Nat Stuckey (December 17, 1933^[1], Cass County, Texas – August 24, 1988) was an American identified with many aspects of entertainment: he was a radio announcer, writer and voice of many radio and television commercials, singer, songwriter, music publisher, record producer and actor. He was a very talented man, but most of all, he is to be remembered as a good man. He loved God, his family and many friends.

Raised in Atlanta, Texas, in Cass County, Nat attended Arlington University when it was a sister school to Texas A & M, where he received a degree in communications. He graduated at the top of his class as Commander of the Corps.

Nat established himself as a radio announcer, first at Radio Station KALT in Atlanta, Texas, then at Radio Station KWKH in Shreveport, Louisiana. While at KWKH, Nat became a member of the famed Louisiana Hayride and the last major act with beginning roots from the Hayride.

He became a hit songwriter after he co-wrote Buck Owens' No. 1 record, "Waitin' In Your Welfare Line" in 1965. Following this smash, Nat wrote and recorded "Sweet Thang" on Paula Records, which started a new career direction for him. Shortly after Nat's recording, Ernest Tubb and Loretta Lynn made it a duet on Decca Records and took it to No. 1 in Billboard.

Another of Nat's compositions, "Pop A Top", was recorded by Jim Ed Brown on RCA Records in 1967. Through the efforts of Jim Ed and Bobby Bare, Nat was brought to the attention of Chet Atkins, then vice-president of RCA Records in Nashville. Nat signed a recording contract with RCA Records in 1968.

With the direction of Felton Jarvis, and later Jerry Bradley, Nat recorded many songs that climbed to the top of the country charts. While on RCA Records, Nat had seven records in the Top 10, and six in the Top 20, such as "Plastic Saddle", "Cut Across Shorty", "She Wakes Me With a Kiss Every Morning", "Take Time To Love Her", and many more.

Nat teamed with Connie Smith on the duet of "Young Love", followed by another single and two albums. The duo was in the final nominations for a Grammy for their version of "Whispering Hope".

After seven years with RCA, Nat signed with MCA Records. With Conway Twitty and David Barnes producing, Nat's first release, "Sun Comin' Up", was a great success. But despite Nat's talent and the best of production work, Nat was not immune to company changes and left MCA Records.

Two years with Kristal, International Records, Wayne Hodge producing, resulted in great country recordings, but the industry was changing, and Nat opted out.

Nat was afforded the opportunity to record many songs outside country music because of his smooth baritone voice, "Lucky Ole Sun" and "The Guy's In Love With You", but he always came back to country roots with "Buddy, I Lied", "Don't Pay the Ransom", and "Only a Woman Like You", songs exemplifying real life.

Nat found another career direction in producing sessions, along with announcing and singing jingles on hundreds of regional and national commercials. He wrote two jingles for Coca Cola in the l970's, recorded twenty-two spots of McDonald's, and was the singing voice on the last Spuds MacKenzie Budweiser commercial. If you thought you recognized the voice, you did.

Another project was the ownership of Music Row Talent, Inc., a booking agency in Nashville, which was in business for twelve years. Through his Texas Promise Land Development Company, Nat began acquiring land in Tennessee and Texas.

Nat enjoyed the basic male hobbies. He rode motorcycles; he had owned two Hondas and a Harley Davidson (the one on the cover of the RCA album "New Country Roads"). He was a bass fisherman, who attended by invitation at least four Bass Master Tournaments. He loved construction and did most of the interior finishing work on his home on Center Hill Lake at Temperance Hall, Tennessee. His love of animals was unending, owning many dogs in his lifetime: Baron, Sweet Thang, Coco, Tex, Misty Rose Ellen, Bubba, Bear and Bess. Nat was often allowed to assist in surgery with his business partner, a veterinarian. And, Nat was a master at telling jokes and making up story songs.

After moving from Brentwood, TN to Center Hill Lake, Nat had decided to slow down touring to concentrate on writing, making commercials and his next venture of a woodworking business, designing and making furniture. Too late was the discovery of cancer and two months from diagnosis, Nat died on August 24, 1988, at the young age of 54. His ashes were scattered over the lake.

Nat's legacy continues with the revival of the songs he wrote. "Pop A Top" was recorded by Alan Jackson in 1999, and was the first release on his "Under the Influence" cd. Even though the release did not go to No. 1 in Billboard, it had so many plays that once again the publisher, Sony ATV Publishing and Nat were awarded another Broadcast Music, Inc. award, plus a spcial citation for the song having received over two million plays. "Pop A Top" has been included in five other cds by Alan, plus in a video presentation.

Shortly before Nat's death, Randy Travis released "Diggin' Up Bones". Nat was a writer of the music for this song. This song has been released on at least five cds by Randy and continues to be a signature song for Randy.

There is another recording of "Sweet Thang" by Loretta Lynn, which includes Alan Jackson as her singing partner. While not released to the public, this recording has been played on Internet radio.

Memorabilia from Nat's life and career is held in archives of the Country Music Foundation, Nashville, Tennessee; on display in the Municipal Auditorium, Shreveport, Louisiana; Rebel State Park, near Zwolle, Louisiana; and, the Texas Country Music Museum, Carthage, Texas, where Nat was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame.