Tim DuBois
Tim DuBois
Biography
From Grove and a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, Tim DuBois was writing songs while still in high school. With a Master’s Degree in Accounting from Oklahoma State University, he accepted positions with Arthur Anderson and The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. He returned to OSU for postgraduate work and, with Scott Hendricks, began recording music he had written and visited Nashville for the first time. He accepted a teaching position at Vanderbilt University and relocated to country music’s capital, teaching at the university to pay the bills and shopping his songs. In 1980, he landed a writer’s deal that resulted in three #1 songs in a twelve-month period, including “Love in the First Degree” by Alabama and “She Got the Gold Mine” by Jerry Reed.
DuBois built a career combining his business training and musical talents, managing artists, writing songs, and producing records. He formed and managed the band Restless Heart and co-produced their first album. In 1989 he started the Nashville division of Arista, signing Alan Jackson, Pam Tillis, Diamond Rio, Brad Paisley, and countless others. At Arista, he introduced Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn, resulting in the most successful country music duo of all time. As a writer, he has five #1 songs, two Grammy nominations, and he and Vince Gill’s “When I Call your Name” won CMA’s Song of the Year in 1992. As a producer, he has more than 30 #1 and top #5 credits and over a dozen Gold and Platinum albums. Named one of the 101 most powerful people in the music industry twice by Entertainment Weekly, DuBois’ contributions to the music industry are unmatched.
Fun fact
DuBois recorded his first song demos that he took to Nashville in the OSU Library audio visual department with fellow Oklahoma Hall of Fame Member, Scott Hendricks.
Oklahoma connections
DuBois has been inducted into the OSU Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.