NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Famed singer-songwriter Jimbeau Hinson died Friday at age 70.

Officials confirmed that Hinson underwent quadruple heart bypass surgery and suffered a stroke in July 2021. Over the next eight months he began to improve, but he soon suffered a second stroke in recent years. weeks and his health began to decline rapidly, according to his team.

Hinson’s professional writing career began in the 1960s when Lorette Lynn brought him to Nashville when he was just 16 to sign a publishing deal with The Wilburn Brothers.

The Mississippi native had his first major commercial success as a songwriter in 1969 with Anthony Armstrong Jones’ “Sugar In The Flowers,” for which he received his first ASCAP Award at age 18.

Hinson went on to write hits for The Oak Ridge Boys (“Fancy-Free”, “Let Me Be The One”, “When You Give It Away”, “Colors”), Kathy Mattea (“Train of Memories”), David Lee Murphy (“Party Crowd”), Patty Loveless (“I’m On Your Side”, “After All”), John Conlee (“Harmony”) and Steve Earle (“Hillbilly Highway”, “Down The Road”) for to name a few.

Hinson won her second ASCAP award after writing “Find Yourself Another Puppet” for her childhood idol, Brenda Lee. Other artists who have recorded her songs include Carol Channing, Reba McEntire, Tammy Wynette, Tracy Lawrence, Ricky Skaggs, Connie Smith, Rodney Crowell, The Goldens, Ty Herndon, Lee Greenwood and Rhonda Vincent.

A celebration of life is planned according to the family and will be announced at a later date.

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