Many musical artists have died with their memories gradually varnishing through the air, but Keith Whitley is among the few whose works have stood the test of time long after his passing. From the grave, the American country music star continues to release tracks, topping the charts and winning awards.
From awesome to good to ugly – here’s a recap of the life Keith Whitley led and how his productive life was cut short in his heyday.
Keith Whitley’s Bio
July 1, 1955, a talented child was born and named Jackie Keith Whitley by his parents Faye and Elmer Whitley. Although he was born in Ashland, Kentucky, he grew up in Sandy Hook, where he attended Sandy Hook High School. Whitley and his siblings – two brothers, Randy and Dwight, and his sister, Mary were raised in the county where the family has lived since the 1840s.
Keith Whitley really lived on the right edge of when he was a teenager. In addition to drinking bootleg bourbon with his friends, they would engage in very dangerous races with cars on mountain roads, speeding and attempting dangerous jumps. It was only a matter of time before their car crashed while trying to round a bend at 200 km/h. While Keith was left with a few bruises, his friend passed away. He didn’t stop there and as his reckless life continued he left his car over a 120ft cliff to land on a frozen river, but the aforementioned items didn’t cost him his life. life.
He began his career in 1970 with the Ralph Stanley group and later moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where he began recording in 1983. In 1986 he released his debut LA album in Miami to rave reviews. His next album in 1988, spawned three singles that took the spot as number one hits.
Posthumously, the country musician topped the charts with two singles, “I Wonder, Do You Think About Me” and “It’s Not Bad”, from the album he was working on before his sudden death. single – in collaboration with other artists including his widow, released after his death, won the CMA Award for Best Vocal Collaboration in 1990 and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Collaboration.
Family – Son, Wife, Daughter
Whitley’s mother, Faye, worked as editor of The Elliott County News, while her father, Elmer, who died later in 1987, was an electrician. Keith had three siblings, as mentioned earlier, but his brother, Randy, was killed in a motorcycle accident in 1983, long before Keith and their father got into the business.
In 1986, Keith married future country musician Lorrie Morgan during his LA to Miami album tour. They were a couple until his death in 1989. Their union fathered a son named Jesse Keith Whitley, born June 15, 1987.
Keith Whitley’s cause of death
In the midst of a blossoming career, alcoholism was the wattle worm that thrust Keith into his success story and ultimately stripped him of his holidays. He began indulging in vice during his bluegrass gig days – long before he came of age. When things got too bad, he made a serious attempt to stop, and his wife, Lorrie Morgan, was a pillar of support. She hid all the booze in the house and even tied her leg to his while they slept at night, just to make sure he wouldn’t sneak out for a nightcap. Unfortunately, all efforts were wasted and when he couldn’t get his hands on a drink, Keith Whitley started drinking perfume and nail polish remover just to get high.
On the day of his death, Keith had plans with his brother-in-law, Lane Palmer, who later found the singer unconscious on his bed. Palmer immediately called an ambulance which took Keith to the hospital where he was confirmed dead. His cause of death was related to acute ethanolism (alcohol poisoning). According to the coroner at the time, his blood alcohol level was alarmingly high at 0.47. It’s like taking 20 one-ounce shots of 100% whiskey. That means Keith Whitley had roughly six times the current legal driving limit of 0.08 running through his veins. The talented crooner died at the age of 33.