Don Schlitz, storied country songwriter behind such hits as 'The Gambler,' dies at 73

Congressman Busts Out Shatner-Esque Rendition of ‘The Gambler’ During House Floor Eulogy for Songwriter

Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) busted out his version of the 1978  Kenny Rogers hit “The Gambler” on the House floor Monday to eulogize prolific Nashville songwriter Don Schlitz. Schlitz, who won a Grammy for that crossover hit and had 24 number-ones on the Country charts, died Thursday in Nashville after suffering an aneurysm. He was 73. When it was his turn to take the House podium, Cohen began belting out without warning, “You got to know when to ho…

Legendary Country Music Songwriter Passes Away at Age 73

Country music icon Don Schlitz has sadly passed away at the age of 73 in a Nashville hospital after a short battle with a sudden illness. Schlitz is an absolute legend in the country music world. He is a Grammy award winner, Opry member, and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2017. But, he is probably best-known for writing Kenny Rogers’ hit song ‘The Gambler.’ Don Schlitz, songwriter and Country Music Hall of Famer behind "The…

Beloved Country Music Legend Passes Away

Don Schlitz, a Country Music Hall of Fame songwriter whose pen helped define modern country radio, died April 16 after what was described as a sudden illness. He was 73. Schlitz is best known as the sole writer of The Gambler, the 1978 Kenny Rogers smash that became one of country music’s most quoted story songs. It was also the first song Schlitz ever had recorded by another artist, and it opened the floodgates for a career stacked with hits. M…

Don Schlitz, Revered Songwriter Behind ‘The Gambler,’ ‘Forever and Ever, Amen,’ ‘When You Say Nothing at All’ and Other Country Classics, Dies at 73

Don Schlitz, songwriter of Kenny Rogers' 'The Gambler,' Randy Travis' 'Forever and Ever Amen' and Keith Whitley's 'When You Say Nothing at All,' has died.

Country music legend behind iconic ‘The Gambler’ hit dies at 73

Don Schlitz, a Hall of Fame songwriter whose catalog of country classics helped define modern country music, died Thursday at a Nashville hospital following a sudden illness, Page Six reports. He was 73.

Don Schlitz, prolific writer of Country music hits, dies at 73

Don Schlitz, a prodigious songwriter whose credits include Kenny Rogers’ “The Gambler,” Randy Travis’ “On the Other Hand” and many other chart-topping country hits, most of them from the 1980s and ’90s, died Thursday at a hospital in Nashville, Tennessee. He was 73.