Legendary Songwriter Sonny Throckmorton Celebrates 85th Birthday

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Eighty-five years ago today, Sonny Throckmorton, one of the most successful and prolific country songwriters of the 1970s and 1980s, was born in Carlsbad, New Mexico. After a brief and unsuccessful stint as a recording artist, Throckmorton went on to write over 1,000 songs that were recorded by a long list of major country artists, including Merle Haggard, the Judds, Jerry Lee Lewis, and the Oak Ridge Boys. Many of these songs became big hits, and Throckmorton was named Songwriter of the Year by the Nashville Songwriters Association International in 1976, 1979, and 1980.

Why it matters

Throckmorton's remarkable career as a songwriter is a testament to the enduring power of great songwriting in country music. Even though he struggled to find success as a recording artist early on, his ability to craft timeless hits for some of the genre's biggest stars cemented his legacy as one of the most influential and respected songwriters of his era.

The details

Throckmorton was born in Carlsbad, New Mexico in 1941 and grew up in Texas before moving to Nashville in 1964. That year, he landed a deal with Tree Publishing, and two years later, Bobby Lewis gave him his first hit with 'How Long Has It Been,' which reached No. 6 on the charts. However, Throckmorton then went over a decade without another hit, leading him to become disillusioned and move back to Texas in the late 1970s. But his songs started selling almost immediately after he left Nashville, and Tree Publishing president Buddy Killen convinced him to return, saying 'Sonny, you need to get back up here. We can't keep your songs on the shelf. Everybody wants a Throckmorton song.' Throckmorton's career then took off, with hits for artists like Merle Haggard, the Judds, and George Strait. He was named Songwriter of the Year by the Nashville Songwriters Association International in 1976, 1979, and 1980, and was also BMI's Songwriter of the Year in 1980.

• Sonny Throckmorton was born on April 2, 1941 in Carlsbad, New Mexico.
• Throckmorton landed a deal with Tree Publishing in 1964.
• Throckmorton's first hit song was 'How Long Has It Been' by Bobby Lewis, which reached No. 6 in 1966.
• Throckmorton became disillusioned in the late 1970s and moved back to Texas, but his songs started selling immediately after he left Nashville.
• Throckmorton was named Songwriter of the Year by the Nashville Songwriters Association International in 1976, 1979, and 1980.

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