What was Glen Campbell's net worth?
Glen Campbell was an American musician with a net worth of $50 million at the time of his death in 2017. Known for hosting "The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour" on CBS, he had a career spanning five decades, during which he released 64 albums and sold 45 million records globally. Campbell began his professional career with the Wrecking Crew in Los Angeles before becoming a successful solo country western musician in the 1960s, producing hits like "Gentle on My Mind," "Galveston," and "Rhinestone Cowboy."
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Glen Travis Campbell was born in 1936 in Billstown, Arkansas, as the seventh of twelve children. His parents, Carrie Dell and John Wesley, were of Scottish descent. The family lived on a farm, sustaining themselves by growing corn, potatoes, watermelon, and cotton. At the age of four, Campbell began playing the guitar, a gift from his father bought for five dollars at Sears. With a little instruction from his uncle, Boo, Campbell was performing on local radio stations by the time he was six. He honed his skills by listening to recordings of guitarists like Django Reinhardt. At fourteen, he dropped out of school to work in Houston, but ultimately, he pursued music, playing at fairs, churches, and on local radio. At seventeen, he moved to Albuquerque, joining his uncle's band, and four years later, he formed his own band, the Western Wranglers.
Los Angeles and the Wrecking Crew
In 1960, Campbell moved to Los Angeles to become a studio musician and joined the rock-and-roll band the Champs. By the following year, he was working at the publishing company American Music, writing songs and recording demos. This led to his involvement with the Wrecking Crew, a collective of LA session musicians. Campbell contributed to numerous recordings, playing on songs by Ricky Nelson, the Monkees, Nancy Sinatra, Paul Revere & the Raiders, the Kingston Trio, and the Beach Boys, among others.
Glen Campbell at Capitol Records, June 1, 1967 (Photo by Jasper Dailey/ Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Slow Rise to Solo Success
After leaving the Champs in 1961, Campbell signed with Crest Records and released his first solo, "Turn Around, Look at Me," which reached number 62 on the Hot 100 that year. Despite modest success with subsequent singles and albums under Capitol Records, by 1963, he had played and sung on nearly 600 songs. His cover of Buffy Sainte-Marie's "Universal Soldier" peaked at number 45 on the Hot 100 in 1965. Disappointed by the performance of his follow-up singles, Capitol paired him with producer Al De Lory, leading to hits like "Burning Bridges," "Gentle on My Mind," "By the Time I Get to Phoenix," "I Wanna Live," and "Wichita Lineman." These successes earned Campbell four Grammy Awards and his first major pop crossover with "Wichita Lineman." Further fame followed with the title song for the 1969 John Wayne film "True Grit," earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Song.
Career on the Small Screen
Campbell's television career began in 1964 with appearances on "Star Route," ABC's "Shindig!" and "Hollywood Jamboree." After filling in as a host for "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" in 1968, Campbell got his variety show, "The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour," which aired from 1969 to 1972. The show featured notable comedy writers like Rob Reiner and Steve Martin, and hosted major musical acts, including Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, and Linda Ronstadt.
After "The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour" ended, Campbell continued to make TV appearances, hosting specials and awards shows, and frequently guesting on programs such as "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson," "The Merv Griffin Show," and "The Midnight Special."
(Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMT)
More Big Hits and Late Career
The 1970s were prosperous for Campbell, with hits like "Rhinestone Cowboy" and "Southern Nights" both reaching number one in the US. "Rhinestone Cowboy" was his best-selling single, selling over two million copies. Other hits included "Sunflower," written by Neil Diamond, and "Country Boy (You Got Your Feet in L.A.)." From 1982 to 1983, he hosted a syndicated music show. Campbell was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2005 and released his first Capitol album in over 15 years in 2008, followed by "Ghost on the Canvas" in 2010. Diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2010, Campbell embarked on a "Goodbye Tour" with his children and recorded his final album, "Adiós," released in 2017. His last recorded song, "I'm Not Gonna Miss You," featured in the 2014 documentary "Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me," earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song.
Personal Life and Death
Campbell married four times. His first marriage to Diane Marie Kirk in 1955 produced two children, the first of whom died prematurely. They divorced in 1959. His second marriage to Billie Jean Nunley in 1959 resulted in three children; they divorced in 1976. Campbell's third marriage to Sarah Jan Davis in 1976 produced one child, ending in 1980. In 1982, he married Kimberly Woollen; they remained together until his death, having three children. Campbell entered an Alzheimer's care facility in 2014. He passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2017 at age 81. Tributes poured in from artists including Brian Wilson, Sheryl Crow, Anne Murray, and Dolly Parton. The Country Music Television Channel aired a special celebrating his life and legacy.
