Keith Whitley was an influential American country music artist, active in the 1980s. He was noted for his traditional country style, characterized by melancholic ballads and honky-tonk tunes. Whitley's career, although short-lived due to his untimely death at the age of 34, produced several chart-topping hits such as "Don't Close Your Eyes" and "When You Say Nothing at All". His music, deeply rooted in the classic country tradition, has left a lasting impact on the genre and influenced a generation of country musicians.