In the early 1960s, Key moved to Nashville. He joined forces with friend, singer Jimmy C. Newman, to form Newkeys Music publishing company. At the same time, he formed management company Key Talent on his own. Both companies grew out of the success he’d had publishing the hit trucking song, “Six Days on the Road.” Key had convinced the small Alabama publisher to split the rights if he could get the song cut and on the radio. He did – and within weeks it was climbing the charts. “I heard it and knew the song would be a hit,” Jimmy recalled. “With half the publishing, that was enough money to start my companies.”

Key’s first management clients with Key Talent were David Price, Dave Dudley, Linda Manning, and Jimmy C. Newman. He soon added the likes of Jim Reeves, Jeannie C. Riley, Bobby Bare, Tom T. Hall, and others, opening satellite offices in Hollywood and Las Vegas. Among his most famous copyrights was “Harper Valley P.T.A.,” a smash hit on the country and pop charts in 1968. In the mid-1980s, after a successful two decades in the business, Key retired, handing the day-to-day operations of the company over to his son, Jack.

Born: July 4, 1927, Cullman, Alabama; Died: August 1, 2014, Nashville, Tennessee

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