Sanger D. "Whitey" Shafer's Bio

Sanger D. "Whitey" Shafer, a prolific songwriter, began his musical career in the town where he was born Whitney, TX. He moved to Nashville in 1967, where he signed his first publishing contract with Blue Crest Music Publishing Company. Two out of three songs he brought to Blue Crest were recorded by George Jones in 1968; "Between My House And Town" and "I'm A New Man In Town".

In the early 1970's, "Whitey" signed an exclusive contract with Acuff-Rose Music. In 1972 "That's The Way Love Goes", became a #1 hit for Johnny Rodriguez. He wrote four songs for George Strait's 1985 album "Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind," which received the Album of the Year honors from the CMA and the ACM. It has been an enduring classic two decades later and is timeless in its appeal. In 1987, "All My Ex's Live In Texas" written with his wife at the time, Lyndia Shafer, also became a #1 hit song and was nominated for a Grammy and CMA Song Of The Year.

Whitey has written with and for some of the greatest artists and songwriters known to country music. To mention a few "The Baptism Of Jesse Taylor" Recorded by Johnny Russell and The Oak Ridge Boys; "Tell Me My Lying Eyes Are Wrong" recorded by George Jones; "I Just Started Hatin' Cheatin' Songs Today", "Bandy The Rodeo Clown", "Soft Lights And Hard Country Music", "I Can't Get Over You To Save My Life" all recorded by Moe Bandy. Sanger D. "Whitey" Shafer had befriended Lefty Frizell, with whom he began co-writing. Their collaborations included "That's the Way Love Goes" and "I Never Go Around Mirrors," two of the most well-known songs in Frizzell's catalog. "That's The Way Love Goes" was also recorded by Johnny Rodrigues, and Merle Haggard. "Rainbow In Daddy's Eyes" is an all out, pure country weeper recorded by Johnny Bush; "I Wonder Do You Think Of Me" was recorded by Keith Whitley. "All My Ex's Live In Texas", "Overnight Success", "Lefty's Gone", "Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind" were just a few of the songs recorded by George Strait.

Whitey continues his hit songwriting career with artists such as John Michael Montgomery, LeAnn Womack, and Kenny Chesney. His legendary writing skills continue to inspire both old and new songwriters in Nashville and across the nation. He has written over five hundred songs and is still going at it strong. His two albums "I Never Go Around Mirrors" and "So Good For So Long" which include many of his greatest hits, along with some of his personal favorites such as "*%!holeitis" are a must for all country music fans. He was inducted into of the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1989 and currently resides just outside of Nashville, TN.

Click here to go to Whitey Picture
Click here to go back to AaronBarker.com