Slim Whitman died yesterday of heart failure. The singer-songwriter, originally born Ottis Whitman Jr., was 90. He died at Orange Park Medical Center in Florida.

Whitman was popular the world over, gaining commercial success and critical acclaim both domestically in the United States and abroad. He had hits like "Love Song of the Waterfall" and "Indian Love Call." These helped establish him as a fixture in the landscape of country music, even earning him a membership in the Grand Ole Opry.

"Whitman joined the Grand Ole Opry, and then went to Britain in 1956 as the first country singer to play the London Palladium. Throughout the late '50s and early '60s, he had a string of British hits, including 'Tumbling Tumbleweeds,' 'Unchain My Heart,' and 'I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen," according to his biography.

He gained even more popularity after he filmed a commercial that featured his greatest hits, a record that went on to enjoy as much commercial success as he did.

"Between 1980 and 1984, Whitman had a small run of minor hits, highlighted by 1980's number 15 hit 'When.' In the late '80s, he returned to television-marketed albums, releasing Slim Whitman: Best Loved Favorites in 1989 and 20 Precious Memories in 1991. During the '90s, Whitman recorded infrequently but continued to tour successfully, particularly in Europe and Australia," CMT said.