Richard Fagan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Richard Fagan
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Richard Fagan poses with Todd Cerney's guitar in front of painting by Gloria Newton
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Richard William Fagan |
| Born | April 24, 1947 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | August 5, 2016 (aged 69) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Genres | Pop, rock, country |
| Occupation(s) | Songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, piano |
| Years active | 1976–2016 |
| Labels | Mercury Records |
| Associated acts | John Michael Montgomery George Strait Kacey Jones |
Richard Fagan (April 24, 1947 – August 5, 2016) was an American songwriter and musician. He wrote many popular songs for famous artists. His songs appeared on the Billboard Country charts many times. He had six songs reach the top ten and 18 songs that made it onto the charts.
Fagan's songs were recorded by well-known artists like Neil Diamond, George Strait, John Michael Montgomery, Shania Twain, and Hank Williams, Jr.. In 1979, Neil Diamond recorded Fagan's song "The Good Lord Loves You." This song even made it onto the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the 1990s, Fagan had nine songs on the Billboard Country charts. Two of these, "Be My Baby Tonight" and "Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)", became number one hits for John Michael Montgomery.
Contents
About Richard Fagan
His Early Life and Music Journey
Richard Fagan grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He started learning guitar when he was young. As a teenager, he enjoyed singing with friends. He even joined the Army and served in Vietnam.
After returning home, Richard met Tom Oteri. Tom saw how talented Richard was at writing songs. In 1976, Tom recorded some of Richard's songs. One of these songs caught the attention of Bob Gaudio, who produced music for Neil Diamond. Bob Gaudio liked the song so much that he hired someone to find Richard.
First Big Success and Moving to Nashville
In 1978, Bob Gaudio got Richard's song "The Good Lord Loves You." This song was later released on Neil Diamond's album, September Morn. Bob Gaudio also helped Richard sign with Mercury Records. Richard moved to Los Angeles and recorded his first album, "Richard Fagan."
Richard's career really took off when he moved to Nashville, Tennessee, in 1986. Nashville is known as the home of country music. Soon after moving, one of his songs, "Blue Suede Blues," was recorded by Con Hunley. Another song, "Americana" by Moe Bandy, became very popular. It even reached number 8 on the Billboard Country charts. This song was later used by George H. W. Bush for his Presidential Campaign.
Richard Fagan's songs have been featured in five Hollywood movies. He also wrote a theme song for a TV show and a national sports anthem. Albums that include his songs have sold more than 25 million copies! Richard often said that he felt lucky and that his simple approach helped him succeed in Nashville.
A Special Friendship and Legacy
Richard Fagan had a very close friend and music partner named Tom Oteri. Their friendship was very important to Richard's career. Tom helped Richard focus on writing songs and made sure he had what he needed to live and create.
After Tom Oteri passed away, his son, Tom Oteri Jr., decided to continue their work. He now helps publish Richard's songs through his company, Broadminded Music. Tom Oteri Jr. believed in Richard's music, just like his father did. He wanted to make sure that all the hard work Richard and his father put in would continue to be shared.
His Passing
Richard Fagan passed away on August 5, 2016, in Nashville, Tennessee. He was 69 years old and died from liver cancer.
Images for kids
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Richard Fagan poses with Todd Cerney's guitar in front of painting by Gloria Newton
