Richard Fagan, American songwriter and musician, Died at 69

  Music, Writer

Richard Fagan was born on April 24, 1947, and died on August 5, 2016.

He was an American songwriter and musician.

Richard made six top ten singles and 18 charted singles on the Billboard Country charts.

Neil Diamond, George Strait, John Michael Montgomery, Clay Walker, Ricochet, Hank Williams, Jr., George Jones, Shania Twain, Patty Loveless, Collin Raye, Shenandoah, The Crickets, Jason & the Scorchers, The Blues Brothers Band and many others, have all been recoders of his.

During 1979 his song “The Good Lord Loves You” was recorded by Neil Diamond and released on the September Morn album.

That song charted in the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 67 in April 1980.

He accomplished nine Billboard Country chart singles in the 1990s including two of John Michael Montgomery’s number one singles: “Be My Baby Tonight” and “Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)”.

Richard had three more songs on the Billboard Country charts in the 2000s, including the song “Why Can’t We All Just Get a Long Neck?” that appears on the Hank Williams, Jr. album, I’m One of You.

On the date April 26, 2008, he had a physical altercation with his publishing partner and best friend, Tom Oteri.

Then he was arrested for drunk driving after leaving the scene of the fight where Oteri was later found dead, having suffered a heart attack.

Richard Fagan was convicted of the drunk driving charge and sentenced to rehabilitative therapy with the support of Oteri’s family members who still regarded Fagan as a close friend after the incident.

He died due to liver cancer.

Richard Fagan passed away at 69 years old.