10/12/2016
A native Nashvillian, Judy Harris started her career on Music Row at ASCAP where she was executive secretary to writer/publisher rep Charlie Monk.
Monk and Harris left ASCAP in l977 to re-open April/Blackwood Music (then a division of CBS and later named CBS Songs). Earl Thomas Conley, Keith Stegall, Dottie West, Jim McBride and Guy Clark were just a few of the many talented writers singed to that company.
Harris left CBS Songs in 1986 to start her first independent publishing company. She had several #1 records, one of which was George Strait’s “WHAT’’S GOING ON IN YOUR WORLD” that was ASCAP ‘s Song of the Year in 1991. She also secured a record deal for her writer Mark Collie who enjoyed chart success.
Taking Mark with her, Harris entered into a co-venture with BMG Songs. She had chart hits with Shennandoah, Linda Davis and Pam Tillis just to name a few.
After three years she departed to again own an independent publishing company. Two of her biggest hits were GRAMMY nominated “DID I SHAVE MY LEGS FOR THIS”, by Deana Carter and “COME SOME RAINY DAY” by Wynonna. She also published a song on the multi-platinum “BLUE” album by LeAnn Rimes.
After a personal tragedy, Harris took a brief break and in 2003 re-opened her company. She has album cuts by Craig Morgan, John Michael Montgomery and Montgomery Gentry to name a few. She had a #1 record with Joe Nichols’ “TEQUILA MAKES HER CLOTHES FALL OFF”, a BMI Millionaire Award winner, and “BACK WHEN I KNEW IT ALL” by Montgomery Gentry.
Harris is the co-founder of the Chicks With Hits – a renown female pitch group catering to artists and producers.
She is also co-founder of SOURCE – the only women executive organization in Nashville.
