Donnie Fritts, a talented musician, began his career at the tender age of 15, showcasing his skills on drums and keyboards.
In 1965, Fritts' creative journey took a significant turn as he started writing songs, which were later recorded by renowned artists such as Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis, Willie Nelson, and others.
As a songwriter, Donnie's compositions earned significant recognition, with several of his songs appearing on national charts. Charlie Rich's hit single "You're Gonna Love Yourself In the Morning" (1980),Dolly Parton's "We Had It All" (1986),and Waylon Jennings' "We Had It All" (1973) are just a few examples of his successful songwriting endeavors.
In 1967, Fritts began a long-standing collaboration with Kris Kristofferson, playing keyboards for the country music legend. This partnership, which spanned 20 years, took them to various locations across the nation and internationally.
Donnie's association with Kristofferson also led to appearances in several films, including "The Last Years of Frank and Jesse James" (1986-TV),"Songwriter" (1984),"Convoy" (1978),"A Star is Born" (1976),and two other Sam Peckinpah-directed movies: "Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid" (1973) and "Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia" (1974).
In 1998, Fritts released his album "Everybody's Got A Song," featuring guest appearances by Willie Nelson, Tony Joe White, Kris Kristofferson, John Prine, and many others.
Tragedy struck in 2001 when Fritts underwent seven heart operations, followed by a kidney transplant in the same year.
While recovering in the hospital, a friend asked about his well-being, to which Fritts responded, "I've got one foot in the groove." This phrase later became the title of a CD released in 2008.
On February 22, 2008, Kris Kristofferson was on hand to induct Donnie Fritts into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in Montgomery, Alabama.
In the same year, Fritts, still active in the Muscle Shoals music scene, joined Billy Bob Thornton for "The Billy Bob Bash: A Muscle Shoals Homecoming" at the Shoals Theatre in downtown Florence, Alabama, as part of the George Lindsey UNA Film Festival. Additionally, Fritts and Thornton began co-writing new songs in 2008.
