The country singer Joe Diffie has died at age 61. John Duffey was a big man with a big voice who played a small instrument. He also co-wrote singles for Holly Dunn, Tim McGraw, and Jo Dee Messina, and recorded with Mary Chapin Carpenter, George Jones, and Marty Stuart. 2023 Cable News Network. Singer Duffy: 'I was raped and drugged and held captive' 00:54 - Source: CNN London CNN Duffy has revealed harrowing details of a four-week ordeal during which she says she was drugged. Sheppard, I am in total shock hearing about our dear Joe! We had a lot of great times together, both onstage and offstage, Tritt captioned the photo. I just heard the news of Joe Diffies passing. My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Tara and their family. T.G. 27 March 2020. [3] The first three singles from the album all reached the top 10 on the country singles charts: the title track (which Diffie co-wrote) and the Dennis Linde composition "John Deere Green" both peaked at number five, with the number-three "Prop Me Up Beside the Jukebox (If I Die)" in between. Restless Heart started out in the business around the same time as Joe, and our paths crossed many times over the years. [42], His final album for Epic Records, titled A Night to Remember, was released in 1999. RIP Joe Diffie. One such social media post racked up more than 100,000 shares within a week: Another person claimed that Diffie had actually died from lung cancer, not COVID-19: There is no truth to these claims. Health | [7], Diffie signed to the independent Broken Bow Records in 2003. In the intervening years, the Diffie family lived in San Antonio, Washington state, and Wisconsin. This guy was an amazing singer and an even greater person. I just like the songs themselves, he told Rolling Stone in 2019. Joe Diffie, who went from working in oil fields and foundries to becoming one of the most commercially successful country singers of the early and mid-1990s, died on Sunday in Nashville. The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time Diffie was. Well miss you, Brother. This latter song was also his last charting single. It includes collaborations with The Grascals, Rhonda Vincent, and other bluegrass artists. Joe Duffy is the voice of the nation on his conversial and much loved afternoon radio show, Liveline. His publicist confirmed the death to Rolling Stone. Whenever somebody wants to get something off their chest, the advice is often: "Talk to Joe".Just Joe reveals the private man behind the public voice. STOP STARTING FAKE NEWS. The social media posts falsely claiming that the musician the died from lung cancer, not COVID-19, attempted to downplay a disease that, as of this writing, has killed nearly 170,000 people dead worldwide, including at least 40,000 in the United States. Duffy was best known for having played keyboards as a member of Primal Scream since 1989, as well as his work with the bands. Duffy Jackson, with bassist Jim Furgeson, at Rudy's Jazz Room in Nashville. [11] Diffie co-wrote the album's second and fourth releases, "If You Want Me To" and "New Way (To Light Up an Old Flame)";[5] both peaked at number two on Billboard,[2] and the former reached number one on the RPM country music charts in Canada. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Country music icon Joe Diffie died Sunday from "complications of coronavirus," according to his publicist. @freyamcc. ) Deepest condolences to Joes family, friends and fans, he said. Diffie, a singer known for his lighthearted odes to country life that reached mainstream success in the 1990s, made 13 albums and had more than 20 Top 10 hits to his credit. Even in his performing era, Mr. Diffie continued writing songs, including ones recorded by Tim McGraw (Memory Lane) and Jo Dee Messina (My Give a Damns Busted). Slate brought the demos to Bob Montgomery of CBS Nashville, who eventually signed Diffie to a contract. [2] In 2005, "Pickup Man" was repurposed by the Applebee's restaurant chain for use in its television commercials. Soon, Mr. Diffie moved to Nashville, where he spent a few years writing songs and singing demos. The 61-year-old, who lived in Nashville, had released a . That year, he was contacted by Bob Montgomery, a songwriter and record producer known for working with Buddy Holly. Diffie married Tara Terpening at The Musicians Hall of Fame in Nashville in 2018. Several years later, after getting a divorce and losing his job at the foundry, Diffie packed up and moved to Nashville, where he got a job working at the Gibson guitar factory, eventually earning a promotion to quality control specialist. Sonora Matancera - Worked with Tito Puente and Johnny Pacheco - She was married to trumpet. [3][9] Following the song's chart success, Diffie signed with Epic in early 1990. [5] He first worked in oil fields, then drove a truck that pumped concrete in the oilfield in Alice, Texas, before moving back to Duncan to work in a foundry. Mr. Diffie performing at the 2019 Stagecoach Festival in Indio, Calif. Frazer Harrison/Getty Images For Stagecoach. In his last two high-school years, he played football, baseball and golf, and ran track; in his senior year, he was recognized as Best All-Around Male Athlete. [5] He built a recording studio, began touring adjacent states with Special Edition, and sent demonstration recordings to publishers in Nashville. He was a warm-hearted, good-natured, fun-loving man with an extraordinary voice. [3] The album itself peaked at number 23 on Top Country Albums. I have been a fan since his first single, Home, hit radio. "[35] Owens thought that it was a "varied collection of ballads and midtempo rockers", but said that it was not "as consistently engaging" as Third Rock from the Sun. Health | Billy Gibbons Death Hoax Dismissed Since Guitarist Is 'Alive And Well'. Mary and I send love and prayers to Tara and the family, in this unbearably sad moment, as country music is left with a huge void. Im so shocked. Joe was a friend and touring partner with me in the 90s. Eighteen of his singles landed in the Top 10 on the country charts, with five going No. Follow. The Liveline host, 66, was left devastated by the death of his 92 . [51] Tougher Than Nails produced a top-20 hit in its title track, followed by "If I Could Only Bring You Back", which peaked at number 50 and spent only eight weeks on the charts. Miranda Lambert visits Winchester Mystery House before SAP Center show. Californias COVID-19 state of emergency is over. [30] Diffie followed the song with "I'm in Love with a Capital 'U'" and "That Road Not Taken", which respectively reached country peaks of 21 and 40. But away from the show, living in Dublin, Joe is a devoted husband to wife June Meehan and they have three children together, triplets Ellen, Sean and Ronan. His family requests privacy at this time. During this period, he worked as a musician on the side, first in a gospel group, Higher Purpose, then in a bluegrass band, Special Edition. Joe please tell our friends Kenny Rogers and Jan Howard we love them and to send down a prayer for all of us during this difficult time on earth. Instead, on 15th August 1969, he became the first child killed as a result of the 'Troubles' - one of approximately 190 children who would die in the conflict in Northern Ireland. Here are some of the. The Bronx, N.Y., native has previously contributed to Essence, Allure and Keyframe Magazine. My heart is broken and Im praying for his family and for our country as we deal with this horrible pandemic. FOR LAUDERDALE, Fla. -. "That's tough," the singer replies, chuckling . [56] In 2008, Diffie compiled and released a live album,[57] and he signed to Rounder Records later in that year. 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It included five songs that Diffie co-wrote, as well as a duet with George Jones entitled "What Would Waylon Do". Love you brother. Sammy Kershaw, I knew this was bound to hit close to home. Diffie toured at various county fairs in August 2010 in support of it. I just learned that @JoeDiffieOnline has passed away due to complications from the Coronavirus. Published March 4, 2021 at 11:42 AM EST. Nine-year-old Patrick Rooney loved horror movies and Hallowe'en, and wanted to be a priest when he grew up. Health | Diffie's second album, titled Regular Joe, was released in 1992 and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. His clear voice and unique singing style made him immediately recognizable. Ricky Skaggs pic.twitter.com/WKpoTZ3EAI, Ricky Skaggs (@RickySkaggs) March 29, 2020, I was saddened to hear that my friend and fellow Grand Ole Opry member Joe Diffie passed away today. Today: Country music star Joe Diffie, '90s hitmaker, dies from coronavirus complications at 61 Joe Diffie, one of our best singers and my buddy, is gone," Tanya Tucker said in a statement. Diffie was 61. read The 2018 Concordia Leaders of Design Series, "Duffy: Design To Enrich Everyday Life," opens at Concordia University in Saint Paul, Minn. on October 18 to November 14. [61] Allmusic reviewer j. poet gave this album a positive review for showing Diffie's bluegrass influences. All Rights Reserved. [2] The album also failed to achieve a gold certification. player Pedro Knight. Diffie started out working in the Oklahoma and Texas oil fields. He spent several months in a state of depression before deciding to move to Nashville, Tennessee,[5] where he took a job at Gibson Guitar Corporation. In 1993, the year he was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry, Diffie released the platinum-selling LP Honky Tonk Attitude, followed by 1994s Third Rock From the Sun, which was also certified platinum. Betts, Stephen and Patrick Doyle. You can set my truck on fire and roll it down a hill/and I still wouldnt trade it for a Coupe de Ville, he sang, adding, I met all my wives in traffic jams/Theres just something women like about a pickup man., The title track from Third Rock From the Sun, which went to No. Really, its not any more complicated than that.. No, no!", before cutting the caller off and the show cut to an ad break. I met all my wives in traffic jams / Theres just something women like about a pickup man, he sang. Recently he sang a song with me, Lorrie Morgan and Darryl Worley, Summer Wine. It was a perfect performance. He is among everyones favorite singers. April 7, 2020, 1:46 PM ET Celebs Singer Duffy Gives New Details About Being Drugged, Kidnapped, And Raped In a lengthy post, the "Mercy" singer said that she was drugged at her birthday dinner and woke up in another country, where she was raped. It was led off by "Bigger Than the Beatles", the last number-one single of his career. Joe Diffie, a consistent country-music hitmaker throughout the Nineties, died Sunday due to complications related to COVID-19. [2] "In My Own Backyard", the last release from Honky Tonk Attitude, reached number 19 on the country charts. Thanks for the music, Joe. James Robert Webb, Joe Diffie, he was a singers singer. His father, who held jobs as a teacher, rancher, truck driver, and welder, had musical tastes that ran more toward traditional country, but Diffie learned about harmony singing by working in gospel and bluegrass groups, including, respectively, Higher Purpose and Special Edition. Its one thing to hear a song title or your name mentioned, but when it started into the Joe, Joe, Joe Diffie part, thats cool right there, he said. [20] Alanna Nash of Entertainment Weekly thought that Diffie "[sang] in his natural voice", but thought that its material "punches all the predictable thematic buttons."[21]. Rest in peace, my brother. As a child, he played with his aunts country band, and later as part of rock, gospel and bluegrass outfits. Joe only cares about the upper middle class D4 head who hasn't left dublin in years is so self important he thinks he can pass judgement over the rest of the country. The 100 Best Albums of 2022. Her version of the song, included on her album Delicious Surprise, was a number-one single that year. He never hit a bad note and was just a regular guy. 2. Its truly a sad day for our industry. I wanted to hone my songwriting skills. [61], In late 2012, Jason Aldean recorded the song "1994", co-written by Thomas Rhett, Luke Laird, and Barry Dean. The song also reached number one on the country music charts published by Radio & Records and Gavin Report, making him the first country music artist to have a number-one debut single on all three charts,[10] as well as the first country music artist to have a debut single spend more than one week in the number-one position at the latter two publications. Rest in Peace, Joe. Charlie Daniels, Joe Diffie was the pickup man always had a smile and a story, to cure and encourage. Brian Mansfield gave the album a positive review in Allmusic, saying that it "has all the clichs of country music, and all the good stuff, too. In March 2020, country music fans were saddened by the news that "Pickup Man" singer Joe Diffie had died from complications of COVID-19, the coronavirus disease. Also in 1992, Diffie was nominated by the Academy of Country Music for Top New Male Vocalist, along with Billy Dean and Mark Chesnutt, but lost to Billy. On January 5, the Korean film world mourned the death of a young star in Kim Mi-soo, who passed away at age 29. Welsh singer Duffy recounted a harrowing four-week kidnapping and rape ordeal that caused her to withdraw from the public eye for a decade. God bless him. Henry is married to Madonna's younger sister Melanie Ciccone. The musician passed away after suffering complications from COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus, his spokesman. The singer and 61-year-old native of Tulsa, Oklahoma is in the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and was a member of the Grand Ole Opry for 25 years. His album, Homecoming: The Bluegrass Album, was released in late 2010 through Rounder. appreciated. "Joe Diffie Confirms Hes Tested Positive for Coronavirus." He was 61. A Night To Remember and he one he took a big chance on Tougher Than Nails. Nashville will never be the same without Joe Diffie. Max T. Barnes, I am deeply saddened at the news of Joe Diffies death. Joe Diffie died on March 29, 2020 due to complications from the COVID-19 virus. . This comes as a huge shock to all of us in the country music community. @rteliveline. CMT. His aptitude and soulful command of a Country song was unparalleled. February 21 2022 09:48 AM. [27] The album included two consecutive number-one singles in its title track and in "Pickup Man". I cant find adequate words. This obituary is part of a series about people who have died in the coronavirus pandemic. [6] At Gibson, he contacted a songwriter and recorded more demos, including songs that would later be recorded by Ricky Van Shelton, Billy Dean, Alabama, and the Forester Sisters. As a singer, he had a crisp, sentimental voice, which he deployed on ballads like Is It Cold in Here and Home, his debut single from 1990; it topped the Billboard country chart, the first of his five No. But the records he made, that voice, the twinkle in his eye, and our memories cannot be taken away by this disease., Im devastated by the loss of my friend @JoeDiffieOnline. [60] He co-produced the album with Luke Wooten, and included on it the song "Tennessee Tea", which Diffie originally recorded while he was in Special Edition. Joe Diffie performs on Day 3 of Country Thunder Milwaukee on July 23, 2016 in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin. When you come here, it takes a while to be accepted because there are so many people who come to Nashville who are talented but they have some personality flaw or they are not dependable. Deepest condolences to Joes family, friends and fans. He also partnered with his father to run a small recording studio. The cause of country music star Joe Diffie's death was lung cancer. Singer Duffy attends the 95.8 Capital FM Jingle Bell Ball in association with Windows 7 at the O2 Arena on December 4, 2010 in London, England. He and I were label mates on SONY Epic Records for many years I am honored & humbled, to have known him. "His family respects. Last modified on Fri 1 May 2020 14.30 EDT. Courtesy of the artist. [55] In 2007, he joined with Lonestar, Charlie Daniels, and Craig Morgan to perform a benefit concert for Sgt. Ive seen multiple posts and its upsetting to all of us. His third and fourth albums, which leaned heavily in this direction Honky Tonk Attitude (1993) and Third Rock from the Sun (1994) both went platinum. "I met him at a dance in the Metropole ballroom across the road from Clery's . 7 April 2020. his father passed, same name, November 2018 to stage IV lung cancer. Joe Diffie, a country music star who won Country Music Assn. 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