BURBANK, Calif. (CelebrityAccess) Freddie Hart, 91, classic country singer and songwriter, died in Burbank, Calf., Oct. 27.
Hart’s publicist, Scott Wikle, confirmed his death on Hart’s Facebook page. The singer, born Frederick Segrest in Loachapoka, Ala., led an interesting life prior to his career in music, lying his way into the Marine Corps at age 15 to serve in World Warr II then taught classes in self-defense at the Los Angeles Police Academy before writing songs for Carl Smith (“Loose Talk”), Patsy Cline (Lovin’ In Vain” and Porter Wagoner (“Skid Row Joe”).
After backing Lefty Rizell and recording Top 20 songs like “Chain Gang” and “The Key’s In The Mailbox,” Hart recorded a song called “Easy Loving” that was a B-side to a single in 1969. A DJ in Atlanta played it, rather than the single, and it shot up the charts, winning Song of the Year for both the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music as well as a Grammy.
He produced several hits after that, with the last Top 40 song “You Were There” coming in 1981.
