Early life
Whitley learned to play a guitar at a very young age, and became involved with a regional television show when he was eight years old. He and his friend, Ricky Skaggs, formed a bluegrass band, which landed both of them their first break in 1970, when they joined Ralph Stanley's Clinch Mountain Boys. Whitley was singing lead for the band by 1974 at the age of 20.
In 1978, he joined J. D. Crowe and the New South as lead vocalist and guitarist. Critics were by then praising his vocals, and these reviews eventually caught the attention of RCA Records, who would sign him to a contract in 1984.
Solo years
Whitley's first solo album, ''A Hard Act to Follow,'' was released in 1984. However, the songs off of the album didn't get much airplay. Critics regarded the album as too erratic; while Whitley was working hard to achieve his own style, the songs he produced were inconsistent, and because of this, the follow up album would be more with pop sounds and a new producer as well who had been in the music buisness for sometime and had several hit records under his belt with other artists Blake Mevis.
L.A. to Miami, released in 1986. This album would give him his first Top 20 country hit single, "Miami, My Amy." The song was followed by three more hit songs, "Ten Feet Away," "Homecoming '63," and "Hard Livin." The album also had included "On The Other Hand" and "Nobody In His Right Mind Would've Left Her." Both George Strait and Randy Travis waited to see if Whitley would release these two songs as singles; when he didn't, Strait grabbed "Nobody in his Right Mind Would've Left Her", and Travis did the same with "On the Other Hand." Both Strait and Travis scored big on both songs, landing both at number one on the country charts.
During his tour to promote ''L.A. to Miami'', he met and started dating Lorrie Morgan, a fellow country singer. The pair were married in November, 1986, and they had their only son, Jesse Keith Whitley, in 1987. Keith also adopted Lorrie's daughter Morgan from her first marriage.
During the new recording sessions in 1987, Whitley started feeling that the songs he was doing were not up to the way he wanted them,nal studio album, ''I Wonder Do You Think of Me''. The album was released three months after his death, on August 1, 1989. The album produced two more #1 hits, with the title track and "It Ain't Nothin'." "I'm Over You" also saw the top ten in the spring of 1990, reaching No. 3.
In 1990, a collection of Keith's greatest hits was released. It has gone on to sell more than three million copies over the years for RCA.
On the greatest hits collection was a demo record that Whitley made in 1987, called "Tell Lorrie I Love Her," and also a new song to which Lorrie Morgan added her vocals to and created a duet called "Til A Tear Becomes A Rose". The song rose to No. 13 and won them 1991's CMA award for Best Vocal Collaboration.
RCA also released a compilation of old performance clips (from his days in the Clinch Mountain Boys and the New South), interviews, and some previously unreleased material under the title "Kentucky Bluebird", a moniker that became Whitley's nickname. The CD has become a huge collector's item among fans over the years due to it being out of print.and is currently in production.
Almost twenty years after Keith's passing fans and fellow singers still wonder what would have happened if Keith had lived, some say Garth Brooks would have taken a back seat to Keith in the 1990's , Tim McGraw and many singers today still are influenced by the man who just wanted to be remembered.
In 2007, long time fan Kindall Wann will be launching an all Keith Whitley radio station on the internet site Live365.com, the station will contain every known public release of Keith's and also the live concerts, demos, and more that fans have has among them for years.
In the summer of 2007, Austin City Limits will be releasing like in past years, several DVDs of their concerts over the years, and Keith's "FULL" concert is one that will be released. The concert filmed is an hour long, but the television version is only 30 minutes long.
Keith's music video's and many rare performances have recently been showing up on the website YouTube.com, one of the performances is from Hee Haw in 1985, Keith singing "Miami, My Amy".
Don't Close Your Eyes
Keith Whitley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Even now in my arms, you still want him I know
But darling this time, your memories die
When you hold me tonight, don't close your eyes
Don't close your eyes, let it be me
Don't pretend it's him, in some fantasy
Darling just once, let yesterday go
Just hold me tight, when you love me tonight
And don't close your eyes
Maybe I've, been a fool, holding on all this time
Lying here in your arms, knowing he's in your mind
But I keep hoping someday, that you'll see the light
Let it be tonight and don't close your eyes
Don't close your eyes, let it be me
Don't pretend it's him, in some fantasy
Darling just once, let yesterday go
And you'll find more love than you'll ever know
Just hold me tight, when you love me tonight
And don't close your eyes
Don't close your eyes, let it be me
Don't pretend it's him, in some fantasy
Darling just once, let yesterday go
And you'll find more love than you'll ever know
Just hold me tight, when you love me tonight
And don't close your eyes
Just hold me tight, when you love me tonight
And don't close your eyes
In Keith Whitley's song Don't Close Your Eyes, he sings about a woman who is still holding onto memories of a past lover, even while in his arms. He pleads with her to let go of those memories and fully embrace their love, asking her to not close her eyes and pretend he is someone else. He acknowledges that he may have been foolish for holding onto her for so long, knowing that she still thinks of her past love, but he remains hopeful that one day she will see the light and fully commit to their relationship. The chorus repeats the message of not closing her eyes and letting go of the past, promising that she will find more love than she ever knew.
The lyrics of this song have been interpreted in different ways by listeners over the years. Some have interpreted it as a message to a woman who is cheating on her current partner with her former love, while others interpret it as a message to a woman who is simply struggling to move on from a past relationship. Whichever interpretation one chooses, the message remains the same: let go of the past and embrace the present with full commitment.
Line by Line Meaning
I know you loved him, a long time ago
I understand that you were in love with him before, and it was a long time ago.
Even now in my arms, you still want him I know
I can tell you still have feelings for him, even when you're in my embrace.
But darling this time, your memories die
However, this time you need to forget your past memories and emotions.
When you hold me tonight, don't close your eyes
Instead, when you hold me tonight, you need to face your feelings and memories with your eyes wide open.
Don't close your eyes, let it be me
Don't close your eyes pretending that he is in your arms, but instead, keep them open and let me be the one you see.
Don't pretend it's him, in some fantasy
You shouldn't deceive yourself into believing that he is here instead of me, in your imagination.
Darling just once, let yesterday go
My dear, just for once, forget about yesterday and focus on the present with me.
And you'll find more love than you'll ever know
If you do this, you will discover that there is more love present between us than you thought was possible.
Just hold me tight, when you love me tonight
When we are together tonight, just hold me tight and love me with all your heart.
And don't close your eyes
And please don't close your eyes, but keep them open so that you can experience the love that is present between us.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bob Mcdill
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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@TrapMusicNow
Dad was awesome. Rip pops. Mom doesn’t know it but you’ll forever be the champ.
@MsBandrews
That must be a beautiful memory for you Thanks for sharing.
@kandygibson6778
Sweetie, I am sorry that you lost your father so young. I feel sure that your father knows that he's your champ, and it thrills him.
@roniegaleano217
❤❤❤❤❤
@rinavandijk-dc5zg
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@rinavandijk-dc5zg
I close my eyes because the memories are better than the real things some time he always on my mind be cos hic already go tho heaven long time ago ❤
@williamhoyle1060
My father passed away earlier this afternoon. 62 years old.
Every Sunday he would make breakfast for us growing up, and he would have this album on cassette just playing on repeat and singing every word.
My father is the reason I love Keith Whitley and country music the way that I do.
Listening to this one loud as hell tonight for you old man. Hope you're singing along too.
@brianluce5277
Sorry to hear
@badanamu9249
Most sincere condolences
@user-jw9pu7nd7y
Sorry for your loss but a great memory