For that Gump guy: Presley's 'Burning Love' Songwriter dies.

[Maddy McCall]

NASHVILLE, TENN. — Songwriter Dennis Linde, who wrote Elvis Presley’s last major hit, “Burning Love,” has died. He was 63.

Linde died Friday of a rare lung disease, his daughter Lisa Marsden said today.

“Burning Love” was a hit for Presley in 1972. He also wrote “Goodbye Earl,” a hit by the Dixie Chicks in 1999 and “Callin’ Baton Rouge,” a Garth Brooks hit in 1993.

Linde was born in Abilene, Texas, and became hooked after his grandmother gave him a $14 guitar.

Friends remember him as a man with a quick wit who blended quirky lyrics with up-tempo melodies.

He was also a reclusive homebody who would rather spend time with family than appear at music industry functions, including those honoring him with awards.

“He was the quintessential mystery man of Nashville because he didn’t go to all the functions,” Scott Siman, an artist manager who had known Linde since the 1970s, told The Tennessean newspaper. “If you ever saw Dennis Linde it was amazing, because you didn’t get that opportunity very often.”

His other songs included “It Sure Is Monday” recorded by Mark Chesnutt, “Janie Baker’s Love Slave” by Shenandoah, “John Deere Green” by Joe Diffie and “Queen of My Double Wide Trailer” by Sammy Kershaw.

He was elected to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2001 and selected as BMI’s Songwriter of the Year in 1994.

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061223/NEWS/61223017

[enigmatic]

1. Dennis Linde was a craftsman

And "Burning Love" is one of his best songs, though I'm going to have to go w/ Killdozer's version..

[ForrestGump]

2. Bogus

:-(

He wrote some other good songs for Elvis, too, and laid his lead guitar over Elvis' track of "Burning Love," in the final mix. I'm finally even getting the lyrics right on "Burning Love" (they repeat in a strange way and maybe that's why Elvis, who was somewhat famous for his ability to recall lyrics, also had terrible trouble remembering them) because every time I get asked to sing by a live band in this town it's either "Suspicious Minds" or "Burning Love" -- it's a cool song, a really iconic one. :D

He was pretty young, too, really. I bet he still had a lot to contribute, had he lived.

Rest in peace, Mr Linde, and thank you for the music.