Donnie Fritts, songwriter, musician and actor, dies at 76

Acclaimed Alabama musician, songwriter and actor Donnie Fritts — who was a sideman to Kris Kristofferson, had his songs cut by Waylon Jennings and Dolly Parton and appeared in films including 1976’s “A Star Is Born” — died Tuesday at 76.

An announcement posted on Fritts’ official Facebook page said the musician “passed away peacefully in his sleep” after “a lengthy battle with health issues.”

The Florence, Alabama, native’s best-known songs include “We Had It All” (recorded by Parton, Jennings, Ray Charles and others) and “Breakfast in Bed,” as heard on Dusty Springfield’s legendary “Dusty in Memphis” album.

Fritts moved to Nashville in the late 1960s and signed with Combine Music Publishing, where he met Kristofferson, Tony Joe White and other kindred spirits.

"That was my favorite time, by a million years, to be in Nashville," Fritts told The Tennessean in 2008. "Things were changing, and a lot of it was due to Kris and his style of writing. Nobody had written songs like 'Help Me Make It Through the Night' and 'Sunday Morning Coming Down' before. All those songs are so brilliantly written, but the country guys cut 'em."

He was Kristofferson’s longtime keyboardist, and appeared with the country legend in “A Star Is Born” and “Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid.”

On stage, Kristofferson would introduce Fritts as "a legend" who "writes some of the best soul songs in the world."

In 2008, he inducted Fritts into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.

Fritts continued to record and perform well into his 70s. In 2015, he released "Oh My Goodness," an album made with John Paul White of the Civil Wars.

A short film released that same year, "Undeniably Donnie," featured a cast of country giants singing his praises.

"Donnie's got talent," Willie Nelson says in the film. "... He can't hide it."