Crystal Gayle
September 24, 2024 at 7:30 PM
Crystal was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry as a member in January 2017 by her sister Loretta Lynn. The Academy of Country Music recognized Crystal with the 2016 Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award for her lifetime achievements in country music. And in 2009 Crystal was honored to receive her own star on the fabled Hollywood Walk of Fame.
These honors are fitting tributes to Crystal who has been a favorite of audiences of country and popular music since attaining national prominence with her first chart records in the mid-seventies. Renowned for her classic recording of her timeless signature song Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue, Crystal also scored with her multi-format hits You’ve Been Talking In Your Sleep, When I Dream, Half the Way and her duet with Eddie Rabbitt, Just You and I. Crystal has released over twenty number one hits and has been awarded numerous times by the Grammy’s, the Country Music Association, the Academy of Country Music, the American Music Awards, and the American Music Operators Association. Of Crystal Gayle’s 35 top-10 country hits to date, 13 have become sizable pop and/or adult-contemporary hits as well.
Crystal recently released her new album You Don’t Know Me. Christos Gatzimos, Crystal’s son, co-produced the project with her and also recorded and mixed the tracks. The album contains classic country songs that had special significance to Crystal in her youth and early career. “This wasn’t a stretch at all,” says Crystal. “These are songs I grew up singing and they are very much a part of my history.” Included are favorites Ribbon of Darkness, the first song Crystal performed on the Grand Ole Opry while in high school; old friend Eddy Arnold’s You Don’t Know Me; the George Jones drinking song Just One More that Loretta’s husband Mooney always made her sing as a youngster; and brother Jay Lee Webb’s You Never Were Mine. A special treat is the Dolly Parton / Bill Owens song Put It Off Until Tomorrow – the first ever recording of sisters Crystal, Loretta and Peggy Sue.
Crystal has one of the most wide-ranging repertoires of any country star. She collaborated with Tom Waits on the soundtrack of the Francis Ford Coppola’s 1982 film One from the Heart and recorded theme songs for the TV series Masquerade (1983, with Paul Williams), Dallas (1985, with Gary Morris) and the soap opera Another World (1987, with Gary Morris). Honored to have performed with fellow Hoosier Hoagy Carmichael, she devoted an acclaimed album to his compositions. Crystal also found great personal satisfaction in recording two inspirational albums. Her Grammy nominated “Someday” was comprised of mostly original spiritual songs and “He Is Beautiful” contains mostly traditional hymns. These efforts led to Crystal’s 2009 induction into the Christian Music Hall of Fame.
Crystal has contributed songs to three Grammy winning children’s albums: Sesame Country (a duet with Big Bird), Here comes the Rainbow, and Songs from the
Neighborhood – The Music of Mr. Rogers. Crystal adds her first solo children’s album, In My Arms, a collection of lullabies that perfectly suits her warm vocals. “I loved all of these songs immediately and the tender and imaginative production makes In My Arms an album that appeals to children of all ages.”
Crystal is a long-time resident of Nashville, Tennessee. When Crystal is not touring, she spends much of her personal time with her immediate and extended family. Crystal also makes time for community involvement. She was the first recipient of the Waterford Crystal “Celebration of Light” award in recognition of her many charitable activities.
