Stephen Dorff and Andrew Dorff in 2002. Credit: Sylvain Gaboury/FilmMagic
From Ed Skibbe on Facebook: Still shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of Andrew Dorff. What a talented and sweet man and one of my favorite cowriters ever. Love and peace to Steve and his family.
Country songwriter Andrew Dorff, who wrote several No. 1 hits for artists such as Blake Shelton and Kenny Chesney, died on Monday, December 19. He was 40.
“It is with immeasurable grief that we learn of the passing of our friend Andrew Dorff,” Lee Thomas Miller, president of Nashville Songwriters Association International, wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday, December 20. “Our songwriting community is small and close and this loss will hurt us all deeply. Andrew was a good man and a good friend. He was an elite songwriter at the peak of his life and career. Our sincerest prayers go out to his family. May we all hug each other a little tighter this week and remember that life is fragile. Rest in peace Andrew.”
A cause of death has yet to be released.
Born in Los Angeles, Dorff (who was the son of famed songwriter-composer Steve Dorff and brother of actor Stephen Dorff) moved to Nashville in 2003 and signed with Universal Music Publishing Group. In 2008, he hit the Billboard country charts with his first top 10 single, Martina McBride’s “Ride.” He later penned several chart-topping singles, including Shelton’s “My Eyes” and “Neon Light,” Chesney’s “Save It for a Rainy Day” and Hunter Hayes’ “Somebody’s Heartbreak,” which was Dorff’s first No. 1 hit.
Several country singers took to social media after the news of Dorff’s passing broke. Shelton, 40, wrote on Twitter: “Sad to be finding out about Andrew Dorff passing away… Terrible tragedy. Prayers to his family.”
McBride, 50, tweeted: “So very sad to hear about @endorffin Thanks for caring enough to write with me and for ‘Ride’ #shinewhileyouhavethechancetoshine #sweetsoul.”
By Nicholas Hautman
# # #
Songwriter Andrew Dorff dies; country music world mourns
Nashville’s country music community is mourning the death of a songwriter behind several top hits.
Andrew Dorff, 40, has died, according to the Nashville Songwriters Association International.
As a writer for Universal Music Publishing Group Nashville, he co-wrote the No. 1 hits “My Eyes” and “Neon Light” by Blake Shelton, Kenny Chesney’s “Save it for a Rainy Day” and Hunter Hayes’ “Somebody’s Heartbreak.”
He’s the brother of Hollywood actor Stephen Dorff and son of songwriter Steve Dorff.
“Our songwriting community is small and close and this loss will hurt us all deeply. Andrew was a good man and a good friend. He was an elite songwriter at the peak of his life and career,” the industry group wrote on Facebook.
Country music stars from Martina McBride to Dan + Shay expressed their sadness on social media.
According to the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner database, Dorff died Monday. On Tuesday morning, a spokesman at the medical examiner’s office said they were unable to release any other information because the investigation was still ongoing.
“The BMI family is incredibly shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of songwriter Andrew Dorff,” said Jody Williams, vice president of writer publisher relations at BMI Nashville. “The Nashville music business community will miss his kind and generous spirit, his unparalleled talent, and his gift of friendship. BMI was so fortunate to be a part of his career from the very beginning. Whether swinging by our office for a quick meeting or receiving an award at our annual dinner, Andrew’s presence was always a welcome one in the room. He will be sorely missed by our entire staff.”
More details about Dorff’s death were unavailable. Check back at http://www.Tennessean.com for updates.
Mike Reicher and Juli Thanki , The Tennessean
Other Notable Musicians’ Deaths…
December 2016
21: Abdul Gafur Hali, 87, Bangladeshi singer, composer and lyricist; Sam Leach, 81, British concert promoter and talent agent (The Beatles); Betty Loo Taylor, 87, American jazz pianist.
19: Andrew Dorff, 40, American songwriter (“My Eyes”, “Save It for a Rainy Day”, “Somebody’s Heartbreak”).
18: Léo Marjane, 104, French singer; Gustavo Quintero, 76, Colombian singer-songwriter; Gordie Tapp, 94, Canadian country singer and entertainer (Hee Haw).
15: Fran Jeffries, 79, American actress, singer and dancer (The Pink Panther); Bohdan Smolen, 69, Polish comedian, singer and actor; Ajit Varman, 69, Indian composer.
14: Karel Husa, 95, Czech-born American composer; Arnie Norse, 91, Norwegian singer and entertainer; Päivi Paunu, 70, Finnish singer, cancer; Bunny Walters, 63, New Zealand singer (“Brandy”).
13: Ahuva Ozeri, 68, Israeli singer, laryngeal cancer; Betsy Pecanins, 62, American-born Mexican singer, songwriter and record producer, stroke; Alan Thicke, 69, Canadian actor (Growing Pains, Not Quite Human), talk show host (The Alan Thicke Show), and songwriter, ruptured aorta (same thing that killed John Ritter).