Stephen Allen Davis

Stephen Allen Davis, whose extensive songwriting credits include Jo Dee Messina’s “Stand Beside Me,” died on December 26, 2022. He was 73. A native of Hendersonville, Tennessee, Davis found his first songwriting success with Percy Sledge’s 1968 pop and R&B hit, “Take Time to Know Her.” In the late 1970s, Tammy Wynette reached the Top 10 with his compositions “One of a Kind” and “No One Else in the World.” Throughout his long career, he landed Top10 singles with Little Texas, Barbara Mandrell, Charly McClain (including her No. 1 hit, “Radio Heart”), Reba McEntire, and others. “Stand Beside Me” spent three weeks at No. 1 in 1999, while Messina earned ACM nominations for Top Female Vocalist and Album of the Year with I’m Alright.