Walt Aldridge

Induction Year: 2017

Birth Name: James Walton Aldridge Jr.

Birth Date: 11-12-1955

Place of Birth: Florence, Alabama

Walt Aldridge was born in Florence, Alabama. He spent 17 years as staff engineer at Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals and 15 years as an independent engineer in Nashville, working on some 200 records in that length of time.

In the late 1980s, he sang lead vocals in the band The Shooters, a country band which charted seven singles for Epic Records.

Among his best-known songs are “I Am A Simple Man” by Ricky Van Shelton, “I Loved Her First” by Heartland, “Modern Day Bonnie And Clyde” by Travis Tritt, “She Sure Got Away With My Heart” by John Anderson, “She’s Got A Single Thing In Mind” by Conway Twitty, “Some Things Never Change” by Tim McGraw, “The Fear Of Being Alone” by Reba McEntire and “‘Till You’re Gone” by Barbara Mandrell. “(There’s) No Gettin’ Over Me” by Ronnie Milsap was the 1982 ASCAP Country Song of the Year. “Holding Her And Loving You” by Earl Thomas Conley was the 1983 NSAI Song of the Year.

An alumnus of the University of North Alabama (UNA), he teaches in his alma mater’s Entertainment Industry Program. He has also been awarded a bronze star on the Alabama Music Hall of Fame Walk of Fame.
 

"'Till You're Gone"

(written with Tom Brasfield)

Barbara Mandrell1982 #1 country

"(There’s) No Gettin’ Over Me"

(written with Tom Brasfield)

1982 ASCAP Country Song of the Year

Ronnie Milsap1981 #1 country, #5 pop
Heartland2006 
 

"Crime Of Passion"

(written with Mac McAnally)

Ricky Van Shelton1987 #7 country
 

"Deep Down"

(written with John Jarrard)

Pam Tillis1995 #6 country
 

"Doncha?"

T.G. Sheppard1985 #8 country

"Holding Her And Loving You"

(written with Tom Brasfield)

1983 NSAI Song of the Year

Earl Thomas Conley1983 #1 country
Clay Walker1998 #68 country
 

"I Am A Simple Man"

Ricky Van Shelton1991 #1 country

"I Loved Her First"

(written with Elliott Park)

Heartland2006 #1 country, #34 pop
 

"I Sure Can Smell The Rain"

(written with John Jarrard)

BlackHawk1994 #9 country
 

"In Over My Heart"

(written with Tom Brasfield, Jim Rutledge)

T.G. Sheppard1985 #9 country
 

"Leave Him Out Of This"

(written with Susan Longacre)

Steve Wariner1992 #6 country
 

"Like There Ain't No Yesterday"

(written with Mark Narmore)

BlackHawk1995 #3 country

"Modern Day Bonnie And Clyde"

(written with James LeBlanc)

Travis Tritt2002 #8 country, #55 pop
 

"One Owner Heart"

(written with Tom Brasfield, Mac McAnally)

T.G. Sheppard1985 #4 country
 

"See If I Care"

(written with Robert Byrne)

Shenandoah1990 #6 country
 

"She Sure Got Away With My Heart"

(written with Tom Brasfield)

John Anderson1984 #3 country
 

"She's Got A Single Thing In Mind"

Conway Twitty1989 #2 country
 

"Some Things Never Change"

(written with Brad Crisler)

Tim McGraw2000 #7 country, #58 pop

"The Fear Of Being Alone"

(written with Bruce Miller)

Reba McEntire1996 #2 country
 

"Whatever Comes First"

(written with Brad Crisler, Drew Womack)

Sons Of The Desert1997 #10 country

Walt Aldridge

Induction Year: 2017