Kostas

Induction Year: 2019

Birth Name: Kostas Lazarides

Birth Date: 04-14-1949

Place of Birth: Thessaloniki, Greece

Kostas Lazarides was born in Thessaloniki, Greece. When he was seven years old, his family immigrated to Billings, Montana.

Fascinated by music, the only child was drawn early to the songs of Buddy Holly and the Everly Brothers. As a youth, Kostas began slipping into local honky-tonks to play with live bands. By the early ’70s, he was performing his original songs on the Northwest club circuit and had built a solid following.

After nearly two decades of modest success one of his songs crossed the desk of producer Tony Brown, who was searching for material for Patty Loveless. In 1989, Loveless recorded Kostas’ “Timber, I’m Falling In Love,” making it his first cut, first single and first chart-topping song.

Loveless would later take more Kostas songs to the Top 10: “The Lonely Side Of Love,” “On Down The Line” and “Blame It On Your Heart,” which was named the 1994 BMI Country Song of the Year.

Other Kostas hits include “Ain’t That Lonely Yet” and “Turn It On, Turn It Up, Turn Me Loose” by Dwight Yoakam, “Going Out Of My Mind” and “Love On The Loose Heart On The Run” by McBride & The Ride, “Lord Have Mercy On The Working Man” by Travis Tritt and “I Can Love You Better” by the Dixie Chicks.

He was named 1989 NSAI Songwriter of the Year.

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Song Catalog

"Ain't That Lonely Yet"

(written with James House)

Dwight Yoakam1993 #2 country
James House2013 
 

"Because You Love Me"

(written with John Scott Sherrill)

JoDee Messina1999 #8 country
T.G. Sheppard2012 

"Blame It On Your Heart"

(written with Harlan Howard)

1994 BMI Country Song of the Year

Patty Loveless1993 #1 country
 

"Going Out Of My Mind"

(written with Terry McBride)

McBride & The Ride1992 #5 country
 

"Hangin' 'Round the Mistletoe"

Brooks & Dunn2002 
Alabama2013 
 

"Heart Full Of Love"

Holly Dunn1991 #19 country
 

"High On Love"

(written with Jeff Hanna)

Patty Loveless1998 #20 country

"I Can Love You Better"

(written with Pamela Brown Hayes)

Dixie Chicks1998 #7 country
 

"Life #9"

(written with Tony Perez)

Martina McBride1994 #6 country

"Lord Have Mercy On The Working Man"

Travis Tritt1992 #5 country
 

"Love On The Loose Heart On The Run"

(written with Anna Lisa Graham)

McBride & The Ride1993 #3 country
 

"Nothing"

(written with Dwight Yoakam)

Dwight Yoakam1995 #20 country
 

"Nothing's Changed Here"

(written with Dwight Yoakam)

Dwight Yoakam1991 #15 country
 

"On Down The Line"

Patty Loveless1990 #5 country
 

"Slave To The Habit"

(written with Chuck Cannon, Toby Keith)

Shane Minor1999 #20 country
 

"The Lonely Side Of Love"

Patty Loveless1989 #6 country
 

"There Goes My Heart"

(written with Raul Malo)

The Mavericks1994 #20 country

"Timber, I'm Fallin' In Love"

Patty Loveless1989 #1 country
Danielle Bradbery w/ Blake Shelton2013 
 

"Turn It On Turn It Up Turn Me Loose"

(written with Wayland Patton)

Dwight Yoakam1991 #11 country

Other Media

Kostas

Induction Year: 2019