Mark McGuinn, the country music singer best known for the 2001 track "Mrs. Steven Rudy," has died. He was 58.
According to an online obituary, the Greensboro, North Carolina, native died Oct. 26.
McGuinn's music career started as a member of his high school's jazz band. A move to Nashville and an opportunity to jump on a demo session at the last minute led the singer to his first record deal with independent label VFR Records, according to the obituary.
He released his debut single, "Mrs. Steven Rudy," in 2001, going on to be a Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. The cheeky track about having a crush on a married woman marked the first Billboard Top 10 country hit by a new indie-label artist in more than 40 years, per his obituary.
At the time of the song's release, CMT called McGuinn a "dark horse" due to his unconventional background in jazz and "beatnik coffeehouse" image. Still, McGuinn's self-titled debut album became a Top 20 Billboard country album, while follow-up singles "That's a Plan" and "She Doesn't Dance" became Top 40 country singles.
The label shut down the following year. McGuinn released his second and final album, "One Man's Crazy" (2006), on a label he founded with writing partner Jim Foster.
McGuinn also released "More Beautiful Today," a Sept. 11 tribute track initially not meant for radio, and cowrote "Unusually Unusual," a 2002 Lonestar track that peaked in the Top 20 on the country charts.
McGuinn's loved ones said he was known for "his kindness, creativity, easygoing nature, and seemingly unlimited capacity for love and acceptance." But "above all his accomplishments, his greatest legacy will always be his children."
McGuinn is survived by his wife, Dr. Stacey M. McGuinn, and children Ella Rose McGuinn and Charles Philip McGuinn.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Mrs. Steven Rudy' country singer Mark McGuinn dies at 58
