Billy Edd Wheeler, a country music singer-songwriter who penned hits for stars like Johnny Cash, Kenny Rogers, Elvis Presley and more, has died at age 91.
Wheeler — best known as the co-writer of “Jackson,” a duet made famous by Cash and June Carter — died at his home in Swannanoa, North Carolina on Monday, Sept. 16, WTRF-TV reported. Wheeler’s son confirmed the songwriter’s death on Facebook.
“My father, Billy Edd Wheeler, passed away peacefully at home yesterday surrounded by family,” a post from the late singer’s Facebook reads. “We love you Dad. You will be missed by so many but also forever remembered by all the gifts you gave to this world.”
Folk icon Janis Ian paid tribute to Wheeler with a Monday Facebook post that called the late songwriter “One of the greatest little-known artists on earth” and “an amazing songwriter, author, playwright, sculptor, painter.”
Country star Kathy Mattea chimed in Tuesday on Facebook, as well, saying, “Today is a sad day …. our friend Billy Edd Wheeler passed away yesterday in North Carolina. He was a true Renaissance man … a songwriter, playwright, poet, performer, painter, and author. He had a great sense of humor and a naturally sunny disposition. He was one of the most down to earth people I ever met, and he wore his successes very lightly. He was an inspiration to me for years … and still is. The world has lost a treasure, a character, and a wonderful example of a life lived with beautiful authenticity. I feel lucky to have known him.”
Wheeler was born on 9 Dec. 1932 in Whitesville, West Virginia, according to his IMDb biography.
The musician wrote songs recorded by roughly 150 artists and sold more than 57 million copies, according to Wheeler’s website.
Wheelers’ extensive songbook includes “It’s Midnight” (a 1974 single for Presley), “Coward of the County” (a 1979 hit for Rogers), “Gimme Back My Blues” (released in 1978 by Jerry Reed) and “A Baby Again” (a 1969 single for Hank Williams Jr.). The Kingston Trio had a folk hit with Wheeler’s “The Reverend Mr. Black” in 1963, reaching No. 4 on the Billboard charts.
Wheeler’s website also touts his songwriting credits on Johnny Cash’s “Blistered,” Pat Boone’s “Rock Boll Weevil,” Glen Campbell’s “Anne,” Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn’s “You Blow My Mind” and many more. His greatest claim to fame came with “Jackson,” however, written with Jerry Leiber of the songwriting duo Leiber and Stoller.
The musician earned 13 awards from ASCAP (the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers).
The West Virginia native and North Carolina resident was a member of the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame as well.
He was also honored by the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in 2014, during its Poets & Prophets Series.
“Wheeler was a songwriter who could pack an entire cinematic experience into a few short minutes,” Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum said in a statement.
“Perhaps it came from his West Virginia upbringing or his Yale Drama School pedigree, but whatever the case, Billy Edd had a narrative gift that enabled him to spin a silver screen–worthy tale of long-simmering anger in ‘Coward of the County’ or a spicy story about a marriage in jeopardy that came to represent the playful, hot-blooded dynamic between Johnny and June in ‘Jackson,’” Young said. “Little wonder he also wrote novels and plays. His writing had the power to do what only the best creative works can: transport the listener.”
Wheeler also recorded more than a dozen albums of his own, 1961-2006, and released solo singles such as “Ode to the Little Brown Shack Out Back,” “I Ain’t the Worryin’ Kind” and “Fried Chicken and a Country Tune.”
Wheeler was married to Mary Mitchell Bannerman, with whom he had two children, Lucy and Travis, the songwriter’s website states.