Don Schlitz, the person behind greater than 50 Prime 10 hits, together with 25 Quantity Ones recorded by artists resembling The Judds, The Nitty Gritty Grime Band and Tanya Tucker, has died
Nation music star Don Schlitz has died aged 73(Picture: AP)
Two-time Grammy Award recipient Don Schlitz has died following a sudden sickness on the age of 73, it has been introduced. The nation music star, who wrote Kenny Rogers’ smash hit The Gambler, handed at a hospital in Nashville late final week, in accordance with a press release from the music organisation Grand Ole Opry. His reason for demise has not but been disclosed as tributes have been paid.
“We’re heartbroken by the information of the passing of Don Schlitz, Don cherished his household, his house state of North Carolina, and above all, songs and songwriters,” Sarah Trahern, Nation Music Affiliation CEO, stated in a press release. “He carried that love into each room, each stage and each lyric he ever wrote.
“Not way back, we shared a dinner, and as we have been leaving, Don picked up a guitar and started to play. That’s how I’ll at all times bear in mind him, smiling and with a guitar in his hand. His legacy lives on by his music and the various artists and writers he impressed. He will likely be deeply missed.”
Don was enshrined within the Songwriters Corridor of Fame, the Nashville Songwriters Corridor of Fame and the Nation Music Corridor of Fame. He labored with a few of the large names, together with Randy Travis, The Judds, The Nitty Gritty Grime Band and Tanya Tucker
He additionally penned You Cannot Make Previous Buddies for Kenny and Dolly Parton; their first collaboration since 1983’s “Islands within the Stream.” Icon Kenny remarked when inducting his good friend into the Songwriters Corridor of Fame in 2012: “Don would not simply write songs. He writes careers”.
Kyle Younger, CEO of the Nation Music Corridor of Fame and Museum, stated: “Don Schlitz’s place as a songwriting nice can be safe had he by no means written ‘The Gambler’ or had he solely written . Nashville was richer for his presence and is lesser for his absence.”
Don is survived by his spouse Stacey, daughter Cory Dixon and her husband Matt Dixon, son Pete Schlitz and his spouse Christian Webb Schlitz, grandchildren Roman, Gia, Isla and Lilah, brother Brad Schlitz and sister Kathy Hinkley.
His personal life virtually learn like a rustic track. He briefly attended Duke College earlier than transferring to Nashville aged simply 20 reportedly with simply $80 in his pocket. His gamble paid off and amongst his many accolades in 2022 he grew to become the one non-performing songwriter inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in its 100-year historical past.
Tributes flooded in for the long-lasting star because the information broke. Writing on Fb one fan shared: “Such a tremendous track author, that’s going to be missed within the music world.”
One other stated: “Large, sudden loss right here. Corridor of Famer, Opry member, author of ‘The Gambler’ and lots of Randy Travis songs. Don Schlitz has died…His chart-topping songs…are touchstones and inspirations that proceed to affect songwriters and singers many years after they have been written.”
The Gambler received a Grammy Award in 1980. It featured on the album of the identical identify, which topped Billboard’s nation albums chart and peaked at No16 on the Sizzling 100 chart within the US. It has bought greater than 35 million copies worldwide since 1978.
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