Country music legend TOMMY CRAIN has passed away at the age of 59.
Crain, who found fame as a guitarist and songwriter for the Charlie Daniels Band, died last Thursday (13Jan11) at his home in Williamson County, Tennessee, just three days before his 60th birthday.
He co-wrote several of the group's hits, including In America, The Legend of Wooley Swamp and Grammy-winning The Devil Went Down to Georgia.
Crain left the band in 1989 after 14 years and went on to form Tommy Crain & the Crosstown Allstars of Atlanta, of which he was still a member at the time of his death.
His former bandmate Daniels has paid tribute to his pal in a heartfelt statement, which reads, "Tommy Crain will always be a part of the CDB family and his music will always be a part of the CDB sound. We have lost a good friend, and the world has lost a unique, creative and precious human being."