Glen Campbell, the man behind the 1975 hit, “Rhinestone Cowboy”, has passed away. He was 81 years old.
A multi-talented icon in the American entertainment industry, he was a singer, songwriter, musician, television host, and actor. He was best known for a series of hits in the 60s and 70s, and for hosting a music and comedy variety show called “The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour” on CBS television from 1969 through 1972.
Glen released more than 70 albums in his 50 years in show business, selling 45 million records and accumulated 12 RIAA gold albums, 4 platinum albums, and 1 double-platinum album. His hits include “Gentle on My Mind”, “By the Time I Get to Phoenix”, “Wichita Lineman”, “Galveston”, “Rhinestone Cowboy”, and “Southern Nights”. In 1967, he made history when he won 4 Grammys in the country and pop categories. He also won 3 Grammy “Hall of Fame” Awards in 2000, 2004, and 2008, as well as the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012.
In June 2011, when Glen was 75 years old, he revealed that he had Alzheimer’s disease. His family confirmed the news, saying that symptoms of the disease had been occurring for years, becoming increasingly evident as time progressed.
Glen went on a final “Goodbye Tour” with 3 of his children joining him in his backup band and his final show was no 30th November 2012. He played 151 shows on his final tour. He also performed “Rhinestone Cowboy” as a goodbye at the 2012 Grammy Awards ceremony, his final televised on-stage performance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipYfgCIvKl8
In 2016, Rolling Stone reported that Campbell was living in a Nashville memory care facility and that he was in the “final stages” of his disease. He was unable to communicate with people or understand what people said to him. Glen passed away of Alzheimer’s disease in Nashville, Tennessee, on 8th August 2017 (US time), 6 years after his diagnosis.
A note on his official website reads:
“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.
Glen is survived by his wife, Kim Campbell of Nashville, TN; their three children, Cal, Shannon and Ashley; his children from previous marriages, Debby, Kelli, Travis, Kane, and Dillon; ten grandchildren, great- and great-great-grandchildren; sisters Barbara, Sandra, and Jane; and brothers John Wallace “Shorty” and Gerald.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Glen Campbell Memorial Fund at BrightFocus Foundation through the CareLiving.org donation page.
A personal statement from Kim Campbell will follow.
The family appreciates your prayers and respect for their privacy at this time.”
Goodbye, Mr. Rhinestone Cowboy. Thank you for having graced us with your talent.
Rest in peace.
