Fred Stobaugh: the wholesome story of the oldest man to appear in the charts
Some stories are bitter, some are bittersweet, and some are just plain sweet. In 2013, Fred Stobaugh experienced an outpouring of love and recognition after writing a heartfelt tribute to his late wife, Lorraine, who he had been married to for 73 years. Pouring his grief into a song, Stobaugh’s words transformed into ‘Oh Sweet Lorraine’, which quickly climbed the charts and captured countless hearts—a heartwarmingly impressive music debut for a man just 96 years young.
Following Lorraine’s passing, Stobaugh wrote the song and entered it into a radio-organised songwriting contest. It was posted on YouTube and, in a matter of months, gained more than three million views. However, the song itself wasn’t the only thing that made Stobaugh’s submission stand out over everyone else’s—he also went down a somewhat unconventional route when entering.
According to the producer of the show, Colgan, Stobaugh didn’t do what other people did, which was upload their videos online. Instead, he sent a letter in a “manila envelope”, with lyrics and a note stating he had written a song for his wife. The process of writing the song seemed to flow as easily as his love for his wife as he sat alone, accompanied by nothing other than a tune stuck in his head.
“After she passed away, I was just sitting in the front room one evening by myself,” Stobaugh told Billboard. “It just [came] to me. I kept humming it. It just seemed like it fit her.” Touched by the man’s story, the radio station decided to record it, which moved Stobaugh so much he started to cry. He never intended to “make it”; he just wanted to fill his time with something meaningful. Thinking about his wife filled his heart, but writing about her gave him purpose again.
“I wish we could do the good times all over again,” the song begins, continuing, “Life only goes around once but never again,” before revealing a more heartwarming note, “My memories will always
linger on, that’s why I wrote you this song.” Although straightforward, the piece resonated widely, with many praising Stobaugh’s powerful simplicity in capturing the bittersweetness of losing a loved one.
According to Colgan, the studio knew that any spotlight on Stobaugh and his story would capture attention, but they didn’t anticipate the song entering the charts. In their minds, it was a sweet story, but anything beyond their usual listener and viewership was completely unprecedented. That said, when the song did explode, the surprise soon became eclipsed by immense appreciation and gratitude, as is usually the case when music transitions from grief into unity.
Apparently, Stobaugh was astounded, too, particularly after getting attention from several prominent industry names who understood and appreciated his creation. “Fred just said to me, ‘Do you know about this Justin Timberlake guy?” Colgan later reflected, humorously recalling the moment the 96-year-old realised the reach of his song.
Before she passed away, Stobaugh held his love for his wife close, but after writing ‘Oh Sweet Lorraine’, he could share his love with the world, ensuring her memory would forever live on in the hearts of millions.
