John Jarrard

Induction Year: 2023

Birth Name: John Charles Jarrard

Birth Date: 05-07-1953

Place of Birth: Gainesville, Georgia

Death Date: 02-01-2001

Place of Death: Nashville, Tennessee

Gainesville, GA, native John Jarrard moved to Nashville in 1977 to pursue a songwriting career. Within a year the University of Georgia graduate began to lose his sight to diabetes, and by 1979 he was totally blind. Undaunted, John became a familiar figure on Music Row, negotiating its streets on foot with the use of a cane.

His determination never failed, and in 1983 Don Williams scored a chart-topping Country hit with John’s song “Nobody But You.” Throughout the decade of the ’80s, more Top 5 hits followed: “There’s No Way” by Alabama (#1), “What’s A Memory Like You (Doin’ In A Love Like This)” by John Schneider (#1), “Lonely Alone” by The Forester Sisters, “You’ve Got The Touch” by Alabama (#1) and “Shouldn’t It Be Easier Than This” by Charley Pride. Throughout the ’90s, John’s Top 5 trend continued with “Mirror, Mirror” by Diamond Rio, “Money In The Bank” by John Anderson (#1), “My Kind Of Girl” by Collin Raye (#1) and “Blue Clear Sky” by George Strait (#1).

John is a 2010 inductee into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.

"Blue Clear Sky"

(written with Bob DiPiero, Mark D. Sanders)

George Strait1996 #1 Country
 

"Deep Down"

(written with Walt Aldridge)

Pam Tillis1996 #6 Country
 

"I Still Do"

(written with J.D. Martin)

Bill Medley1984 #17 Country, #25 AC
 

"I Sure Can Smell The Rain"

(written with Walt Aldridge)

BlackHawk1994 #9 Country
 

"I Taught Her Everything She Knows"

(written with Walt Aldridge, Greg Fowler, Teddy Gentry)

Alabama1986 
The Shooters1988 #31 Country
 

"I Wonder What He's Doing Tonight"

(written with Gary Nicholson)

Tanya Tucker1987 
Russell Smith (as I Wonder What She's Doing Tonight)1989 #37 Country
 

"Is That A Tear"

(written with Kenny Beard)

Tracy Lawrence1997 #2 Country
 

"Lonely Alone"

(written with J.D. Martin)

The Forester Sisters1986 #2 Country

"Mirror, Mirror"

(written with Bob DiPiero, Mark D. Sanders)

Diamond Rio1991 #3 Country

"Money In The Bank"

(written with Bob DiPiero, Mark D. Sanders)

John Anderson1993 #1 Country

"My Kind Of Girl"

(written with Debi Cochran, Monty Powell)

Collin Raye1995 #1 Country
 

"Nobody But You"

(written with J.D. Martin)

Don Williams1983 #2 Country
Tina Adair1997 
 

"Shouldn't It Be Easier Than This"

(written with Rick Giles)

Charley Pride1988 #5 Country

"There's No Way"

(written with Lisa Palas, Will Robinson)

Alabama1985 #1 Country
 

"They Only Come Out At Night"

(written with Walt Aldridge, Lisa Palas)

The Shooters1987 #21 Country
Conway Twitty1988 
 

"They're Playin' Our Song"

(written with Bob DiPiero, Mark D. Sanders)

Neal McCoy1995 #3 Country
 

"We Can't Love Like This Anymore"

(written with Wendell Mobley)

Alabama1994 #6 Country
 

"What's A Memory Like You (Doing In A Love Like This)"

(written with Charles Quillen)

Moe Bandy1985 
Conway Twitty1985 
John Schneider1986 #1 Country
 

"What's In It For Me"

(written with Gary Burr)

John Berry1994 #5 Country
Millie Jackson1995 
 

"You've Got (The Touch)"

(written with Will Robinson, Lisa Palas)

Alabama1987 #1 Country

John Jarrard

Induction Year: 2023