Gene Watson's Peers within the country music industry believe in the sheer talent of this unassuming man from east Texas, so much so that Gene is regarded by many of them as 'the singer's singer' - and rightly so!
All of Gene Watson's Peers, who were contacted during 2012, were most gracious with their time and words.
It is here, within this special part of The Gene Watson Fan Site, that you have an opportunity to read a quote from Rory Bourke, which he submitted to this site on Thursday 5 July 2012.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to Rory Bourke who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.
Rory Bourke
This quote was submitted on Thursday 5 July 2012.
'I've always thought that Gene Watson is one of our best, heartfelt singers we have in country music today.
I was thrilled when I heard his recording of 'Back in The Fire' (written by Rory Bourke and Mike Reid).
I thought it just doesn't get any better than this; he makes a song live'.
Thank you, Rory Bourke, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Rory Bourke...
Rory Bourke, during a career of more than thirty years, has had his songs recorded by Anne Murray, Elvis Presley (Tuesday 8 January 1935 - Tuesday 16 August 1977), Bonnie Raitt, Cher, Phil Vassar, Dolly Parton, Tom Jones, The Oak Ridge Boys, Ronnie Milsap, Julio Iglesias, Tim McGraw and many others.
In 1989, Rory Bourke was inducted into The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and has been named ASCAP 'Writer of the Year' three times: in 1976, 1979 and 1983. Rory Bourke was a four-time Grammy nominee and the recipient of two CMA triple play awards. Rory Bourke served on the Board of Directors of The Nashville Songwriters Foundation for many years.
Rory Bourke was born Rory Michael Bourke on Tuesday 14 July 1942 in Cleveland, Ohio. As a boy, Rory Bourke loved watching movie musicals. When he was seven years old, Rory Bourke started going to the movies with the little girl who lived next door. Her father was manager of Lowe’s MGM Theater and Rory Bourke saw every MGM musical they made.
Seeing all those musicals was a big part of the reason Rory Bourke became a songwriter.
In 1964, Rory Bourke graduated from Mount Saint Mary’s College and married his college sweetheart, Rita Welty, shortly after. His first job was tracing lost railroad cars for New York Central Railroad. His true calling, however, was songwriting.
When there were no lost cars filled with cabbages from Mexico or pig iron from Alabama, Rory Bourke wrote songs. He spent his lunch hours writing lyrics on yellow slips of paper and when work was done, he brought those slips of paper home with him and set the lyrics to music.
In 1969, Rory Bourke came to Nashville as head of Sales & Promotion for Mercury Records Country & Western Division.
Shortly afterwards, Henry Hurt signed Rory Bourke to Chappell Music as a songwriter. It was there that Rory Bourke met Don Gant who became a mentor.
Rory Bourke later signed with Polygram Music.
In 1973, Rory Bourke’s 'The Most Beautiful Girl in The World', which was co-written with Norro Wilson and Billy Sherrill (Thursday 5 November 1936 - Tuesday 4 August 2015), became a worldwide hit for Charlie Rich (Wednesday 14 December 1932 - Tuesday 25 July 1995); the track, which was included on Charlie Rich's 'Behind Closed Doors' (Epic Records, 1973), was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for three weeks in November / December 1973, and No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart for two weeks in December 1973.
In 1979, Rory Bourke began a long and successful co-writing career with Charlie Black.
In 1994, Rory Bourke left his position as staff writer with PolyGram in order to form his own publishing company, Rory Bourke Music Company. Since then, he has had hits as a BMI writer / publisher with Phil Vassar ('Carlene'), Collin Raye ('Little Red Rodeo') and Jo Dee Messina ('Bye Bye').
'Bye Bye' was named ASCAP’s 'Most Performed Song of the Year' in 1999. Rory Bourke is also writer and publisher of 'Eyes of a Woman', a cut on Tim McGraw’s 'A Place in the Sun' (Curb Records, 1999).
Rory Bourke tells aspiring songwriters, 'I learn from every person I write with, and I hope they learn from me. Songwriting is an art whose lessons are never completely learned'.
Rory Bourke Songs: 1970
On Monday 8 June 1970, in Nashville, Elvis Presley (Tuesday 8 January 1935 - Tuesday 16 August 1977) recorded Rory Bourke's 'Patch It Up', which was co-written with Eddie Rabbitt (Thursday 27 November 1941 - Thursday 7 May 1998); the track was released on a single, backed with 'You Don't Have to Say You Love Me', in October 1970.
On Wednesday 12 August 1970, Elvis Presley recorded a 'live' version of 'Patch It Up' at The International Hotel in Las Vegas and was subsequently included on 'Elvis: That's the Way It Is' (RCA Records, 1970), which was released in December 1970.
Rory Bourke Songs: 1972
Mel Tillis recorded Rory Bourke's 'Neon Rose' (co-written with Gayle Barnhill) and included the track on 'I Ain't Never' (MGM Records, 1972); the track reached No.3 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1972.
Sandy Posey recorded Rory Bourke's 'You Say Beautiful Things to Me', which was co-written with Eddie Rabbitt (Thursday 27 November 1941 - Thursday 7 May 1998), and included the track on 'Why Don't We Go Somewhere & Love' (Columbia Records, 1972).
Rory Bourke Songs: 1973
Billy 'Crash' Craddock recorded Rory Bourke's 'Sweet Magnolia Blossom' and included the track on 'Mr. Country Rock' (ABC Records, 1973); the track reached No.3 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1973.
Ferlin Husky (Thursday 3 December 1925 - Thursday 17 March 2011) recorded Rory Bourke's 'Neon Rose' (co-written with Gayle Barnhill) and included the track on 'True True Loving' (ABC Records, 1973).
Ferlin Husky (Thursday 3 December 1925 - Thursday 17 March 2011) recorded Rory Bourke's 'I'll Never Play That Memory Again' (co-written with Gayle Barnhill) and included the track on 'Sweet Honky Tonk' (ABC Records, 1973).
Ferlin Husky (Thursday 3 December 1925 - Thursday 17 March 2011) recorded Rory Bourke's 'Baby's Blue' (co-written with Gayle Barnhill) and included the track on 'Sweet Honky Tonk' (ABC Records, 1973).
Ferlin Husky (Thursday 3 December 1925 - Thursday 17 March 2011) recorded Rory Bourke's 'Between Me & Blue' (co-written with Gayle Barnhill) and included the track on 'Sweet Honky Tonk' (ABC Records, 1973).
Nat Stuckey (Sunday 17 December 1933 - Wednesday 24 August 1988) recorded Rory Bourke's 'Now Lonely is Only a Word' (co-written with Gayle Barnhill) and included the track on 'Take Time to Love Her' (RCA Victor Records, 1973).
• Ann M. Stuckey submitted a 'Peer's Quote' about Gene Watson on Saturday 25 January 2014
Charlie Rich (Wednesday 14 December 1932 - Tuesday 25 July 1995) recorded Rory Bourke's 'The Most Beautiful Girl in The World', which was co-written with Norro Wilson and Billy Sherrill (Thursday 5 November 1936 - Tuesday 4 August 2015), and included the track on 'Behind Closed Doors' (Epic Records, 1973); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for three weeks in November / December 1973.
The song began life as 'Hey Mister' and when combined with another song, 'Mama McCluskey', became 'The Most Beautiful Girl in The World'; the single also reached No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1973, and had sold more than two million copies by the end of 1974.
Rory Bourke Songs: 1974
Billy 'Crash' Craddock recorded Rory Bourke's 'Stop If You Love Me' and included the track on 'Rub It In' (ABC Records, 1974).
Billy 'Crash' Craddock recorded Rory Bourke's 'Farmer's Daughter' and included the track on 'Rub It In' (ABC Records, 1974).
Rory Bourke Songs: 1975
Elvis Presley (Tuesday 8 January 1935 - Tuesday 16 August 1977) recorded Rory Bourke's 'Your Love's Been a Long Time Coming' and included the track on 'Promised Land' (RCA Records, 1975).
Billy 'Crash' Craddock recorded Rory Bourke's 'Please James' and included the track on 'Still Thinkin' 'Bout You' (ABC Records, 1975).
Johnny Paycheck (Tuesday 31 May 1938 - Wednesday 19 February 2003) recorded Rory Bourke's 'The Most Beautiful Girl in The World', which was co-written with Norro Wilson and Billy Sherrill (Thursday 5 November 1936 - Tuesday 4 August 2015), and included the track on 'Loving You Beats All I've Ever Seen' (Epic Records, 1975).
Rory Bourke Songs: 1976
Billy 'Crash' Craddock recorded Rory Bourke's 'Easy as Pie' (co-written with Gene Dobbins and Johnny Wilson) and included the track on 'Easy as Pie' (ABC Records / Dot Records, 1976); the track reached No.2 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1976, and No.54 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1976.
Olivia Newton John recorded Rory Bourke's 'Smile For Me' and included the track on 'Come On Over' (MCA Records, 1976).
T.G. Sheppard recorded Rory Bourke's 'Little Brown Paper Nag Blues' (co-written with Gene Dobbins and Johnny Wilson) and included the track on 'Motels & Memories' (Melodyland Records, 1976).
Billy 'Crash' Craddock recorded Rory Bourke's 'There's More to Her Than Meets The Eye' (co-written with Gene Dobbins and Johnny Wilson) and included the track on 'Crash' (ABC Records / Dot Records, 1976).
Rory Bourke Songs: 1977
Mickey Gilley recorded Rory Bourke's 'Honky Tonk Memories' (co-written with Gene Dobbins and Johnny Wilson) and included the track on 'First Class' (Playboy Records, 1977); the track reached No.4 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1977.
Gary Stewart (Sunday 28 May 1944 - Tuesday 16 December 2003) recorded Rory Bourke's 'Your Place or Mine' and included the track on 'Your Place or Mine' (RCA Records, 1977); the track reached No.11 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1977.
Billy 'Crash' Craddock recorded Rory Bourke's 'It All Came Back' (co-written with Bucky Jones and Len Chiriacka) and included the track on 'The First Time' (ABC/Dot Records, 1977).
Rory Bourke Songs: 1978
Dolly Parton recorded Rory Bourke's 'It's Too Late (to Love Me Now)' (co-written with Gene Dobbins and Johnny Wilson) and included the track on 'Heartbreaker' (RCA Records, 1978).
Rory Bourke Songs: 1979
Cher recorded Rory Bourke's 'It's Too Late (to Love Me Now)' (co-written with Gene Dobbins and Johnny Wilson) and included the track on 'Take Me Home' (Casablanca Records, 1979).
Jennifer Warnes recorded Rory Bourke's 'I Know a Heartache When I See One' (co-written with Kerry Chater and Charlie Black) and included the track on 'A Shot Through The Heart' (Arista Records, 1979); the track reached No.10 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1979, and No.19 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1979.
Anne Murray recorded Rory Bourke's 'Shadows in The Moonlight' (co-written with Charlie Black) and included the track on 'New Kind of Feeling' (Capitol Records, 1979); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in July 1979.
Anne Murray's recording of 'Shadows in The Moonlight' (written by Rory Bourke and Charlie Black) was also No.1 on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks Chart for three weeks in 1979, and No.25 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in July 1979.
Dottie West (Tuesday 11 October 1932 - Wednesday 4 September 1991) recorded Rory Bourke's 'It's Too Late (To Love Me Now)' (co-written with Gene Dobbins and Johnny Wilson) and included the track on 'Special Delivery' (Liberty Records, 1979).
Anne Murray recorded Rory Bourke's 'Stranger at My Door' (co-written with Kerry Chater and Charlie Black) and included the track on 'I'll Always Love You' (Capitol Records, 1979).
Roy Orbison (Thursday 23 April 1936 - Tuesday 6 December 1988) recorded Rory Bourke's 'Love is a Cold Wind' (co-written with Charlie Black) and included the track on 'Laminar Flow' (Asylum Records, 1979).
Rory Bourke Songs: 1980
Tanya Tucker recorded Rory Bourke's 'Love Knows We Tried', which was co-written with Jan Crutchfield (Saturday 26 February 1938 - Thursday 1 November 2012) and Kerry Chater, and included the track on 'Dreamlovers' (MCA Records, 1980); the track reached No.40 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1980.
Anne Murray recorded Rory Bourke's 'Lucky Me' (co-written with Charlie Black) and included the track on 'Somebody's Waiting' (Capitol Records, 1980); the track reached No.9 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1980, and No.42 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1980.
Anne Murray's recording of 'Lucky Me' (written by Rory Bourke and Charllie Black) also reached No.1 on the RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks Chart in Canada in May 1980.
Johnny Lee recorded Rory Bourke's 'Do You Love as Good as You Look' (co-written with Jerry Gillespie and Charlie Black), and included the track on 'Lookin' For Love' (Asylum Records, 1980).
In June 1980, Jeanne Pruett recorded Rory Bourke's 'It's Too Late (to Love Me Now)' (co-written with Gene Dobbins and Johnny Wilson); the track reached No.9 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1980 and was subsequently included on 'Music Row' (Audiograph Records, 1983).
Bellamy Brothers (Howard & David Bellamy) recorded Rory Bourke's 'Do You Love as Good as You Look' (co-written with Jerry Gillespie and Charlie Black) and included the track on 'Sons of The Sun' (Warner Bros. Records, 1980); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in March 1981.
Rory Bourke Songs: 1981
Anne Murray recorded Rory Bourke's 'Blessed are The Believers' (co-written with Charlie Black and Sandy Pinkard) and included the track on 'Where Do You Go When You Dream' (Capitol Records, 1981); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in June / July 1981.
Anne Murray's recording of 'Blessed are The Believers' (written by Rory Bourke, Charlie Black and Sandy Pinkard) also reached No.10 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart in 1981, and No.34 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1981.
Anne Murray recorded Rory Bourke's 'Call Me With The News' (co-written with Charlie Black and Kerry Chater) and included the track on 'Where Do You Go When You Dream' (Capitol Records, 1981).
Anne Murray recorded Rory Bourke's 'Another Sleepness Night' (co-written with Charlie Black) and included the track on 'Where Do You Go When You Dream' (Capitol Records, 1981); the track reached No.4 on the Billboard country music singles chart in early 1982, and No.1 on the RPM Country Tracks Chart in Canada in 1982.
Rory Bourke Songs: 1982
Gail Davies recorded Rory Bourke's 'Round The Clock Loving' and included the track on 'Givin' Herself Away' (Warner Bros. Records, 1982); the track reached No.9 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1982.
Sandy Posey recorded Rory Bourke's 'I Know a Heartache' (co-written with Charlie Black and Kerry Chater), and included the track on 'Tennessee Rose' (51-West Records, 1982).
The Oak Ridge Boys recorded Rory Bourke's 'Doctor's Orders' (co-written with Kieran Kane and Bruce Channel) and included the track on 'Bobbie Sue' (MCA Records, 1982).
Rory Bourke Songs: 1983
Sissy Spacek recorded Rory Bourke's 'Lonely But Only For You' (co-written with Charlie Black and K.T. Oslin) and included the track on 'Hangin' Up My Heart' (Atlantic Records, 1983); the track reached No.15 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1983.
Juice Newton recorded Rory Bourke's 'Stranger at My Door' (co-written with Kerry Chater and Charlie Black) and included the track on 'Dirty Looks' (Capitol Records, 1983); the track reached No.45 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1983.
Deborah Allen recorded Rory Bourke's 'Baby I Lied' (co-written with Deborah Allen and Rafe VanHoy) and included the track on 'Cheat The Night' (RCA Records, 1983); the track reached No.4 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1983, and No.26 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1983.
Anne Murray recorded Rory Bourke's 'A Little Good News' (co-written with Charlie Black and Tommy Rocco) and included the track on 'A Little Good News' (Capitol Records, 1983); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in December 1983.
The Country Music Association (CMA) named 'A Little Good News' (written by Rory Bourke, Charlie Black and Tommy Rocco) 'Single Record of the Year' and earned Anne Murray a 'Country Vocal' Grammy Award.
Anne Murray re-recorded Rory Bourke's 'A Little Good News' (co-written with Charlie Black and Tommy Rocco) and included the track on 'Anne Murray Duets: Friends & Legends' (Manhattan Records, 2007); the track was a duet with The Indigo Girls.
George Strait recorded Rory Bourke's 'You Look So Good in Love' (co-written with Glen Ballard and Kerry Chater) and included the track on 'Right or Wrong' (MCA Records, 1983); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in January 1984.
Janie Fricke recorded Rory Bourke's 'Let's Stop Talkin' About It' (co-written with Rafe VanHoy and Deborah Allen) and included the track on 'Love Lies' (Columbia Records, 1983); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in March / April 1984.
Mickey Gilley recorded Rory Bourke's 'You Look So Good in Love' (co-written with Glen Ballard and Kerry Chater) and included the track on 'You've Really Got a Hold on Me' (MCA Records, 1983).
Rory Bourke Songs: 1984
Mickey Gilley recorded Rory Bourke's 'Too Good to Stop Now' (co-written with Bob McDill) and included the track on 'Too Good to Stop Now' (Epic Records, 1984); the track reached No.4 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1984.
Rory Bourke Songs: 1985
Mel McDaniel (Sunday 6 September 1942 - Thursday 31 March 2011) recorded Rory Bourke's 'Doctor's Orders' (co-written with Kieran Kane and Bruce Channel) and included the track on 'Stand Up' (Capitol Records, 1985); the track reached No.53 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1986.
Rory Bourke Songs: 1986
Crystal Gayle recorded Rory Bourke's 'Nobody Should Have To Love This Way' (co-written with Tommy Rocco and Charlie Black) and included the track on 'Straight to The Heart' (Warner Bros. Records, 1986).
Tanya Tucker recorded Rory Bourke's 'It's Only Over For You' (co-written with Mike Reid) and included the track on 'Girls Like Me' (Capitol Records, 1986).
Judy Rodman recorded Rory Bourke's 'Come Next Monday' (co-written with Charlie Black and K.T. Oslin) and included the track on 'Judy' (MTM Records, 1986).
Dan Seals (Sunday 8 February 1948 - Wednesday 25 March 2009) recorded Rory Bourke's 'While I'm Here' (co-written with Mike Reid) and included the track on 'On The Frontline' (Capitol Records, 1986).
Rory Bourke Songs: 1987
K.T. Oslin recorded Rory Bourke's 'Two Hearts' (co-written with K.T. Oslin) and included the track on '80s Ladies' (RCA Records, 1987).
K.T. Oslin recorded Rory Bourke's 'Lonely But Only For You' (co-written with Charlie Black and K.T. Oslin) and included the track on '80s Ladies' (RCA Records, 1987).
Don Williams recorded Rory Bourke's 'I Wouldn't Be a Man' (co-written with Mike Reid) and included the track on 'Traces' (Capitol Records, 1987); the track reached No.9 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1987.
Ronnie Milsap recorded Rory Bourke's 'Where Do The Nights Go' (co-written with Mike Reid) and included the track on 'Heart & Soul' (RCA Records, 1987); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in January 1988.
Rory Bourke Songs: 1988
Gene Watson recorded Rory Bourke's 'Back in the Fire' (co-written with Mike Reid) and included the track on 'Back in the Fire' (Warner Bros. Records, 1988); the track reached No.20 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1988, and No.24 on the RPM Country Tracks Chart in Canada in 1988.
Rory Bourke Songs: 1989
John Conlee recorded Rory Bourke's 'Till You Were Gone' (co-written with Mike Reid) and included the track on 'Fellow Travelers' (16th Avenue Records, 1989).
Shelby Lynne recorded Rory Bourke's 'The Hurtin' Side' (co-written with Mike Reid) and included the track on 'Sunrise' (Epic Records, 1989).
Shelby Lynne recorded Rory Bourke's 'Till You Were Gone' (co-written with Mike Reid) and included the track on 'Sunrise' (Epic Records, 1989).
Shelby Lynne recorded Rory Bourke's 'Your Love Stays with Me' (co-written with Mike Reid) and included the track on 'Sunrise' (Epic Records, 1989).
Lorrie Morgan recorded Rory Bourke's 'He Talks to Me' (co-written with Mike Reid) and included the track on 'Leave The Light On' (RCA Records, 1989); the track reached No.4 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in August 1990.
Rory Bourke Songs: 1990
Baillie & The Boys recorded Rory Bourke's 'The Lights of Home' (co-written with Bucky Jones and Charlie Black) and included the track on 'The Lights of Home' (RCA Records, 1990).
K.T. Oslin recorded Rory Bourke's 'Come Next Monday' (co-written with Charlie Black and K.T. Oslin) and included the track on 'Love in a Small Town' (RCA Records, 1990); the track was No.1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart for two weeks in November / December 1990.
K.T. Oslin recorded Rory Bourke's 'Oo-Wee' (co-written with Charlie Black and K.T. Oslin) and included the track on 'Love in a Small Town' (RCA Records, 1990).
K.T. Oslin recorded Rory Bourke's 'Two Hearts' (co-written with K.T. Oslin) and included the track on 'Love in a Small Town' (RCA Records, 1990).
Lee Roy Parnell recorded Rory Bourke's 'You're Taking Too Long' (co-written with Gary Nicholson and Lee Roy Parnell) and included the track on 'Lee Roy Parnell' (Arista Records, 1990).
Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 - Saturday 5 June 1993) recorded Rory Bourke's 'I Couldn't See You Leaving', which was co-written with Ronny Scaife (1947 - Wednesday 3 November 2010), and included the track on 'Crazy in Love' (MCA Records, 1990); the track reached No.3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1991 and holds the distinction of being Conway Twitty's final Billboard Top 10 hit single.
Rory Bourke Songs: 1991
Mike Reid recorded Rory Bourke's 'Till You Were Gone' (co-written with Mike Reid) and included the track on 'Turning For Home' (Columbia Records, 1991); the track reached No.17 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1991.
Mike Reid recorded Rory Bourke's 'I Got A Life' (co-written with Mike Reid) and included the track on 'Turning For Home' (Columbia Records, 1991).
Mike Reid recorded Rory Bourke's 'Your Love Stays With Me' (co-written with Mike Reid) and included the track on 'Turning For Home' (Columbia Records, 1991).
Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 - Saturday 5 June 1993) recorded Rory Bourke's 'She's in Love' (co-written with Mike Reid) and included the track on 'Even Now' (MCA Records, 1991); this was the final album which Conway Twitty would see released in his lifetime.
Lorrie Morgan recorded Rory Bourke's 'In Tears' (co-written with Mike Reid) and included the track on 'Something In Red' (RCA Records, 1991).
Rory Bourke Songs: 1992
Lee Roy Parnell recorded Rory Bourke's 'Road Scholar' (co-written with Cris Moore and Lee Roy Parnell) and included the track on 'Love Without Mercy' (Arista Records, 1992); this track was a duet with Delbert McClinton.
Lee Roy Parnell recorded Rory Bourke's 'Tender Moment' (co-written with Cris Moore and Lee Roy Parnell) and included the track on 'Love Without Mercy' (Arista Records, 1992); the track reached No.2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1993.
Lee Roy Parnell recorded Rory Bourke's 'Roller Coaster' (co-written with Gary Nicholson and Lee Roy Parnell) and included the track on 'Love Without Mercy' (Arista Records, 1992).
Sweethearts of The Rodeo recorded Rory Bourke's 'Why Should I Stay Blue' (co-written with Mike Reid) and included the track on 'Sisters' (Columbia Records, 1992).
Don Williams recorded Rory Bourke's 'It's Who You Love' (co-written with Charlie Black and Kieran Kane) and included the track on 'Currents' (RCA Records, 1992).
Mike Reid recorded Rory Bourke's 'Back in the Fire' (co-written with Mike Reid) and included the track on 'Twilight Town' (Columbia Records, 1992).
Rory Bourke Songs: 1993
Lee Roy Parnell recorded Rory Bourke's 'Fresh Coat of Paint' (co-written with Cris Moore and Lee Roy Parnell) and included the track on 'On The Road' (Arista Records, 1993).
Shelby Lynne recorded Rory Bourke's 'Tell Me I'm Crazy' (co-written with Mike Reid) and included the track on 'Temptation' (Mercury Records / Morgan Creek Records, 1993).
Rory Bourke Songs: 1994
Neal McCoy recorded recorded Rory Bourke's 'Something Moving In Me' (co-written with Mike Reid) and included the track on 'No Doubt About It' (Atlantic Records, 1994).
Rory Bourke Songs: 1996
Kenny Chesney recorded Rory Bourke's 'Back in My Arms Again' (co-written with Lee Roy Parnell and Cris Moore) and included the track on 'Me & You' (BNA Records, 1996).
Billy Dean recorded Rory Bourke's 'I Wouldn't Be a Man' (co-written with Mike Reid) and included the track on 'It's What I Do' (Capitol Records, 1996); the track reached No.45 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in late 1996.
Rory Bourke Songs: 1998
Jo Dee Messina recorded Rory Bourke's 'Bye Bye' (co-written with Phil Vassar) and included the track on 'I'm Alright' (Curb Records, 1998); the track was No.1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart for one week in April 1998.
Jo Dee Messina recorded Rory Bourke's 'I'm Alright' (co-written with Phil Vassar) and included the track on 'I'm Alright' (Curb Records, 1998); the track was No.1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart for two weeks in August / September 1998.
The Wilkinsons recorded Rory Bourke's 'Fly (The Angel Song)' (co-written with Steve Wilkinson) and included the track on 'Nothing But Love' (Giant Records, 1998); the track was No.1 on the RPM Country Tracks Chart in Canada in January 1999, and No.15 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1999.
The Wilkinsons recorded Rory Bourke's 'One Faithful Heart' (co-written with Charlie Black and Steve Wilkinson) and included the track on 'Nothing But Love' (Giant Records, 1998).
Peggy Rains recorded Rory Bourke's 'Tell Me I'm Crazy' (co-written with Mike Reid) and included the track on 'It's a Good Day' (Peggy Rains Music, 1998).
Rory Bourke Songs: 1999
Tim McGraw recorded Rory Bourke's 'Eyes of a Woman' (co-written with Steve Mandile) and included the track on 'A Place in The Sun' (Curb Records, 1999).
Rory Bourke Songs: 2000
Phil Vassar recorded Rory Bourke's 'Carlene' (co-written with Charlie Black and Phil Vassar) and included the track on 'Phil Vassar' (Arista Records, 2000); the track reached No.5 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 2000.
Kenny Rogers recorded Rory Bourke's 'All That You Could Be' (co-written with Mike Reid) and included the track on 'There You Go Again' (Dreamcatcher Records, 2000).
Rory Bourke Songs: 2005
Gene Watson re-recorded Rory Bourke's 'Back in the Fire' (co-written with Mike Reid) and included the track on 'Gene Watson: Then & Now' (Koch Records Nashville, 2005).
Rory Bourke Songs: 2010
Josh Turner recorded Rory Bourke's 'I Wouldn't Be a Man' (co-written with Mike Reid) and included the track on 'Haywire' (MCA Records, 2010).
• Visit Rory Bourke's Official Site at rorybourke.com
