Legendary country singer and songwriter Mac Davis has passed on at 78 years old.
Davis, who initially discovered notoriety writing hits “A Little Less Conversation” and “In The Ghetto” for Elvis Presley, died following heart surgery, his manager, Jim Morey, said in an announcement on Tuesday.
“He was surrounded by the love of his life and wife of 38 years, Lise, and his sons Scott, Noah and Cody,” Morey wrote on Facebook.
Honoring Davis, his director depicted him as “a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend.
“I will miss laughing about our many adventures on the road and his insightful sense of humor.
When there was a tough decision to be made he often told me ‘You decide.. I’m going to the golf course!'”
Morey finished his announcement with verses from Davis’ tune “I Believe In Music.”
Updates on Davis’ death comes days after his family said he had become “critically ill” in the wake of going through heart surgery in Nashville.
Musician Richard Marx drove the online tributes to Davis, tweeting: “This is such a drag. RIP to the incredible #MacDavis. Thank you for your incredible songs and your kindness to me. It was an honor to hear you tell me stories.”
Davis – born Morris Mac Davis – made his presentation as a country music artist with his 1970 album “Song Painter.”
His breakthrough album “Baby, Don’t Get Hooked On Me” was released two years after the fact.
Davis, whose hits incorporate “Stop and Smell the Roses” and “One Hell of a Woman,” got worldwide recognition for his contribution to music and was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1998.
He was enlisted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2000 and the national Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2006.
In 2013, he beat Billboard’s Dance Club Songs graph as co-author on Avicii’s “Addicted to You.”
Alongside his musical achievements, Davis appreciated modest accomplishment as a TV personality and actor. He hosted his own variety series “The Mac Davis Show” on NBC from 1974 to 1976 and furthermore featured in TV films “Beer For My Horses” and “Where The Fast Lane Ends.”