Award-winning singer, songwriter, instrumentalist and producer Freddy Powers passed away yesterday from complications of Parkinson's disease. He was 84. Best known as Merle Haggard's running buddy, Powers wrote "A Place to Fall Apart," "A Friend In California," "Let's Chase Each Other Around the Room" and the iconic "Natural High" for The Hag. He also wrote the #1 hit "I Always Get Lucky With You" for George Jones and produced Willie Nelson's platinum-selling album Somewhere Over The Rainbow.
Born in Duncan, Oklahoma and raised in Seminole, Texas, the Powers family band performed Dixieland jazz throughout the area. It was during this period he began fusing jazz with his other love, country music.
He joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1947 and served in the
Criminal Investigation
Division (CID) at
Alameda Naval Air
Station until 1952. The 1960s saw him become one of the most in-demand entertainers in Las Vegas.
Freddy's love of performing was surpassed only by his love for songwriting. He earned several BMI and CMA awards including CMA's coveted "Triple Play Award" for writing three number one songs in one year. He was inducted into the Texas Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2006 and was awarded
Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Texas Music Association and Texas Guitar Association in 2011 and the Nashville Songwriters Association International in 2013.
Freddie toured as opening act for Haggard for many years and also performed in Nelson's band. He co-produced, sang and played guitar on Haggard's pop album Unforgettable and was executive producer of "The Voice" contestant Mary Sarah's album Bridges.
Freddy appeared on many "Austin City Limits" programs, "The Tonight Show," the "Today Show" and many more. He also created and co-produced "Rogers and
Hammerhead Show," a Cable TV Ace Award nominee.
"Freddy's wife Catherine Powers is an angel," said Powers' longtime friend and nurse Joi Davis. "They have a true love story that is unbelievable. She stood by her man through it all and never left his bedside. May God bless her."
In addition to Catherine, his wife of 25 years, Powers is survived by his children Joni Cato, Naci Barnes, Patsy Clark, Freddy Powers II and Karen Finkie.
A GoFundMe account set up for funeral arrangements and final medical expenses at
www.gofundme.com/Freddypowers.
Freddy Powers will forever be known as a music icon - even a legend - loved by all who knew him. He touched lives with his music, his kindness and most of all his sense of humor. Rest in peace Freddy Powers.
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