Chronicles: Songwriter/producer Kyle Jacobs died Feb. 17 at his home in Nashville. He was 49. Jacobs was a staff writer Curb|Word Music Publishing, having signed in 2003. He co-wrote Garth Brooks’ “More Than A Memory” and co-producer Lee Brice’s Hard 2 Love album and single, “I Drive Your Truck,” which earned him a CMA and an ACM for Song Of The Year. Jacobs and Brice were frequent collaborators as co-writers and co-producers on each of Brice’s albums and accompanying singles. Jacobs’ songs have also been cut by Trace Adkins, Jo Dee Messina, Craig Morgan, Tim McGraw, Clay Walker, Kelly Clarkson, Scotty McCreery and his wife, Kellie Pickler. Jacobs and Pickler were engaged in 2010 and wed Jan. 1, 2011. The pair starred in the CMT reality series, I Love Kellie Pickler, from 2015-2017 and also joined the USO for seven holiday tours. “Kyle Jacobs was one of those amazing creative talents who understood all genres of music,” says Curb|Word Chairman Mike Curb. “Most importantly, Kyle was part of our Curb|Word family and an inspiration to all of us.” Adds Curb|Word VP/Country Publishing & Creative Colt Murski, “He was my best friend, my best man and my champion. I had the honor of working with him for [more than] 18 years and cherished every moment. He was an amazing musician, songwriter and producer ... He was a friend to so many people, and he touched so many lives around the world.” Service details are pending.

Retired Cumulus WKKO/Toledo morning host Gary Shores passed Feb. 19 at the age of 71 following a battle with kidney cancer. According to a memorial post from the station, Shores put WKKO on-air and branded it K-100 in Sept. 1981, serving as PD until 2018 (CAT 2/14/18). In 1994, Shores partnered with Harvey J. Steele for afternoons before segueing to mornings together in 2000. The duo of Shores & Steele won a CMA for Personality of the Year in 1995 and were on-air together for 23 years prior to Steele’s 2017 death. Shores was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2019 (CAT 3/19/19) and retired from WKKO two months later (CAT 5/29/19). Read WKKO’s tribute to Shores here and local coverage of his life and career via ABC affiliate WTVG-TV/Toledo here. Services are pending.

San Antonio car dealer turned Clear Channel Communications co-founder Billy Joe “Red” McCombs died Feb. 19. He was 95. His Red McCombs Automotive Group empire in Texas diversified into oil, cattle, media, real estate and sports. In 1972, McCombs partnered with Lowry Mays – who had launched San Antonio Broadcasting, Inc. the same year with Sam Jorrie and Thomas Moran with the purchase of then-KEEZ (now KAJA)/San Antonio – to form Clear Channel Communications. The company became iHeartCommunications, including iHeartMedia and iHeartRadio, in 2014, and remains headquartered in San Antonio. In addition to his work in the media space, McCombs was known for his sports team ownership, having once owned the San Antonio Spurs and Denver Nuggets in the NBA and the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings. A billionaire, McCombs was listed on the Forbes 400 of richest Americans. Read local coverage of his life and death via the Texas Tribune here. Services are pending.