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 2020, 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 Rafe Van Hoy, which he submitted to this site on Wednesday 22 January 2020.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Rafe Van Hoy who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Rafe Van Hoy
This quote was submitted on Wednesday 22 January 2020.
‘Gene Watson is a legendary voice whose artistry will remain as one of the classics in country music history’
Thank you, Rafe Van Hoy, for your support of Gene Watson.
Rafe Van Hoy, who was born Rafe G. Van Hoy in Bristol, Tennessee in 1955, began his music career as a songwriter, landing his first publishing contract when he was seventeen years old.
During the next seven years, Rafe Van Hoy would become one of Nashville’s new emerging songwriters with 10 No.1 songs and as many Top 10 singles, along with nearly 200 cuts by other artists.
During one three-year period, Rafe Van Hoy had between 50 and 60 songs cut each year. During this early time, Rafe Van Hoy also worked as a session musician on many hit records, and then began adding producer to his list of credits, with songwriting always as his first passion.
Rafe Van Hoy has been active and successful, as both a songwriter and producer, over four decades, with credits in several categories and genres of music, including a Grammy nomination, 11 BMI One Million Airplay Awards, and 3 BMI Two Million Airplay Awards.
Rafe Van Hoy’s songs have been recorded by a distinguished number of artists, including George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) & Tammy Wynette (Tuesday 5 May 1942 – Monday 6 April 1998), The Oak Ridge Boys, Michael Martin Murphy, John Conlee, Patty Loveless, Brooks & Dunn (Kix Brooks & Ronnie Dunn), Reba McEntire, Leann Rimes, Terri Clark, Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 – Saturday 5 June 1993) & Loretta Lynn (Thursday 14 April 1932 – Tuesday 4 October 2022), Fleetwood Mac, Diana Ross, Issac Hayes and Paul Carrack.
Rafe Van Hoy’s songs have been on records, which have sold over 50 million copies.
Rafe Van Hoy loves working in all styles of music, and continues to stay current, creating music in many formats.
Barbara Fairchild recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Love Is A Gentle Thing’ (co-written with Barbara Fairchild) and included the track on her debut album, ‘Someone Special’ (Columbia Records, 1970); the track reached No.69 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1969.
Tammy Wynette (Tuesday 5 May 1942 – Monday 6 April 1998) recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Right Here In Your Arms’ and included the track on ‘Woman To Woman’ (Epic Records, 1974).
Dottie West (Tuesday 11 October 1932 – Wednesday 4 September 1991) recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Lay Back Lover’ (co-written with Steve Pippin) and included the track on ‘House of Love’ (RCA Records, 1974); the track reached No.21 on the Billboard country musc singles chart in early 1975.
In January 2019, Dottie West’s ‘House of Love’ (RCA Records, 1974) was re-issued, in England, on CD, by Vocalion Records.
Dottie West (Tuesday 11 October 1932 – Wednesday 4 September 1991) recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘This Stranger, My Little Girl’ (co-written with Barbara Fairchild) and included the track on ‘Carolina Cousins’ (RCA Records, 1975).
BJ Thomas (Friday 7 August 1942 – Saturday 29 May 2021) recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Ballyhoo Days’ (co-written with Steve Pippin, Larry Henley, J. Slate and L. Keith) and included the track on ‘Help Me Make It (To My Rockin’ Chair)’ (ABC Records, 1975).
George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) & Tammy Wynette (Tuesday 5 May 1942 – Monday 6 April 1998) recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Golden Ring’ (co-written by Bobby Braddock) and included the track on ‘Golden Ring’ (Epic Records, 1976); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in August 1976.
Tanya Tucker recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Here We Are’, which was co-written with Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 – Sunday 30 October 2016), and included the track on ‘Lovin’ & Learnin’ (MCA Records, 1976).
Tammy Wynette (Tuesday 5 May 1942 – Monday 6 April 1998) recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Cheatin Is’ and included the track on ‘Let’s Get Together’ (Epic Records, 1977).
Tanya Tucker recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Let’s Keep It That Way’, which was co-written with Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 – Sunday 30 October 2016), and included the track on ‘Ridin’ Rainbows’ (MCA Records, 1977).
In September 1977, Sam Neely (Sunday 22 August 1948 – Wednesday 19 July 2006) recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Sail Away’ and saw the track released as a non-album track, on Elektra Records.
Barbara Mandrell recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Tonight’ (co-written with Don Cook) and included the track on ‘Love’s Ups & Downs’ (Dot Records, 1977); the track reached No.5 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1978.
Johnny Rodriguez recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Baby, You’re Something’, which was co-written with Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 – Sunday 30 October 2016) and Don Cook, and included the track on ‘Love Me With All Your Heart’ (Mercury Records, 1978).
The Oak Ridge Boys recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Cryin’ Again’ (co-written with Don Cook) and included the track on ‘Room Service’ (ABC Records, 1978); the track reached No.3 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1978.
Kenny Rogers (Sunday 21 August 1938 – Friday 20 March 2020) recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Sail Away’ and included the track on ‘Love Or Something Like It’ (United Artists Records, 1978), which was re-issued, in England, on CD, by Edsel Records, in 2009.
Anne Murray recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Let’s Keep It That Way’, which was co-written with Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 – Sunday 30 October 2016), and included the track on ‘Let’s Keep It That Way’ (Capitol Records, 1978).
Kenny Rogers (Sunday 21 August 1938 – Friday 20 March 2020) recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘I Wish That I Could Hurt That Way Again’, which was co-written with Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 – Sunday 30 October 2016) and Don Cook, and included the track on ‘The Gambler’ (United Artists Records, 1978).
Ed Bruce (Friday 29 December 1939 – Friday 8 January 2021) recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘The Greatest Love Song’, which was co-written with Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 – Sunday 30 October 2016), and included the track on ‘Cowboys & Dreamers’ (Epic Records, 1978).
On Monday 27 April 2009, England’s Hux Records released Ed Bruce‘s ‘Cowboys & Dreamers’, along with Ed Bruce‘s ‘The Tennessean’ (Hux Records, 2009), as a special ‘2-for-1‘ CD set (HUX106).
John Conlee recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Lady Lay Down’ (co-written with Don Cook) and included the track on ‘Rose Colored Glasses’ (ABC Records, 1979); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in January 1979.
Tammy Wynette (Tuesday 5 May 1942 – Monday 6 April 1998) recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘You Never Cross My Mind’, which was co-written with Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 – Sunday 30 October 2016) and Deborah Allen, and included the track on ‘Just Tammy’ (Epic Records, 1979).
England Dan Seals (Sunday 8 February 1948 – Wednesday 25 March 2009) & John Ford Coley recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘What’s Forever For’ and included the track on ‘Dr. Heckle & Mr. Jive’ (Big Tree Records, 1979).
In 1979, Emmylou Harris recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Cheatin’ Is’; the track, which was a duet with Glen Campbell (Wednesday 22 April 1936 – Tuesday 8 August 2017), was subsequently included on the 2004 CD re-issue of ‘Blue Kentucky Girl’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1979).
Billie Jo Spears (Thursday 14 January 1937 – Wednesday 14 December 2011) recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘You’ (co-written with Deborah Allen) and included the track on ‘I Will Survive’ (United Artists Records, 1979).
The Oak Ridge Boys recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Sail Away’ and included the track on ‘The Oak Ridge Boys Have Arrived’ (ABC Records, 1979); the track reached No.2 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1979, and No.1 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart for three weeks in June 1979.
The Kendalls – Royce Kendall (Wednesday 25 September 1935 – Friday 22 May 1998) and Jeannie Kendall – recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘I Don’t Do Like That No More’ (co-written with Sonny Throckmorton) and included the track on ‘Heart of The Matter’ (Ovation Records, 1979).
In 1979, Juice Newton recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Let’s Keep It That Way’, which was co-written with Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 – Sunday 30 October 2016), and saw the track released, on Capitol Records, as a non-album single, which reached No.37 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1979; the track was subsequently included on Juice Newton’s ‘Country Classics’ (EMI Records, 2002).
John Conlee recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Baby, You’re Something’, which was co-written with Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 – Sunday 30 October 2016) and Don Cook, and included the track on ‘Forever’ (MCA Records, 1979); the track reached No.7 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1980.
In 1979, Jewel Blanch recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Can I See You Tonight’ (co-written with Deborah Allen), and saw the track released, as a non-album single, on RCA Records.
Loretta Lynn (Thursday 14 April 1932 – Tuesday 4 October 2022) & Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 – Saturday 5 June 1993) recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘You Never Cross My Mind’, which was co-written with Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 – Sunday 30 October 2016) and Deborah Allen, and included the track on ‘Diamond Duet’ (MCA Records, 1979).
Mac Davis (Wednesday 21 January 1942 – Tuesday 29 September 2020) recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Let’s Keep It That Way’, which was co-written with Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 – Sunday 30 October 2016), and included the track on ‘It’s Hard To Be Humble’ (Casablanca Records, 1980); the track reached No.10 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1980.
In 1980, Nancy Sinatra recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Let’s Keep It That Way’, which was co-written with Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 – Sunday 30 October 2016), and saw the track released, as a non-album single on Elektra Records, as a non-album single; the track was subsequently included on ‘Cherry Smiles: The Rare Singles’ (Boots Enterprises, Inc., 2009).
Dan Seals (Sunday 8 February 1948 – Wednesday 25 March 2009) recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Late At Night’ (co-written with Dan Seals) and included the track on ‘Stones’ (Atlantic Records, 1980); Rafe Van Hoy played gut-string guitar on this track.
Dan Seals (Sunday 8 February 1948 – Wednesday 25 March 2009) recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Love Me Like The Last Time’ (co-written with Dan Seals) and included the track on ‘Stones’ (Atlantic Records, 1980); Rafe Van Hoy played acoustic guitar on this track.
Dan Seals (Sunday 8 February 1948 – Wednesday 25 March 2009) recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Take You Home’ (co-written with Dan Seals) and included the track on ‘Stones’ (Atlantic Records, 1980); Rafe Van Hoy played acoustic guitar on this track.
Dan Seals (Sunday 8 February 1948 – Wednesday 25 March 2009) recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Lullaby’ (co-written with Dan Seals) and included the track on ‘Stones’ (Atlantic Records, 1980); Rafe Van Hoy played gut-string guitar on this track.
In 1980, Rafe Van Hoy saw the release of ‘Prisoner of The Sky’ (MCA Records, 1980), which included the following tracks:
‘Keep Me Hangin’ On’
‘Silver Saxophone’
‘If You Don’t Know By Now’
‘Tell Me’
‘What’s Forever’ (written by Rafe Van Hoy)
‘Love Crazy Love’
‘At The Moonlite’
‘The Woman With The Heart of Gold’
‘I Wish That I Could Hurt That Way Again’
‘Prisoner of The Sky’
Anne Murray recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘What’s Forever For’ and included the track on ‘Somebody’s Waiting’ (Capitol Records, 1980).
David Allan Coe recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘The Great Nashville Railroad Disaster (The True Story)’ (co-written by Bobby Braddock) and included the track on ‘I’ve Got Something To Say’ (Columbia Records, 1980).
Tanya Tucker recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Can I See You Tonight’ (co-written with Deborah Allen) and included the track on ‘Dreamlovers’ (MCA Records, 1980); the track reached No.4 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1980.
The Bellamy Brothers (Howard Bellamy & David Bellamy) recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Naked Lady’ (co-written with Deborah Allen) and included the track on ‘You Can Get Crazy’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1980).
Dave & Sugar – Dave Rowland (Monday 26 January 1942 – Thursday 1 November 2018), Vicki Hackeman and Jackie Frantz – recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘New York Wine & Tennessee Shine’ (co-written with Deborah Allen) and included the track on ‘New York Wine & Tennessee Shine’ (RCA Victor Records, 1980); the track reached No.18 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1980, and No.10 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1980.
T.G. Sheppard recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Do It Again’ (co-written with Deborah Allen and Roy Culbertson) and included the track on ‘Smooth Sailing’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1980).
Deborah Allen recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘You Never Cross My Mind’ (co-written with Deborah Allen) and included the track on ‘Trouble In Paradise’ (Capitol Records, 1980); this track was released as a single in 1980, but it did not chart.
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Deborah Allen recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Nobody’s Fool’ (co-written with Deborah Allen) and included the track on ‘Trouble In Paradise’ (Capitol Records, 1980); the track reached No.24 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1980.
Deborah Allen recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘If I’d Known Then’ (co-written with Deborah Allen) and included the track on ‘Trouble In Paradise’ (Capitol Records, 1980).
Deborah Allen recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Don’t Stop Lovin’ Me’ (co-written with Deborah Allen) and included the track on ‘Trouble In Paradise’ (Capitol Records, 1980).
Deborah Allen recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘It’s Cold Inside’ (co-written with Deborah Allen) and included the track on ‘Trouble In Paradise’ (Capitol Records, 1980).
Deborah Allen recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Bells’ (co-written with Deborah Allen) and included the track on ‘Trouble In Paradise’ (Capitol Records, 1980).
Deborah Allen recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Trouble In Paradise’ (co-written with Deborah Allen) and included the track on ‘Trouble In Paradise’ (Capitol Records, 1980).
Deborah Allen recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Let Me Down’ (co-written with Deborah Allen) and included the track on ‘Trouble In Paradise’ (Capitol Records, 1980).
Deborah Allen recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Rest of The Way’ (co-written with Deborah Allen) and included the track on ‘Trouble In Paradise’ (Capitol Records, 1980).
Deborah Allen recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Next To You’ (co-written with Deborah Allen) and included the track on ‘Trouble In Paradise’ (Capitol Records, 1980).
Con Hunley recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘When It Hurts You Most’ (co-written with Don Cook) and included the track on ‘I Don’t Want To Lose You’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1980).
Debby Boone recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘I Wish That I Could Hurt That Way Again’, which was co-written with Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 – Sunday 30 October 2016) and Don Cook, and included the track on ‘Love Has No Reason’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1980).
Pure Prairie League recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘You’re Mine Tonight’ and included the track on ‘Something In The Night’ (Casablanca Records, 1981); the track reached No.68 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1981.
Michael Johnson (Tuesday 8 August 1944 – Tuesday 25 July 2017) recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Love Me Like The Last Time’, which was co-written with Dan Seals (Sunday 8 February 1948 – Wednesday 25 March 2009), and included the track on ‘Home Fire’ (EMI Records, 1981).
Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 – Saturday 5 June 1993) & Loretta Lynn (Thursday 14 April 1932 – Tuesday 4 October 2022) corded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Two’s A Party’ and included the track on ‘Two’s A Party’ (MCA Records, 1981).
Johnny Lee recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Little Bit of Lovin’ (co-written with Deborah Allen) and included the track on ‘Bet Your Heart On Me’ (Asylum Records, 1981).
Crystal Gayle recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Love, Crazy Love’ (co-written with Deborah Allen) and included the track on ‘Hollywood, Tennessee’ (Columbia Records, 1981).
T.G. Sheppard recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘What’s Forever For‘ and included the track on on ‘I Love ‘Em All’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1981).
Brenda Lee recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Out of Her Arms’ (co-written with Deborah Allen) and included the track on ‘Only When I Laugh’ (MCA Records, 1981).
The Oak Ridge Boys recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Somewhere In The Night’ and included the track on ‘Fancy Free’ (MCA Records, 1981).
Dottie West (Tuesday 11 October 1932 – Wednesday 4 September 1991) recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘I Wish That I Could Hurt That Way Again’, which was co-written with Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 – Sunday 30 October 2016) and Don Cook, and included the track on ‘Wild West’ (United Artists Records / Liberty Records, 1981) (album cover photo credit: Harry Langdon).
John Conlee recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘What’s Forever For‘ and included the track on ‘With Love’ (MCA Records, 1981).
Engelbert Humperdinck recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Heart Don’t Fail Me Now’ (co-written with Steve Dorff) and included the track on ‘Don’t You Love Me Anymore’ (MCA Records, 1981).
Tom Jones recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Lady Lay Down’ (co-written with Don Cook) and included the track on ‘Darlin’ (Mercury Records, 1981); the track reached No.26 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1981.
Sheena Easton recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘I’m Not Worth The Hurt’ (co-written with Deborah Allen and Eddie Struzick) and included the track on ‘You Could Have Been With Me’ (EMI Records, 1981).
Debby Boone recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Tonight’ (co-written with Don Cook) and included the track on ‘Savin’ It Up’ (Warner Bros. Records / Curb Records, 1981).
Paul Anka recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Lady Lay Down’ (co-written with Don Cook) and included the track on ‘Both Sides of Love’ (RCA Records, 1981).
In 1982, Deborah Allen saw the release, on Capitol Records, of a non-album track, ‘Let’s Stop Talkin’ About It’ (written by Deborah Allen, Rafe Van Hoy and Rory Bourke); the track was released as a single on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1982, but it did not chart.
Mickey Gilley (Monday 9 March 1936 – Saturday 7 May 2022) recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Rocky Road To Romance’ (co-written with Deborah Allen and Rosetta Posey) and included the track on ‘Put Your Dreams Away’ (Epic Records, 1982).
Johnny Lee recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Just Like Old Times’ (co-written with Deborah Allen) and included the track on ‘Sounds Like Love’ (Asylum Records, 1982).
Dan Seals (Sunday 8 February 1948 – Wednesday 25 March 2009) recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘It’s Not Gonna Be That Easy’ (co-written with Eddie Struzick and Deborah Allen) and included the track on ‘Harbinger’ (Atlantic Records, 1982).
Dan Seals (Sunday 8 February 1948 – Wednesday 25 March 2009) recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘I Don’t Believe I’ll Fall In Love Again’ (co-written with Dan Seals) and included the track on ‘Harbinger’ (Atlantic Records, 1982).
Dan Seals (Sunday 8 February 1948 – Wednesday 25 March 2009) recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Bad News’ (co-written with Dan Seals) and included the track on ‘Harbinger’ (Atlantic Records, 1982).
Rafe Van Hoy was one of the guitarists who played on Dan Seals’ ‘Harbinger’ (Atlantic Records, 1982).
Michael Martin Murphey recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘What’s Forever For’ and included the track on ‘Michael Martin Murphey’ (Liberty Records, 1982); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in September / October 1982, and reached No.19 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1982.
Johnny Mathis recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘What’s Forever For’ and included the track on ‘Friends In Love’ (Columbia Records, 1982).
In 1982, Dorothy Moore saw the release, on Handshake Records & Tapes, of a non-album track, ‘What’s Forever For’ (written by Rafe Van Hoy).
David Frizzell recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘I Wish That I Could Hurt That Way Again’, which was co-written with Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 – Sunday 30 October 2016) and Don Cook, and included the track on ‘The Family’s Fine, But This One’s All Mine’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1982).
Con Hunley recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Just Like Old Times’ (co-written with Deborah Allen) and included the track on ‘Oh, Girl’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1982).
Anne Murray recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Come On Love’ (co-written with Austin Roberts) and included the track on ‘A Little Good News’ (Capitol Records, 1983).
Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 – Saturday 5 June 1993) recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘First Things First’ (co-written with Don Cook) and included the track on ‘Lost In The Feeling’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1983).
Tanya Tucker recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Heartache & A Half’ (co-written with Deborah Allen and Eddie Struzick) and included the track on ‘Changes’ (Arista Records, 1983).
John Conlee recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘I’m Only In It For The Love’ (co-written with Deborah Allen and Kix Brooks) and included the track on ‘In My Eyes’ (MCA Records, 1983); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in September 1983.
Rita Coolidge recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘You Do It’ (co-written with Eddie Struzick and Deborah Allen) and included the track on ‘Never Let You Go’ (A&M Records, 1983).
Mickey Gilley (Monday 9 March 1936 – Saturday 7 May 2022) recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘You Never Cross My Mind’, which was co-written with Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 – Sunday 30 October 2016) and Deborah Allen, and included the track on ‘You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me’ (Epic Records, 1983).
Diana Ross recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘You Do It’ (co-written with Deborah Allen and Eddie Struzick) and included the track on ‘Ross’ (Europe: Capitol Records, 1983).
Tom Wopat recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Up On A Hill’, which was co-written with Dan Seals (Sunday 8 February 1948 – Wednesday 25 March 2009), and included the track on ‘Tom Wopat’ (Columbia Records, 1983).
Tom Wopat recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Nobody’s Fool’ (co-written with Deborah Allen and Don Cook) and included the track on ‘Tom Wopat’ (Columbia Records, 1983).
Tom Wopat recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘It’s Not Worth The Hurt’ (co-written with Deborah Allen and Eddie Struzick) and included the track on ‘Tom Wopat’ (Columbia Records, 1983).
Lee Greenwood recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Somebody’s Gonna Love You’ (co-written with Don Cook) and included the track on ‘Somebody’s Gonna Love You’ (MCA Records, 1983); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in November 1983.
It was also in 1983 when Lacy J. Dalton saw the release of a non-album single, ‘It’s A Dirty Job’ (written by Don Cook and Rafe Van Hoy); the track, which was a duet with Bobby Bare, reached No.30 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1983, was subsequently included on Lacy J. Dalton‘s ‘Blue Eyed Blues’ (Columbia Records, 1987) and Bobby Bare‘s ‘Bare Tracks: The Columbia Years’ (Koch Records, 1999).
Deborah Allen recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Baby I Lied’ (co-written with Deborah Allen and Rory Bourke) and included the track on ‘Cheat The Night’ (RCA Records, 1983); the track, which reached No.4 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1983, No.26 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in January 1984, and No.10 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart in 1983, became Deborah Allen‘s signature song.
Deborah Allen recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘I’ve Been Wrong Before‘ (co-written with Deborah Allen and Don Cook) and included the track on ‘Cheat The Night’ (RCA Records, 1983); the track reached No.2 on the Billboard country music singles chart in April 1984, and No.1 on the Cash Box Country Chart in Spring 1984.
Deborah Allen recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘I Hurt For You‘ (co-written with Deborah Allen) and included the track on ‘Cheat The Night’ (RCA Records, 1983); the track reached No.10 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1984.
Dan Seals (Sunday 8 February 1948 – Wednesday 25 March 2009) recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Oh, These Nights’ (co-written with Dan Seals) and included the track on ‘San Antone’ (Liberty Records, 1984).
Janie Fricke recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Let’s Stop Talkin’ About It’ (co-written with Deborah Allen and Rory Bourke) 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.
Deborah Allen recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Heartache & A Half’ (co-written with Deborah Allen and Eddie Struzick) and included the track on ‘Let Me Be The First’ (RCA Records, 1984); the track reached No.23 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1984.
Tracey Ullman recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Baby, I Lied’ (co-written with Deborah Allen and Rory Bourke) and included the track on ‘You Caught Me Out’ (Stiff Records, 1984).
Dan Seals (Sunday 8 February 1948 – Wednesday 25 March 2009) recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Lullaby’ (co-written with Dan Seals) and included the track on ‘On The Front Line’ (Capitol Records, 1986).
Nicolette Larson (Thursday 17 July 1952 – Tuesday 16 December 1997) recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘If I Didn’t Love You’ (co-written with Deborah Allen) and included the track on ‘Rose of My Heart’ (MCA Records, 1986).
Nicolette Larson (Thursday 17 July 1952 – Tuesday 16 December 1997) recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Let Me Be The First’ (co-written with Kix Brooks and Deborah Allen) and included the track on ‘Rose of My Heart’ (MCA Records, 1986); the track reached No.63 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1986.
T. Graham Brown recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘I Wish That I Could Hurt That Way Again’, which was co-written with Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 – Sunday 30 October 2016) and Don Cook, and included the track on ‘I Tell It Like It Used To Be’ (Capitol Records, 1986); the track reached No.3 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1986.
Tanya Tucker recorded Rafe Van Hoy‘s ‘If I Didn’t Love You’ (co-written with Deborah Allen) and included the track on ‘Love Me Like You Used To’ (Capitol Records, 1987).
In 2010, Tanya Tucker‘s ‘Love Me Like You Used To’ (Capitol Records, 1987), along with Tanya Tucker‘s ‘Girls Like Me’ (Capitol Records, 1986), was re-issued by Hump Head Records, as a ‘2-on-1’ CD set, ‘Girls Like Me / Love Me Like You Used To’ (Hump Head Records, 2010).
Sawyer Brown recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Somewhere In The Night’ (co-written with Don Cook) and included the track on ‘Somewhere In The Night’ (Capitol Records / Curb Records, 1987); the track reached No.29 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1987.
Juice Newton recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘If I Didn’t Love You’ (co-written with Deborah Allen) and included the track on ‘Emotion’ (Capitol Records, 1987).
Dana McVicker recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Let’s Keep It That Way’, which was co-written with Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 – Sunday 30 October 2016), and included the track on ‘Dana McVicker’ (Capitol Records, 1988).
Marie Osmond recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Let Me Be The First’ (co-written with Deborah Allen and Kix Brooks) and included the track on ‘Steppin’ Stone’ (Capitol Records, 1989).
Suzy Bogguss recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘All Things Made New Again’, which was co-written with Dan Seals (Sunday 8 February 1948 – Wednesday 25 March 2009), and included the track on ‘Moment of Truth’ (Liberty Records, 1990); the track was a duet with Dan Seals.
Patty Loveless recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Hurt Me Bad (In A Real Good Way)’ (co-written with Deborah Allen) and included the track on ‘Up Against My Heart’ (MCA Records, 1991); the track, which reached No.3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1991, featured harmony vocals from Deborah Allen.
Mark Chesnutt recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Old Flames Have New Names’ (co-written with Bobby Braddock) and included the track on ‘Longnecks & Short Stories’ (MCA Records, 1992); this track reached No.5 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1992, and No.4 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1992.
Deborah Allen recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Rock Me (In The Cradle of Love)’ (co-written with Deborah Allen) and included the track on ‘Delta Dreamland’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1993), which was produced by Rafe VanHoy, Deborah Allen and Wendy Dougan; the track reached No.30 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1993.
Although ‘Rock Me (In The Cradle of Love)’ (written by Rafe VanHoy and Deborah Allen) charted at No.30 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1993, the record seemed to reach a much larger audience and status by virtue of the hit video which accompanied its release.
The video for ‘Rock Me (In The Cradle of Love)’ (written by Rafe VanHoy and Deborah Allen) was filmed on Deborah Allen‘s own 16mm Ariflex SR film camera and edited on her own Sony editing machine; Deborah Allen received ‘The Music City Summit Award’ for her co-producing and co-directing skills.
Deborah Allen recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘If You’re Not Gonna Love Me’ (co-written with Deborah Allen and Mark Collie) and included the track on ‘Delta Dreamland’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1993); the track reached No.44 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1993.
Deborah Allen recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Delta Dreamland‘ (co-written with Deborah Allen) and included the track on ‘Delta Dreamland’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1993).
Deborah Allen recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Long Time Lovin’ You‘ (co-written with Deborah Allen and Larry Henley) and included the track on ‘Delta Dreamland’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1993).
Deborah Allen recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘All The Loving & The Hurting Too‘ (co-written with Deborah Allen) and included the track on ‘Delta Dreamland’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1993).
Deborah Allen recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Two Shades of Blue‘ (co-written with Deborah Allen and Bobby Braddock) and included the track on ‘Delta Dreamland’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1993).
Deborah Allen recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Chain Lightning‘ (co-written with Deborah Allen and Billy Burnette) and included the track on ‘Delta Dreamland’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1993).
Deborah Allen recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Undeniable‘ (co-written with Deborah Allen) and included the track on ‘Delta Dreamland’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1993).
Deborah Allen recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Into My Life‘ (co-written with Deborah Allen) and included the track on ‘Delta Dreamland’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1993).
Personnel involved in the recording of Deborah Allen‘s ‘Delta Dreamland’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1993) included the following:
Deborah Allen (lead vocals, synthesizers)
Rafe Van Hoy (electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, vocals)
Brent Mason, Dann Huff and Billy Burnette (electric guitar)
Weldon Myrick (Monday 10 April 1939 – Monday 2 June 2014), Dan Dugmore and Tommy Spurlock (passed away on Sunday 28 November 2021) (steel guitar)
Mike Henderson (Dobro)
Glenn Worf (bass)
Lonnie Wilson (drums, cymbals, percussion, vocals)
Steve Nathan (keyboards)
Bill Cuomo (keyboards, organ, synthesizers, strings)
Vicki Hampton (vocals)
Deborah Allen‘s ‘Delta Dreamland’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1993) reached No.55 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1993.
Mark Collie recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Keep It Up’ (co-written with Mark Collie and Deborah Allen) and included the track on ‘Mark Collie’ (MCA Records, 1993).
Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 – Saturday 5 June 1993) recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘I Hurt For You’ (co-written with Deborah Allen) and included the track on ‘Final Touches’ (MCA Records, 1993), which was Conway Twitty’s final studio album.
Deborah Allen recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Talkin’ To My Heart’ (co-written with Deborah Allen and Billy Burnette) and included the track on ‘All That I Am’ (Giant Records, 1994).
Mark Collie recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Lonely Streak’ (co-written with Mark Collie and Deborah Allen) and included the track on ‘Unleashed’ (MCA Records, 1994).
Suzy Bogguss & Chet Atkins (Friday 20 June 1924 – Saturday 30 June 2001) recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Two Shades of Blue’ (co-written with Bobby Braddock and Deborah Allen) and included the track on ‘Simpatico’ (Liberty Records, 1994).
The Mavericks recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘My Secret Flame’ and included the track on ‘Music For all Occasions’ (MCA Records, 1995).
Fleetwood Mac recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Talkin’ To My Heart’ (co-written with Billy Burnette and Deborah Allen) and included the track on ‘Time’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1995); the track featured guest vocals from Billy Burnette and Bekka Bramlett.
Dan Seals (Sunday 8 February 1948 – Wednesday 25 March 2009) recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Don’t Believe I’d Fall In Love Again’ (co-written with Dan Seals) and included the track on ‘In A Quiet Rom’ (Intersound Records, 1995).
Lee Roy Parnell recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘When A Woman Loves A Man’ (co-written with Mark Luna) and included the track on ‘We All Get Lucky Sometimes’ (Arista Nashville Records, 1995); the track, which reached No.12 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1995, and No.21 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1995, featured harmony vocals from Trisha Yearwood.
Paul Carrack recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘No Easy Way Out’ (co-written with Paul Carrack) and included the track on ‘Blue Views’ (United Kingdom: I.R.S. Records / United States: Ark 21 Records, 1995).
Paul Carrack recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Somewhere In Your Heart’ (co-written with Paul Carrack) and included the track on ‘Blue Views’ (United Kingdom: I.R.S. Records / United States: Ark 21 Records, 1995).
LeAnn Rimes recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Hurt Me’ (co-written with Bobby Braddock and Deborah Allen) and included the track on ‘Blue’ (Curb Records, 1996); the track reached No.43 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1996.
Olivia Newton-John (Sunday 26 September 1948 – Monday 8 August 2022) recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘What’s Forever For’ and included the track on (the Japanese release of) ‘Back With A Heart’ (MCA Records, 1998).
LeAnn Rimes recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Undeniable’ (co-written with Deborah Allen) and included the track on ‘Sittin’ On Top of The World’ (Curb Records, 1998).
LeAnn Rimes recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Rock Me (In The Cradle of Love)’ (co-written with Deborah Allen) and included the track on ‘Sittin’ On Top of The World’ (Curb Records, 1998).
LeAnn Rimes recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘All The Lovin’ & Hurting’ (co-written with Deborah Allen) and included the track on ‘Sittin’ On Top of The World’ (Curb Records, 1998).
Sean Keane recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Lullaby’, which was co-written with Dan Seals (Sunday 8 February 1948 – Wednesday 25 March 2009), and included the track on ‘No Stranger’ (The Grapevine Label, 1998); Sean Keane’s version of the track featured additional lyrics by Charlie McGettigan.
Billy Gilman recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘What’s Forever For?’ and included the track on ‘One Voice’ (Epic Records, 2000); the track was produced by Don Cook and Blake Chancey.
BJ Thomas (Friday 7 August 1942 – Saturday 29 May 2021) recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘What’s Forever For?’ and included the track on ‘You Call That A Mountain’ (Kardina Records, 2000).
On Tuesday 16 April 2002, Steve Azar saw the release of ‘Waitin’ On Joe’ (Mercury Records, 2002), which was produced by Rafe Van Hoy, and included three tracks, which were released as singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘I Don’t Have To Be Me (‘Til Monday)’ (written by Steve Azar, Jason Young and R.C. Bannon) (No.2, 2001) / this track also reached No.35 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 2001
‘Waitin’ On Joe’ (written by Steve Azar) (No.28, 2002)
‘One Good Reason Why’ (written by Steve Azar and Rafe Van Hoy) / this track was released as a single in 2003, but it did not chart
Steve Azar’s ‘Waitin’ On Joe’ (Mercury Records, 2002) also included the following tracks:
‘How Long Is This Time Gonna Be’ (written by Steve Azar and Rafe Van Hoy)
‘Damn The Money’ (written by Steve Azar, Rafe Van Hoy and Stacy Beyer)
‘My Heart Wants To Run’ (written by Steve Azar)
‘The Underdog’ (written by Steve Azar and Rafe Van Hoy)
‘Lay Your Heart Next To Mine’ (written by Steve Azar and Rafe Van Hoy)
‘Goin’ To Beat The Devil (To See My Angel Tonight)’, which was written by Steve Azar, Arthur John Masaracchia (known professionally as A.J. Masters) (Wednesday 20 December 1950 – Monday 12 January 2015) and Johnny Douglas
‘You Don’t Know How It Feels’ (written by Steve Azar and Rafe Van Hoy)
‘River’s On The Rise’ (written by Roger Murrah, Mark Paul and Steve Azar)
Personnel involved in the recording of Steve Azar’s ‘Waitin’ On Joe’ (Mercury Records, 2002) included the following:
David Angell, David Davidson and Pamela Sixfin (violin)
Steve Azar (lead vocals, background vocals)
Terry Brock (background vocals)
John Catchings (string arrangements, cello)
Dan Harris (slide guitar)
Chris Kent (bass guitar)
Sonny Landreth (electric guitar, slide guitar)
Luke Mason (drums, percussion, background vocals)
Gary Morse (steel guitar, Weissenborn)
Tania Smith (keyboards, strings)
Rafe Van Hoy (bass guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar)
Kristin Wilkinson (viola)
Jason Young (harmonica, background vocals)
Jonathan Yudkin (mandolin)
Steve Azar’s ‘Waitin’ On Joe’ (Mercury Records, 2002) reached No.29 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2002.
Brooks & Dunn (Kix Brooks & Ronnie Dunn) recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Memory Town’ (co-written with Kix Brooks) and included the track on ‘Red Dirt Road’ (Arista Nashville Records, 2003).
Reba McEntire recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Big Blue Sky’ (co-written with Steve Azar) and included the track on ‘Love Revival’ (Hallmark Cards / MCA Records, 2008); this track was previously unreleased.
Steve Azar recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Empty Spaces’ (co-written with Steve Azar) and included the track on ‘Indianola’ (Dang Records, 2008).
Steve Azar recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘The River’s Working’ (co-written with Steve Azar) and included the track on ‘Indianola’ (Dang Records, 2008).
Terri Clark recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Golden Ring’ (co-written with Bobby Braddock) and included the track on ‘Classic’ (Bare Tracks Records / EMI Canada, 2012).
Kix Brooks recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Complete 360’ (co-written with Kix Brooks) and included the track on ‘New To This Town’ (Arista Records, 2012); the track reached No.49 on the Billboard Country Airplay Chart in 2012.
Kix Brooks recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Tattoo’, which was co-written with Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 – Sunday 30 October 2016) and Kix Brooks, and included the track on ‘New To This Town’ (Arista Records, 2012).
BJ Thomas (Friday 7 August 1942 – Saturday 29 May 2021) recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘What’s Forever For?’ and included the track on ‘Country’ (Sony Music, 2012).
Teea Goans recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘What’s Forever For?’ and included the track on ‘Memories To Burn’ (Crosswind Corporation, 2014).
Jamie O’Neal recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Golden Ring’ (co-written with Bobby Braddock) and included the track on ‘Eternal’ (Shanachie Records, 2014); this track was a duet with Andy Griggs.
Jamie O’Neal recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Rock Me (In The Cradle of Love)’ (co-written with Deborah Allen) and included the track on ‘Eternal’ (Shanachie Records, 2014).
T.G. Sheppard & Kelly Lang recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Golden Ring’ (co-written with Bobby Braddock) and included the track on ‘Iconic Duets’ (Time Life Music, 2014).
Rhonda Vincent & Daryle Singletary (Wednesday 10 March 1971 – Monday 12 February 2018) recorded Rafe Van Hoy’s ‘Golden Ring’ (co-written with Bobby Braddock) and included the track on ‘American Bandstand’ (Upper Management Music, 2017).
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