The Professional work of Songwriter, Producer George Richey
Nashville producer, songwriter, publisher, manager and record executive George Richey was a mainstay of the Nashville country music community since the 1960s through his songwriting and record production. Richey was best known as the fifth, final and longest lasting husband of Country Music Hall of Fame superstar Tammy Wynette.
Born George Richardson on Nov. 30, 1935, he is a native of Promise Land,Arkansas. A gifted pianist and songwriter, Richey arrived inNashville in the 1950s. During his long career, he had several notable roles. His keyboard talent led to recording session work with Lefty Frizzell, Marty Robbins, Ernest Tubb, Tommy James, Kenny Rogers, Ringo Starr and many others.
George first achieved prominence as a songwriter with his co-written “I’ll Share My World With You” for George Jones (1969), followed by “A Woman Lives For Love” for Wanda Jackson, “Heavenly Sunshine” for Ferlin Husky and “Then He Touched Me” for Jean Shepard, all in 1970. Husky followed up with Richey’s co-penned “Your Sweet Love Lifted Me” later that same year. Richey served brief executive stints with the earlyNashvilleoffices of the Capitol and United Artists labels, but thereafter concentrated on record production and songwriting.
He produced Wanda Jackson, Johnny Horton, Sonny James, Dick Curless, Billie Jo Spears, The Oak Ridge Boys, Merle Haggard, Claude King and several others. Richey’s 1970s composing successes included “Keep Me in Mind” (Lynn Anderson, 1973), “Good News” (Jody Miller, 1973), “Soul Song” (Joe Stampley, 1973), “You’ve Got Me,” (Connie Smith, 1973), “I’m Still Loving You” (Joe Stampley, 1974), “Take Me Home to Somewhere” (Joe Stampley, 1974) and “Every Word I Write” (Dottie West, 1977).
Richey co-wrote the George Jones classics “The Grand Tour” (1974) and “A Picture of Me (Without You)” (1972). He is even more strongly associated with the Wynette standards “Til I Can Make It On My Own” (1976) and “You and Me” (1976). He also co-wrote the Jones-Wynette duets “Southern California” (1977) and “We Loved it Away” (1974). In addition, Richey’s tunes were sung by Tanya Tucker, Claude King, Barbara Mandrell and other artists during the 1970s.
George Richey married Wynette in 1978, putting some of his own musical aspirations aside to help manage his wife's career, until her death on April 6, 1998. Richey had been in Tammy’s life for many years as a businessman and musician before they married.
In 2001, George Richey married former Sheila Slaughter. Over the last years of his life, George devoted his time working to educate others on the dangers of smoking and the importance of living a life free from the affects of smoke. In keeping true to his love of work, George also worked with the Country Music Hall of Fame developing the Tammy Wynette: First Lady of Country Music exhibit, which was set to open on Aug 20, 2010.
Richey died on July 31, 2010, but the news was kept private for unknown reasons. George died following a long battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. His death came without publicity and there was no public memorial, per his request. He was buried inNashville near the grave of his third wife, Wynette. Mr. Richey is survived by his wife, Sheila Richey; two daughters and one son, Tatum, Deirdre and Kelly.
Richey, George: Song Catalog
- A Picture of Me (Without You) ~George Jones
- A Woman Lives For Love (Wanda Jackson)
- Heavenly Sunshine (Ferlin Husky)
- I’ll Share My World With You (George Jones)
- I'm Still Loving You, Glenn Sutton (Joe Stampley)
- Keep Me in Mind (Lynn Anderson)
- Soul Song (Joe Stampley)
- Southern California(George Jones & Tammy Wynette)
- The Grand Tour (George Jones)
- Then He Touched Me (Jean Shepard)
- 'Til I Can Make It on My Own (Tammy Wynette)
- We Loved it Away (George Jones & Tammy Wynette)
- You and Me (Tammy Wynette)
- Your Sweet Love Lifted Me (Ferlin Husky)
Written by: Richard Bell, Country Music Historian: Nashville,Tennessee,USA. Feb., 2011
