Rhinestone Cowboy star Glen Campbell dead at 81
COUNTRY music star Glen Campbell has died at the age of 81.
The singer, famous for hits including the Rhinestone Cowboy and Wichita Lineman, had been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease for several years.
He died yesterday at an Alzheimer’s facility in Nashville, US, surrounded by his family, his publicist said.
During a career that spanned six decades, Campbell sold more than 45million records. In 1968, one of his biggest years, he outsold The Beatles.
The musician’s family said in a statement: ‘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.’
Campbell rose from a impoverished childhood in r ural Arkansas to become a top session musician in Los Angeles, before hitting the big time under his own name. Despite his successes, he struggled with alcohol and cocaine addiction.
Campbell began his career as a well-regarded recording session guitarist in LA before becoming a fixture on the US music charts, radio and television in the ’60s and ’70s.
He won six Grammy Awards in a career of more than 50 years.
In 1981 he became a born-again Christian and in 1982 he married Kimberly Woollen, who helped Campbell to clean up his life.
The star was married four times, and leaves five sons and three daughters.
In his later years, Campbell crossed genres and age barriers. His 2008 album Meet Glen Campbell featured songs from U2, the Velvet Underground, Green Day and Foo Fighters.
He announced in June 2011 that he was suffering from Alzheimer’s. The singer then embarked on a nationwide farewell tour that ended in November 2012.
He released a final studio album in June this year, called Adios, that was recorded after the tour wrapped up.