Country songwriter Don Pfrimmer died on Monday (Dec. 7) after battling leukemia. He was 78.

Pfrimmer wrote hits for a number of artists throughout his long career, which began in the mid-1970s and spanned four decades. His songs have been recorded by George Jones, Tim McGraw, Diamond Rio, Lonestar and Ronnie Milsap, among others.

The Montana native moved to Nashville in 1973 after working as a commercial fisherman and school teacher in Alaska. He first saw success in 1978 with Mickey Gilley's recording of "The Power of Positive Drinking." It became his first Top 10 hit song, and following the success, he received several cuts in the 1980s by Milsap (“My Heart,” “She Keeps the Home Fires Burning”), Sylvia (“Drifter,” “The Matador,” “I Never Quite Got Back,” “Victims of Goodbye”), Barbara Mandrell (“Christmas at Our House”) and Steve Wariner (“By Now”).

Other songs of his were recorded by Tammy Wynette (“Let’s Call It a Day Today”), Chris Cagle (“My Love Goes On and On”), Wayne Newton (“Our Wedding Band”) and Jo Dee Messina (“Always Have, Always Will”).

More recently, Pfrimmer saw success with Lonestar’s “My Front Porch Looking In” and “Mr. Mom.” He was a nominee for the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015 and received a total of 14 ASCAP Awards during his career.

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