Hit Country Songwriter Larry Bastian Passes

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Larry Bastian

Longtime Major Bob Publishing songwriter Larry Bastian died on Sunday (April 6) at age 90.

Bastian co-wrote such Garth Brooks hits as “Unanswered Prayers,” “Rodeo” and “The Old Man’s Back in Town” in 1991-92. The superstar recorded many other Bastian songs, as did a who’s-who of country music.

Larry Bastian was born and raised in California’s agricultural San Joaquin Valley, and he lived throughout his life in the Springville/Porterville area. He was from a farming family. Following high school, he spent his early years farming and cowboying. Bastian then worked for 15 years as a biologist for the Department of Agriculture for Kern and Tulare Counties.

But he always made music. Touring country artists who heard his songs, encouraged him to send his music to Nashville. In the 1970s, Larry Bastian decided to devote himself to songwriting.

His first notable success was when his “This Ain’t Tennessee and He Ain’t You” was recorded by Janie Fricke in 1980. Although never a hit, it became the songwriter’s most recorded song, with a version by Tom Jones, among several other notables. In 1981, Sammi Smith’s recording of “Sometimes I Cry When I’m Alone” became the songwriter’s first top-40 hit. Shortly afterward, David Frizzell & Merle Haggard recorded “Lefty,” Bastian’s tribute to Lefty Frizzell, who was David’s brother and Merle’s idol.

Bastian songs also charted for Ray Price, Wyley McPherson and The Kendalls in the 1980s. In 1988, Conway Twitty had a top-10 smash with “Saturday Night Special.” Garth Brooks began his run of Bastian-penned successes in 1991. Sammy Kershaw had a top-20 hit with “Yard Sale” in 1992 and repeated the feat with “If You’re Gonna Walk, I’m Gonna Crawl” in 1997. Bastian’s last notable chart success was in 2004 with Craig Morgan’s version of “Look at Us.”

During his songwriting career, Larry Bastian’s works were also recorded by George Jones, Reba McEntire, Willie Nelson, Vern Gosdin, Eddy Arnold, Buck Owens, Tammy Wynette, Tracy Byrd, Lacy J. Dalton, Moe Bandy, Rhett Akins, The Whites, Neal McCoy, Con Hunley and many others.

His songs also found a home in bluegrass music.

Larry Bastian passed away in Porterville, California. No funeral arrangements have been announced.

Robert K Oermann
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