Dennis Linde, 63; songwriter wrote Elvis’ last hit, ‘Burning Love’

Dennis Linde, 63, a prolific songwriter who wrote Elvis Presley’s last major hit, “Burning Love,” died of a rare lung disease Friday at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, said his daughter, Lisa Marsden.

“Burning Love,” with its driving beat and “Just a hunk, a hunk of burning love” lyrics, reached No. 2 on the Billboard charts in 1972. Linde also wrote “Goodbye Earl,” a hit by the Dixie Chicks in 1999, and “Callin’ Baton Rouge,” a Garth Brooks hit in 1993.

Linde was born in Abilene, Texas, and became hooked on music after his grandmother gave him a $14 guitar.

Friends remember him as a man with a quick wit who blended quirky lyrics with up-tempo melodies.

“He could write country, blues, pop and rock ‘n’ roll. He could write it all,” music industry veteran Al Cooley told the Tennessean newspaper.

“Goodbye Earl,” a bouncy tune about the murder of an abusive husband, generated controversy for the Dixie Chicks. But Linde said in 2000 that he considered the song “a little story with lots of attitude. No message.... I thought I was writing a black comedy, like ‘Arsenic & Old Lace’ or ‘The Trouble With Harry.’ ”

His other songs included “It Sure Is Monday” recorded by Mark Chesnutt, “Janie Baker’s Love Slave” by Shenandoah, “John Deere Green” by Joe Diffie and “Queen of My Double-Wide Trailer” by Sammy Kershaw.

Linde was elected to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2001 and selected as BMI’s Songwriter of the Year in 1994.