Paul Kennerley

Paul Kennerley (born 1948) is an English songwriter living in Nashville, Tennessee.

Biography Kennerley was born in Hoylake, Cheshire, England, in 1948, where his father was a director of a company based in nearby Liverpool. He was the youngest of four children. At the age of 8, he attended a preparatory boarding school in Cheshire, followed by Stowe School in Buckinghamshire, and Copford Glebe in Essex.

After leaving school, Kennerley apprenticed in the design studios of a Liverpool advertising agency. In 1969, he spent several months at an agency in New York City before returning to London, where he worked as a layout artist.

For as early as he can remember, he had an over-arching passion for music. In the early 70’s, Kennerley held a secondary job managing the London “pub rock” band The Winkies. 1974 he left advertising in order to pursue and develop his songwriting. In 1975, he became enraptured by country music, having heard a Waylon Jennings record. "It really excited me and led me to discover many other artists and an entire genre I had never listened to before." Kennerley recalled.

Although he wanted only to write country songs, his lack of experience of rural American life and culture seemed inauthentic. That led him to write songs set in historical settings that eventually became the much lauded Civil War concept album White Mansions.

His songs have been featured in hit films such as A Star is Born (2018) and Thelma & Louise and have been recorded by the greats of music including Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Ringo Starr, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Nanci Griffith, Dave Edmunds, Brenda Lee, Glen Campbell, The Everly Brothers, Kenny Rogers, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Chet Atkins and Mark Knopfler, Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga, Martina McBride, The Judds, Marty Stuart, Patty Loveless, Charlie Daniels, The Highwaymen, Dierks Bentley, Lonnie Donegan, Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Solomon Burke, Don Williams, The Crickets, and more.

Recordings White Mansions

Kennerley's first major 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 and John Dillon of the Ozark Mountain Daredevils, and Eric Clapton. The Guardian described White Mansions as "the first and perhaps best outlaw country rock Civil War concept album ever recorded."

The Legend of Jesse James

In 1980, Kennerley released his second concept album, The Legend of Jesse James. It featured more notable artists, including Johnny Cash, Emmylou Harris, Charlie Daniels, Albert Lee and Levon Helm. The Legend of Jesse James tells the story of the outlaw's life through various artists. It features Levon Helm as Jesse James and Johnny Cash as Frank James, with other notable performers including Emmylou Harris, Charlie Daniels, and Rosanne Cash. Produced by Glyn Johns, the album follows a chronological narrative and has been re-released as a two-CD set with Kennerley's previous album, White Mansions, both of which were produced by Glyn Johns.

Misery with a Beat

In 1995, Kennerley released the EP Misery with a Beat which, featured Richard Bennett, Billy Bremner, and himself 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" "She was Mine" - and - "The Heartbreak Kind" (co-written with Marty Stuart).

Paul Kennerley Demos

In 2025, Kennerley released the double CD, Paul Kennerley Demos, a collection of his original rough and ragged homemade versions of songs that went on to be recorded by greats such as Emmylou Harris, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, The Judds, Marty Stuart, Tanya Tucker, Levon Helm, Patty Loveless, Charlie Daniels, John Anderson, The Highwaymen, The Class of ’55, Solomon Burke, Chet Atkins, Mark Knopfler, Linda Ronstadt, Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga, Wynonna and others. Several of the songs became number one and top five records on the Billboard Country Charts. On the album, all of the songs were sung and recorded by Kennerley with the exception of "You’re the Kind of Trouble," which was sung by The Wrights, and "Diggin’ My Grave" which was sung by Morgane Stapleton.

Personal life

In 1979, Kennerley married Jenny Dugan Chapman in London. The couple had two children, a daughter Marisha and a son Charles. They divorced in 1984. In 1983, Kennerley moved to Nashville where he continued to have songs recorded by country music artists. In 1985, he married Emmylou Harris. They were divorced in 1991. Kennerley continues to live in Nashville, Tennessee.

Awards Kennerley was named Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI) Country Writer of the Year in 1989.

Songs used in television shows TV programme Song(s) Northern Exposure "Poor Boy Blues" The Sopranos "Heaven Only Knows" Nashville "Ball and Chain", "You're the Kind of Trouble" Animal Kingdom "That's the Truth" Country Music "Born to Run"

Songs used in films

Film Song 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

Song Recorded by Year Achieved Co-written "Have Mercy" The Judds 1985 No 1 "Cry Myself to Sleep" The Judds 1986 No 1 "Young Love (Strong Love)" The Judds 1989 No 1 * "Let Me Tell You About Love" The Judds 1989 No 1 * "Give a Little Love" The Judds 1988 No 2 "Born to Run" Emmylou Harris 1982 No 3 "Walking Shoes" Tanya Tucker 1990 No 3 "In My Dreams" Emmylou Harris 1984 No 4 "Blue Side of Town" Patty Loveless 1989 No 4 * "Chains of Gold" Sweethearts of the Rodeo 1987 No 5 "Tempted" Marty Stuart 1991 No 5 * "One Hundred and Two" The Judds 1991 No 6 * "Tell Me True" Juice Newton 1988 No 8 * "Hillbilly Rock" Marty Stuart 1990 No 8 "Heartbreak Hill" Emmylou Harris 1989 No 8 * "Little Things" Marty Stuart 1991 No 8 * "One Man Woman" The Judds 1990 No 8 "Till I Found You" Marty Stuart 1991 No 12 * "White Line" Emmylou Harris 1985 No 13 * "Heaven Only Knows" Emmylou Harris 1989 No 14 "Western Girls" Marty Stuart 1990 No 20 * "Heart Trouble" Martina McBride 1993 No 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 1978: White Mansions (A&M) - all songs written by Kennerly and performed by other artists 1979: The Legend of Jesse James (A&M) - all songs written by Kennerly and performed by other artists 1998: Misery with a Beat EP (Spinout) 2025: Paul Kennerley Demos

As producer 1985: Emmylou Harris - The Ballad of Sally Rose (Warner Bros.) 1986: Emmylou Harris - Thirteen (Warner Bros.)

As composer + Year Song Artist Album Co-written with 1980 "Southern Boys" Matchbox Midnight Dynamos 1981 "Born to Run" Emmylou Harris Cimarron 1982 "Gonna Write a Letter" Waylon Jennings Black on Black 1983 "Feel So Right" Dave Edmunds Information 1983 "The Watch on My Wrist" Dave Edmunds Information 1983 "I'll Be Faithful to You" The Kendalls Movin Train 1983 "That's the Truth" Johnny Cash Johnny 99 1983 "Brand New Dance" Johnny Cash & June Carter Johnny 99 1983 "Let It Roll" Charlie Daniels A Decade of Hits 1983 "Crazy Old Soldier" David Allan Coe Hello in There Troy Seals 1983 "In My Dreams" Emmylou Harris White Shoes 1984 "The First in Line" The Everly Brothers EB 84 1984 "I'll Be Faithful to You" Glen Campbell Letter to Home 1984 "Where Would I Be (Without You)" Waylon Jennings Never Could Toe the Mark 1984 "Rock and Roll Shoes" Ray Charles Friendship Graham Lyle 1984 "Crazy Old Soldier" Ray Charles Friendship Troy Seals 1984 "Looking for Suzanne" Waylon Jennings Waylon's Greatest Hits Vol. 2 1984 "Nothing Can Hurt Me Now" Gail Davies Where Is a Woman to Go Bob McDill 1984 "Take That Woman Away" John Anderson Eye of a Hurricane 1984 "I'll Be Faithful to You" Don Williams Cafe Carolina 1985 "I've Got Me a Woman" John Anderson Tokyo, Oklahoma 1985 "Have Mercy" The Judds Rockin' with the Rhythm 1985 "Cry Myself to Sleep" The Judds Rockin' with the Rhythm 1985 "Feels So Right" Brenda Lee Feels So Right 1985 "I'll Be Faithful" Marie Osmond There's No Stopping Your Heart 1985 "Welfare Line" The Highwaymen Highway Man 1985 "You Make It Feel So Right" Steve Wariner Greatest Hits 1986 "Chains of Gold" Sweethearts of the Rodeo Sweethearts of the Rodeo 1986 "I'll Be Faithful to You" Don Williams Lovers and Best Friends 1986 "Sweetheart of the Pines" Emmylou Harris Thirteen Emmylou Harris 1986 "When I Was Yours" Emmylou Harris Thirteen Emmylou Harris 1986 "I Had My Heart Set on You" Emmylou Harris Thirteen Rodney Crowell 1986 "I've Got Me a Woman" Waylon Jennings Will the Wolf Survive 1986 "We Remember the King" Class of '55 Memphis Rock & Roll Homecoming 1987 "When He Calls" Emmylou Harris Angel Band 1987 "Lying in Her Arms" John Anderson Blue Skies Again John Anderson 1987 "Let It Shine on Me" Nanci Griffith Lone Star State of Mind 1987 "Blue Side of Town" Rosie Flores Rosie Flores Hank DeVito 1987 "Woman Walk the Line" Highway 101 Highway 101 Emmylou Harris 1987 "Tell Me True" Juice Newton Brent Maher 1988 "Blue Side of Town" Patty Loveless Honky Tonk Angel Hank DeVito 1988 "Give a Little Love" The Judds Greatest Hits 1988 "Heaven Only Knows" Emmylou Harris Bluebird 1988 "Heartbreak Hill" Emmylou Harris Bluebird Emmylou Harris 1989 "Away from You" Jason & the Scorchers Thunder and Fire Jason Ringenberg 1989 "One Man Woman" The Judds River of Time 1989 "Young Love" The Judds River of Time Kent Robbins 1989 "Let Me Tell You About Love" The Judds River of Time Carl Perkins and Brent Maher 1989 "When I Get My Rewards" Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with Levon Helm Will the Circle be Unbroken: Volume 2 1989 "Mary Danced with Soldiers" Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with Emmylou Harris Will the Circle be Unbroken: Volume 2 1989 "The Tears That I Cry" John Anderson Too Tough to Tame John Anderson 1989 "Hillbilly Rock" Marty Stuart Hillbilly Rock 1989 "Western Girls" Marty Stuart Hillbilly Rock Marty Stuart 1989 "Easy to Love, Hard to Hold" Marty Stuart Hillbilly Rock Marty Stuart 1990 "Poor Boy Blues" Chet Atkins & Mark Knopfler Neck and Neck 1990 "Sweet Dreams of You" Emmylou Harris Brand New Dance John David 1990 "Brand New Dance" Emmylou Harris Brand New Dance 1990 "Walking Shoes" Tanya Tucker Tennessee Woman 1990 "I Don't Want to Love You, (But I Do)" Kelly Willis Well Travelled Love 1990 "Looking for Someone Like You" Kelly Willis Well Travelled Love Kevin Welch 1990 "One Hundred and Two" The Judds Wynonna Judd & Don Potter 1990 "Blue Memories" Patty Loveless On Down the Line Karen Brooks 1990 "I've Got to Stop Loving You (And Start Living Again)" Patty Loveless On Down the Line 1990 "I'll Be Faithful to You" Marie Osmond The Best of Marie Osmond 1991 "Trail of Tears" Tanya Tucker What Do I Do with Me 1991 "Till I Found You" Marty Stuart Tempted Hank DeVito 1991 "Tempted" Marty Stuart Tempted Marty Stuart 1991 "Little Things" Marty Stuart Tempted Marty Stuart 1992 "Woman Walk the Line" Trisha Yearwood Hearts in Arm Emmylou Harris 1992 "Live with Jesus" Wynonna Judd Wynonna 1992 "Danger Ahead" Tanya Tucker Can't Run from Yourself 1992 "Down Home" Marty Stuart This One's Gonna Hurt You Marty Stuart 1992 "Hey Baby" Marty Stuart This One's Gonna Hurt You Marty Stuart 1992 "Letter of Love" Jason Ringenberg One Foot in the Honky Tonk 1992 "Feels So Right" Jason Ringenberg One Foot in the Honky Tonk 1992 "The Blue Side of Town" The Del McCoury Band Blue Side of Town Hank DeVito 1993 "World Without You" Kelly Willis Kelly Willis Kelly Willis 1993 "Sugar Babe" Billy Burnette Coming Home Billy Burnette 1993 "Heart Trouble" Martina McBride The Way That I Am 1994 "One More Chance" Barry Tashian & Holly Tashian Straw into Gold Barry Tashian 1995 "Love Match" Paul Kennerley Misery with a Beat 1995 "Heart Full of Rain" Paul Kennerley Misery with a Beat 1995 "Tryin' to Get Over You" Paul Kennerley Misery with a Beat 1995 "She Was Mine" Paul Kennerley Misery with a Beat 1995 "The Heartbreak Kind" Paul Kennerley Misery with a Beat Marty Stuart 1996 "Draggin' My Heart Around" Travis Tritt The Restless Kind Marty Stuart 1996 "Double Trouble" Travis Tritt The Restless Kind Marty Stuart & Travis Tritt 1996 "Country Girls" Marty Stuart Honky Tonkin's What I Do Best Marty Stuart 1996 "Rocket Ship" Marty Stuart Honky Tonkin's What I Do Best Marty Stuart 1998 "Heartbreak Kind" Linda Ronstadt We Ran Marty Stuart 1998 "Born to Run" Emmylou Harris Spyboy 1999 "He Was Mine" Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris Western Wall: The Tucson Sessions 1999 "Love Match" Buddy Miller Cruel Moon 2000 "When I Get My Rewards" The Waco Brothers Electric Waco Chair 2001 "Rodeo or Mexico" Garth Brooks Scarecrow Bryan Kennedy & Garth Brooks 2002 "I'll Be Faithful to You" Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with Emmylou Harris Will the Circle Be Unbroken 2003 "Draggin' My Heart Around" Patty Loveless On Your Way Home Marty Stuart 2003 "Heartbreak Hill" Albert Lee Heartbreak Hill Emmylou Harris 2003 "Heaven Only Knows" Albert Lee Heartbreak Hill 2003 "Born to Run" Albert Lee Heartbreak Hill 2003 "In My Dreams" Albert Lee Heartbreak Hill 2003 "Jupiter Rising" Emmylou Harris Stumble into Gracee 2003 "Heart Trouble" Wanda Jackson Heart Trouble 2003 "It Happens Every Time" Wanda Jackson Heart Trouble Joe Brown 2003 "Lonely for You" Wanda Jackson Heart Trouble Marty Stuart 2003 "If You Want Me Around" Marty Stuart Country Music Marty Stuart 2005 "When I Get My Just Rewards" Rick Danko Cryin' Heart Blues 2005 "Young Love" Wynonna Judd Her Story Kent Robbins 2005 "Let Me Tell You About Love" Wynonna Judd Her Story Carl Perkins and Brent Maher 2006 "Honey, Where's the Money Gone?" Kenny Rogers Water and Bridges Barry Tashian 2006 "Honey, Where's the Money Gone?" Solomon Burke Nashville Barry Tashian 2006 "You're the Kind of Trouble" Solomon Burke Nashville Shannon & Adam Wright 2008 "Got Me a Woman" Levon Helm Dirt Farmer 2008 "A Train Robbery" Levon Helm Dirt Farmer 2008 "The Wishing Well" Joe Brown More of the Truth Shawn Camp 2008 "No Cadillac" Joe Brown More of the Truth 2009 "Diamond in My Crown" Patty Loveless Mountain Soul II Emmylou Harris 2009 "Live with Jesus" The Oak Ridge Boys A Gospel Journey 2010 "Fallin' for You" Dierks Bentley Up on the Ridge Shawn Camp 2010 "You're the Kind of Trouble" The Holmes Brothers Feed My Soul Shannon & Adam Wright 2011 "A Train Robbery" Levon Helm Ramble at the Ryman 2014 "When I Get My Rewards" Harry Dean Stanton Partly Fiction 2014 "Rock and Roll Shoes" Johnny Cash Out Among the Stars Graham Lyle 2014 "Lonely for You" Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis Our Year Kelly Willis 2016 "Born to Run" Lee Ann Womack The Life & Songs of Emmylou Harris 2018 "Diggin' My Grave" Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper A Star Is Born 2019 "Born to Run" Jessie Buckley Wild Rose 2021 "Born to Run" Emmylou Harris & The Nash Ramblers Ramble in Music City 2022 "Night After Night" Daniel Tashian Night After Night Daniel Tashian and eight others 2023 "Cry Myself to Sleep" Wynonna and Trisha Yearwood A Tribute to the Judds 2023 "Have Mercy" LeAnn Rimes A Tribute to the Judds 2023 "Young Love (Strong Love)" Ella Langley & Jamey Johnson A Tribute to the Judds Kent Robbins 2023 "Let Me Tell You About Love" Carl Perkins & Raul Malo A Tribute to the Judds Carl Perkins and Brent Maher 2024 "Time on My Hands" Ringo Starr Look Up Daniel Tashian and T-Bone Burnett 2025 "Night After Night" Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Night After Night (EP) Daniel Tashian Class of 55 (Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison and Johnny Cash))