Songwriter Session: Don Schlitz

Country Music Hall of Fame member Don Schlitz launched his songwriting career with the Country Music Hall of Fame member Kenny Rogers classic "The Gambler" and later wrote the Rogers hits "The Greatest" and "You Can’t Make Old Friends," which features Country Music Hall of Fame member Dolly Parton. He also wrote a string of Country Music Hall of Fame member Randy Travis hits, including "Deeper Than the Holler," "Forever and Ever, Amen" and "On the Other Hand." Among the other hits in Schlitz’s catalog are "40 Hour Week (For a Livin’)" (Country Music Hall of Fame member Alabama), "Give Me Wings" (Michael Johnson), "He Thinks He’ll Keep Her" (Mary Chapin Carpenter), "Rockin’ with the Rhythm of the Rain" (Country Music Hall of Fame member the Judds), "Strong Enough to Bend" (Country Music Hall of Fame member Tanya Tucker) and "When You Say Nothing at All" (Alison Krauss, Country Music Hall of Fame member Keith Whitley). Schlitz is a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame and has won many awards from the Academy of Country Music; the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP); the Country Music Association and the Recording Academy.