Rafe Van Hoy

Induction Year: 2023

Birth Name: Rafe Van Hoy

Birth Date: 11-07-1955

Place of Birth: Bristol, Tennessee

Rafe Van Hoy was raised in Bristol, TN, where his father encouraged him to write songs from an early age. Upon high-school graduation in 1972, Rafe and his family moved to Nashville so that he could pursue a musical career.

Curly Putman signed the teenager to Green Grass Music, which led to a songwriting contract with Tree International. Following his first major success in 1976 — “Golden Ring” by George Jones & Tammy Wynette — Rafe had 50 to 60 cuts a year for the next three years.

His song catalogue includes “Baby I Lied” by Deborah Allen (a 1983 Grammy nominee for best country song), “Friday Night Blues” by John Conlee, “Hurt Me Bad (In A Real Good Way)” by Patty Loveless, “I Wish That I Could Hurt That Way Again” by T. Graham Brown, “I’m Only In It For The Love” by John Conlee, “Let’s Stop Talkin’ About It” by Janie Fricke, “Old Flames Have New Names” by Mark Chesnutt, “Somebody’s Gonna Love You” by Lee Greenwood and “What’s Forever For” by Michael Martin Murphey (also recorded by Anne Murray, Johnny Mathis, B.J. Thomas and Olivia Newton-John).

 

"Baby I Lied"

(written with Deborah Allen, Rory Bourke)

Deborah Allen1983 #4 Country, #10 AC, #26 Pop
Tracey Ullman1984 
Shannon Brown2001 #40 Country
 

"Baby, You're Something"

(written with Don Cook, Curly Putman)

John Conlee1980 #7 Country
 

"Can I See You Tonight"

(written with Deborah Allen)

Jewel Blanch1979 #33 Country
Tanya Tucker1981 #4 Country
 

"Cryin' Again"

(written with Don Cook)

The Oak Ridge Boys1978 #3 Country
 

"Don't Go City Girl On Me"

(written with Mike Kosser)

Tommy Overstreet1977 #5 Country

"Friday Night Blues"

(written with Sonny Throckmorton)

John Conlee1980 #2 Country
Sonny Throckmorton1980 #89 Country

"Golden Ring"

(written with Bobby Braddock)

George Jones & Tammy Wynette1976 #1 Country
Dry Branch Fire Squad1988 
Emmylou Harris w/ Linda Ronstadt and Kate & Anna McGarrigle1998 
Jason Sellers & Pam Tillis1999 
Dwight Yoakam & Kelly Willis2002 
George Jones w/ Joe Diffie & Shauna Feagan2006 
Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out2012 
Terri Clark w/ Dierks Bentley2013 
Jamie O'Neal w/ Andy Griggs2014 

"Hurt Me Bad (In A Real Good Way)"

(written with Deborah Allen)

Patty Loveless1991 #3 Country

"I Wish That I Could Hurt That Way Again"

(written with Don Cook, Curly Putman)

Kenny Rogers1978 
John Conlee1979 
T.G. Sheppard1979 
Debby Boone1980 
Millie Jackson1980 
Dottie West1981 
Julie Andrews1982 
David Frizzell1982 
T. Graham Brown1986 #3 Country
 

"I'm A Thug"

(written with Adam Duggins, Maurice Young)

Trick Daddy2001  Country, #8 R&B, #17 Pop
 

"I'm Only In It For The Love"

(written with Deborah Allen, Kix Brooks)

John Conlee1983 #1 Country
 

"I've Been Wrong Before"

(written with Deborah Allen, Don Cook)

Deborah Allen1984 #2 Country
Elvis Costello1995 
 

"Lady Lay Down"

(written with Don Cook)

John Conlee1979 #1 Country
Paul Anka1981 
Tom Jones1981 #26 Country
 

"Let's Stop Talkin' About It"

(written with Deborah Allen, Rory Bourke)

Janie Fricke1984 #1 Country
 

"Old Flames Have New Names"

(written with Bobby Braddock)

Mark Chesnutt1992 #5 Country
 

"Sail Away"

Sam Neely1977 #98 Country, #84 Pop
Kenny Rogers1978 
The Oak Ridge Boys1979 #2 Country, #29 AC
Willie Nelson2013 
 

"Somebody's Gonna Love You"

(written with Don Cook)

Lee Greenwood1983 #1 Country
 

"Tonight"

(written with Don Cook)

Barbara Mandrell1978 #5 Country

"What's Forever For"

England Dan & John Ford Coley1978 
Anne Murray1980 
John Conlee1981 
T.G. Sheppard1981 
Johnny Mathis1982 
Michael Martin Murphey1982 #1 Country, #4 AC, #19 Pop
B.J. Thomas1996 
Olivia Newton-John1998 
Billy Gillman2000 
Manilyn Reynes2001 
 

"When A Woman Loves A Man"

(written with Mark Luna)

Lee Roy Parnell1996 #12 Country

Rafe Van Hoy

Induction Year: 2023