Terry Stafford was a singer and songwriter who had two major hits in his career: “Suspicion”, a 1964 pop song that sounded like Elvis Presley, and “Amarillo by Morning”, a 1973 country song that was later covered by George Strait. Stafford died in 1996 of liver failure at the age of 54. What was the cause of his liver failure and how did it affect his life and music? Here is a brief overview of Terry Stafford’s cause of death and his legacy.
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Early Life and Career
Terry LaVerne Stafford was born on November 22, 1941, in Hollis, Oklahoma. He moved to Amarillo, Texas, with his family when he was seven years old. He graduated from Palo Duro High School in 1960, where he excelled in basketball and football. He also developed an interest in music and sang with a local rockabilly group. After high school, he moved to Los Angeles, California, to pursue a musical career.
Stafford’s breakthrough came in 1964, when he recorded a demo of “Suspicion”, a song that had been previously recorded by Elvis Presley. The demo was released on the Crusader record label and became a huge hit, reaching number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 31 on the UK Singles Chart. Stafford’s voice was so similar to Presley’s that many listeners thought it was him. The song sold over one million copies and earned Stafford a gold disc by the RIAA.
Stafford followed up with another hit, “I’ll Touch a Star”, which reached number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 4 on the Adult Contemporary chart. Both songs were produced by Bob Summers, who played all the instruments on the tracks except for bass, which was played by Ron Griffith. Summers later released his own version of “Suspicion” in the 1970s, as well as a remake with Ed Greenwald on vocals in 2008.
Country Music and Songwriting
Stafford continued to record, but had no more pop hits. He switched to country music in the early 1970s and signed with Atlantic Records. His first country single was “Say, Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose”, which reached number 35 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and number 46 on the Canadian Country chart in 1973.
His next single was “Amarillo by Morning”, which he co-wrote with Paul Fraser. The song was inspired by Stafford’s experience of driving from San Antonio to Amarillo after a rodeo show. The song did not chart well for Stafford, but it became a classic when George Strait recorded it for his 1982 album Strait from the Heart. The song was named the number 12 country song of all-time by Country Music Television.
Stafford also wrote songs for other artists, such as Buck Owens, who recorded Stafford’s “Big in Dallas” as “Big in Vegas” in 1969. The song peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and number 1 on the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada.
Personal Life and Death
Stafford lived most of his life between Los Angeles and Amarillo. He married Nancy E. Hall on May 20, 1972, in Las Vegas, Nevada. They had no children.
Stafford suffered from liver problems for several years before his death. He died of liver failure on March 17, 1996, in Amarillo. He was 54 years old. He is buried with his parents at Llano Cemetery in Amarillo.
Legacy and Influence
Terry Stafford is remembered as a one-hit wonder who sounded like Elvis Presley, but he was also a talented singer and songwriter who contributed to both pop and country music. His songs have been covered by artists such as George Strait, Glen Campbell, Tim McGraw, Dwight Yoakam, Asleep at the Wheel, and Chris LeDoux.
Stafford has been honored by his hometown of Amarillo with a plaque at the Civic Center Auditorium and a street named after him. He has also been inducted into the West Texas Music Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.
Stafford’s music continues to be played on radio stations and streaming platforms around the world. His fans appreciate his distinctive voice and his catchy melodies that capture the spirit of American culture.
According to AllMusic, Terry Stafford was “a versatile performer who could handle rock & roll, R&B, country, and pop with equal aplomb”. His cause of death may have cut his career short, but his legacy lives on through his songs that have touched millions of listeners.
