<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
     xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
     xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
     xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
     xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
     xmlns:georss="http://www.georss.org/georss"
     xmlns:geo="http://www.w3.org/2003/01/geo/wgs84_pos#"
     xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/">
    <channel>
        <title><![CDATA[NJ native who penned &#8216;Rhinestone Cowboy&#8217; struggles after COVID-19 battle]]></title>
        <atom:link href="https://usagag.com/2020/11/14/nj-native-who-penned-8216-rhinestone-cowboy-8217-struggles-after-covid-19-battle/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
        <link>https://usagag.com/2020/11/14/nj-native-who-penned-8216-rhinestone-cowboy-8217-struggles-after-covid-19-battle/</link>
        <lastBuildDate>Sat, 14 Nov 2020 18:39:52 +0000</lastBuildDate>
        <sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
        <sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
        <generator>https://usagag.com</generator>
        <media:content url="/uploads/2020/11/14/nj-native-who-penned-8216-rhinestone-cowboy-8217-struggles-after-covid-19-battle.jpg" medium="image">
            <media:title type="html">NJ native who penned &#8216;Rhinestone Cowboy&#8217; struggles after COVID-19 battle</media:title>
        </media:content>
        <content:encoded><![CDATA[
						<p>COVID-19 knocked the New Jersey native who penned the megahit &#8220;Rhinestone Cowboy&#8221; right out of his saddle.</p>
<p>And now the family of Newark-born singer-songwriter Larry Weiss is hoping friends, strangers and those who&#8217;ve enjoyed his work &#8212; including Jersey icon Bruce Springsteen &#8212; will ride to his rescue.</p>
<p>Weiss became seriously ill in July after contracting corona from his roommate &#8212; who succumbed to the virus.</p>
<p>The 79-year-old Weiss spent two months in and out of the hospital battling high fevers, low oxygen levels and two bouts of pneumonia. At one point he was almost put on a ventilator.</p>
<p>&#8220;It was a time of reflection. It was a time to look back at my life and to think about things that I had done and could have done. And want to do. I never felt I was going to check out,&#8221; Weiss told The Post from his longtime residence in Nashville.</p>
<p>Weiss admitted he was &#8220;scared&#8221; when originally rushed to the hospital on July 29.</p>
<p>&#8220;I had no control over my breathing,&#8221; he said.</p>
<p>Now on the road to wellness, Weiss &#8212; whose tunes have been recorded by everyone from Eric Burden to Jeff Beck and Barry Manilow &#8212; faces mounting medical bills and a lengthy rehab.</p>
<figure id="attachment_16623725"  class="wp-caption alignleft"><strong><img  data-src="/uploads/2020/11/14/nj-native-who-penned-8216-rhinestone-cowboy-8217-struggles-after-covid-19-battle-0.jpg" /></strong><figcaption class="wp-caption-text"><span>Glen Campbell</span><span class="credit">Redferns</span></figcaption></figure>
<p>His daughter, Stephanie, who lives in Seattle, launched a <strong>GoFundMe campaign</strong> Oct. 19 that has raised nearly $6,000 &#8212; including $100 from the Nashville Songwriters Association Int&#8217;l.</p>
<p>Weiss&#8217; Garden State cousin has tried to enlist the help of Springsteen &#8212; who covered &#8220;Rhinestone Cowboy&#8221; last year.</p>
<p><span >Weiss called Springsteen&#8217;s rendition &#8220;fantastic,&#8221; noting that Glenn Campbell&#8217;s version &#8220;was a bit glossy, but Bruce gave it more meat. Closer to the street. It was more towards what the song was about&#8230;a reflection of my experiences on Broadway as a songwriter starting out in the 1960s.&#8221;</span></p>
<p>Weiss&#8217; insurance will &#8220;only cover only a small portion of what is necessary for his proper home care&#8221; the GoFundMe explains.</p>
<p>Weiss gets royalties for &#8220;Rhinestone Cowboy&#8221; &#8212; which went&nbsp; No. 1 for Campbell in 1975 &#8212; but he said, &#8220;it&#8217;s just enough for me to get by, but not to pay my medical expenses.&#8221;</p>
<p><span >Weiss said he&#8217;d &#8220;love to hear&#8221; from The Boss, but, “that&#8217;s up to him. I&#8217;m not asking him for anything. I&#8217;m just happy that he recorded my song. It was a great honor for me.”</span></p>
			
					
						]]></content:encoded>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[GAGmen]]></dc:creator>
            </channel>
</rss><!--Time: 0.060369968414307-->