Walt Aldridge, who created numerous chart-topping hits as a beloved country music songwriter for more than 40 years, has tragically passed away at 70.
FAME recording studios shared the news on Facebook.
“We are deeply saddened to say that our dear friend and colleague Walt Aldridge has passed away. We cannot possibly put into words how much Walt meant to the the FAME family! There was a time in the 80’s when Walt’s songwriting along with Robert Byrne, Tommy Brasfield and Mac McAnally carried the most of the weight of the Muscle Shoals Music industry through a difficult time in our history,” the post said, adding that Aldridge spent 17 years as a songwriter, musician and engineer at Fame Studios.
Walt Aldridge’s Legacy
Durign his time at Fame, he worked on roughly 200 records for many artists including Billy Ray Cyrus, Peter Cetera, Dobie Gray, Lacy J. Dalton, Darryl Worley, Terri Gibbs, Kate Campbell, Jason Sellers, Alabama, Blessid Union of Souls, Clarence Carter, Jerry Reed, Wild Cherry, The Gatlin Brothers, Lou Reed, Gus Hardin, Mac Davis, Billy Oceans, Marty Stuart, Heartland, Tony Joe White, Mac McAnally, Vern Gosdin, Marie Osmond and Wilson Pickett.
“He has written or co-written 56 top 40 songs on the Billboard country charts and twice been named one of their top 10 writers of the year,” the Facebook post detailed. “He has been the recipient of over 20 gold and platinum RIAA certifications in recognition of outstanding sales. He has been awarded 7 number one record CMA certificates and over 30 performance awards from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. ‘No Getting Over Me’ was named ASCAP’s most performed country song and ‘Holding Her and Loving You’ received a Song of The Year award from the Nashville Songwriters Association International. He has also been awarded a bronze star on the Alabama Music Hall of Fame Walk of Fame. Walt was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2017 and into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in 2018.”
Tributes Pour In for Walt Aldridge
Songwriter Matt Warren: “I just heard the heartbreaking news of Walt Aldridge’s passing. Walt was the first big writer I got to write with when I signed my first pub deal with @fame_recording_studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama in 2002. He treated me kindly and with respect I hadn’t earned yet. He was my first real songwriting mentor. He took me under his wing and gave me lots of music business and songwriting advice and always had a spot on his calendar for me when I’d ask him to write. He taught me to always write something and always try your best to finish it. He said that commercial music row songwriting was mostly showing up and completing the task. Everything else was out of my control. Let the cards fall where they may. He also was the first big writer I got to play a songwriter round with. I remember always feeling special and important when I was mentioned in the same sentence as him, on a handbill or on stage. I was also a little terrified every time I was in the room with him. His talent was intimidating. He was an absolute master and a legend in my eyes. A pure craftsman. A triple threat. He could sing, play and write. Incredibly well. Thank you for the music, your wisdom, your friendship and your leadership Walt. Sending my love and my prayers for peace and understanding to his family. 💔”
Grammy Winner Gary Nichols: “Walt Aldridge a legend, the GOAT, teacher, mentor, producer, songwriter’s songwriter and the King of Muscle Shoals in that regard. I’m thankful for the writes, the wisdom and the stages he allowed me to share with you. Rest easy sir, you’ve earned it. ❤️”
Singer/Songwriter Wynn Varble: “The Nashville songwriting community lost an honored Hall of Famer today. I first met Walt Aldridge back in the mid 90’s at Starstruck Music Publishing, where I had just signed as a new songwriter. All I really knew about him is that he wrote one of my favorite songs ever, Earl Thomas Conley’s “Holding Her and Loving you”. He also had written “ No Getting Over Me” for Ronnie Milsap and lots of other stuff. Walt was a quiet kind of guy but we became friends over the years, writing, doing shows and he even produced a recording on me and Darryl Worley of the the old Andy Griffith theme song “The Fishing Hole’. In 2002 Travis Tritt had a huge hit on Walt and James LeBlanc’ classic “Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde”. Somewhere in between all this Walt found time to beat cancer a time or two. He was a class act all the way around. He will be sorely missed and I pray that he is resting in peace.Thank you God for Walt and thank you Walt for your friendship and so many great songs.”
