Charlie Rich, the country-soul singer known as the “Silver Fox”, died in his sleep from a pulmonary embolism at a motel in Hammond, Louisiana, on 25 July 1995, aged 62. The article marks the 31st anniversary of his death and recalls his role in bringing country music to wider pop audiences through polished, crossover ballads.

Born in rural Arkansas in 1932, Rich was influenced by blues, gospel and jazz, later forming the Velvetones while serving in the US Air Force. His wife helped launch his career by taking his demo to Sun Records; he later had a million-selling 1960 single, “Lonely Weekends”, before finding major success with Epic Records in the 1970s. “Behind Closed Doors” and “The Most Beautiful Girl” became major hits, with the latter topping both country and pop charts, and Rich was named CMA Entertainer of the Year in 1974.