24 Facts About Slim Whitman

Slim Whitman was one of six children born to Ottis Dewey Whitman and Lucy Whitman.

Slim Whitman often sang along with records, but Whitman's early ambitions were to become either a boxer or a professional baseball player.

Slim Whitman served during World War II in the South Pacific with the United States Navy.

Slim Whitman's life was saved, as the other ship later sank with all hands lost.

Slim Whitman was a self-taught left-handed guitarist, although he was right-handed.

Slim Whitman had lost almost all of the second finger on his left hand in an accident while working at a meat packing plant.

Slim Whitman had returned to Tampa after the war, where he worked odd jobs at a shipyard while developing a musical career.

Slim Whitman was briefly nicknamed The Smiling Starduster after a stint with a group called The Stardusters.

Slim Whitman released his first single in 1948, "I'm Casting My Lasso Towards the Sky", complete with yodel.

Slim Whitman toured and sang in a variety of venues, including the radio show Louisiana Hayride.

At the time, Slim Whitman's recording efforts were yielding only minor hits in the US.

In 1976, the compilation album The Very Best of Slim Whitman was number one for six weeks, staying 17 weeks on the chart.

Slim Whitman released "Ghost Riders in the Sky" album in 1978.

In 1979, Slim Whitman produced a TV commercial to support Suffolk Marketing's release of a greatest hits compilation titled All My Best.

Slim Whitman's 1955 hit single "Rose Marie" spent 11 weeks at number 1 on the UK Singles Chart and held the record for the longest consecutive number of weeks at number one on the chart for 36 years.

In 1988 or 1990, EMI Australia released his joint album with his son Byron Slim Whitman, titled Magic Moments.

In 2010, after eight years in production, Slim Whitman released the album Twilight on the Trail.

Twilight on the Trail was produced by his son Byron Slim Whitman and featured many well-known session musicians, including long-time band member Harold Bradley.

Slim Whitman was married to Alma Geraldine "Jerry" Crist on June 28th 1941, until her death in 2009.

Slim Whitman released a number of recordings with his father, and toured with him on numerous occasions.

From 1957 until his death, Slim Whitman lived with his family at his estate, Woodpecker Paradise, in Middleburg, Florida.

Slim Whitman was a longtime active member and deacon at Jacksonville Church of the Brethren.

Slim Whitman died of heart failure on June 19,2013, at age 90, at Orange Park Medical Center in Orange Park, Florida.

Slim Whitman is buried in the Middleburg Methodist Church Cemetery in Middleburg, Florida, next to his wife Jerry.