Music Row Loses Dennis Linde

David M Ross

Dennis Linde 3/18/1943-12/22/2006

Songwriter Hall of Fame member Dennis Linde passed away today in Nashville (12/22) from complications due to pulmonary fibrosis. He was 63 years old. Something of a relcuse, Linde enjoyed staying out of the spotlight and letting his songs take center stage. He wrote hits such as “Burning Love,” “Callin’ Baton Rouge,” “Bubba Shot The Jukebox,” “Goodbye Earle,” and many, many more. The songwriter grew up in Abilene and San Angelo, Texas. Music became an essential part of his life when his grandmother bought him a $14 guitar. Later in life he moved to Nashville and said in an interview, “I started writing songs because I lost my drivers license.”

Combine Music’s Bob Beckham recognized Linde’s talent and soon brought his songs to the public via gifted artists such as Roger Miller, Brenda Lee and many others. Linde eventually not only gave Beckham hits, he married the publisher’s daughter, Pam, and gave him grandchildren too.

Most recently Linde was signed to a co-publishing deal with EMI Music. He described the life of a songwriter by saying, “If you can last through the down spells and don’t get wiped out by the up spells, you can stay there. And that’s what I want to do because I like what I’m doing.”

Dennis Linde was NSAI Songwriter of the Year in 1993, BMI Songwriter of the Year in 1994, and elected to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2001. A New Orleans style memorial wake is being planned after the New Year.