Songwriter born Francis Rodney Zambon in Houston, Texas, who wrote two of the most well-known pop recordings of all time, Willie Nelson’s version of “Always On My Mind” and Elvis Presley’s “Suspicious Minds”. James recorded the latter in 1968 and it bombed, but Elvis took it to #1 a year later.
Elvis would continue to use James as a songwriter. ” Raised On Rock” shared the marquee with “For Ol’ Times Sake” as the title of a 1973 Elvis release.
He also co-wrote the title track of B.J. Thomas’s 1978 LP, Everybody Loves A Rain Song. It was not the first time he had collaborated with Thomas. They were childhood friends, raised in Houston, Texas, and as B.J.’s career began to take off in the late ’60s, James was along for the ride, penning “The Eyes of a New York Woman”, “Hooked on a Feeling”, and “It’s Only Love”.
James’ biggest success, perhaps, came in 1982 when Willie Nelson covered “Always On My Mind”, co-written with Wayne Carson and John Christopher, and originally recorded by Brenda Lee. It won a Grammy and two consecutive CMA Song of the Year awards.
Mark James was invited to Elvis Unlimited’s “Back in Memphis” show, headlined by his old friend, B.J. Thomas.
He died at home in June 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. He was 83 years old.
John Wesley Ryles recordings
You Are Always On My Mind (Wayne Carson/John Christopher/Mark James)
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