Hugh Moffatt

Hugh Moffatt (born November 3, 1948 in Fort Worth, Texas) is an American country singer and songwriter. In the 1970s and 1980s several artists made hits out of his songs. He has also released critically acclaimed albums of his own.

Beginnings

In his youth, Moffatt learned classical piano and jazz trumpet and was a member of his high school band. Despite early inclinations toward country music, while at Rice University Moffatt learned guitar and turned toward jazz and blues. After graduation, he moved to Austin and had planned to move to Washington, but a visit to the Grand Old Opry in Nashville in 1973 renewed his old passion for country music, and he stayed there to seek a career in that genre.

Career

Moffatt first worked as a songwriter, in emulation of Kris Kristofferson and mentor Ed Penney. Success first came when Ronnie Milsap's recording of "Just in Case" peaked at #5 on the Billboard Country chart. In 1977, he signed a record deal with Mercury and released two unsuccessful singles, and would refocus on songwriting. He married songwriter Pebe Siebert, with whom he wrote "Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle to You" a hit for both Joe Sun and later Dolly Parton. Other artists who had hits with his songs include Johnny Rodriguez, Lacy J. Dalton, and Alabama.

In 1980, Moffatt formed Ratz with Wade McCurdy, John Dietrich, Michael Bonagura and his wife. They released the self-financed debut "Puttin' on the Ratz" in 1984. Two years later he released a solo album, "Loving You", which he followed up in 1989 with "Troubador", often considered today as his best work. Together with his sister, the country singer Katy Moffatt, he released 1992's "Dance Me Outside". He has continued to record and release albums well into the new millennium. Johnny Cash recorded Moffatt's "Rose of My Heart" shortly before his death. The song was released on Cash's album, "".

Moffatt and Michael Ching, the Artistic Director of Opera Memphis, premiered their first full-length opera in 2003 with the University of Missouri Show-Me Opera. The opera, entitled "Corps of Discovery", follows the journeys of Lewis and Clark from New Orleans to the Pacific Northwest and back. Moffatt and Ching have collaborated on two one-act operas that have been performed across the country; "King of the Clouds", commissioned by Dayton Opera, follows the story and dreams of the future of the son of an alcoholic mother. "Out of the Rain" follows the life of a group of friends and society's relationship and struggle with AIDS.

Personal

Hugh is quite a good tennis player.His daughter is as well.

Albums

*1987 "Loving You" Philo
*1989 "Troubadour" Philo
*1992 "Dance Me Outside" Philo
*1995 "Wognum Sessions" Strictly Country
*1996 "The Life of a Minor Poet" Watermelon
*2003 "Ghosts of the Music" Brambus
*2003 "Live and Alone" Brambus

External links

* [http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/moffatt_hugh/bio.jhtml CMT biography]

* [http://www.hughmoffatt.com Hugh Moffatt homepage]

Persondata
NAME=Moffatt, Hugh
ALTERNATIVE NAME =
SHORT DESCRIPTION=United States Country singer and Songwriter
DATE OF BIRTH=10 November 1948
PLACE OF BIRTH=Fort Worth, Texas, United States
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =