Today (August 8) marks the seventh anniversary of the passing of Glen Campbell, who died at age 81 from complications of Alzheimer’s disease. Campbell probably was best known for the series of crossover country-pop hits he released in the late 1960s and ’70s.
Before Glen enjoyed success as a solo artist, he was an in-demand session guitarist who was part of the famous collective of Los Angeles studio musicians known as The Wrecking Crew. He also was a member of The Beach Boys’ touring band in 1964 and ’65.
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[RELATED: Remember When: Glen Campbell Scored His Second No. 1 Hot 100 Hit with the Country-Pop Classic “Southern Nights”]
Campbell clearly was a talented singer and interpreter of songs, but his guitar prowess was perhaps his most impressive skill.
Campbell’s Memorable 1999 Performance of “Gentle on My Mind”
Campbell got to put his talents on full display during a star-studded TV special called Country Homecoming Ryman that was filmed in 1999 at the famous Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. The show featured an impressive lineup of country legends gathered on the Ryman stage at the same time.
In addition to Campbell, the program included Willie Nelson, Chet Atkins, Waylon Jennings, Porter Wagoner, Lorrie Morgan, Roy Clark, Lynn Anderson, Bobby Bare, Janie Fricke, Larry Gatlin, Crystal Gayle, Ferlin Husky, B.J. Thomas, Ricky Van Shelton, and Ray Stevens, among others. Emceeing the gathering was veteran TV host and country radio DJ Ralph Emery.
After Emery and Bare introduced Campbell, Glen played a version of his 1967 hit cover of singer/songwriter John Hartford’s “Gentle on My Mind” on acoustic guitar that truly wowed his co-stars.
Before playing the tune, Campbell explained, “It is amazing, I found out in the business, how some songs will affect you. I heard ‘Gentle on My Mind’ on the radio, I heard John Hartford’s record. He did it real slow … and I liked what the song said.”
Glen started singing and playing a faithful version of the song, with help of an onstage house band. After going through a couple of verses, Campbell commented, “I’ll play one,” and proceeded to deliver a deft, fluid solo that had his fellow country luminaries smiling and cheering.
At the end of the song, Campbell got a big round of applause, then said, “Thank you all. … Just to sit around and look at these faces here, to be singing, man. Whoa, something went through me!”
More About “Gentle on My Mind”
Hartford said he was inspired to write “Gentle on My Mind” after watching the film Doctor Zhivago. He released his original version of the tune in 1967 on his second studio album, Earthwords & Music.
Campbell’s cover was recorded and released that same year, and it peaked at No. 30 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, while reaching No. 62 on the Billboard Hot 100.
After Campbell had a bigger hit in 1968 with “By the Time I Get to Phoenix,” his version of “Gentle on My Mind” was re-released and climbed to No. 39 on the Hot 100.
At the 1968 Grammy Awards, Hartford and Campbell won to trophies each thanks to the song.
Glen later used “Gentle on My Mind” as the theme song of his TV variety shows, which ran from 1969 to 1972.
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