Producer and Session Musician
Paul Worley began his career in the late 1970s as a session guitarist in Nashville, Tennessee. On the recommendation of record producer Jim Ed Norman, he first played guitar on albums by Janie Fricke, Eddy Raven, and Mickey Gilley. Worley's first production credits included Riders in the Sky's Three on the Trail (1976) and Gary Morris' Why Lady Why (1983). Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Worley has produced or co-produced several country music albums, primarily by country music artists.
Through his association with the Dixie Chicks, Worley earned two Grammy Awards for Best Country Album, both times for albums recorded by the Dixie Chicks: 1998's Wide Open Spaces and 1999's Fly. Worley also played guitar on the Chicks' debut single "I Can Love You Better".
After becoming chief creative officer at Warner Bros. Records in 2002, Worley helped to sign Big & Rich, a country music duo composed of Big Kenny and John Rich.
Worley left Warner Bros. after the label did not sign Lady Antebellum, notwithstanding Worley's encouragement. When the band signed with Capitol Records, Worley left Warner Bros. in order to produce the band. In early 2011, Worley shared with Lady Antebellum in four of the 2010 Grammy Awards: Best Country Album, Record of the Year, Song of The Year and Best Country Song.
In addition to Morris, the Dixie Chicks and Lady Antebellum, Worley has produced or co-produced albums and singles by Marie Osmond, the Desert Rose Band, Highway 101, Martina McBride, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Collin Raye, Sara Evans and The Band Perry.
Read more about this topic: Paul Worley, Musical Career
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