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".
Somebody
Keith Whitley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've spent my whole life runnin' around
Settlin' down
I never dreamed I'd be settlin' down
But something's comin' over me
Woman, you have got a hold on me
And the reason just might be
Somebody's doin' me right
Somebody's holdin' me tight
Sharin' my days and my nights
Somebody I really like
Just took a hold of my hand
You make me feel like a man
There's been a change in my life
Somebody's doin' me right
It's alright
Oh girl it's alright
Set in my ways
Thinkin' that love would only get in my way
But now I'm wantin' to stay
I like this feelin' of wantin' to stay
Really it's no mystery
What brought all this change in me
You're the one who made me see
How love was meant to be
Somebody's doin' me right
Somebody's holdin' me tight
Sharin' my days and my nights
Somebody I really like
Just took a hold of my hand
You make me feel like a man
There's been a change in my life
Somebody's doin' me right
Somebody's doin' me right
Somebody's holdin' me tight
Sharin' my days and my nights
Somebody I really like
Just took a hold of my hand
You make me feel like a man
There's been a change in my life
Somebody's doin' me right
On the third chorus, step up a whole-step, replacing
the last line with:
Somebody's doin' me right
The lyrics of Keith Whitley's song "Somebody's Doin' Me Right" convey the experience of finding love and the feeling of settling down after a lifetime of running around. The singer admits to being set in his ways and never imagining that love could fit into his life. However, something has changed, and it's revealed that a woman has a hold on him. She's doing him right, holding him tight, making him feel like a man. The singer sings with a sense of astonishment and gratitude, and it becomes clear that the new relationship has brought immense joy to his life.
The song's lyrics are simple, but the melody is catchy and the delivery is authentic. Whitley's voice is distinctive and emotional, which makes the song a classic example of traditional country music. The subject matter and message of the song are also universal, making it easy for anyone to relate to the story of finding love and settling down. The chorus's repetition of "Somebody's doin' me right" is a testament to the singer's delight and reflects the universal desire to find someone who treats you well.
Line by Line Meaning
Runnin' around
I've been living a restless life, never staying in one place for too long.
I've spent my whole life runnin' around
I've never stopped moving or settled down for any significant period of time in my life.
Settlin' down
Calming down and becoming content with a particular way of life.
I never dreamed I'd be settlin' down
I never imagined I would find someone who would make me want to stay in one place and settle down.
But something's comin' over me
I'm feeling a change in my attitudes and behavior.
Woman, you have got a hold on me
The person who is causing this change in my life is a woman who has a strong influence over me.
And the reason just might be
I'm beginning to understand what caused this shift in my life.
You're so good to me
The way this woman treats me is making me feel loved and appreciated.
Somebody's doin' me right
Someone is treating me in a way that makes me happy and fulfilled.
Somebody's holdin' me tight
Someone is physically and emotionally embracing me, making me feel secure and valued.
Sharin' my days and my nights
I am spending my time with this person both day and night and they are deeply involved in my life.
Somebody I really like
I am attracted to and have strong feelings for this person.
Just took a hold of my hand
This person is physically showing affection and care towards me.
You make me feel like a man
This person's love and affection towards me makes me feel confident and strong.
There's been a change in my life
I have experienced a significant transformation that has affected the way I live my life.
It's alright
I am feeling content, happy and comfortable with this change in my life.
Set in my ways
I had been stuck in a pattern of behavior that I didn't think I would ever change.
Thinkin' that love would only get in my way
I believed that being in love would interfere with my ability to be independent and do what I wanted to do.
But now I'm wantin' to stay
I am starting to feel a strong desire to stay in one place and be close to this person.
I like this feelin' of wantin' to stay
This new feeling of wanting to stay and anchor myself in one place is a positive change for me.
Really it's no mystery
I am beginning to understand what caused this transformation in me.
What brought all this change in me
I am becoming aware of what event or person was behind this significant shift in my life.
You're the one who made me see
This person had a significant impact on my life, and it was because of them that I began to go through this positive transformation.
On the third chorus, step up a whole-step, replacing 'right' with 'just fine'
On the third repetition of the chorus, change the word 'right' to 'just fine'.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, SHARP CIRCLE MUSIC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: FRED KNOBLOCH, PAUL OVERSTREET, DAN TYLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jaja44366
Absolutely agree! Life is amazing when you meet the most gorgeous gal that makes your heart melt! It’s like you just know she’s the one…it’s like you do everything in your life with joy and see the world like a happy place with my Aiman…inside joke between us Aiman & me😂…
Ps. Amen to Aiman 😂…yup your the one that rocks my world!!!
I adore you if your reading this one day…
Your,
Maxy!!! 😂….
🌙🫶🏼😉🏃🏻♀️🏃🏽♂️
@aprilmontoya7024
I love this song! I wish country music was what it used to be. RIP Keith ❤
@alerogirl2003
He was a true and still is a country legend! He is dearly loved and missed... RIP My Angel Keith...
@freshmintz8597
Daddy's Babygirl no voice like keiths.hes from 2 hours from me in sandy hook ky.im going soon to see the memorabilia of him
@garydavis5858
I agree..i can just listen to Keith sing anything, and smile like crazy....the perfect mix of twang and emotion
@erikjones776
Great song. Very difficult to compare this to modern country, especially with this talent & great true meaning. They don't make them like they used to-coming from a 35 year old!
@mike562010
This is one of the best sings written by Schuyler, Knobloch and Overstreet, and their version of this song was on their album S-K-O. Keith's version was more popular and was on his album Kentucky Bluebird. Keith had such an expressive voice, and sadly he died just when he was finally able to record the kind of music he had always wanted to perform. He is greatly missed!
@briannabradyy
this man is perfection! i love all his music! :) Rip Keith
@freshmintz8597
Brianna Brady the only bestest voice in country.i love all his music also.im headin to his hometown soon to see the memorabilia of him
@TheJeffe613
wish people knew this man's music.awesome musician!
@alexisdesselle9702
2020 and I am still listening to him. He was one of the best!!