1. Chris Whitley died in 2005 of lung cancer at the age of 45.
14 Facts About Chris Whitley
1. 2.
Chris Whitley was born in Houston, Texas to a father who was an art director in corporate advertising and a mother who was a sculptor and painter.
3.
Chris Whitley had a three years younger brother named Dan, and a sister named Bridget.
4.
At the age of fifteen Chris Whitley taught himself to play guitar by ear, inspired by Jimi Hendrix and Creedence Clearwater Revival.
5.
From 1977 until 1981, Chris Whitley was busking on the streets of New York City and then collaborated with musicians Marc Miller, Arto Lindsay and Michael Beinhorn.
6.
Chris Whitley formed a band named A Noh Rodeo with his girlfriend Helene Gevaert and her brother Alan.
7.
Chris Whitley recorded several albums and played with the bands Kuruki, 2 Belgen, Nacht Und Nebel, Alan Fawn.
8.
Producer Daniel Lanois heard Chris Whitley perform at the Mondo Cane club in New York City, and helped him obtain a recording contract with Columbia Records.
9.
Chris Whitley created annual albums until his death; Chris Whitley collaborated with Jeff Lang on an album called Dislocation Blues in 2005.
10.
Chris Whitley recorded songs by Robert Johnson and Bob Dylan as well as Lou Reed, James Brown, JJ Cale, The Clash, Nat King Cole, The Doors, Willie Dixon, The Flaming Lips, Jimi Hendrix, Howlin' Wolf, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Kraftwerk, Gary Numan, The Passions, Prince, The Stooges, and Sonny Boy Williamson II.
11.
Chris Whitley witnessed his alcoholism which worsened after his mother died in 2004.
12.
Chris Whitley died on November 20,2005, in Houston, Texas, at the age of 45.
13.
Chris Whitley was an inaugural member of The Independent Music Awards' judging panel to support independent artists.
14.
Notable fans of Chris Whitley's music include, ATO co-founder Dave Matthews, blues guitarist Robert Lockwood, Jr.