Todd Daniel Snider, the influential alt-country singer-songwriter whose wit and storytelling helped define the Americana music movement, died on Friday, November 14, at the age of 59. His death was announced Saturday through his official social media accounts and confirmed by his record label, Aimless Inc.

The cause of death was pneumonia, according to Snider’s representative. His family had shared on Friday that he had recently been hospitalized with the condition at a facility in Hendersonville, Tennessee. After returning home to recover the previous week, Snider began having trouble breathing and was readmitted to the hospital, where doctors diagnosed him with walking pneumonia that had gone undetected.

“Aimless, Inc. Headquarters is heartbroken to share that our Founder, our Folk Hero, our Poet of the World, our Vice President of the Abrupt Change Dept., the Storyteller, our beloved Todd Daniel Snider, has departed this world,” read a statement posted on his official Facebook page.

Born in Portland, Oregon, Snider moved to northern California after high school before drifting to Texas during the 1980s. There he encountered Jerry Jeff Walker, who became a crucial mentor in his musical development. By the 1990s, Snider had relocated to Nashville, where he emerged as a defining figure in the city’s gritty East Nashville scene.

Snider’s debut album “Songs for the Daily Planet” was released in 1994 after he was discovered by Jimmy Buffett, who signed him to his label. The album featured fan favorites like “Alright Guy,” which showcased Snider’s self-deprecating humor and candid lyricism. His music blended folk, country, rock, and blues influences while chronicling everyday life with both humor and compassion.

His 2004 release “East Nashville Skyline,” reports indicate, remains a cornerstone of the alt-country catalog and helped shape the sound of modern Americana music. The album was released through John Prine’s independent label Oh Boy Records, one of several albums Snider produced for the legendary songwriter’s imprint.

Throughout his career, Snider studied and learned from songwriting giants who became both mentors and friends. “He got up every morning and started writing, always working towards finding his place among the songwriting giants that sat on his record shelves, those same giants who let him into their lives and took him under their wings, who he studied relentlessly. Guy Clark, John Prine, Kris Kristofferson, Jerry Jeff Walker,” the statement from his label continued.

In 2008, Snider founded his own record label, Aimless Records, which gave him creative independence for his later releases. His most recent album, “High Lonesome and Then Some,” was released in October and featured songs that reflected on loss, friendship, and the passage of time. The album was intended to be supported by an extensive tour.

However, Snider’s tour was cancelled in early November after he reported being the victim of a violent assault outside his hotel in Salt Lake City on November 3. Following the incident, while in the hospital being treated, he was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, trespassing, and threat of violence. According to some reports, police found no record of the assault Snider had described in his tour cancellation statement.

Snider had been open throughout his career about the chronic pain he endured due to spinal stenosis, a condition affecting the spine. The physical demands of touring and performing took their toll over the years, yet he remained dedicated to his craft and his connection with audiences.

His influence extended beyond his own recordings. Snider wrote songs that were performed by a diverse range of artists, and his witty, poignant style influenced a generation of Americana musicians. He was known among peers as much for his storytelling ability on stage as for his songwriting, entertaining crowds with long anecdotes and observations about life on the road.

Snider’s music often explored themes of personal struggle, humor in adversity, and the search for meaning in everyday moments. His work resonated with audiences who appreciated his honest approach to songwriting and his refusal to present a polished, perfect image. Instead, he embraced vulnerability and imperfection as essential elements of authentic artistry.

The singer-songwriter’s legacy in American roots music is significant, with “East Nashville Skyline” and his debut album considered essential listening for fans of alt-country and Americana. His ability to blend humor with poignancy, and his commitment to honest storytelling, set him apart in a genre that values authenticity above commercial appeal.

Snider’s final album represented a culmination of decades spent honing his craft and studying the masters who came before him. His dedication to songwriting remained constant throughout his life, as he continued to write and record even while facing health challenges and personal struggles.

The alt-country community has lost one of its most distinctive voices, a musician who helped define what Americana music could be in the modern era. Snider’s work will continue to influence and inspire artists who value wit, honesty, and craftsmanship in their songwriting.