Todd Snider, the influential alt-country singer-songwriter behind hits such as ‘Alright Guy’, has died at the age of 59.
The news was confirmed today (November 15) by a statement on Snider’s social media accounts. No cause of death has been given, but his family have said he had recently been hospitalised with pneumonia.
“Aimless, Inc. Headquarters is heartbroken to share that our Founder, our Folk Hero, our Poet of the World, our Vice President of the Abrupt Change Dept., the Storyteller, our beloved Todd Daniel Snider has departed this world,” read the message on Instagram.
“Where do we find the words for the one who always had the right words, who knew how to distill everything down to its essence with words and song while delivering the most devastating, hilarious, and impactful turn of phrases?”
It continued: “He relayed so much tenderness and sensitivity through his songs, and showed many of us how to look at the world through a different lens. He got up every morning and started writing, always working towards finding his place among the songwriting giants that sat on his record shelves, those same giants who let him into their lives and took him under their wings, who he studied relentlessly. Guy Clark, John Prine, Kris Kristofferson, Jerry Jeff Walker.”
Snider had recently cancelled the remainder of a US tour due to “severe injuries as the victim of a violent assault outside of his hotel” in Salt Lake City.
Snider was born in Portland, Oregon and relocated to Texas in the 1980s, where he began his music career. He later became associated with the Nashville alt-country scene, with his 2004 album ‘East Nashville Skyline’ particularly well remembered.
He was renowned for his witty, poignant lyrical style, deeply influenced by the likes of John Prine, Guy Clark and Kris Kristofferson, and his work helped to define the modern sound of Americana.
Among those to pay tribute to Snider were Jason Isbell, who wrote on Threads: “Freak flags at half-staff for the Storyteller and all the songs he still had left to write. I sure did love him.”