Larry Henley facts for kids

Larry Joel Henley (born June 30, 1937 – died December 18, 2014) was an American singer and songwriter. He is most famous for helping to write the huge hit song "Wind Beneath My Wings" in 1989. He wrote it with Jeff Silbar.

Early Life

Larry Henley was born in Odessa, Texas, on June 30, 1937. He grew up there with his three sisters and a younger brother. Before he became a singer and songwriter, Larry first wanted to be an actor.

A Musical Journey

Larry Henley became the lead singer of a pop group called The Newbeats in 1964. He was known for his special high-pitched singing voice, called a falsetto. The Newbeats had three songs that became very popular. One of their biggest hits was "Bread and Butter". This song reached number 2 on the music charts and sold over a million copies!

The group even toured in Australia and New Zealand. They performed with famous artists like Roy Orbison and the Rolling Stones. The Newbeats released their last song in 1974. Larry Henley also released his own solo album called Piece a Cake in 1975.

Writing Hit Songs

Larry Henley was also a very talented songwriter. He co-wrote many songs that became number one hits for other artists. For example, he co-wrote "Is It Still Over?" for Randy Travis. He also wrote "Lizzie and the Rainman" for Tanya Tucker. Another hit was "He's a Heartache (Looking for a Place to Happen)" for Janie Fricke.

He also co-wrote "'Til I Get It Right" for Tammy Wynette. This song was a number 1 country hit in 1973. Later, famous singers like Barbra Streisand and Kenny Rogers also sang it. Larry Henley was a friend of Bobby Goldsboro. He encouraged Bobby to sing the song "Honey".

"Wind Beneath My Wings"

The song "Wind Beneath My Wings" was a massive success. It was written by Larry Henley and Jeff Silbar. Bette Midler sang the most famous version. Her recording became a number 1 hit in the U.S. The song has been played on the radio about 6 million times!

This song earned Larry Henley and Jeff Silbar a Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 1989. Bette Midler also won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year for her performance. Many other artists have covered this song since it was first recorded by Roger Whittaker in 1982.

Larry Henley's songs have been used in movies and commercials too. "Bread and Butter" was used in Sunbeam Bread advertisements. "Wind Beneath My Wings" was part of the soundtrack for the movie Beaches (1988). The song "Love Is on the Air" was used in the movie The Cannonball Run.

In 2012, Larry Henley was honored. He was added to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Later Years and Passing

Larry Henley passed away on December 18, 2014, in Nashville, Tennessee. He was 77 years old. He is buried at Kelsey Cemetery in Gilmer, Texas.