- Was the chairman of the Nashville Songwriters Foundation.
- His songs have been recorded by numerous Nashville singers including George Strait, Reba McEntire, Barbara Mandrell, Kathy Mattea, Tammy Wynette, Conway Twitty, Charley Pride, Randy Travis, The Judds, Mark Chesnutt, John Anderson, Mel Street, Gary Allan, Johnny Rodriguez, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, The Oak Ridge Boys, Ernest Tubb, Anne Murray and Charly McClain.
- In 1979 he received the Nashville Songwriters Association International Presidential Award.
- Was a member of the board of directors of the Nashville Songwriters Association International, (NSAI) for almost 25 years.
- In 1992 he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
- Has three children, Greg, Mark and Lee.
- Graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1965 with a degree in marketing.
- Before his songwriting career he was a wholesale appliance salesman and an advertising account manager.
- In 1992 he was inducted into the Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame.
- Attended Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas.
- Won 14 BMI Performance Awards.
- He received his first number one hit with "Rednecks, White Socks and Blue Ribbon Beer".
- Received a Grammy Award nomination in 1972 for "Could I Have This Dance".
- During his career he was writer of over 40 Top Ten hits and 14 #1 hits. Some of his best-known songs are "Could I Have This Dance", "Some Broken Hearts Never Mend", "Til The Rivers All Run Dry", "You're the Best Break This Old Heart Ever Had", "Only Here For a Little While", "Meanwhile" and "Nobody Likes Sad Songs".
- Was the 1983 ASCAP Country Writer of the Year co-winner.
- Won 16 ASCAP Performance Awards.
- Since 1990 he has been serving on the ASCAP board of directors, the first Nashville songwriter to do so.
- In 1975 he achieved his first solo number one hit "You're My Best Friend" recorded by Don Williams.
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