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David Allan Coe, a prominent figure in the outlaw country music scene, known for his rebellious spirit and hits like “You Never Even Called Me by My Name” and “The Ride,” has died at the age of 86.
As reported by Music Universe, Coe passed away in intensive care after battling “declining health” for several years. A representative expressed, “David was a musical treasure,” adding that he cherished his fans deeply.
Coe’s legacy is firmly rooted in his significant contributions to the “outlaw country” genre.
This subgenre emerged from the 1970s “outlaw movement,” which featured artists like Willie Nelson and the late Waylon Jennings. It celebrated themes of defying authority and embracing an unfiltered lifestyle.
Throughout his life, Coe spent several years incarcerated for offenses including grand theft auto and possession of burglary tools. He notably claimed in a Rolling Stone interview to have killed a fellow inmate with a mop bucket in 1963.
Rolling Stone described him as “wildly eccentric” throughout his life. He drove a hearse while wearing a Lone Ranger mask.
Coe also composed music for performers such as Tanya Tucker and Johnny Paycheck. Paycheck’s “Take This Job and Shove It,” which peaked at number one in 1977, and Tucker’s “Would You Lay With Me (In a Field of Stone),” which also peaked at number one in 1973, both credited to him.
According to Music Universe, his own songs were frequently deemed too “wild” for radio because of their graphic, vulgar, and occasionally racist lyrics. For a long time, Coe had defended the racist lyrics as jokes and parodies.