What a legend.
Don Schlitz, the songwriter behind iconic country hits like “The Gambler” by Kenny Rogers and “Forever and Ever, Amen” by Randy Travis, has died at the age of 73.
According to a press release, Schlitz passed away on Thursday, April 16 at a Nashville hospital following a sudden illness.
The songwriter penned 25 number ones over his career, including “The Gambler” and “Forever And Ever, Amen,” as well as songs like “When You Say Nothing At All” by Keith Whitley, “40 Hour Week” by Alabama, “One Promise Too Late” by Reba, and a ton more.
A native of Durham, North Carolina, Schlitz moved to Nashville with $80 in his pocket after briefly attending Duke University, and quickly found himself getting attention from some of the country music greats for his songwriting talent. He was among the first performers at the iconic Bluebird Café, and along with fellow songwriters Thom Schuyler, J. Fred Knobloch and Paul Overstreet is credited with creating the venue’s “songwriters in the round” format that’s still used today.
He had his first major hit with “The Gambler” back in 1978, a song that would win him both Song of the Year at the CMA Awards and Country Song of the Year at the Grammys. He would also win a Grammy in 1988 for “Forever and Ever, Amen,” while also racking up two more CMA Awards for Song of the Year.
Schlitz has also released three albums of his own, including a live album that was recorded at the Bluebird Cafe.
His 50 top 10 hits led to Schlitz being named ASCAP Songwriter of the Year for four consecutive years from 1988-1991, and he has been inducted into both the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. And then in 2017, Schlitz was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, one of only five songwriters at the time to have achieved the honor.
Back in 2022, Schlitz became a member of the Grand Ole Opry, frequently stepping into the circle and performing hits like “The Gambler.” And ahead of his Opry induction, he spoke to The Tennessean about why he felt his songs had connected with so many people around the world:
“All music is local. When music you love reaches you, it causes a joyous feeling in your heart, and you make it your own. If that feeling expands from the Grand Ole Opry or Bluebird Cafe in Nashville to a wedding in Zimbabwe, that was my intention. Again, it’s all local. It’s all impacting someone personally. That’s the most local level there is.”
And on a personal level, I had the privilege of meeting him a few times at the Opry, and he was also just an incredibly nice and funny guy.
Schlitz is survived by his wife, Stacey; his daughter Cory Dixon and her husband Matt Dixon; his son Pete Schlitz and his wife Christian Webb Schlitz; his grandchildren Roman, Gia, Isla, and Lilah; his brother Brad Schlitz; and his sister Kathy Hinkley.
What a terrible loss for country music and the songwriting community. Rest in peace, Don Schlitz.
