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".^[1][2] West co-wrote album tracks for other artists, including tracks for Tim McGraw and John Michael Montgomery.^[3]

Elbert West was born on July 22, 1967.^[4] 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.^[1] West co-wrote ten of the album's thirteen tracks,^[3] while others – including "(This One's Gonna) Leave a Mark", previously recorded by John Michael Montgomery – were co-written by Randy Archer and Johnny Park, formerly of the duo Archer/Park. "Diddley", which peaked at No. 56 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts, was the album's lead single and West's only single to chart. "Diddley" was also made into a music video, which aired on CMT.^[2] Erik Hage of AllMusic gave the album four stars out of five, saying, "West has a big, husky baritone, a keen songwriting ability, a defiant attitude, and is a major country talent."^[5] 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.^[6][7]

Livin' the Life
Studio album by Elbert West
Released	2001
Genre	Country
Label	Broken Bow
Producer	D. Scott Miller

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

• 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