Keith Gattis, Writer of George Strait & Kenny Chesney Hits, Dies at 52

Artist and songwriter Keith Gattis, who has penned hits for George Strait and Kenny Chesney, died Sunday at age 52, Billboard has confirmed.

Gattis was born May 26, 1971, in Georgetown, Texas, and began performing in the Austin area as a teenager, before relocating to Nashville.

In 1996, Gattis released his self-titled album for RCA Nashville, which included the radio singles “Real Deal” and “Little Drops of My Heart.” In 2002, Gattis became a guitar player for Dwight Yoakam and contributed to Yoakam’s albums, including 2005’s Blame the Vain and 2004’s Dwight’s Used Records.

In 2005, Gattis released another album, Big City Blues, via Smith Music Group. Big City Blues included Gattis’ version of “El Cerrito Place,” which Charlie Robinson had included on his 2004 album Good Times. Robinson also recorded Gattis’s songs including “Big City Blues,” as well as “Reconsider” and “Down Again,” the latter two included on Robinson’s 2009 album Beautiful Day.

Kenny Chesney would later record “El Cerrito Place” for his album Welcome to the Fishbowl, earning a top 10 Country Airplay chart hit with the song in 2012. A year later, Chesney would earn a top 15 hit on the Country Airplay chart with Gattis’s “When I See This Bar,” included on Chesney’s album Life on a Rock.

Gattis was also a writer alongside Tom Douglas on George Strait’s 2013 top 20 Country Airplay hit “I Got a Car,” and co-wrote Strait’s 2015 radio single “Let It Go” alongside Strait and Strait’s son and fellow songwriter Bubba.

Along the way, Gattis contributed his instrumental, vocal, production and/or composition talents to a range of projects, including Randy Houser’s 2019 album Magnolia, Wade Bowen’s 2018 album Solid Ground, Waylon Payne’s 2004 album The Drifter, as well as projects recorded by Brandy Clark, Sara Evans and Gary Allan. Gattis also co-wrote “Tonight I’m Playin’ Possum,” a duet recorded by Joe Nichols and Randy Travis.

Several artists offered kind words of remembrance of Gattis. Sheryl Crow stated via social media, “Woke up to the news that Keith Gattis has gone on. He was a wonderful person, an incredible talent, and a well loved friend to all who knew him. He will be missed.”

Jake Owen stated via social media, “Losing people in our lives is never something we can get used to. Losing someone in this business, is even harder bc of what they brought to everyone around them. @keithgattis brought it all. He was the guy you wish you could be as cool as. From his own records, his style, his swagger,.. Keith was always himself. I really admired him and I wish I would of told him that. It’s hard to only be left with memories.”

Kendell Marvel stated, “I met Keith Gattis through our bud Steve Markland in 2008 and we hit it off immediately. I know people say this all the time but I mean it with all my heart when I say I would not be out here doing what I’m doing today without Gattis. We made my first record together and wrote most of the songs. Hell, we started The Honky Tonk Experience together. He was not only a great guitar slinger/ songwriter/singer/producer, he was also a great friend and an even better dad to his babies and husband to Penny. Gonna miss my ole pal from Texas. Call your people and tell em ya love em just because.”