1 month ago
Don Schlitz, nan state songwriter down classics for illustration “The Gambler,” has died. He was 73.
The North Carolina native died Thursday astatine a Nashville infirmary aft what nan Grand Ole Opry described arsenic a abrupt illness. The origin of decease was not instantly known.
“We are heartbroken by nan news of nan passing of Don Schlitz. Don loved his family, his location authorities of North Carolina and, supra all, songs and songwriters,” Sarah Trahern, Country Music Association CEO, said successful a connection Friday.
“He carried that emotion into each room, each shape and each lyric he ever wrote.
“Not agelong ago, we shared a dinner, and arsenic we were leaving, Don picked up a guitar and began to play. That is really I will ever retrieve him, smiling and pinch a guitar successful his hand. His bequest lives connected done his euphony and nan galore artists and writers he inspired. He will beryllium profoundly missed.”
Echoing that sentiment, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum CEO Kyle Young said, “Don Schlitz’s spot arsenic a songwriting awesome would beryllium unafraid had he ne'er written ‘The Gambler’ aliases had he only written ‘The Gambler.’ Nashville was richer for his beingness and is lesser for his absence.”
Schlitz helped style nan sound and psyche of artists for illustration Kenny Rogers, Randy Travis and The Judds.
His lyrics fueled hits including “On nan Other Hand,” “Forever and Ever, Amen” and “When You Say Nothing astatine All,” recorded by Keith Whitley and later by Alison Krauss.
Schlitz was calved successful 1952 and raised successful Durham earlier packing his bags and heading to Nashville.
The state prima was later inducted into nan Songwriters Hall of Fame and nan Country Music Hall of Fame.
“I will ne'er beryllium capable to judge that I merit this, unless I person it arsenic a typical of my family, my mentors, my collaborators, my promoters and my friends,” he said successful 2017. “That’s nan only measurement I tin woody pinch this.”
His breakout infinitesimal came pinch “The Gambler,” recorded by Rogers successful 1978, a opus that didn’t conscionable specify an era.
It expanded country music’s reach into nan mainstream.
Rogers later praised Schlitz, saying, “Don doesn’t conscionable constitute songs. He writes careers.”
Schlitz went connected to pen tracks for a wide scope of artists, from Tanya Tucker to Mary Chapin Carpenter, and moreover reunited Rogers with Dolly Parton for “You Can’t Make Old Friends.”
Despite his behind-the-scenes role, Schlitz earned a front-row spot successful state euphony history.
He was named ASCAP Country Songwriter of nan Year 4 consecutive years from 1988 to 1991 and made history astatine nan Opry arsenic its only non-performing songwriter inductee successful a century.
He debuted location successful 2017 and joined arsenic a personnel successful 2022, a uncommon grant that underscored his power acold beyond nan spotlight.
The Opry’s Saturday nighttime show served arsenic a tribute to his legacy.
Schlitz is survived by his wife, Stacey, his children and grandchildren — girl Cory Dixon and her hubby Matt Dixon; boy Pete Schlitz and his woman Christian Webb Schlitz; grandchildren Roman, Gia, Isla and Lilah; relative Brad Schlitz; and sister Kathy Hinkley.
