Songwriter. He and his wife, Felice Bryant, gained fame as American country and pop music songwriters. They are credited as becoming the first full-time Nashville songwriters. Trained in classical violin, he performed with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in their 1937 season. As his interest turned to country music, he played fiddle for Hank Perry and his Radio Cowboys, an Atlanta-based group. In 1945, he met his wife Felice in a hotel elevator, and five days later, they were married. In the first years of their marriage, the couple wrote about 90 songs together with little success until Little Jimmy Dickens recorded "Country Boy," which reached #7 on the Country Billboard chart in 1948. After that hit, they wrote for a long list of performers as well as having hits in Great Britain. The couple wrote several #1 Billboard hit songs for the Everly Brothers, such as "Bye, Bye Love" and "Wake Up Little Susie," both in 1957, and "All I Have to Do Is Dream" in 1958. All three songs were included in "Rolling Stone" magazine's list of the "Greatest 500 Songs of All Time." The Everly Brother's version of "Bye, Bye Love" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998 and has been recorded by several other artists. In 1976, they formed their own publishing company called House of Bryant Publishing Company. In 1979, the couple released their own album, "A Touch of Bryant." Among their many accolades, the couple were inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame and Country Music Hall of Fame both in 1991, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1972 and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1986. They are credited with authoring at least 6,000 songs, with 1,500 being recorded. The Bryants' song "Rocky Top" became the official state song of Tennessee in 1982. The couple had two sons. After his death, his wife continued to write songs.
Songwriter. He and his wife, Felice Bryant, gained fame as American country and pop music songwriters. They are credited as becoming the first full-time Nashville songwriters. Trained in classical violin, he performed with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in their 1937 season. As his interest turned to country music, he played fiddle for Hank Perry and his Radio Cowboys, an Atlanta-based group. In 1945, he met his wife Felice in a hotel elevator, and five days later, they were married. In the first years of their marriage, the couple wrote about 90 songs together with little success until Little Jimmy Dickens recorded "Country Boy," which reached #7 on the Country Billboard chart in 1948. After that hit, they wrote for a long list of performers as well as having hits in Great Britain. The couple wrote several #1 Billboard hit songs for the Everly Brothers, such as "Bye, Bye Love" and "Wake Up Little Susie," both in 1957, and "All I Have to Do Is Dream" in 1958. All three songs were included in "Rolling Stone" magazine's list of the "Greatest 500 Songs of All Time." The Everly Brother's version of "Bye, Bye Love" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998 and has been recorded by several other artists. In 1976, they formed their own publishing company called House of Bryant Publishing Company. In 1979, the couple released their own album, "A Touch of Bryant." Among their many accolades, the couple were inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame and Country Music Hall of Fame both in 1991, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1972 and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1986. They are credited with authoring at least 6,000 songs, with 1,500 being recorded. The Bryants' song "Rocky Top" became the official state song of Tennessee in 1982. The couple had two sons. After his death, his wife continued to write songs.
Bio by: Linda Davis
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