Chris Willman Music WriterHargus “Pig” Robbins, a Country Music Hall of Fame member who played piano on thousands of Nashville sessions and was renowned to Bob Dylan fans for his work on “Blonde on Blonde,” has died at age 84.

No cause of death was immediately given.Robbins’ first major hit as a session man had him playing on George Jones’ classic “White Lighting,” and from there he moved on to providing the piano parts on Patsy Cline’s “I Fall to Pieces” and “Back in Baby’s Arms.” Smashes of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s that included his distinctive piano parts included Charlie Rich’s “Behind Closed Doors” and “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World,” Crystal Gayle’s “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue,” Loretta Lynn’s “You’re Looking at Country,” Lynn and Conway Twitty’s “After the Fire is Gone,” Jones’ “She Thinks I Still Care” and “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” Dolly Parton’s “Coat of Many Colors,” Roger Miller’s “King of the Road,” Kenny Rogers’ “The Gambler,” Porter Wagoner’s “Green, Green Grass of Home,” Tammy Wynette’s “D-I-V-O-R-C-E” and Tanya Tucker’s “Delta Dawn.” Among rock fans, the blind pianist was also known for playing on records by Leon Russell and Cliff Richard, but his best-recognized recording in any genre may be “Blonde on Blonde,” universally recognized as one of Dylan’s greatest albums, and which featured his standout playing (and hollering) on “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35.”Robbins was still playing on sessions by the leading lights of country as recently as his work on Miranda Lambert’s “The Weight of These Wings” in 2015, and had recordings by Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, Sturgill Simpson, and Marty Stuart.His renown was such that his name was used for a gag in Robert Altman’s film “Nashville” in.

Hargus ‘Pig’ Robbins, Country Hall of Famer Who Played Piano on Bob Dylan, Patsy Cline and George Jones Classics, Dies at 84

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