Grammy-nominated songwriter and producer Busbee, who worked extensively with a wide array of artists ranging from Maren Morris to Pink to Shakira, has died aged 43.

Busbee's real name was Michael James Ryan. He was father to three children, including a just-born baby girl.

According to a friend, Busbee was diagnosed with Glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer, over the summer and was undergoing treatment.

Busbee had credits on such records as Maren Morris' "My Church" and Keith Urban's 2016 album "Ripcord."

He had a worldwide publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music and a creative partnership with Red Light Management. His label, Altadena, was under the Warner Records umbrella.

A memo from Warner Records' co-chairman and CEO Aaron Bay-Schuck and co-chairman and COO Tom Corson sent to staff on September 29 read: "Today we lost busbee, a dear friend, business partner with his company Altadena, and one of the best and brightest creative minds in music. busbee's kindness and legacy will never be forgotten and our hearts and prayers go out to his family at this very difficult time."

Busbee hailed from the Bay Area where he grew up listening to jazz and the Hot AC Christian radio his mother favoured.

He started playing piano at age seven and later started on trombone in early high school.

His natural talent brought a college scholarship his way in 1995, but a couple years later, he left and returned home.

As Busbee told Ross Golan, host of "And the Writer Is...", on the May 18 episode of the podcast, he found himself 23 years old and living at home with his mother when he was offered the job of worship leader at a local church.

"There's so much music at church," Busbee said."You can feel when a song feels like it's inspired."

He moved to Los Angeles in 2000 at 24 to take a stab at a job in the music industry, starting out assisting producers like Eric Valentine (Smash Mouth's "All Star," All-American Rejects), who told him that songwriting was his calling.

Busbee spent the rest of his twenties honing his craft and started by writing for reality singing competitions "American Idol" and "The X Factor," including Adam Lambert, Bea Miller, Haley Reinhart, Lauren Alaina, Danny Gokey, Scotty McCreery, Colton Dixon and Chris Rene, among others.

He started looking to Nashville as an outlet for and sessions with artists like Rascal Flatts, Lady Antebellum and Florida Georgia Line followed.

But it was Busbee's work with Maren Morris on her 2016 album "Hero" that would elevate him to hit maker status. That same year, Keith Urban's "The Fighter," with Carrie Underwood, was a bonafide smash in the country format.