ABBA

Songwriter from Louisiana who started out performing at venues throughout the American Southeast with a variety of bands, including Swampfox. He made the great egress to L.A. when he was twenty-one years of age and eventually wound up in Nashville, where he fashioned a career for himself as a country and western tunesmith.

Some of the songs he has had a hand in writing include “Only Game in Town”, released by America in 1979; “Christmas Rock” for Toby Keith, from the CD, Christmas to Christmas; “That’s the Thing About a Memory”, which was recorded by Tracy Byrd; and, the title track from Conway Twitty’s 1983 album, Lost in the Feeling, which featured Ricky Skaggs on background vocals and went to #2 on the country chart.

Other artists and groups who have recorded his songs include: Susie Allanson, The Association, Bobby Bare, Shirley Bassey, The Carpenters, Mark Chesnutt, Mark Collie, The Forester Sisters, Jim Horn, David Houston, Charlie McClain, Ronnie Milsap, Michael Martin Murphy, The Neville Brothers, Helen Reddy, Kenny Rogers, Seals & Crofts, Ricky Van Shelton, B.J. Thomas, Pam Tillis, Tanya Tucker, and Gene Watson.

For his efforts, he has received a President’s award and a song award from The Nashville Songwriters Association International and several awards from BMI, including Songwriter of the Year.

In an administrative capacity, he worked as an Artist and Repertory consultant at MCA Records Nashville for several years, was instrumental in helping launch Chrysalis Music Group, Inc., and was on the NSAI board for nearly a decade, championing the cause of composers’ rights.

For more information on this prolific songwriter, please see his website, listed below.

Joe Stampley recordings

Backslidin’ (Lewis Anderson/Paul Craft)

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