Mark James, author of Always on My Mind and Suspicious Minds, has died at the age of 83 – Boston 25 News

Two-time Grammy winner Mark James, whose songwriting credits included “Always on My Mind” and “Suspicious Minds” that revived Elvis Presley’s career, died on June 8 at the age of 83.

James, who also co-wrote “Hooked on a Feeling,” died in Nashville, Tennessee, the Houston Chronicle reported.

He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2014, Variety reported. BMI named him one of its Songwriters of the Century in 2000, according to the entertainment news website.

James won both Grammys in 1983 for “Always on My Mind,” which he co-wrote with Wayne Carson and Johnny Christopher. The tune was named Best Country Song and Song of the Year.

Nelson’s version was a crossover hit, reaching No. 1 on the country charts and No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, the Chronicle reported. The song was later covered by the Pet Shop Boys, Dave Gahan, Il Divo and David Hasselhoff. Last year, Amanda Shires and Bobby Nelson released a version of the song, according to the newspaper.

The Pet Shop Boys’ version peaked at number one in the UK and number four in the US, Variety reported. The song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2008.

James called “Suspicious Minds,” which became the last of Presley’s seven No. 1 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1969, “a sledgehammer,” the Chronicle reported.

Jones’ song “Hooked on A Feeling,” sung by BJ Thomas, peaked at No. 5 on Billboard in early 1969. Five years later, the song reached No. 1 thanks to the “ooga-chaka” addition by Blue Swede, a band from Sweden.

According to the Chronicle, the song also appeared in the films “Reservoir Dogs” (1992) and “Guardians of the Galaxy” (2014).

According to the newspaper, James was born Francis Zambon in Houston in late 1940. He graduated from Austin High School.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, he began his career as an artist and changed his name when club owners in Houston didn’t like the sound of his first name.

Variety reported that James is also a member of the Texas Songwriters Hall of Fame, the New York Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

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