Barbara Wyrick is an American singer and songwriter. She has written songs that became hits for
James Brown
James Joseph Brown (May 3, 1933 – December 25, 2006) was an American singer, dancer, musician, record producer and bandleader. The central progenitor of funk music and a major figure of 20th century music, he is often referred to by the honor ...
,
Candi Staton
Canzetta Maria "Candi" Staton (, ) (born March 13, 1940) is an American singer–songwriter, best known in the United States for her 1970 remake of Tammy Wynette's " Stand by Your Man" and her 1976 disco chart-topper "Young Hearts Run Free". In E ...
,
Mac Davis
Morris Mac Davis (January 21, 1942 – September 29, 2020) was an American country music singer, songwriter, and actor. A native of Lubbock, Texas, he enjoyed success as a crossover artist, and during his early career he wrote for Elvis Presley, ...
,
Janie Fricke, and others.
Background
The youngest of five children, Barbara Wyrick was born in Dyersburg, Tennessee on July 21, 1950.
She learnt how to play piano at a young age. She wrote the song "This Question" at age ten. At age twelve she entered into a competition and was introduced to
Rick Hall. This also led to her being signed on to his production and publishing company. Also around that time she recorded her composition "Little Sailor-Boy" which was released on a record.
She had success with an early composition "Lovin' You, Lovin' Me", which became a hit for
Candi Staton
Canzetta Maria "Candi" Staton (, ) (born March 13, 1940) is an American singer–songwriter, best known in the United States for her 1970 remake of Tammy Wynette's " Stand by Your Man" and her 1976 disco chart-topper "Young Hearts Run Free". In E ...
.
She was named as one of the top five United States country writers in 1984.
Career
1960s to 1970s
Following her graduation from high school in 1968, she attended Memphis State University and signed on as a staff writer with Fame Publishing. In 1972 she moved to Muscle Shoals.
Together with
Mickey Buckins she wrote "
Tell Me A Lie". Singer
Sami Jo recorded the song in 1973 which was produced by
Sonny Limbo
Sonny is a common nickname and occasional given name. Often it can be a derivative of the English word "Son", a name derived from the Ancient Germanic element *sunn meaning "sun", a nickname derived from the Italian name Salvatore (especially in N ...
. It became a hit and made it to no. 21 on the pop charts and no. 14 on the Easy Listening Charts.
According to the August 27, 1977 issue of ''Cash Box'', her debut album was due to come out in late Summer. Her single "Left Over Love" was released on Calliope 8005. One of the Picks of the week by ''Cash Box'', it was reviewed in the September 10, 1977 issue. The review was positive with the reviewer saying "the delicate quality of her voice is the strong point" and that it was for country and easy listening stations.
She was a background vocalist on
David Meece's 1978 Christian-themed album, ''Everybody Needs a Little Help''.
She wrote the song "One Man's Woman" with Tom Brassfield which was recorded by Kelly Warren and released in 1978 on
RCA. It was reviewed in the December 9 issue of ''Cash Box'' with the reviewer saying that the vocals and string arrangements were very good.
By the late 1970s, she was on the board of directors of the Muscle Shoals Music Association.
It was reported by ''Cash Box'' in the October 20, 1979 issue that Wyrick had signed an exclusive publishing agreement with Intersong Music (ASCAP).
1980s to present
James Brown
James Joseph Brown (May 3, 1933 – December 25, 2006) was an American singer, dancer, musician, record producer and bandleader. The central progenitor of funk music and a major figure of 20th century music, he is often referred to by the honor ...
recorded Wyrick's song "
Regrets
Regret is the emotion of wishing one had made a different decision in the past, because the consequences of the decision were unfavorable.
Regret is related to perceived opportunity. Its intensity varies over time after the decision, in regard ...
". Backed with "Stone Cold Drag", it was released on
Polydor
Polydor Records Ltd. is a German-British record label that operates as part of Universal Music Group. It has a close relationship with Universal's Interscope Geffen A&M Records label, which distributes Polydor's releases in the United States. ...
2054 in 1980. It was reviewed by ''
Cash Box
''Cashbox'', also known as ''Cash Box'', was an American music industry trade magazine, originally published weekly from July 1942 to November 1996. Ten years after its dissolution, it was revived and continues as ''Cashbox Magazine'', an online ...
'' in the magazine's January 19, 1980 issue. The reviewer referred to it as an easy ballad and said that it was nicely arranged. It was already noted by ''Cash Box'' in that issue as a programmer, by Jerry Rushien of WEDR in Miami. The single debuted at no. 92 on the ''Cash Box'' Top 100 on the week of February 23.
"
Tell Me a Lie" would be a hit again in 1983. This time the song was recorded by
Janie Fricke. It spent a week at no. 1 on the Radio & Records chart (December 2, 1983). It also did well on ''Billboard'', spending a week at no. 1. (December 10, 1983).
According to the October 13, 1984 issue of ''Cash Box'', she was a backing singer for
Ronnie Milsap
Ronnie Lee Milsap (born Ronald Lee Millsaps; January 16, 1943) is an American country music singer and pianist. He was one of country music's most popular and influential performers of the 1970s and 1980s. Nearly completely blind from birth, ...
and on tour with him. She was also named as the number 4 award winner in the ''Cash Box'' Country Awards, top five composer section.
She wrote the song "Sexy Young Girl" with
Mac Davis
Morris Mac Davis (January 21, 1942 – September 29, 2020) was an American country music singer, songwriter, and actor. A native of Lubbock, Texas, he enjoyed success as a crossover artist, and during his early career he wrote for Elvis Presley, ...
who released it as a single. Davis took the song to no. 46 on the ''Billboard'' Country chart in 1986.
[''MusicVF''.com ]
Songs written by Barbara Wyrick, Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography, Mac Davis 14. 02/1986 Sexy Young Girl by Mac Davis
/ref>
References
External links
* ''MusicVF''.com
Songs written by Barbara Wyrick, Top Songs
* Discog
Barbara Wyrick
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wyrick, Barbara
American songwriters
American women singers
Session musicians
1950 births
Living people