Song:Don't Close Your Eyes
Album:16 Biggest Hits
Keith Whitley was well on his way to becoming one of the biggest country music stars of the 90s when he tragically died of alcohol poisoning in 1989. Don't Close Your Eyes was his first number one country music hit. He was born July 1, 1954 in Sandy Hook, KY. Like his buddy Ricky Skaggs, Whitley started out as a whiz kid bluegrass musician. Both were in Ralph Stanley's band as teens. His stint with J.D. Crowe in the 70s established Whitley as a very talented singer. He moved to Nashville in 1983 and signed with RCA Records. His 1984 solo debut A Hard Act To Follow did not catch on but his second album LA To Miami gave him his first top twenty country single with Miami, My Amy in 1986. While on tour to promote the album, he met and married country singer Lorrie Morgan. Whitley didn't like the results of the recording sessions for his third album. He asked RCA to shelve the album and brought in producer Garth Fundis to start over. Fundis produced Don Williams and Alabama. Apparently Whitley wasn't happy with the songs. This new album Don't Close Your Eyes reached #8 on the Country Album chart and was certified Gold. Don't Close Your Eyes was Whitley's first number one country hit. The song was written by Bob McDill who has written 30 number one country hits. Two more singles from the album topped the country charts. And he got even better results from his next album I Wonder Do You Think Of Me. But Whitley was a long time alcoholic and he was one of those guys who drank alone so he was able to hide the problem. Lorrie Morgan even tied their legs together in bed so he couldn't get up to drink in the middle of the night. Whitley went on a weekend binge and died of alcohol poisoning on May 9, 1989 at age 34. I Wonder Do You Think Of Me was released three months after his death. You can get all of his hits on this budget comp. And when you listen to it, think about what could have been if Keith Whitley had lived. Here's the video for Don't Close Your Eyes by Keith Whitley.
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