Keith was a few weeks older than Ricky Skaggs. In addition to alcohol, his urine test also came out positive for cocaine and benzodiazepines, which may have contributed to his death. As evidenced by my posts, I check SCM periodically, sometimes just to see whats up, and sometimes when theres something I imagine youll cover. Had he not died in 1989 from alcohol poisoning, the "Don't Close Your Eyes" singer would have turned 66 this year . I spent a few minutes with him and he was drinking a lot that night and I was so certain that he was going to screw up and ruin his own show but to my surprise he was a hit and put everything he had into the show and left the crowd screaming for more. He left the medical examiners post in 1994 after three separate women accused him of sexual harassment. May 8, 2019 @ I also like to think Keiths talents alone could have extended the neotraditional movement into and beyond the late 90s. Joe Tank we were living in Kingsport in the late 80s and early 90s right when I first started listening to Keith Whitley. Speaking to individuals about the legacy of Keith Whitley, from country music historians to superstars such as Garth Brooks, they believe there wouldnt have been the commercial resurgence in country music heading into the 90s like the genre experiencedalso known as the Class of 89 comprising Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Clint Black, and Travis Trittif it wasnt for Keith Whitley. Who knows. They had partied hard together the entire weekend and he swallowed a small baggie of cocaine he found at Keiths house before he called 911. The bluegrass legend was blown away. His death came as a shock to the music world, especially when his cause of death was finally revealed to the public. Sure, on the surface, of course, he had big hits and a phenomonal voice, but he had a short career and part of his story is what COULD have been. https://www.reverbnation.com/mattengelsmusic/song/16287569-mr-whitley, jimincincy I knew all this going into the relationship. After cutting his teeth with Ralph Stanley, Keith Whitley would later join J.D. Acompanhe-nos: bonsall oaks development Facebook. You can handle it, Stanley would say to him. %%EOF Remember, Keith achieved this level of influence with only 3 country albums and in less than 4 years as a country recording artist. His vocals matured so much from the LA to Miami album to Dont Close Your Eyes. All of this information only helped to fuel conspiracy theories about the circumstances surrounding Whitleys passing. We really dont know, and the mind plays tricks on people. It is a shame that he died so young & so tragically. May 10, 2019 @ Palmer states in that same video and in Lorries book he walked in while Keith was dying. One of my favorite what ifs in country music to ponder is how Keiths career wouldve gone and just how much he wouldve influenced the direction of the genre had he lived. And Jesse is a hell of a guy. I know that Keiths age when he passed has been debated in the past. May 10, 2021 @ May 8, 2019 @ Couldnt win the battle he would never win the war so sad brill artist, Barbara McCurry Keith Whitleys first major record was a 1984 EP called A Hard Act To Follow, and it didnt fare too well. But, I get that this literally is not something to make into a federal case. 1:33 pm. In a week, Lorrie would be releasing her debut album on RCA Records, Leave The Light On, and had tour dates booked to promote the new release. There is hope in a few acts but no doubt he set a high bar. I did so many crazy things while drinking.. I was on pins and needles when he was on the road. unquote.Lorrie Morgan was very much a daughter of country music, who would end up blossoming into a wife and a mother of the genre as well. Although not a fan of Garth, I disagree with you in that his recommendations and influence means nothing for Keiths HOF case. Where I got the note to Lorrie was an article posted by UPI on May 26th, 1989 where Lorrie was interviewed. To me, Vern and Keith are the 2nd and 3rd greatest country singers to stand behind a mic (Jones the greatest ever, period), and are often overlooked and underappreciated due to lifes circumstances. It is right before they interview Keiths close friend T.Graham Brown. or would he have been right up there with the class of 89 and other neo-traditionalists (Tracy Lawrence, Mark Chesnutt, etc.) He called an ambulance, which took Whitley to a local hospital where Keith Whitley was pronounced dead. Too country? Whitley remarked at the time, What business am I in? But the 1985 album L.A. to Miami, which took a bit more of a pragmatic approach put Keith Whitley on the map with songs like Miami, My Amy, Ten Feet Away, and Hard Livin. Though the production of Miami, My Amy was much more contemporary, and the lyrics written by Hank Cochran and Dean Dillon were a little forced, it was the voice of Keith Whitley soaring from the song that spoke to many, and it soon became one of his signature tunes. 5:11 am. Then Keiths 1988 record Dont Close Your Eyes set him on the path to downright superstardom, landing him his first #1 hit with the title track, which would set off a succession of five straight #1 songs from Whitley. His career was taking off. I do not believe the conspiracy theories that exist or that any foul play was involved. She insists he never said a negative word to her, or raised his voice at her during the entirety of their marriage. Stay Safe. Sandy Hook's Reaction to Keith Whitley's Death - YouTube Local news features from Charleston/Huntington, WV area TV stations about Sandy Hook, Kentucky's reaction to the death of their. Why leave. But that is not the criteria that should be considered KWs case. Garths opinions and words carry a lot of weight and in the event that Keith is elected to the HOF in the near future, his input shouldnt be overlooked. Jon Randalls version of the song blows Paisleys away, in my opinion. Alcoholism is a terrible disease. She was mostly a live performer early on, appearing on the Opry, and performing on tour opening for the likes of The Chieftones and Jack Greene, and singing backup for George Jones. I like to think Keith would have been the leading force for traditional country music into the mid to late 90s with Strait, Jackson, and Travis. Gill started writing "Go Rest High on That Mountain" after Whitley's death and finished the song four years later when he lost his brother due to a heart attack. In the broadcast it gives both the cause of death and Keiths blood alcohol level. I would of busted door or something. Maybe Tony Arata says could of instead of could have. Whatever. hbbd```b``"/I=DE>EH"[$SC r$H=r$A?/ TP@ But anyway thanks for the audio entertainment all the guns up. Whether truth or innuendo, its not fair to put that on Lorrie. According to Lane Palmer, Keith had done a bunch of Cocaine those last three days. I will hopefully speak with Keiths family on Friday to see if I can get some clarification! For sure, Whitley was struggling with stardom at the time to some extent, but that doesnt take into consideration the severity of Keiths drinking problem well before his country career took off in earnest.The publishing of Keith Whitleys autopsy report put most of the rumors to bed, though they would re-emerge in subsequent years. 57[M. In those days, if she had saved the note to read later, someone would have said she didnt value or appreciate his gesture; if she had read it on the flight out or early in the trip, someone would have said she just treated his card like opening everyday mail and bills instead of treasuring it and treating it as special. May 10, 2019 @ Interesting that in only an hour went from drinking coffee with him to finding him dead in bed. Because, booze or drugs, the substance is always going to call the shots. I guess thats the debate with music or art. There was definitely more to that weekend and his death. to form a band with dobro player Jerry Douglas. Once when riding passenger in a car and passing a bottle back and forth with the driver, they tried to take a sharp curve at 120 mph. You are sooooo right. While I havent read all of Forever Yours Faithfully, the fact that Keith couldnt be resuscitated because he had passed out on a waterbed that I presume was in Lorrie and his master bedroom doesnt surprise me. If you hit the memorabilia section, then Keiths name, you will see a copy of the Birth Certificate. 1 hits, and it seemed like his music career was right on track. He honed his craft, learned to play the guitar, and already had a band at 13 years old. Gone to soon!! 7:45 pm. Knew close to everything else. Have to credit Pandora for introducing me to Darrell Scotts recording, which led to learning he was the songwriter. I wish somehow young people could be made to understand. From the moment Keith Whitley embarked on a music career, success followed closely behind. Lorrie admits that Keith was found dying in another ladies arms. May you rise each day with sunlight in your heart, success in your path, answers to your prayers, and that smile that I always love to see in your eyes. TIL that Ralph Stanleys vehicle never blew a tire in Monroe, GA or Ormond Beach, FL. But bottom line, he was an addict. Welcome to Autopsyfiles.org - Home Page - Autopsy Reports of . History Mary Chapin Carpenter Hank IIIs Crazed Country Rebel slipped into the mix probably a nod to the original site). Wish they had made the movie of his life that was talked about at one point. Enjoyed your article sent to me by an old buddy today. Respectfully, Jim, Keith Whitley fans, please consider signing this petition for him to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame: 8:43 am. endstream endobj startxref The question I have is What if through one way or another had Lane managed to resuscitate Keith to a point where he be transported by an ambulance to the hospital?, Ronald Stoner Keith Whitley told The Chicago Tribute once, quote I learned to do things the way the old-timers did it. Regardless of his short life, Whitley is still remembered as a great country singer who became an influence to other country music stars, such as Tim McGraw, Chris Young, and Alan Jackson (via the Tennessean). Overall, I am grateful for your article. Once amid his sober streak in 1987, Whitley said in an interview, quote, It was a matter of life and death. The most interesting evidence against his story is in you tube video Lorrie Morgan on Geraldo 11/14/97. He died from a lethal ingestion of . Ralph Stanley recruited both of them for his band right then and there. The greatest C(c)ountry singer of the modern era. It has long been speculated that Whitley's death may not have been directly caused by his recklessness or alcoholism, but that he may have been a victim of premeditated misconduct. Good thoughts Wayne and I dont completely disagree with your stance. I didnt hear anything to that effect here. If you watch the video Nashville Babylon-Keith Whitley Strange Death you can watch it first being announced. On May 12th, 1989, more than 500 mourners attended Keith Whitleys funeral where long-time friend Ricky Skaggs presented the eulogy, and spoke specifically about the ills of drug and alcohol abuse. Its a god awful shame to see this kind of mindset still out there. A country music singer that couldnt overcome alcohol if only a person would have been with him 24\7 to stop him from alcohol use . Furthermore, his continued posthumous influence is undeniable. Thanks for taking the time to reply. He was an amazing singer who could touch your soul with his lyrics, I wish it had been a different outcome because he was on his way to becoming a country ledgend and in some aspects in my mind he is. 11:57 am. 6:02 pm. Vern also an accomplished and overlooked songwriter. Palmer stated when he came into Keiths bedroom, Keith was alone, fully clothed and still alive. In a couple of weeks, Keith Whitley was scheduled to be asked to join the Grand Ole Opry himself, and was riding high off of his 3rd consecutive #1 single, Im No Stranger To The Rain, which had topped the Billboard country charts three weeks prior. It was so emotional. His marriage to Lorrie Morgan would also help settle him, at least to some extent. One theory was that Whitley was a conflicted as a staunch traditionalist who was being asked to record more commercially applicable material, or was feeling the pressure of stardom. It doesnt matter how many #1 songs you had or how many sales you made it should be based on who you feel when a song comes on, how it moves you. Lorrie Morgan also alleges that Lane Palmer found a baggie of cocaine on Whitleys dresser when he discovered Keith on the bed incapacitated, and swallowed it before authorities arrived. Man, we are in need of some KWs today!! Now, I do believe he would have a leading force. I just didnt want to start a playlist with only a few songs to feature. dying inhalating hair spray is the definitive 80s way to die. May 2, 2021 @ I think one of the many unfortunate things about Keiths passing is he never got to tell his story in his own words like other artists do when they age. But with Lorrie Morgan out of town that first weekend of May, 1989, there was nobody there to tend to Whitley, or his raging alcoholism. But about the time everything would begin to unravel for Keith Whitley due to his drinking, he would hold it together enough to pull through. 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