Singer Eddy Arnold; Pioneer of 'The Nashville Sound'

Eddy Arnold, whose mellow baritone on songs such as "Make the World Go Away" made him one of the most successful country singers in history, died May 8, days short of his 90th birthday.

Mr. Arnold died at a care facility near Nashville, said Don Cusic, a professor at Belmont University and author of the biography "Eddy Arnold: I'll Hold You in My Heart." His wife of 66 years, Sally, died in March, and in the same month, Mr. Arnold fell outside his home, injuring his hip.

Mr. Arnold's vocals on songs such as 1965's "Make the World Go Away," one of his many No. 1 country hits and a top 10 hit on the pop charts, made him one of the most well-known and prosperous country singers ever.

Folksy yet sophisticated, he became a pioneer of "The Nashville Sound," also called "countrypolitan," a mixture of country and pop styles. His crossover success paved the way for later singers such as Kenny Rogers.

"I sing a little country, I sing a little pop and I sing a little folk, and it all goes together," Mr. Arnold said in 1970.

He was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1966. The next year he was the first person to receive the entertainer of the year award from the Country Music Association.

The reference book "Top Country Singles 1944-1993," by Joel Whitburn, ranked Mr. Arnold the No. 1 country singer in terms of overall success on the Billboard country charts. It lists his first No. 1 hit as "What Is Life Without Love," 1947, and ranks his "Bouquet of Roses" as the biggest country hit for 1948.

Other hits included "Cattle Call," "The Last Word in Lonesome Is Me," "Anytime," "What's He Doing in My World?" "I Want to Go With You," "Somebody Like Me," "Lonely Again" and "Turn the World Around."

Most of his hits were made in association with famed guitarist Chet Atkins, the producer on most of the recording sessions.

Dinah Shore said his voice was like "warm butter and syrup being poured over wonderful buttermilk pancakes."

Reflecting on his career, he said he never copied anyone.

"I really had an idea about how I wanted to sing from the very beginning," he said.