The “All My Ex’s Live in Texas” and “Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind” songwriter Whitey Shafer died Saturday, the 12th of January at the age of 84. Currently, there are no details regarding the beloved songwriter’s cause of death. He wrote numerous hits for other amazing artists such as George Jones, Lefty Frizzell, and George Strait. 

Sanger D. Shafer, or “Whitey” as he was more commonly known as, was a country songwriter and musician.

He was born and raised in Texas in a gospel rooted, music-loving family. Shafer’s interests and influences were Ernest Tubb and Lefty Frizzell. Like some country artists, he first served our country in the Army. When he left, he worked a handful of odd jobs that included working on a tuned a turkey farm. And at age 30, he moved to Nashville to pursue songwriting.

His move to Nashville sealed his fortune as a songwriter because he signed a publishing agreement with Blue Crest Music, and he had put out a handful of singles with RCA Records and Musicor records.

His Legacy

In his time, he had written a string of amazing songs. He wrote from the heart. Shafer used his experiences in heartbreak and divorce to fuel for his writing. He wrote “Between My House and Home” and “I’m a New Man in Town” for George Jones. Jones garnered the 13th spot on the Billboard 100 with Shafer’s songs. Shafer was later inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame back in 1989. 

Back in the 1980’s George Strait picked up what we now know as one of his most recognizable songs. Take a listen to one of his greatest hits, sung by the King of Country George Strait.

In the 1990’s, Shafer continued to purse writing hit songs for other people. He has written for John Micheal Montgomery, Lee An Womack, Shawn Colvin, and Kenny Chesney.

He was a prominent figure in country music’s golden era. The loss of this great legend will be a wound in everybody’s hearts. But we are thankful for the legacy that he left behind.