News broke late Sunday that legendary Texas songwriter and Red Dirt performer Charlie Robison had died at 59 in a San Antonio hospital.
“So sad we lost Charlie Robison yesterday. God Bless all of the Robison family. He brought so much great music to the great state and others. Rest in Peace my friend,” George Strait said on X, formerly Twitter.
Robison got his start in the 1980s with the Austin band Two Hoots and a Holler. He was approached by Sony in 1998, and later recorded his first solo album for Lucky Dog.
“This one hurts, rest easy Charlie Robison. An absolute Texas legend. Thank you so much for all you did for so many artist. You will be missed,” Koe Wetzel said on X.
Charlie Robison in the top 40
Robison found his greatest success in 2001 with the single “I Want You Bad.” The release brought Robison into the top 40 for the first time in his career.
“I opened for Charlie Robison in Corpus Christi on the day Merle Haggard died. I remember being so insanely excited to play a show with one of my heroes and he played almost all Haggard songs that night. It was so bad a**! RIP to an absolute legend,” Parker McCollum said on X.
Charlie Robison retires from performing
Robison retired from recording and performing in 2018 after a surgery led to the loss of his singing ability. Robison took a four year hiatus from the stage.
Charlie Robison’s last performance
Robison had recently started performing again and was gaining strength in his voice again. The crowd helped Robison sing his hit “El Cerrito” in an emotional video posted to Youtube by Geoff Corneau. It would be one of Robison’s last performances.
The news comes a week after the music community lost another legendary songwriter Jimmy Buffett.
“So sad to hear about the passing of my buddy and partner in crime Charlie Robison. He is a true Texas Country legend. Texas/Red Dirt music wouldn’t be what it is today without him,” Kevin Fowler wrote on Facebook.
Robison is survived by his wife Kristen and four children.
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