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Gus Hardin

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Gus Hardin
Hardin, c. 1983
Hardin, c. 1983
Background information
Birth nameCarolyn Ann Blankenship
Born(1945-04-09)April 9, 1945
Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
DiedFebruary 17, 1996(1996-02-17) (aged 50)
Salina, Oklahoma, U.S.
GenresCountry
OccupationSinger
InstrumentVocals
Years active1983–1996
LabelsRCA

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".

Career

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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, 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

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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

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Albums

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Title Details Peak positions
US Country
[3]
Fallen Angel
  • Release year: 1984
  • Label: RCA
 63
Wall of Tears
  • Release year: 1984
  • Label: RCA
 64
I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can
  • Release year: 2001
  • Label: Rainy Day
 —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Extended plays

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Title Details Peak positions
US Country
[3]
Gus Hardin
  • Release year: 1983
  • Label: RCA
 31

Singles

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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

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Year Title
1984 "I Pass"[6]

References

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  1. ^ Singer Gus Hardin Killed in Accident. TulsaWorld.com (February 18, 1996). Retrieved on August 12, 2011.
  2. ^ Singer's blood alcohol level was 0.28 percent. TulsaWorld.com (April 12, 1996). Retrieved on July 14, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Gus Hardin - Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  4. ^ "Gus Hardin - Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  5. ^ "Gus Hardin - Country Singles". RPM. 17 July 2013. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  6. ^ "Country Video Catalog". Billboard. June 2, 1984. p. 42.
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