Garth Brooks Honors ‘Unanswered Prayers’ Songwriter Larry Bastian, Who Has Passed Away at 90
Larry Bastian, a country songwriter renowned for “Unanswered Prayers,” has passed away at the age of 90.
According to a Facebook post shared by his son Nick, Bastian died on Sunday, April 6. “The Lord called Dad home last night,” Nick wrote. “He taught us gun safety from a young age, along with hunting and fishing. He allowed us to embrace our childhood, which seems to be fading these days.”
Nick also expressed gratitude for his father’s lessons in parenting. “I took my sons to work with me and raised them as free-range country kids, just as he did with us. Now they’re doing the same. I love you, Dad. Please give Chris a big hug and tell him I love him. I hope to see you both soon.” Garth Brooks, who performed the song in 1990 from his album No Fences, paid tribute to Bastian. “This was a great man—a cowboy, a poet, and a true friend,” Brooks, 63, shared in a statement. “I was fortunate enough to be taken in by him as a student when I first moved to Nashville.”
Brooks added, “I love Larry Bastian.”
Bastian was born on September 1, 1934, in Porterville, California, into a farming family. Before launching his career as a songwriter in the early ’70s, he spent 15 years in the Department of Agriculture for Kern and Tulare Counties.
He was known for several songs, including “Rodeo,” “The Girl Who Has Everything,” “Somebody Knew,” “Saturday Night Special,” and “Forever’s Here to Stay.” Together with Brooks, Bastian wrote for various artists, including Tammy Wynette, Conway Twitty, Reba McEntire, Rhett Akins, Tracy Byrd, and Sammy Kershaw.
Perhaps Bastian’s most famous song is “Unanswered Prayers,” performed by Brooks. In the CD booklet for his compilation album The Hits, Brooks recounts the song’s development: “[Songwriter] Pat Alger and I spent considerable time on this song, struggling without a hook or guiding line.” They eventually shared it with Bastian, who suggested the title, noting, “Oh, that’s simple. This song should be called ‘Unanswered Prayers’ because some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.”
Brooks reflected on the song’s significance, stating, “This is probably the truest song I have ever been involved with as a writer. This occurred in my life and my wife’s when we returned home to Oklahoma. Each time I sing this song, it reminds me that happiness isn’t about getting what you want; it’s about wanting what you already have.”
Although Bastian was not nominated for any Grammy Awards, his songwriting contributions resulted in credits for 68 platinum albums.
