Comments on: Keith Whitley, “I’m No Stranger to the Rain”

By: Craig R.

Craig R. — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:27:38 +0000

I thought then and I think now that what is really missing from country music are more singers like Keith Whitley. In a short time he showed what happens when a real singer takes a song and makes it real, personal and open, all at the same time. There was no ego or image connected to his singing. Just an excellent song and a great voice.

By: Scott

Scott — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 12:26:01 +0000

My favorite country song from the late 1980′s. What a tragedy. I cant believe it’s been almost 20 years. I remember exactly what i was doing when i heard of his passing.

By: Eleven

Eleven — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 01:02:29 +0000

J.R. … Thanks for sharing that story.

This has always been such a great song, country or otherwise. He really captured something with it.
I remember exactly where I was when I heard he passed and I can’t believe it’s been 20 yrs!
I could not agree more that he, Conway,Hank, and Patsy left us all much too soon.

I always wondered where Keith would be today.
Compared to his contemporaries, would he have persevered like an Alan Jackson or George Strait or would he have been kicked to the curb by the industry but still appreciated by the fans like Lorrie Morgan, Kathy Mattea, and others?

By: Matt B

Matt B — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 20:14:13 +0000

This is a great song and a well-written post, Blake.

By: J.R. Journey

J.R. Journey — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:20:23 +0000

I’ve always thought Whitley’s untimely death was one of the greatest losses country music has ever suffered. Right up there with Conway Twitty, Hank Williams, and Patsy Cline. I truly believe Twitty and Whitley would have continued to have hits well into the 90s had they lived.

This is also my favorite Whitley track – with ‘I’m Over You’ a close second.

Also, in Lorrie Morgan’s book ‘Forever Yours, Faithfully’, she tells the story of how this song was played at Keith’s funeral after the preacher read the story of Jesus sleeping in the boat while the storms raged and his followers were bewildered. The story can be foudn in Mark 4:35 – 41.

Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said
to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” While disciples were struggling for life and death, what did Jesus do? He was in sound sleep on a cushion in the back. When they were scared to death, they remembered Jesus and arouse him, crying out to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” While they were struggling for life and death, Jesus seemed so indifferent to them.

“He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.” When disciples cried out to him, Jesus got up immediately and rebuked the wind and the waves, “Quiet, be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

The minister at Keith’s funeral then remarked “and you thought Keith Whitley was the first man to sing ‘I’m No Stranger To The Rain’ …”

I’ve always been fascinated by that story – and it’s stuck with me ever since I read it. A very fitting end to a man whose very life was as stormy as the Sea of Galilee that day.

Sorry for the long-winded post, I just wanted to share that …

By: Donna McKay

Donna McKay — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 17:45:17 +0000

I remember “I’m No Stranger to the Rain” being played on a local radio station with the announcement of Keith Whitley’s passing. It’s funny how some life occurrences are as clear as almost 20 years ago. What a tragedy to lose a great artist like Whitley–there is no replicating his style.

By: John Maglite

John Maglite — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:14:01 +0000

Nice article. This is one of my favorite Whitley songs, and he’s one of my favorite singers, so it’s pretty far up there on my overall list. I’m glad to see it featured.