Tom T Hall Obituary, Death – “Tom T.” Hall, 85, of Franklin, Tennessee, died on August 20, 2021. Tom T. was an American country music singer-songwriter known as “The Storyteller.” Hall was born in the Kentucky town of Olive Hill. He joined the United States Army and served in Germany. He began his career as a disc jockey and announcer in West Virginia and Kentucky.
In 1964, he relocated to Nashville and signed a publishing deal with Jimmy C. Newman and Jimmy Key, where he wrote songs for $50 a week. He went on to write 12 No. 1 hit songs, as well as 26 Top 10 hits, including the No. 1 international pop crossover hit “Harper Valley PTA” and “I Love,” which peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. Tom T. was named to Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 Greatest Songwriters. Johnny Cash, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Waylon Jennings, Alan Jackson, and Bobby Bare all had songs written by Hall.
Jeannie C. Riley recorded “Harper Valley PTA” in 1968, selling over six million copies and winning both a Grammy and a Country Music Association Award. “A Week in a Country Jail,” “Old Dogs, Children, and Watermelon Wine,” “I Love,” “Country Is,” “The Year Clayton Delaney Died,” “I Like Beer,” “Faster Horses (the Cowboy and the Poet),” “That Song Is Driving Me Crazy,” “That’s How I Got To Memphis,” and many more are among his other biggest hits.
He and his wife Dixie were well-known bluegrass and country music songwriters as well as animal rights advocates. Dixie died on January 17, 2015. He was predeceased by his parents, Virgil and Della Henderson Hall; brothers, Gene Raymond “Jack” Hall, Quinton Hall, Billy Joe Hall, and Hillman Hall; and sisters, Doris Isaacs, Teresa Hall, and Patty McSherry. Tom T. is survived by his son Dean (Carol) Hall, his brother Larry (Candy) Hall, his sister Betty Kiser, and his cherished cat Liza Jane. The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to his wonderful carers, Melissa Buck and Melissa Spaulding. Due to the epidemic, a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
