Fred Stobaugh

American truck driver, had a hit song at age 96

Fred Stobaugh (August 22, 1917 – November 23, 2016) was an American retired driver and songwriter. He became well known after he submitted a song, "Oh Sweet Lorraine", to a music competition. The song was about his wife of 72 years. It became a viral video in September 2013. The song was soon entered in the Billboard Hot 100.

Fred Stobaugh
Born(1917-08-22)August 22, 1917
DiedNovember 23, 2016(2016-11-23) (aged 99)
Peoria, Illinois
Known forWriting Oh Sweet Lorraine
Spouse
Lorraine Dinquel
(m. 1940⁠–⁠2013)
(her death)
Children3 daughters

Personal life

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Stobaugh was born on August 22, 1917 in Peoria, Illinois.[1] He met his wife Lorraine Dinquel in 1938. They were married in 1940. They had three children. Dinquel died in April 2013.[2]

Stobaugh died on November 23, 2016 in Peoria, aged 99.[3]

Oh Sweet Lorraine

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A few months after his wife's death, Stobaugh wrote the song "Oh Sweet Lorraine". He entered a singer-songwriter competition hosted by Green Shoe Studio. The video of their recording sessions attracted more than six million hits on YouTube and Vimeo.[4][5][6] In September 2013, the song entered the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 42. He is the oldest artist to have appeared on the Hot 100.[7]

Title Year Peak chart positions
US
[7]
BEL
(Fl)

[8]
CH
[9]
AT
[10]
"Oh Sweet Lorraine" 2013 42 42 31 14

References

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  1. Danielle Hatch: Peorian's song to late wife goes viral, Peoria Journal Star, August 27, 2013
  2. Lorraine Stobaugh – Obituary, legacy.com
  3. "Fred Stobaugh Obituary - Bartonville, IL".
  4. "96-year-old widower Fred Stobaugh becomes YouTube sensation with song 'Oh Sweet Lorraine'". Fox News. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  5. A Letter From Fred, youtube.de
  6. A Letter From Fred, vimeo.com
  7. 7.0 7.1 Fred Stobaugh, 96, Becomes Oldest Artist To Appear On Hot 100
  8. "Discography Fred Stobaugh". ultratop.be. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  9. Green Shoe Studio feat. Jacob Colgan & Fred Stobaugh – Oh Sweet Lorraine, hitparade.ch
  10. Ö3 Austria Top 40 Single Charts Archived 2012-06-18 at the Wayback Machine, oe3.orf.at

Other websites

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