Rollins was most notably the pen behind Alan Jackson’s 2003 hit “It’s Five O’clock Somewhere”, and took home a Grammy for Best Country Song of 2003.
BEAUMONT, Texas — Vidor native and country music legend, Don Rollins passed away at 63-years-old Saturday evening.
Rollins was most notably the pen behind Alan Jackson’s 2003 hit “It’s Five O’clock Somewhere”, and took home a Grammy for Best Country Song of 2003. Rollins also had songwriting credits for country music superstars Randy Travis, Reba McIntire, and Faith Hill according to the Museum of the Gulf Coast.
Rollins graduated from Lamar University as a saxophone student in 1983 as a student of Lamar President Emeritus, Dr. James S. Simmons.
Outside his seismic impact in the country, Rollins poured his talent for music into public education according to Museum of the Gulf Coast.
Rollins had a 17-year career as a successful music educator in the public schools of Texas. Serving as band director for Vidor, Woodville, and many other schools around Texas.
His bands have received superior awards in marching, concert and sight-reading contests, and his jazz bands won numerous festivals, including the University of Houston Jazz Festival in 2001 according to the Museum of the Gulf Coast.
After his breakout success in 2003 three, Rollins shifted his focus more towards these educational projects. He taught song writing classes for songwriting, and even appeared as a guest speaker at the Berklee School of Music and Renaissance Center of Dickson, Tennessee.