Billy Edd Wheeler, the songwriter behind staple country songs including Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash‘s “Jackson” and Kenny Rogers‘ “Coward of the County,” died on Monday (Sept. 16.) He was 91 years old.
His daughter Lucy confirmed his death with a statement on his Facebook page, writing that Wheeler “passed away peacefully at home…surrounded by family.”
“We love you Dad,” the statement reads. “You will be missed by so many but also forever remembered by all the gifts you gave to this world.”
In her statement, Wheeler’s daughter also shared a lengthy tribute from her father’s “dear friend,” singer-songwriter Janis Ian, who once wrote the forward to his autobiography, Hotter Than a Pepper Sprout. In her remembrance, Ian details Wheeler’s beginnings in rural West Virginia, the way he embraced his “hillbilly” lineage, his love and understanding for the natural world and his affinity for art of all kinds.
A multi-faceted artist and songwriter who also wrote several plays, musicals, books and an opera, Wheeler wrote songs that were performed by some of the biggest stars in country music, and several stars outside the genre.
In addition to Cash, Carter Cash and Rogers, artists including Kathy Mattea, Nancy Sinatra, Elvis Presley, the Kingston Trio, Hazel Dickens, Jefferson Airplane and Neil Young all recorded songs Wheeler wrote.
He also released several albums and singles, though he never saw the level of acclaim as a recording artist that he did as a songwriter. Wheeler was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2001. He is also a member of the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame and the North Carolina Hall of Fame.
Wheeler is survived by his wife Mary Mitchell and two adult children, Lucy and Travis. No cause of death or funeral information was immediately available.
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Gallery Credit: Carena Liptak