Rory Michael Bourke
Encyclopedia
Rory Michael Bourke is a country music
songwriter
born July 14, 1942 in Cleveland, Ohio
.
Bourke moved to Nashville in 1964 and worked for a period in the promotional department of Mercury Records
.
His songwriting career took off in the early 1970s and he soon racked up tracks recorded by Charlie Rich
, Elvis Presley
, Billy Crash Craddock, Lynn Anderson
, Olivia Newton-John
, and many others. His most successful song was "The Most Beautiful Girl
", cowritten with Billy Sherrill
and Norro Wilson
, recorded by Rich and a number-one record in both the country and pop fields.
Rourke's other hit songs include "A Little Good News
," (Anne Murray
), "You Look So Good in Love
" (George Strait
), "I Know a Heartache When I See One" (Jennifer Warnes
), and "Come Next Monday
" (K. T. Oslin
). Most of his songs were written in collaboration with other songwriters. Charlie Black is a frequent writing partner and he has also written hits with Oslin, Mike Reid, Eddie Rabbitt
, Deborah Allen
, and a number of others.
Bourke was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1989. His awards include three times as ASCAP's "Writer of the Year" (1975, 1979, 1983) and three Grammy nominations for Best Country Song. He has also won 11 BMI performance award and over 45 ASCAP performance awards.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
born July 14, 1942 in Cleveland, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
.
Bourke moved to Nashville in 1964 and worked for a period in the promotional department of Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
.
His songwriting career took off in the early 1970s and he soon racked up tracks recorded by Charlie Rich
Charlie Rich
Charles 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...
, Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
, Billy Crash Craddock, Lynn Anderson
Lynn Anderson
Lynn Rene Anderson is an American country music singer and equestrian known for a string of hits throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, most notably her Grammy Award-winning, worldwide mega-hit, " Rose Garden." Helped by her regular exposure on national television, Anderson was one of the most...
, Olivia Newton-John
Olivia Newton-John
Olivia Newton-John AO, OBE is a singer and actress. She is a four-time Grammy award winner who has amassed five No. 1 and ten other Top Ten Billboard Hot 100 singles and two No. 1 Billboard 200 solo albums. Eleven of her singles and 14 of her albums have been certified gold by the RIAA...
, and many others. His most successful song was "The Most Beautiful Girl
The Most Beautiful Girl
"The Most Beautiful Girl" is a song recorded by Charlie Rich and written by Bill Sherrill, Norris Wilson, and Rory Michael Bourke. The country & western ballad reached #1 in the United States in 1973 on three Billboard music charts: the pop chart ; the country chart ; and the adult contemporary...
", cowritten with Billy Sherrill
Billy Sherrill
Billy Sherrill is a record producer and arranger who is most famous for his association with a number of country artists, most notably Tammy Wynette...
and Norro Wilson
Norro Wilson
Norris "Norro" Wilson is an American country music singer, songwriter and producer, and member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame....
, recorded by Rich and a number-one record in both the country and pop fields.
Rourke's other hit songs include "A Little Good News
A Little Good News
"A Little Good News" is the title of a song recorded by Canadian country music artist Anne Murray. It was released in August 1983 as the lead single from the album of the same name, A Little Good News. The song was written by Tommy Rocco, Charlie Black, and Rory Michael Bourke and was Anne Murray's...
," (Anne Murray
Anne Murray
Morna Anne Murray CC, ONS is a Canadian singer in pop, country and adult contemporary styles whose albums have sold over 54 million copies....
), "You Look So Good in Love
You Look So Good in Love
"You Look So Good in Love" is the title of a song recorded by American country singer George Strait. It was released in September 1983 as the lead single from his album Right or Wrong.-Content:...
" (George Strait
George Strait
George Harvey Strait is an American country music singer, actor, and music producer. Strait is referred to as the "King of Country," and critics call Strait a living legend. He is known for his unique style of western swing music, bar-room ballads, honky-tonk style, and fresh yet traditional...
), "I Know a Heartache When I See One" (Jennifer Warnes
Jennifer Warnes
Jennifer Jean Warnes is an American singer, songwriter, arranger and record producer. She is known for her interpretations of compositions written by herself and many others, as well as an extensive playlist as a vocalist on movie soundtracks.Between 1979 and 1987 Warnes surpassed Frank Sinatra as...
), and "Come Next Monday
Come Next Monday
"Come Next Monday" is a 1990 single by American country music singer K. T. Oslin. "Come Next Monday" was Oslin's fourth and final number one on the country chart, and the second of five singles from her 1990 album Love in a Small Town. The single went to number one for two weeks and spent a total...
" (K. T. Oslin
K. T. Oslin
Kay Toinette "K. T." Oslin is an American country music singer and songwriter. She is known for a series of top-ten country hits during the late 1980s and early 1990s, four of which topped the chart.-Early life and career:...
). Most of his songs were written in collaboration with other songwriters. Charlie Black is a frequent writing partner and he has also written hits with Oslin, Mike Reid, Eddie Rabbitt
Eddie Rabbitt
Edward Thomas "Eddie" Rabbitt was an American singer-songwriter and musician. His career began as a songwriter in the late 1960s, springboarding to a recording career after composing hits such as "Kentucky Rain" for Elvis Presley in 1970 and "Pure Love" for Ronnie Milsap in 1974...
, Deborah Allen
Deborah Allen
Deborah Allen is an American country music singer. Since 1976, Allen has issued 12 albums and charted 14 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, most notably the 1983 crossover hit "Baby I Lied" which reached #4 on the country charts and #26 on the Billboard Hot 100. Allen has also...
, and a number of others.
Bourke was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1989. His awards include three times as ASCAP's "Writer of the Year" (1975, 1979, 1983) and three Grammy nominations for Best Country Song. He has also won 11 BMI performance award and over 45 ASCAP performance awards.