Randy Travis<\/a>\u00a0(\u201cOn the Other Hand,\u201d \u201cForever and Ever, Amen\u201d), The Judds (\u201cI Know Where I\u2019m Going\u201d), The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (\u201cI Love Only You\u201d), Tanya Tucker (\u201cI Won\u2019t Take Less Than Your Love\u201d), Mary Chapin Carpenter (\u201cHe Thinks He\u2019ll Keep Her\u201d) and many others.<\/p>\nHe also wrote \u201cYou Can\u2019t Make Old Friends\u201d for Rogers and Dolly Parton, their first duet since 1983’s \u201cIslands in the Stream.\u201d<\/p>\n
Schlitz, a North Carolina native, was born in 1952 and raised in Durham before packing his bags and heading to Nashville. His first recorded song, \u201cThe Gambler,\u201d is perhaps his most enduring hit and the tent pole of his legacy. The song, which was recorded by Rogers in 1978 and certified five times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, opened doors for country music in the ’70s. It was not only a huge genre hit but also a pop crossover.<\/p>\n
As Rogers said when he inducted Schlitz into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2012, \u201cDon doesn\u2019t just write songs. He writes careers.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are heartbroken by the news of the passing of Don Schlitz. Don loved his family, his home state of North Carolina, and above all, songs and songwriters. He carried that love into every room, every stage and every lyric he ever wrote,\u201d Sarah Trahern, Country Music Association CEO, wrote in a statement Friday. \u201cNot long ago, we shared a dinner, and as we were leaving, Don picked up a guitar and began to play. That is how I will always remember him, smiling and with a guitar in his hand. His legacy lives on through his music and the many artists and writers he inspired. He will be deeply missed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon Schlitz\u2019s place as a songwriting great would be secure had he never written \u2018The Gambler\u2019 or had he only written \u2018The Gambler,\u2019\u201d Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, wrote in a statement Friday. \u201cNashville was richer for his presence and is lesser for his absence.\u201d<\/p>\n
Schlitz is survived by his widow, Stacey, daughter Cory Dixon and her husband Matt Dixon, son Pete Schlitz and his wife Christian Webb Schlitz, grandchildren Roman, Gia, Isla and Lilah, brother Brad Schlitz and sister Kathy Hinkley.<\/p>\n
Follow us on Instagram at\u00a0spectrumnews1nc<\/a>\u00a0for news and other happenings across North Carolina.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n