Randy Goodrum

Charles Randolph "Randy" Goodrum (born July 7, 1947 in Hot Springs, Arkansas) is an American songwriter. Goodrum has written (or co-written) numerous popular songs, including Anne Murray's #1 hit "You Needed Me" (1978) and "Broken Hearted Me" (1979), Michael Johnson's "Bluer Than Blue" (1978), England Dan & John Ford Coley's "It's Sad to Belong" (1977), Gene Cotton's "Before My Heart Finds Out" (1978), Steve Perry's "Oh Sherrie" and "Foolish Heart" (1984), DeBarge's "Who's Holding Donna Now", cowritten with David Foster and Jay Graydon, Toto's "I'll Be Over You" (1986) and Chicago's "If She Would Have Been Faithful..." (1987). He also co-wrote with Brent Maher a number of Dottie West's hits in the late 1970s and early 1980s, including her No. 1 Country hit in 1980, "A Lesson in Leavin'". He also has performed as a keyboardist on many recordings by major artists of every genre.

As a keyboardist Goodrum toured extensively with artists such as, Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed, Roy Orbison, and performed and/or produced cuts on many of their albums. As a co-writer with Chet Atkins, Randy wrote “To B or not to B” and “Waltz for the Lonely” among others. Goodrum’s song “So Soft Your Goodbye” won a Grammy award for Chet Atkins, and Mark Knopfler, in 1991.

Anne Murray won the Grammy for Best Female Vocal with Goodrum’s song "You Needed Me." The song was also awarded song of the year from the Academy of Country Music, and has received numerous other accolades. A 1999 remake of the song by Boyzone, reached #1 in Europe.

Goodrum has been awarded “Arkansan of the Year” from the Arkansas Broadcasters Association and was the 1981 American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Country Songwriter of the Year. Goodrum is a 1996 inductee to the Arkansas Entertainment Hall of Fame, one of the 2010 Hendrix Odyssey Award Winners at Hendrix College, and a 2000 inductee to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame

Goodrum and his wife, Gail, met at Hendrix College, where he received his bachelor’s degree in music. They have two daughters, Julia and Sarah.

References

• Official Randy Goodrum website
• Randy Goodrum biography at Bluedesert.dk
• Nashville Songwriters Foundation website
• Randy Goodrum's collaboration with Jay Graydon as the group JaR
• Tom Redmond - Working with Chet Atkins: An Interview with Randy Goodrum