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 by The Gene Watson Fan Site, during 2013, 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 Pat Alger, which he submitted to this site on Thursday 14 March 2013.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Pat Alger who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
photo courtesy of Nancy Nutile-McMenemy at photosbynanci.com
Photos By Nanci: ‘Photographing Your Life Events Today For Tomorrow’s Memories’
Pat Alger
This quote was submitted on Thursday 14 March 2013.
‘Gene Watson is one of the great country singers of my generation.
My dear and late friend Bob Webster (Friday 30 December 1927 – Sunday 22 July 22 2001) produced his first hit, ‘Love in The Hot Afternoon‘, which was co-written by Bob’s friend, Vincent Wesley Matthews (1940 – Saturday 22 November 2003).
Gene possesses a distinct style and delivery that has made many songwriters thrilled that he chose one of their songs to record.
Long may he sing’
Thank you, Pat Alger, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Pat Alger…
Pat Alger was born Patrick J. Alger III on Tuesday 23 September 1947 in Long Island City, Queens, New York, but was raised in his mother’s birthplace of LaGrange in Georgia.
Pat Alger came to songwriting from a south by north direction. As a teenager, Pat Alger taught himself to play guitar and began writing songs which combined a sophisticated interplay of language and melody with a down-to-earth quality that would eventually bring him much success as a popular songwriter.
In the late 1960s, while trying to earn money to continue his education at Georgia Tech, Pat Alger evolved into a popular performer playing traditional and original material in the burgeoning folk scene in Atlanta clubs and in colleges all over the south-east of the United States.
Pat Alger played the same club circuit and often shared the stage with such artists as Jerry Jeff Walker (Monday 16 March 1942 – Friday 24 October 2020), Steve Goodman (Sunday 25 July 1948 – Thursday 20 September 1984), The Earl Scruggs Revue, Jonathan Edwards and Jimmy Buffet.
In 1973, Pat Alger moved to Woodstock, New York and became part of that legendary musical landscape, eventually recording and performing with the celebrated Woodstock Mountains Revue, a casual musical conglomeration which included, at one time or another, singer-songwriters John Sebastian, Eric Andersen, Paul Butterfield, Rory Block, Happy & Arthur Roy ‘Artie’ Traum (Saturday 3 April 1943 – Sunday 20 July 2008), John Herald, Roly Salley, and Jim Rooney & Bill Keith (Wednesday 20 December 1939 – Friday 23 October 2015).
(photo credit: Tony Rees)
Later, Pat Alger formed a duo with acoustic jazz guitarist Arthur Roy ‘Artie’ Traum (Saturday 3 April 1943 – Sunday 20 July 2008), recording a well-received album, ‘From The Heart’ (Rounder Records, 1980), which led to several tours of Europe and the United States.
Pat Alger & Arthur Roy ‘Artie’ Traum’s ‘From The Heart’ (Rounder Records, 1980) included the following tracks:
‘Daydreaming Dancer’ (written by Pat Alger)
‘First Time Love’ (written by Pat Alger and Peter Kaminsky)
‘From The Heart’ (written by Pat Alger)
‘Justine’, which was written by Arthur Roy ‘Artie’ Traum (Saturday 3 April 1943 – Sunday 20 July 2008)
‘Jenny’s Been Gone’, which was written by Arthur Roy ‘Artie’ Traum (Saturday 3 April 1943 – Sunday 20 July 2008)
‘Gamblin’ Man’ (written by E. Kaz)
‘City Lights’ (written by Pat Alger)
‘Off Broadway’ (written by Pat Alger)
‘Homerun Kid’, which was written by Arthur Roy ‘Artie’ Traum (Saturday 3 April 1943 – Sunday 20 July 2008)
‘Screwin’ It Up’ (written by Pat Alger)
After a short stint in the Boston area, and a couple of years trying to break into the songwriting mainstream in Manhattan, Pat Alger finally scored his first hit single, in 1980, with Livingston Taylor, younger brother of James Taylor. The song, ‘First Time Love’, became a Billboard Top 40 pop music hit single, along with becoming a Billboard Top 10 Adult Contemporary hit single.
With this success under his belt, Pat Alger decided to head south once again, this time to try his luck in Nashville, which turned out to be ‘The Promised Land’, a town that celebrated the art of the song and where the songwriter, if not the star, was the centre of gravity for the music business.
Exploring the Nashville craft of collaboration, while fine-tuning his already well-developed skills, Pat Alger soon blossomed into a successful songwriter.
In those early days, Pat Alger’s songs were recorded by a number of classic country music artists, including Mickey Gilley (Monday 9 March 1936 – Saturday 7 May 2022), George Hamilton IV (Monday 19 July 1937 – Wednesday 17 September 2014), Dolly Parton, and Brenda Lee, as well as by legendary pop music artists, including Everly Brothers – Don Everly (Monday 1 February 1937 – Saturday 21 August 2021) & Phil Everly (Thursday 19 January 1939 – Friday 3 January 2014) – and Peter, Paul & Mary.
Newer artists to record Pat Alger’s material included Kathy Mattea (‘Goin’ Gone’ and ‘She Came From Fort Worth’), Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021) (‘Lone Star State of Mind’) and Hal Ketchum (Thursday 9 April 1953 – Monday 23 November 2020) (‘Small Town Saturday Night’).
Mickey Gilley (Monday 9 March 1936 – Saturday 7 May 2022) recorded Pat Alger’s ‘Easy Come, Hard To Go’ (co-written with Rick Beresford) and included the track on ‘You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me’ (Epic Records, 1983).
George Hamilton IV (Monday 19 July 1937 – Wednesday 17 September 2014) recorded Pat Alger’s ‘Listen To The Life I Love’ (co-written with Rick Beresford) and included the track on ‘Music Man’s Dream’ (Range Records, 1984).
The Everly Brothers – Don Everly (Monday 1 February 1937 – Saturday 21 August 2021) & Phil Everly (Thursday 19 January 1939 – Friday 3 January 2014) – recorded Pat Alger’s ‘I’m Taking My Time’ (co-written with Rick Beresford) and included the track on ‘EB 84’ (Mercury Records, 1984); the album reached No.24 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1984.
Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021) recorded Pat Alger’s ‘Once In A Very Blue Moon’ (co-written with Gene Levine) and included the track on ‘Once In A Very Blue Moon’ (Philo Records, 1984), an album on which Pat Alger played acoustic guitar.
Dolly Parton recorded Pat Alger’s ‘Once In A Very Blue Moon’ (co-written with Gene Levine) and included the track on ‘Real Love’ (RCA Records, 1985).
Brenda Lee recorded Pat Alger’s ‘I’m Taking My Time’ (co-written with Rick Beresford) and included the track on ‘Feels So Right’ (MCA Records, 1985).
Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021) recorded Pat Alger’s ‘Goin’ Gone’ (co-written with Bill Dale and Fred Koller) and included the track on ‘The Last of The True Believers’ (Philo Records, 1986).
Pat Alger played acoustic lead guitar and high string guitar on Nanci Caroline Griffith’s ‘The Last of The True Believers’ (Philo Records, 1986). Pat Alger also made a major contribution to the look and feel of the album cover; Pat Alger and Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021) created the cover design, while Pat Alger created the graphics for the project.
Peter, Paul & Mary – Peter Yarrow, Noel Paul Stookey and Mary Allin Travers (Monday 9 November 1936 – Wednesday 16 September 2009) – recorded Pat Alger’s ‘I’d Rather Be In Love’ (co-written with Walter Carter) and included the track on ‘No Easy Walk To Freedom’ (Gold Castle Records / Polygram Records, 1986).
Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021) recorded Pat Alger’s ‘Lone Star State of Mind’ (co-written with Fred Koller and Gene Levine) and included the track on ‘Lone Star State of Mind’ (MCA Records, 1987); the track reached No.36 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1987.
Mary Black recorded Pat Alger’s ‘Once In A Very Blue Moon’ (co-written with Gene Levine) and included the track on ‘By The Time It Gets Dark’ (Ireland: Dara Records, 1987 / England: Grapevine Records, 1987 / United States: Gifthorse Records, 1995 / Japan: King Records, 1995).
Mary Black’s first album, ‘By The Time It Gets Dark’ (Ireland: Dara Records, 1987 / England: Grapevine Records, 1987 / United States: Gifthorse Records, 1995 / Japan: King Records, 1995), was released as a ’30th Anniversary Edition’ by Dolphin Records in 2017.
Kathy Mattea recorded Pat Alger’s ‘Goin’ Gone’ (co-written with Bill Dale and Fred Koller) and included the track on ‘Untasted Honey’ (Mercury Records, 1987); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in January / February 1988.
Kathy Mattea recorded Pat Alger’s ‘Like A Hurricane’ (co-written with Mark D. Sanders) and included the track on ‘Untasted Honey’ (Mercury Records, 1987), an album on which Pat Alger played guitar.
The Everly Brothers – Don Everly (Monday 1 February 1937 – Saturday 21 August 2021) & Phil Everly (Thursday 19 January 1939 – Friday 3 January 2014) – recorded Pat Alger’s ‘Julianne’ (co-written with J. Fred Knobloch) and included the track on ‘Some Hearts’ (Mercury Records, 1988).
Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021) recorded Pat Alger’s ‘Once In A Very Blue Moon’ (co-written with Gene Levine) and included the track on ‘One Fair Summer Evening’ (MCA Records, 1988).
Kathy Mattea recorded Pat Alger’s ‘She Came From Fort Worth’ (co-written with Fred Koller) and included the track on ‘Willow In The Wind’ (Mercury Records, 1989); the track reached No.2 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1989.
Don Williams (Saturday 27 May 1939 – Friday 8 September 2017) recorded Pat Alger’s ‘True Love’ and included the track on ‘True Love’ (RCA Records, 1990).
Rhonda Vincent recorded Pat Alger’s ‘Lone Star State of Mind’ (co-written with Fred Koller and Gene Levine) and included the track on ‘A Dream Come True’ (Rebel Records, 1990).
Rhonda Vincent recorded Pat Alger’s ‘Goin’ Gone’ (co-written with Bill Dale and Fred Koller) and included the track on ‘A Dream Come True’ (Rebel Records, 1990).
Crystal Gayle recorded Pat Alger’s ‘Once In A Very Blue Moon’ (co-written with Gene Levine) and included the track on ‘Ain’t Gonna Worry’ (Capitol Records, 1990).
Crystal Gayle recorded Pat Alger’s ‘What He’s Doing Now’ (co-written with Garth Brooks) and included the track on ‘Ain’t Gonna Worry’ (Capitol Records, 1990).
Garth Brooks recorded Pat Alger’s ‘Unanswered Prayers’ (co-written with Larry Bastian and Garth Brooks) and included the track on ‘No Fences’ (Capitol Records, 1990); the track was No.1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1990.
Garth Brooks recorded Pat Alger’s ‘The Thunder Rolls’ (co-written with Garth Brooks) and included the track on ‘No Fences’ (Capitol Records, 1990), an album on which Pat Alger played guitar and provided background vocals; the track was No.1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1991.
On Tuesday 2 October 1990, the video for ‘The Thunder Rolls’ was awarded ‘CMA Video of The Year’ at the Country Music Association (CMA) Awards.
In 1991, Pat Alger saw the release of his first album, ‘True Love & Other Short Stories’ (Sugar Hill Records, 1991), which was produced by Jim Rooney, and included the following tracks:
‘True Love’ (written by Pat Alger)
‘Lone Star State of Mind’ (written by Pat Alger, Fred Koller and Gene Levine)
‘Goin’ Gone’ (written by Pat Alger, Bill Dale and Fred Koller)
‘Like A Hurricane’ (written by Pat Alger and Mark D. Sanders)
‘This Town’ (written by Pat Alger and Fred Koller)
‘Love Can Be A Dangerous Thing’ (written by Pat Alger and Fred Koller)
‘I Do’ (written by Pat Alger and Susan Longacre)
‘She Came From Fort Worth’ (written by Pat Alger and Fred Koller)
‘Forever Lovin’ You’ (written by Pat Alger and Garth Brooks)
‘Small Town Saturday Night’ (written by Pat Alger and Hank DeVito)
‘Once In A Very Blue Moon’ (written by Pat Alger and Gene Levine)
‘Blue Highway’ (written by Pat Alger)
Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021) recorded Pat Alger’s ‘The Power Lines’ (co-written with Nanci Caroline Griffith and James Hooker) and included the track on ‘Late Night Grande Hotel’ (MCA Records, 1991).
Tim O’Brien recorded Pat Alger’s ‘Like I Used To Do’ (co-written with Tim O’Brien) and included the track on ‘Odd Man In’ (Sugar Hill Records, 1991).
Hal Ketchum (Thursday 9 April 1953 – Monday 23 November 2020) recorded Pat Alger’s ‘Small Town Saturday Night’ (co-written with Hank DeVito) and included the track on ‘Pass The Point of Rescue’ (Curb Records, 1991); the track reached No.2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in August 1991.
Kathy Mattea recorded Pat Alger’s ‘A Few Good Things Remain’ (co-written with Jon Vezner) and included the track on ‘Time Passes By’ (Mercury Records, 1991), an album on which Pat Alger played guitar.
Mark Collie recorded Pat Alger’s ‘Calloused Hands’ (co-written with Gene Levine) and included the track on ‘Born & Raised In Black & White’ (MCA Records, 1991); the track reached No.31 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1991.
Trisha Yearwood recorded Pat Alger’s ‘Like We Never Had A Broken Heart’ (co-written with Garth Brooks) and included the track on ‘Trisha Yearwood’ (MCA Records, 1991), an album on which Pat Alger played acoustic guitar; the track reached No.4 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in late 1991.
Garth Brooks recorded Pat Alger’s ‘What She’s Doing Now’ (co-written with Garth Brooks) and included the track on ‘Ropin’ The Wind’ (Liberty Records, 1991); the track was No.1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart for four weeks in early 1992.
Kathy Mattea recorded Pat Alger’s ‘Seeds’ (co-written with Ralph Murphy) and included the track on ‘Lonesome Standard Time’ (Mercury Records, 1992).
Don Williams (Saturday 27 May 1939 – Friday 8 September 2017) recorded Pat Alger’s ‘Lone Star State of Mind’ (co-written with Fred Koller and Gene Levine) and included the track on ‘Currents’ (RCA Records, 1992).
The Dillards recorded Pat Alger’s ‘Like A Hurricane’ (co-written with Mark D. Sanders) and included the track on ‘Take Me Along For The Ride’ (Vanguard Records, 1992).
‘Like A Hurricane’ (written by Pat Alger and Mark D. Sanders) was featured in the Diane Lane and Richard Gere movie, ‘Nights In Rodanthe’, and was originally the ‘B’ side’ of Kathy Mattea‘s ’18 Wheels & A Dozen Roses’ (No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for two weeks in May / June 1988), which was awarded the Country Music Association (CMA) ‘Record of The Year’.
In 1992, Pat Alger, along with Trisha Yearwood, Stephanie Davis, Larry Bastian, Victoria Shaw, Tony Arata, Allen Reynolds, Jim Rooney, Christ Church Choir, Donna McElroy, Bob Bailey, Vicki Hampton, Howard Smith, Yvonne Hodges, Johnny Cobb, Jana King, Dennis Wilson, Emily Harris, Gary Chapman and Donna Morris, provided harmony and backing vocals on Garth Brooks’ ‘Beyond The Season’ (Liberty Records, 1992).
Garth Brooks recorded Pat Alger’s ‘That Summer’ (co-written with Sandy Mahl-Brooks and Garth Brooks) and included the track on ‘The Chase’ (Liberty Records, 1992); the track was No.1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1993.
Garth Brooks recorded Pat Alger’s ‘The Night I Called The Old Man Out’, which was co-written with Kim Williams (Saturday 28 June 1947 – Thursday 11 February 2016) and Garth Brooks, and included the track on ‘In Pieces’ (Liberty Records, 1993).
The Seldom Scene recorded Pat Alger’s ‘Like I Used To Do’ (co-written with Tim O’Brien) and included the track on ‘Like We Used To Be’ (Sugar Hill Records, 1994).
On Tuesday 6 September 1994, Pat Alger saw the release of his second album, ‘Notes & Grace Notes’ (Liberty Records / Capitol Records, 1994), which was produced by Jim Rooney, and included the following tracks:
‘Tear In Mama’s Eye’ (written by Pat Alger and Bobby Fischer)
‘Open Invitation To The Blues’ (written by Pat Alger and Gary Nicholson)
‘Somebody’s Love’, which was written by Pat Alger and Hal Ketchum (Thursday 9 April 1953 – Monday 23 November 2020)
‘Like We Never Had A Broken Heart’ (written by Pat Alger and Garth Brooks)
‘That Summer’ (written by Pat Alger, Sandy Mahl-Brooks and Garth Brooks)
‘One Less Rose In Texas’ (written by Pat Alger and Jon Vezner)
‘Missing In Action’ (written by Pat Alger and Alice Randall)
‘The Laughing Years’ (written by Pat Alger and Ralph Murphy)
‘I’m Taking My Time’ (written by Pat Alger and Rick Beresford)
‘We’ve Heard It All Before’ (written by Pat Alger)
Personnel involved in the recording of Pat Alger’s ‘Notes & Grace Notes’ (Liberty Records, 1994), the recording of which took place at Jack’s Tracks Recording Studio in Nashville, included the following:
Pat Alger (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar)
Chris Leuzinger (electric guitar, acoustic guitar)
Maura O’Connell (gut-string guitar)
Kirk ‘Jelly Roll’ Johnson (harmonica)
Carl Marsh (piano, keyboards, Fairlight strings)
Pat McInerney (drums, percussion)
Brenda Lee, Maura O’Connell and Hal Ketchum (Thursday 9 April 1953 – Monday 23 November 2020) (vocals)
Tommy Spurlock (steel guitar)
Pete Wasner (piano, Wurlitzer piano)
Dave Francis (bass, background vocals)
Bob Wray and Mike Chapman (bass)
Milton Sledge (drums)
Claire Louise, Suzi Ragsdale and Verlon Thompson (background vocals)
In 1994, Pat Alger saw the release of his third album, ‘Seeds’ (Sugar Hill Records, 1994), which was produced by Jim Rooney, and included the following tracks:
‘For Everyone With A Broken Heart’ (written by Pat Alger and Bobby Wood)
‘For Lack of A Better Word’ (written by Pat Alger and Gary Scruggs)
‘Like I Used To Do’ (written by Pat Alger and Tim O’Brien)
‘Seeds’ (written by Pat Alger and Ralph Murphy)
‘The Thunder Rolls’ (written by Pat Alger and Garth Brooks)
‘Your Voice’ (written by Pat Alger and Bobby Fischer)
‘Never Needs A Reason To Rain’ (written by Pat Alger, Jim Elliott and Mark D. Sanders)
‘Be Ready To Sail’ (written by Pat Alger and Austin Cunningham)
‘Until My Love Moves You’ (written by Pat Alger and Gary Scruggs)
‘A Few Good Things Remain’ (written by Pat Alger and Jon Vezner)
‘You’ll Come Back To Me’, which was written by Pat Alger and Sandy Mason Theoret (Monday 18 December 1939 – Wednesday 1 April 2015)
‘Heart & Soul’ (written by Pat Alger)
‘Unanswered Prayers’ (written by Pat Alger, Larry Bastian and Garth Brooks)
In 1990, Tanya Tucker recorded Pat Alger’s ‘The Thunder Rolls’ (co-written with Garth Brooks); the track was subsequently included on ‘Tanya Tucker’ (Capitol Records, 1995), a 4-CD Box Set, which included fifty-eight tracks, eight of which were previously unreleased.
Tanya Tucker‘s version of Pat Alger’s ‘The Thunder Rolls’ (co-written with Garth Brooks) included a third verse, which Garth Brooks intended to use on his version, but did not at the suggestion of producer Allen Reynolds.
Sean Keane recorded Pat Alger’s ‘Like I Used To Do’ (co-written with Tim O’Brien) and included the track on ‘No Stranger’ (Grapevine Records, 1998).
Charlie Landsborough recorded Pat Alger’s ‘Time To Learn’ (co-written with Tim O’Brien) and included the track on ‘Still Can’t Say Goodbye’ (Ritz Records, 1999).
Charlie Landsborough recorded Pat Alger’s ‘Like I Used To Do’ (co-written with Tim O’Brien) and included the track on ‘Still Can’t Say Goodbye’ (Ritz Records, 1999).
Charlie Landsborough recorded Pat Alger’s ‘Angels With One Wing’ (co-written with Richard Leigh) and included the track on ‘Still Can’t Say Goodbye’ (Ritz Records, 1999).
Chely Wright recorded Pat Alger’s ‘For The Long Run’, which was co-written with Bat McGrath (Wednesday 17 October 1945 – Tuesday 1 October 2019), and included the track on ‘Never Love You Enough’ (MCA Nashville Records, 2001); the track featured Phil Vassar on background vocals.
Jennifer Weatherly recorded Pat Alger’s ‘Forever Loving You’ (co-written with Garth Brooks) and included the track on ‘Something’s About To Happen’ (JK Records, 2001).
Maura O’Connell recorded Pat Alger’s ‘Time To Learn’ (co-written with Tim O’Brien) and included the track on ‘Don’t I Know’ (Sugar Hill Records, 2004).
George Canyon recorded Pat Alger’s ‘Madi’s Song (The Man She Thinks I Am)’ (co-written with George Canyon) and included the track on ‘Somebody Wrote Love’ (Universal Music Canada, 2006).
Claire Lynch recorded Pat Alger’s ‘Be Ready To Sail’ (co-written with Austin Cunningham) and included the track on ‘New Day’ (Rounder Records, 2006).
Claire Lynch recorded Pat Alger’s ‘Long After I’m Gone’ (co-written with Claire Lynch) and included the track on ‘New Day’ (Rounder Records, 2006).
Randy Travis recorded Pat Alger’s ‘Nothin’s Gonna Bring Me Down (At Christmas Time)’ and included the track on ‘Songs of The Season’ (Word Records, 2007).
Sean Hogan recorded Pat Alger’s ‘Genuine Love’ and included the track on ‘Southern Sessions’ (Universal Music Group Canada, 2007).
Ralph Murphy recorded Pat Alger’s ‘Seeds’ (co-written with Ralph Murphy) and included the track on ‘Ralph Murphy’ (Ralph Murphy Self Release / CD Baby, 2008); Pat Alger played guitar on several tracks on the album and also wrote the liner notes.
In October 2010, Pat Alger was inducted into The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Fewer than two hundred songwriters have been awarded this honour.
Garth Brooks and Jimmy Wayne sang some of Pat Alger’s songs, and producer and Hall of Fame songwriter, Allen Reynolds, introduced Pat Alger.
Joey Sontz recorded Pat Alger’s ‘Unanswered Prayers’ (co-written with Larry Bastian and Garth Brooks) and included the track on ‘Chasing The Dream’ (Dynasty Records, 2012).
Ryan Kelly (of Celtic Thunder) recorded Pat Alger’s ‘Unanswered Prayers’ (co-written with Larry Bastian and Garth Brooks) and included the track on Celtic Thunder’s ‘Inspirational’ (Sony / Legacy, 2017).
Pat Alger’s Career Benchmarks
Three solo albums, ‘True Love & Other Short Stories’ (Sugar Hill Records, 1990), ‘Notes & Grace Notes’ (Liberty Records, 1994) and ‘Seeds’ (Sugar Hill Records, 1994)
1991
Awarded ‘Songwriter of The Year’ by Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), Music Row Magazine and Cashbox Magazine
Awarded ‘Song of The Year’ Award for ‘Small Town Saturday Night’ from Radio & Records, along with a ‘Song of The Year’ Award from The Gavin Report
1991 & 1992
Awarded ‘CMA Triple Play Award’ for achieving three No.1 records in one year
1992
ASCAP ‘Country Songwriter of The Year’
National Jukebox Association ASCAP ‘Songwriter of The Year’
1993
Nominated ‘Best Folk Album’ for ‘Seeds’ (Sugar Hill Records, 1993) at Nashville Music Awards
1998
Awarded ‘President’s Choice’ Award from Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI)
1999
Co-wrote and produced with Harlan Howard (Thursday 8 September 1927 – Sunday 3 March 2002), ‘Hockey Tonk’, the theme song for the inaugural seasons of the Nashville Predators hockey team
2001
Produced and performed on ‘A Songwriter’s Tribute To Garth Brooks’ (VFR Records, 2001), one of the biggest selling independent records of 2001
2004
Produced and performed on ‘A Songwriter’s Tribute To George Strait’ (Compadre Records, 2004)
2005
‘Unanswered Prayers’ voted No.6 in Country Music Television’s ‘Top 100 Love Songs’
2005 & 2006
Nashville Songwriter’s Hall of Fame Nominee
Celebrating forty years in the music business, Pat Alger remains a popular performer on the Nashville songwriter scene, in addition to touring other musical outposts, including Ireland, Canada and The Sundance Film Festival.
As a two-term President of Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), Pat Alger is respected as an effective advocate for creators in the battle for intellectual property rights.
Regularly mentoring younger writers, Pat Alger taught the ASCAP Country Writers Workshop in Nashville in 2006.
photo courtesy of Nancy Nutile-McMenemy at photosbynanci.com
Photos By Nanci: ‘Photographing Your Life Events Today For Tomorrow’s Memories’
• Visit Pat Alger’s official site at patalgermusic.com