International Songwriters Association (ISA) Songs And Songwriting • Interviews
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International Songwriters Association
The Interviews
Andrew Lloyd Webber Interview
The New York Times have named Andrew "the most commercially successful composer in history" while ISA members have consistently voted "Evita" as the best musical of all time
Dennis Locorriere Interview
He found fame as the voice of Dr. Hook, with hits like “Sylvia’s Mother” while as a songwriter, his work has been recorded by Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson!! His name? Dennis Locorriere
Buck Ram Interview
His songs have been recorded by simply everybody! Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, The Beach Boys, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston etc etc etc!
Jim Lauderdale Interview
A Grammy-winning performer who once backed Fats Domino, before going on to pen hit songs for George Strait, while releasing 36 solo albums to date. His name? Jim Lauderdale
Chip Taylor Interview
What could Frank Sinatra, Johnny Cash, Fats Domino, Cliff Richard, Janis Joplin, Dusty Springfield and Shaggy have in common? They've all recorded songs penned by Chip Taylor!
Charles Strouse Interview
His first song sold a million. His musical "Annie" became one of the longest-running shows on Broadway. But the song that sold 10 million - was by rapper Jay-Z. His name? Charles Strouse
John D Loudermilk Interview
When the first song you've ever written is a Top 10 hit and you yourself get offered an RCA recording contract - well you just have to have it made! Well John D Loudermilk had anyway!
Graham Lyle Interview
Graham penned not only Gallagher & Lyle's "I Wanna Stay with You", "Heart On My Sleeve" and "Breakaway", but also Tina Turner's "What’s Love Got To Do With It". And many more!
P J Proby Interview
He went to Hollywood to become an actor, released records, did demos for Elvis, wrote songs for Ricky Nelson and Johnny Burnette before finally emerging as a full-blown rock star himself
Larry Henley Interview
He scored a #1 as a singer with "Bread & Butter" before writing for everybody from Tina Turner to Wille Nelson, But he's still best known for the classic "Wind Beneath My Wings"
Simon May Interview
Cliff Richard, "EastEnders", The Pointer Sisters, "Howard's Way", Richard Clayderman, "Eldorado" and Ruby Turner all share just one thing in common. Which is? Simon May!
Beth Nielsen Chapman Interview
She's written songs for Tanya Tucker, Bette Midler, Faith Hill, Neil Diamond, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, but has in addition also released several outstanding solo albums
Gary Osborne Interview
His first song was published at age 15. He has had covers ranging from Cliff Richard to Jennifer Warnes - yet is still best known for his co-writing with Elton John and Jeff Wayne!
Jona Lewie Interview
As a teenager, he backed Gene Vincent. Then scored his first hit "Seaside Shuffle" in 1972, going on to produce "Stop The Cavalry" and "You'll Always Find Me in the Kitchen at Parties"
Mitch Murray Interview
The Beatles record your first song, but you're not too impressed. Instead, you go on to pen dozens of hits for other acts, and a country issues a set of postage stamps in your honour!
Wayland Holyfield Interview
To date, he has scored more than forty US Top Ten Country hits, including fourteen Number Ones, and he even got to pen his own state's song - "Arkansas (You Run Deep In Me)"
Dan Hill Interview
An international singer-songwriting star at 23 whose first hit "Sometimes When We Touch" was covered by more than 130 other singers, Dan Hill is undoubtedly the stuff of legends
Les Reed Interview
When he can pen songs recorded by artists as diverse as Elvis Presley, Garth Brooks, Bing Crosby, Marvin Gaye and Luciano Pavarotti, then Les Reed is clearly no ordinary songwriter!
Chas Hodges Interview
He worked with Joe Meek, backed Jerry Lee Lewis and Gene Vincent, played with hit-makers Deep Purple, to finally emerge as one-half of one of Britain's most loved acts - Chas & Dave
Steve Harley Interview
Most often praised for an innovative approach to music, his band, Cockney Rebel and the song "Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)", bear testament to a unique musical talent
Guy Clark Interview
A luminary in the realm of American folk and country music, Guy Clark leaves an indelible mark on the hearts of those who have been fortunate enough to listen to his compositions
Mel Tillis Interview
He has released a hundred singles, scored six Number One hits, and penned million-sellers not just for himself, but also for such luminaries as Kenny Rogers, Tom Jones and Patsy Cline
Bill Anderson Interview
He wrote his very first hit in 1958, his latest was nominated for a Grammy in 2023, and Steve Huey of AllMusic called him "one of the most successful songwriters in country music history"
Eric Woolfson Interview
Starting out as a session pianist during the heyday of Merseybeat, Eric Woolfson emerged as a songwriter of note, before founding what would become the legendary Alan Parsons Project
Mike Read Interview
When you are an iconic BBC DJ, and have edited the "Guinness Book of Hit Singles", what is left to do? Well how about penning a raft of hit songs? Mike Read has done all this. And more.
Marty Wilde Interview
Marty Wilde is an iconic singer, songwriter and record producer - one of the tiny number of music personalities to have scored a British hit in every decade from the 1950s to the 2020s
Nik Kershaw Interview
Nik has released 27 singles, and 20 albums. Has worked with everybody from Elton John to Genesis' Tony Banks. And he also performed at Live Aid, alongside Sting, Queen and Bowie!
Jerry Reid Interview
As a singer-guitarist, he is the tops. As a songwriter, well how about his songs for Elvis and Johnny Cash? And as for his acting - well there's always "Smokey & The Bandit". 1, 2 and 3!
Ron Miller Interview
Ron Miller pens hits for Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Barbra Streisand and Ray Charles - yet manages to maintain the lowest profile of any hit songwriter we know. But he spoke to us!
Stephen Schwartz Interview
Stephen Schwartz conquered Broadway at the age of 23 with 'Godspell' and his work includes 'Wicked', 'The Hunchback Of Notre Dame' and 'Enchanted', winning 3 Grammys and 3 Oscars!
Keith McCormack Interview
Given just how many new songs are released each and every day, what are the chances of a new songwriter penning the best-selling song for any given year? Well Keith McCormack did!
Hank Cochran Interview
He arrived in Nashville on a bus, but within a year, his songs were at the top of the Billboard charts. Since then, every country star of importance, has recorded at least one of his tunes
Mick Hanly Interview
Limerick-born Mick Hanly is the only Irish songwriter to be awarded both the prestigious BMI Most Played Country Song Of The Year Award and the equally prestigious BMI MillonAir Award
Bruce Welch Interview
Bruce Welch co-founded The Shadows who backed Cliff Richard. But then, he went on to pen million-selling songs for Olivia Newton John and to set up his own music publishing company
Guy Chambers Interview
His production and songwriting credits include Queen, Diana Ross, Tom Jones, James Blunt and Kylie Minogue, while his co-writing with Robbie Williams has so far sold fifty million units
Dallas Frazier Interview
He cut his first record at fourteen, and three years later, had his first US Number One as a songwriter. Elvis Presley, Number 1s, Gold Discs and Grammies, Dallas Frazier has done it all
Bill Martin Interview
Bill Martin, the Eurovision-winning writer whose songs have been recorded by everybody from Elvis Presley, Cliff Richard, Van Morrison & The Bay City Rollers, to country's Waylon Jennings!
Tony Hatch Interview
Tony Hatch has written hits for Petula Clark, Chubby Checker, Jackie Trent, Bobby Rydell and Connie Francis. And of course, he also penned the legendary theme for TV's "Neighbours"!
Janis Ian Interview
Janis wrote and recorded her first Top 20 hit at 14, and since then has had songs covered by Celine Dion, Bette Midler, Joan Baez, Cher, Shirley Bassey, Sheena Easton & Dusty Springfield
Gordon Lightfoot Interview
Gordon remains Canada's greatest singer-songwriter whose songs have been covered by Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Barbra Streisand, Eric Clapton, and Olivia Newton John
Gene Pitney Interview
A legendary star in his own right, Gene Pitney was also a talented songwriter who penned several hits for other stars, including Phil Spector, Bobby Vee, Roy Orbison & Ricky Nelson
Roger Cook Interview
Starting out as a pop star, Roger wrote 50+ hits for people like Cliff Richard, before moving to country music, becoming the only British songwriter in the Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame
Mike Batt Interview
Mike Batt introduced The Wombles to TV. Then he discovered, and wrote hits for Katie Melua, penning 'Bright Eyes' for Art Garfunkel, and even setting up his own hit-making record label
Don Black Interview
Don's very first songwriting attempt actually won him an Oscar! He has also written themes for several James Bond movies, and collaborated with Michal Jackson & Andrew Lloyd Webber
Barry Mason Interview
Barry Mason left London for Hollywood hoping to become a movie star. Instead he became a songwriter, selling more than 50 million records for Barbra Streisand, Tom Jones and more!
Lionel Bart Interview
Lionel's first Gold Disc song was written in ten minutes, and he went on to pen the musical 'Oliver' which won a shower of Oscar nominations gaining him the title "King Of Tin Pan Alley"
Johnny Marks Interview
Johnny Marks wrote one of the two most valuable songs of all time, which so far has sold 168 million copies. It is the song which everybody, everywhere, has sung - no matter how badly!
John Spalding Interview
After twenty years working for other publishers, John quit to set up his own Bocu Music. His very first signing? Abba! And he still runs the entire business without using a single computer!
Herbert Kretzmer Interview
At the age of 59, the TV critic for the Daily Mail got a call from Cameron Mackintosh asking if he could possibly pen lyrics for a musical. Herbert agreed. And so was born 'Les Misérables'!
Terry Noon Interview
Terry Noon backed Gene Vincent, and was part of Them with Van Morrison. But when offered a job in publishing, he took it, to become the era's most successsful independent publisher
Norman Petty Interview
A superb musician with several Gold Discs to his credit. A producer with his own studios who recorded countless hits, writing many of the songs. And he managed one of rock's immortals
Rodger Hodgson Interview
Rodger Hodgson founded the legendary Supertramp, both singing and writing most of their big hits, including 'Dreamer', 'Give A Little Bit', 'The Logical Song' and 'Breakfast In America'
Hal Shaper Interview
Lawyer Hal Shaper left South Africa for London to become a songwriter. His first hit was for Elvis Presley, allowing him to launch the mega-successful Sparta Florida Music Company
