Veteran singer/songwriter Troy Jones died at home unexpectedly on Sept. 11 after a live electrical current touched his boat dock. He was 64.
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Jones was working in a paper mill in Sylacauga, Ala. when he discovered Randy Travis' music in the '80s. Travis' throwback sound inspired Jones to take performing and songwriting more seriously, first in the Montgomery bar scene and later in Nashville at spots like the Bluebird Cafe.
A dream that found Jones driving back and forth for years between Alabama to Tennessee paid off huge for the first time in 2005 when Kenny Chesney closed his The Road and the Radio album with Jones' "Like Me." A fitting start when you consider that Jones was a Florida native from Port St. Joe.
The working relationship between Jones and Chesney also brought us chart hit and Just Who I Am: Poets and Pirates selection "Shiftwork," an on-brand title for a paper mill worker known as the Forklift Philosopher and a chance for Chesney to sing a duet with George Strait.
Other noteworthy songs by Jones include Bobby Braddock co-write "People are Crazy." Billy Currington took it to No. 1 on the Billboard charts in 2009 while earning ACM and CMA award consideration for Song of the Year plus a Grammy nomination. A year later, Currington found success with Jones' words again by taking "Pretty Good at Drinkin' Beer" to No. 1. on the Hot Country Songs chart.
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Others to record songs by Jones include Brad Paisley, Trace Adkins, Tim McGraw, Alan Jackson and The Oak Ridge Boys. He also wrote a prominent song from the film Country Strong, "Timing is Everything."
Per a social media post by fellow songwriter Wynn Varble, Jones is survived by his wife Patsy, daughters Lindsey and Brittany, his son Adam plus his grandchildren.
