“I’ve been a behind-the-scenes kind of guy; songwriters don’t get the attention,” muses Powers. “I performed in Las Vegas and Reno and all over the country for years as an entertainer, and nobody really got to know me that good, but then I write one hit song, and everybody calls me a songwriter.”
While Powers may have first taken on the mantle of songwriter reluctantly, his catalog of hit songs has proven him among the finest in country music. Here are some of Powers’ most popular credits.
“A Bar in Bakersfield,” recorded by Merle Haggard
“A Friend in California,” recorded by Merle Haggard
“A Place to Fall Apart,” recorded by Merle Haggard
“Filthy Rich,” recorded by Big & Rich
“I Always Get Lucky With You,” recorded by Merle Haggard/George Jones
“Let’s Chase Each Other Around the Room,” recorded by Merle Haggard
“Little Hotel Room,” recorded by Ray Charles
“Natural High,” recorded by Merle Haggard
“Nothing at All,” recorded by the Wilburn Brothers
“Okie From Muskogee’s Comin Home,” recorded by Merle Haggard
“Ridin’ High,” recorded by Janie Fricke
“Shotgun and a Pistol,” recorded by Willie Nelson/Merle Haggard
“Silver Eagle,” recorded by Merle Haggard/George Jones
“Texas,” recorded by Merle Haggard
“This Song Is for You,” recorded by Merle Haggard
“You Don’t Love Me Anymore,” recorded by Merle Haggard
This article appears in August 22 • 2008.
