Donald Ray Fritts, known professionally as Donnie Fritts, was born on November 8, 1942, in Alabama. He started his music career at age 15 playing drums in local bands before becoming a session keyboard player. In 1965, Fritts signed with a Nashville publishing company, and his songs were recorded by artists like Charlie Rich and Jerry Lee Lewis. He collaborated with Kris Kristofferson for over forty years, appearing in films such as Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid and Convoy. Fritts released his debut album, Prone to Lean, in 1974, followed by Everybody's Got a Song in 1997. He was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in 2008. His later albums include One Foot in the Groove (2008) and Oh My Goodness (2015). Fritts died on August 27, 2019, from complications of heart surgery.
