George Richey, born George Baker Richardson on November 30, 1935, in Promise Land, Arkansas, was a prominent figure in the Nashville country music scene. Raised in Malden, Missouri, Richey made significant contributions to country music as a songwriter, producer, and session musician from the 1960s through the 1990s. He co-wrote several hits, including Lynn Anderson's "Keep Me in Mind" and songs for Tammy Wynette and George Jones, such as "A Picture of Me (Without You)" and "The Grand Tour." Richey was also the musical director for the television show Hee Haw from 1970 to 1977.

Richey's personal life included marriages to Dorothy Ann Tippit, Sheila Hall, Tammy Wynette, and Sheila Slaughter, with three children from these unions. His marriage to Wynette in 1978 was notable as he became her manager and producer. Following Wynette's death in 1998, Richey faced allegations from Wynette's daughters regarding his treatment of her, including claims of abuse. He largely withdrew from public life after her passing. George Richey passed away on July 31, 2010, in Nashville, Tennessee.