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Charlie Robison, a singer-songwriter who rose to prominence in the Texas country music industry in the late 1990's, died aged 59 in a San Antonio hospital on Sunday, September 10, following a cardiac arrest and other related complications.
Robison originally performed as the frontman of the Millionaire Playboys, before releasing his solo debut, Bandera, in 1996. Two years later, off the back of his celebrated Bandera project, Charlie Robison was approached by Sony, with the up-and-coming songsmith signing with the label's traditional-leaning Lucky Dog imprint.
The Houston native released his first album under Sony, Life of the Party, the same year, with one of Robison's most acclaimed projects, Step Right Up, arriving three years later.
Step Right Up spawned an array of fan-favourite tracks, including ‘I Want You Bad’, which became Charlie Robison's first and only song to break into the country Top 40.
Robison's wife, Kristen Robison, shared a touching message regarding her husband's death on Facebook, “It is with a heavy heart that I share the news that my husband, Charlie Robison has passed away today, surrounded by his family and friends. My heart is broken. Please pray for me, our children and our family”.
In 2003, Charlie Robison became a judge for the first season of Nashville Star, a USA Network TV show seeking to uncover Music City's next country music sensation. The series had a hand in launching the careers of Kacey Musgraves, Miranda Lambert and Chris Young.
Charlie Robison remained a highly respected figure in country music long after he released his final studio album, High Life, in 2013. In an announcement to fans on September 2018, Robison shared that surgical complications had left him without the ability to sing, forcing him to officially retire from performing and recording.
The ‘My Hometown’ crooner is survived by his wife, along with four children and stepchildren. Three of Charlie Robison's children were with Emily Strayer, his first wife and a founding member of the chart-topping country trio, The Chicks.
