Kent Blazy,  who wrote Garth Brooks’ first number one hit, “If Tomorrow Never Comes.” Is an Inductee into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame for 2020, as was announced, earlier this week.

Kent Blazy’s musical influences growing up were The Byrds, Rodney Crowell, and Joe Ely.  Growing up, Kent played for several local bands in and around his hometown of Lexington, Kentucky. He later played for Canadian singer-songwriter Ian Tyson.

It was Garth Brooks that gave him the idea for “If Tomorrow Never Comes.”

“If Tomorrow Never Comes will probably always be my signature song. I ran the idea for this by what seemed like a thousand writers and no one really seemed to understand what I was looking for.”

Garth Brooks

Garth first met Kent Blazy in the late 1980’s. The two were introduced by Garth Brooks’ co-manager Bob Doyle.

“I passed this idea by Kent and he had the first verse down within fifteen seconds. I could tell he just felt it.”

Garth Brooks

To me, “If Tomorrow Never Comes” is one of the greatest love songs, not only in my generation but ever. The heartfelt song is about what would happen if I were to die the next day? Personally, I hope and pray that I am showing this kind of love to my wife.  Will she know how much I loved her?

“If Tomorrow Never Comes,” Was released in August 1989. It was on the album simply titled, Garth Brooks. The song also appears on The Hits and Double Live. The song was Garth Brooks first number one single on the US Billboard Country charts. At the American Music Awards in 1991, the song was named as the Favorite Country Single.

Songwriter Kent Blazy has a total of seven number one hits to his credit. Besides writing for Garth, he has written songs recorded by Kenny Chesney, Diamond Rio, Terri Clark and Clay Walker among others.

For Garth Brooks, Kent Blazy has also written, “Ain’t Goin’ Down ( ‘Til The Sun Comes Up),”  “It’s Midnight Cinderella,” “She’s Gonna Make It,” Somewhere Other than the Night,” and “Beer Run (B Double E Double Are You In?)”

Kent Blazy also wrote for Patty Loveless, “Can’t Get Enough.”  This was her first song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. The song also spent 20 weeks on the Billboard Hot Country Singles and Tracks chart.

I like a song that I can relate to. I like songs that tell a story. Kent Blazy is a storyteller in his lyrics.

I am now listening to Randy Houser’s “Power of A Song,” (also co-written by Kent Blazy.) I can see this scenario all over again.  I am the type of guy who relates to music, no matter what the genre. If I listen closely, I can find some similarity about myself. A place, a person, a feeling. My past present and future can all be found in music.

That’s the Power of a song

When It Grabs you by the heart

It’s gonna find you when it wants to

No matter where you are

That’s a miracle of music

 – Power of a Song – BMG Rights Management Songwriters: Corey Batten/Kent Blazy/Randy Houser

That’s a miracle of music

Pancho.