Slim
Whitman
January 20th, 1924 - June 19th, 2013
Orange Park, FL
Ottis Dewey Whitman, Jr. known professionally as Slim Whitman, the American country singer known for his yodelling abilities has died at the age of 90
Biography
Whitman had a string of hits in the 1950s and through the 1970s.
His 1955 song, Rose Marie, held the record for the longest reigning number one single in the UK until Bryan Adams broke the record in 1991.
Born in Tampa, Florida, in 1924, Whitman spent time in the Navy before embarking on a music career, which began after he was approached by Elvis' manager, Colonel Tom Parker, who heard him singing on the radio.
Signed to RCA Records, he released his first single, I'm Casting My Lasso Towards the Sky, in 1948.
His breakthrough hit came in 1952 with his cover of Bob Nolan's Love Song of the Waterfall, which peaked at number 10 in the US country chart.
While considered to have been more popular in Europe and particularly the UK than his native America, Whitman's 1952 track Indian Love Call and 1954 song Secret Love, both reached number two on the US Billboard country chart.
He had a further two top five hits in the US that same year.
Whitman was invited to join the Grand Ole Opry following the success of Rose Marie, which spent 11 weeks at the top of the UK singles chart. It reached number four in the US.
Known for his mellow, romantic melodies, he became the first country singer to play the London Palladium in 1956.
He followed the appearance with a string of hits in the UK including Tumbling Tumbleweeds, Unchain My Heart, and I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen in 1957, another UK top 10 hit.
He also appeared in the rock and roll film musical Jamboree in 1957, along with a host of other music stars, including Carl Perkins and Fats Domino.
During the 1960s, Whitman had a series of minor country hits in the US, including More Than Yesterday in 1965, Rainbows Are Back in Style in 1968 and Tomorrow Never Comes released in 1970.
He continued to record in the early 1970s and was a guest on Wolfman Jack's popular TV music show on NBC, The Midnight Special.
He was introduced to a much younger audience when his rendition of Indian Love Call was featured in the 1996 film Mars Attacks!
In 2003, Rob Zombie used Whitman's song I Remember You in his directorial debut, House of 1000 Corpses.
Whitman released his latest album, Twilight on the Trail, in 2012 - his first new studio record in 26 years.
“
It is with sadness that I have learned of the passing of one of the GREATS, Slim Whitman.
I first listened to Slim singing about 1953 (I was 10) and have been since then enthralled by is singing and yodelling abilities, such a pure voice.
I had the privilege of seeing Slim Whitman in New Zealand on two separate occasions of his concert tours here and I have these memories to savour. During the concerts I found it hard to believe that such a pure sound could come from a human being.
I have of course all of the recordings of this great mans voice as well.
I guess at 90 he had served his time in the signing saddle and it was time to hang up his boots and lasso.
Sleep in peace Slim.
Murray Marshall
New Zealand ”
Murray Marshall on:
19/06/2013
