Country Legend Eddy Arnold Dies at 89
On 05-08-2008
at 10:47 am
It is with great sorrow that we report the death of Eddy Arnold at age 89. Arnold, whose hits included “Make the World Go Away” and “The Last Word in Lonesome is Me,” was one of the most successful country singers in history. Joel Whitburn’s book, “Top Country Singles 1944-1993,” ranks Arnold the No. 1 country singer in terms of overall success on the Billboard country charts. It lists his first No. 1 hit as “It’s a Sin,” in 1947, and for the following year ranks his “Bouquet of Roses” as the biggest hit of the entire year. After a half-decade lull in his career during the late ’50s, Arnold revitalized his career in the early ’60s by adding strings to his recordings. This initially drew criticism from some of his contemporaries; however, most of them eventually adopted this technique, and Arnold is credited with pioneering the “Nashville Sound” used so effectively by Patsy Cline and Jim Reeves. Many of Arnold’s hits were produced by legendary guitarist Chet Atkins.
Eddy Arnold’s wife of 66 years, Sally, passed away in March. He is survived by a daughter, Jo Ann Pollard of Brentwood, TN; a son, Richard Edward Arnold, Jr., of Nashville; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
After supper at a friend’s house when I was I kid, I heard Eddy Arnold’s voice for the first time. I can’t really explain it, but for some reason his voice always made me feel safe and secure. A younger friend of mine told me once that he remembered being a child, at bedtime, overhearing his parents play Eddy’s records on the living room stereo. He said, “It was like a giant soothing hand had been placed on my head as I went to sleep.” I have to admit, I feel the same way to this very day. Maybe this explains why Eddy had such a successful career. I’ll be having a drink to old Eddy after work tonight, and I’ll bet a lot of other folks will do the same. We’ll miss him terribly.
Country Music definitely had a piece of it amputated this morning. Eddy will sorely be missed. I consider him the Frank Sinatra of Country Music. He approached country music with such an elegant touch, forever changing mainstream’s perception of it. Everybody might not know that Eddy Arnold sang the classic “Make the World Go Away,” but I am pretty sure that the vast majority have heard it. What I am worried about, is if they sweep his death under the rug like they do with most of the country greats that pass away.