Gus Hardin
Gus Hardin (born Carolyn Ann Blankenship; April 9, 1945 – February 17, 1996) was a country music singer. She recorded for RCA Records between 1983 and 1986, releasing two albums and one extended play. In addition to these, she had a hit single with the Earl Thomas Conley duet "All Tangled Up in Love".
Gus Hardin | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Carolyn Ann Blankenship |
Born | Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S. | April 9, 1945
Died | February 17, 1996 50) Salina, Oklahoma, U.S. | (aged
Genres | Country |
Occupation(s) | Singer |
Instrument(s) | Vocals |
Years active | 1983–1996 |
Labels | RCA |
Career
Carolyn Ann Blankenship was born in 1945 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Her rise to country music popularity began in 1983 with her first single for RCA Records single, the top 10 hit "After The Last Goodbye." Other hits, such as "Fallen Angel," "I Pass," "Lovin' You Hurts" and "If I Didn't Love You" soon followed, as well as "All Tangled Up in Love," a duet with Earl Thomas Conley. She recorded and released "One of the Boys" and "Mama Knows" by songwriter Kevin Weyl, and "Tornado" by Kevin Weyl and Steve Robertson which is featured in the sound track of the Kevin Pollak film Deterrence.
Hardin married keyboard player Steve Hardin, who was a member of the group Point Blank, and after their divorce kept his last name. Garth Brooks' sister, Betsy Smittle, was one of Gus's band members and did background vocals on Gus's album I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can.
Death
On February 17, 1996, Hardin died in a car accident on State Highway 20 west of Salina, Oklahoma near her home in the Lake Hudson area.[1] A laboratory report listed her blood alcohol level at 0.28 percent.[2] Memorial services were held in Oklahoma and Nashville, Tennessee. Gus Hardin is survived by daughter Toni Jones and granddaughter Chelsea Johnson, both of Sapulpa, Oklahoma.
Discography
Albums
Title | Details | Peak positions |
---|---|---|
US Country [3] | ||
Fallen Angel |
|
63 |
Wall of Tears |
|
64 |
I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can |
|
— |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart |
Extended plays
Title | Details | Peak positions |
---|---|---|
US Country [3] | ||
Gus Hardin |
|
31 |
Singles
Year | Title | Peak positions | Album | |
---|---|---|---|---|
US Country [4] |
CAN Country [5] | |||
1983 | "After the Last Goodbye" | 10 | — | Gus Hardin |
"If I Didn't Love You" | 26 | — | ||
"Loving You Hurts" | 32 | — | ||
"Fallen Angel (Flying High Tonight)" | 41 | — | Fallen Angel | |
1984 | "I Pass" | 43 | — | |
"How Are You Spending My Nights" | 52 | — | ||
"All Tangled Up in Love" (with Earl Thomas Conley) |
8 | 8 | Wall of Tears | |
1985 | "My Mind Is On You" | 79 | — | |
"Just as Long as I Have You" (with Dave Loggins) |
72 | 52 | Wall of Tears (1985 re-issue) | |
1986 | "What We Gonna Do" | 73 | — | Wall of Tears |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart |
Music videos
Year | Title |
---|---|
1984 | "I Pass"[6] |
References
- Singer Gus Hardin Killed in Accident. TulsaWorld.com (February 18, 1996). Retrieved on August 12, 2011.
- Singer's blood alcohol level was 0.28 percent. TulsaWorld.com (April 12, 1996). Retrieved on July 14, 2021.
- "Gus Hardin - Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
- "Gus Hardin - Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
- "Gus Hardin - Country Singles". RPM. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
- "Country Video Catalog". Billboard. June 2, 1984. p. 42.