Biographie

He started out playing in a bluegrass band, then worked as a disc jockey in Morehead, Kentucky. He served in the U.S. Army for four years. He moved to Nashville in 1964 and became a songwriter making $50 a week. He wrote songs for Jimmy C. Newman, Dave Dudley and Johnny Wright, then began recording them himself. The middle initial "T" was added when he got his recording contract to make his name catchier. His breakthrough hit was "Harper Valley P.T.A.," recorded by Jeannie Riley.

In some versions of "I Love," the lyrics "bourbon in a glass and grass" are replaced with the words "old TV shows and snow."

Scored seven No. 1 hits on Billboard magazine's country singles chart, including "A Week in a Country Jail" (1970); "The Year Clayton Delaney Died" (1971); "(Old Dogs, Children and) Watermelon Wine" (1973); "I Love" and "Country Is" (1974); "Sneaky Snake" (1975) and "Faster Horses (the Cowboy and the Poet)" (1976). His other major hits include "The Ballad of Forty Dollars" (1969); "Me and Jesus" (1972); "Ravishing Ruby" (1973); "That Song is Drivin' Me Crazy" (1974)"; "I Like Beer" (1975); "Fox on the Run" (1977); and "P.S. I Love You" (1984).

His storytelling-style of songwriting -- which ranged from downright fun to serious, somber and tackling social issues -- earned him the nickname "The Storyteller." His best known hit as a songwriter was "Harper Valley PTA," which was a No. 1 Billboard magazine country and pop smash for Jeannie C. Riley.

Country music performer and prolific songwriter.