Country artist and award-winning songwriter Jeff Carson has died. According to a statement from Carson’s publicist, the Tulsa, Okla native. died of a heart attack at Williamson Medical Center in Franklin, Tennessee, at the age of 58.
Born on December 16, 1963, Carson began playing music at an early age, often singing in his local church. After moving to Arkansas and forming his first band, Carson moved to Branson, Missouri where he honed his songwriting skills. He took a chance on launching a big music career and moved to Nashville, where he recorded demos of songs that would become major country hits in the ’90s, including Faith Hill’s “It Matters to Me,” “I See it Now” by Tracy Lawrence and “The Heart is a Lonely Hunter” by Reba McEntire. In 1994, record producer Chuck Howard noticed Carson’s talent as a solo artist and helped land him a deal with Curb Records.
He released his self-titled debut album in 1994 and debuted on country radio with his song “Yeah Buddy.” Her follow-up single, “Not On Your Love”, became a smash hit for Carson, reaching No. 1 on the country charts later that year. Her next two singles from the record, “The Car” and “Holdin’ Onto Somethin'”, also became top 10 hits. “The Car” was named Video of the Year at the 1996 Academy of Country Music Awards, marking Carson’s only career win at the ACMs.
Carson then released two more albums, 1997 butterfly kisses and 2001 Real life. During his career, he has charted 14 singles on the country charts, the most recent being his 2013 cover of MercyMe’s hit Christian pop single “I Can Only Imagine”.
In 2009, Carson stepped away from music to join the Franklin Police Department in Williamson County, Tennessee and continued to work there until his death. He had recently signed a new recording contract and was in the process of finishing a new album which was to include duets with Michael Ray, Darryl Worley, Mark Wills and Craig Morgan.
Jeff Carson is survived by his wife Kim Cooper Carson, his son Dayton Grei Herndon Carson, his mother Virginia Norton, his brother Steve Herndon, his sister Karen Spurlock, as well as aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
See 50 must-have country songs from the 90s
If you call yourself a true fan of 90s country music, you probably know the lyrics to all of these hit songs.
