Jack Greene died in his sleep in his Nashville home Thursday night as a result of Alzheimer's disease at the age of 83.

Jack Greene was 17 when he got his first radio industry gig and would go on to become a celebrated country star. In 1967 he was a part of Ernest Tubb's Texas Troubadours as a drummer and a relief singer. When record executives heard his voice, they offered him a chance to get into a studio and begin his solo career.

His most famous hit "There Goes My Everything" won Greene a single of the year award at the 1967 Country Music Association Awards. The same year he won male vocalist of the year.

Greene's latest album was released in 2010. "Precious Memories" was a duet compilation CD.

Blake Shelton worked with Green as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. He went on Twitter to express his sadness over Jack Greene's death.

"Very sad to hear about the passing of Jack Green, he and I performed his song 'Statue of a Fool' at the Opry years ago.. True hero."

Greene died of Alzheimer's, a disease that  causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. It gets progressively worse over time. According to alz.org people with the disease typically live another 8-years after their symptoms become noticeable to those around them.

Alz.org lists the symptoms of Alzheimer's and says, "The most common early symptom of Alzheimer's is difficulty remembering newly learned information because Alzheimer's changes typically begin in the part of the brain that affects learning. As Alzheimer's advances through the brain it leads to increasingly severe symptoms, including disorientation, mood and behavior changes; deepening confusion about events, time and place; unfounded suspicions about family, friends and professional caregivers; more serious memory loss and behavior changes; and difficulty speaking, swallowing and walking.

There is no cure for Alzheimer's and treatments do not stop the disease from progressing, but they can slow the symptoms of dementia.