Prolific Country Producer and Songwriter Billy Joe Walker, Jr. Dies

Famed Nashville producer, songwriter and musician Billy Joe Walker, Jr., has died at the age of 65.

Walker worked with many country artists, from Travis Tritt to Bryan White, whose first three records Walker produced. He died July 25 in Kerrville, Texas, and no specific cause of death has been released, though he had been in ill health for a long time, according to CMT.

Not only did he produce Tritt’s record Down the Road I Go and projects for artists including Pam Tillis, Billy Ray Cyrus, Tracy Byrd, Mark Chesnutt and Collin Raye, Walker was a prolific songwriter as well. He penned hits for Eddie Rabbitt, including the No. 1 single "I Wanna Dance With You" and No. 3 hit "B-B-Burnin’ Up With Love." He also wrote songs recorded by John Anderson, Trisha Yearwood, Tanya Tucker, Billy Currington and Jerrod Niemann.

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Walker also had a career as a session guitarist, having taught himself how to play the instrument and read music. CMT reports that he left home at the age of 14 to pursue his career in music, playing in bands in Oklahoma City before moving to Los Angeles. In L.A. he did session work for artists including Glen Campbell, Merle Haggard and the Beach Boys until producer Jimmy Bowen convinced him to move to Nashville. He went on to play for the Dixie Chicks, Ray Charles, Randy Travis, Hank Williams, Jr. and many others.

He had a career as a solo artist on the side, putting out seven jazz and new age guitar albums between 1987 and 1994, according to CMT.

A fixture of the country industry, Walker is survived by his mother and stepfather as well as his brother John, sister DeAva, son Shane and daughter Katelyn.

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