Elbert West


Elbert Lee West was an American country music artist. Initially a session songwriter in Nashville, Tennessee, West saw his first chart success in the 1990s as a co-writer on singles for country singer Tracy Lawrence, including the Number Ones "Sticks and Stones" and "Can't Break It to My Heart". West co-wrote album tracks for other artists, including tracks for Tim McGraw and John Michael Montgomery.

Biography

Elbert West was born on July 22, 1967. During his childhood years, Elbert began writing songs for his church. Then after high school, West decided to move to Nashville, Tennessee to pursue his dream of hitting it big in the music industry. He co-wrote titles for Tracey Lawrence, John Michael Montgomery, and Tim McGraw. In 1992, West married Tammy Ash, musician in her own right. And in 1994, they had their first child. Followed by two more children in 1998 and 2001. By 2001, he had signed to Broken Bow Records, then a newly formed independent label, and his debut album, Livin' the Life, was released that year. West co-wrote ten of the album's thirteen tracks, while others — including " Leave a Mark", previously recorded by John Michael Montgomery — were co-written by Randy Archer and Johnny Park, formerly of the duo Archer/Park. "Diddley", which peaked at No. 56 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts, was the album's lead single and West's only single to chart. "Diddley" was also made into a music video, which aired on CMT. Erik Hage of AllMusic gave the album four stars out of five, saying, "West has a big, husky baritone, a keen songwriting ability, a defiant attitude, and is a major country talent." After a falling out over a record, West left Broken Bow Records. He decided to start his own independent country music label in 2009. It started as Moo Town Records, and later changed to HonkyTone Records where he wrote songs and produced tracks for artists such as Tim Culpepper and Jordan Carter.

Death

In 2013, West had started having seizures, and couldn’t continue on his musical journey. West died in Portland, Tennessee on May 18, 2015, aged 47, from a stomach aneurism. Leaving his wife Tammy, and their three children surviving him.

Discography

''Livin' the Life'' (2001)

Track listing

  1. "Crawlin' Time" – 3:22
  2. "Side of the Road" – 3:46
  3. "Diddley" – 2:52
  4. "Neon Light" – 3:35
  5. " Leave a Mark" – 3:34
  6. "Unpredictable" – 2:35
  7. "Livin' the Life" – 3:33
  8. "Robin Loves to Hear Me Sing" – 4:21
  9. "My Last Resort" – 3:08
  10. "Sinner" – 3:46
  11. "Middle of the Line" – 3:14
  12. "Everything That He's Not" – 5:23
  13. "Kiss My Lips Goodbye" – 2:57

    Personnel

Music videos