I miss Keith Whitley…
In a career that spanned only 5 years after the release of his first album, and only releasing two albums and an EP before his death in 1989, Keith managed to become one of the greatest country singers of all time.
I think many of us country music fans share the sentiment that he would go down in history as one of the biggest, if not the biggest, legends in country music if would’ve been able to make more music.
And his only son with wife and fellow country legend Lorrie Morgan, Jesse Keith Whitley, is a singer and songwriter himself, working to try and carry on his dad’s legacy.
We’ve seen him cover his dad’s songs in the past, and he did an incredible rendition of Keith’s “Tell Lorrie I Love Her” before that will give you chills.
But today, I want to share his rendition of his dad’s classic hit, “Don’t Close Your Eyes.” Written by Bob McDill, it was released in March of 1988 as the third single from his album of the same name, eventually peaking at #1 on the Billboard U.S. Hot Country Songs chart.
Jesse’s version was featured on the 2017 Country Grass album, which also included performances on other songs by artists like Crystal Gayle and Lee Greenwood.
This specific cover also has vocals from Tim Cifers and Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road, but of course, Jesse’s vocals, which are hauntingly similar to his late father, absolutely steal the show.
I love it.
The timeless original:
