Country Songwriter Series: Felice & Boudleaux Bryant

Monday Mayhem 15 10AM-2PM
Hosted by Sally Goodin

Boudleaux Bryant (1920-1987) was born in Georgia, and trained as a classical violinist. He played in the Atlanta Philharmonic Orchestra for the 1937- 38 season, but decided he like fiddling instead, and joined Hank Penny and his Radio Cowboys. In 1945 on tour in Milwaukee, he met Felice (1925-2003). The story goes that they eloped 5 days after meeting.

After marrying, they settled in Moultrie, Georgia. They started writing songs for fun, then got serious and sent their songs out. Their first hit was Country Boy, by Little Jimmy Dickens, in 1949. In 1950 they moved to Nashville. In the mid-50's they started writing songs for the Everly Brothers and had numerous hits: Wake Up Little Susie, Bird Dog, All I Have To Do Is Dream, Bye Bye Love, and Devoted To You.

They continued writing songs through the '80's, for Jim Reeves (How's The World Treating You), Emmylou Harris (Sleepless Nights), the Osborne Brothers (Rocky Top), and many others.