Jim McBride obit

Alabama Music Hall of Famer, Huntsville native Jim McBride, dies at 78

 He was not on the list.

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) - Jim McBride, a Huntsville native and acclaimed songwriter who co-wrote country hits including “Chattahoochee” and “Chasing That Neon Rainbow”, died Tuesday at 78 years old.

McBride’s songs were recorded by country music legends including Johnny Cash, George Jones, Reba McEntire, Alabama, Willie Nelson, Charley Pride, Kris Kristofferson, Randy Travis, Brenda Lee, Jerry Lee Lewis, Toby Keith and Dwight Yoakam.

His career achievements included a CMA Song of the Year Award and numerous accolades from ASCAP, BMI, NSAI, NARAS, CMA, AMA, ACM and Billboard Magazine.

McBride was inducted into both the Alabama Music Hall of Fame and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

“We will greatly miss Mr. McBride - may his legacy live on forever,” Alabama Music Hall of Fame officials said.

He has written five number one songs, ten top 10 singles, and eighteen top 40 singles. In 2017, McBride was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

McBride's songs have been recorded by more than eighty major artists, including Alabama, Trace Adkins, Johnny Cash, Tammy Cochran, Diamond Rio, Crystal Gayle, Vern Gosdin, Jack Greene, Wade Hayes, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, Toby Keith, Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Lee, Jerry Lee Lewis, Lonestar, Reba McEntire, Willie Nelson, the Oak Ridge Boys, Johnny Paycheck, Charley Pride, Pam Tillis, Randy Travis, Conway Twitty, and Keith Whitley.

His most successful collaboration was with Alan Jackson, resulting in the five Top 20 singles and the chart-topping songs "Chasing That Neon Rainbow", "(Who Says) You Can’t Have It All", and "Someday". Their song "Chattahoochee" was selected as song of the year by ASCAP, American Songwriter, and the Country Music Association.