Jim McBride has died at the age of 78.
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The Alabama Hall of Fame announced the Huntsville native's death yesterday, Jan. 7. McBride began his career at 18. Some of his songs were featured on the hit variety show Hee Haw in the 1970s. However, after an initial lack of success in music, he found work at the United States Postal Service.
Jim McBride's Big Break Came in 1980
After writing "A Bridge That Just Won't Burn" with Roger Murrah in 1980, McBride told his partner that if someone recorded the song, he would move to Nashville.
"Roger called me one night and said, 'I guess you need to pack your bags, we've got Conway [Twitty]'s next single.' I quit the post office the day after Christmas," he said.
Throughout the 1980s, McBride wrote several number-one country hits. They include Johnny Lee's "Bet Your Heart on Me" and Waylon Jennings's "Rose In Paradise," the latter co-written with Stewart Harris.
When McBride Met Alan Jackson
In 1988, McBride met an up-and-coming artist named Alan Jackson. The two would write the songs "Chasin' That Neon Rainbow," "Someday," "A House With No Curtains," and "(Who Says) You Can't Have It All."
However, the song for which the duo is perhaps most remembered is "Chattahoochee." The song's title comes from the river that runs along the Georgia/Alabama border and into Florida. Many fans would ask Jackson about the meaning of the lyric "hoochie coochie." The term was often misinterpreted as suggestive.
After constantly being asked about the term, Jackson eventually encouraged people to direct their inquiries to McBride. He said it was "a county fair strip show."
McBride would also write songs for a long roster of amazing country artists. His work earned multiple honors from the CMA and ACM. McBride was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2017.
The Alabama Music Hall of Fame paid tribute to the songwriter with the following post:
"Jim was a beloved Alabamian, songwriter, friend, mentor, and so much more. He is perhaps most widely recognized for his work with Alan Jackson, including co-writing the country hits 'Chattahoochee' and 'Chasing That Neon Rainbow.'
"Jim's songs have been recorded by legends such as Johnny Cash, George Jones, Reba McEntire, Alabama, Willie Nelson, Charley Pride, Kris Kristofferson, Randy Travis, Brenda Lee, Jerry Lee Lewis, Toby Keith, Dwight Yoakam, and many more.
"His honors include a CMA Song of the Year Award, numerous accolades from ASCAP, BMI, NSAI, NARAS, CMA, AMA, ACM, Billboard Magazine, his induction into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, and his induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
"We will greatly miss Mr. McBride—may his legacy live on forever."
