Danny Mayo
Encyclopedia
Danny "Bear" Mayo was an American songwriter, primarily known for writing country hits for artists such as Alabama
, Tracy Byrd, Pirates of the Mississippi
and Confederate Railroad
. He co-write, "The Keeper of the Stars
" with Dickey Lee
and Karen Staley, which was named Song of the Year by the Country Music Association
in 1995.
. He graduated Emma Sansom High School
. He then joined the United States Navy
and moved to Charleston, South Carolina
.
and Cory Mayo, both songwriters themselves.
Alabama (band)
Alabama is a country music and southern rock band from Fort Payne, Alabama, United States. The band was founded in 1969 by Randy Owen and his cousin Teddy Gentry , soon joined by Jeff Cook...
, Tracy Byrd, Pirates of the Mississippi
Pirates of the Mississippi
Pirates of the Mississippi was an American country music group. It was founded in 1987 by Rich Alves , Bill McCorvey Jimmy Lowe , Pat Severs , and Dean Townson...
and Confederate Railroad
Confederate Railroad
Confederate Railroad is an American country rock band founded in 1987 in Marietta, Georgia by Danny Shirley , Michael Lamb , Mark Dufresne , Chris McDaniel , Warren "Gates" Nichols and Wayne Secrest...
. He co-write, "The Keeper of the Stars
The Keeper of the Stars
"The Keeper of the Stars" is the title of a song recorded by American country music artist Tracy Byrd. Released in early 1995 as the last single from his 1994 album No Ordinary Man, it went on to reach a peak of #2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts...
" with Dickey Lee
Dickey Lee
Royden Dickey Lipscomb , known professionally as Dickey Lee , is an American pop/country singer and songwriter, best known for the 1960s teenage tragedy songs "Patches" and "Laurie ."-Career:Lee made his first recordings in his hometown of Memphis for Tampa...
and Karen Staley, which was named Song of the Year by the Country Music Association
Country Music Association
The Country Music Association was founded in 1958 in Nashville, Tennessee. It originally consisted of only 233 members and was the first trade organization formed to promote a music genre...
in 1995.
Biography
Danny Mayo grew up in Gadsden, AlabamaGadsden, Alabama
The city of Gadsden is the county seat of Etowah County in the U.S. state of Alabama, and it is located about 65 miles northeast of Birmingham, Alabama. It is the primary city of the Gadsden Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a population of 103,459. Gadsden is closely associated with the...
. He graduated Emma Sansom High School
Emma Sansom High School
Emma Sansom High School was a high school located in Gadsden, Alabama. It was named for a young girl who was credited with helping General Nathan Bedford Forrest to cross Black Creek in Gadsden, Alabama and get his troops ahead of the Union troops thus stopping the impending attack upon Rome,...
. He then joined the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
and moved to Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
.
Personal life
He was married to Becky Thornhill (née Harwood), but they divorced before he moved to Nashville. They have two children, Aimee MayoAimee Mayo
Aimee Mayo is an American songwriter, primarily known for writing country hits for artists such as Lonestar, Martina McBride, Sara Evans, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, and Kellie Pickler. Mayo owns her own publishing company, Little Blue Typewriter Music.-Biography:Aimee Mayo grew up in Gadsden, Alabama...
and Cory Mayo, both songwriters themselves.
Death
Mayo was staying at the Ramada Inn in Nashville for his 49th birthday celebration. His son, Cory , wrote his first song ever for his father's birthday. However, when he didn't show up to the Broken Spoke Saloon, a songwriters cafe in the hotel, friends went to check on him. Hotel management had to open the room door and found him dead of a heart attack.Discography
- AlabamaAlabama (band)Alabama is a country music and southern rock band from Fort Payne, Alabama, United States. The band was founded in 1969 by Randy Owen and his cousin Teddy Gentry , soon joined by Jeff Cook...
: "If I Had YouIf I Had You (Alabama song)"If I Had You" is the title of a song written by Kerry Chater and Danny "Bear" Mayo and recorded by Alabama. "If I Had You" was Alabama's twenty-fifth number one on the country chart. The single went number one for one week and spent thirteen weeks on the country chart.-Chart...
" - Confederate RailroadConfederate RailroadConfederate Railroad is an American country rock band founded in 1987 in Marietta, Georgia by Danny Shirley , Michael Lamb , Mark Dufresne , Chris McDaniel , Warren "Gates" Nichols and Wayne Secrest...
: "Jesus and MamaJesus and Mama"Jesus and Mama" is the title of a song written by Danny "Bear" Mayo and James Dean Hicks, and recorded by the American country music band Confederate Railroad. It was the second single from the band's self-titled debut album...
", "She Took It Like a Man", "She Never Cried" - Pirates of the MississippiPirates of the MississippiPirates of the Mississippi was an American country music group. It was founded in 1987 by Rich Alves , Bill McCorvey Jimmy Lowe , Pat Severs , and Dean Townson...
: "Feed JakeFeed Jake"Feed Jake" is the title of a song written by Danny "Bear" Mayo and recorded by the American country music band Pirates of the Mississippi. It was released in February 1991 as the third single from the band's 1990 self-titled debut album...
", "Speak of the Devil", "Anything Goes", "Redneck Rock & Roll", "My Kinda Woman" - Tracy Byrd: "The Keeper of the StarsThe Keeper of the Stars"The Keeper of the Stars" is the title of a song recorded by American country music artist Tracy Byrd. Released in early 1995 as the last single from his 1994 album No Ordinary Man, it went on to reach a peak of #2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts...
" - Sammy KershawSammy KershawSamuel Paul "Sammy" Kershaw is an American country music artist. A third cousin of Cajun fiddler Doug Kershaw and ex-husband of Lorrie Morgan, he has been active in country music since 1991. He has released ten studio albums, with three RIAA platinum certifications and two gold certifications...
: "Cantaloupes on Mars" - Rick TrevinoRick TrevinoRicardo Treviño, Jr. , known professionally as Rick Trevino, is a Mexican American country music artist. Signed to Columbia Records in 1993, Trevino began his career that year with the release of his debut single, "Just Enough Rope", the first mainstream country music single to feature separate...
: "The Pain" - Hank Williams Jr.: "It's a Start"
- Jeff CarsonJeff CarsonJeffrey Lee Herndon , known professionally as Jeff Carson, is an American country music artist. Originally a session musician in Branson, Missouri and later a demo singer, he was signed to Curb Records in 1995, releasing his self-titled debut album that year, followed by Butterfly Kisses in 1998...
: "The Stone" - 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...
: "Change Her Mind" - Marlon JacksonMarlon JacksonMarlon David Jackson is an American entertainer singer, dancer, former member of The Jackson 5, and elder brother of American pop stars Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson.-Personal life:...
: "Baby Tonight" - South 65South 65-Track listing:#"Baby's Got My Number" – 3:00#"Climbing Up Mt. Everest" – 3:03#"I'm There" – 4:12#"Uncle Hickory's General Store" -Track listing:#"Baby's Got My Number" (Roger Cook, Anthony L. Smith) – 3:00#"Climbing Up Mt. Everest" (Tommy Lee James, Robin Lerner) – 3:03#"I'm There" (Kelly...
: "Dream Large" - Pearl RiverPearl River (band)-Track listing:#"I Wanna Be in the Picture" - 2:46#"Hole Where the Heart Oughta Be" - 3:00#"Does She Need Me" - 3:09...
: "Mr. Right Now"