According to Ted Harris, the idea for Carl Belew’s 1965 hit, “Crystal Chandelier,” came from a real life situation. Ted said, “Crystal Chandelier” was inspired by a real life poor boy--rich girl situation in my own life. These two people suddenly came into more money than they knew what to do with and their marriage ended in separation.”

“Several years later, I was performing at a social event and one of those partners showed up.  And I got to thinking that this person was there, surrounded by all those people, dressed in their best and displaying all their social graces. And, although that person was surrounded by all of that, they were still all alone.”

“There was a large crystal chandelier hanging in the room and I started thinking about that crystal chandelier just hanging there, the greatest symbol of the tinsel world! It hangs there so beautiful but so cold and completely lifeless. You can see its beauty but that’s all there is. And that’s where the song ‘Crystal Chandelier’ came from.”

“Crystal Chandelier” became Carl Belew’s 5^th chart single.  It entered the country music charts August 7^th, 1965 and peaked at # 12. It was on the country music charts for 18 weeks.

Carl Belew died in 1990 at the age of 59.

Doug Davis
Country Music Classics