"The Letter" songwriter Wayne Carson dies at 72
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Grammy-winning songwriter Wayne Carson, who wrote such hits as the Willie Nelson classic "Always On My Mind," and The Box Tops' "The Letter," has died. He was 72.
Carson died on Monday in Nashville, Tennessee, in hospice care after a lengthy illness, according to family friend Shirley Hutchins.
He got his first No. 1 hit in 1966 on "Somebody Like Me," performed by Eddy Arnold, and his songs have been covered by artists across genres, from Elvis Presley to Al Green.
The Box Tops had a Number 1 hit with Carson's "The Letter," which was later covered by Joe Cocker in 1970.
It was then revamped as a disco hit by Deborah Washington.
To hear Carson's "The Letter," performed by The Box Tops, click on the video player below.
The country ballad, "Always On My Mind," co-written with Johnny Christopher and Mark James, won two Grammy Awards in 1982.
To hear Willie Nelson perform "Always On My Mind," written by Wayne Carson, Johnny Christopher and Mark James, click on the video player below.
Other songs written by Carson include "Who's Julie," "Neon Rainbow," "Soul Deep," "Slide Off Your Satin Sheets," "That's the Only Way to Say Good Morning," "A Horse Called Music," "I See The Want-To In Your Eyes," "(Don't Let The Sun Set On You In) Tulsa," and "Something's Wrong In California."
He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1997.
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