Glen Campbell is the definition of musical legend with a very long and storied career. In the early ’60’s he was a sought after session player for the famous Wrecking Crew and played for many stars (Bobby Darin, Ricky Nelson, Frank Sintra, Merle Haggard, The Monkees, The Association and The Mamas & The Papas.) He played bass with The Beach Boys, when Brian Wilson’s stage fright prevented him from playing live. The Beach Boys offered him a job, and he turned it down to pursue a successful solo career. While not a songwriter, he was an exceptional guitar player and vocalist – and nobody could play Jimmy Webb tunes like Glen could.
Throughout the late ’60s and early ’70s, Campbell began to record hit after hit including “Wichita Lineman” (1968) and “Galveston” (1969), “Try a Little Kindness” (1969), “Honey Come Back” (1970), “Everything a Man Could Ever Need” (1970), and “It’s Only Make Believe” (1970).
His hits catapulted him to his own prime time TV show, and peaked in 1975 with his biggest #1 song “Rhinestone Cowboy” from there he delivered more hits until his last #1 “Southern Nights.” After his hit-making days, he never really retired, playing until his affliction with Alzheimer’s disease took his life. More than any other musician I can think of he brought country music to the mainstream of pop. Take some time to re-discover this master performer.
