Gus Hardin (born Carolyn Ann Blankenship; April 9, 1945 – February 17, 1996) was a country music singer. She recorded for RCA Records between 1983 and 1986, releasing two albums and one extended play. In addition to these, she had a hit single with the Earl Thomas Conley duet "All Tangled Up in Love".
Career Carolyn Ann Blankenship was born in 1945 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Her rise to country music popularity began in 1983 with her first single for RCA Records, the top 10 hit "After The Last Goodbye." Other hits, such as "Fallen Angel," "I Pass," "Lovin' You Hurts" and "If I Didn't Love You" soon followed, as well as "All Tangled Up in Love," a duet with Earl Thomas Conley. She recorded and released "One of the Boys" and "Mama Knows" by songwriter Kevin Weyl, and "Tornado" by Kevin Weyl and Steve Robertson which is featured in the sound track of the Kevin Pollak film Deterrence.
Hardin married keyboard player Steve Hardin, who was a member of the group Point Blank, and after their divorce kept his last name. Garth Brooks' sister, Betsy Smittle, was one of Gus's band members and did background vocals on Gus's album I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can.
Death On February 17, 1996, Hardin died in a car accident on State Highway 20 west of Salina, Oklahoma, near her home in the Lake Hudson area.Singer Gus Hardin Killed in Accident. TulsaWorld.com (February 18, 1996). Retrieved on August 12, 2011. A laboratory report listed her blood alcohol level at 0.28 percent.Singer's blood alcohol level was 0.28 percent. TulsaWorld.com (April 12, 1996). Retrieved on July 14, 2021. Memorial services were held in Oklahoma and Nashville, Tennessee. Gus Hardin is survived by daughter Toni Jones and granddaughter Chelsea Johnson, both of Sapulpa, Oklahoma.
Discography Albums Title Details Peak positions US Country Fallen Angel Release year: 1984 Label: RCA 63 Wall of Tears Release year: 1984 Label: RCA 64 I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can Release year: 2001 Label: Rainy Day — "—" denotes releases that did not chart
Extended plays Title Details Peak positions US Country Gus Hardin Release year: 1983 Label: RCA 31
Singles Year Title Peak positions Album US Country CAN Country 1983 "After the Last Goodbye" 10 — Gus Hardin "If I Didn't Love You" 26 — "Loving You Hurts" 32 — "Fallen Angel (Flying High Tonight)" 41 — Fallen Angel 1984 "I Pass" 43 — "How Are You Spending My Nights" 52 — "All Tangled Up in Love" 8 8 Wall of Tears 1985 "My Mind Is On You" 79 — "Just as Long as I Have You" 72 52 Wall of Tears 1986 "What We Gonna Do" 73 — Wall of Tears "—" denotes releases that did not chart
Music videos Year Title 1984 "I Pass"
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