Mark James, a Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee best known for writing hits for Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson and a long list of other top artists, has died. The BBC reports that James died at his home in Nashville on June 8 at the age of 83. Born Francis Rodney Zambon in Houston, Texas, on Nov. 29. 1940, James took up the violin in his youth before switching to guitar. He launched his music career in Houston, playing the club scene before beginning to record his own songs. He released a string of minor local singles before interrupting his musical career to serve in Vietnam, and after he retur…