Abe Stoklasa

On November 17, 2023, multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter Abe Stoklasa passed away at the age of 36. A beloved figure in the Nashville songwriting community, his catalog of hits includes Chris Lane’s “Fix,” Michael Ray’s “Get To You,” Lady A’s “Ocean," Ben Rector’s “Brand New” and others for the likes of Tim McGraw, Charlie Worsham, Scotty McCreery, and Blake Shelton. 

Hailing from Princeton, Missouri, his love for music spawned early on as he began playing in his father’s band at the age of 6 and joined several local bands throughout his childhood. When he was a teenager, his family moved to Nashville where Stoklasa set his sights on a career in the music industry. He enrolled in Belmont University's Music Business program, graduated in 2009 and became a touring musician for artists like David Nail and Billy Currington. 

In 2013, he retired from the road, focusing full-time on his songwriting and garnered several cuts in the years that followed. Stoklasa also heavily contributed to Lady A singer Charles Kelley's 2016 solo album, The Driver, co-writing the song, "Leaving Nashville" and others.