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Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Dave Loggins, best known for his 1974 hit "Please Come to Boston," died at the age of 76 on Wednesday at Alive Hospice in Nashville. Born in Shady Valley, Tennessee, and raised in Bristol, Tennessee, Loggins later moved to Nashville, where he became a highly influential songwriter.
His death has left a profound impact on the music community, with tributes pouring in on social media from peers and fans alike. Lee Greenwood described him as "an incredible singer, guitar player, and a writer. 'It was his music that drew me to Nashville, Tennessee in 1979. Dave was from Bristol, TN, but he made the world know who he was by the songs he wrote and sang.
We will miss his great talent, but his songs will live forever. We send prayers of healing and comfort to the Loggins family. I'm the number one fan of the man from Tennessee," greenwood went on. ESPN reporter Ed Werder tweeted, "Please Come to Boston. A great song from Dave Loggins, who has passed away."
His solo hit "Please Come to Boston" reached No. 1 on the Easy Listening chart and No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, earning him a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Male Vocal Performance. He penned songs for a diverse array of artists including Reba McEntire, Smokey Robinson, Wynonna Judd, Joan Baez, Lee Greenwood, Alabama, and Three Dog Night, as well as legends like Johnny Cash, Kenny Rogers, Toby Keith, and Ray Charles.
One of Loggins' most significant achievements was writing "Augusta," the theme song for the Masters Golf Tournament. Written in 1981 and first played during the tournament in 1982, the song became the longest-running sports theme in history. Reflecting on his inspiration for the piece, Loggins told the Associated Press in 2019, "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 which is what I do when I get inspired."
As per his wishes, no funeral will be held, and donations in his name can be made to Alive Hospice.
