The country music world is mourning the loss of Grand Ole Opry star Jimmy C. Newman.
Newman died Saturday night (June 21) in Nashville following a brief illness, reports CMT.
He was 86-years-old.
Newman is known for his hit "Cry, Cry Darling." He became an Opry member in 1956, after nabbing five straight Top 10 records, including "Seasons Of My Heart."
He gained popularity as a musician for his unique fusing of his native Cajun rhythms, themes and instrumentation with traditional country music elements.
Newman took a deep pride in his roots and was glad to be considered the first Cajun artist to join the Opry.
This distinctive sound helped him garnish high-charting singles including "Alligator Man" and "Bayou Talk," both of which he wrote.
The network's site reports that Newman made his last Opry appearance on June 6.
In addition to the Cajun Hall of Fame, Newman is also a member of the Cajun Music Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.
Opry member Marty Stuart told People, "His role became the Cajun fellow at the Opry, and that's great. But if you go back to his 1950s recordings of 'Cry, Cry, Darling' and 'Seasons Of My Heart,' you'll witness a country music architect at work. He was a brilliant singer, a brilliant designer of country music."
A public service honoring Newman will be held Wednesday (June 25) at 10 a.m. at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. It will be followed by a private visitation and memorial service for close friends and family.
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