Singer-Songwriter Mark Selby Dies

Mark Selby

Nashville-based recording artist and songwriter Mark Selby died Monday (Sept. 18) after a battle with cancer. He was 56.

Selby was a recording artist, songwriter, session guitar player and producer released albums on Vanguard Records. He wrote a string of hits with Kenny Wayne Shepherd, including “Deja Voodoo,” “Slow Ride,” “Last Goodbye,” and “Blue on Black,” which was No. 1 for 17 weeks and Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Song of the Year. He also wrote the Dixie Chicks’ first No. 1 single “There’s Your Trouble” and had his songs recorded by many other artists including Wynonna, Trisha Yearwood, Johnny Reid, Jo Dee Messina, Lee Roy Parnell and Keb’ Mo. A highly-regarded session player, Selby played on recordings by Kenny Rogers and Wynona Judd.

Born and raised in Oklahoma, Selby spent his youth harvesting wheat and playing in bands throughout the Midwest before moving to Hays, Kansas to attend Fort Hays University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in music. Selby was inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame in 2016.

Selby is survived by his wife and songwriting partner, Tia Sillers.

A memorial service will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to MusicCares in memory of Mark Selby.

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Jessica Nicholson

Jessica Nicholson serves as the Managing Editor for MusicRow magazine. Her previous music journalism experience includes work with Country Weekly magazine and Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) magazine. She holds a BBA degree in Music Business and Marketing from Belmont University. She welcomes your feedback at jnicholson@musicrow.com.

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