Country Music Star Locklin Dead at 91
According to Reuters, country music star Hank Locklin died Monday of undisclosed reasons in Brewton, Alabama. He was 91 years old.
Locklin was born in 1918 in the Florida Panhandle. He began his career playing guitar and singing on the radio across the South as a teen.
He went on to help popularize the idea of a concept album and had songs gain international fame in countries ranging from Ireland to Japan.
His first top-ten country hit, "The Same Sweet Girls," was recorded in 1949, and he had another, "Let Me Be the One," in 1953.
A 1957 recording of "Send Me the Pillow You Dream On" was popular in both the US and the UK and has been covered by artists such as Dolly Parton and Dwight Yoakam.
Locklin joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1960, the same year his hit, "Please Help Me, I'm Falling," sat atop of the country music charts for 14 weeks.
Locklin is also credited with helping propagate the idea of a themed concept album with albums such as, A Tribute to Roy Acuff, King of Country Music, Foreign Love and Irish Songs Country Style, which led to tours of both England and Ireland.
Locklin's 65th album and final recording, By the Grace of God, was a collection of gospel songs released in 2006.