http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001526233 Singer/Songwriter Chris Whitley Dies November 22, 2005, 10:45 AM ET Katie Hasty, N.Y. Singer/songwriter Chris Whitley died Sunday (Nov. 20) at the age of 45 after battling lung cancer. The veteran Texas-reared artist recorded for Columbia, ATO and, most recently, Messenger Records, which released his eleventh album, "Soft Dangerous Shores," in July. A new release, "Reiter In," is due in mid-December on vinyl and will appear on CD sometime next year. Whitley is survived by his daughter Trixie, his brother Dan and his fiancee Susann. "I hope you all will mourn my brother's death but more important celebrate his life as Chris was all about life and living," Dan wrote on Chris' official Web site. "I started the celebration by cranking up [the 1998 album] 'Dirt Floor' in his honor ... crying still." "Chris is an example of one of those things that appalls me about the record industry - ATO co-founder Dave Matthews told Billboard in 2001. "That is, how could a talent like his go relatively unnoticed? So few singers have their own personality, and Chris is his own man to the bone. Honestly, I feel more passion for his music than I do for my own. My music I'm critical of. But I have a fervent, religious devotion to the magic that Chris makes." "What I came to terms with by making some small indie records and meeting other people who work in that way is that, hey, if a record doesn't do blockbuster numbers, then that's OK," Whitley told Billboard in 2001. "I feel more comfortable with my place in the culture now and the fact that I don't have to fear the cool police or this cult of youth."
This is straight out of fricking left field. I had no idea he was ill. What a fantastic songwriter. He will be greatly missed. R.I.P.
I saw him here in Houston a couple months back. There was a tribute/benefit show at the Meridian my band played and he was there to play just acoustically. I talked with him for a few minutes backstage. He looked like a skeleton. He came out on stage and made it through about 30 seconds of a song before apologizing and saying he couldn't go on. He had to be helped off. At the time, I thought he was strung out because that was exactly how it appeared. Now, I know. In those 30 seconds, he was better than most bands I've seen for entire shows. Really sad.
I bought his first CD ("Living With The Law") when it came out and tried to figure out his songs. He used all sorts of weird tunings. Very good musician. His website has a nice message board with lots of people paying tribute to him. Some great stories. http://www.chriswhitley.com/
I arrived late at that same show, but I remember you mentioning how bad he looked. A couple of days ago, I saw a post on the emusic.com message boards that said he had gone to hospice care. I guess he was nearer to the end than I had imagined.
I had no idea that he was sick. I'm very surprised and saddened to hear about this. I haven't listened to his music in awhile, but I thought he was a very soulful and talented musician.
