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Country star Jack Clement lost his fight with liver cancer and died at age 82 on Thursday.
The popular singer, producer and song writer passed away surrounded by his family
at his Nashville, Tennessee, home after refusing treatment for the disease.
His death came just months after Clement learned that he would be joining the Country
Music Hall of Fame for his achievements that include writing songs
for best friend Johnny Cash and being the first person to record Jerry Lee Lewis
and Roy Orbison.
Known as 'Cowboy Jack' despite his hatred for horses and his penchant for wearing Hawaiian
shirts and sneakers, he was credited for desegregating country music and bringing it to the masses.
Living by the cheerful motto of: 'We're in the fun business. If we're not having fun,
we're not doing our job,' Clement was known as much for his colorful personality
and storytelling ability as groundbreaking career, according to People.com.
He drew a large crowd to a tribute concert in his honour last winter, with performances
from Kris Kristofferson, John Prine, Dan Auerbach from The Black Keys and Jakob Dylan,
along with video dedications from First Lady Michelle Obama, former President Bill Clinton and Taylor Swift.
Clement began his career in Memphis, Tennessee, at Sun Records, where he worked with some of
the biggest names in the music industry before they were famous.
He wrote and produced historic records for best friend, 'The Man In Black' Cash, and produced
what many believe to be the highlight of the much-vaunted Outlaw Movement of 1970s
Nashville, Waylon Jennings' Dreaming My Dreams.
The talented musical creator also helped boost the career of U2, recording their roots
tribute Rattle and Hum in 1987.
One of his final performances was in his own honour at the Tribute to Cowboy Jack Clement
concert on January 30 in Nashville, where he performed with Kenny Vaugh.
Despite being in ill heath by the time of the concert, Clement made his way to the stage to
close the show, reported USAToday.com, delivering a mini-set that concluded with a
version of the Rolling Stones' No Expectations, a song he recorded dozens of times
with various artists.
Although it has already been announced, his official induction into the Country Music Hall
of Fame will take place in a ceremony later this year.
Jack is survived by daughter Alison, also a singer and writer, and son, Niles, an engineer
and photographer.
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