Grammy-winning country music legend Jerry Kennedy, a renowned Nashville producer, songwriter and guitarist who worked with iconic artists such as Elvis Presley, Tammy Wynette and Roy Orbison, died on Wednesday February 11 at the age of 85. The news was confirmed by his son, Gordon, also a Grammy-winning songwriter and producer, who said his father passed away after being diagnosed with congestive heart failure.

Posting a throwback photo of his father on Instagram, he wrote: "The musician sits on one side of the glass. The producer sits on the other. My father sat on both in this world. Scripture tells us we only see through a smoky glass this side of heaven. I imagine my father sitting on this side and last Wednesday, hearing a voice on the other side saying 'come on in and listen.'" Jerry signed his first recording contract at age 11 and spent his career shaping the sound of country music and playing on hit songs. He also co-wrote the Grammy-winning Eric Clapton single Change the World in 1996.

Following his post, Gordon told The New York Times his father died after being diagnosed with congestive heart failure.

He later confirmed to The Tennessean that Jerry had spent a few weeks in a Franklin comfort care facility before his death. He told the publication someone had approached him at a funeral home, offering to make him a piece of jewellery with his father’s fingerprint to ensure his legacy would be preserved.

He told them: "You just have to turn on the radio and you'll hear his fingerprints everywhere and they'll be there forever. We've got them in a much more significant way than a necklace. You can hear his fingerprints."

Throughout his decades-long career, Jerry won four Grammy Awards. He was one of the session musicians used by Bob Dylan in recording his classic album, Blonde on Blonde, in 1966. He also featured on the albums of artists as diverse as Kris Kristofferson and Ringo Starr. He played on or produced nearly all of the country music records of Jerry Lee Lewis.

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Tributes flooded in for the star as the news broke. "Sad Day, Jerry Glenn Kennedy's legacy as a session musician, songwriter, and record producer will live on through the music he created." one person wrote on Facebook. "Prayers blessing comfort for all So Sorry for this Great loss Thanks for Sharing your Journey with Us all and a lifetime of Great Moments Memories and Country Music," another added.

A third chimed in: "It hurts. We lose legends almost every single day. Yes it's inevitable-we all have an expiration date. But these industry shoes just can't be filled. Then what?" A fourth opined: "This is a huge loss for the Nashville music community, and all who knew him. God speed."

A fifth shared: "His records, ie his productions, had a sound. Listen to Tom T. Hall, the Statler Brothers, Dave Dudley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Rodriguez, all those Mercury Records recordings, had the "Jerry Kennedy Sound." He left his mark on the records, and they were better for it."

Meanwhile a sixth penned: "I'm so sorry to hear this news. Jerry was always so great to me and was a great song guy. I wish the Hall of Fame would have him inducted before his passing because he certainly deserves to be there."