The country music world is mourning.
Hargus “Pig” Robbins was known for his contributions to many country music hits on piano, his first being George Jones’ 1959 song “White Lightning.”
He also played piano for:
-Patsy Cline (“I Fall to Pieces,” “Crazy,” and “Back in Baby’s Arms”)
-Charlie Rich (“Behind Closed Doors” and “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World”)
-Crystal Gayle (“Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue”)
-Loretta Lynn (“You’re Looking at Country” and “Coal Miner’s Daughter”)
-Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty (“After the Fire is Gone”)
-George Jones (“She Thinks I Still Care” and “He Stopped Loving Her Today”)
-Dolly Parton (“Coat of Many Colors”)
-Roger Miller (“King of the Road” and “Dang Me”)
-Kenny Rogers (“The Gambler”)
-Porter Wagoner (“Green, Green Grass of Home”)
-Tammy Wynette (“D-I-V-O-R-C-E”)
-Tanya Tucker (“Delta Dawn”)
Robbins played piano on records by Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Leon Russell, and Cliff Richards. He can be heard on piano (and hollering) on Dylan’s “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35.”
On Sunday, January 30, Robbins’ family wrote on his personal Facebook page that he had passed away earlier that morning.
“Dad had been hospitalized twice in the last 2 months,” the post read. “He suffered from a bacterial infection in his bloodstream, kidney disease, heart disease etc. It all became too much for his body to handle. But he had a strong mind til the end. He had a great life and was loved by many. His musical legacy will live on.”
Famed producer Buddy Cannon shared a story about Pig and George Jones.
Other people took to social media to mourn the loss of “Pig” and tell stories of their good times with him.
Robbins was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2012 as that year’s “Recording and/or Touring Musician Prior to 1980.”
Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family as they mourn this incredible loss.