Career
Bourke moved to Nashville in 1964 and worked for a period in the promotional department of Mercury Records. His songwriting career took off in the early 1970s and he soon racked up tracks recorded by Charlie Rich, Elvis Presley, Lynn Anderson, Billy Crash Craddock, Olivia Newton-John, and many others His most successful song was "The Most Beautiful Girl", cowritten with Billy Sherrill and Norro Wilson, recorded by Rich and a number-one record in both the country and popular fields.
Rourke"s other hit songs include "A Little Good News," (Anne Murray), "You Look So Good in Love" (George Strait), "I Know a Heartache When I See One" (Jennifer Warnes), and "Come Next Monday" (K T Oslin).
Most of his songs were written in collaboration with other songwriters. Bourke was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1989.
His awards include three times as American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers"s "Writer of the Year" (1975, 1979, 1983) and three Grammy nominations for Best Country Song.
