Country music photographer Alan Mayor has died.

The 65-year-old passed away on Feb. 23 at a Clarksville, Tenn., nursing home, due to stroke-related dementia, according to The TennesseanHis health had begun to deteriorate last summer, after suffering a stroke in 2013 and receiving a liver transplant in 2007.

Mayor was among the country music industry's top photographers since the early 1970s. Born on Aug. 21, 1949, Mayor attended Austin Peay State University and graduated with degrees in theater, English and philosophy. He originally moved to Nashville to be a songwriter, but in 1973, he decided to focus on photography.

Mayor worked with numerous record labels and publications, shooting everything from Hank Williams, Jr., and Reba McEntire promotional pictures to nights at the Grand Ole Opry, and even Tim McGraw and Faith Hill's wedding. His work appeared in Music Row and The Tennessean, among others.

In 1999, Mayor released a book, The Nashville Family Album: A Country Music Scrapbook, featuring some of his best and favorite photographs, along with personal observations. Garth Brooks wrote the book's introduction; Mayor served as a principle photographer during Brooks' early career.

“Seeing Alan Mayor at an event brought a comfort to artists like few photographers could do. That speaks volumes for him as a human being,” Brooks tells Music Row. “Seeing unbelievable photos from an event you didn’t know Alan Mayor was at speaks volumes for him as a professional.”

Mayor is survived by his sister, Theresa Mayor Smith (Lee), and brother, Kenneth Albert Mayor. He left his photographs to his sister's children, who will use them to continue his legacy. A public memorial is being planned for a future date.

The Boot sends Mayor's family and friends our deepest condolences.

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