KXRB Remembers Freddie Hart

We were deeply saddened learning of the death of country music legend Freddie Hart. He passed away on Saturday (10/27) due to a result of pneumonia. He died in Burbank, California, the town in which he resided.

Freddie was a friend of KXRB Radio all thru the years. Former on air personality Joe Morrison would have Hart as a guest way back in the early 1970's when Freddie was standing on the top wrung of the country music ladder.

I had Freddie on my Morning Show as recent as a couple years ago. Hart's music was like no other. From his great songwriting to his unmatched voice and style, we will always treasure our memories of a big man with even a bigger heart, "Mr. Easy Lovin", Freddie Hart.

Freddie served in the Marines during World War 2 and then began his professional career in music when Lefty Frizzell hired him to go on the road with him. Lefty got Freddie a recording contract with Capitol Records and in 1953 he released his first song “Butterfly Love” with Hank Thompson’s band The Brazos Valley Boys backing him on the session.

But it was not until 1970, when he re-signed with Capitol Records that a song on one of his albums caught the attention of a disc jockey who began playing the song on the air and it became an overnight sensation. Of course that song was “Easy Loving” which became Freddie’s signature song.

The record sold millions of copies all over the world and earned Freddie virtually every award in the Country Music industry including “Entertainer Of The Year”, “Male Vocalist Of The Year”, “Album Of The Year”, and “Single Of The Year”. “Easy Loving” had the distinction of becoming the first to be voted song of the year in two consecutive years, 1971 and 1972.

The only other time this has happened was with George Jones for “He Stopped Loving Her Today” in 1980 and 1981. “Easy Loving” also won Freddie a Grammy award. See story behind the song.

Freddie is survived by his wife of 61 years, Ginger and sons Freddie Jr., Andy, Joe and Victor. Freddie Hart was 91.