Red Lane
Red Lane | |
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RCA Victor |
Red Lane (born Hollis Rudolph DeLaughter;[1] surname pronounced Dee-LAW-ter; February 9, 1939 – July 1, 2015)[2] was an American country music singer, songwriter and guitarist who was a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (1993).[3] A self-taught musician, Lane began writing songs in the early 1960s and over his career wrote or co-wrote 60 songs that reached the U.S. top 100 country charts.[4] Outside of country music, Lane's songs have been recorded by a diverse group of artists including Bob Dylan, Ray Charles and Solomon Burke. He has credits as composer or instrumentalist on at least 386 albums.[5]
His most widely-known songs include, "
Lane's songs were recorded by many country artists, including
Early life
He was born in Zona, Louisiana which was later incorporated into the town of
In the early '60s, he took up songwriting, being inspired by the writing of Willie Nelson. He became acquainted with Justin Tubb, son of country star Ernest Tubb, who hired Lane to play in his band and arranged getting some of Lane's songs to Nashville's Buddy Killen, of Tree International Publishing.[10][11] Killen facilitated Lane's move to Nashville and signed him as a staff writer in April 1964.[12] Just over a week after moving to Nashville, Lane appeared on the Grand Ole Opry with Tubb. Lane said, "What do you do after you've reached all your dreams in 8 days?"[7] A year later, Lane won a BMI songwriting award with the hit song "My Friend on the Right" recorded by Faron Young. Today, at the Sony/ATV building writers' quarters where young songwriters sketch out songs, Red Lane's portrait now hangs.[13]
Career
Lane's career as a solo singer was mediocre. He was offered a recording contract by
Lane's music has been recorded by many non-country artists including Elvis Costello, Ray Charles, Engelbert Humperdinck, Solomon Burke and Bob Dylan.[9] In Nashville, he was hired by Dottie West as a guitarist and MC in her band, called "The Heartaches".[15] Lane developed a productive association with West, who recorded dozens of his songs. He was a guitarist for Merle Haggard and The Strangers, who recorded about 25 of Lane's songs.[1]
Unique character
Lane had been interested in airplanes since his early career as an aircraft mechanic. He eventually got his pilot's license, and also became a skydiver. He used this experience in a song "The Day I Jumped from Uncle Harvey's Plane" recorded by
Lane died of cancer in Nashville on July 1, 2015. He was 76.[2]
References
- ^ a b Whitaker, Sterling (July 2, 2015). "Songwriter Red Lane Dead at 76". Taste of Country.com. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
- ^ a b "Red Lane Obituary". Legacy.com. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
- ^ "Inductees". Nashvillesongwritersfoundation.com. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
- ^ "Songs Written by Red Lane". MusicVF.com. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
- ^ "Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
- ^ Betts, Stephen (July 2, 2015). "Merle Haggard, Tammy Wynette Songwriter Red Lane Dead at 76". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
- ^ a b c d McCall, Michael. "Poets and Prophets: Salute to Legendary Country Songwriter Red Lane".[dead link]
- ^ a b c Thanki, Juli (July 2, 2015). "Songwriter Red Lane Dies at 76". The Tennessean. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
- ^ a b c "Hall of Fame Honors Red Lane". Musicrow.com. August 6, 2010. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
- ^ a b Morris, Edward (July 1, 2015). "Famed Songwriter Red Lane Dead at 76". Country Music Television. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
- ^ Dauphin, Chuck (July 2, 2015). "Merle Haggard Songwriter Red Lane Dies at 76". Billboard. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
- ISBN 9780195395631. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
- ^ Jurgenson, John (August 13, 2010). "The Secrets of Songwriters". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
- ^ ISBN 9781304122339. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
- ^ Crackett, Alan. "Red Lane". AlanCrackett.com. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
- ^ Morris, Paul. "This Plane Looks Like It Crashed into the Forest. What He's Using It For Now? BRILLIANT!". Little Things.com. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
- ^ Arendal, Tammy. "Tennessee Crossroads". Tennesseecrossroads.org. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
- ^ Corcoran, Michael (March 16, 2012). "The Fan: How Darrell Royal, and his friendship with Willie Nelson, shaped Austin music". austin360.com. Retrieved July 28, 2015.