Country singer-songwriter Charlie Robison passed away on Sunday in a hospital in San Antonio after suffering from cardiac arrest.
A statement from a family representative confirmed Robison's passing and his wife, Kristen Robison, said, "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."
Robison's passing seems to have been unexpected and his family will need plenty of support while they deal with this.
Robison has four children with his current wife and three children from a previous marriage with Emily Strayer, one of the founding members of country band The Chicks.
Robison grew up in Bandera, Texas on his family's ranch that they had owned for generations.
Robison was a quintessential Texas man standing at 6'4" and with years of experience doing hard work on a ranch. Those experiences made him a relatable figure for many Texans which boosted his status in the Texas country music scene.
Robison got into music in the late 1980s playing for local Austin bands but it wasn't until 1996 that Robison made his solo debut with the release of "Bandera," named after the ranch he grew up on.
Two years later, Sony approached Robison which would lead to a good twenty-year music career before coming to a sudden stop.
In 2018, Robison underwent a tonsillectomy and another procedure to remove extra tissue in the throat which went wrong and led to his voice being permanently damaged leaving Robison unable to perform.
Robison went on to sue the doctor that had performed the procedure but after years of back and forth in court, Robison dropped the case.
Nonetheless, Robison had been forced into early retirement bringing an early end to a successful career and robbing Texas of one of its great entertainers.
Singer-songwriter Kevin Fowler praised Robison's contributions to country music saying, "His voice was so unique. It was something refreshing. It wasn’t what was going on at the time — all the slick Nashville stuff. Here’s a guy with raw, rough edges."
Fowler added, "That’s really what helped fuel this scene, was the authenticity of it. It wasn’t about going out and kissing radio [butts] and trying to get air play, it was about the live show and connecting to fans. I think we just took what Willie [Nelson] was doing and took it to the next level."
While Robison may be gone, his music remains for fans to enjoy for years to come.
