Fagan's songs have been recorded by Neil Diamond, George Strait, John Michael Montgomery, Clay Walker, Ricochet, Hank Williams, Jr., George Jones, Shania Twain, Patty Loveless, Collin Raye, Shenandoah, The Crickets, Jason & the Scorchers, The Blues Brothers Band and many others.

In 1979, his song "The Good Lord Loves You" was recorded by Neil Diamond and released on the September Morn album.

On April 26, 2008, Fagan had a physical altercation with his publishing partner and best friend, Tom Oteri.

Fagan was arrested for drunk driving after leaving the scene of the fight where Oteri was later found dead, having suffered a heart attack.

[2] After being drafted into the Army and serving a year in Vietnam, Fagan returned to Philadelphia where, for a while, he was homeless.

Tom Oteri discovered Fagan's songwriting talents and invited him to a recording studio audition.

Fagan's initial success was not achieved again until he relocated from Los Angeles to Nashville, Tennessee in January 1986.

Working with a variety of collaborators, he has been responsible for such unforgettable hits as "Sold," "Only on Days That End in Y," "I Miss You a Little," "Overnight Male" and "Be My Baby Tonight."

"[3] "Their relationship was more like father and son than anything," said Fagan's friend and frequent co-writer Kacey Jones.

Fagan was full of Patron and antidepressants, Oteri high and low on the painkiller Fentanyl, which had been prescribed after he broke a rib.

Wounded by Fagan's knife, Oteri yelled at his friend to leave, perhaps out of anger and perhaps for protection.

He spent the night in jail, and was on his way home on bail, hoping to make apologies and amends with Oteri, when he was called back to the Harding precinct.