Bio
I was born, totally blind, in Greenville South Carolina on August 11, 1952. From the time I
was eight, I began to hear the word talent every time I sang or played the piano. My music
teachers, at the South Carolina school for the deaf and blind, tried to encourage me, but I was
stubborn and only interested in playing with my friends and misbehaving. Finally, when I was
about 15, it hit me; music was a wonderful thing and I really had a gift. I began, at that point,
to work harder and I have made music my life ever since.
It was about this time that I wrote my first songs; experiments though they were, I knew I
wanted to be a writer and as time went on the songs got better and better. In 1975, Billy Joe
Royal recorded a song I wrote called “Time Don’t Pass By Here” for Scepter Records,
published by The Lowery Group and I began to get songs published on a regular basis from
that point on.
In 1974, I joined a band called Garfield Ruff and, in 1978, we signed with Capitol Records. We
scored a movie called The Hitter, which I wrote and sang the title track for, and made a record
called Garfeel Ruff.
In 1981, I joined The Marshall Tucker Band and we made three records for Warner Brothers
which I am very proud of. I wrote or co-wrote 6 songs which were recorded by the band, and
played such venues as The Universal Amphitheater in Hollywood.
In 1988, I moved to Nashville. I have since written over 1000 songs and I am proud to say that
I have had recordings by such artist as Ty Herndon, Ronnie McDowell, Forerunner, The
Marshall Tucker Band, Billy Joe Royal, Sonny Turner of The Platters fame, Damon Gray, Rob
Crosby and Johnny lee to name a few. In 1996, I received a gold record for “A Hat Full of
Rain,” a song I co-wrote, which is on Ty Herndon’s debut disc entitled, “What Mattered
Most.” I have had songs published by; Maypop Music Group, Cal IV Music Group, BMG
Songs, Killen Music Group, Lowery Music Group, and API.
In 2003, I completed a record called “Standin’ in A Circle,” featuring my band “Virgil.” This
8-song disc expresses completely my philosophy of life musically and spiritually!
In 2004, I co-produced, played keyboards, sang background vocals and co-wrote a Christmas
disc for Johnny Lee called “Santa Claus Is Lookin’ for Love” which is on Title Tunes Records.
I also have played piano for Crystal Gayle, Davis Daniel, Charlie Daniels, Billy Joe Royal,
Johnny Lee, Aaron Tippin, Ronda Vincent, Mel Tillis Jr, David Frizell, Leroy Van Dyke, The
Oak Ridge Boys and David Alan Coe as well as countless other writer’s demos and album
projects.
In September of2005, we completed Cole Porter’s second project, “Poetic Justice” and our first
single, “I Can See Arkansas” was certified number one in both Inside Country and Inde
World! I am proud to announce that “Not a Day Goes By,” Cole Porter’s second released was
certified number one as well and his AC release “Poetic Justice” became a big chart mover! I
sang background vocals and played keys on the “Johnny Leemotions” disc and one of my
biggest dreams came true when I joined my wife Kim Morrison to sing background vocals for
Leon Russell’s disc, “Angel in Disguise.”
In 2018, my wife Kim and I completed the “Therapy” record. She is the best artist I’ve ever
been involved in producing and her co-production chops are totally off the charts! It took 11
years but we got it done and it’s certainly one of my favorites.
On October the 18 th 2019, I release the Shades of Blue album. Shades of blue is an R&B/Rock
& Roll/Blues/Southern Rock album with some sensitive ballads which in many ways is about
colors. My brother Rickey on Guitar; and Kim, on background vocals and production; along
with Mike Severs, on Guitar and Bill Darnell on Harmonica; help me give what I think is a
very soulful performance on this thing. To buy it, go to CDBABY.COM or any of the digital
outlets and you can either download it or order through pay pal. Write to me at
ronniegodfrey.shadesofblue@gmail.com for more details.
Music always has been and always will be my life and I am more excited than ever about my
future!