NASHVILLE, Tenn. (September, 18 2019) — CMA Award-winning journalist Chuck Dauphin died at 6:47pm CT on Wednesday, Sept. 18 at Nashville’s Alive Hospice following a series of complications from diabetes. He was 45.
Born Charles Frederick Dauphin, III, on Feb. 17, 1974, in Dickson,
Tenn., he was destined for a life in country music. Those who had the
honor to know him will remember him as being a faithful Christian, a
devoted son, a loving stepfather, a fiercely loyal friend and one of
country music’s greatest journalists.
“We are so proud of Chuck,” Dauphin’s father, Charles F. Dauphin, Jr.,
says. “He accomplished so much and was loved by so many. Our deepest
thanks to everyone who showed their love to Chuck. We know he felt your
prayers and support.”
Growing up in Tennessee, country music was always in the ether for
Dauphin. His mother, the late Frankie Paulette Dauphin, doted on her son
and raised him on the music from her vast record collection. His father
took him to Nashville’s CMA Fest annually and would regularly carpool
him to town to shop for music at The Great Escape and Tower Records.
Dauphin’s childhood dream of becoming a professional radio host was
realized in 1991 during his junior year in high school when he earned
his first job in the music business at WDKN in Dickson, Tenn. He worked
there for 18 years, rose to program director and was known to everyone
in Dickson County by his on-air personality, “Crazy Chucky.” He enjoyed a
flourishing radio career with stops at WNKX in Centerville, Tenn.,
Nashville’s venerated WSM-AM, and he often appeared as a guest on Sirius
XM’s country channels.
Dauphin’s comprehensive knowledge on country music and his impact on the
genre are immeasurable. He was indeed a savant with a byline that has
been featured in At Home Nashville, CMA Close Up, Country Now, Rolling Stone, Roughstock, Sounds Like Nashville, The Boot and The Dickson County Herald.
From 2011 until his death, he was a principle country music contributor at Billboard.
While his holy trinity of favorite artists will always be Garth Brooks,
Kenny Rogers and Randy Travis, Dauphin rarely turned down the
opportunity to interview a new act, and he always championed the classic
country greats, who were the official soundtrack of his life. He was
among the first music journalists to champion some of today’s most
famous entertainers; his words on artists including Ashley McBryde,
Brandy Clark, Brantley Gilbert, Carly Pearce, Cody Johnson, Luke Bryan,
Luke Combs and Midland helped make them stars.
“His interviews got down to what was important to that person,”
journalist and longtime friend Deborah Evans-Price says. “Whether he was
covering sports or country music, he had the innate ability to
celebrate the person and their craft. He knew how to pull out the best
in every interview to the point where readers always felt like they knew
the subject intimately from his writing.”
When Dauphin wasn’t on a red carpet, behind a microphone at a radio
station, or reporting live from an event, he worked behind the scenes as
a regular ghostwriter for many publicity firms across the country.
His tireless work ethic and zeal to advance country music internationally were recognized in 2014 when he received the prestigious CMA Media Achievement Award.
He is survived by his father Charles F. Dauphin, Jr., his stepmother,
Marcia Dauphin of Savanna, Ill., a stepson Zach Heath of Kentucky,
stepdaughter Isabella Heath of Pennsylvania, stepbrother Lyle Klein (Dee
Dee) of Carthage, Ill., a stepsister, Deanna Deal (Eric) of Freeport,
Ill., an uncle Burt Dauphin of Savanna, Ill., two aunts, Diana Chaplin
of Baileyville, Ill. and Gloria Roberts of Freeport, Ill. and several
cousins.
He was preceded in death by his mother, his grandparents Ernest and
Pauline Clymer, Charles and Edna Dauphin, two uncles Jim Chaplin and Del
Roberts, an aunt Peg Dauphin and a cousin, Douglas Harbers, and many
beloved pet dogs and cats, including Lassie, Brownie and Chloe.
He is also survived by lifelong friends Randall Kimbro of Louisiana,
Monica Bishop and her husband Michael of Nashville, Tenn., Regina
Raleigh of Nashville, Tenn., Jackie Marushka of Nashville, Tenn., Lauren
Tingle of Nashville, Tenn., his two cats, Hank and Blazy, and a global
community of fans.
Memorial service and funeral information will be announced later this week via www.taylorsince1909.com or www.burnschurchofchrist.org.
In lieu of flowers, his family asks that donations in Dauphin’s name be made to Music Health Alliance, MusiCares, Alive Hospice, The Opry Trust Fund and/or Nashville Humane Association.
Chuck Dauphin, mini-bio:
Chuck Dauphin’s award-winning career stretched across the worlds of
music journalism, sports coverage, record promotion and radio
broadcasting. He was a country music historian whose admiration for the
genre’s songwriters helped fuel his own writing, as seen in his 1,000+
articles for outlets like Billboard Magazine, CNN, Rolling Stone, and The Tennessean. Hired by Billboard in
2011 to serve as the company’s Country News Editor and The 615
columnist, he won the CMA Media Achievement Award in 2014, with then CMA
Vice President of Corporate Communications Wendy Pearl praising his
“preparation, creativity, integrity, and passion for country music.”
Born just outside Nashville in the small town of Dickson, Tenn., Dauphin
remained loyal to his home state throughout his life. He served as a
radio personality for regional radio stations like WNKX in Centerville
and WDKN in Dickson, earning the on-air nickname “Crazy Chucky” along
the way. During his final years, he also became the radio voice of
Hickman County football, shining a light on the community’s young
athletes.
Despite his many health battles, Dauphin remained an active journalist
and radio personality through the summer of 2019. His final articles
included pieces on longtime friends like Randy Travis and Vince Gill.
Enjoy praise for Dauphin’s contributions:
“If ever you needed a friend… or a kind word… you could count on
Chuck Dauphin. A gentleman through all the years of my career, who
always focused on the best in everyone. Chuck was a gift to this world
and leaves us all better because he crossed our paths. Rest now in peace
and perfect health, Brother Chuck — Forever and Ever, Amen.” — Randy
Travis
“There will never be anyone like you again, and I want you to know that
all of us in the business appreciate what you have done for us and our
careers. I will miss you more than you know as I am sure everybody
will.” — Kenny Rogers
“What an honor and privilege it is to be counted among your friends.
Alicia and I know it’s been a tough road but you are a tough guy. We
love you and appreciate your friendship and sharing your gifts, life and
smile with us.” — John Schneider
“You have always been a pro even when you were young. I never hesitated
to invite you to anything I was doing because I knew how respectful you
were of everybody. I’ve watched your career grow and read your articles
and felt the love you had for the music and the artists behind it.
Please tell George Mac, ETC how much I miss them. We’ll get together
again someday. Love you.” — Keith Bilbrey
“I have lost a good friend, but the music industry has lost one of its
great champions. Music was his whole life. He ate, drank and slept
country music. He was a kind and gentle man who always supported the
legends in our business as well as the new artists just starting out.
Rest in peace, my friend.” — T.G. Sheppard
“Chuck was always a sweetheart. Positive vibes and a total pro. Thanks
for all the kind words. Rest easy, pal.” — T. Graham Brown
“Chuck is the definition of a pro who invites you in to be vulnerable and honest. That is a secret ingredient that makes a true savant in the world of overdone cover stories. One of the nicest and most compassionate individuals in the press world.” — Tim Rushlow
Photo Capture: Chuck Dauphin receives the CMA Media Achievement Award at “The 48th Annual CMA Awards” Nov. 5, 2014
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