He began to gain notice as a honky-tonk musician, fueled by some of the hit songs he wrote, including “Release Me” and “Talk to Your Heart”. Over the years, he moved away from honky tonk, and cultivated a more gospel-influenced mellower sound that was at home on both the contemporary and country charts. He continued to release successful albums and hit country tracks through the mid-2000s, and won two Grammy Awards, among other honors. He passed away in December 2013.