Nashville folk singer-songwriter Todd Snider has died. He was 59.
According to posts on Snider’s social media accounts, it was determined this week that the singer was “suffering from an undiagnosed case of walking pneumonia,” and ultimately died on Friday.
“Where do we find the words for the one who always had the right words, who knew how to distill everything down to its essence with words and song while delivering the most devastating, hilarious, and impactful turn of phrases?” reads a post shared on Snider’s Facebook page. “He relayed so much tenderness and sensitivity through his songs, and showed many of us how to look at the world through a different lens.”
Snider grew up on the West Coast and spent a portion of his career in Texas before settling in Nashville. He was a prolific artist, and albums like 2004’s East Nashville Skyline — released by John Prine’s Oh Boy Records — were foundational modern Americana efforts. Snider’s work was often reminiscent of his heroes, fellow folk storytellers Prine, Guy Clark and Jerry Jeff Walker, but characterized by his own distinct voice: conversational, irreverent and frequently funny. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Snider was known for regularly livestreaming performances from his studio space The Purple Building in East Nashville's Five Points neighborhood.
"I always thought the job of the folksinger was to share their opinion, then handle what people said about it,” Snider told writer Jewly Hight for a 2012 Scene cover story. “You go out, you say what you think, and people can throw shit or cheer. Sometimes I have shows where everyone's cheering and everyone's saying, 'I agree, I agree.' Then I try to get back out to the car after the gig, and there's that guy or that other guy that don't. And I try not to be a dick to them. That seems like my job. I try to say, 'OK, OK. I hear you. Don't hit me.’"
As noted by Rolling Stone's Joseph Hudak, Snider suffered from debilitating health issues and frequent struggles with drug addiction. As recently as last month, the singer told RS, "I wouldn't say I'm better, and I don't think I'm going to get better."
"We love you Todd," reads a post shared Saturday morning on Snider's social media accounts. "Sail on old friend, we’ll see you again out there on the road somewhere down the line. You will always be a force of nature."
