The man behind country classics such as “The Gambler” and “On the Other Hand”has died following a sudden illness. Don Schlitz was 73. His legendary songwriting career earned him two Grammy Awards and a place in the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame. “I will never be able to believe that I deserve this, unless I receive it as a representative of my family, my mentors, my collaborators, my promoters and my friends,” he said of making the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2017. Schlitz was born and raised in North Carolina, but moved to Nashville to chase his country music dreams. His greatest achievement came early—his first recorded song was “The Gambler,” which singer Kenny Rogers would turn into a huge hit upon its release in 1978. The tune would go on to be certified platinum five times by the Recording Industry Association of America. Rogers later commented that Schlitz “doesn’t just write songs, he writes careers.” The songwriter also partnered with country music legends Randy Travis, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and Dolly Parton, who teamed up with Rogers for the duet You Can’t Make Old Friends. Schlitz leaves behind his wife Stacey, his daughter and son, and four grandchildren.
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