Don Schlitz, country songwriter behind ‘The Gambler’, dies at 73

(Gray News) - Don Schlitz, the songwriter responsible for several country staples, such as “The Gambler,” has died at 73.

According to Billboard, Schlitz died on April 16 in a Nashville hospital after a sudden illness.

Born in Durham, North Carolina, it’s said Schlitz moved to Nashville at 20 with only $80 in his pocket. According to MusicRow, Schlitz wrote “The Gambler” for Kenny Rogers at 23, setting a high standard early in his songwriting career.

“The Gambler” won the Grammy Award for best country song in 1978 and the Country Music Association Song of the Year in 1979.

Schlitz was also behind other country hits such as “Forever and Ever, Amen,” “On the Other Hand,” “He Thinks He’ll Keep Her,” “The Greatest” and “When You Say Nothing at All.”

During Schlitz’s decadeslong career, his songs hit No. 1 on the charts 25 times. He won three Country Music Association Song of the Year awards and two Academy of Country Music Song of the Year awards. He won another Grammy Award for best country song in 1987 for “Forever and Ever, Amen.”

Schlitz was named the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers’ country songwriter of the year for four consecutive years from 1988 to 1991. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Association Hall of Fame in 1993 and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2012.

In 2017, Schlitz was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 2022, becoming the first non-artist songwriter to be inducted in the show’s history.

According to Billboard, the Opry’s show on April 18 will be dedicated in Schlitz’s honor.