Country singer Kay Toinette Oslin passes away at 78

LOS ANGELES:

Country singer Kay Toinette Oslin, popularly known as K.T Oslin, passed away at the age of 78 at her residence in suburban Nashville, Tennessee, on Monday morning.

Robert K. Oermann, a friend of Oslin, said he learned of Oslin’s death from her aunt. The actual cause of death has not been released as of yet.

Oermann said Oslin had had triple bypass surgery in 1995 and had been suffering from Parkinson’s disease.

He also said that Oslin had tested positive for COVID-19 last week.

Oslin was born in Crossett, Arkansas, but spent most of her childhood in Mobile, Alabama.

As a teenager, she settled in Houston.

Ending up in New York City, she was a chorus girl in theatrical productions and then worked as a studio backup vocalist and ad jingle singer.

Oslin launched her career in Country music in her mid-40s and wrote her songs from a strong woman’s perspective.

Her albums “80’s Ladies” and “This Woman” both sold more than 1 million copies.

Her aunt loaned her USD 7,000 to finance a Nashville showcase performance, which caught the attention of RCA Records. She signed an RCA recording contract in 1986 at a time when most record companies were looking for singers almost half her age.

“K.T. Oslin had one of the most soulful voices in Country Music and was a strong influence for women in her hit ‘80’s Ladies’,” said Sarah Trahern, CEO of the Country Music Association.

“I was fortunate to work with K.T. on several television shows in the late 90s. She truly had one of the best voices in the history of our format. Our thoughts go out to her loved ones at this difficult time.”

The singer won her first Grammy in 1987 for her song “80’s Ladies,” then went on to win two more Grammy Awards in 1988 for her song “Hold Me.”

(Edited by Mandeep Joshi)

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