SiriusXM remembers Tom T. Hall, dead at 85

SiriusXM is sad to report that Tom T. Hall has passed away at the age of 85. SiriusXM honors the legacy of Hall on Willie’s Roadhouse (Ch. 59), Outlaw Country (Ch. 60), and Bluegrass Junction (Ch. 62). A Grammy-winning singer, songwriter and author of novels and short stories, Tom T. Hall was renowned as “The Storyteller” for the unique narrative style in his songwriting.

Born in Olive Hill, Kentucky, Hall worked as DJ before arriving in Nashville in 1964. He signed on as a songwriter for Jimmy C. Newman’s publishing company, scoring his first major hit in 1986 with “Harper Valley PTA” for Jeannie C. Riley.

Hits of his own followed, including classics like “Homecoming,” “The year Clayton Delaney Died,” and “Old Dogs, Children and Watermelon Wine” and he topped both the pop and country charts in 1975 with “I Love.”

Hall’s songs have been covered and become hits for many other country stars, and later in life he and his late wife Dixie co-wrote songs and produced records for their own bluegrass label, Home Grown Music.

He was inducted into the Kentucky Hall of Fame in 2002, the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in 2019.

Tom T. Hall will be missed, but the words of music of “The Storyteller” will live forever.