Anthony Michael Arata (born October 10, 1957) is an American singer-songwriter. His best known song is "The Dance", a number-one U.S. country hit for Garth Brooks in 1990 which was nominated at the 33rd Grammy Awards for Best Country Song. He also wrote the 1994 No. 1 U.S. country hit "Dreaming with My Eyes Open" recorded by Clay Walker. Other artists who have recorded his songs include Suzy Bogguss, Lee Roy Parnell, Patty Loveless, Trisha Yearwood and Emmylou Harris. Arata was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2012.Tony Arata, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Arata was born and grew up in Savannah, Georgia, attended the Georgia Southern University, and moved to Nashville in 1986.Tony Arata biography on CountryMusic.About.com During that time, he released an album called Changes for MCA Records and Noble Vision.
He recorded for Noble Vision Records in 1984, charting two singles on the Hot Country Songs charts. He also released an album, The Change. In 2000, Arata released his album, Way Back Then.Information at AllMusic He released a further album Such Is Life, in 2005.
Other top-20 U.S. country hits written or co-written by Arata include "I'm Holding My Own", a No. 3 hit for Lee Roy Parnell in 1994, "Here I Am", a No. 4 hit for Patty Loveless, released in 1994, "The Man in the Mirror" (#17, Jim Glaser, 1983), and "The Change" (#19, Garth Brooks, 1995).
Discography Albums Title Album details Changes Release date: February 24, 1986 Label: MCA/Noble Vision Records Way Back When Release date: 2000 Label: Little Tybee Such Is Life Release date: October 8, 2005 Label: Little Tybee
Singles Year Single Peak positions Album US Country 1984 "Come On Home" 76 rowspan="2" 1985 "Sure Thing" 65 1986 "Same Old Story" — Changes "—" denotes releases that did not chart
Song Writing Catalog Title Written byNotable releasesRelease dateChart peakThe Man In The MirrorTony ArataJim Glaser1983Billboard Hot Country #17The DanceTony ArataGarth BrooksApr 30, 1990Billboard Hot Country #1Same Old StoryTony ArataTony ArataFebruary 10, 1986Garth BrooksAug 27, 1990 (No Fences Album)Ronna Reeves1991 (Only The Heart Album)Tanya Tucker (Recorded Dec 2, 1987)Oct 18, 1994 (Self-Titled Box Set)Face To FaceTony ArataGarth BrooksSep 14, 1992 (The Chase Album)Kickin' and Screamin'Tony ArataGarth BrooksAug 31, 1993 (In Pieces Album)AnonymousTony Arata, Jon SchwabeGarth BrooksAug 31, 1993 (In Pieces Album)I'm Holding My OwnTony ArataLee Roy ParnellJan 3, 1994Billboard Hot Country #3A Handful of DustTony ArataMichael JamesFeb 15, 1994Patty LovelessAug 17, 1994Don WilliamsOct 27, 1998Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris (Recorded 1993) Sep 9, 2016 (Complete Trio Album)Dreaming with My Eyes OpenTony ArataClay WalkerMay 27, 1994Billboard Hot Country #1Here I AmTony ArataPatty LovelessNov 12, 1994Billboard Hot Country #4What Else Can I DoTony Arata, Scott MillerPatricia ConroyJan 1995The ChangeTony Arata, Wayne TesterGarth BrooksMar 30, 1996Billboard Hot Country #19Satisfied MindTony ArataHal KetchumMay 7, 1996 (The Hits Album)Nothing but LoveTony ArataPatty LovelessMay 21, 1996 (Compilation Album)Ty EnglandMar 31, 2006 (Alive & Well Album)You Can't Get There From HereTony ArataLee Roy ParnellFeb 18, 1997 (Every Night's... Album)Billboard Hot Country #39Long Stretch of LonesomeTony Arata, Gary ScruggsPatty LovelessSep 30, 1997 (Album; title track)That's The Way I Remember ItTony Arata, Tony SimsGarth BrooksSep 28, 1999 (Chris Gaines Album)Why Ain't I RunningTony Arata, Garth Brooks, Kent BlazyGarth BrooksMar 8, 2003Billboard Hot Country #24
Awards and nominations Grammy Awards
|1991 |"The Dance" |Best Country Song
Academy of Country Music Awards
|1991 |"The Dance" |Song of the Year
Country Music Association Awards
|1991 |"The Dance" |Song of the Year
References
External links Official Website
Bibliography Barry McCloud (1995) Definitive Country: The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Country Music and Its Performers, p. 21-22, .