The legendary songwriter Mark James, who wrote several world-famous Elvis Presley songs such as “Suspicious Minds”, “Always on My Mind” and “Hooked on a Feeling” by the Swedish group Blue Swede, died at aged 83, reports the BBC.
According to a statement released by the artist’s family published in the Houston Chronicle, Mark James died at his home in Nashville, Tennessee on Saturday, June 8. His family writes that “his larger-than-life personality filled any room he was in, and his smile lit it up.” He was a captivating storyteller who had the sweetest smile, the most infectious laugh, and a twinkle in his eye that never faded.”
Born in Houston in 1940, Francis Zambon, his real name, turned to music from an early age. His fledgling career as a musician was quickly put on hold when he was drafted into the Army to fight in the Vietnam War.
Upon his return, he signed with a music publishing company in Memphis, and began writing songs. He recorded his own version of “Suspicious Minds” in 1968 and his label was convinced that the recording could be a hit. A year later, Elvis Presley, who was registered in the studio where James worked, was offered the song “Suspicious Minds” and went “crazy” about it.
Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2014
“He wanted to hear the song over and over again and he learned it on the spot,” according to one of the producers, before covering it and propelling it to number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1969. The King then returned to Mark James for other hits such as “It’s Only Love”, “Moody Blue” or even “Raised on Rock”, but their best-known collaboration surely remains “Always On My Mind”.
He also wrote the song “Hooked on a Feeling » by the Swedish band Blue Swede in 1974, a song which enjoyed a resurgence in popularity in the 1990s thanks to its use in the soundtrack to Quentin Tarantino’s “Reservoir Dogs”.
During his career, his compositions have been recorded or covered by artists such as Willie Nelson, Bill Withers, Brenda Lee, Jay-Z, Pet Shop Boys and Michael Bublé. In 2000, he was named among the best songwriters of the 20th century alongside Paul McCartney, Elton John and Holland-Dozier-Holland. He will even be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2014 for his remarkable career as a songwriter.
