Country singer Dave Loggins dies at the age of 76

Michael Ochs

Dave Loggins, the Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter best known for his 1974 hit “Please Come to Boston,” died Wednesday (July 10) at Alive Hospice in Nashville. He was 76.

The cause of death was not disclosed.

Born in Shady Valley, Tennessee, and raised in Bristol, Tennessee, Loggins moved to Nashville, where he became one of the most prolific songwriters of his generation.

He wrote hits spanning five decades for a long list of artists, including Three Dog Night, Joan Baez, Toby Keith, Johnny Cash, Wynonna Judd, Smokey Robinson, Ray Charles, Reba McEntire, Tanya Tucker, Kenny Rogers and Willie Nelson.

Loggins, a cousin of pop star Kenny Loggins, rose to fame with “Please Come to Boston,” which topped the easy listening charts in 1974 and reached number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song earned him a Grammy nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, the first of his four Grammy nominations.

In 1986, Loggins made history when he won a CMA Award for Vocal Duo of the Year with Anne Murray for the duet “Nobody Loves Me Like You Do,” making him the only artist to win the award without being signed to a major label.

One of Loggins’ most enduring contributions to music is “Augusta,” the theme song for the Augusta Masters golf tournament. Since 1982, The Tennessean has called it “the longest-running sports theme in history.”

Reflections on the inspiration for “Augusta” in an interview with the Related Presssaid Loggins, “That class was just a work of art. I looked over at some dogwoods and, man, I just started writing the song in my head like I always do when I’m inspired. I had the first verse before I even left the class.”

Loggins talked about his career in Everything about singing Podcast in 2021, with Judy Rodman calling him “a reclusive genius.”

He talked about how he was influenced by the fingerpicking style of artists like Donovan and how he landed his first recording contract with Jerry Crutchfield at Capitol Records at age 22. In recognition of his achievements, Loggins was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1995.

Loggins leaves behind his three sons Quinn, Kyle and Dylan, and his grandson Braxton. In accordance with his wishes, there will be no funeral.

Donations in his memory may be made to Alive Hospice in Nashville.