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after another for about 6 years. Fleming was in touch with Tom
Collins almost daily and could create a song targeted by him directly to one of his clients, including Ronnie Milsap, Barbara Mandrell, Sylvia, and others. Fleming said, "If he's cut a couple of songs on somebody and all of a sudden he says we need a song that's 'more country' than this, or 'more pop' or whatever to fill out an album then he can tell us." This arrangement not only benefitted Collins, but also the authors because it gave them a much greater chance that their songs would be recorded by established artists. At one point, Collins requested a song something like "Appalachian Rain" about the area of North Carolina where
189:, she only lived there for two weeks. Her father was in the Navy and the family had to move often. At various times she lived in Hawaii, California, Texas, and Arkansas, but most years were spent in Fort Smith, Arkansas, which her family considers home. Fleming was exposed to music through uncles who played in country bands. She took up guitar in the ninth grade and immediately began writing songs – which she thought was easier than trying to learn somebody else's. Fleming knew then that she wanted to have a career in music.
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named it as of the "100 Greatest
Country Songs of All Time". The song was designated the current "Tennessee State Song" in 2010 by the state legislature. She enjoyed working with Tom Collins' staff and developed a friendship with Collins' receptionist, Sylvia Jane Kirby (Allen), who had aspirations
213:
heard her perform and were impressed with her songs. Scheff told her that if she came to
California, he could introduce her to some music publishers. She took the offer, packed her Ford Econoline van and headed west. The first publisher who spoke with her signed her. One of Fleming's songs, "Falling,
258:
who was an excellent guitarist and had more of a pop background. This duo set up a daily schedule to write beginning at 10 AM each weekday. She has called Dennis Morgan the "perfect creative partner". They averaged about one finished song per week. The
Fleming/Morgan duo then created one hit song
344:. Later, Fleming became a music publisher and a mentor. She said, "I really love working with writers and artists whose dreams are on fire, but before they've had anything happen." An example would be her mentoring of the Arkansas group "
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got
Fleming bookings at coffee houses across the country. At this time she said she didn't care if she was categorized as an artist or a songwriter. Along the way she dropped her first name, "Rhonda" to avoid confusion with actress
237:. At age 26, she had a period of fatigue or frustration in the pursuit of a career and decided to take a little break and spend a couple of weeks back home in Arkansas. Within an hour of making that decision, her old friend (
136:
Awards, including BMI Songwriter of the Year for 3 consecutive years (1981–83). Fifteen of her compositions have achieved a benchmark of one million performances each. Some of
Fleming's most successful songs include:
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at Pi-Gem Music, a meeting she described as "life-changing". She played some songs for him and said "tell me what you want and I can write it". He signed her as a staff writer and she was paired with songwriter
282:
of becoming a recording artist herself. Collins finally acquiesced to her wish. Fleming and Morgan wrote two songs for the former receptionist who had decided to go only by her first name,
310:
Her reputation now established, Fleming moved on to writing other types of music including pop, R&B, and contemporary
Christian. She co-wrote with successful singer/songwriter
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series which honors songwriters deemed to have made a significant contribution to country music. The series featured an extended interview with
Fleming before an audience at the
241:) just happened to call and said he was going to Nashville and had a meeting with a couple of publishers. He invited her to come to Nashville first before she went back home.
201:
was playing a show in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Fleming was singing in a hotel lounge in Tulsa, which happened to be the same hotel where
Presley's band was staying. Presley players
294:". The former was a top 10 hit, and latter reached #1 on the country charts and was a crossover hit, reaching #15 on the pop charts. The song "Nobody" was nominated for a
224:. However, after about nine months, she felt she "wasn't sure", and returned to Arkansas. There, she again pursued a career as a solo artist. A successful audition at
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with a vocal scholarship, and performed as a solo act in coffeehouses and bars during that time. In 1974, at the same time that
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267:" which became a huge hit for Milsap. Fleming said it was "a matter of just talking about it—what it feels like in the
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356:. A major portion of the publishing rights to the Kye Fleming Song Catalog has been acquired by Hearts Bluff Music.
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120:. She is best known for writing a series of hit songs in the 1980s, making productive collaborations with artists
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423:"Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Member, Kye Fleming, to be Featured as Next "Poet & Prophet""
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was her biggest influence. "There's not a better lyricist", said
Fleming. She attended the
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116:(born October 9, 1951) is an American singer/songwriter and music publisher in
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445:"Tammy Wynette, Kye Fleming Set to Enter Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame"
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691:. Middle Tennessee State University Center for Popular Music. June 9, 2010
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487:"Poets and Prophets: Salute to Legendary Country Songwriter Kye Fleming"
322:" (Bette Midler). She co-wrote with Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer
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1029:"Songwriter Kye Fleming to be Honored as Poet and Prophet on July 28"
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CMA Triple Play Award (for 3 chart-topping hits in a 12-month period)
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352:(NSAI). She formed KyeCatt Music, partnering with fellow songwriter
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604:. Vol. 94, no. 4. Nielsen Business Media. p. 58.
348:" who impressed her when she was judging a song contest for the
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271:". The song went to number one on both the country charts and
712:"'Smoky Mountain Rain' wins Race to Become 8th State Song"
543:"Elvis Show Has One DrawBack - It's Just Not Long Enough"
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author Tennessee State Song (2010) "Smoky Mountain Rain"
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10 Million-Air Award (10 million broadcast performances)
986:"Everything You Need to Know About the 2019 ACM Honors"
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In Nashville in 1977, she met with producer/publisher
877:"Guest Blog From Hall Of Fame Songwriter Kye Fleming"
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was born. Fleming and Morgan came up with the song "
425:. Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. July 10, 2012
930:"NEW – Exclusive Signing with KyeCatt Music, LLC"
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377:NSAI Songwriter of the Year x 2 years (1981–82)
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374:BMI Songwriter of the Year x 3 years (1981–83)
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371:Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (2009)
338:Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters
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829:. Wisdom Digital Media. October 31, 2013
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854:. Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
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1054:"Tennessee State Songs and Anthems"
959:Morley, Steve (December 15, 2009).
685:"Tennessee State Songs and Anthems"
593:Morris, Edward (January 30, 1982).
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936:. February 6, 2014. Archived from
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130:Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
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1120:Singer-songwriters from Tennessee
1085:Musicians from Pensacola, Florida
737:Carlisle, Dolly (June 15, 1981).
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132:in 2009 and has won more than 42
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768:Wells, Robyn (August 21, 1982).
518:Haskell, Duncan (July 4, 2015).
380:over 42 BMI Awards in her career
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221:The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
128:. Fleming was inducted into the
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630:Morley, Steve (July 29, 2010).
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214:Falling, Gone" was recorded by
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1090:Country musicians from Florida
710:Humphrey, Tom (June 3, 2010).
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595:"Duo Keys on Commercialism"
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520:"Interview: Kye Fleming"
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522:. Song Writing Magazine
185:Though Fleming born in
314:, including the hits "
195:University of Arkansas
216:The Williams Brothers
118:Nashville, Tennessee
66:Nashville, Tennessee
1004:"Triple Play Award"
368:Poet's Award (2019)
320:Some People's Lives
318:" (Amy Grant) and "
316:What About the Love
265:Smoky Mountain Rain
147:Smoky Mountain Rain
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598:(books.google.com)
187:Pensacola, Florida
171:Poets and Prophets
114:Rhonda Kye Fleming
55:Pensacola, Florida
34:Rhonda Kye Fleming
992:. 20 August 2019.
940:on August 5, 2015
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669:13 November
567:Hogan, Ed.
324:Don Schlitz
251:Tom Collins
211:Glen Hardin
207:Ronnie Tutt
23:Kye Fleming
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312:Janis Ian
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290:" and "
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269:Smokies
245:Success
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394:Nobody
340:, and
296:Grammy
292:Nobody
284:Sylvia
209:, and
159:Nobody
94:Guitar
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62:Origin
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