Ted Hewitt Explained

Ted Hewitt
Birth Place:Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Origin:Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Years Active:1984–present

Ted Hewitt is an American country music producer, songwriter, singer, and musician[1] who has written and performed songs for numerous acts including Rodney Atkins, Tracy Byrd, Glen Campbell, Reba McEntire, and others.[2] [3] [4] He co-produced Atkins' 2006 album, If You're Going Through Hell, which was certified platinum by the RIAA.[1] [5] Other popular tracks written or produced by Hewitt include "Love Lessons" by Tracy Byrd[2] (#9 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs)[6] and "Wine into Water" by T. Graham Brown (#44).[7] [8]

Early life and education

Hewitt grew up in Baltimore, Maryland and was the child of two professional musicians. His father was an opera singer and actor who appeared alongside Andy Griffith in the Broadway production of No Time for Sergeants. Hewitt learned how to play the guitar at the age of 15. His father died early in his life. Hewitt graduated from Emory College in Atlanta, Georgia before moving to Nashville, Tennessee in 1984. It was there that he began his career in country music.[1] [2]

Career

Upon arriving in Nashville, Hewitt worked closely with producers like Buddy Cannon and Country legend Mel Tillis.[1] [2] Tillis signed Hewitt to a publishing contract in 1985. His first cut was called "Leavin' Eyes" which he wrote for Glen Campbell. Hewitt also sang on the recording of the song. After his publishing contract with Tillis ended, Hewitt toured with a range of artists including Vern Gosdin, Suzy Bogguss, and Lee Greenwood.[1]

Hewitt went back to writing and composing in 1992 when he signed a publishing contract with Lee Greenwood.[1] In 1995, he wrote Tracy Byrd's "Love Lessons"[2] which peaked at #9 on Billboard's list of Hot Country Songs.[6] While working for Greenwood, Hewitt also met Rodney Atkins and formed a songwriting partnership that continues to the present day. Hewitt helped Atkins earn a record contract at Curb Records in 1997.[1] The following year, he wrote T. Graham Brown's "Wine into Water"[9] which peaked at #44 on the Hot Country Songs list.[8]

Hewitt produced Rodney Atkins' 2003 album Honesty[10] which peaked at #50 on the Billboard list of Top Country Albums.[11] This ultimately led to Hewitt producing Atkins' 2006 platinum-selling album, If You're Going Through Hell. The album peaked at #1 on the Top Country Albums list and at #3 on the Billboard 200 list and contained four #1 singles.[1] [3] [12] In recognition of the album, Atkins was awarded the Academy of Country Music Award for Top New Male Vocalist in 2006.[1] The album was also nominated for Album of the Year, the title track was nominated for Song of the Year, and Hewitt himself was nominated for Producer of the Year.[13]

Hewitt has also produced other albums and tracks for Rodney Atkins including the albums It's America (2009) and Take a Back Road (2011).[3] [14] Most recently, Hewitt produced a 2014 single for Atkins called "Eat Sleep Love You Repeat."[15] In 2014, Hewitt was nominated by the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) for the Best Record Producer award for his work on Brett Kissel's album, Started with a Song.[16] He was again nominated for a CCMA Award in 2017 for Songwriter of the Year for co-writing Brett Kissel's song, "Cool with That."[17] Over the course of his career, Hewitt has also produced and performed on albums for artists like Waylon Jennings, Reba McEntire, Wynonna Judd, Les Taylor, Alabama, and numerous others.[1] [2]

Selected discography

Studio albums

As producer

TitleDetailsPeak chart positionsCertifications
(sales threshold)
US Country
[18]
US
[19]
US
Heat

[20]
CAN
[21]
Honesty 5047
If You're Going Through Hell
  • Artist: Rodney Atkins
  • Release date: July 18, 2006
  • Label: Curb Records
13
It's America
  • Artist: Rodney Atkins
  • Release date: March 31, 2009
  • Label: Curb Records
315
  • US: Gold
Take a Back Road
  • Artist: Rodney Atkins
  • Release date: October 4, 2011
  • Label: Curb Records
38
  • US: Gold
Started with a Song 22
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

As vocalist

TitleDetailsPeak chart positionsCertifications
(sales threshold)
US CountryUSUS
Heat
My Kind of Country 13[23]

Gold[24]

Voices in the Wind[25] 31[26] 116[27]
  • US: Gold
Something Up My Sleeve
  • Artist: Suzy Bogguss
  • Release date: September 21, 1993
  • Label: Liberty Records
27121
  • US: Gold
Craig Morgan
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Singles

As songwriter/producer

SongYearArtistAlbumRoleNotes
"Leavin' Eyes"1984Glen CampbellLetter to HomeWriter, producer
"Cruisin'"1986AlabamaThe TouchWriter
"No More Tears"[28] 1994David BallDavid Ball
"Love Lessons"1995Tracy ByrdLove LessonsUS Country #9
"Wine into Water"1998T. Graham BrownWine into WaterUS Country #44
"Don't Think I Won't"[29] Mark WillsWish You Were Here
"She Rides Wild Horses"[30] 1999Kenny RogersShe Rides Wild Horses
"He Rocks"[31] 2000Wynonna JuddNew Day Dawning
"Monkey in the Middle"2003Rodney AtkinsHonestyWriter, producer
"Honesty (Write Me a List)"Producer, vocalsUS Country #4
"Someone to Share it With"Writer, producer
"The Man I Am Today"
"My Old Man"[32] US Country #36
"Wasted Whiskey"[33] 2006If You're Going Through HellWriter, producer
"Cleaning This Gun (Come On In Boy)"Producer, vocalsUS Country #1
US Gold
"Watching You"US Country #1
US Platinum
"If You're Going Through Hell (Before the Devil Even Knows)"US Country #1
US Platinum
"These Are My People"US Country #1[34]
US Gold
"Home Sweet Oklahoma"[35] 2008Patti Page and Vince GillBest Country SongsWriter, producer
"Chasin' Girls"[36] 2009Rodney AtkinsIt's AmericaWriter, producer
"It's America"Producer, vocalsUS Country #1
"15 Minutes"[37] US Country #20
"Farmer's Daughter"2010US Country #5
US Platinum
"Growing Up Like That"2011Take a Back RoadWriter, producer
"Take a Back Road"ProducerUS Country #1
US Platinum
"He's Mine"[38] Producer, vocalsUS Country #23
"Tips"Writer, producer
"Lifelines"[39]
"Cool with That"2015Brett KisselPick Me UpWriter
"Wine Into Water"T. Graham BrownForever Changed
2016Loretta LynnFull Circle
"Nights in the Sun"[40] 2017Brett KisselWe Were That Song

External links

Notes and References

  1. Rea. James. The Producer's Chair: Ted Hewitt. MusicRow. August 28, 2012 . August 6, 2015.
  2. News: Corner. Douglas. Ted Hewitt: The Believing Mirror. Nashville Music Buzz. March 19, 2009. August 6, 2015.
  3. News: Kelly. Dennis M.. Review: Rodney Atkins – It's America. Chicago Music Guide. March 27, 2011. August 6, 2015.
  4. Web site: Reba McEntire – My Kind of Country. . www.discogs.com. . August 6, 2015.
  5. News: Biography. Rodney Atkins. 2011 . August 6, 2015.
  6. Web site: Tracy Byrd. . www.billboard.com. . August 6, 2015.
  7. Web site: Wine into Water. . www.allmusic.com. . August 6, 2015.
  8. Web site: T. Graham Brown. . www.billboard.com. . August 6, 2015.
  9. Flippo. Chet. SESAC, Hall of Fame Honor Songwriters; Tenn. Governor Lauds New Inductees. Billboard. October 2, 1999 . August 6, 2015.
  10. Evans Price. Deborah. 'Honesty' Pays Off For Rodney Atkins. Billboard. December 6, 2003 . August 6, 2015.
  11. Web site: Rodney Atkins. . www.billboard.com. . August 6, 2015.
  12. Web site: Rodney Atkins. . www.billboard.com. . August 6, 2015.
  13. News: Wayne. Robert. Producer Spotlight – Ted Hewitt. Robert Wayne Music. August 17, 2014. August 6, 2015.
  14. News: Addison. Daryl. GAC Album Review: Rodney Atkins' Take A Back Road. Great American Country. September 27, 2011. August 6, 2015.
  15. News: Rodney Atkins Releases New Single, 'Eat Sleep Love You Repeat'. CountryMusicIsLove. October 29, 2014. August 6, 2015.
  16. Web site: 2014 CCMA Award Nominees. Canadian Country Music Association . March 19, 2018.
  17. Web site: 2017 CCMA Award Nominees. Canadian Country Music Association . March 19, 2018.
  18. Web site: [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=rodney atkins|chart=Country Albums C}} Rodney Atkins Album & Song Chart History – Country Albums]. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. August 10, 2015.
  19. Web site: [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=rodney atkins|chart=Billboard 200}} Rodney Atkins Album & Song Chart History – Billboard 200]. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. August 10, 2015.
  20. Web site: [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=rodney atkins|chart=Heatseekers Albums}} Rodney Atkins Album & Song Chart History – Heatseekers Albums]. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. August 10, 2015.
  21. Brett Kissel - Chart History - Billboard Canadian Albums. Billboard . March 19, 2018.
  22. Web site: Rodney Atkins - Gold & Platinum. Recording Industry Association of America . April 28, 2018.
  23. Web site: [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p1724|pure_url=yes}} Billboard chart positions > albums]. Allmusic. August 10, 2015.
  24. Web site: RIAA search – "My Kind of Country". Recording Industry Association of America. August 10, 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924151606/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1. September 24, 2015. mdy-all.
  25. Web site: Ted Hewitt – Credits. . www.allmusic.com. . August 10, 2015.
  26. Web site: [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=suzy bogguss|chart=Country Albums C}} Suzy Bogguss Album & Song Chart History – Country Albums]. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. August 10, 2015.
  27. Web site: [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=suzy bogguss|chart=Billboard 200}} Suzy Bogguss Album & Song Chart History – Billboard 200]. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. August 10, 2015.
  28. Web site: David Ball - David Ball. AllMusic . March 15, 2018.
  29. Web site: Mark Wills - Don't Think I Won't. . March 15, 2018.
  30. Web site: She Rides Wild Horses. . www.allmusic.com. . August 10, 2015.
  31. Web site: New Day Dawning. . www.allmusic.com. . August 10, 2015.
  32. Web site: Honesty. . www.allmusic.com. . August 10, 2015.
  33. Web site: If You're Going Through Hell. . www.allmusic.com. . August 10, 2015.
  34. Rodney Atkins - Chart History - Hot Country Songs. . Billboard . March 15, 2018.
  35. Web site: Home Sweet Oklahoma. AllMusic . March 15, 2018.
  36. Web site: It's America. . www.allmusic.com. . August 10, 2015.
  37. News: Morris. Edward. BMI Salutes Rodney Atkins and Songwriter Angelo for "It's America" . CMT. May 27, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180316152401/http://www.cmt.com/news/1612241/bmi-salutes-rodney-atkins-and-songwriter-angelo-for-its-america/. dead. March 16, 2018. March 15, 2018.
  38. Web site: Jurek. Thom. Take a Back Road - AllMusic Review by Thom Jurek . AllMusic. March 15, 2018.
  39. Web site: Take a Back Road. . www.allmusic.com. . August 10, 2015.
  40. News: Canadian Country Artist, Brett Kissel, Garners Stateside Attention with "We Were That Song" . The Country Note. December 4, 2017 . March 15, 2018.