Country songwriter Wayland Holyfield, known for writing hit songs like “Some Broken Hearts Never Mend” and “You’re My Best Friend,” died Monday. He was 82.
The news was first reported by Music Row. No cause of death was revealed.
Holyfield was born in Little Rock, Arkansas. According to ASCAP, where the songwriter was a member for 43 years, he started building his songwriting career in the mid-1970s. He moved from Arkansas to Nashville, Tenn. to pursue his music career.
Throughout his career, Holyfield scored 14 No. 1 hits as a songwriter, while more than 40 of his songs reached the Top 10. Several top country artists have recorded Holyfield’s songs including Reba McEntire, George Strait, George Jones, the Judds, Don Williams, Brooks & Dunn, Randy Travis, Waylon Jennings and many more.
Williams gave Holyfield a No. 1 hit in 1975 with the release of “You’re My Best Friend.” He also recorded “She Never Knew Me,” “‘Til the Rivers All Run Dry” and “Some Broken Hearts Never Mend” which ended up being another No. 1 hit from 1978.
Anne Murray’s “Could I Have This Dance” is another well-known song from Holyfield’s songwriting catalog, which was a No. 1 hit from 1980 that served as one of the main love songs in “Urban Cowboy.” It went on to win a Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance, Female, and Holyfield once said it was one of his favorites from his songs.
Throughout his career, other awards Holyfield won include an ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year award, the Nashville Songwriters Association International’s Presidential Award and a CMA Triple Play Award. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1992.
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