(StraightNews.org) – Buzz Cason, best known for writing the song “Everlasting Love,” has died at age 84. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville announced the musician’s death but did not explain the cause. Mr. Cason died at his home in Franklin, Tennessee, on June 16. Music experts say “Everlasting Love,” recorded by several artists over four decades, was among the biggest-selling hits ever to emerge from the Volunteer State, with more than 10 million plays to its credit.
Robert Knight first recorded the song in 1967, followed by Carl Carlton in 1974, Gloria Estefan in 1995, and Rex Smith and Rachel Sweet in 1981. U2 also recorded a shorter version in 1989.
Cason was considered a major influence on music in Nashville and is credited with helping to turn the city into America’s primary location for the industry. As well as a songwriter, he was an accomplished singer and instrumentalist, producer, and publisher.
Born and raised in Nashville, he formed the city’s first rock ‘n roll band, The Casuals, while still in high school. The band had a minor hit in 1957 before becoming the musical group behind Brenda Lee in 1958. They stayed with Lee until 1970 but continued recording their own songs for several record labels through the 1960s.
In a 2020 media interview, Mr. Cason explained that he caught the writing bug at age 5 when he wrote a poem about a “funny bunny” that won a school poetry contest. He started The Casuals with some friends at age 16 and went on the road as soon as he graduated a year later, opening shows for Jerry Lee Lewis. While touring with Brenda Lee, he spent time around music legends, including Elvis Presley. “It’s a pretty wild story,” he said.
Cason married twice and had five children. He had two daughters with his first wife, Rose Marie Whitson, and a daughter and two sons with his second wife, Peggy Ann Parker Ball.
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