Arthur Leo Owens
Encyclopedia
Arthur Leo Owens born November 28, 1930 in Waco
, Texas
; died October 4, 1999 in Nashville
, Tennessee
, was an American country music songwriter and singer. He had a long songwriting partnership with Dallas Frazier
, with whom he wrote "All I Have to Offer You (Is Me)" (1969), "(I'm So) Afraid of Losing You Again
" (1969), I Can't Believe That You've Stopped Loving Me
"(1970) and "Then Who Am I
" (1974), all #1 country hits for Charlie Pride. In the 1980s Owens wrote many songs with fellow songwriter Dennis Knutson for George Jones
and other artists.
As a singer, Owens' only charting hit was "Honky Tonk Toys", written by Owens with Gene Vowell, which made it to #78 on the country charts in 1978.
Charley Pride's version of "All I Have to Offer You (Is Me)" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Country Song
in 1970. Owens was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
in 1999.
(Darrell McCall was the "Friend" in the 1982 release of "There's Still a Lot of Love in San Antone". The single was released at the end of 1982, but reached #64 on the country charts in February 1983.)
Waco, Texas
Waco is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas. Situated along the Brazos River and on the I-35 corridor, halfway between Dallas and Austin, it is the economic, cultural, and academic center of the 'Heart of Texas' region....
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
; died October 4, 1999 in Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, was an American country music songwriter and singer. He had a long songwriting partnership with Dallas Frazier
Dallas Frazier
Dallas Frazier is an American country musician and songwriter who had success in the 1950s and 60s.-Biography:Frazier was born in Spiro, Oklahoma but was raised in Bakersfield, California...
, with whom he wrote "All I Have to Offer You (Is Me)" (1969), "(I'm So) Afraid of Losing You Again
(I'm So) Afraid of Losing You Again
" Afraid of Losing You Again" is a 1969 single written by Dallas Frazier and A.L. Owens and recorded by Charley Pride. " Afraid of Losing You Again" was Charley Pride's second number one on the country charts. The single stayed at number one for three weeks and spent a total of fifteen weeks on...
" (1969), I Can't Believe That You've Stopped Loving Me
I Can't Believe That You've Stopped Loving Me
"I Can't Believe That You've Stopped Loving Me" is a 1970 single written by Dallas Frazier and A.L. Owens and recorded by Charley Pride. "I Can't Believe That You've Stopped Loving Me" would be Charley Pride's fifth number one on the country charts. The single stayed at number one for two weeks...
"(1970) and "Then Who Am I
Then Who Am I
"Then Who Am I" is a 1974 single written by Dallas Frazier and A.L. Owens and recorded by Charley Pride. "Then Who Am I" would be Charley Pride's fourteenth number one song on the country chart. The single stayed at number one for one week and spent a total of nine weeks on the country...
" (1974), all #1 country hits for Charlie Pride. In the 1980s Owens wrote many songs with fellow songwriter Dennis Knutson for George Jones
George Jones
George Glenn Jones is an American country music singer known for his long list of hit records, his distinctive voice and phrasing, and his marriage to Tammy Wynette....
and other artists.
As a singer, Owens' only charting hit was "Honky Tonk Toys", written by Owens with Gene Vowell, which made it to #78 on the country charts in 1978.
Charley Pride's version of "All I Have to Offer You (Is Me)" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Country Song
Grammy Award for Best Country Song
The Grammy Award for Best Country Song has been awarded since 1965. The award is given to the writer of the song.There have been several minor changes to the name of the award:...
in 1970. Owens was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame was established by the Nashville Songwriters Foundation, Inc. in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. A non-profit organization, its objective is to honor and preserve the songwriting legacy that is uniquely associated with music community in the city of...
in 1999.
Other charting songs by Owens
- Get This Stranger Out of Me (Owens) - #63 country, Lefty FrizzellLefty FrizzellLefty Frizzell , born William Orville Frizzell, was an American country music singer and songwriter of the 1950s, and a proponent of honky tonk music. His relaxed style of singing was an influence on later stars Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, George Jones and John Fogerty...
, 1967 - Barbara (Owens) - #55 country, George MorganGeorge MorganGeorge Morgan may refer to:*George Morgan , American actor and author*George Morgan , American merchant and representative to Native Americans*George Morgan , American screenwriter...
, 1968 (title song of album) - Johnny One Time (Owens, Frazier) - #36 country, Willie NelsonWillie NelsonWillie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
, 1968; #3 Adult Contemporary, Brenda LeeBrenda LeeBrenda Mae Tarpley , known as Brenda Lee, is an American performer who sang rockabilly, pop and country music, and had 37 US chart hits during the 1960s, a number surpassed only by Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Ray Charles and Connie Francis...
, 1969 - Raggedy Ann (Owens, Frazier) - #45 country, Charlie RichCharlie RichCharles Rich was an American country music singer and musician. A Grammy Award winner, his eclectic-style of music was often hard to classify in a single genre, playing in the rockabilly, jazz, blues, country, and gospel genres.In the latter part of his life, Rich acquired the nickname The Silver...
, 1968 - True Love Travels on a Gravel RoadTrue Love Travels on a Gravel RoadTrue Love Travels on a Gravel Road is a song written by the Frazier-Owens songwriting team and popularized by Elvis Presley. It was originally recorded by Duane Dee in 1968, and was a very minor hit, reaching #58 on the country charts. Elvis recorded the song on 17 February, 1969 at American Sound...
(Owens/Frazier) - #58 country, Duane Dee, 1968 - What Are Those Things (With Big Black Wings) (Owens, Frazier) - #19 country, Charlie LouvinCharlie LouvinCharles Elzer Loudermilk , known professionally as Charlie Louvin, was an American country music singer and songwriter. He is best known as one of the Louvin Brothers, and was a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1955.-Biography:Born in Henagar, Alabama, Louvin was one of 7 children...
, 1969 - Chain Don't Take to Me (Owens, Frazier) - #30 country, Bob LumanBob LumanBob Luman was an American country and rockabilly singer.-Early life and career:...
, 1971 - She's as Close as I Can Get to Loving You (Owens, Frazier) - #61 country, Hank LocklinHank LocklinLawrence Hankins Locklin , better known as Hank Locklin, was an American country music singer-songwriter...
, 1971 - She Wakes Me with a Kiss Every Morning (And She Loves Me to Sleep Every Night) (Owens, Frazier) - #11 country, Nat StuckeyNat StuckeyNathan Stuckey was an American country singer. He recorded for various labels between 1966 and 1978, charting in the top 10 of Hot Country Songs with "Sweet Thang", "Plastic Saddle", "Sweet Thang and Cisco" and "Take Time to Love Her"-Biography:Raised in Atlanta, Texas, in Cass County, Nat Stuckey...
, 1971 - Touching Home (Owens, Frazier) - #3 country, Jerry Lee LewisJerry Lee LewisJerry Lee Lewis is an American rock and roll and country music singer-songwriter and pianist. An early pioneer of rock and roll music, Lewis's career faltered after he married his young cousin, and he afterwards made a career extension to country and western music. He is known by the nickname 'The...
, 1971 (title song of album) - When He Walks On You (Like You Have Walked On Me)When He Walks on You"When He Walks on You " is a single by American country music artist Jerry Lee Lewis. Released in June 1971, it was the second single from his album Touching Home. The song peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. It also reached number 1 on the RPM Country Tracks chart in...
(Owens, Frazier) - #11 country, Jerry Lee Lewis, 1971 - Just for What I Am (Owens, Frazier) - #5 country, Connie SmithConnie SmithConnie Smith is an American country music artist. She began her career in 1963 after winning a local talent contest near Columbus, Ohio, which attracted the attention of country songwriter Bill Anderson...
, 1972 - Hank and Lefty Raised My Country Soul (Owens, Frazier) - #39 country, Stoney EdwardsStoney EdwardsStoney Edwards was one of the first black singers to have a significant presence in country music. He is best known for the song, "She's My Rock," a Top 20 country hit that was later a hit song for Brenda Lee and then for George Jones.-Biography:...
, 1973 - Some Old California Memory (Owens, Warren Robb) - #28 country, Henson CargillHenson CargillHenson Cargill was an American country music singer best known for the 1968 No. 1 hit, "Skip a Rope". His music career began in Oklahoma in clubs around Oklahoma City and Tulsa...
, 1973 - Would You Walk With Me, Jimmy? (Owens, Whitey Shafer) - #22 country, Arlene HardenArlene HardenAva "Arlene" Harden is an American country music singer. Between 1966 and 1968, she was one-third of The Harden Trio, which comprised her brother, Bobby and sister, Robbie. Arlene recorded for Columbia Records as a solo artist between 1967 and 1973, charting fifteen times on the Hot Country Songs...
, 1973 - Champagne Ladies and Blue Ribbon Babies (Owens, Frazier) - #34 country, Ferlin HuskyFerlin HuskyFerlin Eugene Husky was an early American country music singer who was equally adept at the genres of traditional honky honk, ballads, spoken recitations, and rockabilly pop tunes...
, 1974 (title song of album) - I Just Started Hatin' Cheatin' Songs Today (Owens, Shafer) - #17 country, Moe BandyMoe BandyMarion Franklin Bandy, Jr.–better known professionally as Moe Bandy– is a country music singer...
, 1974 - Freckles and Polliwog Days (Owens, Frazier) - #26 country, Ferlin Husky, 1974
- There's Still a Lot of Love in San Antone (Owens, Lou Rochelle) - #48 country, Darrell McCallDarrell McCallDarrell McCall is a country music performer, known for his honky tonk and traditional country musical style at the height of his career in the 1960s, and his return to popularity during the Outlaw country era in the late 1970s....
, 1974; #64 country, Connie Hanson and Friend, 1982 - Falling (Owens, Shafer) - #50 country, Lefty Frizzell, 1975
- It Was Always So Easy (To Find An Unhappy Woman) (Owens, Shafer) - #7 country, Moe Bandy, 1975
- Because You Believed in Me (Owens, Shorty Hall, Gene Vowell) - #20 country, Gene WatsonGene WatsonGary Gene Watson is an American country singer. He is most famous for his 1975 hit "Love in the Hot Afternoon," his 1982 hit "Fourteen Carat Mind," and his signature song "Farewell Party." Watson's long career has notched six number ones, 23 top tens and over 75 charted singles.-Biography:Watson...
, 1976 - Cowboys Ain't Supposed to Cry (Owens) - #13 country, Moe Bandy, 1977
- She Just Loved the Cheatin' Out of Me (Owens, Shafer) - #11 country, Moe Bandy, 1977
- You Still Get to Me in My Dreams (Owens, Bill Shore) - #16 country, Tammy WynetteTammy WynetteVirginia Wynette Pugh, known professionally as Tammy Wynette , was an American country music singer-songwriter and one of the genre's best-known artists and biggest-selling female vocalists....
, 1982 - Cold Summer Day in Georgia (Owens, Dennis Knutson) - #24 country, Gene Watson, 1985
- Somebody Wants Me Out of the WaySomebody Wants Me Out of the Way"Somebody Wants Me Out of the Way" is a single by American country music artist George Jones. It was released in April 1986 as the third single from his album Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes. The song peaked at number 9 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.-Chart performance:...
(Owens, Knutson) - #9 country, George Jones, 1986 - Wine Colored RosesWine Colored Roses (song)"Wine Colored Roses" is a single by American country music artist George Jones. It was released in September 1986 as the first single from his album Wine Colored Roses. The song peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart....
(Owens, Knutson) - #10 country, George Jones, 1986 - The Bird (Owens, Knutson) - #26 country, George Jones, 1987
- The Right Left HandThe Right Left Hand"The Right Left Hand" is a single by American country music artist George Jones. It was released in January 1987 as the second single from his album Wine Colored Roses. The song peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart....
(Owens, Knutson) - #8 country, George Jones, 1987 - Fourteen Minutes OldFourteen Minutes Old"Fourteen Minutes Old" is the title of a song co-written by A.L. Owens and Dennis Knutson. It was the second single released by American country music artist Doug Stone from his 1990 self titled debut album...
(Owens, Knutson) - #6 country, Doug Stone, 1990
(Darrell McCall was the "Friend" in the 1982 release of "There's Still a Lot of Love in San Antone". The single was released at the end of 1982, but reached #64 on the country charts in February 1983.)