70s Artist Watch:Glenn Campbell- IN MEMORY

Update 9th August 2017

Rhinestone Cowboy singer Glen Campbell has died at the age of 81 after "a long and courageous battle" with Alzheimer's disease, his family said.

"It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather," their statement said.

The legendary guitarist announced his Alzheimer's diagnosis in 2011.

A self-taught prodigy, he rose from a poor rural childhood to release over 70 albums and sell 45 million records.

Born in 1936 Glenn Campbell  he was a man always in the pop world, touring with the Beach Boys in the 1960s and even playing on their albums. He had big hits in the 60s with "Witicha  Linesman" and "Galveston". The 70s were just as a s good as he starred in the CNBS weekly show "The Glenn Campbell Goodtime Hour" and astarred in the film "Norwood", and had an album of the same name, and appeared on hundreds of variety TV programmmes including the "Donny and Marie Show".

His influence of the music of the 70s was huge especially in the US.

1971 TV Personality of the Year
1975 Single of the Year - "Rhinestone Cowboy"
American Music Awards
1976 Favorite Pop/Rock Single - "Rhinestone Cowboy"
1976 Favorite Country Single - "Rhinestone Cowboy"
1977 Favorite Country Album -

Country Music Association of Great Britain
1974 Entertainer of the Year

   

The song "Rhinestone Cowboy" from the same named album charted at No1 in the US as a single. In fact Glenn had 15 top twenty albums in the US during the 1970s.

The full lyrics to "Rhinestone Cowboy"

I've been walkin' these streets so long
Singin' the same old song
I know every crack in these dirty sidewalks of Broadway
Where hustle's the name of the game
And nice guys get washed away like the snow and the rain
There's been a load of compromisin'
On the road to my horizon
But I'm gonna be where the lights are shinin' on me

Like a rhinestone cowboy
Riding out on a horse in a star-spangled rodeo
Like a rhinestone cowboy
Getting cards and letters from people I don't even know
And offers comin' over the phone

Well, I really don't mind the rain
And a smile can hide all the pain
But you're down when you're ridin' the train that's takin' the long way
And I dream of the things I'll do
With a subway token and a dollar tucked inside my shoe
There'll be a load of compromisin'
On the road to my horizon
But I'm gonna be where the lights are shinin' on me

Like a rhinestone cowboy
Riding out on a horse in a star-spangled rodeo
Rhinestone cowboy
Gettin' cards and letters from people I don't even know
And offers comin' over the phone

Like a rhinestone cowboy
Riding out on a horse in a star-spangled rodeo

FADE
Like a rhinestone cowboy
Gettin' card and letters from people I don't even know

Guitar Chords to "Rhinestone Cowboy"

His singles included "Oh Happy Days","Honey Come Back"

And "Where Did You Go" "All I have To Do Is Dream","Less  Of Me", "Someone Above"  plus many more in 1970.

1971 gave him   "Dream Baby","Here and Now",The Last Time I Saw Her" and more.

1972  to 1974 the singles were not so powerful in relation to chart positions, but the 1975 super hit "Rhinestone Cowboy" changed all that with a huge worldwide hit. That years follow up"Country Boy" was not a big hit outside the States, but still Glenn had the music of the 70s and had sing after single after album after album..

Here is Glenn on the Johnny Cash show in 1970.

In 1977 he released "Southern Nights" and "Sunflower". The first is played below.

Although he had huge success in the Country Music Charts and the gospel style music, that was really the last big hits of the 1970s.