Elvis Presley songwriter who penned Suspicious Minds dies as family issues statement

Mark James, the creative genius behind Elvis Presley’s iconic hit Suspicious Minds and co-writer of Always on My Mind, has passed away at 83. The Grammy-winning artist, who was recognized with an induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2014, breathed his last in Nashville on June 8. His family issued a heartfelt statement: “Mark’s legacy and zest for life will live on in the hearts of those who loved him, and through his timeless lyrics and melodies that have been the soundtrack of lovers for generations.”

The statement further read: “He was a captivating storyteller who had the sweetest smile, the most infectious laugh and a twinkle in his eye that never dimmed.” While Mark is most renowned for penning Suspicious Minds, he initially released the song in 1968 to jumpstart his own music career. However, it wasn’t until the late King of Rock and Roll catapulted it to the top of the charts that it gained popularity.

In a 2012 conversation with the Wall Street Journal, Mark revealed the touching story behind the emotional lyrics of the song: “Late one night, fooling around on my Fender guitar and using my Hammond organ pedals for a bass line, I came up with a catchy melody. I was married to my first wife then but still had feelings for my childhood sweetheart, who was married back in Houston.”
“My wife suspected I had those feelings, so it was a confusing time for me. I felt as though all three of us were all caught in this trap that we couldn’t walk out of.”

The last chart-topping single of Elvis Presley on the Billboard Hot 100 was recognized by this iconic tune. To celebrate its everlasting legacy, the tune was proudly inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. Mark, the songwriter, fondly recalls how the ‘Hound Dog’ superstar would always ask about his latest songs. Reminiscing, he spoke of how “In the years that followed, whenever I saw Elvis, he’d cross the room just to say hello to me no matter who was with him. After he died, I heard he’d always asked the guys in the studio, ‘Did Mark send me any more songs? ‘ Golly, I wish I had known that.”

Originally born as Francis Zambon, Mark underwent a name change after it was advised his real name might not fare well within the music industry. Among other notable accomplishments, Mark is credited with writing The Eyes Of A New York Woman and Hooked On A Feeling for BJ Thomas’ album On My Way, with Thomas being immortalized for his timeless masterpiece Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head.