S.O.D. "The Most Beautiful Girl" by Charlie Rich

10/4/2015     This is one of his most memorable tunes, and along with "Behind Closed Doors", 2 of his 10 #1 singles.  Studying mainly blues and jazz in his early years, he really didn't consider country music until well into his career.  In high school he played the saxophone until an African-American sharecropper, C. J. Allen, who lived on the family land, taught him blues piano.  While attending college first on a football scholarship and then as a music major, he married Margaret Ann Greene in 1952.  After joining the Air Force in 1953 and being stationed in Enid, Oklahoma, he formed a group called the Velvetones with his wife on lead vocals.  

     His first big break came in 1958 when he became a session musician for Sun Records, playing with and writing songs for many successful musicians including Jerry Lee Lewis, Billy Lee Riley, Carl Mann and Johnny Cash to name a few.  He switched record labels many times and when eventually persuaded to concentrate on country music instead of jazz, his career took off with Epic Records.  "The Most Beautiful Girl," written by Rory Bourke, Billy Shirelle and Norro Wilson took the #1 spot on 3 U.S. charts and 3 Canadian charts, went to #1 in Belgium and charted well in 8 other countries.  The tune also won him two Grammys Awards. The Country Music Association-CMA, named him Entertainer of the Year in 1974.  

     In his later career he began drinking heavily and had a dry spell with any notable music.  At the 1975 Country Music Awards while presenting John Denver with the  Entertainer of the Year Award, obviously intoxicated, he proceeded to light the award on fire with no explanation for it.  This act caused his popularity and record sales to decline, and he was unable to make a comeback until 1977.  In 1978 he appeared as himself in the film "Every Which Way But Loose" starring Clint Eastwood.  He performed the song " I'll Wake You Up When I Get Home" in the movie which went to #3 on the charts.  

     During a road trip in July 1995 he passed away from a pulmonary embolism and was buried in Memorial Park Cemetery in Memphis, Tennessee.  In his later years he was given the name the Silver Fox. In all, Rich released 23 albums and 41 singles.