Country music singer and songwriter Linda Hargrove dies in Florida

COUNTRY singer and songwriter Linda Hargrove died, aged 61, on 24th October in Tallahassee, Florida after a long battle with leukemia, with which she was diagnosed in 1986. Linda was born in Jacksonville, Florida in 1949. In 1970 Nashville-based producer and steel guitarist Pete Drake discovered Hargrove, signed her to a song-publishing contract and began using her as a guitarist on recording sessions by Waylon Jennings, Mac Davis and other stars.

In the '70s and '80s Linda wrote or co-wrote major country hits for George Jones ("Tennessee Whiskey"), Johnny Rodriguez ("Just Get Up And Close The Door"), Olivia Newton-John ("Let It Shine"), Lynn Anderson ("I've Never Loved Anyone More"), Tanya Tucker ("New York City Song") and Ernest Tubb ("Half My Heart's In Texas"). Other artists who recorded Hargrove songs include Leon Russell, Michael Nesmith, Marty Robbins, Tracy Nelson, Eddy Arnold, Loretta Lynn, Asleep At The Wheel and Barbara Fairchild. Linda was also a recording artist and between 1974 and 1978 she released eight charting singles on Elektra, Capitol and RCA. Her biggest singing success was 1975's "Love Was (Once Around The Dance Floor)". After her Christian conversion she released two gospel albums in 1981 and 1989 as Linda Bartholomew (her married name). Linda's final album, 'One Woman's Life', was released in 2005.

A memorial service was held on 5th November at the River Of Life Church in Crawfordville, Florida.