INTO THE SUNSET

‘Rhinestone Cowboy’ Songwriter Dies at 87

The British composer, who’s survived by his wife, daughter and stepdaughter, had been living with Alzheimer’s disease for many years.

The British songwriter responsible for country musician Glenn Campbell’s iconic 1975 hit “Rhinestone Cowboy” has died at the age of 87. Brian Potter’s daughter, Courtney, said the producer and composer had been suffering from dementia for several years prior to his death. Best known for his collaboration with songwriting partner Dennis Lambert, Potter worked with dozens of artists throughout his celebrated, decades-long career—including R&B group Tavares, pop-soul ensemble Four Tops, and legendary singer Dusty Springfield. Potter and Lambert also both worked on rock band Player’s No.1 hit “Baby Come Back,” and helped produce Mexican-American guitarist Carlos Santana’s 1978 album Inner Secrets. After what was an amicable creative split from Lambert in the late 1980s, Potter worked on a number of projects independently with artists like country icon Kenny Roger, multi-genre singers the Pointer Sisters, and famed keyboardist George Duke. He is survived by his wife Karen, with whom he was married for 55 years, his stepdaughter, Mary Shirley, and his daughter, Courtney.