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Charlie Rich was simultaneously one of the most critically acclaimed and most erratic country singers of post-World
War II era. Rich had all the elements of being one of the great country stars of the '60s and '70s, but his popularity never
matched his critical notices. Rich was a great pionoist as he was a singer, I would campare Richs' piano talents to that of
Floyd Cramer. Rich had 45 total country hits in his career that spanned nearly four decades, but what made him a critical
favorite also seemed to keep him from mass sucess. Rich bent genres, he fused country, jazz, blues, gospel, rock and soul.
Rich himself always shunned stardom and the bright lights and utimately retired in the 80s from everything. Rich did give
us such great songs as "The Most Beutifull Girl in the World" , "Behind Closed Doors" and " Rolling with the Flow". If one
ever heard either of these three songs, one will never forget them and know exactly who sung the song the second time you
hear it. Richs' signature song is "The Most Beutifull Girl in the World" and my favorite Rich song is "Rolling with the Flow".
Rich died of a blood clot in his lungs in 1995, but he left behind a legacy of music that many great stars still today quote
as an insperation.
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