Sunday, October 30, 2011

Dates of Note in Country Music, November 1-15

Category: News

(Country Music Hall of Famers in bold)

November 1:


Bill Anderson born in Columbia, South Carolina, 1937 (now 74)
Keith Stegall born in Wichita Falls, Texas, 1954 (now 57)
Lyle Lovett born in Klein, Texas, 1957 (now 54)
Lew Childre born in Opp, Alabama, 1901 (died 1961)
Buddy Killen died in Nashville, Tennessee (cancer), 2006 (was 73)
Jack Reno died in Florence, Kentucky (brain cancer), 2008 (was 72)


November 2:


John David Souther born in Detroit, Michigan, 1945 (now 66)
Earl Yager of the Johnson Mountain Boys born in Gordonsville, Virginia, 1953 (now 58)
k.d. lang born in Consort, Alberta, 1961 (now 50)
Charlie Walker born in Copeville, Texas, 1926 (died 2008)
Elaine Tubb, former wife of Ernest Tubb and subject of the song "Blue-Eyed Elaine," died in Nashville, Tennessee, 2001 (was 85)

November 3:


Ray Edenton born in Mineral, Virginia, 1926 (now 85)
Fabor Robison born in Beebe, Arkansas, 1911 (died 1986)
Leon Huff born in Whitesboro, Texas, 1912 (died 1952)
John Maddox of the Maddox Brothers & Rose born in Boaz, Alabama, 1915 (died 1968)
Jimmie RodgersFred Rose, and Hank Williams become the first inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame, 1961
Merle Haggard granted parole from San Quentin prison, 1960

November 4:

Kim Forrester born in Oglethorpe, Georgia, 1960 (now 51)
Will Rogers born near Oologah, Oklahoma, 1879 (died 1935)
Audrey Williams died in Nashville, Tennessee (illness), 1975 (was 52)
Dale Noe died in Phoenix, Arizona (unknown cause), 2004 (was 76)

November 5:

Billy Sherrill born in Phil Campbell, Alabama, 1936 (now 75)
Lowell Blanchard born in Palmer, Illinois, 1910 (died 1968). Blanchard was the program director at WNOX in the 1930s and began the Midday Merry-Go-Round.
Roy Rogers (Leonard Slye) born in Cincinnati, Ohio, 1911 (died 1998)
Roy Horton born in Broad Top, Pennsylvania, 1914 (died 2003)
Gram Parsons born in Winter Haven, Florida, 1946 (died 1973)
Johnny Horton died in Milano, Texas (car wreck), 1960 (was 35)
Jimmie Davis died in Baton Rouge, Louisiana (natural causes), 2000 (was 101)
Dorothy Southworth Ritter died in Woodland Hills, California (natural causes), 2003 (was 88)

November 6:

Stonewall Jackson born in Emerson, North Carolina, 1932 (now 79)
Guy Clark born in Monahan, Texas, 1941 (now 70)
Glenn Frey of the Eagles born in Detroit, Michigan, 1948 (now 63)
Doug Sahm born in San Antonio, Texas, 1941 (died 1999)
Hank Thompson died in Fort Worth, Texas (lung cancer), 2007 (was 82)
Elvis Presley became a member of Louisiana Hayride, 1954


November 7:

Robin Lee born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1953 (now 57)
Red Ingle born in Toledo, Ohio, 1906 (died 1965)

Archie Campbell born in Bull's Gap, Tennessee, 1914 (died 1987)
A.P. Carter died in Kingsport, Tennessee (illness), 1960 (was 68)
Gene Wooten died in Nashville, Tennessee (cancer), 2001 (was 49)
Red Foley's daughter, Shirley, married Pat Boone, 1953
Marty Robbins participated in his final NASCAR race, 1982


November 8:

Patti Page (Clara Fowler) born in Claremore, Oklahoma, 1927 (now 84)
Scotty Wiseman born in Ingalls, North Carolina, 1909 (died 1981)
Ivory Joe Hunter died in Memphis, Tennessee (lung cancer), 1974 (was 60). A number of the R&B singer/songwriter's songs were turned into country hits by Sonny James, including "Since I Met You, Baby" and "Empty Arms."

November 9:

George D. Hay born in Attica, Indiana, 1895 (died 1968)
Curly Fox born in Graysville, Tennessee, 1910 (died 1995)
James "Spider" Rich, co-writer of "Yakety Sax," died (unknown cause), 2003 (was 80)

November 10:

Donna Fargo (Yvonne Vaughn) born in Mount Airy, North Carolina, 1940 (now 71)
Pat Severs of Pirates of the Mississippi born in Elmira, New York, 1952 (now 59)
Paul Cohen born in Chicago, Illinois, 1908 (died 1970)
Onie Wheeler born in Senath, Missouri, 1921 (died 1984)
Dave "Stringbean" Akeman died in Ridgetop, Tennessee (murdered), 1973 (was 58)
Arnim "Curly" Fox died in Graysville, Tennessee (natural causes), 1995 (was 85)
The Edmund Fitzgerald sank in Lake Superior, killing all 29 aboard, 1975. The accident inspired Gordon Lightfoot's 1976 pop/country/folk hit "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald."


November 11:


Narvel Felts born near Keiser, Arkansas, 1938 (now 73)
Hank "Sugarfoot" Garland born in Cow Pens, South Carolina, 1930 (died 2004)
Wade Ray died in Sparta, Illinois (illness), 1998 (was 85)

Mary Reeves Davis, widow of Jim Reeves and manager of Jim Reeves Enterprises and the Jim Reeves Museum, died in Nashville, Tennessee (Alzheimer's disease), 1999 (was 70)


November 12:


Barbara Fairchild born in Lafe, Arkansas, 1950 (now 61)
Jo Stafford born in Coalinga, California, 1917 (died 2008). The pop singer was the girl singer on Red Ingle & Natural Seven hit "Tem-Tay-Shun."
John Lair, Renfro Valley Barn Dance founder, died in Mount Vernon, Kentucky (natural causes), 1985 (was 91)
Homer and Jethro's legendary live album At the Country Club recorded in Nashville, 1959

Groundbreaking ceremonies held for construction of the Grand Ole Opry House (current home of the Opry), 1971
The IRS confiscated Willie Nelson's belongings as payment for his tax bill, 1990


November 13:


Ray Wylie Hubbard born in Soper, Oklahoma, 1946 (now 65)
Jack Guthrie born in Olive, Oklahoma, 1915 (died 1948)
Buddy Killen born in Florence, South Carolina, 1932 (died 2006)
Jerry Lee Lewis Jr. died near Hernando, Mississippi (car wreck), 1973 (was 20)
Alvin "Junior" Samples died in Cumming, Georgia (heart attack), 1983 (was 57)


November 14:


Ken Carson born in Coalgate, Oklahoma, 1914 (died 1994)
Robert Whitstein died in Colfax, Louisiana (heart attack), 2001 (was 57)


November 15:


William Fries (C.W. McCall) born in Audubon, Iowa, 1928 (now 83)
Jack Ingram born in Houston, Texas, 1970 (now 41)
Albert E. Brumley died in Powell, Missouri (unknown cause), 1977 (was 72)

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

On the Mend: Loretta Lynn

Category:  News


Loretta Lynn is out of an Ashland, Kentucky hospital and back home in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee following what she termed "one scary night" battling pneumonia.


Lynn, 76, was scheduled to perform in the eastern Kentucky town Saturday (10/22); however, the show was canceled after Lynn was admitted to the hospital complaining of shortness of breath.  She was diagnosed with pneumonia.  Following her release from the hospital she returned home to "take it easy for a couple of weeks."


News reports state that the Hall of Famer plans to resume her tour schedule on November 3 in Knoxville.  She assured the media she feels fine, but keep this living legend in your prayers.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Dates of Note in Country Music, October 16-31

Category: News

(Country Music Hall of Famers in bold)

October 16:

Jim Ed Norman born in Ft. Myers, Florida, 1948 (now 63)
Stoney Cooper born in Harman, West Virginia, 1918 (died 1977)
Doyle Wilburn died in Nashville, Tennessee (cancer), 1982 (was 52)
Don Reno died in Charlottesville, Virginia(post-operative complications), 1984 (was 58)
Danny Dill died in Nashville, Tennessee (unknown cause), 2008 (was 84)
Naomi Judd retired from touring because of health issues, 1990

Ralph Stanley Museum opened, 2004

October 17:

Earl Thomas Conley born in Portsmouth, Ohio, 1941 (now 70)
Alan Jackson born in Newman, Georgia, 1958 (now 53)
Tennessee Ernie Ford died in Reston, Virginia (liver disease), 1991 (was 72)
Jay Livingston died in Los Angeles, California (pneumonia), 2001 (was 86). Among the songwriter's many credits were "Bonanza!," which Johnny Cash recorded, and "The Hanging Tree," which Marty Robbins recorded.
Bashful Brother Oswald (Beecher Ray Kirby) died in Nashville, Tennessee (cancer), 2002 (was 90)

October 18:

Chuck Berry born in San Jose, California, 1926 (now 85). Among the rock and roll legend's hits that have made it to the country chart are "Memphis" (#10 hit for Fred Knoblock, 1981), "Brown Eyed Handsome Man" (#3 hit for Waylon Jennings, 1970), "The Promised Land" (#3 hit for Freddy Weller, 1970), and "Johnny B. Goode" (#1 hit for Buck Owens, 1969).
Keith Knudsen of Southern Pacific born in Ames, Iowa, 1952 (now 59)
Harty Taylor of Karl & Harty died (stroke), 1963 (was 58)
Don Hecht died in Miami, Florida (heart attack), 2002 (was 72)
Hank Williams married Billie Jean Jones in Minden, Louisiana, 1952. After Williams' death, she would marry Johnny Horton.



October 19:

Don Parmley of the Bluegrass Cardinals born in Oliver Springs, Tennessee, 1933 (now 78)
Ebo Walker (ne Harry Shelor) of Bluegrass Alliance and New Grass Revival born in Louisville, Kentucky, 1941 (now 70)
Jeannie C. Riley born in Anson, Texas, 1945 (now 66)
Charlie Chase born in Rogersville, Tennessee, 1952 (now 59)
Arthur E. "Uncle Art" Satherley born in Bristol, England, 1889 (died 1986)
Grant Turner died in Nashville, Tennessee (heart failure), 1991 (was 79)
The first CMA Awards were held in Nashville, 1967. The awards show was not televised.

October 20:

Wanda Jackson born in Maud, Oklahoma, 1937 (now 74)
Stuart Hamblin born in Kellyville, Texas, 1908 (died 1989)
Grandpa Jones born in Niagara, Kentucky, 1913 (died 1998)
Merle Travis died in Tahlequah, Oklahoma (heart attack), 1983 (was 65)
Rounder Records founded by Ken Irwin, Bill Nowlin, and Marian Leighton, 1970. Mr. Nowlin says this "birth" of Rounder is based on the date of their first invoice.

October 21:

Owen Bradley born in Westmoreland, Tennessee, 1915 (died 1998)
Bill Black died in Memphis, Tennessee (brain tumor), 1965 (was 39)
Mel Street born in Grundy, Virginia, 1933 (died 1978)
Mel Street died in Hendersonville, Tennessee (suicide), 1978 (45th birthday)
Sonny Burns died in Nacogdoches, Texas (unknown cause), 1992 (was 62)
Leona Johnson Atkins, member of WLW's Johnson Twins and widow of Chet Atkins, died in Nashville, Tennessee (illness), 2009 (was 85)

October 22:

Shelby Lynn born in Quantico, Virginia, 1968 (now 43)
Leon Chappelear died in Gladewater, Texas (suicide), 1962 (was 53)
Dorothy Shay, the "Park Avenue Hillbillie," died in Santa Monica, California (heart attack), 1978 (was 57)

October 23:

Dwight Yoakam born in Pikeville, Kentucky, 1956 (now 55)
Junior Bryant of Ricochet born in Pecos, Texas, 1968 (now 43)
Mother Maybelle Carter died in Nashville, Tennessee (respiratory arrest), 1978 (was 68)
Merle Watson died in Caldwell County, North Carolina (tractor accident), 1985 (was 36). His father Doc's long-lasting tribute to his late son is the annual bluegrass event known as "MerleFest."
Rusty Kershaw died in New Orleans, Louisiana (heart attack), 2001 (was 63)

October 24:

Mark Gray (former member of Exile) born in Vicksburg, Mississippi, 1952 (now 59)
Jiles Perry "The Big Bopper" Richardson born in Sabine Pass, Texas, 1930 (died 1959). Among his songwriter credits are "White Lightnin'" by friend George Jones and Hank Snow's "Beggar to a King."
Kirk McGee died in Nashville, Tennessee (natural causes), 1983 (was 83)
Rosey Nix Adams, daughter of June Carter Cash, died in Montgomery County, Tennessee (carbon monoxide poisoning), 2003 (was 45)

October 25:

Jeanne Black born in Pomona, California, 1937 (now 74)
Mark Miller (Sawyer Brown) born in Dayton, Ohio, 1958 (now 53)
Chely Wright born in Kansas City, Missouri, 1970 (now 41)
Cousin Minnie Pearl (Sarah Ophelia Colley Canon) born in Grinders Switch (actually, Centerville), Tennessee, 1912 (died 1996)
Roger Miller died in Los Angeles, California (throat cancer), 1992 (was 56)
Johnnie Lee Willis died (heart ailment), 1984 (was 72)
Johnny Cash's last concert performance, Flint Michigan, 1997

October 26:

Keith Urban born in Whangarei, New Zeland, 1967 (now 44)
Hoyt Axton died in Victor, Montana (heart attack), 1999 (was 62)
Statler Brothers' final concert in their hometown of Salem, Virginia, 2002

October 27:

Dallas Frazier born in Spiro, Oklahoma, 1939 (now 72)
Lee Greenwood born in Southgate, California, 1942 (now 69)
Snuffy Jenkins born in Harris, North Carolina, 1908 (died 1990)
Floyd Cramer born in Campti, Louisiana, 1933 (died 1997)
Ruby Wright born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1939 (died 2009)
Allan "Rocky" Lane died in Woodland Hills, California (cancer), 1973 (was 72). He is mentioned in the Statler Brothers' "Whatever Happened to Randolph Scott."
Grand Ole Opry moves to the Hillsboro Theater, 1934
The Anaheim Angels won game seven of the World Series and their first (and to date, only) World Series title, 2002.  The Angels were owned by Gene Autry, and the team dedicated the championship to his memory.

October 28:

Mitchell Torok born in Houston, Texas, 1929 (now 82)
Charlie Daniels born in Wilmington, North Carolina, 1936 (now 75)

Brad Paisley born in Glen Dale, West Virginia, 1972 (now 39)
Bill Bolick of the Blue Sky Boys born in Hickory, North Carolina, 1917 (died 2008)
Jimmy Skinner died in Nashville, Tennessee (heart attack), 1979 (was 70)
Mel Foree died (cancer), 1990 (age unknown)
Porter Wagoner died in Nashville, Tennessee (lung cancer), 2007 (was 80)


October 29:

Sonny Osborne born in Hyden, Kentucky, 1937 (now 74)
Charlie Monk born in Noma, Florida, 1938 (now 73)

Albert E. Brumley born in Spiro, Oklahoma, 1905 (died 1977)
Ramblin' Jimmie Dolan born in Gardena, California, 1916 (died 1994)
Fred Maddox died in Fresno, California (heart disease), 1992 (was 73)

October 30:

Timothy B. Schmit of Poco and the Eagles born in Sacramento, California, 1947 (now 64)
T. Graham Brown born in Atlanta, Georgia, 1954 (now 57)
Patsy Montana (nee Ruby Rose Blevins) born in Hope, Arkansas, 1908 (died 1996)
Clifton Clowers born in Wolverton Mountain, Conway County, Arkansas, 1891 (died 1994)
Kitty Wells and Johnnie Wright wed, 1937 

October 31:

Anita Kerr born in Memphis, Tennessee, 1927 (now 84)
Richard "Kinky" Friedman born in Chicago, Illinois, 1944 (now 67)

Dale Evans born in Uvalde, Texas, 1912 (died 2001)
Carl Belew died in Salina, Oklahoma (cancer), 1990 (was 59)
Bob Atcher died in Prospect, Kentucky (unknown causes), 1993 (was 79)

Thursday, October 06, 2011

What Does the "C" in CMT Stand For, Anyway?

Category:  News/Rant


On Friday (10/7) Country Music Television (CMT) will debut a show called Top Secret Recipe.  Apparently the network has high expectations for this program because they are one of the few ads that have managed to air during the baseball division series games on TBS between the annoying Chevy Volt commercial (if you haven't seen it consider yourself lucky) or the MLB "legends are born in October" ads with the equally annoying song by a U2-wanna-be band playing in the background.


So what does this TV show have to do with country music?


While we're at it, what is the connection between 99% of the movies they show and country music?


RFD-TV, which bills itself as a "rural America" network (not a "country music" network), airs old syndicated series The Porter Wagoner Show, The Wilburn Brothers Show, Pop! Goes the Country, and Hee Haw (not to mention its own original Marty Stuart Show).  That is only a drop in the bucket of the old country music TV series that existed (Bill Anderson and Ernest Tubb had a show, and who wouldn't love to see network series like The Ozark Jubilee or The Johnny Cash Show again?).  


And all "Country" Music Television can offer is a show about trying to hack the Colonel's secret fried chicken recipe. 

Monday, October 03, 2011

Dates of Note in Country Music, October 1-15

Category: News
(Country Music Hall of Famers in bold)

October 1:
Kelly Willis born in Lawton, Oklahoma, 1968 (now 43)
Skeets McDonald born in Greenway, Arkansas, 1915 (died 1968)
Bonnie Owens born in Blanchard, Oklahoma, 1932 (died 2006)

October 2:
Jo-El Sonnier born in Rayne, Louisiana, 1946 (now 65)
Tammy Sullivan born in Wagarville, Alabama, 1964 (now 47)
Gillian Welch born in Manhattan, New York, 1967 (now 44)
Chris LeDoux born in Biloxi, Mississippi, 1948 (died 2005)
Chubby Wise born in Lake City, Florida, 1915 (died 1996)
Gene Autry died in Studio City, California (lymphoma), 1998 (was 91). The "Singing Cowboy" owned the Anaheim Angels, who dedicated their 2002 World Series victory to his memory.
Elvis Presley played the Grand Ole Opry, 1954. Opry manager Jim Denny critiqued his performance by telling him that he was going nowhere and to "go back to driving trucks."

October 3:
Joe Allison born in McKinney, Texas, 1924 (died 2002)
Woody Guthrie died in Queens, New York (Huntington's disease), 1967 (was 55). Among the folk singer's compositions was the Maddox Brothers and Rose's hit "Philadelphia Lawyer."
Del Wood died in Nashville, Tennessee (stroke), 1989 (was 69)

October 4:
Leroy Van Dyke born in Spring Fork, Missouri, 1929 (now 82)
Larry Collins of the Collins Kids born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1944 (now 67)
Greg Hubbard of Sawyer Brown born in Orlando, Florida, 1960 (now 51)
Jerry Rivers died in Nashville, Tennessee (cancer), 1996 (was 69)
A.L. "Doodle" Owens died in Nashville, Tennessee (heart attack), 1999 (was 69)
Tammy Wynette's ordeal where she claimed to have been kidnapped and beaten began, 1978

October 5:
Radio station WSM born in Nashville at 650 on the AM dial, 1925 (now 86)
Margie Singleton born in Coushatta, Louisiana, 1935 (now 76)
Johnny Duncan born in Dublin, Texas, 1938 (died 2006)

October 6:
Tim Rushlow of Little Texas born in Arlington, Texas, 1966 (now 45)
Kendall Hayes born in Perryville, Kentucky, 1935 (died 1995)
Ted Daffan died in Houston, Texas (cancer), 1996 (was 84)

October 7:
Jim Halsey born in Independence, Kansas, 1930 (now 81)
Kieran Kane born in Queens, New York, 1949 (now 62)
Dale Watson born in Birmingham, Alabama, 1962 (now 49)
Uncle Dave Macon born in Warren County, Tennessee, 1870 (died 1952)
Gordon Terry born in Decatur, Alabama, 1931 (died 2006)
Hugh Cherry born in Louisville, Kentucky, 1922 (died 1998)
Buddy Lee born in Brooklyn, New York, 1932 (died 1998)
Johnny Darrell died in Kennesaw, Georgia (diabetes complications), 1997 (was 57)
Jimmie Logsdon died in Louisville, Kentucky (unknown cause), 2001 (was 79)
Shelby Singleton died in Nashville, Tennessee (brain cancer), 2009 (was 77)
Jimmie Rodgers' first recording, "The Soldier's Sweetheart" / "Sleep Baby Sleep," released, 1927

October 8:
Susan Raye born in Eugene, Oregon, 1944 (now 67)
Lynn Morris born in Lamesa, Texas, 1948 (now 63)
Jackie Frantz of Dave & Sugar born in Sidney, Ohio, 1950 (now 61)
Ricky Lee Phelps of the Kentucky Headhunters born in Paragould, Arkansas, 1953 (now 58)
Pete Drake born in Atlanta, Georgia, 1932 (died 1988)

October 9:
Goebel Reeves born in Sherman, Texas, 1899 (died 1969)
The Renfro Valley Barn Dance began airing on WLW, 1937

October 10:
John Prine born in Maywood, Illinois, 1946 (now 65)
Tanya Tucker born in Seminole, Texas, 1958 (now 53)
Don Pierce, founder of Starday Records, born in Ballard, Washington, 1915 (died 2005)

October 11:
Gene Watson born in Palestine, Texas, 1943 (now 68)
Paulette Carlson of Highway 101 born in Northfield, Minnesota, 1952 (now 59)
Dottie West born in McMinnville, Tennessee, 1932 (died 1991)
Rex Griffin died in New Orleans, Louisiana (tuberculosis), 1958 (was 46)
Tex Williams died in Newhall, California (pancreatic cancer), 1985 (was 68)
T. Tommy Cutrer died in Nashville, Tennessee (heart attack), 1998 (was 74)

October 12:
Shane McAnally born in Mineral Wells, Texas, 1974 (now 36)
John Denver died in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Pacific Grove, California (plane crash), 1997 (was 53)

October 13:
Anita Kerr born in Memphis, Tennessee, 1927 (now 84)
Lacy J. Dalton born in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, 1946 (now 65)
John Wiggins born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1962 (now 48)
Rhett Akins born in Valdosta, Georgia, 1969 (now 42)
Hoarce Lee Logan died in Victoria, Texas (respiratory disease), 2002. The founder of the Louisiana Hayride also coined one of the most oft-repeated phrases in American popular culture: trying to calm down an audience after one Louisiana Hayride performer wowed the crowd, Logan announced, "Elvis has left the building."
Acuff-Rose Publishing Company founded, 1942

October 14:
Kenny Roberts born in Lenoir City, Tennessee, 1926 (now 85)
Melba Montgomery born in Iron City, Tennessee, 1938 (now 73)
Bing Crosby died in Madrid, Spain (heart attack), 1977. The legendary pop crooner has the distinction of being the first artist to have a #1 single on Billboard magazine's Country and Western charts, with his rendition of Al Dexter's "Pistol Packin' Mama," January 8, 1944.

October 15:
Dean Miller born in Los Angeles, California, 1965 (now 46)