Beloved Singer/Songwriter Hal Ketchum Passes Away At Age 67

Beloved singer/songwriter of “Small Town Saturday Night,” Hal Ketchum, passed away on Monday night as a result of complications from dementia. His wife Andrea confirmed the news on Facebook Tuesday.

Through his father, Hal knew the music of country legends Marty Robbins and Patsy Cline. As a youth, he even joined Buck Owens’ fan club. Hal started playing drums at age 15, though he later switched to guitar. Although he enjoyed music, he spent nearly 20 years as a carpenter and furniture builder before getting his break in the music business.

In 1981, Hal left New York for Austin, Texas, and honed his songwriting skills in that town’s clubs. He released 10 of his songs on a 1986 album called Threadbare Alibis. At the same time, he began making trips from Austin to Nashville.

Hal eventually signed a publishing contract that led to a record deal with Curb Records. In 1991, the single “Small Town Saturday Night” launched him to stardom. Radio & Records magazine named it the No. 1 Single of the Year, and Music Row magazine called it the year’s breakthrough video. The song also helped Hal’s debut album, Past the Point of Rescue, achieve gold status.

By the time Hal joined the Opry, he had an impressive catalog of hits, including “Past the Point of Rescue,” “Sure Love,” “Mama Knows the Highway,” and “Hearts Are Gonna Roll.” Hal also had a hit with a cover of “Five O’Clock World,” a 1965 pop hit for the Vogues that had been written by Hal’s producer, Allen Reynolds.

An established painter, Hal’s work has been shown in Santa Fe, New Mexico’s esteemed Pena Gallery, where he had a successful art show opening in 2002. He was also a master carpenter who liked to make toys. He was a true artisan and a musician’s musician. 

Hal's wife announced the dementia diagnosis in April of 2019.

“Dementia is an exhausting and confusing illness and now it’s time for Hal to stay home with loved ones,” Andrea said. “Hal is otherwise healthy and happy, enjoying time with his family and friends. We all deeply appreciate how much love that you all have for Hal and how much his music means to you! Also, a heartfelt thank you to all the incredible musicians that have joined him on this journey, with more than special love to Kenny Grimes, without whom, this last year of shows would not have been possible.”

Ketchum was 67.