Iconic songwriter who wrote Elvis Presley's Suspicious Minds dies

13 June 2024 , 10:50

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The songwriter behind big Elvis Presley hits, Mark James, has died

Mark James, the songwriter behind Elvis Presley's iconic Suspicious Minds and co-writer of Always on My Mind, has died at the age of 83.

The Grammy-winning artist, who was honoured with an induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2014, died in Nashville on June 8.

His family released an emotional statement saying: "Mark's legacy and zest for life will live on in the hearts of those who loved him, and through his timeless lyrics and melodies that have been the soundtrack of lovers for generations."

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Songwriter Mark James has died (Getty Images North America)

Elvis sang a number of Mark's hits (Getty Images)

The statement continued: "He was a captivating storyteller who had the sweetest smile, the most infectious laugh and a twinkle in his eye that never dimmed."

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While he is best known for writing Suspicious Minds, Mark initially released the song in 1968 in an attempt to kickstart his own music career. However, it wasn't until the late King of Rock and Roll took it to the top of the charts that it became a hit.

In a 2012 interview with the Wall Street Journal, Mark shared the poignant story behind the emotional lyrics of the song: "Late one night, fooling around on my Fender guitar and using my Hammond organ pedals for a bass line, I came up with a catchy melody. I was married to my first wife then but still had feelings for my childhood sweetheart, who was married back in Houston.

"My wife suspected I had those feelings, so it was a confusing time for me. I felt as though all three of us were all caught in this trap that we couldn't walk out of."

Elvis Presley's 18th and final chart-topper on the Billboard Hot 100 was marked by this iconic single. In a nod to its enduring legacy, the track was honoured with a Grammy Hall of Fame induction in 1999.

Songwriter Mark reminisced about how the Hound Dog legend would always enquire about new songs from him. Sharing fond memories, he said: "In the years that followed, whenever I saw Elvis, he'd cross the room just to say hello to me no matter who was with him. After he died, I heard he'd always asked the guys in the studio, 'Did Mark send me any more songs? ' Golly, I wish I had known that."

Originally named Francis Zambon, Mark opted for a name change after advice suggested his birth name wouldn't serve him well in the music industry. Among his other notable works, Mark wrote The Eyes Of A New York Woman and Hooked On A Feeling for BJ Thomas' album On My Way, with Thomas being remembered for the timeless hit Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head.

Jamie Roberts