One of the best songwriters of all time.....so many hit songs (usually sung by others). Former US Army Rangers captain....graduated from Airborne, Ranger and Flight school. Volunteered for Vietnam but instead was turned down and offered a professor of literature position at USMA West Point. Was a Rhodes Scholarship winner. Turned down the professorship in order to go to Nashville and write songs and the rest in history. Was never comfortable singing or performing in front of others as he felt he wasnt good enough.