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Keith Whitley Biography
Review The Artist (6)
Source: http://www.allsands.com/History/People/keithwhitley_wtd_gn.htm
Keith Whitley’s legacy loomed large over the country music landscape of the '90s. A talented new country singer and songwriter, Whitley was just beginning to emerge as a superstar at the time of his death in 1989.
Born and raised in Kentucky, Whitley began singing as a child, winning a talent contest at the age of four. When he was eight years old he learned how to play guitar and within a year he was singing on a Charleston, WV based radio station. Whitley formed his first band at the age of 13, playing nothing but straight bluegrass.
A few years later, he formed The Lonesome Mountain Boys with his high school friend, Ricky Skaggs. In the late '60s, Ralph Stanley was looking to re-form his band after the death of his brother and partner, Carter. He was so impressed with Whitley and Skaggs, he asked them to join his Clinch Mountain Boys group. The duo accepted the offer immediately and began appearing with the band in 1970. Whitley stayed with the band for two years, recording a total of seven albums, including 1971's "Crying from the Cross" which was named the Bluegrass Album of the Year.
In 1973, he left the group. For two years, he drifted through various other bands, including acts that played country, not bluegrass. He returned to the Clinch Mountain Boys in 1975 and stayed with them for another two years. During his second tenure with the band, he made five albums. In 1978, he joined J.D. Crowe’s band the New South Whitley recorded three albums with the New South between 1978 and 1982, which vacilated between bluegrass and straight country.
Whitley began a full-fledged solo career after leaving the band New South in 1982. Signing with RCA Records, he released his debut album, Hard Act to Follow, in 1984. A record of pure honky tonk, it didn't attract much of an audience. The following year, he released L.A. to Miami, a more commercial affair which spawned the number 14 single "Miami, My Amy." After that single peaked early in 1986, he had three back-to-back Top Ten hits -- "Ten Feet Away," "Homecoming '63," and "Hard Livin'."
Late in 1986, he married country and western singer Lorrie Morgan. In 1987, he recorded a follow-up to the record that sounded exactly the same as its predecessor. Unsatisfied with the musical direction of his new effort, Whitley convinced RCA to shelve the completed album and have him work on another record with a new producer, Garth Fundis. Don’t Close your Eyes was the result. The first three singles from Don’t Close Your Eyes --"Don't Close Your Eyes," "When You Say Nothing At All," and "I'm No Stranger to the Rain" -- were all number one hits.
Things may have been going smoothly on the surface for Whitley, but behind the scenes he was being torn apart by alcoholism. On May 9, 1989, he suffered from a fatal case of alcohol poisoning; he was 34 at the time of his demise. Just before his death, he completed his fourth album, I wonder do You Think of Me. The record was released shortly after his death and its first single, which was the title track, reached number one, as did its follow-up, "It Ain't Nothin; " another single from the album, "I'm Over You," reached number three in 1990. Lorrie Morgan recorded an electronic duet, "'Til a Tear Becomes a Rose," with her late husband in 1990; it peaked at number 13. In 1994, a tribute album to Whitley was released. |
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Review about Keith Whitley
The best in the 80's | Reviewer: Cam Joyce | 11/24/2007Keith was the best singer in the 80's. If he were still alive he would be the best now. I loved all of his songs. I wish he were still alive.
the man | Reviewer: mel | 11/16/2007
I have been too the home of keiths mother in sandy hook ky. HE has inspierde alot of people to play and sing like me. we miss you keith
what he was? | Reviewer: Tamra | 9/18/2007
I feel that Keith Whitley was a instrumental part in 80's and 90's country...He was a great mix of the Bluegrass, and the Twangy Country, Which made a great mix for the new 90's country... That was great drinkin music! Yeah he was an alcholic but that did not interfer in his abilities as a musician/song writer... He was TRUE Honkey Tonk... a lot of NEW country music has forgoten what that is all about.
what he was? | Reviewer: Tamra | 9/18/2007
I feel that Keith Whitley was a instrumental part in 80's and 90's country...He was a great mix of the Bluegrass, and the Twangy Country, Which made a great mix for the new 90's country... That was great drinkin music! Yeah he was an alcholic but that did not interfer in his abilities as a musician/song writer... He was TRUE Honkey Tonk... a lot of NEW country music has forgoten what that is all about.
The Best | Reviewer: Anonymous | 6/9/2007
I could listen to that voice all day long, what a waste of a wonderful
singer.I,ll bet he formed a country band in heaven.
The Very Best Country Voice of the 80's | Reviewer: Dwight Wood | 1/14/2006
Simply put, when Keith passed away, heaven now has one of the best country music voices ever. He is ever so missed. I only wonder if his son, with Lorrie, has his voice.
Review the Artist Keith Whitley
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