John Anderson, the Country Music Hall of Famer known for “Swingin’,” “Straight Tequila Night” and “Seminole Wind,” died Wednesday, October 21st. He was 71.
His family announced the death in a statement posted to his official social media account. A cause of death has not been released.
The statement read in full:
It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and best friend.
To the world, he was a gifted country music singer whose voice and songs touched countless lives. To us, he was so much more. He was the heart of our family, the one who made us laugh, loved us fiercely, and made every ordinary moment feel special.
We are completely heartbroken.
His music will live on, but for us, his greatest legacy will always be the love he gave his family and the memories we will carry with us forever.
Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers as we grieve this unimaginable loss.
Born in Apopka, Florida, Anderson broke through in the early 1980s with “Swingin’,” which earned him multiple CMA nominations. After a commercial downturn in the late ’80s, he returned to the top of the charts in 1991 with “Straight Tequila Night,” which reached #1. The 1992 album Seminole Wind and its title track cemented the comeback.
His later work included Years, produced by Dan Auerbach, which followed a period of serious health problems and hearing loss.
Anderson was most recently seen at the Hall of Fame’s Medallion ceremony on Sunday, Oct. 18.
