MUSCLE SHOALS – Donnie Fritts, whom Jerry Wexler called, “The Leaning Man of The Shoals”, died last night at U.A.B. Hospital in Birmingham after a protracted stay following heart surgery.
Fritts, a native of Florence, had a luminous career. He was a prolific songwriter, keyboardist and singer. He is known as one of the founders of the “Muscle Shoals Sound”, not the studio on Jackson, but The Sound… That indefinable essence of what made this small pin-point on the map, out in the middle of nowhere, as Dick Cooper and Rick Hall coined it, “The Hit Music Recording Capitol of The World”.
Muscle Shoals became known as an easy place for recording artists to work their magic. And in those early years, the late ’50’s and ’60’s, Fritts was one of the linchpin players. By the ’70’s Donnie had hooked up with Kris Kristofferson, who was starting his own luminous career. He traveled with Kris for over two decades as his keyboard player and best friend. Donnie and Kris made movies with famed director, Sam Peckinpah, among others.
Donnie wrote numerous hit songs with his friends Dan Penn, Spooner Oldham, Tony Joe White, Gary Nicholson, Willie Nelson… the list goes on.
Donnie Fritts, this holder of a litany of accomplishments, was one of the kindest, gentlest, most humble men anyone could know.
The Muscle Shoals music community is deeply saddened by the loss of their friend. Rest In Peace, Donnie Fritts.
No funeral arrangements have been arranged as of this writing.
Here is a gallery of photos of Donnie Fritts which will be added to as we glean through our archives, Please check back later in the day to see many more photos. Please note: These photos are copyrighted and may not be used for republication without permission.
