R.I.P.: 'The Letter' Songwriter Wayne Carson

Wayne Carson

Wayne Carson, a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the pen behind classics such as "Always on My Mind" and "The Letter," died early Monday morning. He was 72 and according to The Tennessean, had been suffering from several health problems, including congestive heart failure.

He was born Wayne Carson Head in 1943 in Denver. He was the son of professional musicians Odie and Olivia Head (better known by their stage names, Shorty and Sue Thompson), and began learning the guitar at the age of 14 after being inspired by the music of Merle Travis. He'd later adopt his parents' pseudonymous surname as his own, then drop it, using "Wayne Carson" as his stage name.

In the 1960s, Mr. Carson would travel between Nashville and Springfield, Mo., where he began working with music producer and publisher Si Siman, writing and pitching songs. Eddy Arnold would record Mr. Carson's "Somebody Like Me" and take it to the top of the charts for four weeks in 1966; the song was Mr. Carson's first chart-topper.

One of Mr. Carson's most famous songs, "The Letter," was released in 1967 by Memphis band The Box Tops. The single would sell a million copies, hit No. 1 and go on to be recorded by dozens of artists ranging from Al Green to Sammi Smith.

"Always on My Mind," co-written with Johnny Christopher and Mark James, would become one of popular music's most enduring classics.


Elvis Presley's 1972 recording of the song was a Top 20 hit, while Willie Nelson's soft, bittersweet recording a decade later would top the country music charts and win three Grammy Awards: Song of the Year, Best Country Song and Best Male Country Vocal Performance.