Glen Campbell Forums

One night while flipping channels, I came across a CMT special, "100 Greatest Songs in Country Music." Campbell's classic "Galveston" came in at number eight, and he performed the song along with Steve Wariner. He delivered a classic rendition with a sizzling guitar solo. The crowd responded with a standing ovation.

I still recall being blown away by the performance. In researching this column, I learned it came shortly after Campbell was arrested for drunk driving. He had struggled with substance abuse for much of his adult life, but that arrest seemed to finally put him on the path to sobriety.

"Galveston" became a song I listened to from time to time on my iPod and later iPhone. A few years later I added more of Campbell's songs, including another classic, "Wichita Lineman," and ..."Rhinestone Cowboy" (No. 32 on the top 100 list). I found a couple of his live performances on YouTube and periodically would watch them.

It might seem odd that someone whose musical tastes lean toward classic and Southern rock would like Campbell so much. But he's got a great voice, he's an amazing guitarist, and he sings some classic songs, many penned by the incomparable Jimmy Webb.