Max Duane Barnes (July 24, 1935 – January 11, 2004) was an American country singer and songwriter born in Hard Scratch, Iowa, United States. In 1973, Barnes moved with his family from Omaha, Nebraska to Nashville, Tennessee, where he died at age 68.

Career

Barnes gained success as a recording artist in the 1970s for

Ovation Records Ovation Records was an American independent record label based in Glenview, Illinois. The label was founded in 1969 by Dick Schory, who had been on RCA Records with his Percussion Pops Orchestra and had helped create the Dynagroove process used b ...

, Polydor, and Country Roads Records. Over the course of his career, Barnes recorded more than 400 songs. He composed some of the most popular country songs of the 1980s and 1990s. His works have sold over 50 million records worldwide. Notable cuts include: *

Delbert McClinton Delbert McClinton (born November 4, 1940) is an American blues rock and electric blues singer-songwriter, guitarist, harmonica player, and pianist. From his first professional stage appearance in 1957 to his most recent national tour in 2018, ...

: "Every Time I Roll the Dice" * George Jones: " Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes" * Waylon Jennings: "

Drinkin' and Dreamin' "Drinkin' and Dreamin'" is a song written by Troy Seals and Max D. Barnes, and recorded by American country music artist Waylon Jennings. It was released in June 1985 as the first single from the album '' Turn the Page''. The song reached No. 2 o ...

" *

Conway Twitty Harold Lloyd Jenkins (September 1, 1933 – June 5, 1993), better known by his stage name Conway Twitty, was an American singer and songwriter. Initially a part of the 1950s rockabilly scene, Twitty was best known as a country music performer. ...

: " Red Neckin' Love Makin' Night" *

Keith Whitley Jackie Keith Whitley (July 1, 1954 – May 9, 1989) was an American country music singer and songwriter. During his career, Whitley released only two albums but charted 12 singles on the ''Billboard'' country charts, and 7 more after his death. ...

: "

Ten Feet Away "Ten Feet Away" is a song written by Billy Sherrill, Troy Seals and Max D. Barnes, and recorded by American country music artist Keith Whitley. It was released in June 1986 as the third single from the album '' L.A. to Miami''. The song reached n ...

" *

Randy Travis Randy Bruce Traywick (born May 4, 1959), known professionally as Randy Travis, is an American country music and gospel music singer, songwriter, guitarist, and actor. Active from 1978 until being incapacitated by a stroke in 2013, he has recor ...

: " Storms Of Life", " If I Didn't Have You", and " I Won't Need You Anymore (Always and Forever)" *

Vern Gosdin Vernon Gosdin (August 5, 1934 – April 28, 2009) was an American country music singer. He had 19 top-10 solo hits on the country music charts from 1977 through 1990. Three of these hits went to Number One: "I Can Tell By the Way You Dance (You ...

: " Chiseled in Stone", "

If You're Gonna Do Me Wrong (Do It Right) "If You're Gonna Do Me Wrong (Do It Right)" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Vern Gosdin. It was released in February 1983 as the first single and title track from the album ''If Gonna Do Me Wrong (Do It Right)''. ...

", " This Ain't My First Rodeo", "

Way Down Deep "Way Down Deep" is a song written by Max D. Barnes and Max T. Barnes, and recorded by American country music artist Vern Gosdin. It was released in June 1983 as the second single from the album ''If You're Gonna Do Me Wrong (Do It Right)''. The ...

", and " Slow Burning Memory" *

Pam Tillis Pamela Yvonne Tillis (born July 24, 1957) is an American country music singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. She is the daughter of country music singer Mel Tillis and ex-wife of songwriter Bob DiPiero. Tillis recorded unsuccessful ...

: " Don't Tell Me What to Do" *

Vince Gill Vincent Grant Gill (born April 12, 1957) is an American country music singer, songwriter and musician. He has achieved commercial success and fame both as frontman of the country rock band Pure Prairie League in the 1970s and as a solo artist ...

: "

Look at Us ''Look at Us'' is the debut album by American pop duo Sonny & Cher, released in 1965 by Atco Records. The album reached number two on the ''Billboard'' 200 and was certified gold. Album information Shortly after their single "I Got You Babe" ...

" *

The Kendalls ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in En ...

Alan Jackson Alan Eugene Jackson (born October 17, 1958) is an American singer-songwriter. He is known for blending traditional honky-tonk and mainstream country pop sounds (for a style widely regarded as " neotraditional country"), as well as penning man ...

: "

Thank God for the Radio "Thank God for the Radio" is a 1984 single by The Kendalls. "Thank God for the Radio" was The Kendalls' third and last number one country hit. The single went to number one for one week and spent a total of twelve weeks on the country chart. Co ...

" *

Eddy Raven Edward Garvin Futch (born August 19, 1944), known professionally as Eddy Raven, is an American country music singer and songwriter. Active since 1962, Raven has recorded for several record labels, including ABC, Dimension, Elektra, RCA, Univer ...

: "

Joe Knows How to Live "Joe Knows How to Live" is a song written by Troy Seals, Max D. Barnes and Graham Lyle, and recorded by American country music artist Eddy Raven. It was released in May 1988 as the second single from his compilation album '' The Best of Eddy Ra ...

" *

John Anderson John Anderson may refer to: Business *John Anderson (Scottish businessman) (1747–1820), Scottish merchant and founder of Fermoy, Ireland * John Byers Anderson (1817–1897), American educator, military officer and railroad executive, mentor of ...

: "

I've Got It Made "I've Got It Made" is a song written by Max D. Barnes, and recorded by American country music artist John Anderson. It was released in November 1993 as the third single from his album '' Solid Ground''. The song reached number 3 on the ''Billboar ...

", "

Let Go of the Stone "Let Go of the Stone" is a song written by Max D. Barnes and Max T. Barnes, and recorded by American country music artist John Anderson. It was released in November 1992 as the fifth single from his album '' Seminole Wind''. The song reached num ...

Personal life

Prior to gaining fame as a singer and songwriter, he was a semi-truck driver. Max T Max D and Patsy Barnes

He was the father of three children, Genevieve Barnes Kephart, DeWayne Patrick Barnes and his youngest son, the award-winning singer-songwriter

Max T. Barnes Max Troy Barnes (born October 25, 1962) is an American country music singer-songwriter studio musician and producer. He is the son of songwriter Max D. Barnes. He has written songs with sales over 20 million records. Barnes resides on a ranch n ...

Awards

Barnes is a two-time

Country Music Association Awards The Country Music Association Awards, also known as the CMA Awards or CMAs, are presented to country music artists and broadcasters to recognize outstanding achievement in the country music industry. The televised annual presentation ceremony f ...

Song of the Year winner, in 1988 for " Chiseled in Stone," co-written with

, and in 1992 for "

," co-written with

. He was nominated for a

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pre ...

in 1989 for "Chiseled in Stone". He won the BMI Songwriter Award 18 times. In 1992, he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Association's International Hall of Fame. He received the following awards: * "Chiseled in Stone" – 1989 Country Award * "Don't Take It Away" – 1980 Country Award * "Don't Tell Me What to Do" – 1992 Country Award/Million-Air (Two million) * "Drinkin' and Dreamin'" – 1986 Country Award * "I Can't Love You Enough" – 1978 Country Award * "I've Got It Made" – 1995 Country Award/Million-Air * "I Won't Need You Anymore (Always and Forever)" – 1988 Country Award/Million-Air * "If I Didn't Have You" – 1993 Country Award/Million-Air (Two million) * "Joe Knows How To Live" – 1989 Country Award/Million-Air * "Let Go of The Stone" – 1993 Country Award/Million-Air * "Look at Us" – 1992 Country Award/Million-Air (Two million) * "Ten Feet Away" – 1987 Country Award * "Red Neckin' Love Makin' Night" – 1982 Pop Award/1982 Country Award * "Thank God for the Radio" – 1985 Country Award * "That Just About Does It" – 1990 Country Award * "Way Down Deep" – 1984 Country Award * "Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes" – 1987 Country Award * "Do You Believe Me Now?" – Million-Air

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barnes, Max D. 1936 births 2004 deaths American country singer-songwriters 20th-century American musicians Country musicians from Tennessee 20th-century American singers 20th-century American male musicians American male singer-songwriters Singer-songwriters from Iowa Singer-songwriters from Tennessee