27° HAZE, Songwriter Edward Struzick, 57, dies at his home
Last Modified: Thursday, June 26, 2008 at 11:35 p.m.
Edward Struzick, prolific songwriter who became an integral part of the Muscle Shoals music scene, died Wednesday. He was 57.
Struzick died at his Sheffield home from complications from liver disease, said his wife, Judy.
He co-wrote several hits including "Sharing the Night Together" - co-written with Ava Aldridge and recorded by Dr. Hook - and "Falling," originally recorded by LeBlanc & Carr in 1977.
Others artists who have recorded his songs include Tanya Tucker, Sheena Easton, Marie Osmond and American Idol contestant, Elliot Yamin.
Lenny LeBlanc, who was a member of LeBlanc & Carr, co-wrote several songs with Struzick including "Falling," "Warm Spot Hot," "I Care," which was recorded by Roy Orbison, and "Sunny Day to Rain" by Dobie Gray.
"I learned a lot about song writing - he had a few years ahead of me," LeBlanc said. "He had strong convictions about music and song writing, and he was usually right."
LeBlanc was a section bass player when he met Struzick, who at the time was a sound studio engineer.
LeBlanc recalled trips where Struzick would sing impromptu tunes.
"He just had the songs in him," LeBlanc said. "Eddie was a naturally gifted writer."
Although behind the scenes, many recalled Struzick's musical impact on the area.
"He's always been a force in the Muscle Shoals area and a tremendous guy on top of that," said David Johnson, director of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. "He was a real laid back guy, not a self promoter at all."
Born in Decatur in 1951, Struzick's family moved to the area where he attended Bradshaw High School in Florence. While there, he formed a band, the Blue Eyed Pieces of Soul, and performed at sock hops, according to his wife.
In his senior year, his family moved to Sheffield where he graduated from Sheffield High School.
He was an engineer at FAME and Muscle Shoals Sound studios before he started writing music professionally.
"We were always a little disappointed that he didn't get the recognition for his role in the Muscle Shoals music during its height," said Judy Struzick. "He was an integral part of the Muscle Shoals sound."
Trevor Stokes can be reached at 740-5728 or trevor.stokes@timesdaily.com
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Comments
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June 27, 2008 5:04:30 pm
RE: http://www.timesdaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20.../NEWS/806270329/1011
This was a great guy, that i met fishing and floating in the river about ten years ago. I had no idea he was even "somebody" for the next year that we became friends. I made a CD once for us to listen to at the river. (some know the spot) and it had "sharing the night together" on it (Dr. Hook version) and only then did he tell me who he was. I knew Ava from family and friends and i had heard of Eddie but looking at this "simple plain man" hanging out with a bunch of kids in the river is not how i would have pictured someone with his background. i guess what i am trying to say is:
"SO LONG MUSICMAN. YOU WILL BE MISSED! THERE IS ONE PERSON YOU TAUGHT HUMILITY TO IN THIS WORLD. GOOD LUCK IN THE NEXT, AND KEEP SINGING!!!"
June 27, 2008 7:19:24 pm
i went to bradshaw with eddie. he was always a cool guy back then. prayers for his family and many friends.
June 27, 2008 7:59:50 pm
I remember when "Blue Eyed Pieces of Soul" would sometimes play the weekly sockhop at the skating rink in Decatur during the late 60's.
June 28, 2008 8:54:53 am
most of these guys were at bradshaw too. great band! Gary Weaver (the one without blue eyes ) went on to play professional football.
June 28, 2008 10:52:56 am
hippiegirl, I'm thinking that Eddie's sister was an English teacher at Bradshaw back then also, Mrs. Locker, she was a nun at one time and left the order went into teaching, or do I have that mixed up?
June 28, 2008 4:34:12 pm
Eddie was a great guy, I lived down the street from him there in Rivermont for years. He used to make the best homemade pickles.I heard him pick up a mic at Sports Rock Cafe before it closed and he could really sing also, but his heart was in songwriting.R.I.P. Eddie!
June 28, 2008 5:02:21 pm
That couldn't have been Laura.....she used to date my brother and hang out at my house a lot when we were teens.
June 28, 2008 5:05:27 pm
Weaver! Thank you! i remembered the "Gary" part but have been racking my brain trying to think of his last name.
They were cool
June 28, 2008 8:12:30 pm
Mrs Locker was there, but she's not one of Eddie's sisters. i think all 3 were younger than us.
June 29, 2008 7:37:07 am
Thanks, now I'll have to try and remember who was Mrs. Locker's brother and what her maiden name was. I could have sworn it was Struzick but that's been way too many years ago.
By the way I saw where Mrs. Hill the chemistry teacher died a few weeks ago. She was a nice lady.
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