Chronicle: Major Bob songwriter Larry Bastian has died. Born to a farming family in California's San Joaquin Valley, Bastian spent his early years farming and cowboying, then worked for 15 years as a biologist for the Department of Agriculture for Kern and Tulare Counties before launching his songwriting career in the '70s. Since then, his songs have been recorded by Buck Owens, George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Eddie Arnold, Conway Twitty, Vern Gosdin and many others. Garth Brooks recorded several Bastian songs, including "Unanswered Prayers" and "Rodeo." No word on services.