Acclaimed singer-songwriter Dave Loggins (76) dies: Reflecting on his legacy
Dave Loggins, the acclaimed singer-songwriter behind the 1974 hit Please Come to Boston, reportedly passed away on Wednesday (July 10). He was 76. Per reports, the artist died at Alive Hospice in Nashville. The cause of death has not been disclosed. Born on November 10, 1947, Loggins's most famous song peaked at No. 5 on popular music charts and No. 1 on the Easy Listening chart in the US. May he rest in peace.
A prolific songwriter beyond his solo hit
Despite being occasionally labeled a one-hit wonder, Loggins—the second cousin of pop sensation Kenny Loggins—had a successful career writing songs for various artists. His songwriting credits spanned across genres and included artists such as Three Dog Night, Joan Baez, Don Williams, Johnny Cash, Toby Keith, Wynonna Judd, Alabama, Lee Greenwood, Smokey Robinson, Ray Charles, Reba McEntire, Tanya Tucker, Restless Heart, Kenny Rogers, and Willie Nelson.
Loggins's success in duets and sports theme composition
In the 1980s, Loggins found success as a duet partner with Anne Murray on the song Nobody Loves Me Like You Do. The song—which originated on the CBS soap opera As the World Turns—reached No. 1 on Billboard's country chart and No. 10 on the Hot AC chart. Additionally, Loggins composed Augusta—a theme song for golf's Augusta Masters Golf Tournament that has been used since 1982 and is considered "the longest-running sports theme in history."
Anecdote: Loggins was inspired to write 'Augusta' after golfing
Loggins was inspired to write Augusta after golfing at the site in 1981. In a 2019 interview with the Associated Press, he said, "I stopped for a minute, looked up at the pine trees and the wind down there was just different in some regards. Spiritually it was different. That course was just a piece of art." "I looked over at some dogwoods and, man, I just started writing the song in my head."
Loggins was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
In 2021, during an interview on the All Things Vocal podcast with Judy Rodman, he was dubbed "a reclusive genius." Reflecting on his early influences, he shared, "I was influenced by the finger-picking style of artists like Donovan." For his contributions to music, Loggins was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1995. Loggins is survived by his three sons, Quinn, Kyle, and Dylan Loggins, along with his grandson, Braxton Loggins.
