , and writing the songs "In My Dreams" and "Heartbreak Hill".

Kennerley also wrote songs for The Judds ("Young Love", "One Man Woman", "Let Me Tell You About Love", "Cry Myself to Sleep", "Have Mercy" and "Give a Little Love"), Marty Stuart ("Hillbilly Rock", "Western Girls", "Tempted", "Till I Found You", "Little Things"), Tanya Tucker ("Walking Shoes"), Sweethearts of the Rodeo ("Chains of Gold"), Patty Loveless ("Blue Memories"), Juice Newton ("Tell Me True"), The Everly Brothers ("The First In Line") as well as Carla Olson & John York (First In Line).

Personal life

Kennerley was married to Emmylou Harris from 1985 to 1993. [4]

Awards

Kennerley was named Broadcast Music Incorporated Writer of the Year in 1989.

Songs used in television shows

TV ProgrammeSong
Northern Exposure"Poor Boy Blues"
The Sopranos"Heaven Only Knows"
Nashville"Ball and Chain"
Nashville"You're the Kind of Trouble"
Animal Kingdom"That's the Truth"
Ken Burns : Country Music"Born to Run"

Songs used in films

FilmSong
Baja, Oklahoma"In My Dreams"
Thelma and Louise"I Don't Want to Love You (But I Do)"
The Lost Boys"Crazy Old Soldier"
A Star is Born"Diggin My Grave"
Wild Rose"Born to Run"


Top 20 songs on the Billboard Country Charts written by Kennerley

SongRecordedbyYearAchievedCo Written
Have MercyThe Judds1985No 1
Cry Myself to SleepThe Judds1986No 1
Young Love (Strong Love)The Judds1989No 1*
Let Me Tell You About LoveThe Judds1989No 1*
Give a Little LoveThe Judds1988No 2
Born to RunEmmylou Harris1982No 3
Walking ShoesTanya Tucker1990No 3
In My DreamsEmmylou Harris1984No 4
The Blue Side of TownPatty Loveless1989No 4*
Chains of GoldThe Sweethearts of the Rodeo1987No 5
TemptedMarty Stuart1991No 5*
One Hundred and TwoThe Judds1991No 6*
Tell Me TrueJuice Newton1988No 8*
Hillbilly RockMarty Stuart1990No 8
Heartbreak HillEmmylou Harris1989No 8*
Little ThingsMarty Stuart1991No 8*
One Man WomanThe Judds1990No 8
Till I Found YouMarty Stuart1991No 12*
White LineEmmylou Harris1985No 13*
Heaven Only KnowsEmmylou Harris1989No 14
Western GirlsMarty Stuart1990No 20*
Heart TroubleMartina McBride1993No 21

NOTE ( 18 of the above songs received BMI Awards, 15 of which were 1 million plays, 4 were 2 million plays and 1 was a 3 million play award )

Discography

Recordings

As producer

As composer

YearSongArtistAlbumCo-written with
1980Southern Boys Matchbox Midnight Dynamos
1981Born to Run Emmylou Harris Cimarron
1982Gonna Write a Letter Waylon Jennings Black on Black
1983Feel so RightDave EdmundsInformation
1983The Watch on my WristDave EdmundsInformation
1983I'll be Faithful to YouThe KendallsMovin Ttrain
1983That's the Truth Johnny Cash Johnny 99
1983Brand New Dance Johnny CashJohnny 99
1983Let it Roll Charlie Daniels A Decade of Hits
1983Crazy Old SoldierDavid Allan CoeHello in There Troy Seals
1983In my Dreams Emmylou Harris White Shoes
1984The First in Line The Everly Brothers EB 84
1984I'll be Faithful to You Glen Campbell Letter To Home
1984Where Would I Be (Without You) Waylon Jennings Never Could Toe the Mark
1984Rock and Roll Shoes Ray Charles Friendship Graham Lyle
1984Crazy Old Soldier Ray Charles Friendship Troy Seals
1984Nothing Can Hurt Me Now Gail Davies Where Is a Woman To Go Bob McDill
1984Take that Woman Away John Anderson Eye of a Hurricane
1984I'll Be Faithful to You Don Williams Cafe Carolina
1985I've Got Me a Woman John Anderson Tokyo, Oklahoma
1985Have Mercy The Judds Rockin' with the Rhythm
1985Cry Myself To Sleep The Judds Rockin' with the Rhythm
1985Feels so Right Brenda Lee Feels so Right
1985I'll be Faithful Marie Osmond There's no Stopping your Heart
1985{ Waylon Jennings {
1985Welfare Line{ Willie Nelson { Highway Man
1985{ Johnny Cash {
1985{ Kris Kristofferson {
1985You Make it Feel so Right Steve Wariner Greatest Hits
1986Chains of Gold Sweethearts of the Rodeo Sweethearts of the Rodeo
1986Looking for Suzanne Waylon Jennings Sweet Mother of Texas
1986I'll Be Faithful To You Don Williams Lovers And Best Friends
1986Sweetheart of the Pines Emmylou Harris Thirteen Emmylou Harris
1986When I Was Yours Emmylou Harris Thirteen Emmylou Harris
1986I Had my Heart Set on You Emmylou Harris Thirteen Rodney Crowell
1986I've Got Me a Woman Waylon Jennings Will the Wolf Survive
1986We Remember The King Class of '55 *Memphis Rock & Roll Homecoming
1987When He Calls Emmylou Harris Angel Band
1987Lying In Her Arms John Anderson Blue Skies Again John Anderson
1987Let It Shine On Me Nanci Griffith Lone Star State of Mind
1987The Blue Side Of Town Rosie Flores Rosie Flores Hank DeVito
1987Woman Walk The Line Highway 101 Highway 101 Emmylou Harris
1987Tell me True Juice Newton Brent Maher
1988The Blue Side Of Town Patty Loveless Honky Tonk Angel Hank DeVito
1988Give a Little Love The Judds Greatest Hits
1988Heaven only Knows Emmylou Harris Bluebird
1988Heartbreak Hill Emmylou Harris Bluebird Emmylou Harris
1989Away From You Jason & the Scorchers Thunder and Fire Jason Ringenberg
1989One Man Woman The Judds River of Time
1989Young Love The Judds River of Time Kent Robbins
1989Let Me Tell You About Love The Judds River of Time Carl Perkins and Brent Maher
1989When I Get My Rewards Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Will the Circle be Unbroken-V2
1989Mary Danced With Soldiers Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Will the Circle be Unbroken-V2
1989The Tears that I Cry John Anderson Too Tough to Tame John Anderson
1989Hillbilly Rock Marty Stuart Hillbilly Rock
1989Western Girls Marty Stuart Hillbilly Rock Marty Stuart
1989Easy to Love, Hard to Hold Marty Stuart Hillbilly Rock Marty Stuart
1990Poor Boy Blues Chet Atkins & Mark Knopfler Neck and Neck
1990Sweet Dreams of You Emmylou Harris Brand New DanceJohn David
1990Brand New Dance Emmylou Harris Brand New Dance
1990Walking Shoes Tanya Tucker Tennessee Woman
1990I Don't want to Love You, (But I Do) Kelly Willis Well Travelled Love
1990Looking for Someone Like You Kelly Willis Well Travelled Love Kevin Welch
1990Love can Build a Bridge The Judds
1990One Hundred and Two The Judds Wynonna Judd & Don Potter
1990Blue Memories Patty Loveless On Down the Line Karen Brooks
1990I've Got to Stop Loving You (and Start Living Again) Patty Loveless On Down the Line
1990I'll be Faithful to You Marie Osmond The Best of Marie Osmond
1991Trail of Tear Tanya Tucker What Do I Do With Me
1991Till I Found You Marty Stuart Tempted Hank DeVito
1991Tempted Marty Stuart Tempted Marty Stuart
1991Little Things Marty Stuart Tempted Marty Stuart
1992Woman Walk the Line Trisha Yearwood Hearts in Arm Emmylou Harris
1992Live With Jesus Wynonna Judd Wynonna
1992Danger Ahead Tanya Tucker Can't Run from Yourself
1992Down Home Marty Stuart This One's Gonna Hurt You Marty Stuart
1992Hey Baby Marty Stuart This One's Gonna Hurt You Marty Stuart
1992Letter of Love Jason Ringenberg One Foot in the Honky Tonk
1992Feels so Right Jason Ringenberg One Foot in the Honky Tonk
1992The Blue Side of Town The Del McCoury Band Blue side of Town Hank DeVito
1993World without You Kelly Willis Kelly Willis Kelly Willis
1993Sugar Babe Billy Burnette Coming Home Billy Burnette
1993Heart Trouble Martina McBride The Way that I Am
1994One More Chance Barry & Holly Tashian Straw into Gold Barry Tashian
1995Love MatchPaul KennerleyMisery With a Beat
1995Heart Full of RainPaul KennerleyMisery With a Beat
1995Tryin' to Get Over YouPaul KennerleyMisery With a BeatJ Ford & Bobby Womak
1995She was MinePaul KennerleyMisery With a Beat
1995The Heartbreak KindPaul KennerleyMisery With a Beat Marty Stuart
1996Draggin' My Heart Around Travis Tritt The Restless Kind Marty Stuart
1996Double Trouble Travis Tritt The Restless Kind Marty Stuart & Travis Tritt
1996Country Girls Marty Stuart Honky Tonkin's What I do Best Marty Stuart
1996Rocket Ship Marty Stuart Honky Tonkin's What I do Best Marty Stuart
1998Heartbreak Kind Linda Ronstadt We Ran Marty Stuart
1998Born to Run Emmylou Harris Spyboy
1999He Was Mine Linda Ronstadt & Emmilou Harris Western Wall:The Tucson Sessions
1999Love Match Buddy Miller Cruel Moon
2000When I Get My Rewards The Waco Brothers Electric Waco Chair
2001Rodeo or Mexico Garth Brooks ScarecrowBryan Kennedy & Garth Brooks
2002I'll be Faithful to You Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Will the Circle be Unbroken
2003Draggin' My Heart Around Patty Loveless On Your Way Home Marty Stuart
2003Heartbreak Hill Albert Lee Heartbreak Hill Emmylou Harris
2003Heaven Only Knows Albert Lee Heartbreak Hill
2003Born To Run Albert Lee Heartbreak Hill
2003In My Dreams Albert Lee Heartbreak Hill
2003Jupiter Rising Emmylou Harris Stumble into Gracee
2003Heart Trouble Wanda Jackson Heart Trouble
2003It Happens Every Time Wanda Jackson Heart Trouble Joe Brown
2003Lonely For You Wanda Jackson Heart Trouble Marty Stuart
2003If You Want Me Around Marty Stuart Country Music Marty Stuart
2005When I Get Just My Rewards Rick Danko Cryin' Heart Blues
2005Young Love Wynonna Judd Her Story Kent Robbins
2005Let Me Tell You About Love Wynonna Judd Her Story Carl Perkins and Brent Maher
2006Honey, Where's the Money Gone? Kenny Rogers Water and Bridges Barry Tashian
2006Honey, Where's the Money Gone? Solomon Burke Nashville Barry Tashian
2006You're the Kind of Trouble Solomon Burke NashvilleShannon & Adam Wright
2008Got Me A Woman Levon Helm Dirt Farmer
2008A Train Robber Levon Helm Dirt Farmer
2008The Wishing Well Joe Brown More of the Truth Shawn Camp
2008No Cadillac Joe Brown More of the Truth
2009Diamond in my Crown Patty Loveless Maintain Soul II Emmylou Harris
2009Live With Jesus The Oak Ridge Boys A Gospel Journey
2010Fallin' for You Dierks Bentley Up on the Ridge Shawn Camp
2010You're the King of Trouble The Holmes Brothers Feed my SoulShannon & Adam Wright
2011A Train Robber Levon Helm Ramble at the Ryman
2014When I Get My Rewards Harry Dean Stanton Partly Fiction
2014Rock And Roll Shoes Johnny Cash Out Among The Stars Graham Lyle
2014Lonely For You Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis Our Year Kelly Willis
2014Rock and Roll Shoes Johnny Cash Out Among the Stars Graham Lyle
2016Born to Run Lee Ann Womak The Life & Songs of Emmylou Harris
2018Diggin My Grave Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper A Star is Born
2019Born to Run Jessie Buckley Wild Rose
2021Born to Run Emmylou Harris & The Nash RamblersRamble in Music City

* Class of 55 (Carl Perkins; Jerry Lee Lewis; Roy Orbison and Johnny Cash)

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References

  1. ↑ Cornelius, Jim (20 March 2013). "The Legend of Jesse James". Frontier Partisan. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  2. ↑ Jana Pendragon. "Misery with a Beat: Review". Allmusic. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  3. ↑ Hurst, Jack (10 March 1985). "More Than A Hint Emmylou Harris Comes Out In `Ballad Of Sally Rose". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  4. ↑ Jerome, Jim (14 January 1991). "Emmylou Harris". People. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
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