Department of Music News

Norris "Norro" Wilson joins Hall of Distinguished Alumni

Date: Thursday, August 25th, 2011

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Norris “Norro” Wilson

Norris D. “Norro” Wilson, a native of Scottsville, Ky., has written some of country music’s most recognizable hits – The Most Beautiful Girl, A Picture of Me (Without You) and The Grand Tour – and is a legendary record producer.

Norris D. "Norro" Wilson

Wilson graduated from Scottsville High School in 1956 and attended Western Kentucky State Teachers College on a music scholarship. He was a member of a barbershop quartet in high school then later joined the Southlanders Quartet and The Omegas. As a solo artist, Wilson scored a top 20 hit in 1970 with Do It to Someone You Love.

His success has come as a writer and producer for artists including John Anderson, Kenny Chesney, Sara Evans, George Jones, Sammy Kershaw, Reba McEntire, John Michael Montgomery, Steve Wariner, Tammy Wynette and more.

Wilson joined the songwriters at Acuff-Rose in Nashville in 1962 and then began working for Al Gallico Music in 1967. He accepted an A&R-producer position with Warner Bros. Records in 1975, moved to RCA in 1982 and became CEO of Merit Music in 1987. Wilson started Norro Productions in 1990 and formed Bud Ro Productions with Buddy Cannon in 1998.

In the 1970s and ’80s, Wilson wrote several No. 1 hits, including Charlie Rich’s The Most Beautiful Girl and A Very Special Love Song, Wynette’s He Loves Me All the Way and Another Lonely Song, George Jones’ The Grand Tour and Charley Pride’s Night Games.

Wilson’s numerous awards include induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1996 and the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame in 2008, a 1974 Grammy for Best Country Song for A Very Special Love Song and more than 30 BMI Awards, including country songwriter of the year in 1973-75. Wilson resides in Nashville, Tenn.

Contact: Tracy Morrison, (270) 745-4395.