LUTZ, Fla. — John Ritter wrote a song about Lutz 38 years ago. People still talk about the song today, called “Beautiful Downtown Lutz."

Spectrum Bay News 9’s Jorja Roman caught up with Ritter, who got the nickname John “Lutz” Ritter after the song debuted. He explained what inspired him to create the song.

“There really was only one traffic light when you went down [US] 41, there was only a couple buildings, everybody had their little cowboy hats and the feather,” Ritter explained.

Ritter said people really enjoyed the song. 

“People loved it. They loved coming out to Lutz,” he said. "Lutz started putting on little parades, they started having flat bed trucks out there and the kids from the school started singing it. So I think it gave Lutz life."

Ritter recorded the song in 1981. It played around the state and he even performed it for 20,000 people. 

“You wouldn’t know it wasn’t a national hit song, it was played so much,” Ritter said.

When he recorded the hit, he was creating theme songs for a local show in the Tampa Bay area. Now he has his own radio show called “Rise Up Country.” 

That’s his passion, along with songwriting. He said the song is something he still enjoys singing. 

“I take Lutz with me everywhere I move. I like that atmosphere, I like that style,” he said.

Ritter has a studio in St. Petersburg where he records his show. He spends half of his time living in Nashville.