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Chris Whitley

Christopher Becker Whitley (August 31, 1960[1] – November 20, 2005)[2] was an American blues/rock singer-songwriter and guitarist. During his 25-year career, he released more than a dozen albums, had two songs in the top 50 of the Billboard mainstream rock charts and received two Independent Music Awards. Whitley's sound was drawn from the traditions of blues, jazz and rock and he recorded songs by artists from many genres. He died in 2005 of lung cancer at the age of 45.

Chris Whitley

Christopher Becker Whitley

(1960-08-31)August 31, 1960
Houston, Texas

November 20, 2005(2005-11-20) (aged 45)
Houston, Texas

Musician, songwriter

Vocals, resonator guitar, guitar, banjo, dobro, foot stomp

1983–2005

Early life[edit]

Whitley was born in Houston, Texas, and learned to play guitar when he was fifteen.[3] His father was an art director and his mother was a sculptor. During his youth he lived in Dallas, Texas, Oklahoma, Connecticut, Mexico and Vermont. His parents "grew up on race radio in the South" and their musical tastes—including Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix—influenced Whitley.[4]

Death[edit]

In fall 2005, Whitley canceled his tour due to health issues. In November he was reported to be terminally ill with lung cancer and under the care of hospice. He died on November 20, 2005, in Houston, Texas, at the age of 45.[2][13][19] After his death, musician John Mayer said, "[Whitley's] somewhat prostrated place in pop culture earned him a sidebar of an obituary, but to those who knew his work, it registers as one of the most underappreciated losses in all of music."[14] Whitley is survived by his brother Dan and his musician daughter, Trixie Whitley.[19]

(1991)

Living with the Law

Big Sky Country (single, 1991)

(1995)

Din of Ecstasy

(1997)

Terra Incognita

(1998)

Dirt Floor

(1999/2000 - recorded live 1999)

Live at Martyrs'

featuring Billy Martin and Chris Wood (2000)

Perfect Day

(2001)

Rocket House

(2002)

Long Way Around: An Anthology: 1991-2001

(soundtrack) with Warner Poland and Kai-Uwe Kohlschmidt (2003)

Pigs Will Fly

(2003)

Hotel Vast Horizon

(2004)

Weed

(2004)

War Crime Blues

(2005 Sony BMG release highlighting his Columbia Records years)

Big Sky Country

(2005)

Soft Dangerous Shores

with The Bastard Club (2006)

Reiter In

with Jeff Lang (2006)

Dislocation Blues

(2008 - recorded live 2003)

On Air

Bio at Messenger Records