Chris Whitley

Christopher Becker Whitley (August 31, 1960 – November 20, 2005) was an American blues/rock singer-songwriter and guitarist. He released over a dozen albums during his 25-year career and had two songs in the top 50 of the Billboard mainstream rock charts. Whitley's sound was a blend of blues, jazz, and rock, and he recorded songs from various genres. Born in Houston, Texas, Whitley learned to play guitar at fifteen. He lived in different places during his youth, including Dallas, Texas, Oklahoma, Connecticut, Mexico, and Vermont. Whitley's musical influences included Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Bob Dylan, and Jimi Hendrix. He passed away in 2005 at the age of 45 from lung cancer.