Country Music Legend Eddy Arnold, R.I.P.
The world lost a country music legend today. Singer Eddy Arnold, a chart staple for many years, passed away near Nashville this morning, according to reports in The New York Times and on Billboard.com. He was just a week shy of his 90th birthday.
Arnold rose to prominence in the years immediately following World War II, earning the nickname "The Tennessee Plowboy" and deploying a string of hits that dominated the country charts from the late 1940s on through the late 1960s. Indeed, his presence on the country charts is unmatched to this day. Arnold continued recording well into this decade, releasing his 100th album, After All This Time, in 2005. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1966.
Later in his career, the crooner shed his plowboy image and adopted an urban gentleman look that complemented his songs' new lush arrangements. Those songs, which include hits "Make the World Go Away", "Somebody Like Me", and "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye", often towed a line between the traditional country & western style and a more mainstream pop sensibility. Two of Arnold's songs were later covered by Elvis Presley, whom Arnold is said to have influenced.
The singer, whose wife passed away earlier this year, is survived by two children, two grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
Eddy Arnold: "Make the World Go Away"
Eddy Arnold: "The Richest Man (in the World)"
Arnold rose to prominence in the years immediately following World War II, earning the nickname "The Tennessee Plowboy" and deploying a string of hits that dominated the country charts from the late 1940s on through the late 1960s. Indeed, his presence on the country charts is unmatched to this day. Arnold continued recording well into this decade, releasing his 100th album, After All This Time, in 2005. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1966.
Later in his career, the crooner shed his plowboy image and adopted an urban gentleman look that complemented his songs' new lush arrangements. Those songs, which include hits "Make the World Go Away", "Somebody Like Me", and "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye", often towed a line between the traditional country & western style and a more mainstream pop sensibility. Two of Arnold's songs were later covered by Elvis Presley, whom Arnold is said to have influenced.
The singer, whose wife passed away earlier this year, is survived by two children, two grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
Eddy Arnold: "Make the World Go Away"
Eddy Arnold: "The Richest Man (in the World)"
Recent News
Most Read News
- The Pitchfork Guide to Summer Festivals 2008
- The Pitchfork Guide to Upcoming Releases: Summer '08
- My Bloody Valentine Lead Unfuckingbelievable Lineup for New York All Tomorrow's Parties Fest
- Is This Really the New Weezer Album Cover?
- Dear God, Please Let This Be the Lil Wayne Album Cover
- My Bloody Valentine Announce North American Tour!
- Tom Waits Reveals "Glitter and Doom" Tour
- Sigur Ros Line Up Summer Tour Dates
- Coldplay Reveal Viva la Vida Tracklist
- Sigur Rós Announce Full North American Tour
- Photos: Bonnaroo [Saturday]
- Wolf Parade March Out New LP Tracklist
- Photos: Sasquatch! Festival [Monday] (NSFW)
- Beck Announces Summer Tour
- Wolf Parade Announce Summer Tour
- Sonic Youth Reveal Starbucks Hits Comp Details
- Photos: Bonnaroo [Thursday/Friday]
- Sigur Ros Sneak Peeks of New Album, Expand Tour
- Pitchfork's Guide to Record Store Day
- Radiohead, Live Nation Respond to Virginia Washout
- Peter Hook Talks New Order Split, DVD, Joy Division
- Ian Curtis' Gravestone Stolen
- Was Bonnaroo Really M.I.A.'s "Last Gig Ever"?
- Tom Waits Extends "Glitter and Doom" Tour
- Pitchfork Festival: Set Times Revealed! Tix Going Fast!
- The New Mogwai Album Tracklist Is Amazing
- Wolf Parade Join the 2008 Cover Art Hall of Fame
- The Conor Oberst Album Cover Is Dreamy
- Built to Spill Reveal Full-Blown Perfect Tour
- Crystal Castles Caught Up in Artwork Controversy
- Photos: Radiohead [West Palm Beach, FL; 05/05/08]
- Girl Talk's Feed the Animals Available Now!
- Radiohead Use Fancy Technology in Camera-Free Video
- The New Mogwai Album Cover Is Disappointing
- My Morning Jacket Announce Lengthy American Tour
- Weezer Reveal "Red Album" Tracklist, Bonus Cuts
- The National Design T-Shirt for Obama
- Arcade Fire Scoring Donnie Darko Dude's New Movie
- Josh Homme Defends Himself: "Homophobic? I'm in Queens of the Stone Age for Crissake"
- Radiohead, Prince at Odds Over Blocked YouTube Vids
- Radiohead to Go "Green" on "Conan O'Brien"
- Feist Does "1234" on "Sesame Street", Adds Dates
- Radiohead, Interpol, Pornos Fete Independents Day
- R. Kelly Not Guilty!!!!
- Crystal Castles Respond to Chip Music Controversy
- Kanye West Responds to Bonnaroo Haters
- Wanna Open for Coldplay?
- Sub Pop Announces 20th Anniversary Bash
- Bob Dylan Big Ups Barack Obama
- OiNK Users Apparently Arrested by British Police