David Allan Coe A Matter Of Life, plus (CD)

DAVID ALLAN COE

David Allan Coe
6. September 1939 – 29. April 2026

Outlaw, myth, and one of country music’s most uncompromising voices

David Allan Coe, born September 6, 1939 in Akron, Ohio, and who passed away on April 29, 2026 at the age of 86, was one of the most complex and defining figures in country music.

While many 1970s country artists aligned themselves with the outlaw movement as a stylistic choice, Coe lived it. He was not an image-driven outsider—he was one.

Much of his early life was spent in reform schools and prisons, where he developed his passion for music. After his release in 1967, he began performing in clubs before moving to Nashville in 1968.

His best-known songs include “You Never Even Called Me by My Name,” “The Ride,” and “Longhaired Redneck.” As a songwriter, he penned major hits such as “Would You Lay With Me (In a Field of Stone)” and “Take This Job and Shove It.”

For Bear Family Records, the focus has never been the myth—but the body of work. Carefully curated reissues made his music accessible in full depth.

With his passing, country music loses a true outlaw. His work endures.