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Keith Whitley
Keith Whitley 1988 Nashville
Background information
Birth name	Jackie Keith Whitley
Born	July 1, 1955(1955-07-01) Sandy Hook, Kentucky, United States
Died	May 9, 1989 (aged 33)
Genre(s)	Country
Instrument(s)	Guitar, vocals
Years active	1970–1989
Associated acts	Clinch Mountain Boys Lorrie Morgan

Jackie Keith Whitley (b. July 1, 1955 in Sandy Hook, Kentucky d. May 9, 1989) was an American country music singer. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 532 pixelsFull resolution (1769 × 1177 pixel, file size: 699 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Photograph of Keith Whitley taken at Country Music Fan Fair 1988 in Nashville, Tennessee at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds by Christina Lynn Johnson, MagnetLoft - while working... is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar). ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Sandy Hook is a city located in Elliott County, Kentucky. ... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Frankfort Largest city Louisville Area  Ranked 37th  - Total 40,444 sq mi (104,749 km²)  - Width 140 miles (225 km)  - Length 379 miles (610 km)  - % water 1. ... is the 129th day of the year (130th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article includes a list of works cited but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified with the purpose of making music. ... For other uses, see Guitar (disambiguation). ... In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ... Loretta Lynn Lorrie Morgan (born on June 27, 1959 in Nashville, Tennessee) is an American country music singer. ... is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar). ... Sandy Hook is a city located in Elliott County, Kentucky. ... is the 129th day of the year (130th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... This article includes a list of works cited but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ...

Musical career

Whitley, along with Ricky Skaggs, was discovered by Ralph Stanley when the two teenagers sang Stanley Brothers songs as an opening act for the Clinch Mountain Boys. The two soon joined Ralph's band. Whitley also played with JD Crowe and the New South in the mid-seventies. During this period, he established himself as one of the most versatile and talented lead singers in bluegrass. His singing was heavily influenced by Carter Stanley and Lefty Frizzell. Whitley's first solo album, A Hard Act to Follow, was released in 1984, and featured a more mainstream country style. While Whitley was working hard to achieve his own style, the songs he produced were inconsistent. Critics regarded the album as too erratic. Whitley honed his sound within the next few years for his next album, L.A. to Miami.

L.A. to Miami, released in 1986 would give him his first Top 20 country hit single, "Miami, My Amy." The song was followed by three more hit songs: "Ten Feet Away," "Homecoming '63," and "Hard Livin." The album also included "On The Other Hand" and "Nobody In His Right Mind Would've Left Her." Both George Strait and Randy Travis waited to see if Whitley would release these two songs as singles; when he didn't, Strait recorded "Nobody in his Right Mind Would've Left Her", and Travis did the same with "On the Other Hand." Both Strait and Travis scored big on both songs, landing both at number one on the country charts. Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... George Harvey Strait, (born May 18, 1952), is an American country music singer. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ...

During his tour to promote L.A. to Miami, he met and started a romantic relationship with Lorrie Morgan, a fellow country singer. The pair were married in November, 1986, and they had their only child, a son, Jesse Keith Whitley, in 1987. Keith also adopted Lorrie's daughter, Morgan, from her first marriage. Loretta Lynn Lorrie Morgan (born on June 27, 1959 in Nashville, Tennessee) is an American country music singer. ... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ...

During the new recording sessions in 1987, Whitley started feeling that the songs he was doing were not up to his standards, so Whitley approached RCA and asked if the project of fifteen songs could be shelved. He asked if he could have more of a say in the songs and production. The new album, titled Don't Close Your Eyes, was released in 1988, and the album did extremely well. The album contained one of the many songs that Whitley had a hand in writing in his years at Tree Publishing, "It's All Coming Back To Me Now." Also on the album was a remake of Lefty Frizzell's classic song, "I Never Go Around Mirrors," and the song became a huge hit at Whitley's concerts. The first three singles off of the album -- "When You Say Nothing at All," "I'm No Stranger to the Rain," and the title cut -- all reached number 1 on Billboard Magazine's country charts during the fall of 1988 and the winter of 1989. "I'm No Stranger To The Rain" also earned Whitley his first and only Country Music Association award. Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... William Orville Lefty Frizzell (March 31, 1928 – July 19, 1975) was an American country music singer and songwriter of the 1950s; a leading exponent of the Honky Tonk style of country music. ... Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... The Country Music Association (CMA) was founded in 1958 in Nashville, Tennessee. ...

Keith's career was finally starting to take shape for him, and the new record "I Wonder Do You Think Of Me" was made as a follow up to "Don't Close Your Eyes". The record was just finishing completion in May 1989, when the unthinkable happened.

Alcoholism and death

Keith Whitley was a longtime alcoholic, who had begun drinking early in his career at Bluegrass concerts -- long before he was legally allowed to drink alcohol. Many times he had tried to overcome his alcoholism, but these methods had failed. Whitley preferred to drink alone, making it tough for anyone to detect that he had a drinking problem. Alcoholism is the consumption of, or preoccupation with, alcoholic beverages to the extent that this behavior interferes with the drinkers normal personal, family, social, or work life, and may lead to physical or mental harm. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

On the morning of May 9, 1989, after a weekend of drinking and partying with friends, Whitley woke up and spoke with his mother briefly on the phone and was visited by his brother-in-law, and the two of them had planned a full day over a cup of coffee. The day would be with golf, a good lunch, and also that evening Keith had planned to start penning more records for him and Lorrie to possibly record when she came home from her tour. His brother-in-law had to leave for a bit and told Keith to be ready within an hour. Upon returning Whitley was found face down on his bed. He was pronounced dead at 11:16 a.m. He was only 34 years old. is the 129th day of the year (130th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ...

The cause of death was alcohol poisoning, and the coroner report stated his blood alcohol level was five times over the legal limit to drive.

The day after his death, Music Row was lined with black ribbons in memory of Keith. Music Row is an area just to the southwest of Downtown Nashville, Tennessee that is home to hundreds of businesses related to the country music, gospel music, and Christian music industries. ...

Posthumous career

Although Whitley's voice was silenced, his influence on country music has persisted long after his death. At the time of his death, he had just finished making his fourth and final studio album, I Wonder Do You Think of Me. The album was released three months after his death, on August 1, 1989. The album produced two more #1 hits, with the title track and "It Ain't Nothin'." "I'm Over You" also saw the top ten in the spring of 1990, reaching No. 3. is the 213th day of the year (214th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ...

In 1990, a collection of Keith's greatest hits was released. It has gone on to sell more than three million copies over the years for RCA.

On the greatest hits collection was a demo record that Whitley made in 1987, called "Tell Lorrie I Love Her," and also a new song to which Lorrie Morgan added her vocals to and created a duet called "Til A Tear Becomes A Rose". The song rose to No. 13 and won them 1991's CMA award for Best Vocal Collaboration. For other uses, see demo. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ...

RCA also released a compilation of old performance clips (from his days in the Clinch Mountain Boys and the New South), interviews, and some previously unreleased material under the title Kentucky Bluebird, a moniker that became Whitley's nickname. The CD has become a huge collector's item among fans over the years due to it being out of print. The CD produced several huge hits for Keith as well, including a duet with Earl Thomas Conely which rose to number #2 in the fall of 1991. A moniker (or monicker) is a pseudonym, or cognomen, which one gives to oneself. ... // A nickname is a name of a person or thing other than its proper name. ...

In 1994, Whitley's widow, Lorrie Morgan, organized several of Whitley's friends in bluegrass and some of the big names in country at the time to record a tribute album to Whitley. The album included covers of Whitley's songs from artists such as Alan Jackson, Diamond Rio, and Ricky Skaggs. The album also included several previously unreleased tracks recorded by Whitley in 1987. One of the songs was a duet that Lorrie and Keith did in the summer of 1987 called "I Just Want You". The tribute album gave Keith again another award for reaching more than 500,000 copies. Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... Loretta Lynn Lorrie Morgan (born on June 27, 1959 in Nashville, Tennessee) is an American country music singer. ... A tribute (from Latin tribulum, contribution) is wealth one party gives to another as a sign of respect or, as was often case in historical contexts, of submission or allegiance. ... For other persons named Alan Jackson, see Alan Jackson (disambiguation). ... Diamond Rio performing live This page is about the country band. ... Ricky Skaggs, April 1988 Ricky Skaggs1st off Skaggs was known to hate everyone he met. ...

However, the hit single to come from the tribute album was Alison Krauss & Union Station's rendition of "When You Say Nothing at All", which rose to #3 on the Billboard country charts. The song also was re-mixed with Keith's version and Allison's to create a duet that country radio played to help the sales of the album and keep Keith's memory alive. Alison Krauss (born July 23, 1971)[1] is an American bluegrass-country singer and fiddle player. ... This page meets Wikipedias criteria for speedy deletion. ...

Garth Brooks paid tribute to Whitley in his music video for The Dance in 1990. In 1994, Vince Gill released his When Love Finds You album with the last single "Go Rest High On That Mountain" paying tribute to Whitley with the line "You were no stranger to the rain" in reference to Whitley's #1 hit in 1989. Troyal Garth Brooks (born February 7, 1962 in Tulsa, Oklahoma) is an American country music singer-songwriter. ... The Dance was a 1990 #1 single for country singer Garth Brooks. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... Vince Gill Vince Gill (born April 12, 1957) is an American country music musician, songwriter, and singer. ...

In 1995, the CD "Wherever You Are Tonight" was released from Keith, the songs were all originally demo songs and remixed with new sound to them to make them sound more up to date. The CD and single both did very well on the charts and opened the door later that year to "Super Hits" and "The Essential Keith Whitley" in 1996 which did extremely well on the country charts. The CD contained the long out of print songs to "A Hard Act To Follow" and an unreleased song from the L.A. To Miami sessions "I Wonder Where You Are Tonight"

The year 2000 brought new material again for Whitley fans, the original album Somewhere Between that Keith recorded as a member of J.D. Crowe & the New South in 1983 for Rounder Records was re-released with new material and a new name "Sad Songs And Waltzes". Again the CD was responded well to on the country charts, once again showing Keith hasn't lost his place in country music.

His legacy continues to shine since his passing in 1989; every year there is a memorial ride from Sandy Hook, Kentucky to his resting place where hundreds gather to pay their respects. Also on Labor Day in September every year fans come together for a memorial show in Keith's hometown. It's attended by many loyal fans and family.

In 2005, writer Jeff Swope began producing a movie called Mirrors about Keith, it has also since been changed over to "Kentucky Bluebird" and is currently in production.

Almost twenty years after Keith's passing fans and fellow singers still wonder what would have happened if Keith had lived; some say Garth Brooks would have taken a back seat to Keith in the 1990s. Tim McGraw and many singers today still are influenced by him.

There is also currently a new website in the works that will be fully dedicated to Keith. There hasn't been a full website since the former Keith Whitley Blvd ceased production in March 2006.

Discography

Unofficial Releases

Among the fans over the years, there has come to light many songs of Keith's in the form of demos. Some of these songs include "I've Done Everything Hank Did But Die", "Chip Off The Old Farm", "Til A Tear Becomes A Rose" (without Lorrie Morgan) and more. Also among the fans are some of Keith's rare concerts, radio interviews, car ad-commercials and even and Exxon Gas Commercial.

There are also many bootleg cds among fans that contain demos, concerts, radio specials, and more. They are listed below:

• Demo Sessions Volume 1 and 2 and 3
• Live From Nashville, Tennessee (11-84)
• Live From New England, Ohio (8-23-86)
• Live From Pasadena, Texas (11-13-86)
• Live From Cincinnati, Ohio (7-14-88)
• Live From Burlington, North Carolina (9-25-88)
• Live From Austin City Limits (11-14-88)
• Live From London (Wembley Stadium 3-24-89)
• Live From Holland, England U.K. (3-25-89)
• A Tribute Album Radio Special
• The Keith Whitley Story (Two-CD set)
• No Stranger To The Rain/Remembering Keith Whitley (Satellite Radio Special May 2004)
• Road To Bethlehem (Christmas Song Collection)
• Commercials/Interviews/Tributes...(This collection contains radio commercials that Keith did for a car dealership, Exxon Gas, and many tribute songs made to Keith.)

• A mini Christmas album among the fans that contains six songs on it from original recordings to rare demos.
  • There's A New Kid In Town
  • A Christmas Letter
  • Joseph And Mary's Boy
  • Bethlehem Road
  • There's A New Kid In Town /w Alan Jackson
  • A Christmas Letter (Live)

Also among the fans are possibly many many more demos and concerts, two songs that have come to light was in 2004 "She Never Got Me Over You", when singer Scott Hisey recorded the song for his record label, Keith's version is in the form of a demo. In 2005, at a Labor Day gathering of fans in Sandy Hook, Ky. "It's A Bitch At The Bottom" was introduced to fans.

In the chat that ran for a couple of years on Sunday nights in honor of Keith, a fan played a jam session that was to be from April 18, 1988, the session was told to be about 40 minutes long and one of the songs played was "Your Cheatin Heart"

Albums

• 1984 A Hard Act To Follow
• 1986 LA To Miami
• 1988 Don't Close Your Eyes
• 1989 I Wonder Do You Think Of Me
• 1990 Greatest Hits
• 1991 Kentucky Bluebird
• 1993 The Very Best Of Keith Whitley
• 1994 A Tribute Album
• 1995 Wherever You Are Tonight
• 1995 Super Hits
• 1996 The Essential Keith Whitley
• 1998 Keith Whitley Remembered...The Encore Collection
• 2000 Sad Songs And Waltzes (A.K.A. Somewhere Between)
• 2002 RCA Country Legends
• 2003 Platinum And Gold Collection
• 2006 16 Biggest Hits

• The song "Pick Me Up On Your Way Down" was originally a song on the B-side song of the 1984 single release "Turn Me To Love". It finally appeared on the 2002 release listed above "RCA Country Legends".

Singles

Hot Country Songs is a chart released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. ... See also: 1983 in country music, 1984 in music, other events of 1984, 1985 in country music, 1980s in music and the List of years in Country Music // Events Top Hits of the Year No. ... See also: 1983 in country music, 1984 in music, other events of 1984, 1985 in country music, 1980s in music and the List of years in Country Music // Events Top Hits of the Year No. ... See also: 1984 in country music, 1985 in music, other events of 1985, 1986 in country music, 1980s in music and the List of years in Country Music // A story published in the New York Times declares that country music is dead. ... See also: 1984 in country music, 1985 in music, other events of 1985, 1986 in country music, 1980s in music and the List of years in Country Music // A story published in the New York Times declares that country music is dead. ... See also: 1985 in country music, 1986 in music, other events of 1986, 1987 in country music, 1980s in music and the List of years in Country Music // Events For the first time in its 42-year history, there is a new No. ... See also: 1985 in country music, 1986 in music, other events of 1986, 1987 in country music, 1980s in music and the List of years in Country Music // Events For the first time in its 42-year history, there is a new No. ... See also: 1986 in country music, 1987 in music, other events of 1987, 1988 in country music, 1980s in music and the List of years in Country Music // Events Top Hits of the Year No. ... See also: 1986 in country music, 1987 in music, other events of 1987, 1988 in country music, 1980s in music and the List of years in Country Music // Events Top Hits of the Year No. ... See also: 1986 in country music, 1987 in music, other events of 1987, 1988 in country music, 1980s in music and the List of years in Country Music // Events Top Hits of the Year No. ... See also: 1987 in country music, 1988 in music, other events of 1988, 1989 in country music, 1980s in music and the List of years in Country Music // Time-Life Records releases the first volume of its Country USA series. ... See also: 1987 in country music, 1988 in music, other events of 1988, 1989 in country music, 1980s in music and the List of years in Country Music // Time-Life Records releases the first volume of its Country USA series. ... This page meets Wikipedias criteria for speedy deletion. ... See also: 1988 in country music, 1989 in music, other events of 1989, 1990 in country music, 1980s in music and the List of years in Country Music // (As certified by Billboard magazine) 1 - No. ... See also: 1988 in country music, 1989 in music, other events of 1989, 1990 in country music, 1980s in music and the List of years in Country Music // (As certified by Billboard magazine) 1 - No. ... See also: 1988 in country music, 1989 in music, other events of 1989, 1990 in country music, 1980s in music and the List of years in Country Music // (As certified by Billboard magazine) 1 - No. ... < -- Please excuse the mess - this is a work in progress. ... < -- Please excuse the mess - this is a work in progress. ... Loretta Lynn Lorrie Morgan (born on June 27, 1959 in Nashville, Tennessee) is an American country music singer. ... See also: 1990 in country music, 1991 in music, other events of 1991, 1992 in country music, 1990s in music and the List of years in Country Music // One of country musics most successful albums ever was released in 1991. ... Earl Thomas Conley (born October 17, 1941) is an American country music singer and composer. ... See also: 1990 in country music, 1991 in music, other events of 1991, 1992 in country music, 1990s in music and the List of years in Country Music // One of country musics most successful albums ever was released in 1991. ... See also: 1994 in country music, 1995 in music, other events of 1995, 1996 in country music, 1990s in music and the List of years in Country Music // (as certified by Billboard magazine) 1 - No. ...

References

• Skinker, Chris. (1998). "Keith Whitley". In The Encyclopedia of Country Music. Paul Kingsbury, Editor. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 583-4.