1980
NORRO WILSON
Norro Wilson was always one of the most colorful people on Music Row. He had been an artist himself and had become a successful songwriter and a very successful producer. I really got to know him best in 1980 when I was brought back from Los Angeles to work in RCA Nashville’s country division. Norro was the head of the A&R department at that time.
Norro gave me my first shot at producing when he let me co-produce some songs by Steve Wariner in 1983. From this I got my first number one song, “Midnight Fire,” on the album Life’s Highway, and that was the beginning of my career as a producer. I don’t even think I got paid for co-producing, but it didn’t matter. The opportunity was worth so much more than money!
Norro once signed a publicity shot of him and me with a black Sharpie: Without me you wouldn’t be shit. Norro. Kind of blunt, but kind of true—thanks, Norro!
Sadly, eight months after the photo on the left was taken, Norro passed away. I was lucky enough to visit him in hospice care just days before he passed. I leaned into him and said, “Hey, Norro, I love ya and I’m not shit again.” He whispered back to me, “Don’t stop.”
I sure wish he could have seen himself in this book, as he was an important person in my life.
RIP (1938–2017)
“Tony Brown wouldn’t be shit without me.”
Norro Wilson
