Randy Goodrum

Induction Year: 2000

Birth Name: Charles Randolph Goodrum

Birth Date: 07-07-1947

Place of Birth: Hot Springs, Arkansas

Randy Goodrum was born in Arkansas, a geographical crossroads of blues, country, jazz, R&B and rock & roll. "Part of the reason I am so diverse is because of where I grew up," Goodrum has said. "You had to be able to play it all, and do it authentically."

Goodrum's grounding in various styles has provided him with a songwriting passport that's been stamped by a wide array of artists, including Ray Charles, Steve Perry, Chicago, Phoebe Snow, Dusty Springfield, Lou Rawls, Oscar Peterson, Michael McDonald, Toto, George Winston, Johnny Lang, Dottie West, Alabama, Reba McEntire, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood.

One of his first hits, "You Needed Me," a #1 for Anne Murray, won the 1979 Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Performance and the ACM Song of the Year. It was later covered by such artists as Tammy Wynette, Millie Jackson, Floyd Cramer and Eddy Arnold. In 1999, Boyzone took the song to #1 in Europe.

Goodrum's diversity has also served him well as a producer and session and touring keyboardist, where he's worked with such artists as Roy Orbison, Dionne Warwick, B. J. Thomas, Olivia Newton-John, Jerry Reed, Earl Klugh and George Benson.

One of his most fruitful musical and personal associations was with legendary guitarist and producer Chet Atkins. "I had such a good rapport with him," Goodrum said. "We really saw eye to eye musically." He toured with Atkins, and performed and produced tracks on several of his albums, while co-writing songs like "To B or Not To B" and "Waltz for the Lonely." Goodrum's "So Soft Your Goodbye" won a 1991 Best Country Instrumental Performance Grammy for Chet Atkins and Mark Knopfler.

Goodrum is also a recording artist. His albums include Fool's Paradise, An Exhibition and Words and Music. Other notable achievements include writing songs for the Clinton-Gore presidential campaigns in '92 and '96, including "Reunion," which was the theme for President Clinton's first inaugural gala.

In recent years, Goodrum has divided his time between Nashville, Europe and Los Angeles. His works have included musical collaborations with famed session guitarist Jay Graydon and a European recording project with artist Lars Söderberg.

Read More

Read Less

Song Catalog

 

"(I'm Gonna) Put You Back on the Rack"

(written with Brent Maher)

Dottie West1981 #16 country

"A Lesson in Leavin'"

(written with Brent Maher)

Dottie West1980 #1 country, #73 pop
Wanda Jackson1981 
Bobbie Cryner1996 
Jo Dee Messina1999 #2 country
 

"Before My Heart Finds Out"

Gene Cotton1978 #3 adult contemporary, #23 pop
 

"Best There Is"

(written with Wayland Holyfield)

Tammy Wynette1981 
Charley Pride1986 #75 country

"Bluer Than Blue"

Michael Johnson1978 #1 adult contemporary, #12 pop
Beverly Heckel1978 #56 country
Barry Manilow1993 
Livingston Taylor1993 
Randy Goodrum1993 
Nanci Griffith2006 
 

"Broken Hearted Me"

Anne Murray1979 #1 country, #1 adult contemporary, #12 pop
England Dan & John Ford Coley1979 
 

"Fallin' in Love"

(written with Brent Maher)

Sylvia1985 #2 country
 

"Feeding a Hungry Heart"

(written with K. T. Oslin)

K.T. Oslin1993 
 

"Foolish Heart"

(written with Steve Perry)

Steve Perry1985 #2 adult contemporary, #18 pop
Jack Jones1987 
Sheena Easton2000 
Nina2003 
 

"I Will If You Will"

(written with John Barlow Jarvis)

John Berry1997 #19 country
 

"I'll Be Over You"

(written with Steve Lukather)

Toto1986 #1 adult contemporary, #11 pop
Larry Coryell1994 
John Tesh1995 
 

"I'm Not the Same Girl Anymore"

(written with Michael Masser)

Stacy Lattislaw1985 #52 R&B
 

"If She Would Have Been Faithful"

(written with Steve Kipner)

Chicago1987 #9 adult contemporary, #17 pop
 

"It's High Time"

(written with Brent Maher)

Dottie West1982 #16 country
 

"It's Sad to Belong (to Someone Else)"

England Dan & John Ford Coley1977 #1 adult contemporary, #21 pop
B. J. Thomas1977 
 

"It's True Love"

Loretta Lynn & Conway Twitty1980 #5 country
 

"Leavin's for Unbelievers"

(written with Brent Maher)

Dottie West1980 #13 country
 

"No More Mr. Nice Guy"

(written with Steve Wariner)

Steve Wariner1996 

"Now and Forever (You and Me)"

(written with Jim Vallance, David Foster)

ASCAP Song of the Year

Anne Murray1986 #1 country, #7 adult contemporary, #92 pop

"Oh, Sherrie"

(written with Bill Cuomo, Craig Krampf, Steve Perry)

Steve Perry1984 #3 pop
Paul London1996 
B'Four1997 
Thomas2007 
 

"She's Mine"

(written with Steve Perry)

Steve Perry1984 #21 pop
 

"So Soft Your Goodbye"

Chet Atkins & Mark Knopfler1990 
Maura O'Connell1992 
 

"Tell Me Tomorrow"

Angela Bofill1985 #72 R&B
 

"The Fool in Me"

(written with Dave Loggins)

Dave Loggins1979 
Rita Coolidge1979 
Kenny Rogers1982 
Sonny James1983 #33 country
 

"Til the Season Comes Round Again"

(written with John Barlow Jarvis)

Amy Grant1999 
Reba McEntire1999 
 

"Waltz for the Lonely"

(written with Chet Atkins)

Chet Atkins1987 
George Winston1999 
Pat Boone2006 
 

"What Are We Doin' in Love"

Kenny Rogers & Dottie West1981 #1 country, #7 adult contemporary, #14 pop
 

"Who's Holding Donna Now"

(written with Jay Graydon)

DeBarge1985 #2 R&B, #6 pop
David Foster1991 
Big Mountain2008 

"You Needed Me"

NSAI Song of the Year, ACM Song of the Year

Anne Murray1978 #1 pop, #3 adult contemporary, #4 country
Lenny Breau1978 
Lynn Anderson1979 
Chet Akins1979 
Floyd Cramer1979 
Millie Jackson1979 
Kenny Rogers & Dottie West1979 
Oscar Peterson1980 
Tammy Wynette1980 
Cristy Lane1986 
Kings Singers1987 
Donna Fargo1990 
Laurindo Almeida1990 
Eddy Arnold1995 
Daniel O'Donnell1996 
Boyzone1999 
Zamfir2000 
Patti Page2008 
 

"You Pick Me Up and Put Me Down"

(written with Brent Maher)

Dottie West1979 #12 country

Other Media

Randy Goodrum

Induction Year: 2000