Claim: John Hartford wrote Gentle on My Mind.

John Cowan Hartford -LRB- December 30 , 1937 -- June 4 , 2001 -RRB- was an American folk , country and bluegrass composer and musician known for his mastery of the fiddle and banjo , as well as for his witty lyrics , unique vocal style , and extensive knowledge of Mississippi River lore . His most successful song is `` Gentle on My Mind '' which won three Grammy Awards and was listed in `` BMI 's Top 100 Songs of the Century '' . Hartford performed with a variety of ensembles throughout his career , and is perhaps best known for his solo performances where he would interchange the guitar , banjo , and fiddle from song to song . He also invented his own shuffle tap dance move , and clogged on an amplified piece of plywood while he played and sang .