"Long Black Veil" co-writer dead at 86

Marijohn Wilkin, who began writing songs in the 1950s, died at her Nashville home after suffering from heart problems. Wilkin wrote the country standard "Long Black Veil" (with Danny Dill), "Cut Across Shorty," "Waterloo," and, following a religious conversion in the 1970s, the gospel favorite "One Day at a Time" with Kris Kristofferson. Wilkin's songs have been performed by Johnny Cash, the Beatles, the Band, Patsy Cline, Rod Stewart, Joan Baez, Bruce Springsteen, and the Chieftains. Wilkins also performed as a back-up singer and founded Buckhorn Music where Kristofferson began as a songwriter in 1965. She was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1975 and earned three BMI/Country Awards, a 2005 SOURCE Foundation Award, and a Gospel Music Association Dove Award. Wilkins was 86.

Sources: Reuters, Nashville Songwriters Foundation, Music News Nashville