August 17, 2006

BMI Country Singer Johnny Duncan Dies at 67

BMI country music singer Johnny Duncan, best known for the 1970s chart-toppers "She Can Put Her Shoes Under My Bed (Anytime)," "It Couldn't Have Been Any Better" and "Thinkin' of a Rendezvous," has died. He was 67.

Johnny and his wife Connie had moved back to Texas from Nashville about 15 years ago, settling on a farm in Stephenville, near his hometown of Dublin. He started singing and writing songs there as a teen, and found success in Nashville when stars like Charley Pride and Conway Twitty recorded his material. His own first Top 10 hit came with 1973's "Sweet Country Woman," kicking off a hot streak that lasted through the early 1980s. His final new album was 2004's The Thing to Do, sold through his website, johnnyduncanmusic.com.

He was a cousin of fellow country singers Dan Seals, Brady Seals and Troy Seals, along with Jimmy Seals of pop duo Seals & Croft. He is survived by his wife and their son, along with four daughters from a previous marriage.

A memorial service was held on Thursday, Aug. 17 at the First Baptist Church of Stephenville. Johnny's family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in his name to the Salvation Army or St. Jude Medical Center.

BMI represents more than 500,000 songwriters, composers, and publishers with more than 7.5 million works.