Colorado-born Randy VanWarmer moved to England with his family just after the sudden death of his father. The musical Randy, a teenager at the time, wrote several songs. He was signed by Albert Grossman’s Bearsville Records. In 1978, Randy released his debut album Warmer. The disc spawned the hit single Just When I Needed You Most, which hit Number 1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart and Number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Albert Grossman, inexplicably, would not allow Randy to make television appearances or tour the United States.
Randy’s follow-up albums were much darker in tone and most failed to chart but gained popularity in overseas markets like Japan and Australia. Randy resented being pigeonholed and labeled as a sappy balladeer. He turned his attention to writing for other singers, landing hits with his songs performed and recorded by Charley Pride, The Oak Ridge Boys and Alabama.
In 2004, Randy recorded a tribute album to Americana songwriter Stephen Foster. He began recording the album, on which he played all of the instruments, just after a diagnosis of leukemia. Randy passed away just after it was completed and the album was released posthumously. He was 48 years old.