July 26, 2010

By By Tom Ferguson, London

Songwriter Margaret Ann Rich, widow of country star Charlie Rich, has died aged 76 following a battle with Alzheimer's disease.

Margaret Ann Rich, who died at home in Memphis, TN, on July 22, was a founding member of the Memphis branch of NARAS and a member of the Screen Actors Guild.

Several of her songs were recorded by other artists, including her best-known composition, "Life's Little Ups and Downs," which made No. 4 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart in January 1991 when recorded by Ricky van Shelton (Columbia). The song was originally published as "Life Has Its Little Ups and Downs" and published by Make A Million/BMI. Other artists to record her songs included Kris Kristofferson & Rita Coolidge ("A Part of Your Life") and Tom Jones ("Field of Yellow Yellow Daisies").

Charlie Rich recorded several of his wife's songs, including "A Sunday Kind of Woman" and "Nothing In the World," which featured on his platinum-selling album "Behind Closed Doors" (Epic, 1973). The couple were married in 1952; Charlie Rich died in 1995.

Margaret Ann Rich is survived by her son Charlie Rich Jr. and daughter Laurie Rich. A funeral is due to take place today (June 26) in Memphis.

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