Dave Loggins, Singer of ’70s Hit ‘Please Come to Boston,’ Dies at 76

Dave Loggins, a singer-songwriter best known for his 1974 hit “Please Come to Boston,” passed away on Wednesday at Alive Hospice in Nashville. He was 76 years old. The cause of death has not been disclosed.

Loggins, a second cousin of pop star Kenny Loggins, is often categorized as a one-hit wonder due to his solo career. However, his success extends far beyond this label, particularly in the realm of songwriting for country artists.

One of his lesser-known but significant contributions is the theme song for the Augusta Masters Golf Tournament. Written in 1982, it holds the record for the longest-running sports theme in history, as noted in his obituary in the Tennessean.

Loggins’ talent was recognized formally when he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1995.

“Please Come to Boston,” a poignant song about a couple struggling with a long-distance relationship, became an anthem for lovers facing similar challenges. It topped the easy listening chart (now known as adult contemporary) and reached No. 5 on Billboard’s Hot 100. This success earned Loggins a Grammy nomination for best pop male vocal performance, one of four Grammy nods over his career.

During the 1970s, Loggins released five albums and 13 songs, mainly under Epic Records. Despite releasing numerous tracks, “Please Come to Boston” remained his only major solo hit.

In the 1980s, Loggins experienced a resurgence in popularity as a duet partner with Anne Murray on “Nobody Loves Me Like You Do,” a song initially featured on the CBS soap opera “As the World Turns.” Their collaboration hit No. 1 on Billboard’s country chart and reached No. 10 on the Hot Adult Contemporary chart.

The song’s success earned Murray and Loggins the 1985 CMA Award for Vocal Duo of the Year, making Loggins the only unsigned artist ever to win a CMA Award. The duo was also nominated for a Grammy for best country performance by a duo or group.

Over the years, numerous artists recorded Loggins’ songs, including Willie Nelson, Joan Baez, Ray Charles, Toby Keith, Reba McEntire, Alabama, Johnny Cash, and many others. Two of his compositions, Kenny Rogers’ “Morning Desire” and Juice Newton’s “You Make Me Want to Make You Mine,” reached No. 1 on the country charts.

His theme for the Augusta Masters Tournament, named “Augusta,” also features a generally unheard set of lyrics. Loggins recounted that he wrote the song after a memorable golfing experience at the site in 1981, eventually leading to its adoption for network use the following year.

In a 2019 interview with the Associated Press, Loggins described the inspiration behind the song. He said, “I stopped for a minute, looked up at the pine trees, and the wind down there was just different in some regards. Spiritually it was different. That course was just a piece of art. I looked over at some dogwoods and, man, I just started writing the song in my head which is what I do when I get inspired. I had the first verse before I even got off the course.”

In 2021, during an “All Things Vocal” podcast interview with Judy Rodman, Loggins reflected on his career and influences. Rodman described him as a “reclusive genius.” Loggins credited artists like Donovan for inspiring his finger-picking style. He shared the story of how he walked into Capitol Records in Nashville and asked if anyone listened to songs. His talent was recognized, and Jerry Crutchfield signed him to a publishing agreement at the age of 22. His debut album was released on the folk label Vanguard before he moved on to Epic Records.

Dave Loggins is survived by his three sons, Quinn, Kyle, and Dylan Loggins, as well as his grandson, Braxton Loggins.

At Loggins’ request, there will be no funeral service. Instead of flowers, donations may be made to Alive Hospice in Nashville.