Elbert West

Elbert Lee West (July 22, 1967 – May 18, 2015) was an American country music artist. Initially a session songwriter in Nashville, Tennessee, West saw his first chart success in the 1990s as a co-writer on singles for country singer Tracy Lawrence, including the Number Ones "Sticks and Stones" and "Can't Break It to My Heart". West co-wrote album tracks for other artists, including tracks for Tim McGraw and John Michael Montgomery.

Biography Elbert West was born on July 22, 1967. Early in his musical career, West wrote songs for Tracy Lawrence, Tim McGraw, and John Michael Montgomery.

By 2001, he had signed to Broken Bow Records, then a newly formed independent label, and his debut album, Livin' the Life, was released that year. After a falling out over a record, West left Broken Bow Records.

In 2013, West started having seizures. He died in Portland, Tennessee, on May 18, 2015, at the age of 47 from a stomach aneurysm. West is survived by his wife Tammy and their three children.

Discography

Livin' the Life (2001)

Track listing "Crawlin' Time" (Judy Hoffman, Elbert West) – 3:22 "Side of the Road" (D. Scott Miller, West) – 3:46 "Diddley" (Doc James Shapiro, C.B. Carter) – 2:52 "Neon Light" (West, Earl Clark) – 3:35 "(This One's Gonna) Leave a Mark" (John Michael Montgomery, David Lee, Johnny Park, West) – 3:34 "Unpredictable" (Miller, West) – 2:35 "Livin' the Life" (Randy Archer, West) – 3:33 "Robin Loves to Hear Me Sing" (Miller, John Ramey) – 4:21 "My Last Resort" (Miller) – 3:08 "Sinner" (Miller, West, Ken Prueitt) – 3:46 "Middle of the Line" (Lee, West) – 3:14 "Everything That He's Not" (Miller, West, Stewart Harris) – 5:23 "Kiss My Lips Goodbye" (Miller, West, Even Stevens) – 2:57

Personnel Steve Brewster – drums, percussion Gary Burnette – six-string bass guitar, electric guitar, mandolin John Cowan – background vocals Steve Mackey – bass guitar, tic tac bass Russ Pahl – six-string bass guitar, banjo, Dobro, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, steel guitar, gut string guitar, sitar, talk box guitar, tic tac bass James Pennebaker – fiddle, electric guitar, steel guitar Laura Vida – background vocals Barry Walsh – piano Elbert West – lead vocals

Singles Year Single Peak positions Album US Country 2001 "Diddley" 56 Livin' the Life "Unpredictable" — 2002 "(This One's Gonna) Leave a Mark" — 2004 "A Beautiful Day for Goodbye" — singles only "Kimberly Cooper's Eyes" — "—" denotes releases that did not chart

Music videos Year Video Director 2001 "Diddley" "Unpredictable" Michael Merriman