John Hurley and Ronnie Wilkins
John David Hurley (April 18, 1941 – August 16, 1986) and Ronald Stephen Wilkins (born October 8, 1941) were American musicians and songwriting partners responsible for writing the hit songs "Love of the Common People" and "Son of a Preacher Man". Hurley also recorded three albums in the 1970s. Origins and early careers John Hurley was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As a child, he performed in Pittsburgh barrooms with his uncle, and co-hosted a local radio show. He also sang with the Pittsburgh Opera Company before discovering rock and roll and moving to Nashville. He joined the Tree music publishing company as a songwriter in 1962. He served for a time with the U.S. Army. Ronnie Wilkins was born in Lumberton, North Carolina. He started writing songs and performing while at high school, and as a teenager appeared on local radio station WAGR where he was heard by a Charlotte talent agent and as a result auditioned successfully for Tree. His first successful record as a songwriter was Joe Dowell's "Poor Little Cupid" in 1963. Songwriting partnership By the mid-1960s, Hurley and Wilkins worked regularly together as a songwriting partnership at Tree, initially focusing on songs for soul musicians including