Fred Koller
Musician · b. 1950 · Nashville, Tennessee
Fred Koller is an American singer-songwriter, born in Chicago and long based in Nashville, best known as the writer or co-writer of country and Americana standards cut by Kathy Mattea, Nanci Griffith, the Jeff Healey Band, and many others. New Grass Revival and a deep bench of bluegrass-adjacent artists have drawn on his catalog, making his songs a recurring presence in the repertoire even though he is primarily a writer rather than a touring act.
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- Active as a professional songwriter since 1973, with more than 300 of his songs recorded.
- Co-wrote “Angel Eyes” with John Hiatt, a hit for the Jeff Healey Band and also recorded by New Grass Revival.
- Wrote “Goin’ Gone,” recorded by Nanci Griffith, Kathy Mattea, and Alison Krauss, and “She Came from Fort Worth,” a hit for Kathy Mattea.
- Wrote “Jennifer Johnson and Me,” cut by Bobby Bare, Conway Twitty, and Robert Earl Keen.
- Collaborated extensively with author Shel Silverstein beginning in 1974.
- Received two BMI Millionaire Performance Awards, for “Angel Eyes” and “She Came from Fort Worth.”
- Released solo albums on labels including Alcazar, Appaloosa, and Gadfly.
- Former Vice President of the Nashville Songwriters Association International and author of the songwriting guide “How to Pitch and Promote Your Songs.”