Red Lane, a 1993 inductee into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, died on Wednesday after battling cancer at the age of 76.
The following announcement was made on Lane’s Facebook Fan Page:
Red Lane passed away tonight at 7:02 p.m. near Nashville. Not only was Red a legendary songwriter but a true friend to all knew him. We will let everyone know of arrangements in the coming days. For now, safe travels Red.
Another Nashville songwriting legend, Buddy Cannon, later posted:
I have been asked by Susie Cochran on behalf of Red Lane’s family to state that Red will be taken back home to Louisiana shortly. A memorial service will be set in the Nashville area for a later date so that all Red’s pals can gather and celebrate his life and his friendship. Rest In Peace Red. And you could never help but “be clever”.
Lane was born Hollis DeLaughter in Bogalusa, LA and served in the Air Force before beginning to play professionally. He signed with RCA records in the early-70’s and had one country top forty hit with The World Needs a Melody (1971 / #32 Country).
Red also worked as a session musician for a myriad of country artists including Bobby Bare, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and, especially, .Merle Haggard with which he would also tour.
Lane’s true legacy, though, was his songwriting. Red wrote 16 songs that went to the Country top twenty and one that made it on the R&B charts over a period of forty years. His top twenty hits:
My Friend on the Right (Faron Young / 1964 / #11 Country)
Blackjack County Chain (Willie Nelson / 1967 / #21 Country)
Country Girl (Dottie West / 1968 / #15 Country)
Walk On Out of My Mind (Waylon Jennings / 1968 / #5 Country)
They Don’t Make Love Like They Used To (Eddy Arnold / 1968 / #10 Country / #99 Pop / #19 Adult Contemporary)
Darling, You Know I Wouldn’t Lie (Conway Twitty / 1969 / #2 Country)
Mississippi Woman (Waylon Jennings / 1971 / #14 Country)
The Court Room (Clarence Carter / 1971 / #12 R&B / #61 Pop)
‘Til I Get It Right (Tammy Wynette / 1973 / #1 Country)
Satisfaction (Jack Greene / 1973 / #13 Country)
Wake Me Into Love (Bud Logan & Wilma Burgess / 1974 / #14 Country)
Come See Me and Call Me Lonely (Dottie West / 1978 / #17 Country)
I Must Have Done Something Bad (Merle Haggard / 1979 / #4 Country)
My Own Kind of Hat (Merle Haggard / 1979 / #4 Country)
Miss Emily’s Picture (John Conlee / 1981 / #2 Country)
New Looks From an Old Lover (B.J. Thomas / 1983 / #1 Country)
Tell Me Something Bad About Tulsa (George Strait / 2003 / #11 Country)
Lane was also an airplane enthusiast ever since his stint in the military. He had lived inside a converted 170-passenger Douglas DC-8 which he had converted into a house since 1990.
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