05/01/2026
The "King of Outlaw Country" has passed, and regardless of what anyone thinks of the man, his impact is undeniable. He deserves his place in the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Nashville Songwriters HOF. He defied the odds, did the unthinkable, and at times was his own toughest opponent but from start to finish, he did things his way.
My journey with him started when I was just a 19-year-old kid, wide-eyed and ready to learn the business. He and my father had worked together back in the 70s at CBS Records, a bond that followed us through my childhood in Nashville during the 80s.
In 98’, I "cut my teeth" on a project called Songwriter of the Tear, a collection of previous songs that I curated under the Cleveland International umbrella. I was 21, a total greenhorn, when I produced my first album: Biketoberfest: Live From the Iron Horse Saloon. Watching that record gain critical acclaim opened the floodgates for more collaborations, from the spoken word Whoopsy Daisy to his early Pete Drake demos, For the Soul and For the Mind all in thanks to Rose Drake. From being credited on the Rebel Meets Rebel project with Pantera to watching him tour with Kid Rock, it was a wild, unforgettable ride.
There is one story that defines the man and our bond.
Years ago, my father (Pop Sr.) had just won a legal battle with Sony on an unrelated matter. In the process, he discovered through David thy he hadn't received any royalty statements or payments in years, despite selling millions of records. When my father called the royalty department to advocate for his friend, they found one account sitting with $240,000 in it, flagged with a note, “Do not send payment." They hadn’t realized he was out of bankruptcy.
Once the money was released(thanks to Kaye Smith for making happen), he asked my father what he wanted for his help. My dad simply said, "That’s your money. I don’t want anything for helping a friend." That moment of integrity is what birthed Coe-Pop Records. He respected that. In this business, loyalty isn't given, it’s earned through doing what's right when no one is looking.
I could go on forever, but today I just want to give credit where due. He was a "one of one." His career remained relevant for over six decades, a true unicorn in a world of clones. I’ll cherish the memories, the good, the bad, and the legendary.
Thank you for the music, the songs, and for the courage to always be YOU, whether the world accepted it or not.
To Miss Kim: your unwavering love and honor for him will always stay with me. To his family and his fans, you have my deepest condolences.
Rest easy, David Allan Coe. Love, Pop Jr
