Legendary songwriter Mark James, who penned basic hits comparable to Elvis Presley‘s “Suspicious Minds” and “At all times On My Thoughts,” in addition to the B. J. Thomas/Blue Swede smash “Hooked On a Feeling,” has died. He was 83.
As first reported by the Houston Chronicle, James handed away on Saturday, June 8, at his residence in Nashville, Tennessee.
“Mark’s legacy and zest for all times will dwell on within the hearts of those that beloved him, and thru his timeless lyrics and melodies which were the soundtrack of lovers for generations,” his household mentioned in an announcement.
Born on November 29, 1940, in Houston, Texas, James started his profession as a workers songwriter for Memphis producer Chips Moman’s publishing firm, the place he penned the hits “The Eyes of a New York Girl”, “Hooked on a Feeling”, and “It’s Solely Love,” in addition to “Suspicious Minds” which might change into a Presley smash file in 1969.
He would go on to collaborate with Presley once more on “At all times On My Thoughts,” which James co-wrote with Johnny Christopher and Wayne Carson in 1971. It was was first recorded by Brenda Lee, then Gwen McCrae earlier than Presley recorded it as a B-side of “Separate Methods.”
Within the U.Ok., the observe was promoted to A-side standing and have become an immediate hit, reaching quantity 9 within the charts. The music has since change into an iconic observe lined by greater than 300 acts, together with Willie Nelson, who topped the U.S. nation charts with it in 1982. Nelson’s model earned James a Grammy Award for Tune of the Yr.
As of late, followers may be most accustomed to James’ “Hooked on a Feeling” after it appeared within the Marvel film Guardians of the Galaxy and its accompanying soundtrack album. The music had beforehand been utilized in Quentin Tarantino‘s Reservoir Canines. Blue Swede singer Björn Skifs additionally carried out it at this 12 months’s Eurovision Tune Contest in Malmo.
Over his profession, James’ songs had been recorded and lined by all kinds of artists, together with Invoice Withers, Pet Store Boys, Jay-Z, the Fantastic Younger Cannibals, and Michael Bublé.
Considered one of many biggest songwriters of all time, James was inducted into the Songwriters Corridor of Fame in 2014 and BMI named him one in all its Songwriters of the Century in 2000, alongside Paul McCartney, Elton John, and Bob Dylan.
He’s survived by his spouse, Karen Zambon, his daughters Sammie and Dana Zambon, grandchildren and prolonged household.
