Kostas
Encyclopedia
Kostas Lazarides is a Greek-born American country music
songwriter, known professionally as Kostas. He has written for several country music artists, including Dwight Yoakam
, Patty Loveless
, and Travis Tritt
, and has won eleven awards from Broadcast Music Incorporated
(BMI). In addition, he recorded one album, entitled XS in Moderation, on Liberty Records
in 1994.
, Greece
. While he was seven years old, he and his family moved to the United States, taking up residence in Billings, Montana
. Lazarides eventually began identifying himself by the singular name Kostas.
.
, who was searching for new material for country singer Patty Loveless
. Kostas's first cut as a songwriter, "Timber, I'm Falling in Love
", was recorded by Loveless; released as a single in 1989, it went to Number One on the Billboard
country charts, becoming Loveless's first Number One hit. She would also release three more of his songs as singles: "The Lonely Side of Love
" (1989), "On Down the Line
" (1990), and "Blame It On Your Heart
" (1994). "Blame It on Your Heart" also earned BMI's Robert J. Burton award for being the most performed single of 1994.
Dwight Yoakam
also recorded several songs written by Kostas, including "Nothing's Changed Here", "Turn It On, Turn It Up, Turn Me Loose", and "Send a Message to My Heart" (a duet with Loveless), all of which were released as singles from Yoakam's 1990 album If There Was a Way
. Yoakam's 1993 album, This Time
, included another song co-written by Kostas: the single "Ain't That Lonely Yet
", which earned Yoakam a Grammy Award
for Best Country Vocal Performance - Male in 1994. During the early 1990s, Kostas also wrote singles for McBride & the Ride
, Travis Tritt
, Holly Dunn
, Martina McBride
, and The Mavericks
.
In 1980, Kostas released a self titled album on First American Records
In 1994, Kostas signed to Liberty Records
as a recording artist.XS in Moderation, was released that year. The album, which included his own renditions of the singles that he had written, was part of a special songwriters' series by Liberty.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
songwriter, known professionally as Kostas. He has written for several country music artists, including Dwight Yoakam
Dwight Yoakam
Dwight David Yoakam is an American singer-songwriter, actor and film director, most famous for his pioneering country music...
, Patty Loveless
Patty Loveless
Patty Loveless , is an American country music singer.Since her emergence on the country music scene in late 1986 with her first album, Loveless has been one of the most popular female singers of the Neotraditional country movement, although she has also recorded albums in the Country pop and...
, and Travis Tritt
Travis Tritt
James Travis Tritt is an American country music singer from Marietta, Georgia. He signed to Warner Bros. Records in 1989, releasing seven studio albums and a greatest hits package for the label between then and 1999. In the 2000s, he released two albums on Columbia Records and one for the defunct...
, and has won eleven awards from Broadcast Music Incorporated
Broadcast Music Incorporated
Broadcast Music, Inc. is one of three United States performing rights organizations, along with ASCAP and SESAC. It collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed...
(BMI). In addition, he recorded one album, entitled XS in Moderation, on Liberty Records
Liberty Records
Liberty Records was a United States-based record label. It was started by chairman Simon Waronker in 1955 with Al Bennett as president and Theodore Keep as chief engineer. It was reactivated in 2001 in the United Kingdom and had two previous revivals.-1950s:...
in 1994.
Biography
Kostas Lazarides was born in ThessalonikiThessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. While he was seven years old, he and his family moved to the United States, taking up residence in Billings, Montana
Billings, Montana
Billings is the largest city in the U.S. state of Montana, and is the principal city of the Billings Metropolitan Area, the largest metropolitan area in over...
. Lazarides eventually began identifying himself by the singular name Kostas.
Personal life
Kostas was divorced from his wife Hope Evangeline in 2001. They have a daughter named Sofia, who was aged 8 at the time of the divorce. Custody of Sofia was awarded to Kostas. Sofia disappeared on August 25, 2003, while visiting her mother in Nashville, prompting and FBI hunt for her that lasted 6 years. Hope was arrested by FBI agents in Dallas, Texas, on February 24, 2009. She was returned to Tennessee where she was charged with custodial interference and appeared before General Sessions Judge Gale Robinson on March 11, 2009. He currently lives in Belgrade, MontanaBelgrade, Montana
Belgrade is a city in Gallatin County, Montana, United States. The population was 5,728 at the 2000 census.The original townsite of Belgrade was established and filed in the Gallatin County Clerk and Recorder's Office by Thomas B. Quaw, a businessman from the midwest, in July 1881...
.
Musical career
He continued to perform in Montana as a singer and songwriter throughout the 1980s. Eventually, he was discovered by record producer Tony BrownTony Brown (record producer)
Tony Brown is an American country music record producer.He was born in Greensboro, North Carolina.Brown played piano for Elvis Presley. He toured with the TCB Band for much of Presley's final two years and was a part of the 1976 "Jungle Room" recording sessions at Graceland...
, who was searching for new material for country singer Patty Loveless
Patty Loveless
Patty Loveless , is an American country music singer.Since her emergence on the country music scene in late 1986 with her first album, Loveless has been one of the most popular female singers of the Neotraditional country movement, although she has also recorded albums in the Country pop and...
. Kostas's first cut as a songwriter, "Timber, I'm Falling in Love
Timber, I'm Falling In Love
Timber, I'm Falling In Love is a single release by Patty Loveless, recorded in the spring of 1988. It was included on her third album with MCA Records, Honky Tonk Angel, with the single being released in May 1989. It was the third single released from the album.-Background:"Timber, I'm Falling In...
", was recorded by Loveless; released as a single in 1989, it went to Number One on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
country charts, becoming Loveless's first Number One hit. She would also release three more of his songs as singles: "The Lonely Side of Love
The Lonely Side of Love
"The Lonely Side of Love" is a single released by Patty Loveless, recorded at MCA/Nashville in the spring of 1988. It was included on her third album with MCA Records, Honky Tonk Angel, with the single being released in September 1989...
" (1989), "On Down the Line
On Down the Line (Patty Loveless song)
"On Down the Line" is a single release by Patty Loveless, recorded at MCA/Nashville in the spring of 1990. It was included on her fourth album with MCA Records, On Down the Line, with the single being released in May 1990. It was the first single released from the album.-Background:This song came...
" (1990), and "Blame It On Your Heart
Blame It on Your Heart
"Blame It On Your Heart" is a song by Patty Loveless, released as a single in 1993. It was included on her first album with Sony/Epic Records, Only What I Feel, her sixth career album. The single was released in April 1993. It was the first single released from the album...
" (1994). "Blame It on Your Heart" also earned BMI's Robert J. Burton award for being the most performed single of 1994.
Dwight Yoakam
Dwight Yoakam
Dwight David Yoakam is an American singer-songwriter, actor and film director, most famous for his pioneering country music...
also recorded several songs written by Kostas, including "Nothing's Changed Here", "Turn It On, Turn It Up, Turn Me Loose", and "Send a Message to My Heart" (a duet with Loveless), all of which were released as singles from Yoakam's 1990 album If There Was a Way
If There Was a Way
If There Was a Way is the fourth album by Dwight Yoakam. Five of its tracks would rise into the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in 1991 and 1992. They were "Turn It On, Turn It Up, Turn Me Loose" at No. 11, "You're the One" at No. 5, "Nothing's Changed Here" at No. 15, "It Only...
. Yoakam's 1993 album, This Time
This Time (Dwight Yoakam album)
This Time is the fifth album by American country music artist Dwight Yoakam. Three of its tracks barely missed the top spot on the Billboard Hot Country Singles charts, each peaking at No. 2: "Ain't That Lonely Yet," "A Thousand Miles from Nowhere," and "Fast as You." Two other tracks also rose...
, included another song co-written by Kostas: the single "Ain't That Lonely Yet
Ain't That Lonely Yet
"Ain't That Lonely Yet" is the title of a song written by Kostas and James House, and recorded by Dwight Yoakam. It was released in March 1993 as the first single from his CD This Time. It peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks...
", which earned Yoakam a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for Best Country Vocal Performance - Male in 1994. During the early 1990s, Kostas also wrote singles for McBride & the Ride
McBride & the Ride
McBride & the Ride was an American country music band initially composed of Terry McBride , Ray Herndon and Billy Thomas . The group was founded in 1989 through the assistance of record producer Tony Brown...
, Travis Tritt
Travis Tritt
James Travis Tritt is an American country music singer from Marietta, Georgia. He signed to Warner Bros. Records in 1989, releasing seven studio albums and a greatest hits package for the label between then and 1999. In the 2000s, he released two albums on Columbia Records and one for the defunct...
, Holly Dunn
Holly Dunn
Holly Dunn is a country music artist who first found fame with her 1986 Top-10 hit "Daddy's Hands" from her self-titled début album. Dunn has charted more than a dozen country singles, two of which reaching the #1 spot.Dunn is the daughter of a minister father...
, Martina McBride
Martina McBride
Martina McBride is an American country music singer and songwriter. McBride has been called the "Céline Dion of Country Music" for her big-voiced ballads and soprano range....
, and The Mavericks
The Mavericks
The Mavericks is a country music band founded in 1989 in Miami, Florida, United States. Between 1991 and 2003 they recorded six studio albums, in addition to charting 14 singles on the Billboard country charts...
.
In 1980, Kostas released a self titled album on First American Records
In 1994, Kostas signed to Liberty Records
Liberty Records
Liberty Records was a United States-based record label. It was started by chairman Simon Waronker in 1955 with Al Bennett as president and Theodore Keep as chief engineer. It was reactivated in 2001 in the United Kingdom and had two previous revivals.-1950s:...
as a recording artist.XS in Moderation, was released that year. The album, which included his own renditions of the singles that he had written, was part of a special songwriters' series by Liberty.
Songs written by Kostas
The following singles were written or co-written by Kostas:- Dixie ChicksDixie ChicksThe Dixie Chicks are an American country band which has also successfully crossed over into other genres. The band is composed of founding members Martie Erwin Maguire and Emily Erwin Robison, and lead singer Natalie Maines...
– "I Can Love You BetterI Can Love You Better"I Can Love You Better" is the title of a song written by Pamela Brown Hayes and Kostas and recorded by American country music group the Dixie Chicks...
" - Holly Dunn – "Heart Full of Love"
- Farmer's Daughter - "You and Only You"
- Sammy KershawSammy KershawSamuel Paul "Sammy" Kershaw is an American country music artist. A third cousin of Cajun fiddler Doug Kershaw and ex-husband of Lorrie Morgan, he has been active in country music since 1991. He has released ten studio albums, with three RIAA platinum certifications and two gold certifications...
– "Your Tattoo" - Patty LovelessPatty LovelessPatty Loveless , is an American country music singer.Since her emergence on the country music scene in late 1986 with her first album, Loveless has been one of the most popular female singers of the Neotraditional country movement, although she has also recorded albums in the Country pop and...
– "Timber, I'm Falling in LoveTimber, I'm Falling In LoveTimber, I'm Falling In Love is a single release by Patty Loveless, recorded in the spring of 1988. It was included on her third album with MCA Records, Honky Tonk Angel, with the single being released in May 1989. It was the third single released from the album.-Background:"Timber, I'm Falling In...
", "The Lonely Side of LoveThe Lonely Side of Love"The Lonely Side of Love" is a single released by Patty Loveless, recorded at MCA/Nashville in the spring of 1988. It was included on her third album with MCA Records, Honky Tonk Angel, with the single being released in September 1989...
", "On Down the LineOn Down the Line (Patty Loveless song)"On Down the Line" is a single release by Patty Loveless, recorded at MCA/Nashville in the spring of 1990. It was included on her fourth album with MCA Records, On Down the Line, with the single being released in May 1990. It was the first single released from the album.-Background:This song came...
", "Can't Stop Myself from Loving You", "Blame It on Your HeartBlame It on Your Heart"Blame It On Your Heart" is a song by Patty Loveless, released as a single in 1993. It was included on her first album with Sony/Epic Records, Only What I Feel, her sixth career album. The single was released in April 1993. It was the first single released from the album...
", "High on Love", "Out of Control Raging Fire" (with Travis Tritt) - The MavericksThe MavericksThe Mavericks is a country music band founded in 1989 in Miami, Florida, United States. Between 1991 and 2003 they recorded six studio albums, in addition to charting 14 singles on the Billboard country charts...
– "Here Comes the RainHere Comes the Rain"Here Comes the Rain" is the title of a song written by Raul Malo and Kostas, and recorded by American country music group The Mavericks. It was released in August 1995 as the first single from the album Music for All Occasions...
", "There Goes My Heart", "What a Crying ShameWhat a Crying Shame (song)"What a Crying Shame" is the title of a song written by Raul Malo and Kostas, and recorded by American country music group The Mavericks. It was released in November 1993 as the first single and title track from the album What a Crying Shame...
" - Martina McBrideMartina McBrideMartina McBride is an American country music singer and songwriter. McBride has been called the "Céline Dion of Country Music" for her big-voiced ballads and soprano range....
– "Life #9Life Number 9"Life #9" is the title of a song written by Kostas and Tony Perez, and recorded by American country artist Martina McBride. It was released in January 1994 as the second single from her second studio album, The Way That I Am. The song was her fifth single release overall, and peaked at number 6 on...
" - McBride & the RideMcBride & the RideMcBride & the Ride was an American country music band initially composed of Terry McBride , Ray Herndon and Billy Thomas . The group was founded in 1989 through the assistance of record producer Tony Brown...
– "Going Out of My MindGoing Out of My Mind"Going Out of My Mind" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music group McBride & the Ride. It was released in July 1992 as the second single from their album Sacred Ground...
", "Love on the Loose, Heart on the RunLove on the Loose, Heart on the Run"Love on the Loose, Heart on the Run" is the title of a song written by Kostas and Anna Lisa Graham, and recorded by American country music group McBride & the Ride. It was released in March 1993 as the first single from their album Hurry Sundown...
" - Jo Dee MessinaJo Dee MessinaJo Dee Marie Messina , known professionally as Jo Dee Messina, is an American country music artist. She has charted nine Number One singles on the Billboard country music charts. She has been honored by the Country Music Association, the Academy of Country Music and has been nominated for two...
– "Because You Love Me" - Shane MinorShane MinorShane Allen Minor is an American country music artist. Signed to Mercury Nashville Records in 1999, Minor released his self-titled album that year, and it produced three hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts...
– "Slave to the HabitSlave to the Habit"Slave to the Habit" is the debut title of a song recorded by American country music artist Shane Minor. It was released in March 1999 as the first single from the album Shane Minor. The song reached number 20 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and peaked at number 8 on the RPM...
" - Perfect StrangerPerfect Stranger (band)-Track listing:#"Remember the Ride" – 3:18#"It's Up to You" – 2:36#"One More Repossession" – 2:30#"You Have the Right to Remain Silent" – 3:28...
– "Ridin' the Rodeo" - Marty StuartMarty StuartJohn Martin "Marty" Stuart is an American country music singer-songwriter, known for both his traditional style, and eclectic merging of rockabilly, honky tonk, and traditional country music...
– "You Can't Stop Love" - Travis TrittTravis TrittJames Travis Tritt is an American country music singer from Marietta, Georgia. He signed to Warner Bros. Records in 1989, releasing seven studio albums and a greatest hits package for the label between then and 1999. In the 2000s, he released two albums on Columbia Records and one for the defunct...
– "Lord Have Mercy on the Working ManLord Have Mercy on the Working Man"Lord Have Mercy on the Working Man" is the title of a song written by Kostas and recorded by American country music singer Travis Tritt. It was released in August 1992 as the first of five singles from his third studio album, T-R-O-U-B-L-E...
" - Dwight YoakamDwight YoakamDwight David Yoakam is an American singer-songwriter, actor and film director, most famous for his pioneering country music...
– "Nothing's Changed HereNothing's Changed Here"Nothing's Changed Here" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by country music artist Dwight Yoakam. It was co-written with the well known country songwriter Kostas. It was released in July 1991 as the third single from his album If There Was a Way...
", "Turn It On, Turn It Up, Turn Me LooseTurn It On, Turn It Up, Turn Me Loose"Turn It On, Turn It Up, Turn Me Loose" is a song recorded by country music artist Dwight Yoakam. It is the lead-off single to his 1990 album If There Was a Way...
", "Ain't That Lonely YetAin't That Lonely Yet"Ain't That Lonely Yet" is the title of a song written by Kostas and James House, and recorded by Dwight Yoakam. It was released in March 1993 as the first single from his CD This Time. It peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks...
", "Send a Message to My Heart" (w/ Patty Loveless), "Try Not to Look So Pretty", "Nothing"