Graham Lyle left his home in Largs, Scotland to pursue his ambitions as a songwriter
in London. Graham began his professional life when he and co-writer Benny Gallagher became two of the first people to sign to the Beatles’ Apple Company in the late 60s, where, greatly encouraged by Paul McCartney, the pair wrote songs for Mary Hopkin amongst others.
Recruited in 1969 into McGuinness Flint, Graham had his first self-penned and performed chart topper, with “When I’m Dead and Gone” closely followed by “Malt and Barley Blues.” He and Benny formed Gallagher & Lyle in the mid-seventies and, after some success with Ronnie Lane and Slim Chance, in 1976 their breakthrough LP Breakaway produced songs like “Heart On My Sleeve,” “I Wanna Stay With You” and the title track “Breakaway.”
Graham formed Goodsingle LTD, his own publishing company, in 1980 and set out on his own to write for other artists. Olivia Newton John and Art Garfunkel covers followed, indeed, Simon and Garfunkel and Garth Brooks both performed his song “Heart In New York” in their record breaking concerts, recorded live in Central Park. In the mid-80s he collaborated with Terry Britten, and having topped the Billboard Hot 100 and subsequently voted Billboard’s Song of the 80’s, “What’s Love Got To Do With It” by Tina Turner won 4 awards that year. Including The GRAMMY for Best Song of the Year in 1984. A year later, he and Terry received two Ivor Novello’s for “We Don’t Need Another Hero,” also by Tina. Graham’s songs, including “I Don’t Want To Lose You,” “What You Get Is What You See,” Way Of The World,” “Afterglow” and “I Want You Near Me,” have featured on every Tina LP since.
The hits kept coming, and Graham’s songs have been recorded by an amazing variety of artists:
- Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder
- Anita Baker
- Rod Stewart
- Diana Ross
- Etta James
- Ray Charles
- Joe Cocker
- Tom Jones
- Ringo Starr
- Bryan Ferry
- Cliff Richard
- Eros Ramazotti
- Hall and Oates
- The Neville Brothers
- Joan Armatrading
- Patti LaBelle
- Mica Paris
- Paul Young
- Wet Wet Wet
- Jim Diamond
The list goes on and on.
In the country charts as well, Graham has had many number ones: Ray Charles, Don Williams, Kenny Rogers, Johnny Cash, The Judds, Anne Murray, Eddy Raven, Crystal Gayle, The Oak Ridge Boys, Ronnie Milsap and Reba McEntire have all recorded Graham Lyle songs.
His songs have been Released by artists including: KYGO, Fat Joe and Ashanti, Wyclef Jean, Warren G and Adina Howard, Ja Rule and Walk Off The Earth.
His songs feature in many films, including What’s Love Got To Do With It, 9 and a Half Weeks, Jewel Of The Nile and Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome.
His works feature in many musicals, including Moulin Rouge, Pricilla Queen Of The Desert, Tina The Musical.
In 2013 he launched UN Women Day at the United Nations in New York, performing live to the UN Assembly. “When I turned up to the rehearsal in jeans and a shirt I was the songwriter. On the day, dressed in a suit I was called ‘The Composer.’”
He has collaborated with some of the best songwriters around, including Will Jennings, Troy Seals, Carole King, Albert Hammond, Joan Armatrading and Terry Britten, to name but a few.
In 2024 Graham was honoured to receive the Icon Award from BMI.
Today, Graham is still writing the odd good song, or the odd good single.
All bios appear as they were submitted in the year of induction or award presentation.