U.S(Tennessee): The son of a sharecropper, Glen Travis Campbell was born in Arkansas on 22 April 1936, the seventh of 12 children.His first guitar cost $7.Campbell made his name in the music business as one of the top session guitarists in Los Angeles and helped home producer Phil Spector’s famous Wall of Sound technique.He toured for three months in 1965 with the Beach Boys, filling in for singer Brian Wilson after he suffered a breakdown.
American songwriter, Musician, Television host, and actor Glen Campbell dies at 81.Campbell released more than 70 albums in his year career.He sold 45 million records and accumulated RIAA gold albums, four platinum album.He placed about 80 different songs on Billboard Country Chart, and also on other Billboard hits.Campbell made history by winning 4 Grammy’s in the country and pop categories.He received two awards in country and western pop.Three of his early hits won Grammy Lifetime Achievements. He was also awarded for male vocalist of the year by Country Music Association (CMA) and Academy of Country Music (ACM).
Campbell played on hundreds of tracks including Daydream Believer by The Monkees, You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling by The Righteous Brothers, Strangers in the Night by Frank Sinatra and Viva Las Vegas by Elvis Presley.The peak of Glen Campbell’s career was in 1975 when he topped the charts around the world with Rhinestone Cowboy.
Despite another smash hit in 1977 – Southern Nights while his private life was in turmoil.Divorce, drink and drugs saw the clean-cut all-American hero fall from grace.He had a fling with 21-year-old country star Tanya Tucker which was the breaking news of that time.
Despite a relapse in 2003, when he was arrested for drunk-driving and his police mug shot was shown around the world, the last two decades had been more settled.
He remarried, started a new family and renewed his Christian faith, while a new generation discovered his music.
“I got down on my knees and prayed. And, eventually, I got rid of those demons,” he said in an interview.
Like his friend Johnny Cash, Campbell released acclaimed new albums with younger musicians, covering songs by contemporary artists like U2 and The Foo Fighters.
In 2005 he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
“It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather,” the family said.The legendary guitarist announced his Alzheimer’s diagnosis in 2011.
He was credited with paving the way for other country crossover artists such as Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers.
Dolly Parton also paid tribute to Campbell, describing him as “one of the greatest voices of all time”.
Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys said he was “very broken up” by Campbell’s death.He tweeted that “Campbell was an incredible musician and an even better person”.
Singer Brad Paisley praised Campbell “for the artistry, grace & class you brought to country music”.
“You were a shining light in so many ways,” he tweeted.
Campbell played on hundreds of tracks including Daydream Believer by The Monkees, You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling by The Righteous Brothers, Strangers in the Night by Frank Sinatra and Viva Las Vegas by Elvis Presley.
