
Glen Campbell (1936–2017)
Yesterday, America lost one of its greatest voices: Glen Campbell died after a difficult battle with Alzheimers at the age of 81.
I was introduced to Campbell’s music at a young age by my father, and soon fell in love with his catalogue of recordings. Campbell’s performance of the Jimmy Webb song “Wichita Lineman” was my first experience of being genuinely, deeply moved by music, and remains one of my favourite songs.
I had the pleasure of seeing Jimmy Webb perform that, and the other songs he wrote for Campbell, at a concert last September, where he paid wonderful tribute to his friend and colleague.
Other favourites of mine as a child includes “Dreams of the Everyday Housewife” and “Where’s The Playground Susie”, while age increased my appreciation for “Galveston” and “Rhinestone Cowboy”. Any song, performed by Campbell, is imbued with an extraordinary melancholy.
At a funeral I attended last August, “Rhinestone Cowboy” was played at the graveside, and I was blown away by the poignancy of the choice.
Campbell himself had so many great songs about life and mortality — which ones his family will choose to play at the funeral is anyone’s guess.
I’ve prepared a short playlist of my favourite Glen Campbell recordings, both originals and covers. I hope you’ll give it a listen:

