Elbert West

Elbert West
Birth name	Elbert Lee West
Born	July 15, 1967
Died	May 18, 2015 (aged 47)
Genres	Country
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1991–2003
Labels	Broken Bow
Associated acts	Tracy Lawrence, John Michael Montgomery

Livin' the Life
Studio album by Elbert West
Released	2001
Genre	Country
Label	Broken Bow
Producer	D. Scott Miller

Elbert Lee West (July 15, 1967 – May 18, 2015) was an American country music artist. Initially a session songwriter in Nashville, Tennessee, West saw his first chart success in the 1990s as a co-writer on singles for country singer Tracy Lawrence, including the Number Ones "Sticks and Stones" and "Can't Break It to My Heart". West co-wrote album tracks for other artists, including tracks for Tim McGraw and John Michael Montgomery.

By 2001, West had signed to Broken Bow Records, then a newly formed independent label, and his debut album, Livin' the Life, was released that year. West co-wrote ten of the album's thirteen tracks, while others — including "(This One's Gonna) Leave a Mark", previously recorded by John Michael Montgomery — were co-written by Randy Archer and Johnny Park, formerly of the duo Archer/Park. "Diddley", which peaked at No. 56 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts, was the album's lead single and West's only single to chart. "Diddley" was also made into a music video, which aired on CMT. Erik Hage of Allmusic gave the album four stars out of five, saying, "West has a big, husky baritone, a keen songwriting ability, a defiant attitude, and is a major country talent."

West died on May 18, 2015, aged 47 (his age was initially misreported as 46), from undisclosed causes..

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