Oscar Houchins is a multifaceted figure in the music industry, having worn many hats as an artist, writer, musician, producer, publisher, manager, and educator. His career has spanned all three major U.S. music hubs—New York, Los Angeles, and Nashville—and he currently resides in Austin, Texas, where he operates his production company, House of Houchins.
Houchins first gained recognition as a performing artist with The Clique, a band produced by Tommy James, the leader of the multi-platinum group The Shondells. The Clique achieved several top 40 hits with White Whale Records, including the multi-platinum hit "Sugar On Sunday." Their debut record, “Superman,” was later covered by R.E.M., and they followed up with "I’ll Hold Out My Hand," which reached #21 on the national charts. The group's self-titled album, "The Clique," was subsequently re-released in Europe by Rivola, UK.
In 1975, Houchins signed with Monument Records in Nashville, where he released the popular single "How Come," originally a European hit for Ronnie Lane and The Faces. Under the guidance of esteemed songwriter Buzz Cason—who is notable for having songs recorded by The Beatles, U2, and Pearl Jam—Houchins performed at “The King of The Road Hotel” in Nashville alongside Ronnie Milsap. Following the release of his single, he toured extensively and included Austin’s Armadillo World Headquarters among his performance venues.
As a songwriter, Houchins became ABC/Dunhill’s first staff writer in Nashville in 1972 and later wrote contemporary Christian music for Word Publishing. Aaron Brown, a producer for Word Records, considered Houchins to be one of the first contemporary Christian songwriters and artists. His song "Wings," co-written with Steve Gibbs, was recorded by Christian artist Sam Durrence for Antebellum Records. Houchins also served as a staff writer for Loretta Lynn’s Coal Miner’s Music from 1976 to 1980. His songs have been recorded by various artists, including Rita Coolidge and the Grammy Award-nominated band Wilco. Notably, Tipper Gore chose Houchins' song "If You’re Willing" as the theme for “Tennessee’s Voices for Children,” a nonprofit organization focused on the mental and emotional well-being of children in Tennessee.
Houchins has performed on major concert stages across the United States, including both the original Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman Auditorium and the newer Opry. He has collaborated with numerous artists in the studio and on tour, notably serving as a pianist and a member of Sonny James’s backing group, The Southern Gentlemen, which boasts 23 Number One Country and crossover hits, including “Young Love,” “Since I Met You Baby,” and “Running Bear.”
In his role as a producer, Houchins has worked with notable figures such as Jimmy Bowen (Dean Martin), Roger Murrah (Alabama), Bil VornDick (Alison Krauss), Chip Young (Delbert McClinton), and Chris “Frenchie” Smith (Jet). He has had the privilege of producing exceptional musicians, including Mike Estes (Lynyrd Skynyrd), Barry Chance (Jimmy Buffet), Pierre Merriany (Little Feat), Eddie Bayers (Steve Winwood), Michael Rojas (Stevie Nicks), Johnny Christopher (Garth Brooks), Bucky Barrett (Roy Orbison), Merel Bregante (Loggins and Messina), John Staehely (Robert Palmer), and Mark Younger-Smith (Billy Idol).
While serving as President of the Music Division for Steve Binder Productions in Los Angeles, Houchins co-produced The Beach Boys segment of the “10th Anniversary Rolling Stone Television Special” alongside Jimmy Webb in 1977. He also produced the “Songwriters’ Showcase” program in 1989, filmed at Rockefeller’s in Houston, featuring prominent songwriters like Jeff Silbar, known for “Wind Beneath My Wings.”
As a publisher and manager, Houchins established House of Houchins LLC in Nashville in 1998, representing the publishing interests of Tommy James and all 13 of his Number One songs, including "Mony Mony," "Crimson and Clover," "Crystal Blue Persuasion," and "I Think We’re Alone Now." He also managed Doug Summers, a Nashville artist he discovered and brought to Asylum Records alongside Mary Martin, who is noted for signing Bob Dylan.
Houchins produced the Entertainer Celebrity Golf Tour in Nashville, which featured artists, musicians, and writers such as Steve Cropper and Natalie Maines of The Dixie Chicks. His concert production work includes booking national touring acts like “The Guess Who” in Austin (2000), “Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel,” and Trout Fishing in America at Manor Downs in Austin (2001).
He has been active in organizing songwriting panels and seminars for BMI and ASCAP. As the Executive Director of The Texas Songwriting Association, Houchins initiated the first-ever ‘Songwriting Seminar and Expo’ in Austin, Texas, attracting major publishers from both Los Angeles and Nashville, with writers participating from across the state. During his tenure, he also chartered several regional songwriting associations in Texas under the auspices of the Nashville Songwriting Association International (NSAI).
In addition to his extensive career in music, Houchins was a faculty member at the Arts Institute of Houston, where he taught songwriting, music business marketing, and copyright law. He is a voting member of the Grammys, a member of the Country Music Association, and an ASCAP writer and publisher. In January 2008, he was inducted into the Gulf Coast Music Hall of Fame.
