Bob McDill, born Robert Lee McDill on April 4, 1944, in Beaumont, Texas, is a renowned American songwriter celebrated for his significant contributions to country music. Raised in Walden, Texas, McDill's early musical education began with viola lessons in the fourth grade, and he later embraced the guitar and songwriting during his teenage years. He attended Lamar University, where he was part of a band called The Newcomers, and became immersed in the folk music revival of the time.

McDill's professional songwriting career began during his service in the Navy, where he corresponded with songwriter and record producer Allen Reynolds and songwriter Dickey Lee, leading to his first chart record, "The Happy Man," recorded by Perry Como in 1967. After his military service, McDill moved to Memphis and then to Nashville in 1970, where he joined forces with Reynolds and Lee under the guidance of music publisher and producer Jack Clement.

Throughout his career, McDill wrote or co-wrote 31 number one country hits, with his songs being recorded by prominent artists such as The Grateful Dead, Ray Charles, Joe Cocker, Anne Murray, and B. J. Thomas. His songwriting credits include hits like “Amanda,” “Don’t Close Your Eyes,” “Song of the South,” “Everything That Glitters (Is Not Gold),” and “Gone Country.” McDill's music has also been featured in films such as Primary Colors and The Thing Called Love.

McDill's accolades include four Grammy nominations, Songwriter of the Year awards from Broadcast Music Incorporated, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, and the Nashville Songwriters Association International. In 2012, he received ASCAP's Golden Note Award, and in 2015, the Academy of Country Music's Poet's Award for lifetime achievement. In October 2023, McDill was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, cementing his legacy in the music industry.

In addition to his songwriting, McDill is an author of articles and two books, "Tales of the Old River Rod and Gun, Bloody Mary Society and Gentleman's Club" and "The Ancestors and Descendants of Robert Nathanial McDill." His work ethic, literary sensibility, and appreciation of southern heritage have left an indelible mark on American country music.