Songwriter and singer Liz Anderson passed away Oct. 31 at St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville. She was 81 and died of complications of heart and lung disease. As a co-founder of the Nashville Songwriters Association International alongside husband Casey, Liz made inroads for other female songwriters of her day.
She wrote Merle Haggard’s breakthrough hit “(My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers,” which inspired the name of his band The Strangers. She also penned his first No. 1, “The Fugitive.” This two-time Grammy nominee also penned hits for Charley Pride, Brenda Lee, Tammy Wynette, Ernest Tubb, Loretta Lynn, George Jones, Waylon Jennings, Kitty Wells, Conway Twitty, Del Reeves, and her daughter, Grammy winner Lynn Anderson.
Chet Atkins signed Liz to RCA where she had string of hits produced by Felton Jarvis, who also produced label mate Elvis Presley. They included “Husband Hunting,” “Go Now, Pay Later,” and “The Game of Triangles” with Bobby Bare and Norma Jean. Liz and Lynn also had a Top 25 hit with “Mother May I” in 1968 and appeared on the Mother’s Day edition of the Lawrence Welk Show.
Liz is survived by her loving, co-writing husband of 65 years Casey, daughter Lynn, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Fri., Nov. 4 from 5 – 7 PM at Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home (660 Thompson Lane, Nashville, TN, 615-383-4754).
Funeral arrangements are set for 11:30 AM on Sat., Nov. 5 at Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton.
Flowers are welcome, but her family asked that donations may be directed to the NSAI Legislative fund (1710 Roy Acuff Place, Nashville, TN 37203), www.nashvillesongwriters.com or (615) 256-3354.
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Sarah Skates has worked in the music business for more than a decade and is a longtime contributor to MusicRow.View Author Profile
