Grammy-winning songwriter “Always on My Mind” turned 83

Mark James

Gary Gershoff/Getty Images for Songwriters Hall Of Fame

Mark James, Grammy-winning member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame with hits such as “Hooked on A Feeling,” “Suspicious Minds” and “Always on My Mind,” has died. He was 83 years old.

James died on June 8 at his home in Nashville. The news was first reported by the Houston Chronicle.

“Mark’s legacy and joy of life will live on in the hearts of those who loved him and through his timeless lyrics and melodies that have been the soundtrack for lovers for generations,” his family said in a statement.

James won both Grammys in 1963 for “Always on My Mind,” which he co-wrote with Wayne Carson and Johnny Christopher. The Willie Nelson hit won trophies for Country Song of the Year and Song of the Year. James and his co-writers had originally written the tune for Elvis Presley, who released the song in 1972 without much fanfare. Nelson’s version made the song popular a decade later, and a cover by the Pet Shop Boys also enjoyed international success. “Always on My Mind” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2008.

James was a frequent songwriter for Presley and wrote “Suspicious Minds” for the King of Rock and Roll. “That song was a sledgehammer,” he told the Houston Chronicle in 2014. In 1969, the song became Elvis’ last No. 1 song before his death in 1977.

James is perhaps best known for his song “Hooked on A Feeling” – originally written for BJ Thomas in 1969 and since covered by numerous artists, including Blue Swede and the Hives. The song, known across generations, also appears in Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs and Marvel’s Protector of the Galaxy.

James was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2014, a decade and a half after BMI named him one of its Songwriters of the Century in 2000. He has also been inducted into the Texas Songwriters Hall of Fame, the New York Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

James was born Francis Zambon in Houston, Texas in 1940. His father was an Italian building contractor and his mother was a teacher. As a child, he often went to the movies and learned that “a great story can be told over and over again.” He began his career as an actor and changed his name early on because club owners in Houston didn’t like the sound of Francis Zambon.

He leaves behind his wife Karen Zambon, his daughters Sammie and Dana Zambon, grandchildren and his extended family.