In Memoriam: Country Songwriting Great Wayland Holyfield

Beloved country songwriter and music creator advocate Wayland Holyfield has passed away at the age of 82. He was an ASCAP member for 43 years. 

Holyfield left an indelible mark on country music with his clever, deeply-felt songs. Throughout a decades-long career that took off soon after he left Arkansas for Nashville in the early 1970s, Holyfield wrote over 40 Top 10 hits and 14 #1s. His songs were recorded by dozens of the greatest artists in Nashville and beyond – including George Strait, Don Williams, Anne Murray, Brooks and Dunn, Reba McEntire, Randy Travis, Ronnie Milsap, Julio Iglesias, Crystal Gayle, Conway Twitty, Barbara Mandrell, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Charley Pride, The Oak Ridge Boys, John Anderson, Waylon Jennings, The Judds and George Jones, among many others. 

His songwriting credits include country classics like "Could I Have This Dance?," "Some Broken Hearts Never Mend," “Till the Rivers All Run Dry,” “You’re My Best Friend,” “You’re the Best Break This Old Heart Ever Had,” “Rednecks, White Socks and Blue Ribbon Beer,” “She Never Knew Me,” “Put Your Dreams Away,” “Your Love Shines Through,” You’re Going Out of My Mind,” “Stop the Rain,” “Down in Tennessee,” “When You Get to the Heart,” “Wish I Had a Heart of Stone,” “She Reminded Me of You,” “Don’t Count the Rainy Days,” “The Blues in Black and White,” “Only Here for a Little While,” and “Meanwhile.” His song "Arkansas, You Run Deep in Me" was named the Arkansas State Song.

ASCAP President Paul Williams commented: "With heavy hearts the ASCAP family mourns the passing of songwriter Wayland Holyfield who wrote among the most enduring country hits of his generation. Wayland served on the ASCAP Board of Directors for 24 years, during which time he was one of the most effective and fierce advocates for songwriters. We will miss his intelligence, his remarkable wit, and most of all his friendship."

Holyfield was a lifelong advocate for the rights of songwriters. In addition to his two dozen years on the ASCAP Board (and four years on the ASCAP Board of Review), Holyfield was a past president of the NSAI, as well as past chairman of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation Board. During his time on the ASCAP Board Wayland testified on behalf of songwriters and composers before both the Senate and House Judiciary Committees in Washington, DC. 

Some of his many accolades include induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, an ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year award, the Nashville Songwriters Association International’s Presidential Award, a CMA Triple Play Award and two Top Country Hits Awards from Music City News.

Holyfield is survived by his wife Nancy and their three grown children, Greg, Mark and Lee.