Todd Snyder, Alright Guy singer-songwriter, dies at 59 | nation

Todd Snider, the influential alternative country singer-songwriter who created American hits like “Alright Guy,” has died at the age of 59.

His death was shared through announcements on his official social media accounts. Although no cause of death was given, his family announced Friday that he had recently been hospitalized with pneumonia.

His record label posted a statement on social media, writing: “Aimless, Inc. Headquarters is deeply saddened to share that our founder, our folk hero, our global poet, VP of Breaking Change, and storyteller, the beloved Todd Daniel Snyder, has passed away from this world. Where do we find words for the person who always had the right words, who knew how to distill everything down to its essence in words and song while delivering the most devastating, funny and poignant turn of phrases?”

He continued: “He conveyed so much tenderness and sensitivity through his songs, and showed so many of us how to look at the world through a different lens. He would wake up every morning and start writing, always working to find his place among the songwriting giants who sat on his record shelves, the same giants who let him into their lives and took him under their wings, and whom he studied relentlessly. Guy Clark, John Prine, Kris Kristofferson, Jerry Jeff Walker.”

Snyder has previously spoken openly about the chronic pain he suffers from spinal stenosis. Earlier this month, his band canceled the remainder of their tour, reporting ahead of a scheduled show in Salt Lake City: “Todd suffered serious injuries as the victim of a violent assault outside his hotel.”

Shortly after, police announced that Snyder had been arrested for disorderly conduct. Body camera footage showed Snyder telling officers he was in pain. When asked if he was homeless, he replied that he was “famous,” explaining that his band had left town after the show was cancelled.

Salt Lake City police also told reporters they had no record of the assault described in the previous press release, Variety reported.

Snyder was born in Portland, Oregon, headed to Northern California after high school, then moved to Texas during the 1980s. There he met Jerry Jeff Walker, who became an important mentor. By the 1990s, Snyder had settled in Nashville, where he had become an iconic figure in the tough East Nashville scene. His 2004 release East Nashville Skyline remains a cornerstone of the alternative country world.