The Professional Work of Songwriter & Record Producer, Norro Wilson
Norro Wilson has written some of country music's most indelible hits for such artists as David Houston, George Jones, Charley Pride, Charlie Rich, Joe Stampley and Tammy Wynette. In addition to writing award-winning songs, Wilson is also a legendary producer who has produced records for John Anderson, Janie Fricke, Reba McEntire, Tammy Wynette and several for Joe Stampley. Wilson also has found success as an Artists and repertoire (A&R) executive.
Norro Wilson was born on April 4, 1938, in Scottsville, Kentucky. He got his first taste of musical success when he and three high school friends formed a barbershop quartet and won a local contest. During that time, Wilson made regular trips to Nashville with his family to attend an all-night gospel review. It was there that he received an offer to sing tenor for the Southlanders Quartet.
Wilson toured with the Southlanders until 1960, when he left to perform as a duo with Don Gant.
Norro got his first publishing contract with Acuff-Rose in 1962. In 1967, Wilson became a song-plugger for Al Gallico Music, a job that would last fourteen years. During his tenure at Gallico, Wilson began writing songs for the publisher. By 1970, he had penned I'll See Him Through, a top-5 hit for Tammy Wynette.
During the 1970s and 1980s, Wilson continued to write big hits such as Charlie Rich's The Most Beautiful Girl (1973) and A Very Special Love Song (1974); He Loves Me All the Way (1970) and Another Lonely Song (1973) for Tammy Wynette; The Grand Tour (1974) by George Jones; and Never Been So Loved (1981) and Night Games (1983) for Charley Pride.
A lesser known part of Wilson's musical career is his time as a solo recording artist. His biggest chart success came with the 1970 top-20 hit Do It to Someone You Love. In 1975, Wilson accepted an A&R producer position with Warner Brothers Records. Norro moved to RCA in 1982 and became CEO of Merit Music in 1987. Wilson started Norro Productions after Merit was sold in 1990 and secured Sammy Kershaw as a production client.
Wilson and partner Buddy Cannon produced albums for artists such as George Jones, Tammy Wynette and Steve Wariner. Norro produced the album tirtled Sometimes a Rose, which was recorded by Ray Price on the Columbia Records label in 1992.
Wilson has earned Earned 39 BMI Awards, including BMI\Country Songwriter of the Year (1973), BMI\Country Songwriter of the Year (1974) and BMI\Country Songwriter of the Year (1975). He also won a Grammy (Best Country Song) for the single, A Very Special Love Song in 1974. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1996 and the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame in 2008.
Wilson, Norro: Song Catalog
- A Picture of Me (Without You), Artist: George Jones
- A Very Special Love Song, Artist: Charlie Rich
- Another Lonely Song, Artist: Tammy Wynette
- After Closing Time, Artist: David Houston
- Baby, Baby (I Know You're A Lady), Artists: David Houston (1970)
- Billy Get Me a Woman, Artist: Joe Stampley
- Bring It on Home (To Your Woman), Artist: Joe Stampley
- Get on My Love Train, Artist: LaCosta
- Hello Operator, Artist: Joe Stampley
- I Love My Friend, Artists: Charlie Rich
- If You Touch Me (You've Got to Love Me), Artist: Joe Stampley
- I'll See Him Through, Artist: Tammy Wynette
- Most Beautiful Girl, Artist: Charlie Rich
- Never Been So Loved (In All My Life), Artist: Charlie Pride
- Night Games, Artist: Charlie Pride
- Soul Song, Artist: Joe Stampley
- Surround Me With Love, Artists: Charley McClain
- Take Me Home to Somewhere, Artist: Joe Stampley
- The Grand Tour, Artist: George Jones
- When He Loves Me (He Loves Me All the Way), Artist: Tammy Wynette
