“Seven Spanish Angels” Songwriter Troy Seals Dies At Age 86

Legendary Songwriter Troy Seals, Best Known For Writing Hits Like “Seven Spanish Angels” And “If You Ever Have Forever In Mind,” Has Died.

Troy Seals passed away at his home in Hendersonville, Tennessee, on March 6 at the age of 86.

Seal started his music career at just 17, performing in nightclubs with his rock band, The Earthquakes, in the 1950s.

However, he later stepped away from music to work in construction. It wasn’t until years later, when he and his wife moved to Nashville in 1969, that he found his way into the country genre. He would go on to work with some of the most legendary artists in country music history.

By the 1970s, Seals had established himself as a respected songwriter. He earned his first No.1 hit when Conway Twitty recorded “There’s a Honky Tonk Angel.”

The two worked closely for years, with Seals writing several more chart-topping songs for Twitty, including “Don’t Take It Away,” “Red Neckin’ Love Makin’ Night” and “Fallin’ for You for Years.”

By the 1980s, Seals was seen as a staple in Nashville’s songwriting community.

He went on to write some of the most memorable country songs of the era and several Top 10 hits.

RELATED: 7 GREAT COUNTRY SONGS FROM THE ’80s THAT STILL TUG AT THE HEARTSTRINGS

His work included “You Almost Slipped My Mind” by Charley Pride, “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes” by George Jones, “Drinkin’ and Dreamin’ by Waylon Jennings, and “Ten Feet Away” by Keith Whitley.

Additionally, in 1985, Seals secured another No.1 hit with “Seven Spanish Angels,” a duet between Willie Nelson and Ray Charles.

He went on to write many more songs for artists like The Oak Ridge Boys, The Judds, Reba McEntire, Randy Travis, and more.

Seals’ incredible contributions to country music eventually earned him a place in the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1988. 

Troy Seals is survived by his wife, Joanne, and his son, Troy Jr.