Joe Osborn

Joseph Osborn (August 28, 1937 – December 14, 2018 ) was an American bass guitar player known for his work as a session musician in Los Angeles with the Wrecking Crew and in Nashville with the A-Team of studio musicians from the 1960s through the 1980s, playing on thousands of recordings (and hundreds of hit records) to become one of the most recorded bassists of all time.

Early life Osborn was born in Mound, Madison Parish, Louisiana, and raised in Shreveport. He was one of two children born to Imogene Mayberry; his father lived in Texas. His grandmother, Viola Montalbo, played guitar, as did his three maternal uncles. They taught him to play to the point where, by age 12, he was playing weekly in church—Osborn said that that was where he "really learned to play guitar".

By the time he was nearing high school graduation, he was playing with bands in local bars. That included the band of Dale Hawkins, which Osborn joined with his friend and former schoolmate James Burton. After they recorded the Hawkins album Oh! Suzy Q in early 1957, which included the hit "Susie Q", Burton told Osborn and Hawkins' guitarist Roy Buchanan that country singer Bob Luman was looking for guitar players—Luman had secured a 12-month run at the Las Vegas Showboat Hotel. When Osborn and Buchanan arrived in Las Vegas, they found that Luman needed one guitar player and a bass player. Despite having no experience with the bass guitar, Osborn was elected to be the bass player. He recalled: "So I went and bought a Precision bass and the next night I was a bass player. No one told me I wasn't supposed to play with a pick, and I liked the sound, so I kept the pick." One day, Osborn turned up the amplifier to better hear the bass notes and someone told him he couldn't do that—that "the bass should be felt and not heard". Osborn replied "Well, I guess you're going to get both." It was Blaine who reportedly came up with the name The Wrecking Crew which was a group of freelance musicians who could read anything and play anything. Beginning in the late 1950s, producers used session musicians extensively, either to produce music for solo artists, or because a band's musicians weren’t strong enough for recording. Usually, a band's musicians weren’t in attendance for the recording sessions. The session musicians were not credited and fans didn't know that the band members didn't play on the albums. Osborn said that this sometimes led to resentment. "They didn’t understand. They'd say 'I'm good enough to play on stage. What’s the difference?' There is a difference. Playing in the studio, playing live–one has nothing to do with the other."

Nashville Session work was all Osborn wanted to do; he turned down many offers to tour, notably from Elvis Presley and Bob Dylan. Osborn said they didn’t pay enough, and he didn’t like playing live because the music never sounds as good. He didn’t listen to music in the car, nor did he listen to music at home. But he and fellow Wrecking Crew members did follow the charts, to see how their music was doing. Osborn said that his average on the Billboard charts was 15 songs each week.

While this was lucrative, it was also stressful. To try to tone down demand, Osborn repeatedly raised his rates, to no avail. He decided to leave Los Angeles. He bought a farm outside of Nashville and, in 1974, moved to Tennessee. There was much less pressure, but he was just as busy. One count listed Osborn as bassist on 53 number one hits on the country charts and 197 that were in the top 40s. Upon his death, one of his daughters-in-law launched an online fundraising campaign for "final expenses". When he died, Osborn was working on an autobiography. As of 2025, it had not been published.

Style and equipment Many producers and arrangers chose to spotlight Osborn's contributions by mixing the bass line more prominently than had been customary, and incorporating brief bass solos into their arrangements. His floating slides, hooks, and counterpoints added the distinctive energy and bounce that distinguished L.A.'s hits.

Osborn said that producers usually didn't tell the musicians what to do, but some put them through the ropes. As those were the producers who "didn't know what they were doing", it was hard to remain diplomatic. He said the secret is to not go in with any preconceived notions. "You don't know what you're going to do until you hear the song. If you listen, the song will tell you what to play." In 2012, Fender Guitar built a custom Fender Jazz Bass for Osborn according to his desired specifications. He recorded with this bass for the first time when producing and playing bass on teen musician Matthew Davidson's 2014 debut recording.

Legacy When asked about the legacy of the Wrecking Crew, Osborn replied: "Well, it affected music altogether. And that music will live forever. We were influencing musicians and bands all over the world. We had no idea about that, that we were maybe changing somebody’s life. So without knowing it, that’s what we gave to the world. We taught the world how to play." 1981 Bass Player of the Year, Winner, Academy of Country Music 1982 Bass Player of the Year, Nominee, Academy of Country Music 1983 Bass Player of the Year, Winner, Academy of Country Music 1984 Bass Player of the Year, Winner, Academy of Country Music 1985 Bass Player of the Year, Winner, Academy of Country Music 2010 Inductee, Louisiana Music Hall of Fame

Discography 1962-1970

The Green River Boys & Glen Campbell – Big Bluegrass Special, 1962 Rick Nelson – It's Up To You, 1962 Rick Nelson – Album Seven by Rick, 1962 Rick Nelson – Best Sellers By Rick Nelson, 1963 Rick Nelson – Rick Nelson Sings "For You", 1963 Rick Nelson – Million Sellers, 1963 Rick Nelson – The Very Thought of You, 1964 Johnny Rivers – At the Whisky à Go Go, 1964 Johnny Rivers – Here We à Go Go Again!, 1964 Johnny Rivers – In Action!, 1964 Johnny Rivers – Meanwhile Back at the Whisky à Go Go, 1965 Johnny Rivers – ...And I Know You Wanna Dance, 1966 Johnny Rivers – Changes, 1966 Lyme & Cybelle – If You Gotta Go Now, 1966 The Mamas & the Papas – If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears, 1966 The Mamas & The Papas – The Mamas & the Papas, 1966 Barry McGuire – This Precious Time, 1966 Rick Nelson – Bright Lights and Country Music, 1966 Simon & Garfunkel – Sounds of Silence, 1966 P. F. Sloan – Twelve More Times, 1966 The 5th Dimension – The Magic Garden, 1967 The 5th Dimension – Up, Up and Away, 1967 Keith Allison – Keith Allison In Action, 1967 The Association – Insight Out, 1967 Glen Campbell – By the Time I Get to Phoenix, 1967 Glen Campbell – Gentle on My Mind, 1967 Don and the Goodtimes – So Good, 1967 The Grass Roots – Let's Live For Today, 1967 Harpers Bizarre – Feelin' Groovy , 1967 Jan and Dean – Save For A Rainy Day, 1967 The Mamas & The Papas – Deliver, 1967 Paul Revere & the Raiders Featuring Mark Lindsay – Revolution!, 1967 Johnny Rivers – Rewind, 1967 The Stone Poneys – Evergreen, Volume 2, 1967 Gene Vincent – Gene Vincent, 1967 The 5th Dimension – Stoned Soul Picnic, 1968 The Beau Brummels – Bradley's Barn, 1968 Boyce & Hart – I Wonder What She's Doing Tonite?, 1968 Boyce & Hart – It's All Happening On The Inside, 1968 Brewer & Shipley – Down in L.A., 1968 Glen Campbell – A New Place in the Sun, 1968 Glen Campbell – Hey Little One, 1968 Glen Campbell – Wichita Lineman, 1968 The Ceyleib People – Tanyet, 1968 The Dillards – Wheatstraw Suite, 1968 Cass Elliot – Dream a Little Dream, 1968 The Fun And Games – Elephant Candy, 1968 Richard Harris – A Tramp Shining, 1968 Richard Harris – The Yard Went On Forever…, 1968 Jan and Dean Carnival of Sound, 1968 Mark LeVine – Pilgrim's Progress, 1968 Peggy Lipton – Peggy Lipton, 1968 Maffitt/Davies – The Rise And Fall Of Honesty, 1968 The Mamas & The Papas – The Papas & The Mamas, 1968 The Monkees – The Birds, the Bees & the Monkees, 1968 Rejoice! – Rejoice, 1968 Johnny Rivers – Realization, 1968 Simon & Garfunkel – Bookends, 1968 The 5th Dimension – The Age of Aquarius, 1969 The 5th Dimension – Portrait, 1969 Anders & Poncia – The Anders & Poncia Album, 1969 Paul Anka – Life Goes On, 1969 Dave Antrell – Dave Antrell, 1969 James Burton & Ralph Mooney – Corn Pickin' and Slick Slidin''', 1969 Glen Campbell – Galveston, 1969 Carpenters – Offering, 1969 The Carnival – Carnival, 1969 Cass Elliot – Bubblegum, Lemonade, and... Something for Mama, 1969 Cass Elliot – Make Your Own Kind Of Music, 1969 Fever Tree – For Sale, 1969 Tom Ghent – Tom Ghent, 1969 The Grass Roots – Lovin' Things, 1969 The Groop – The Groop, 1969 Noel Harrison – The Great Electric Experiment Is Over, 1969 Dale Hawkins – L.A., Memphis & Tyler, Texas, 1969 Judy Henske & Jerry Yester – Farewell Aldebaran, 1969 Thelma Houston – Sunshower, 1969 Jackie Lomax – Is This What You Want?, 1969 Chad Mitchell – Chad, 1969 The Monkees – Instant Replay, 1969 The Monkees – The Monkees Present, 1969 Larry Norman – Upon This Rock, 1969 Tommy Roe – Dizzy, 1969 Mark Spoelstra – Mark Spoelstra, 1969 Al Wilson – Searching for the Dolphins, 1969 The Zeet Band – Moogie Woogie, 1969 Chet Baker – Blood, Chet and Tears, 1970 The Beach Boys – Sunflower, 1970 Glen Campbell – Try a Little Kindness, 1970 Carpenters – Close To You, 1970 Jeffrey Comanor – Sure Hope You Like It, 1970 Neil Diamond – Tap Root Manuscript, 1970 Dunn & McCashen – Dunn & McCashen, 1970 Buddy Emmons, JayDee Maness, Red Rhodes, Sneaky Pete Kleinow & Rusty Young – Suite Steel: The Pedal Steel Guitar Album, 1970 Eve – Take It And Smile, 1970 Mark Heyes – The Words And Music Of Mark Heyes, 1970 Tongue And Groove Presents Lynne Hughes – Freeway Gypsy, 1970 Juárez – Juárez, 1970 Al Kooper – Easy Does It, 1970 Longbranch Pennywhistle – Longbranch Pennywhistle, 1970 Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '66 – Stillness, 1970 The Monkees – Changes, 1970 The Partridge Family – The Partridge Family Album, 1970 John Phillips – John Phillips (John, the Wolf King of L.A.), 1970 Podipto – Podipto, 1970 Don Randi & Dory Previn – 3 In The Cellar, 1970 Bob Ray – Initiation Of A Mystic, 1970 Johnny Rivers – Slim Slo Slider, 1970 Tommy Roe – We Can Make Music, 1970 The Sandpipers – Come Saturday Morning, 1970 Simon & Garfunkel – Bridge Over Troubled Water, 1970 Paul Williams – Someday Man, 1970 Robin Wilson – Ain't That Something, 1970

1971-1979

The 5th Dimension – Live!!, 1971 The 5th Dimension – Love's Lines, Angles and Rhymes, 1971 Carpenters – Carpenters, 1971 The Clingers – The Clingers 1967 - 1971Darius – Darius II, 1971 Jack Daugherty – The Class Of Nineteen Hundred And Seventy One, 1971 George Gerdes – Obituary, 1971 Billy Joel – Cold Spring Harbor, 1971 Ken Lauber – Ken Lauber, 1971 Judy Mayhan – Judy Mayhan, 1971 Bob Morrison – Friends Of Mine, 1971 Michael Nesmith & The First National Band – Nevada Fighter, 1971 Ole Blue – The Baby Maker Original Sound Track, 1971 The Partridge Family – Up to Date, 1971 Dory Previn – Mythical Kings and Iguanas, 1971 Dory Previn – Reflections in a Mud Puddle, 1971 Punch – Punch, 1971 Helen Reddy – Helen Reddy, 1971 Johnny Rivers – Home Grown, 1971 Johnny Rivers – Non-Stop Dancing At The Whisky A Go-Go, 1971 Tommy Roe – Beginnings, 1971 The Sandpipers – A Gift Of Song, 1971 Paul Simon – Paul Simon, 1971 Barbra Streisand – Barbra Joan Streisand, 1971 Barbra Streisand – Stoney End, 1971 Sandy Szigeti – America's Sweetheart, 1971 Maxine Weldon – Right On, 1971 The 5th Dimension – Individually & Collectively, 1972 America – Homecoming, 1972 Renee Armand – The Rain Book, 1972 Debbie Au – Clay, 1972 Carpenters – A Song For You, 1972 David Cassidy – Rock Me Baby, 1972 David Clayton-Thomas – David Clayton-Thomas, 1972 Climax – Climax Featuring Sonny Geraci, 1972 Marty Cooper – A Minute Of Your Time, 1972 Cymbal And Clinger – Cymbal And Clinger, 1972 Marjoe Gortner – Bad But Not Evil, 1972 The Hagers – Music On The Country Side, 1972 Albert Hammond – It Never Rains In Southern California, 1972 Benny Hester – Benny…, 1972 Willis Hoover – The Last Outlaw Album, 1972 Claudine Longet – Let's Spend The Night Together, 1972 The McCrarys – Sunshine Day, 1972 The Partridge Family – The Partridge Family Notebook, 1972 Dory Previn – Mary C. Brown and the Hollywood Sign, 1972 Helen Reddy – No Mas Canciones Tristes, 1972 Johnny Rivers – L.A. Reggae, 1972 Seals & Crofts – Summer Breeze, 1972 P. F. Sloan – Raised On Records, 1972 Two Friends – Two Friends, 1972 David Wagner – d/b/a Crow, 1972 The 5th Dimension – Living Together, Growing Together, 1973 Bobby Bridger – And I Wanted To Sing For The People, 1973 James Burton and Ralph Mooney – Corn Pickin' And Slick Slidin, 1973 Larry Carlton – Singing/Playing, 1973 Carpenters – Now & Then, 1973 Dana Cooper – Dana Cooper, 1973 The Crickets – Bubblegum, Bop, Ballad and Boogies, 1973 Neil Diamond – Jonathan Livingston Seagull, 1973 Kyle Eidson – Kyle, 1973 Gentlehood – Gentlehood, 1973 Cheryl Ernst – Always Beginning, 1973 Percy Faith & His Orchestra – Corazón, 1973 Art Garfunkel – Angel Clare, 1973 Jim Grady – Jim Grady, 1973 Barry Greenfield – Blue Sky, 1973 Carolyn Hester – Carolyn Hester, 1973 Albert Hammond – The Free Electric Band Shaun Harris – Shaun Harris, 1973 Sherman Hayes – Catman, 1973 The Hues Corporation – Freedom For The Stallion, 1973 Waylon Jennings: This Time, 1973 Diane Kolby – Diane Kolby, 1973 Lulu – Lulu, 1973 Megon McDonough – Keepsake, 1973 Barry McGuire – Seeds, 1973 Sam Neely – Two, 1973 Mickey Newbury – Heaven Help the Child, 1973 The Partridge Family – Crossword Puzzle, 1973 Dinsmore Payne – Dinsmore Payne, 1973 Johnny Rivers – Blue Suede Shoes, 1973 Sonoma – Sonoma, 1973 B. W. Stevenson – My Maria, 1973 T-Bone Walker – Very Rare, 1973 Andy Williams – Solitaire, 1973 2nd Chapter of Acts – With Footnotes, 1974 The 5th Dimension – Soul & Inspiration, 1974 Bill And Taffy – Aces, 1974 Glen Campbell – Houston (I'm Comin' to See You), 1974 Glen Campbell – Reunion: The Songs of Jimmy Webb, 1974 Tim Curry & The Cast of The Roxy Theatre – The Rocky Horror Show, 1974 Wayne Berry – Home At Last, 1974 John Davidson – Touch Me, 1974 Doug Dillard – You Don't Need A Reason To Sing, 1974 Denny Doherty – Waiting For A Song, 1974 Don Everly – Sunset Towers, 1974 Chuck Girard – Chuck Girard, 1974 Albert Hammond – Albert Hammond, 1974 Thomas Jefferson Kaye – First Grade, 1974 Barry McGuire – Lighten Up, 1974 Masa – Take A Ten, 1974 Terry Melcher – Terry Melcher, 1974 Sergio Mendes and Brasil 77 – Vintage 74, 1974 Pratt & McClain – Pratt-McClain, 1974 Dory Previn – Dory Previn, 1974 Dig Richards – Digby Richards, 1974 B.W. Stevenson – Calabasas, 1974 Lyle Swedeen – Sunshine Inside, 1974 Pat Boone – Something Supernatural, 1975 Carpenters – A Kind Of Hush, 1975 Carpenters – Horizon, 1975 Cecilio & Kapono – Elua, 1975 Cliff DeYoung – Cliff DeYoung, 1975 Lee Dresser – To Touch The Wind, 1975 Art Garfunkel – Breakaway, 1975 Nancy Honeytree – Evergreen, 1975 Randy Matthews – Eyes To The Sky, 1975 Walt Mills – Sincerely, Walt Mills, 1975 Renewal – Babes No Longer, 1975 Johnny Rivers – New Lovers And Old Friends, 1975 Austin Roberts – Rocky, 1975 The Sonlight Orchestra – Love Song And Other Greats, 1975 Lucille Starr & Bob Regan – Lucille Starr, 1975 John Stewart – Wingless Angels, 1975 Susan Webb – Bye-Bye Pretty Baby, 1975 Razzy Bailey – What Little Bit That's Left, 1976 Jimmy Buffett – Havana Daydreamin', 1976 Marie Cain – Living Alone, 1976 J.J. Cale – Troubadour, 1976 Bill Callery – Bill Callery, 1976 Chris Christian – Chris Christian, 1976 Gene Cotton – Rain On, 1976 England Dan & John Ford Coley – I Hear The Music, 1976 England Dan & John Ford Coley – Nights Are Forever, 1976 Don Everly – Brother Jukebox, 1976 Rob Galbraith – Throw Me A Bone, 1976 Annie Herring – Through A Child's Eyes, 1976 Janny – Free Indeed, 1976 Parker McGee – Parker McGee, 1976 Barry McGuire – Eve Of Destruction, 1976 Olivia Newton-John – Don't Stop Believin', 1976 Mayf Nutter – Goin' Skinny Dippin, 1976 The Partridge Family – Only A Moment Ago, 1976 Eddie Rabbitt – Rocky Mountain Music, 1976 Johnny Rivers – Wild Night, 1976 Tommy Roe – Energy, 1976 Kenny Rogers – Kenny Rogers, 1976 Red Steagall – Texas Red, 1976 B.J. Thomas – Home Where I Belong, 1976 Aj Webber – Aj Webber, 1976 James Barden – Theme From Judas, 1978 Sandy Campi – Your Smile, 1977 Carpenters – Passage, 1977 The Cruse Family – Faith, 1977 England Dan & John Ford Coley – Dowdy Ferry Road, 1977 The Jonas Fjeld Band – The Tennessee Tapes, 1977 Don Francisco – Forgiven, 1977 Art Garfunkel – Watermark, 1977 Tompall Glaser – The Wonder Of It All, 1977 Amy Grant – Amy Grant, 1977 The Imperials – Sail On, 1977 Darrell McCall – Lily Dale, 1977 Miki & Griff – Rockin' Alone (In An Old Rocking Chair), 1977 Harry Nilsson – Early Tymes, 1977 The Oak Ridge Boys – Y'all Come Back Saloon, 1977 Tommy Overstreet – Vintage 77, 1977 Doug Owen – From The Start, 1977 Tom Powers – Love And Learn, 1977 Kenny Rogers – Daytime Friends, 1977 Kenny Rogers – Ten Years Of Gold, 1977 B.W. Stevenson – Lost Feeling, 1977 B.J. Thomas – B.J. Thomas, 1977 Buck Trent – Oh Yeah! Banjos, Boisterous Ballads, And Buck, 1977 Dottie West – When It's Just You And Me, 1977 Roger Wiles – It's A Love Song, 1977 Larry Jon Wilson – Loose Change, 1977 Meri Wilson – First Take, 1977 Albrecht, Roley And Moore – Starlighter, 1978 Bobby Bare – Bare, 1978 Carpenters – Christmas Portrait, 1978 Chester and Lester – Guitar Monsters, 1978 John Conlee – Rose Colored Glasses, 1978 Gene Cotton – Save The Dancer, 1978 Bobby David – Bobby David, 1978 Gail Davies – Gail Davies, 1978 England Dan & John Ford Coley – Some Things Don't Come Easy, 1978 Donna Fargo – Dark-Eyed Lady, 1978 Steven Fromholz – Jus' Playin' Along, 1978 Bryn Haworth – Grand Arrival, 1978 Roy Head – Tonight's The Night, 1978 Cristy Lane – Cristy Lane Is the Name, 1978 David H. Lee – Me, 1978 Dean Martin – Once In A While, 1978 The Oak Ridge Boys – Room Service, 1978 Gordon Payne – Gordon Payne, 1978 Reba Rambo – The Lady Is A Child, 1978 Johnny Rivers – Johnny Rivers, 1978 Jimmie Rodgers – Yesterday--Today, 1978 Kenny Rogers – Love Or Something Like It, 1978 Bill Woody – Just For You Babe, 1978 Neil Young – Comes A Time, 1978 The Belknaps – Born to Win, 1979 John Conlee – Forever, 1979 Sonny Curtis – Sonny Curtis, 1979 Paul Evans – Hello This Is Paul Evans, 1979 Don Francisco – Got To Tell Somebody, 1979 Mark Gaddis – Point Of Refuge, 1979 Gathering – Songs Of Jesus, 1979 Crystal Gayle – Miss The Mississippi, 1979 The Geezinslaw Brothers – If You Think I'm Crazy Now..., 1979 The Hinsons – Prime, 1979 Ronnie Milsap – Images, 1979 The Oak Ridge Boys – The Oak Ridge Boys Have Arrived, 1979 Reba Rambo – The Prodigal According To Reba, 1979 Kenny Rogers – Kenny, 1979 The Spragues – The Spragues Arrive, 1979 Glenn Sutton – Close Encounters Of The Sutton Kind, 1979 Mel Tillis – Are You Sincere, 1979 Mel Tillis – Me And Pepper, 1979 Mel Tillis – Mr. Entertainer, 1979 Hank Williams Jr. – Whiskey Bent And Hell Bound, 1979

1980-2018

Johnny Cash – Rockabilly Blues, 1980 The Coasters – Juke Box Giants, 1980 Sonny Curtis – Love Is All Around, 1980 Janie Fricke – I'll Need Someone to Hold Me When I Cry, 1980 Mickey Gilley – That's All That Matters To Me, 1980 Merle Haggard – Back To The Barrooms, 1980 Johnny Lee – Lookin' for Love, 1980 Frankie Miller – Easy Money, 1980 The Oak Ridge Boys – Together, 1980 Charlie Rich – Once A Drifter, 1980 Mel Tillis – Southern Rain, 1980 Tanya Tucker – Dreamlovers, 1980 Hank Williams Jr. – Habits Old and New, 1980 Andrus, Blackwood and Company – Soldiers Of The Light, 1981 Bobby Bridger – Heal In The Wisdom, 1981 Carpenters – Made In America, 1981 Dave & Sugar – Pleasure, 1981 David Allan Coe – Tennessee Whiskey, 1981 John Conlee – With Love, 1981 Sonny Curtis – Rollin, 1981 Lacy J. Dalton – Takin' It Easy, 1981 Janie Fricke – Sleeping with Your Memory, 1981 Art Garfunkel – Scissors Cut, 1981 Mickey Gilley – You Don't Know Me, 1981 Robert Gordon – Are You Gonna Be The One, 1981 Brenda Lee – Only When I Laugh, 1981 Johnny Lee – Bet Your Heart on Me, 1981 Johnny Lee – Lookin' for Love, 1981 Tim Sheppard – Forever, 1981 Ricky Skaggs – Waitin' for the Sun to Shine, 1981 Sylvia – Just Sylvia, 1981 Roger Whittaker – Changes, 1981 Hank Williams, Jr. – The Pressure Is On, 1981 Hank Williams, Jr. – Rowdy, 1981 Calamity Jane – Calamity Jane, 1982 Crash Craddock – The New Will Never Wear Off of You, 1982 Jonas Fjeld – Living For The Weekend, 1982 James Galway – The Wayward Wind, 1982 Mickey Gilley – Put Your Dreams Away, 1982 Richard Kerr – No Looking Back, 1982 Barbara Mandrell – He Set My Life to Music, 1982 Barbara Mandrell – In Black and White, 1982 Louise Mandrell & R.C. Bannon – Me And My RC, 1982 Louise Mandrell & R.C. Bannon – You're My Super Woman, You're My Incredible Man, 1982 Sandy Mason – Only Love, 1982 Gary Morris – Gary Morris, 1982 Harrell Rounds – Rounds & Howard, 1982 Ricky Skaggs – Highways & Heartaches, 1982 Russell Smith – Russell Smith, 1982 Jacky Ward – Night After Night, 1982 Steve Wariner – Steve Wariner, 1982 Chet Atkins – Great Hits of the Past, 1983 Kelly Nelon Clark – Her Father's Child, 1983 Earl Thomas Conley – Don't Make It Easy For Me, 1983 The Coulters – Cool Down, 1983 Father Francis – The Lord's My Shepherd - Father Francis Volume VIII, 1983 Jack Daniel's Band – Whiskey's Got Control, 1983 Mickey Gilley – Fool for Your Love, 1983 Mickey Gilley – You've Really Got A Hold On Me, 1983 Red Jenkins – Red Jenkins In Nashville, 1983 Louise Mandrell – Close Up, 1983 Louise Mandrell – Too Hot To Sleep, 1983 Michael Martin Murphey – The Heart Never Lies, 1983 Anne Murray – A Little Good News, 1983 The Oak Ridge Boys – Deliver, 1983 Sylvia – Snapshot, 1983 Mel Tillis – After All This Time, 1983 The Whites – Old Familiar Feeling, 1983 Faron Young – Faron Young's Black Tie Country, 1983 Neil Young – Comes A Time, 1983 Carpenters – An Old-Fashioned Christmas, 1984 John Conlee – Blue Highway, 1984 Earl Thomas Conley – Treadin' Water, 1984 The Florida Boys – Reaching Out, 1984 Barbara Mandrell – Clean Cut, 1984 Reba McEntire – My Kind of Country, 1984 Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – Plain Dirt Fashion, 1984 Pinkard & Bowden – Writers In Disguise, 1984 Ricky Skaggs – Country Boy, 1984 Sylvia - Surprise, 1984 Mel Tillis – New Patches, 1984 The Whites – Forever You, 1984 Leona Williams – Someday When Things Are Good, 1984 Bill Anderson – Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow, 1985 The Florida Boys – We All Are One, 1985 Mickey Gilley – I Feel Good (About Lovin' You), 1985 Billy Grammer – Back Home, 1985 Amy Grant & Art Garfunkel – The Animals' Christmas By Jimmy Webb, 1985 Lee Greenwood – Streamline, 1985 Jim Hudson – Bring Back The Thunder, 1985 Johnny Lee – Keep Me Hangin' On, 1985 John McEuen – John McEuen, 1985 The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – Partners, Brothers and Friends, 1985 Ricky Skaggs – Waitin' for the Sun to Shine, 1985 The Whites – Whole New World, 1985 Neil Young – Old Ways, 1985 T. Graham Brown – I Tell It Like It Used To Be, 1986 John Conlee – Harmony, 1986 Mason Dixon – The Spirit Of Texas, 1986 Charly McClain & Wayne Massey – When Love Is Right, 1986 Ronnie McDowell – All Tied Up In Love, 1986 Pake McEntire – Too Old To Grow Up Now, 1986 The Northams – Reality, 1986 Eddy Raven – Right Hand Man, 1986 Ricky Skaggs – Favorite Country Songs, 1986 Ricky Skaggs – Love's Gonna Get Ya!, 1986 S-K-O – S-K-O, 1986 Norman Wade – Remember Country With Norman Wade, 1986 Richard Carpenter – Time, 1987 Desmond Chambers – Tiger Bom, 1987 Tompall Glaser – A Collection Of Love Ballads From World War Two, 1987 Riders In The Sky – New Trails, 1987 Riders In The Sky – Saddle Pals, 1987 Art Garfunkel – Lefty, 1988 Akiko Kobayashi – City Of Angels, 1988 Dana McVicker – Dana McVicker, 1988 Johnny Rivers – John Lee Hooker, 1990 Sergio Mendes & Brasil '77 – Aguas De Marzo, 1991 Annie Herring – There's A Stirring, 1992 Richard Carpenter – Pianist, Arranger, Composer, Conductor, 1998 Steve Howell – My Mind Gets To Ramblin', 2008 Steve Howell – Since I Saw You Last, 2009 Matthew Davidson – Cross My Heart, 2014 Glen Campbell: Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me, 2015 Micah Harold – Micah Harold – Micah Harold And The Jazzgrass Apocalypse'', 2018

As songwriter