Johnny MacRae

Johnny MacRae (February 15, 1929—July 3, 2013), born Fred A. MacRae, nicknamed "Dog"^[1] was an American country music composer credited with 235 songs^[2] released by recording artists including Ray Charles, George Jones, and Reba McEntire.^[3] His best known songs include "You Can't Make a Heart Love Somebody" (George Strait), "Tonight the Heartache's on Me" (Dixie Chicks), "I'd Love to Lay You Down" (Conway Twitty), "I Still Believe in Waltzes" (Loretta Lynn & Conway Twitty), "When You Leave That Way You Can Never Go Back" (Confederate Railroad), "Goodbye Says It All" (Blackhawk), and "Living Proof" (Ricky Van Shelton).

MacRae was a native of Independence, Missouri. He began composing at age 30.^[4] He served in the U.S. Navy for 15 years and on his free time he wrote songs and fronted a rockabilly band.^[5] He moved to Nashville in 1963 and eventually became head of Screen Gems Music Publishing (Nashville office) from 1976 to 1984, then became vice president of Combine Music^[6] and later wrote for Chappell Music.^[7] In 2003, his song, "I'd Be Better Off (in a Pine Box)" was included in CMT's list of "100 Greatest Country Songs".^[8][9]