David Allan Coe, the country singer-songwriter best known for writing the iconic song "Take This Job and Shove It" and his own hits like "You Never Even Called Me By My Name" and "The Ride," has passed away at the age of 86.
Passing Confirmed by Family
Coe died on Wednesday, as confirmed by Rolling Stone and PEOPLE. A cause of death was not immediately known. His wife, Kimberly Hastings Coe, told Rolling Stone that Coe was one of the best singer-songwriters of our time. "My husband, my friend, my confidant and my life for many years. I'll never forget him and I don't want anyone else to ever forget him either," Hastings Coe said.
A family spokesperson told PEOPLE, "David was a country music treasure and loved his fans. Most importantly, he was a true outlaw and a great singer, songwriter, and performer."
Obscene Lyrics and Sketchy Past
While considered an outlaw or outsider in the established Nashville music scene, Coe developed a following as a singer-songwriter, known for his raw, obscene lyrics and sketchy past. Born in Akron, Ohio in 1939, at age 9 Coe was sent to reform school and spent time in prison from 1963 to 1967 for possession of burglary tools. Coe claimed he also spent time with the Outlaws motorcycle club, although stories about his prison time and personal life have been exaggerated over the years.
One thing Coe maintained is that music kept him thriving. "I'd have never made it through prison without my music," he said in a 1983 interview with The Associated Press. "No one could take it (music) away from me. They could put me in the hole with nothing to do but I could still make up a song in my head."
His Life in Country Music
Throughout the years, Coe toured with Willie Nelson, Kid Rock, and Neil Young, among others. He wrote the 1977 Johnny Paycheck hit "Take This Job and Shove It" and the 1974 Tanya Tucker song "Would You Lay With Me (in a Field of Stone)." Coe was also the first country singer to record "Tennessee Whiskey," written by Dean Dillon and Linda Hargrove.
Some of his own hit songs include "You Never Even Call Me by My Name," "The Ride," and "Mona Lisa Lost Her Smile." The singer even appeared on the silver screen in a number of films, including "Stagecoach" and "Take This Job and Shove It," named after his well-known tune.
While in prison, Coe wrote and recorded his first album, a blues LP entitled "Penitentiary Blues." He next recorded for Columbia Records and produced his first country album, "The Mysterious Rhinestone Cowboy." In 1976, Coe released "Longhaired Redneck," which featured lyrics about performing in dive bars. He was also featured in "Heartworn Highways," a documentary about the outlaw country movement, in which he performs a concert at a Tennessee prison.
Coe released two albums that were criticized for racist, homophobic, and sexually explicit lyrics: 1978's "Nothing Sacred" and 1982's "Underground Album," both of which were sold through biker magazines. In total, he released 40 studio albums, per People. His last record, "Rebel Meets Rebel," was released in 2006 and was a collaboration with Dimebag Darrell and ex-members of Pantera.
Personal Life and Tax Issues
Outside of the music world, Coe was married six times. He also claimed to be a Mormon polygamist for a time in the 1980s, PEOPLE reported. He married his sixth wife, Kimberly Hastings, in 2010. With ex-wife Jody Lynn Coe, he had four children: Tyler, Tanya, Shyanne, and Carson. He also had a daughter named Shelli. Two of his children followed their father into the music realm. Tanya became a musician, and Tyler hosted a country music podcast and acted as Coe's band leader until 2013.
In 2015, Coe pleaded guilty to obstructing the IRS from collecting taxes. He was ordered to pay the IRS more than $980,000 in restitution and was sentenced to three years probation. In a September 2021 Facebook post, his wife said Coe was hospitalized with COVID-19, and he made few appearances since then.
David Allan Coe leaves behind a legacy as a true outlaw of country music, remembered for his distinctive voice, provocative lyrics, and enduring contributions to the genre.
