Keith Whitley grew up in Sandy Hook, Kentucky. During his short career, Whitley has managed to have 19 songs chart on the Billboard Country Charts. Before moving to Nashville, Keith Whitley was the lead singer in a bluegrass band around the Sandy Hook area. His family has been living in the Sandy Hook country lands since the 1840s. In his early days in the music world, he met and became good friends with Ricky Skaggs. The two competed against each other in a music contest in 1969. They clicked instantly and began to perform with each other. The two were still teenagers when they got so-called, “discovered.” It happened in Ft. Gay, West Virginia. Ralph Stanley was on his way to a show when one of his vehicle’s tire went flat. He ended up arriving to the venue 45 minutes late. When he finally arrived at the club, he thought he heard recordings of the Stanley Brothers playing on the jukebox. But it was not a recording at all. It was Whitley and Skaggs singing on stage. Ralph Stanley is quoted in saying that the two teens “sounded just like me and Carter in the early days.” After that, the two friends joined his band. Keith Whitley would become the lead singer of the band. Whitley eventually moved to Nashville where he was signed with RCA Records in 1983.
Lorrie Morgan was working as a secretary for a recording company when she first met Keith Whitley. She was in her office and down the hall, she said she heard the most beautiful voice she had ever heard. Morgan said he had to meet this person, she walked down and introduced herself to this unknown artist fresh from Kentucky. He was married at the time. It was until years later when she was driving to the Grand Ole Opry and on the radio the song, Miami, My Amy, came on the radio. The radio announcer said that Keith Whitley was going to perform that evening at the Opry. Lorrie Morgan pulled her car over and had to compose herself. She was brimming with excitement because she too was scheduled to perform that night. Lorrie Morgan always felt there was a spark between her and Whitley. Later that evening, Keith Whitley asked her out on a date.
Source: Keith Whitley – Wikipedia