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Born 74 Years Ago Today in Minnesota, the Songwriter Behind Barbara Mandrell’s Signature Hit and Classics by Reba McEntire, Charley Pride, and Rod Stewart
Dennis Morgan, the American songwriter born in Tracy, Minnesota, on 30 July 1952, is being recognised for a career that produced major country and pop hits. After beginning as a musician, he moved to Nashville, wrote advertising jingles and session material, and became a prolific songwriter whose work helped define Barbara Mandrell’s career.
Morgan’s first major success came in 1978 with Mandrell’s three-week country chart-topper “Sleeping Single in a Double Bed”, co-written with Kye Fleming. The pair also wrote her signature song, “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool”, while Morgan’s catalogue includes number ones for Aretha Franklin and George Michael, Ronnie Milsap, Faith Hill, Steve Wariner and Sylvia, plus songs recorded by Rod Stewart and Reba McEntire.
In short
- Dennis Morgan wrote Barbara Mandrell’s signature hit.
- His songs became country and pop chart successes.
- He began his Nashville career writing commercial jingles.
Explained simply
Dennis Morgan is an American songwriter born in Minnesota in 1952 who became one of country music's most prolific hit-makers. After moving to Nashville, he transitioned from performing to writing, creating songs that became hits for many of music's biggest names.
His breakthrough came in 1978 when Barbara Mandrell took his song "Sleeping Single in a Double Bed" to number one on the country charts. Morgan went on to write chart-topping hits for artists across country and pop music, with his work recorded by figures ranging from Aretha Franklin and George Michael to Ronnie Milsap, Faith Hill, Rod Stewart and Reba McEntire.
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