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Oscar Houchins

Oscar Houchins has been an artist, writer, musician, producer, publisher, manager, and teacher. Oscar has enjoyed employment in all three major U.S. music business centers; New York, L.A., and Nashville. He now lives in Austin where he owns and operates his production company, House of Houchins. As a performing artist, Oscar found his first success with a band produced by Tommy James, leader of the multi-platinum band The Shondells, known as The Clique. The Clique had several top 40 hits on White Whale Records, (label-mates of the “Turtles,” among others) including the multi-platinum record and smash hit, “Sugar On Sunday.” The Clique’s first White Whale record was “Superman,” which was later covered by REM; followed by “I’ll Hold Out My Hand,” which climbed to #21 on the national charts. The solo album, “The Clique,” was re-released in Europe by Rivola, UK. In 1975, Oscar was signed to Monument Records in Nashville, and released the popular Ronnie Lane and The Faces European hit single, “How Come.” He was produced by legendary songwriter Buzz Cason, who is the only songwriter to have songs recorded by The Beatles, U2, and Pearl Jam. Oscar performed that year at “The King of The Road Hotel” in Nashville with Ronnie Milsap, but with the release of the record went on tour, and in Texas he added Austin’s Armadillo World Headquarters to his many stage performances. As a songwriter, Oscar was signed out of Los Angeles in 1972, to be ABC/Dunhill’s first staff writer in Nashville. Houchins was later signed to write contemporary Christian music for Word Publishing. Aaron Brown produced Oscar for Word Records and saw Houchins as actually being the first contemporary Christian songwriter and artist. Christian artist Sam Durrence recorded “Wings ”the title song on his album on Antebellum Records, a song Oscar co-wrote with Steve Gibbs, who wrote “She Believes in Me” ( Kenny Rogers). Oscar later served as a staff writer for Loretta Lynn’s Coal Miner’s Music (1976-80). Oscar has enjoyed having songs recorded by the likes of Rita Coolidge to the Grammy Award nominated root rock band, Wilco. Tipper Gore picked one of Houchins’ songs entitled “If Your Willing,” to be the theme song for “Tennessee’s Voices for Children,” a non-profit organization dedicated to the mental and emotional health of Tennessee’s children. As a musician, Oscar has enjoyed performing on most major concert stages throughout the United States, including both the newer Opry, and the original Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman auditorium. Oscar has also enjoyed working in the studio and on tour with numerous recording artists, including playing piano and a member of Sonny James’s back-up singing group, ‘The Southern Gentlemen,’ who had 23 Number One Country and cross-over hits including, “Young Love,” “Since I Met You Baby,” and “Running Bear.” As a producer, Oscar has worked with Jimmy Bowen (Dean Martin), Roger Murrah (Alabama), Bil VornDick (Alison Krause), Chip Young (Delbert McClinton), and Chris “Frenchie” Smith (Jet). In the process, Houchins has had the pleasure of producing some of the finest musicians in the industry, including: Mike Estes-(Guitar Lynyrd Skynyrd), Barry Chance (Guitar-Jimmy Buffet), Pierre Merriany (Percussion-Little Feat), Eddie Bayers (Drums-Steve Winwood), Michael Rojas (keys-Stevie Nicks), Johnny Christopher (guitar-Garth Brooks), Bucky Barrett (guitar-Roy Orbison), Merel Bregante (drums- Loggins and Messina), John Staehely (Guitar-Robert Palmer), and Mark Younger-Smith (guitar-Billy Idol). While serving as President of the Music Division for Steve Binder Productions in Los Angeles, Oscar co-produced with Jimmy Webb (1977) The Beach Boys segment of the “10th Anniversary Rolling Stone Television Special.” Houchins produced the “Songwriters’ Showcase” program (1989) filmed at Rockefeller’s in Houston, and invited many well-known successful songwriters on the show, such as Jeff Silbar, writer of “Wind Beneath My Wings.” As a publisher and manager, Oscar’s company in Nashville, House of Houchins LLC (1998) represented the publishing interests of Tommy James of the Shondells, and all 13 Number One Songs including: “Mony Mony,” “Crimson and Clover,” Crystal Blue Persuasion,” and “I Think We’re Alone Now.” Houchins Management represented Nashville’s Doug Summers, who was discovered by Houchins and Mary Martin (who signed Bob Dylan) and brought Doug to Asylum Records. As an event producer, Oscar produced the Entertainer Celebrity Golf Tour out of Nashville, including recording artists and musicians and writers such as Steve Cropper (“Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay”) to Natalie Maines of The Dixie Chicks. Houchins has produced music concerts featuring many national touring acts including “The Guess Who” (Austin, 2000); “Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel;” Trout Fishing in America at Manor Downs (Austin, 2001). Oscar has organized songwriting panels and seminars for BMI and ASCAP. As Executive Director of The Texas Songwriting Association, Oscar established the first ever ‘Songwriting Seminar and Expo’ in Austin, Texas. The event drew major publishers from both LA and Nashville, with writers participating from all over the state. While serving as Executive Director of the Texas Songwriting Association, Houchins chartered several area songwriting associations across the state of Texas under the auspices of the Nashville Songwriting Association International (NSAI). As a teacher, Oscar was a faculty member of the Arts Institute of Houston. He taught songwriting, music business marketing, and copyright law. Houchins is a voting member of the Grammy’s and a member of the Country Music Association, and is an ASCAP writer and publisher. Oscar was inducted into the Gulf Coast Music Hall of Fame in January of 2008.