Richard Leigh | |
|---|---|
 Leigh performing withTim Kaine in 2013 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | (1951-05-26)May 26, 1951 (age 74) Washington, D.C., United States |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
| Website | richardleigh |
Richard Leigh (born May 26, 1951 inWashington, D.C.) is an Americancountry musicsongwriter and singer. He is best known for penning "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue", sung byCrystal Gayle. In 1978, he received aGrammy Award for "Best Country Song" for the popular song.[1][2] It was nominated in both pop and country categories,[1] and reached number one on both charts.
He was two and a half years old when his parents were killed in an accident. After living with various family members, he was taken in by the ex-wife of his half-brother at the age of eight and a half; when he was 15, she legally adopted him. He began writing songs when he was 10.[2]
He is a graduate ofVirginia Highlands Community College (VHCC) andVirginia Commonwealth University.[3] It was while he was attending the latter school that he penned and first sang "I'll Get Over You", while performing at the Crossroads Coffeehouse in Richmond, Virginia's Fan District.[citation needed] He eventually decided his true calling was singing and songwriting. He moved toNashville in pursuit of his dream in 1974.[2]
In two years, he achieved success with his first number one song, "I'll Get Over You" (1976), performed by Crystal Gayle.[1] In 1978, he won theGrammy Award for Best Country Song with "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue", again sung by Gayle.[2] He was also nominated for "The Greatest Man I Never Knew", co-written withLayng Martine Jr.[1] Other prominent singers who have brought his songs number one status over the years includeBilly Dean,Mickey Gilley,Reba McEntire,Barbara Mandrell,Steve Wariner, andDon Williams.Kathy Mattea had another number one hit in 1990 with "Come from the Heart", co-written withSusanna Clark. In 1999, theDixie Chicks recorded Leigh's "Cold Day in July" for their albumFly,[2] reaching number 10 on the country music charts in 2000. In total, he was written or co-written eight number one songs and 14 that made it to the top ten.[2]
He has been nominated for songwriter of the year seven times[citation needed] and in 1994 he was inducted into theNashville Songwriters FoundationNashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.[2] On April 11, 2011, Leigh was one of only four chosen nationally from the American Community College System to be awarded 2011 AACC Outstanding Alumni Award for excellence in one's chosen field.[citation needed] Since 2013 he has arranged with VHCC to host the Richard Leigh Songwriter's Festival, an annual competition for new songwriting talent. Proceeds from the event go to VHCC's Great Expectations program benefiting foster care students.
Leigh was raised in Virginia, and lives inTennessee.
Number ones onBillboard'sUS Country Music Chart unless otherwise noted.
| Year | Title | Co-writer | Performer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | "I'll Get Over You" | None | Crystal Gayle |
| 1978 | "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue" | None | Crystal Gayle |
| 1985 | "Life's Highway" | R. Leigh/ R. Murrah | Steve Wariner |
| 1982 | "Put Your Dreams Away" | R. Leigh/W. Holyfield | Mickey Gilley |
| 1990 | "Come From the Heart" | R. Leigh/S. Clark | Kathy Mattea |
| 1991 | "Somewhere in My Broken Heart"A | R. Leigh/B. Dean | Billy Dean |
| 1991 | "Only Here for a Little While"A | R. Leigh/W. Holyfield | Billy Dean |
| 1984 | "That's the Thing About Love" | R. Leigh/G. Nicholson | Don Williams |
| 1992 | "The Greatest Man I Never Knew"A | R. Leigh/L. Martine, Jr. | Reba McEntire |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue" | Best Country Song | Won |
| Song of the Year | Nominated | ||
| 1993 | "The Greatest Man I Never Knew"[A] | Best Country Song | Nominated |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue" | Song of the Year | Nominated |
| 1992 | "Somewhere in My Broken Heart"[B] | Won |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | "I'll Get Over You" | Song of the Year | Nominated |
| 1978 | "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue" | Won |
^[A]Nominated alongside co-writerLayng Martine Jr.
^[B]Nominated alongside co-writerBilly Dean
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
