Singer-Songwriter Mark Selby Dead at 56
Mark Selby, the writer behind country and blues-rock hits such as the Dixie Chicks' "There's Your Trouble" and Kenny Wayne Shepherd's "Blue on Black," has died. The Nashville-based artist passed away on Monday (Sept. 18), after a battle with cancer; he was 56 years old.
Selby, an Oklahoma native, was a prolific and sought-after songwriter, who composed tunes for artists including Wynonna Judd, Trisha Yearwood, Johnny Reid, Jo Dee Messina, Lee Roy Parnell and Keb’ Mo'. In addition to the aforementioned songs, he penned hits such as Tammy Cochran’s “I Cry” and Pinmonkey’s “Barbed Wire and Roses," CMT reports.
Along with his skills as a songwriter, Selby was an accomplished guitarist and recording artist. His albums included One Way Ticket, One of These Days, More Storms Comin’, Dirt, Mark Otis Selby and the Horse He Rode in On, Nine Pound Hammer and Live at Rockpalast: One Night in Bonn and Blue Highway. He also played on recordings for other artists: Judd, Kenny Rogers, Jimmy Hall, Johnny Reid and Keni Thomas, among others.
Selby was married to songwriter Tia Sillers, one of the co-writers of the Grammy Awards-winning song "I Hope You Dance," made famous by Lee Ann Womack. Sillers and Selby co-wrote songs together as well, including "There's Your Trouble," which was the Dixie Chicks' first No. 1 hit, in 1998.
Plans for a memorial service for Selby will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be directed to MusicCares in his memory; the organization provides support and relief to musicians in times of crisis.
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