Keith Whitley - Pandora Internet Radio

Create a Station

Bookmark This Artist

"Keith Whitley" has been added to your list of bookmarked artists

Go to your profile

People Listening to
This Artist

Keith Whitley

Biography

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. Throughout the next decade, his reputation as both a performer and writer continued to grow, as other artists had hits with his songs and posthumous recordings climbed into the Top Ten.

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. The Lonesome Mountain Boys primarily played Stanley Brothers songs and soon became a popular attraction.

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 Clinch Mountain Boys 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, Whitley 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, Keith joined J.D. Crowe's band the New South. Whitley recorded three albums with the New South between 1978 and 1982, which vacillated between bluegrass and straight country (the highlights of this era were re-released on CD as Sad Songs & Waltzes in 2000).

Whitley began a full-fledged solo career after leaving the 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 Lorrie Morgan.

Although L.A. to Miami was a success, its slick production didn't please Whitley. 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. Released in the spring of 1988, the album solidified Whitley's commercial standing. 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 Keith 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. During the '90s, RCA repackaged and re-released many of Whitley's recordings -- including several unreleased songs -- in various compilations. 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. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Continued…

Selected Discography

Greatest Hits
1990

I Wonder Do You Think Of Me
1989

Don't Close Your Eyes
1988

Similar Artists

George Strait
Tracy Lawrence
Travis Tritt
Alan Jackson
Randy Travis

Linda Glaze says:

10-22-2009

I fell in llove with Keith when he came to Phoenix in 1988 I was 1st in line I think. It was a BIG loss when he died Ill always miss him, Rest in Peace Keith.

dpochiba1 says:

10-08-2009

Keith with no doubt had the best voice in country music. It is a shame that he is not here to make more of the greatest music written. I had the pleasure of meeting and talking to E.T.C. one of Keiths great friends and co singer. He had nothing but good things to say about Keith and how sadly he misses him along with the rest of the county song loving world!! We sat at a bar and had a Crown Royal to him. RIP Keith

ronaldher says:

07-09-2009

Tell Lorrie I love her is one of the greatest songs ever written. Rest in Peace Mr. Whitley.

Fran Demers says:

06-27-2009

Someone did try to help this man.Lori said she tied him to the bed post, because he was so drunk, it was the only way she could keep him from harm. She loved that man so much, but it still didn't keep him from killing himself. I hope, Keith, that you are resting in heaven. We all loved you so much - more than you ever knew.

allen_deason says:

06-18-2009

I'M OVER YOU!! WOW ONE OF THE GREATEST SONGS EVER!! I HAVE WORN OUT TO KEITH WHITLEY CDS.HE COULD HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE ALL TIME GREATS. NOT THAT HE WASN'T IN HIS ALL TO SHORT CAREER. A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE WORKS FOR GOODLETTSVIL L E FIRE DEPARTMENT WHERE KEITH AND LORRIE LIVED.HE IS ONE OF THE ONES THAT FOUND HIM DEAD. I WILL CONTINUE TO LISTEN TO KETH A KEEP BUYING HIS CDS WHEN I WEAR THEM OUT. WHITLEY LIVES ON IN THE HEART OF COUNTRY MUSIC, NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

Fran Demers says:

06-17-2009

one of the best singers I have ever heard. Love you Keith, for ever

Jim says:

edited on 06-11-2009

Every time I hear him sing I feel great and sad at the same time. He was a star on the verge of superstardom when he died. His song "I'm No Stranger To The Rain" still gives me chills every time I hear it. It's a great song but it also speaks about his life and death. In the song the singer triumphs over his demons. Sadly, it didn't work out that way for Keith in real life.

shepherd_nan c y says:

04-21-2009

All I can say is if HE was still here. We would still have a wonderful singer/songw r i t e r ! ~ ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

tonyandmary says:

01-24-2009

my aunt died the same year. nobody liked her anyway. she used to give me rotten guavas though.

sparker112 says:

01-19-2009

ONE OF THE BEST COUNTY ACTS EVER. I AM SO SORRY HES GONE.KEITH AND LORRIE CAN MATCH UP WITH ANY COUNTRY DUET.

ifhanvey says:

01-11-2009

why do we have to lose someone to find what we missed?

dale heft says:

12-15-2008

heavens got a great band

lynetteod856 says:

11-25-2008

So sad that he died so very young.

Dwight Wood says:

11-04-2008

One, if not the best voice in country music history. What a shame that no one could help him with his problem. Something always happens to the best a genre has to offer. It has happened so many times over the decades. I never pass up the chance to listen to a Keith Witley song.

austin_18_co l t s says:

10-15-2008

greatest singer to ever walk the earth

earlaaaa says:

edited on 09-21-2008

Keith Whitley could realy sing a song, he died too young, but his songs live on. r.corley

leslie joannpruitt says:

09-18-2008

i love his music

fenderstrat7 6 6 says:

09-14-2008

there will never be another like him, in any form of music, we lost soooo much when we lost him.. but then we still have his great tunes

sroot001 says:

07-14-2008

I was on my was home from work, when it came over the radio he died. I cried, so much talent, gone.

mcdrj83 says:

07-03-2008

I LIKE HIM TOO.

roybo20 says:

06-26-2008

I didn't realize that Keith had such a talent,pleas e keep playing his song

PATSY says:

05-13-2008

LOVED HIS MUSIC HE WAS A GREAT ARTIST

MIKE says:

04-26-2008

HE WROTE AND RECORDED THAT SONG " TELL LORRIE I LOVE HER " THE NIGHT HE DRANK HIMSELF TO DEATH

jeniferhendr i c k s says:

04-26-2008

hey you know i still rumors about this man

MIKE says:

04-10-2008

KEITH RULES...I NEED A BEER

Timothy R. Boggs says:

02-27-2008

Keith is pure country and sings from the heart. He is truly missed

mel keffer says:

01-29-2008

he left this world way too soon . I lived down were he was from & he will never be forgot. thanks keith.

Mike says:

01-27-2008

One of the all time legends of country music that has past on and left us on this earth with the magic of his smooth voice and song writing ability. You will be forever missed Keith!

Travis A. says:

01-27-2008

i was born in 1989 and didnt know him. but i first heard him when i was four and still no one has matched his songs or voice.

xcellentexte r i o r s 1 0 1 says:

12-03-2007

keith whitley was one of the greatest country artist! You can hear the realness of the man's emotions in all of his songs, and the writing talent, no competition really! Such a sad set of circumstance s for such a talented person. That always seems to be the pattern for most of the greatest artist, early deaths! Definately one of the greatest country voices of all time. Right up there with george jones, conway, and waylon!

hoypantz4u says:

11-07-2007

hes wonderful singer i love his songs i love him and miss his songs alot

report abuse