NASHVILLE, Tenn. — 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
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.