David Allan Coe, the outlaw country singer-songwriter known for the working-class anthem 'Take This Job and Shove It', has died at the age of 86. His wife, Kimberly Hastings Coe, confirmed his death to Rolling Stone on Wednesday, describing him as 'one of the best singers and songwriters of our time'. The cause of death was not disclosed.
Coe, born in Akron, Ohio, had a turbulent early life, spending time in reformatories and serving a prison sentence from 1963 to 1967 for possession of burglary tools. He credited music for helping him survive incarceration, saying in a 1983 interview: 'I'd have never made it through prison without my music.'
He found success as a songwriter, penning hits for Johnny Paycheck and Tanya Tucker, and later achieved his own chart successes with songs such as 'You Never Even Call Me by My Name' and 'The Ride'. Despite his commercial achievements, Coe remained an outsider in Nashville, cultivating a raw, often controversial image and a devoted following among bikers and outlaws.
Coe toured with artists including Willie Nelson, Kid Rock and Neil Young, and was featured in the documentary 'Heartworn Highways'. He continued recording into the 2000s, releasing a collaboration with former members of Pantera in 2006. His later years were marred by legal issues, including a 2016 conviction for obstructing the tax agency, for which he was ordered to pay over $980,000 in restitution.
His wife urged fans to remember him, stating: 'I’ll never forget him and I don’t want anyone else to ever forget him either.' Coe is survived by his family.
