Tag: Glen Campbell

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Country Music Star Glen Campbell Passes Away at 81

Glen Campbell

Country music superstar Glen Campbell, whose career notched huge crossover hits like “Gentle on My Mind,” “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” and “Rhinestone Cowboy,” died Tuesday. He was 81.

In 2011, Campbell announced he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and mounted a well-publicized farewell tour.

From his official website:

It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and legendary singer and guitarist, Glen Travis Campbell, at the age of 81, following his long and courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Glen is survived by his wife, Kim Campbell of Nashville, TN; their three children, Cal, Shannon and Ashley; his children from previous marriages, Debby, Kelli, Travis, Kane, and Dillon; ten grandchildren, great- and great-great-grandchildren; sisters Barbara, Sandra, and Jane; and brothers John Wallace “Shorty” and Gerald.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Glen Campbell Memorial Fund at BrightFocus Foundation through the CareLiving.org donation page.

Campbell was one of the very first true crossover artists, moving with equal ease between country and pop music.

Campbell’s career began as a studio musician for acts like The Beach Boys, Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra. But in 1967, he found his star on the rise.

Beginning with “Gentle on My Mind” and “By the Time I Get to Phoenix,” Campbell launched an impressive streak of chart-topping country hits like, “Wichita Lineman,” “Galveston,” and ” Dreams of the Everyday Housewife.”

Along the way, he racked up 7 Grammy Awards and countless other honors. His album, By The Time I Get To Phoenix, won a GRAMMY for Album Of The Year for 1968, making him the first country artist to win the award.

In 1969, he earned his own CBS variety show, “The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour,” and made his acting debut in Paramount’s “True Grit,” alongside John Wayne. That turn yielded him a Golden Globe nomination for his performance.

He sold more than 45 million records in his career and topped the country singles chart 12 times.

My brother is a huge fan and played Campbell’s “Rhinestone Cowboy” over one million times (give or take) during our childhood.

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Glen Campbell shines in 1st appearance since Alzheimer’s news

‘Wichita Lineman’, Glen Campbell

Based on an AP story: Glen Campbell leaned over his blue electric guitar, plucked a few strings and made a sour face.

“Dadgum it,” he said.

Campbell, 75, fiddled a few seconds longer while standing backstage Friday night at the IP Casino and finally found a perfect D chord.

“There it is,” he said, before turning on his heel and marching into the spotlight. He launched into “Gentle on my Mind” and — without so much as clearing his throat — nailed it.

“That first one is a doozey, ain’t it?” Campbell asked the crowd.

It was classic Glen Campbell. Alzheimer’s disease may have changed a lot of things in the Country Music Hall of Famer’s life, but his ability to create sounds that still resonate in our shared memory with his blue G&L Comanche on “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” or his Hamer 12-string on “Southern Nights” is virtually untouched.

In the night’s finest moment, Campbell brought the crowd to its feet after nailing the delicate runs in the middle of his classic “Wichita Lineman.”

Campbell’s first performance since announcing he has Alzheimer’s, the degenerative brain disease that’s slowly robbing him of his memories and abilities, was largely a triumph. His family and road crew were worried he might be rusty after a long layoff since his last performance. Campbell and his band powered through a tight 22-song set interspersed with self-deprecating jokes.

“I tell you I’m happy to be here,” Campbell said. “At my age I’m happy to be anywhere. It seems like I’ve been doing this since Hitler was a corporal.”

Campbell was loose and easy-going all day, joking his way through rehearsal and posing for pictures with fans before and after the show.

It seems Glen Campbell has been around my whole life. Like so many icons, he’s just always there. It would be easy to dismiss him, but this is a man who besides becoming his own star, would “sit in” with the Beach Boys just to fulfill a creative itch.

It’s not easy to get older. It’s not easy to grow past your prime. And, imagining the horror of Alzheimer’s, to take the big stage and live up to the legend that is only Campbell is beyond courage.

While I may not be the biggest “Glen Campbell” fan per se, I do celebrate Glen Campbell. Listen to the clip at the beginning and end of this post.

This is courage. This is artistry. This is heart.

Glen Campbell – Rhinestone Cowboy