Country Songwriter Mike Dekle Dies, 77

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Mike Dekle, the rustic songwriter who wrote hits like Kenny Rogers “Scarlet Fever” and co-wrote Jason Adean’s “Filth Highway Anthem,” died on Feb. 24 after a fight with lung most cancers. He was once 77.

Born Thomas Michael Dekle on June 25, 1944 in Panama Town, Florida Dekle’s circle of relatives moved to Athens, Georgia when he was once 5, and by means of the Nineteen Sixties he began making a song people in espresso stores. After transferring to Nashville within the ’70s, Dekle was once running as a singer and a songwriter. 

In 1982, Dekle signed to lifelong buddy Byron Hill’s publishing corporate, Music Supply, the place he and Hill co-wrote songs like “A Day within the Lifetime of a Idiot” by means of Keith Whitley and “No Trash in My Trailer,” recorded by means of Gene Watson. After recording his music “Scarlet Fever,” Dekle was once reduced in size to jot down completely for Kenny Rogers, who in the end re-recorded the music for his 1983 album We’ve Were given This night. Rogers additionally went directly to report the Dekle-penned songs “Anyone Should Really feel Like a Idiot This night,” “Some Prisons Don’t Have Partitions,” “Two Hearts One Love,” and “Other folks in Love.”

In 1990, Dekle additionally introduced the song-publishing corporate, Sq. D Track, then signed with Almo Irving Track in 1994.

During the previous 40 years, Dekle endured to jot down dozens of hits for more than a few artists, together with songs recorded by means of Joe Nichols, Tracy Byrd, George Jones, Keith Whitley, Ricky Skaggs, Hank Thompson, Moe Bandy, The Whites. T.G. Sheppard, Scooter Lee, Colt Ford, Rhonda Vincent, and extra. A few of Dekle’s giant hits come with “Dimension Issues (In the future)” by means of Joe Nichols in 2006, Byrd’s 1997 music “Don’t Love Make a Diamond Shine.”

Maximum just lately, Dekle co-wrote Brantley Gilbert’s 2011 No. 1 hit “Nation Should Be Nation Vast,” along side Colt Ford, which reached No. 1 in 2011. Gilbert’s “One Hell of an Amen,” co-written with Dekle and Brian Davis, additionally crowned the charts in 2014.

During the last 4 a long time, Dekle additionally launched six albums, together with Picket and Twine in 1982, Superb Tuned in 1999, 2003 album Sketches (2003), Tunesmith in 2005, Tributes (2009) and That Kinda Man in 2019.

Of writing with artists, particularly more youthful one, Dekle mentioned that songs got here just by listening. “I simply concentrate,” he mentioned. “I concentrate to their idea processes. The more youthful writers and artists I’ve been in a position to paintings with have taught me the price of 50-50 while you settle for a writing appointment, [and] their critiques are valued.”

Requested what recommendation he would give more youthful artists and songwriters, Dekle mentioned, “Pay Shut consideration to what’s being performed at the radio if you wish to get a music recorded. You will have to have a burning want deep inside you to stick the route. Stay Dreaming. Stay Writing. Don’t ever give Up. After you’ve written your music, re-write it in case you will have to.”

Dekle added, “Stay in search of a phrase(s) that may make it higher. I’ve all the time mentioned that writing is re-writing. I wrote for 9 years immediately… masses of songs prior to ‘Scarlet Fever’ got here to me… by no means surrender. Stay Dreaming. Stay Writing. Don’t ever surrender.”

Mike Dekle is survived by means of his spouse Crystie and by means of their kids and grandchildren.

A carrier will probably be hung on March 19 on the First Baptist Church in Athens, Georgia. In lieu of vegetation, the circle of relatives requests that donations be made to Pulmonary Fibrosis Basis, American Diabetes Affiliation, Athens First Baptist Church Athens Construction Fund or a charity of selection.

Photograph by means of Michael Loccisano/Getty Photographs

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