Charlie Robison, country singer and songwriter, has died at the age of 59

Charlie Robison, a country musician known for his song “I Want You Bad,” has died, according to a statement from his wife posted on Facebook.

“It is with a heavy heart that I share the news that my husband, Charlie Robison, passed away today surrounded by his family and friends. My heart is broken. Please pray for me, our children and our family.” Kristem Robison wrote in a post on Sunday.

A family representative told the Associated Press that Robison died in a hospital in San Antonio, Texas, after suffering cardiac arrest.

Robison’s sister, fellow musician Robyn LudwickHe also acknowledged this in a post on social media.

“My heart is deeply and irretrievably broken,” she wrote in a Facebook post. “My big brother Charlie died in the arms of his loved ones. Please play some Charlie Robison on repeat. He would want it that way.”

According to the biography on his website, Robison grew up in Bandera, Texas, where his family owned ranches for eight generations.

“Music was not only an integral part of the Robison family; Even before he could walk, Charlie spent Saturday nights with his parents at The Cabaret, the local C&W dance hall in downtown Bandera. But the music played in the family home ranged from rock and roll to singer-songwriters and more.” the organic states. “It should come as no surprise, then, that Charlie, his brother Bruce and his sister Robyn Ludwyck all enjoy respected and critically acclaimed music careers as singers, songwriters and recording and performing artists.”

According to his website, while attending Southwestern Texas State University (now Texas State University), Robison realized that academic life was not for him. He persuaded his brother Bruce to drop out of school with him, and the two headed to Austin to pursue their musical dreams.

They both ended up in a band called Chaparral and after stints with Two Hoots and A Holler and The Millionaire Playboys, Robison struck out on his own as a singer and songwriter.

His debut album titled “Bandera” was released in 1996. He signed with Sony’s Lucky Dog label, which released his next two albums, 1998’s “Life of the Party” and 2001’s “Step Right Up,” the latter of which yielded his Top 490 country hit “I Want You Bad.”

Robison married Emily Strayer, who was a founding member of The Dixie Chicks, now known as The Chicks, in 1999. The couple had three children before divorcing in 2008.

Robison and his now wife welcomed a son in 2020.

His breakup with Strayer led to the breakup songs on his 2009 album Beautiful Day.

“When you go through something like that, very fruitful lyrics emerge. It’s close to my heart, but it’s still a departure from everything I’ve done before.” he said in an interview about the album. “It’s my first relationship record…You can really tell where I was emotionally when I wrote it.”

In 2018, he announced via Facebook that he was giving up performing due to an operation on his neck that made it impossible for him to sing.

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