Mark James, the songwriter behind lovelorn rock and country hits like Elvis Presley’s” Suspicious Minds” and Willie Nelson’s” Always on My Mind”, has died. He was 83.
James ‘ death on Saturday, at his apartment in Nashville, Tennessee, was first reported in the , Houston Chronicle. James ‘ family stated in a statement that” Mark’s legacy and zest for life will live on in the hearts of those who loved him, and through his timeless lyrics and melodies that have been the soundtrack of lovers for generations.”
James, born Francis Zambon in Houston, became an period- establishing singer with 1968’s” Cautious Minds”, which he first released under his own name to much notice. But the song — about a couple” caught in a trap, I ca n’t walk out … / We ca n’t go on together with suspicious minds” — became an era- defining classic in the hands of Presley, who made it his final No. When he first released it in 1969, it was the first one. The music made Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 greatest songs of all time.
James scored another generational vintage with 1972’s” Generally on My Mind”, which he carbon- wrote with Wayne Carson and Johnny Christopher. Willie Nelson made the song a region hit in 1982, topping the Hot 100 and winning Grammys for country music and music of the year, despite the music being first recorded that yr by Gwen McCrae, Brenda Lee, and Presley because well. In 1987, the U. K. electrical- music duo Pet Shop Boys turned it into their their individual reach one, reaching number four on the U. S. singles table in 1987. The song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2008 ( as was” Suspicious Minds” in 1999 ).
James ‘ music” Hooked on a Feeling” has had an extremely long and varied career in music society. Originally written for B. J. Thomas in 1969 ( who made it a major- five hit ), Blue Swede ran it up to a No. 1 second in 1974 ( repurposing the “ooga- chacka” opening from a 1971 include by Jonathan King ). The song was more just covered by car artists the Bees, and has made several cameos in movies like Quentin Tarantino’s” Reservoir Dogs”, Marvel’s” Protectors of the Samsung” and in the’ 90s TV line” Ally McBeal”.
Other notable visits written by James included Brenda Lee’s” Sunday Sunrise”, which hit the top 10 in 1973, and Heart Breath &, Tears ‘ one” Roller Coaster” that same year. In 2014, James was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
James is survived by his family Karen, girls Sammie and Dana and his children.
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