Dates of Note in Country Music, July 1-15

CATEGORY: News
Country Music Hall of Famers in bold

July 1:
John Lair born in Livingston, Kentucky, 1894 (died 1985). Lair, a one-time announcer on the WLS National Barn Dance, founded the Renfro Valley Barn Dance in Mt. Vernon, Kentucky in 1939.
Keith Whitley born in Sandy Hook, Kentucky, 1955 (died 1989)

July 2:
Marvin Rainwater born in Wichita, Kansas, 1925 (now 85)
Fred Maddox of the Maddox Brothers born in Boaz, Alabama, 1919 (died 1992)
Ken Curtis (one-time member of Sons of the Pioneers as well as Gunsmoke actor) born in Lamar, Colorado, 1916 (died 1991)
DeFord Bailey died (natural causes), 1982 (was 82)
Jim Reeves' final RCA recording session, 1964

July 3:
Johnny Lee born in Texas City, Texas, 1946 (now 64)
Aaron Tippin born in Pensacola, Florida, 1958 (now 52)
Johnny Russell died (complications of diabetes), 2001 (was 61)
Homer L. "Boots" Randolph died (subdural hematoma), 2007 (was 80)

July 4:
Ray Pillow born in Lynchburg, Virginia, 1937 (now 73)
Charlie Monroe born in Rosine, Kentucky, 1903 (died 1975)
Marion Worth born in Birmingham, Alabama, 1930 (died 1999)
Big Al Downing died (leukemia), 2005 (was 65)

July 5:
James "Guy" Willis of the Willis Brothers born in Alex, Arkansas, 1915 (died 1981)
The Grand Ole Opry's first show at the War Memorial Auditorium, 1939

July 6:
Jeannie Seely born in Titusville, Pennsylvania, 1940 (now 70)
Nancy Griffith born in Austin, Texas, 1953 (now 57)
Roy Rogers died (heart failure), 1998 (was 86)

July 7:
Charlie Louvin born in Rainsville, Alabama, 1927 (now 83)
John "Lonzo" Sullivan born in Edmonton, Kentucky, 1917 (died 1967)
Doyle Wilburn born in Hardy, Arkansas, 1930 (died 1982)
George Morgan died (complications of heart bypass surgery), 1975 (was 50)

July 8:
Toby Keith born in Clinton, Oklahoma, 1961 (now 49)
Louis Jordan (a jazz artist who had two country #1 hits in 1944) born in Brinkley, Arkansas, 1908 (died 1975)
Ervin Rouse died (complications from diabetes), 1981 (was 64)
Marty Stuart and Connie Smith married, 1997

July 9:
Jesse McReynolds born in Coeburn, Virginia, 1929 (now 82)
David Ball born in Rock Hill, South Carolina, 1953 (now 57)
Eddie Dean born in Posey, Texas, 1907 (died 1999)
Molly O'Day born in Pike County, Kentucky, 1923 (died 1987)
The Country Music Association announced the largest Country Music Hall of Fame induction class ever -- a total of 12 inductees (Bill Anderson, Delmore Brothers, Everly Brothers, Don Gibson, Homer & Jethro, Waylon Jennings, Jordanaires, Don Law, Louvin Brothers, Ken Nelson, Webb Pierce, and Sam Phillips) -- to coincide with the opening of the new Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, 2001

July 10:
Randall E. "Hawk" Shaw Wilson of BR5-49 born in Topeka, Kansas, 1960 (now 50)

July 11:
Jeff Hanna of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band born in Detroit, Michigan, 1947 (now 63)

July 12:
Steve Young born in Newman, Georgia, 1942 (now 68)
Jimmie Driftwood died (heart attack), 1998 (was 91)

July 13:
Louise Mandrell of the Mandrell Sisters born in Corpus Christi, Texas, 1954 (now 56)
Rhonda Vincent born in Kirksville, Missouri, 1962 (now 48)
Bradley Kincaid born in Level, Kentucky, 1895 (died 1989)
Tim Spencer born in Webb City, Missouri, 1908 (died 1974)
Riley Puckett died (blood poisoning), 1946 (was 62)

July 14:
Woody Guthrie born in Okemah, Oklahoma, 1912 (died 1967)
Marijohn Wilkin born in Kemp, Texas, 1920 (died 2006)
Del Reeves born in Sparta, North Carolina, 1933 (died 2007)

July 15:
Johnny Sea born in Gulfport, Mississippi, 1940 (now 69)
Linda Ronstadt born in Tucson, Arizona, 1946 (now 64)
Lloyd "Cowboy" Copas born in Adams County, Ohio, 1913 (died 1963)

Dates of Note in Country Music, June 16-30

Category: News

Country Music Hall of Famers in bold

June 16:

Billy "Crash" Craddock born in Greensboro, North Carolina, 1946 (now 64)
Bob Nolan of the Sons of the Pioneers died (heart attack), 1980 (was 72)
"Orange Blossom Special" recorded by the Rouse Brothers, 1939. Ervin Rouse co-wrote the legendary fiddle tune with Chubby Wise.

June 17:

Clyde "Red" Foley born in Blue Lick, Kentucky, 1910 (died 1968)
Dave Akeman (Stringbean) born in Annville, Kentucky, 1916 (died 1973)
Minnie Pearl suffered a stroke that ended her career, 1991
Ground breaking ceremonies held for the new Country Music Hall of Fame, 1999. Your blogger was a member of the "All-Guitar Marching Band," fronted by Chet Atkins, that led the Hall of Fame members to the grounds.

June 18:

Sir Paul McCartney born in Liverpool, England, 1942 (now 68). The legendary Beatle hit the country chart in 1974 with "Sally G." He was also introduced to a Friday Night Opry audience in 1974 by Roy Acuff, where McCartney proclaimed Nashville the "music capital of the universe."
Marty Haggard born in Bakersfield, California, 1958 (now 52)
Blake Shelton born in Ada, Oklahoma, 1976 (now 34)
Zeke Turner born in Lynchburg, Virginia, 1923 (died 2003)
Henry Maddox of the Maddox Brothers & Rose died (heart disease), 1974 (was 46)
A.P. Carter married Sara Dougherty, 1915

June 19:

Doug Stone born in Marietta, Georgia, 1956 (now 54)
Howard Dixon of the Dixon Brothers born in Darlington, South Carolina, 1903 (died 1951)
Lester Flatt born in Sparta, Tennessee, 1914 (died 1979)
Pat Buttram born in Addison, Alabama, 1915 (died 1994)
Bobby Helms died (emphysema), 1997 (was 63)

June 20:

Anne Murray born in Springhill, Nova Scotia, 1945 (now 65)
Evelyn Mae Cox of the Cox Family born in Springhill, Louisiana, 1959 (now 51)
Jimmie Driftwood born in Mountain View, Arkansas, 1907 (died 1998)
T. Texas Tyler born in Mena, Arkansas, 1916 (died 1972)
Chet Atkins born in Luttrell, Tennessee, 1924 (died 2001)
Ira Louvin died (car wreck), 1965 (was 41)
Whitey Ford, the "Duke of Paducah," died (cancer), 1986 (was 85)

June 21:

Charlie Lamb born in Knoxville, Tennessee, 1921 (now 89)
Eddie Adcock born in Scottsville, Virginia, 1938 (now 72)
Leon Everette born in Aiken, South Carolina, 1948 (now 62)
Kathy Mattea born in Cross Lanes, West Virginia, 1959 (now 51)
Porter Howell of Little Texas born in Longview, Texas, 1964 (now 46)

June 22:

Peter Asher born in Williesden, Middlesex, England, 1944 (now 66). The former half of the pop duo Peter and Gordon was the producer of most of Linda Ronstadt's crossover hits.
Kris Kristofferson born in Brownsville, Texas, 1936 (now 73)
Ralph S. Peer born in Independence, Missouri, 1892 (died 1960)
Roy Drusky born in Atlanta, Georgia, 1930 (died 2004)
Elton Britt died (heart attack), 1972 (was 58)

June 23:

Zeb Turner born in Lynchburg, Virginia, 1915 (died 1978)
June Carter Cash born in Maces Springs, Virginia, 1929 (died 2003)

June 24:

Johnnie Bailes of the Bailes Brothers born in Kanawha County, West Virginia, 1918 (died 1989)
Foy Willing of Riders of the Purple Sage died (heart attack), 1978 (was 63)
Songwriter Tim Krekel died (stomach cancer), 2009 (was 57)

June 25:

Jenifer Strait, daughter of George Strait, died (car wreck), 1986 (was 13)
Boudleaux Bryant died (cancer), 1987 (was 67)
Lew DeWitt retires from the Statler Brothers because of health issues, 1982
Billboard magazine renames the "Hillbilly" music chart the "Country and Western" chart, 1949

June 26:

Doc Williams born in Cleveland, Ohio, 1914 (now 96)
Kenny Baker born in Jenkins, Kentucky, 1926 (now 84)
Gretchen Wilson born in Granite City, Illinois, 1973 (now 37)
Colonel Tom Parker born in Breda, Netherlands, 1909 (died 1997). Before Elvis, Colonel Tom managed Hank Snow, Eddy Arnold, and Minnie Pearl.
Vernon Presley died (heart failure), 1979 (was 63)
Elvis Presley's final concert, at the Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis, 1977

June 27:

Lorrie Morgan born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1959 (now 51)
Elton Britt born in Marshall, Arkansas, 1913 (died 1972)
Rosalie Allen born in Old Forge, Pennsylavania, 1924 (died 2003)
Little Roy Wiggins born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1926 (died 1999)
Joe Maphis died (lung cancer), 1986 (was 65)
Bob Keeshan born in Lynbrook, New York, 1927 (died 2004). The Statler Brothers referenced Keeshan's best-known character in their hit "Flowers on the Wall:" "Smokin' cigarettes and watchin' Captain Kangaroo."

June 28:

George Morgan born in Waverly, Tennessee, 1924 (died 1975)
The WWVA Wheeling Jamboree began, 1940

June 29:

T. Tommy Cutrer born in Osyka, Mississippi, 1924 (died 1998)
Frank Loesser born in New York City, 1910 (died 1969). The legendary pop songwriter was the first "victim" of a Homer & Jethro parody in 1949, "Baby, It's Cold Outside." After Homer & Jethro recorded seven more parodies of Loesser compositions for an EP (Homer & Jethro Fracture Frank Loesser), Loesser, a fan of the pair, wrote the liner notes.
Rosemary Clooney died (lung cancer), 2002 (was 74)

June 30:

Dwayne O'Brien of Little Texas born in Ada, Oklahoma, 1963 (now 47)
Doyle Holly born in Perkins, Oklahoma, 1936 (died 2007)
R.W. Blackwood of the Blackwood Brothers Quartet died (plane crash), 1954 (was 33)
Bill Lyles of the Blackwood Brothers Quartet died (plane crash), 1954 (age unknown)
Chet Atkins died (brain cancer), 2001 (was 77)

Breaking: New Hall of Famer Dies

CATEGORY: NEWS/OBITUARY

It is with great sadness that I report the death of legendary country singer and sausage king Jimmy Dean.

Dean died Sunday (6/13) of natural causes, according to his wife Donna.

Dean is one of four members of the Country Music Hall of Fame class of 2010. He joined Ferlin Husky (who had two serious hospitalizations last year), Don Williams, and producer/songwriter Billy Sherrill when the announcements were made in February. The formal inductions are slated for later this summer.

Although best known for his 1961 hit "Big Bad John," which reached #1 on both the country and the pop charts, there was so much more to Jimmy Dean than that one big song. His songs ranged from historical ("PT 109") to comical ("I Won't Go Huntin' With You, Jake [But I'll Go Chasin' Women]") to sentimental ("IOU"). He also introduced the world to Roy Clark and Jim Henson on his 50s and 60s television series The Jimmy Dean Show. And, of course, he became a household name when he launched his own brand of sausage products in 1969.

Jimmy Dean was 81.

Jimmy Dean dies

Dates of Note in Country Music, June 1-15

Category: News

(Country Music Hall of Famers in bold)

June 1:
Dale Warren of the Sons of the Pioneers born in Summerville, Kentucky, 1925 (now 85)
Andy Griffith born in Mount Airy, North Carolina, 1926 (now 84)
Pat Boone born in Jacksonville, Florida, 1934 (now 76). The legendary pop crooner married Red Foley's daughter Shirley.
Hazel Dickens born in Mercer County, West Virginia, 1935 (now 75)
Wayne Kemp born in Greenwood, Arkansas, 1941 (now 69)
Ronnie Dunn of Brooks & Dunn born in Coleman, Texas, 1953 (now 55)
Elsie McWilliams born in Harperville, Mississippi, 1896 (died 1985)
Johnny Bond born in Enville, Oklahoma, 1915 (died 1978)
Lee Allen of the Allen Brothers born in Sewanee, Tennessee, 1906 (died 1981)
Jimmy Murphy died (unknown cause), 1981 (was 55)

June 2:
Carl Butler born in Knoxville, Tennessee, 1927 (died 1992)
Helen Carter died (heart failure), 1998 (was 70)
Adolph Hofner died (illness), 2000 (was 83)

June 3:
Fred "Too Slim" LeBour of Riders in the Sky born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1948 (now 62)
Jamie O'Neal born in Sydney, Australia, 1968 (now 42)
Curly Williams born in Cairo, Georgia, 1914 (died 1970)
Homer Louis "Boots" Randolph born in Paducah, Kentucky, 1927 (died 2007)
Wally Fowler died (drown), 1994 (was 77)
Van Stoneman of the Stoneman Family died (Parkinson's disease), 1995 (was 54)
Graceland opens to the public, 1982
The Cincinnati radio show Midwest Hayride begins television broadcasts (on WLW-TV), 1955

June 4:
Bill Mack born in Shamrock, Texas, 1929 (now 81)
Linda Martell born in Leesville, South Carolina, 1941 (now 69). She was the first Black female artist to perform on the Grand Ole Opry.
Texas Ruby Owens born in Wise County, Texas, 1910 (died 1963)
Freddy Fender born in San Benito, Texas, 1937 (died 2006)
Zeke Clement died (unknown cause), 1994 (was 82)
John Hartford died (cancer), 2001 (was 63)
Alabama's annual "June Jam" concert began in Fort Payne, Alabama, 1982

June 5:
Don Reid of the Statler Brothers born in Staunton, Virginia, 1945 (now 65)
Gail Davies born in Broken Bow, Oklahoma, 1948 (now 62)
William "Hopalong Cassidy" Boyd born in Cambridge, Ohio, 1895 (died 1972)
Hal Lone Pine born in Pea Cove, Maine, 1916 (died 1977)
John "Lonzo" Sullivan died (heart attack), 1967 (was 48)
Conway Twitty died (abdominal aneurysm), 1993 (was 59)
Ronald Reagan died (complications of Alzheimer's disease), 2004 (was 93). While governor of California, the former president signed a full pardon for former convict Merle Haggard.
Grand Ole Opry's first performance at the Ryman auditorium, 1943

June 6:
Joe Stampley born in Springhill, Louisiana, 1943 (now 67)
Gid Tanner of the Skillet Lickers born in Thomas Bridge, Georgia, 1885 (died 1960)
Asher Sizemore born in Manchester, Kentucky, 1906 (died 1973)
Charlie Cline of the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers born in Gilbert, West Virginia, 1931 (died 2004)
Claudette Orbison, wife of Roy Orbison, died (motorcycle accident), 1966 (was 24)
Grant Turner began his tenure as Grand Ole Opry announcer, 1944

June 7:
Sir Tom Jones born in Treforest, South Wales, 1940 (now 70). The legendary pop/rock singer had a hit with a cover of "Green, Green Grass of Home" in 1967 and hit the country charts with "Say You'll Stay Until Tomorrow" in 1977.
Larry Boone born in Cooper City, Florida, 1956 (now 54)
Dean Martin born in Steubenville, Ohio, 1917 (died 1995). The pop crooner recorded two albums of country music on Reprise in the early 60s and sang with Ricky Nelson in the John Wayne classic Rio Bravo in 1969.
Wynn Stewart born in Morrisville, Missouri, 1934 (died 1985)
Courtney Johnson of New Grass Revival died (lung cancer), 1996 (was 56)

June 8:
Vernon Oxford born in Rogers, Arkansas, 1941 (now 69)
Tony Rice born in Danville, Virginia, 1951 (now 59)
Adolph Hofner born in Moulton, Texas, 1916 (died 2000)
Alton Delmore died (alcohol-related illness), 1964 (was 55)
Roba Stanley died (unknown cause), 1986 (was 76). She is credited as being the first female solo artist recorded in country music history (1924).
Tommy Perkins of the Texas Playboys died (car accident), 2003 (was 69)

June 9:
Les Paul born in Waukesha, Wisconsin, 1915 (died 2009). In addition to his recordings with wife Mary Ford, Paul invented the solid-body electric guitar and multi-track recording. He also won a Grammy for his album with Chet Atkins, Chester and Lester, in 1976.
Willard Cox of the Cox Family born in Cotton Valley, Louisiana, 1937 (now 73)
Jamie Dailey of Dailey & Vincent born in Corbin, Kentucky, 1975 (now 35)

June 10:
Herman Crook of the Crook Brothers died (heart attack), 1988 (was 89)
Steve Sanders, who replaced William Lee Golden in the Oak Ridge Boys for 15 years, died (suicide), 1998 (was 45)
Ray Charles died (complications of liver disease), 2004 (was 73). Charles made the country charts in the 80s with duets with George Jones and Willie Nelson, and his ground-breaking 1963 album Modern Sounds in Country Music presented country songs to a wide audience.

June 11:
Jay McDowell of BR-549 born in Bedford, Indiana, 1969 (now 41)
Edwin Duhon of the Hackberry Ramblers born in Lafayette, Louisiana, 1910 (died 2006)
Brother Dave Gardner born in Jackson, Tennessee, 1926 (died 1983)
Jud Strunk born in Jamestown, New York, 1936 (died 1981)
Wilma Burgess born in Orlando, Florida, 1939 (died 2003)
John Wayne died (cancer), 1979 (was 72). The actor has been referenced in a number of country songs.

June 12:
Junior Brown born in Kirksville, Indiana, 1952 (now 56)
Rebecca Holden born in Austin, Texas, 1958 (now 52)
Penny Jay born in Monteagle Mountain, Tennessee, 1927 (died 2006)
Dr. Humphrey Bate of the Possum Hunters died (unknown cause), 1936 (was 61)
J.E. Mainer died (heart attack), 1971 (was 72)
Johnny Bond died (heart attack), 1978 (was 63)
Danny Davis died (heart failure), 2008 (was 83)

June 13:
Howard Vokes born in Clearfield, Pennsylvania, 1931 (now 79)
Slim Dusty born in Kempsey, Australia, 1927 (died 2003)
The Country Music Foundation Library and Media Center opened in the basement of the Country Music Hall of Fame, 1972. The CMF is now on the top floor of the new Hall of Fame building.

June 14:
Burl Ives born in Newton, Illinois, 1909 (died 1995)
Lash LaRue born in Gretna, Louisiana, 1917 (died 1996). The Western actor was the first sidekick to western singer/actor/songwriter Eddie Dean and was mentioned in the Statler Brothers' "Whatever Happened to Randolph Scott."
Ernest V. "Pop" Stoneman died (illness), 1968 (was 75)
Patsy Cline seriously injured in a car accident, 1961

June 15:
RCA engineer Bill Porter born in St. Louis, Missouri, 1931 (now 79)
Terri Gibbs born in Miami, Florida, 1954 (now 56)
Blind Alfred Reed born in Floyd, Virginia, 1880 (died 1956)
Tex Owens born in Killeen, Texas, 1892 (died 1962)
Marvin Hughes born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1911 (died 1986)
Leon Payne born in Alba, Texas, 1917 (died 1969)
Waylon Jennings born in Littlefield, Texas, 1937 (died 2002)
Ruby Falls died (unknown cause), 1986 (was 40)
The summer replacement show for the CBS variety series The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour began airing, 1969. That show was Hee Haw.

It's ICMC Time

Category: News

The 27th annual International Country Music Conference kicks off on Thursday, May 27 in Nashville. The three-day event will focus heavily on bluegrass this year, thanks to a special 40th anniversary tribute to Rounder Records and the keynote Charles K. Wolfe Memorial Panel on bluegrass music.

Other features will include Dr. Dana Wiggins discussing k.d. lang, pre-World War II discographer Tony Russell lecturing on Carson Robison, Cincinnati Public Library music librarian Brian Powers presenting on King Records, and yours truly speaking on the "secret weapons" of Homer and Jethro's comedy.

Marty Stuart will receive a lifetime achievement award, and Barry Mazor's book, Meeting Jimmie Rodgers, will be presented with the Book of the Year award, and journalism awards will go to Derek Halsey and Walt Trott.

Dates of Note in Country Music, May 16-31

Category: News

Country Music Hall of Famers in bold

May 16:

Rick Trevino born in Austin, Texas, 1971 (now 39)
Laura Lee Owens, the "Queen of Western Swing," born in Kansas City, Missouri, 1920 (died 1989)

May 17:

Penny DeHaven born in Winchester, Virginia, 1948 (now 62)
Pat Flynn of the New Grass Revival born in Los Angeles, California, 1952 (now 58)
Grant Turner born in Abeline, Texas, 1912 (died 1991)
Paul Warren born in Lyles, Tennessee, 1918 (died 1978)
Red Smiley of Reno & Smiley born in Marshall, North Carolina, 1925 (died 1984)
Wiley Walker of Wiley & Gene died (unknown causes), 1966 (was 54)
New Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum building opened, 2001

May 18:

Leon Ashley born in Newton County, Georgia, 1936 (now 74)
Rodney Dillard of the Dillards born in East St. Louis, Illinois, 1942 (now 68)
Joe Bonsall of the Oak Ridge Boys born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1948 (now 62)
Gary Scruggs born in Knoxville, Tennessee, 1949 (now 61)
George Strait born in Poteet, Texas, 1952 (now 58)

May 19:

Martha Carson born in Neon, Kentucky, 1921 (died 2004)
Rex Gosdin born in Woodland, Alabama, 1938 (died 1983)
Mickey Newberry born in Houston, Texas, 1940 (died 2002)

May 20:

"Lonesome George" Gobel born in Chicago, Illinois, 1919 (died 1991). Although many may remember him as a comedian and regular on Hollywood Squares, one of Gobel's earliest jobs in entertainment was on the WLS National Barn Dance when he was a teenager in the 1930s.
Jack Cash, brother of Johnny Cash, died (chain saw accident), 1944 (was 15)

May 21:

Henry Glover born in Hot Springs, Arkansas, 1921 (died 1991). The R&B songwriter and pioneering black record company executive co-wrote "Blues, Stay Away From Me" with the Delmore Brothers and Wayne Raney in 1949.
Charlie Poole died (heart failure), 1931 (was 39)
Billy Walker died (car wreck), 2006 (was 77)
Vaughn Monroe died (post-operative complications), 1973 (was 61). Among the pop singer's many hits was "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky."

May 22:

Miggie Lewis of the Lewis Family born in Richmond County, Georgia, 1926 (now 84)
Buddy Alan born in Mega, Arizona, 1948 (now 62)
Rich Alves of Pirates of the Mississippi born in Pleasanton, California, 1953 (now 57)
Dana Williams of Diamond Rio born in Dayton, Ohio, 1961 (now 49)
Ralph S. Peer born in Independence, Missouri, 1892 (died 1960)
Royce Kendall died (stroke), 1988 (was 63)

May 23:

Mac Wiseman born in Crimora, Virginia, 1925 (now 85)
Ken Irwin, co-founder of Rounder Records, born in New York, New York, 1944 (now 66)
Misty Morgan born in Buffalo, New York, 1945 (now 65)
Shelley West born in Cleveland, Ohio, 1958 (now 52)
Rosemary Clooney born in Maysville, Kentucky, 1928 (died 2002). The legendary pop singer recorded a number of country songs, including covering Carl Smith's hit "If Teardrops Were Pennies."
Rex Gosdin died (heart attack), 1983 (was 45)

May 24:

Mike Reid born in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, 1947 (now 63)
Rosanne Cash born in Memphis, Tennessee, 1955 (now 55)
Billy Gilman born in Westerly, Rhode Island, 1988 (now 22). Gilman's "One Voice" hit #1 when he was 12, making him the youngest person in Billboard country chart history to have a #1 song.
Gene Clark of the Byrds and Dillard & Clark died (bleeding ulcer), 1991 (was 46)
Vivian Liberto died (cancer), 2005 (was 71). Vivian was Johnny Cash's first wife and Rosanne Cash's mother.
Jimmie Rodgers recorded "Old Love Letters (Bring Memories of You)," "Mississippi Delta Blues," "Somewhere Down Below the Dixon Line," and "Years Ago" in New York City, 1933. Ravaged with tuberculosis, they would serve as the final recordings of the Father of Country Music.

May 25:

Tom T. Hall born in Olive Hill, Kentucky, 1936 (now 74)
Jessi Colter born in Phoenix, Arizona, 1947 (now 63)
Dr. Humphrey Bate of the Possum Hunters born in Castallian Springs, Tennessee, 1875 (died 1936)
Ernest V. "Pop" Stoneman born in Monarat, Virginia, 1893 (died 1968)
Dick Curless died (stomach cancer), 1995 (was 63)

May 26:

Levon Helm of the Band born in Marvell, Arkansas, 1940 (now 70). The actor and drummer/singer for the Band made his acting debut in Coal Miner's Daughter.
Hank Williams Jr. born in Shreveport, Louisiana, 1949 (now 61)
Jimmie Rodgers died (tuberculosis), 1933 (was 35)
Onie Wheeler died (heart attack), 1984 (was 62). He died on the Grand Ole Opry stage during a performance of the post-Friday Night Opry show, Grand Ole Gospel.
The first International Country Music Conference held in Meridian, Mississippi, 1983. The three-day event began as a memorial to Jimmie Rodgers and coincides with the anniversary of his death.

May 27:

Don Williams born in Floydada, Texas, 1939 (now 71). Don is one of the four "class of 2010" inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Redd Stewart born in Ashland City, Tennessee, 1921 (died 2003)
Kenny Price born in Florence, Kentucky, 1931 (died 1987)
Opryland opened, 1972 (died 1997)

May 28:

John Fogerty born in Berkeley, California, 1945 (now 65). The leader of Creedence Clearwater Revival recorded an album of country songs under the pseudonym Blue Ridge Rangers in 1973, hitting the country chart with his rendition of "Jambalaya."
Jerry Douglas born in Warren, Ohio, 1956 (now 54)
Phil Vassar born in Lynchburg, Virginia, 1965 (now 45)
Gary Stewart born in Jenkins, Kentucky, 1945 (died 2003)

May 29:

Carl Story born in Lenoir, North Carolina, 1916 (died 1995)
Mother Maybelle and the Carter Family become members of the Grand Ole Opry, 1950
Hank and Audrey Williams divorced, 1952

May 30:

Mike Snider born in Gleason, Tennessee, 1960 (now 50)
Lewis Crook of the Crook Brothers born in Trousdale County, Tennessee, 1909 (died 1996)
Karl Davis of Karl & Harty died (cancer), 1979 (was 73)
Bobby Harden of the Harden Trio died (unknown cause), 2006 (was 70)

May 31:

Vic Willis of the Willis Brothers born in Schulter, Oklahoma, 1922 (died 1995)
Johnny Paycheck born in Greenfield, Ohio, 1938 (died 2003)
William "Red" Rector died (heart attack), 1990 (was 60)

Forest Fire

Category: Concert Review

The Jefferson Memorial Forest, located in the Louisville suburb of Fairdale, Kentucky, hosted the sixth annual Forest Fest bluegrass show on Saturday (5/15). The weather was perfect for the outdoor event, with the temperature in the mid-70s and clouds that kept the sun from being overbearing to those in attendance. Six hours of bluegrass music culminated with a musical forest fire set by headliners Dailey and Vincent.

Jeri Katherine Howell and Better Together opened the show. Howell is a 17-year-old regional singer who seems to be on a mission to rescue the reputation of under-20 singers from the terrible condition they currently find themselves in thanks to a number of teenage female singers in country music. Howell's voice is mature beyond her years, and her harmonizing with bass player Daphne Fields owes plenty to Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard. Howell is a very promising young talent in bluegrass.

Berk Bryant (L) prepares to introduce
opening act Jeri Katherine Howell &
Better Together

Another local band, Shepherdsville's Blue River, gave an excellent performance. Their sound relies heavily on the traditional sounds of bluegrass. They provided solid covers of the Stanley Brothers' "If That's the Way You Feel" and Charlie Monroe's "I'm Coming Back But I Don't Know When" as well as their own tunes. Highlights included "The Streets of Chicago," the gospel song "Glory in My Soul," and the instrumental "Ridin' the Goat at Dundee." This band can easily become a national success story.


Blue River performs for the crowd

The one disappointment of the afternoon was Earl Bull and Clinch Mountain Bluegrass. This band came to Forest Fest at the personal recommendation of show MC and bluegrass radio DJ Berk Bryant. Unfortunately, they were plagued with sound problems from the moment they walked on. Front man Earl Bull's banjo was turned up so loudly that it drowned out lead instruments even when he was simply playing rhythm. Worse, monitor problems caused Bull to sound terribly off-key almost as frequently as he was on key. Bryant has played this band on the bluegrass show and their recordings show that they sound much better than they did on stage.

Everything that came before paled in comparison to the headliners. Dailey and Vincent wasted no time in showing the enthusiastic crowd just why they are the reigning IBMA Entertainer of the Year act. They featured songs from all three of their Rounder releases as well as the tribute to the Statler Brothers, which is available only at Cracker Barrel stores.

Jamie Dailey (L) and Darrin Vincent
move closer to the audience to sing

After getting the crowd warmed up they moved from the stage to the lawn near the front row. While out front they sang the Statlers' "Susan When She Tried" and two a cappella numbers, "Moses Smote the Water" and "Don't You Want to Go to Heaven." Mandolinist/singer Jeff Parker would later return to the crowd to dance with a fan and "visit" with audience members while singing.

Dailey and Vincent's spine-tingling rendition of the Statler Brothers classic "More Than a Name on a Wall" (which is on their debut album, not the Statlers tribute) helped close out their 75-minute set. They returned for an encore as a few sprinkles began to fall on the audience. It hardly mattered, for nothing could dampen the the spirits of the crowd thanks to the superb performance Dailey and Vincent gave to close out the festival.

Five Feet High and Rising

Category: News

As the "thousand-year flood" in Nashville continues to ravage Music City, the damage to country music is only beginning to be realized.

Country Music Hall of Fame: The Hall of Fame has six feet of water in the basement. The news report says this poses no threat to the archives or the exhibits. The loading/staging area of the Ford Theater has also suffered some water damage, but the theater itself was unharmed.

WSM-AM: The radio station's studios were located in the lobby of the Opryland Hotel. The Opryland Hotel has as much as twenty feet of water on the ground floor. WSM is still on the air, broadcasting from the engineer building at the transmitter. Their online simulcast was off for two days but has been restored.

The Opry Museum: Reports say that the artifacts at the Opry Museum, located outside the entrace to the Grand Ole Opry House, have suffered serious damage.

Grand Ole Opry House: The Opry House has suffered major flood damage to backstage, the stage itself, the dressing rooms, and the auditorium. The Tuesday show was held at the War Memorial Auditorium, which was the Opry's home prior to the move to the Ryman. The current plan is for the Opry to go "on tour," as it were, between various venues (including former homes the Ryman and the War Memorial Auditorium) while repairs are made to the Opry House.

NOTE: The Ryman Auditorium was not damaged. Anyone who is familiar with the Ryman's location knows that it is located uphill on Fifth Avenue from Broadway. (The other side of Broadway runs downhill.)

Country singers Jeannie Seely and Julie Roberts had their homes damaged by the floods. As of now, these are the only two singers who have specifically been mentioned as being directly affected.

Please keep the city and its citizens in your prayers. And if you have a spare dollar, please donate it to the American Red Cross or the Nashville Red Cross chapter. The next "thousand year flood" might be in your hometown.

Nashville Salvation Army site

Dates of Note in Country Music, May 1-15

Category: News

Country Music Hall of Famers in bold

May 1:

Sonny James (ne James Loden) born in Hackleburg, Alabama, 1929 (now 81)
Rita Coolidge born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1944 (now 66). Although primarily a pop singer, Coolidge had a dozen songs chart in country. She is also the former wife of Kris Kristofferson.
Wayne Hancock born in Dallas, Texas, 1965 (now 45)
Tim McGraw born in Delhi, Louisiana, 1967 (now 43)
Sam McGee born in Williamson County, Tennessee, 1894 (died 1975)
Jimmy Gately born in Springfield, Missouri, 1931 (died 1985)
Ott Devine born in Gadsen, Alabama, 1910 (died 1994)
Spike Jones died (emphysema), 1965 (was 53). The novelty band leader recorded "Pal-Yat-Chee" with Homer and Jethro, and Red Ingle (of Red Ingle & Natural Seven, of "Temp-Tay-Shun" fame) was once a member of Jones' City Slickers.
Jim Hager of the Hager Twins died (heart attack), 2008 (was 66)
Elvis Presley married Priscilla Beaulieu, 1967
A six-inch rainstorm hit Nashville, flooding the Grand Ole Opry House, the Opryland Hotel, the WSM-AM studios, the basement of the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Wildhorse Saloon, the instrument storage business Soundcheck, and a number of country singers' homes, 2010. The two-day total rainfall would surpass 13 inches and kill nearly two dozen.

May 2:

R.C. Bannon born in Dallas, Texas, 1945 (now 65)
Larry Gatlin born in Seminole, Texas, 1948 (now 62)
Ty Herndon born in Meridian, Mississippi, 1962 (now 48)
Roy Lee Centers of the Clinch Mountain Boys died (shot during a bar fight), 1974 (was 29)
"Slowly" by Webb Pierce hits #1 on the Billboard charts, 1954. It becomes the first #1 song to feature the pedal steel guitar.

May 3:

Jerry Chestnut born in Harlan County, Kentucky, 1931 (now 79)
Cactus Moser of Highway 101 born in Montrose, Colorado, 1957 (now 53)
Bing Crosby born in Tacoma, Washington, 1903 (died 1977). The pop crooner has the distinction of being the performer of the first #1 single in Billboard magazine's "Hillbilly and Western Singles" history with his rendition of Al Dexter's "Pistol Packin' Mama." Dexter's own recording was the second #1 song.
Dave Dudley born in Spencer, Wisconsin, 1928 (died 2003)
Patsy Montana died (unknown cause), 1996 (was 83)
Dollywood theme park opened in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, 1986

May 4:

Stella Parton born in Sevierville, Tennessee, 1949 (now 61)
Robert Ellis Orrall born in Winthrop, Massachusetts, 1955 (now 55)
Randy Travis born in Marshville, North Carolina, 1959 (now 51)
Al Dexter (ne Clarence Albert Poindexter) born in Jacksonville, Texas, 1902 (died 1984)
Bobby Austin born in Wenatchee, Washington, 1933 (died 2002)
Joe L. Frank died (illness), 1952 (was 52)
Leo Jackson died (suicide [gunshot]), 2008 (was 73)

May 5:

Ace Cannon born in Grenada, Mississippi, 1934 (now 76)
Roni Stoneman born in Washington, DC, 1938 (now 72)
Glen Duncan of Lonesome Standard Time born in Columbus, Indiana, 1955 (now 55)
Tammy Wynette born in Itawamba County, Mississippi, 1942 (died 1998)
J.D. Miller born in Iota, Louisiana, 1922 (died 1996)
Jerry Wallace died (congestive heart failure), 2008 (was 79)

May 6:

Jimmie Dale Gilmore born in Austin, Texas, 1945 (now 65)
Cliff Carlisle born in Taylorsville, Kentucky, 1904 (died 1983)

May 7:

Lorie Collins of the Collins Kids born in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, 1942 (now 68)
Riley Puckett born in Alpharetta, Georgia, 1894 (died 1946)
Horace "Aytchie" Burns born in Cisco, Georgia, 1918 (died 1974). Aytchie, the older brother of Jethro Burns, was a bass player at WNOX, in the Stringdusters with his brother and Homer Haynes, and at the Renfro Valley Barn Dance. While in the Army he was also the platoon sergeant of Roger Miller.
Eddie Rabbitt died (cancer), 1998 (was 56)

May 8:

Homer Bailes of the Bailes Brothers born in Kanawha County, West Virginia, 1922 (now 88)
Jack Blanchard born in Buffalo, New York, 1942 (now 68)
Del Anthony Gray of Little Texas born in Hamilton, Ohio, 1968 (now 42)
Jimmie Tarlton of Darby & Tarlton born in Cheraw, South Carolina, 1892 (died 1979)
Benny Martin born in Sparta, Tennessee, 1928 (died 2001)
Rick Nelson born in Teaneck, New Jersey, 1940 (died 1985)
Leon Huff of the Light Crust Doughboys died (unknown cause), 1952 (was 39)
George D. Hay died (unknown cause), 1968 (was 72)
Eddy Arnold died (complications from a fall), 2008 (was 89)

May 9:

Richie Furay of Poco born in Yellow Springs, Ohio, 1944 (now 66)
Bobby Lewis born in Hodgenville, Kentucky, 1946 (now 64)
Fuzzy Knight born in Fairmont, West Virginia, 1901 (died 1976). The actor appeared in several films as Tex Ritter's sidekick.
Hank Snow born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, 1914 (died 1999)
Nudie Cohen died (unknown cause), 1984 (was 81)
Keith Whitley died (alcohol poisoning), 1989 (was 33)
Jimmie Davis elected governor of Louisiana, 1944

May 10:

Carl T. Sprague born in Houston, Texas, 1895 (died 1979)
Mother Maybelle Carter born in Nicklesville, Virginia, 1909 (died 1979)
Shel Silverstein died (heat attack), 1999 (was 68)

May 11:

Mark Herndon of Alabama born in Springfield, Massachusetts, 1955 (now 55)
Bob Atcher born in West Point, Kentucky, 1914 (died 1993)
Lester Flatt died (heart failure), 1979 (was 64)

May 12:

Kix Brooks born in Shreveport, Louisiana, 1955 (now 55)
The Duke of Paducah, Benjamin "Whitey" Ford, born in DeSoto, Missouri, 1901 (died 1986)
Joe Maphis born in Suffolk, Virginia, 1921 (died 1986)
W. Lee "Pappy" O'Daniel died (unknown cause), 1969 (was 79)

May 13:

Johnnie Wright born in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, 1914 (now 96)
Ray Kennedy born in Buffalo, New York, 1954 (now 56)
Lari White born in Dunedin, Florida, 1965 (now 45)
Jack Anglin born in Columbia, Tennesee, 1916 (died 1963)
Gid Tanner died (unknown cause), 1960 (was 74)
Bob Wills died (pneumonia/complications of 1973 stroke), 1975 (was 70)

May 15:

K.T. Oslin born in Crossett, Arkansas, 1941 (now 69)
Eddy Arnold born in Henderson, Tennessee, 1918 (died 2008)
June Carter Cash died (complications from open heart surgery), 2003 (was 73)

Dates of Note in Country Music, April 15-30

Category: News

Country Music Hall of Famers in bold

April 16:
Dusty Springfield born in London, England, 1939 (died 1999). The legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer hit the country charts in 1962 as part of the Springfields with "Silver Threads and Golden Needles."

April 17:

Craig Anderson of Heartland born in Huntsville, Alabama, 1973 (now 37)
Eddie Cochran died (car wreck), 1960 (was 21). The rockabilly pioneer co-wrote "Summertime Blues," which Alan Jackson covered in country.
Dorsey Dixon died (heart attack), 1968 (was 70)
Hank Penny died (heart failure), 1992 (was 73)
Linda McCartney died (breast cancer), 1998 (was 56). Linda and husband Sir Paul McCartney's band, Wings, hit the country charts in 1974 with "Sally G."
Glenn Sutton died (heart attack), 2007 (was 69)

April 18:

Walt Richmond of the Tractors born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1947 (now 63)
Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown born in Vinton, Louisiana, 1924 (died 2005)
Your blogger born in Louisville, Kentucky, 19(censored) (now feeling that old age creeping on)
Milton Brown died in Fort Worth, Texas (pneumonia resulting from injuries in an April 13 car wreck), 1936 (was 32)

April 19:

Bill Rice born in Datto, Arkansas, 1939 (now 71)
Gary Brewer born in Louisville, Kentucky, 1965 (now 45)
Bobby Russell born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1941 (died 1992)
Earl Bolick of the Blue Sky Boys died (unknown cause), 1998 (was 78)
The "National Barn Dance" debuted on WLS, Chicago, 1924

April 20:

Johnny Tillotson born in Jacksonville, Florida, 1939 (now 71)
Doyle Lawson of the Country Gentlemen and Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver born in Ford Town, Tennessee, 1944 (now 66)
Wade Hayes born in Bethel Acres, Oklahoma, 1969 (now 41)
Frank "Hylo" Brown born in River, Kentucky, 1922 (died 2003)
Benny Hill found dead in his London flat (coronary thrombosis), 1992 (was 68). The British comedian's Benny Hill Show featured Boots Randolph's "Yakety Sax" as its theme song.

April 21:

Wade Mainer born in Buncombe, North Carolina, 1907 (now 103!)
Paul Davis born in Meridian, Mississippi, 1948 (died 2008)
Ira Louvin born in Rainsville, Alabama, 1924 (died 1965)
Carl Belew born in Salina, Oklahoma, 1931 (died 1990)

April 22:

Glen Campbell born in Delight, Arkansas, 1936 (now 74)
Ray Griff born in Vancouver, British Columbia, 1940 (now 70)
Pat Enright of the Nashville Bluegrass Band born in Huntington, Indiana, 1945 (now 65)
Cleve Francis born in Jennings, Louisiana, 1945 (now 65)
Larry Groce born in Dallas, Texas, 1948 (now 62). The Mountain Stage host had one charted record, 1977's "Junk Food Junkie," which was a minor country hit.
Reuben Gosfield of Asleep at the Wheel born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1951 (now 59)
Heath Wright of Ricochet born in Vian, Oklahoma, 1967 (now 43)
Steve Sholes died (heart attack), 1968 (was 57)
Felice Bryant died (cancer), 2003 (was 77)
Paul Davis died (heart attack), 2008 (was 60)
Richard Nixon died (stroke), 1994 (was 81). The former president's political troubles were chronicled in Tom T. Hall's song "Watergate Blues." Nixon also appeared on the Grand Ole Opry during its first night at the Opry House in 1974.

April 23:

Roland White of the Nashville Bluegrass Band born in Madawaska, Maine, 1938 (now 72)
Roy Orbison born in Vernon, Texas, 1936 (died 1988)

April 24:

Shirley Boone born in Chicago, Illinois, 1934 (now 76). Pat Boone's wife is also the daughter of Red Foley.
Rebecca Lynn Howard born in Salyersville, Kentucky, 1979 (now 31)
Harry McClintock died (unknown cause), 1957 (was 74). His greatest success would come years after his death when his recording of "Big Rock Candy Mountain" began the film O Brother, Where Art Thou.
Bonnie Owens died (Alzheimer's disease), 2006 (was 73)

April 25:

Larry Robbins of the Johnson Mountain Boys born in Dickerson, Maryland, 1945 (now 65)
Karl Farr of the Sons of the Pioneers born in Rochelle, Texas, 1909 (died 1961)
Cliff Bruner born in Texas City, Texas, 1915 (died 2000)
Vassar Clements born in Kinard, South Carolina, 1928 (died 2005)
O.B. McClinton born in Senatobia, Mississippi, 1940 (died 1987)
The musical Big River opened on Broadway, 1985. It won a "Best Musical" Tony for songwriter Roger Miller, making him, to date, the only country performer to ever win a Tony Award.

April 26:

Johnny Mosby born in Fort Smith, Arkansas, 1933 (now 77)
Duane Eddy born in Corning, New York, 1938 (now 72)
Fiddlin' Doc Roberts born in Richmond, Kentucky, 1897 (died 1978)
Cecil Null born in East War, West Virginia, 1927 (died 2001)
Tim Spencer of the Sons of the Pioneers died (unknown cause), 1974 (was 65)
Wesley Rose died (unknown cause), 1990 (was 72)

April 27:

Maxine Brown of the Browns born in Campti, Louisiana, 1931 (now 79)
Herb Pedersen of the Dillards and Desert Rose Band born in Berkley, California, 1944 (now 65)
Sydney Nathan, founder of King Records, born in Cincinnati, Ohio, 1904 (died 1968)
Jimmie Skinner born in Blue Lick, Kentucky, 1909 (died 1979)

April 28:

Dale Potter born in Puxico, Missouri, 1929 (died 1996)
Tommy Caldwell of the Marshall Tucker Band died (car wreck), 1980 (was 30)
Ken Curtis died (natural causes), 1991 (was 74). The Gunsmoke star was also a one-time member of the Sons of the Pioneers.

April 29:

Billy Mize born in Arkansas City, Kansas, 1929 (now 81)
Duane Allen of the Oak Ridge Boys born in Taylortown, Texas, 1943 (now 67)
Wayne Secrest of Confederate Railroad born in Alton, Illinois, 1950 (now 60)
Karen Brooks born in Dallas, Texas, 1954 (now 56)
Danny Davis of the Nashville Brass born in Dorchester, Massachusetts, 1925 (died 2008)
Eddie Noack born in Houston, Texas, 1930 (died 1978)
Vern Gosdin died (stroke), 2009 (was 74)

April 30:

Fuzzy Owen born in Conway, Arkansas, 1929 (now 81)
Willie Nelson born in Abbott, Texas, 1933 (now 77)
Darrell McCall born in New Jasper, Ohio, 1940 (now 70)
Robert Earl Reynolds of the Mavericks born in Kansas City, Missouri, 1962 (now 48)
Johnny Horton born in Los Angeles, California, 1930 (died 1960)
Curly Chalker died (natural causes), 1998 (was 66)
WLS airs the final broadcast of the National Barn Dance, 1960, after 36 years on the air.

Dates of Note in Country Music, April 1-15

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

April 1:

Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith born in Clinton, South Carolina, 1921 (now 89)
Jim Ed Brown born in Sparkman, Arkansas, 1934 (now 76)
Jules Verne Allen born in Waxahachie, Texas, 1883 (died 1945)
Jimmy Logsdon born in Panther, Kentucky, 1922 (died 2001)
CMA President Paul Cohen died (cancer), 1970 (was 71)
Rachel Veach joined Roy Acuff's Smoky Mountain Boys, 1939. Her presence gave rise to Pete Kirby's nickname "Bashful Brother Oswald:" a woman traveling with a group of men was scandalous, so Kirby was billed as Veach's "bashful brother" to quell any rumors.
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum opened, 1967

April 2:

Warner Mack born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1935 (now 75)
Sonny Throckmorton born in Carlsbad, New Mexico, 1941 (now 69)
Emmylou Harris born in Birmingham, Alabama, 1947 (now 63)
Dean Townson of Pirates of the Mississippi born in Battle Creek, Michigan, 1959 (now 51)
Billy Dean born in Quincy, Florida, 1962 (now 48)
Mose Rager born in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, 1911 (died 1986). The guitarist was a significant influence on the thumbpicking style of another guitarist from the region, Merle Travis.
Cliff Carlisle died (unknown cause), 1983 (was 78)
Former Country Gentleman Doyle Lawson formed Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, 1979

April 3:

Billy Joe Royal born in Valdosta, Georgia, 1942 (now 68)
Curtis Stone of Highway 101 (and son of Cliffie Stone) born in North Hollywood, California, 1950 (now 60)
Hank Newman of the Georgia Crackers born in Cochran, Georgia, 1905 (died 1978)
Don Gibson born in Shelby, North Carolina, 1928 (died 2003)
Ella Mae Cooley murdered, 1961. Her husband, self-proclaimed "King of Western Swing" Spade Cooley, was convicted of her murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Red Allen died (cancer), 1993 (was 63)
Starday Records owner Don Pierce died (heart attack), 2005 (was 89)
The Louisiana Hayride debuted on KWKH, Shreveport, Louisiana, 1948. Among the artists who performed on the radio show were Elvis Presley, Hank Williams, Johnny Horton, and one-time emcee Jim Reeves.

April 4:

Norro Wilson born in Scottsville, Kentucky, 1938 (now 72)
Steve Gatlin of the Gatlin Brothers born in Olney, Texas, 1951 (now 59)
Troy Gentry of Montgomery-Gentry born in Lexington, Kentucky, 1967 (now 43)
Cy Coben born in Jersey City, New Jersey, 1919 (died 2006)
Red Sovine died (heart attack), 1980 (was 61)

April 5:

Jack Clement born in Whitehaven, Tennessee, 1931 (now 79)
Bill Clifton born in Riverwood, Maryland, 1931 (now 79). In addition to being a bluegrass performer, Clifton is also credited with starting the bluegrass festival, when he organized a July 4, 1961 show in Luray, Virginia.
June Stearns born in Albany, New York, 1939 (now 71)
Tommy Cash born in Dyess, Arkansas, 1940 (now 70)
Bob McDill born in Beaumont, Texas, 1944 (now 66)
Pat Green born in San Antonio, Texas, 1972 (now 38)
Stoney Edwards died (complications from diabetes), 1997 (was 67)
Gene Pitney died (natural causes), 2006 (was 65). In addition to his rock hits, Pitney recorded two albums of duets with George Jones.

April 6:

Merle Haggard born in Bakersfield, California, 1937 (now 73)
Vernon Dalhart (ne Marion Try Slaughter) born in Marion County, Texas, 1883 (died 1948)
Wade Ray born in Griffin, Indiana, 1913 (died 1998)
Tammy Wynette died (heart failure attributed to blood clot), 1998 (was 55)
The Grand Ole Opry was canceled due to rioting in the wake of Martin Luther King's assassination earlier in the week, 1968

April 7:

Cal Smith born in Gans, Oklahoma, 1932 (now 78)
Bobby Bare born in Ironton, Ohio, 1935 (now 75)
John Dittrich of Restless Heart born in New York, New York, 1951 (now 59)
Leon "Pappy" Selph born in Houston, Texas, 1914 (died 1999)
Clyde Moody died (unknown cause), 1989 (was 73)
Steel guitarist Jeff Newman died (plane crash), 2004 (was 62)

April 8:

John Schneider born in Mount Kisco, New York, 1960 (now 50)
Jimmy Osborne born in Winchester, Kentucky, 1923 (died 1957)

April 9:

Margo Smith born in Dayton, Ohio, 1942 (now 68)
Con Hunley born in Fountain City, Tennessee, 1945 (now 65)
Hal Ketchum born in Greenwich, New York, 1953 (now 57)
Mark Roberts of the Red Clay Ramblers born in Wareham, Massachusetts, 1957 (now 53)
Dave Innis of Restless Heart born in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, 1959 (now 51)
Carl Perkins born in Tiptonville, Tennessee, 1932 (died 1998)
Darrell Glenn died (unknown cause), 1990 (was 54)
Mae Boren Axton died (natural causes), 1997 (was 82)


April 10:

Weldon Myrick born in Jayton, Texas, 1938 (now 72). The steel guitar great co-wrote the Wilburn Brothers' "Hangin' Around" and suggested the town of Big Spring, Texas to Bill Anderson for the line "If you've never been to Paris, France / Big Spring, Texas will suit you fine" in "At the Time" (a hit for Jean Shepard).
Fiddlin' Arthur Smith born in Bold Spring, Tennessee, 1898 (died 1971)
Sheb Wooley born in Enick, Oklahoma, 1921 (died 2003)
Former home of Johnny and June Cash destroyed by fire, 2007. Bee Gee Barry Gibb owned the house at the time of the fire.

April 11:

Jim Lauderdale born in Troutman, North Carolina, 1957 (now 53)
Harty Taylor of Karl & Harty born in Mount Vernon, Kentucky, 1905 (died 1963)
Millie Good of the Girls of the Golden West born in Mount Carmel, Illinois, 1913 (died 1993)
Eddie Miller died (unknown cause), 1977 (was 83). In addition to writing a number of songs, including "I've Loved and Lost Again" which was recorded by Patsy Cline during her stint on Four Star, Miller co-founded the Nashville Songwriters' Association International.
Lighnin' Chance died (cancer/Alzheimer's), 2005 (was 79)
Jerry Byrd died (complications of Parkinson's disease), 2005 (was 85)

April 12:

Ned Miller born in Raines, Utah, 1925 (now 85)
Judy Lynn born in Boise, Idaho, 1936 (now 74)
Vince Gill born in Norman, Oklahoma, 1957 (now 53)
Ernie Lee born in Berea, Kentucky, 1916 (died 1991)
Lewis Crook of the Crook Brothers died (natural causes), 1997 (was 87)
Boxcar Willie died (leukemia), 1999 (was 67)

April 13:

Sam Bush born in Bowling Green, Kentucky, 1952 (now 58)
Bob Nolan of the Sons of the Pioneers born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, 1908 (died 1980)
Milton Brown died (injuries received in automobile accident on April 8), 1936 (was 32)
Guy Willis of the Willis Brothers died (unknown cause), 1981 (was 65)
Johnny Dollar died (unknown cause), 1986 (was 53)

April 14:

Loretta Lynn born in Butcher Holler, Kentucky, 1935 (now 75)
Stuart Duncan of the Nashville Bluegrass Band born in Quantico, Virginia, 1964 (now 46)
Vito Pelletteri died (complications from a stroke), 1977 (was 87)
Burl Ives died (cancer), 1995 (was 85)

April 15:

Roy Clark born in Meherrin, Virginia, 1933 (now 77)
J.L. Frank born in Limestone County, Alabama, 1900 (died 1952)
Bob Luman born in Nacogdoches, Texas, 1937 (died 1978)
Junior Barnard of Bob Wills' Texas Playboys died (car wreck), 1951 (was 30)
Rose Maddox died (various illnesses), 1998 (was 72)
Otto Kitsinger died (heart attack), 1998 (was 56). Otto was the historian and writer for CMT's Opry Backstage.

Dates of Note in Country Music, March 16-31

Category: News

(Country Music Hall of Famers in bold)

March 16:

Jerry Jeff Walker born in Oneonta, New York, 1942 (now 68)
Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1951 (now 59)
Tim O'Brien born in Wheeling, West Virginia, 1954 (now 56)
Stan Thorn of Shenandoah born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, 1959 (now 51)
Ronnie McCoury born in York County, Pennsylvania, 1967 (now 43)
Robert Whitstein born in Colfax, Louisiana, 1944 (died 2001)
Plane crash kills Chris Austin, Kirk Capello, Joey Cigainero, Paula Kaye Evans, Terry Jackson, Michael Thomas, and Tony Saputo of Reba McEntire's band, 1991

March 17:

Jim Weatherly born in Pontotoc, Mississippi, 1943 (now 67)
Paul Overstreet born in Newton, Mississippi, 1955 (now 55)
Dick Curless born in Fort Fairfield, Maine, 1932 (died 1995)
Hugh Farr died (unknown causes), 1980 (was 77)
Jimmy Gately died (unknown causes), 1985 (was 53)
Sammy Pruett died (unknown causes), 1988 (was 61)
Terry Stafford died (liver failure), 1996 (was 55)
Bill Carlisle died (natural causes), 2003 (was 94)

March 18:

Billy Armstrong born in Streator, Illinois, 1930 (now 80)
Charley Pride born in Sledge, Mississippi, 1938 (now 72)
Margie Bowes born in Roxboro, North Carolina, 1941 (now 69)
James McMurty born in Fort Worth, Texas, 1962 (now 48)
Smiley Burnette born in Summum, Illinois, 1911 (died 1967)
John Phillips of the Mamas and Papas died (heart failure), 2001 (was 65). His solo hit, "Mississippi," was a country hit in 1971.

March 19:

Henry "Friendly Henry" Maddox born in Boaz, Alabama, 1928 (died 1974)
Speck Rhodes died (natural causes), 2000 (was 84)
Randall Hylton died (brain aneurysm), 2001 (was 55)
Tootsie's Orchid Lounge opened in Nashville, 1960

March 20:

Tommy Hunter born in London, Ontario, 1937 (now 73)
Douglas B. Green (Ranger Doug) of Riders in the Sky born in Great Lakes, Illinois, 1946 (now 64)
Jim Seales of Shenandoah born in Hamilton, Alabama, 1954 (now 56)
Jerry Reed born in Atlanta, Georgia, 1937 (died 2008)

March 21:

Carol Lee Cooper born in West Virginia, 1942 (now 70)
Tommy Hill died (liver and heart ailments), 2002 (was 72)

March 22:

Charlie Poole born in Randolph County, North Carolina, 1892 (died 1931)
Hoyle Nix of the West Texas Cowboys born in Azel, Texas, 1918 (died 1985)
Uncle Dave Macon died (illness), 1952 (was 81)
Stoney Cooper died (heart attack), 1977 (was 59)
Carl Perkins injured in automobile accident, 1956

March 23:

David Grisman born in Passaic, New Jersey, 1945 (now 65)
Fiddlin' John Carson born in Fannin County, Georgia, 1868 (died 1949)
Jim Anglin born in Franklin, Tennessee, 1913 (died 1987)
Smokey Rogers born in McMinnville, Tennessee, 1917 (died 1993)
J.D. Miller died (complications from heart bypass surgery), 1996 (was 73)
Ray "Pop" Lewis of the Lewis Family died (natural causes), 2004 (was 98)
Cindy Walker died (natural causes), 2006 (was 88)

March 24:

Peggy Sue Webb born in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky, 1947 (now 63)
Carson Robison died (unknown causes), 1957 (was 66)
Howard Dixon died (unknown - possible work accident), 1961 (was 57)
Henson Cargill died (complications from surgery), 2007 (was 66)

March 25:

Bonnie Guitar born in Seattle, Washington, 1923 (now 87)
Robbie Fulks born in York, Pennsylvania, 1963 (now 47)
Hoyt Axton born in Duncan, Oklahoma, 1938 (died 1999)
Jack Kapp died (cerebral hemorrhage), 1949 (was 47)
Buck Owens died (heart attack), 2006 (was 76)

March 26:

Bud Isaacs born in Bedford, Indiana, 1928 (now 82)
Vicki Lawrence born in Inglewood, California, 1949 (now 61). The Carol Burnett Show actress had one hit, "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia," which made both the pop and country charts.
Ronnie McDowell born in Fountain Head, Tennessee, 1950 (now 60)
Michael Bonagura of Baillie & the Boys born in Newark, New Jersey, 1953 (now 57)
Dean Dillon born in Lake City, Tennessee, 1955 (now 55)
Charly McClain born in Jackson, Tennessee, 1956 (now 54)
Kenny Chesney born in Lutrell, Tennessee, 1968 (now 42)

March 27:

Bill Callahan of the Callahan Brothers born in Madison County, North Carolina, 1912 (died 2002)
David Rogers born in Houston, Texas, 1936 (died 1993)

March 28:

Roy Dean Webb of the Dillards born in Independence, Missouri, 1937 (now 73)
Charlie McCoy born in Oak Hill, West Virginia, 1941 (now 69)
Reba McEntire born in Chockie, Oklahoma, 1955 (now 55)
Jay Livingston born in McDonald, Pennsylvania, 1915 (died 2001). The pop songwriter's many hits include "Silver Bells," which has been recorded by many country performers.
Rusty Draper died (heart disease/throat cancer), 2003 (was 80)
Glenn Barber died (heart ailment), 2008 (was 73)

March 29:

Brady Seals of Little Texas born in Hamilton, Ohio, 1969 (now 41)
Moon Mullican born in Corrigan, Texas, 1909 (died 1967)
Jerry Byrd born in Lima, Ohio, 1920 (died 2005)
Texas Ruby died (house fire), 1963 (was 54)
Opry announcer Hal Durham died (unknown cause), 2009 (was 77)

March 30:

Bobby Wright born in Charleston, West Virginia, 1942 (now 68)
Connie Cato born in Carlinville, Illinois, 1955 (now 55)

March 31:

John D. Loudermilk born in Durham, North Carolina, 1934 (now 76)
Greg Martin of the Kentucky Headhunters born in Louisville, Kentucky, 1954 (now 56)
Howdy Forrester born in Vernon, Tennessee, 1922 (died 1987)
Tommy Jackson born in Birmingham, Alabama, 1926 (died 1979)
William O. "Lefty" Frizzell born in Corsicana, Texas, 1928 (died 1975)
Anita Carter born in Maces Springs, Virginia, 1933 (died 1999)
Skeets McDonald died (heart attack), 1968 (was 52)
Carl Story died (complications from heart bypass surgery), 1995 (was 78)

Hey, Dude!

Category: Birthday Tribute

In 1926 a six-year-old boy picked up a mandolin that was lying around his home. His eight-year-old brother taught him the three chords of "Little Brown Jug." After that, the mandolin was never the same again.

The little boy was Kenneth Charles Burns, born nine decades ago March 10.

By the age of ten, Dude (pronounced "Dudie") Burns had learned every country song played on the radio in Knoxville. The music failed to challenge his playing sufficiently, so he turned to jazz; specifically, the brilliance of Django Reinhardt. The more he discovered the better he played. By the time he was twelve a talent judge threw him and his band out of an amateur contest because he sounded far too professional.

Something else heavily influenced the young Dude Burns: his father, who, prior to World War I, worked as a blackface Vaudeville comedian. The humor gene became very prevalent in the son a few years later on the radio, when he and his friend and musical partner Henry "Junior" Haynes began doing comical versions of pop songs. When WNOX announcer Lowell Blanchard forgot their names while introducing them for their segment on the Midday Merry-Go-Round he blurted out something else. The two boys liked the names Blanchard improvised and kept them. Those names were Homer and Jethro.


Homer and Jethro on the
National Barn Dance, 1957

Jethro Burns is a legend, and rightfully so. He was not only the master of the mandolin who could impersonate anyone's playing style (listen to him mimic Bill Monroe on Old Friends, the album he did with Red Rector) and play any genre of music, his humor was drier than the deserts he and Homer sang about in "The Sifting, Wimpering Sands."

And nobody was safe from Jethro's humor. When his daughter injured her toe at school the nurse suggested she go home after the toe turned purple. She phoned home and her father's reply to her plight was, "Do you want me to call you a toe truck?" He commented to a friend that he was perplexed as to why, when he came home from a tour, he always found the toilet seat up. And when an interviewer asked Jethro how he and brother-in-law Chet Atkins were able to differentiate between their wives, who were identical twins, Jethro commented, "We never try."

Jethro seemed to relish in letting people get in just nearly over their head -- then he'd throw them a cinder block. On one occasion, while touring with Steve Goodman, Goodman went after one of Jethro's less-than successful jokes. "Is that how these jokes went over when you told them back then?" Goodman said.

"No," Jethro replied sincerely. Sometimes they flopped."

Goodman laughed. "Homer stood here for forty years, huh?"

At that point Jethro executed his revenge. "We'd do all the old jokes. Ask this lady here, 'are you in show business?'"

As this joke was used in the film Blazing Saddles, Goodman should have seen what was coming; however, he obliged his friend. "Are you in show business?" he asked the woman in the audience. She shook her head.

"Then get your elbow off the stage!" Jethro commanded.

Goodman sank like a rock. "What I wanna know," he said through his laughter, "is how I got talked into setting that up!"

On another occasion Burns fenced with his longtime partner at 35,000 feet. While returning from one of Homer and Jethro's engagements in Las Vegas Jethro was called to the cockpit of the plane. When he arrived he found the captain waiting for him. The captain informed Jethro he needed to be searched, and Burns consented. After he was patted down and his personal effects returned to him, the pilot apologized, "I'm sorry, but we had it on good authority that you were smuggling drugs."

"No problem."

As Jethro started back for his seat the first thing he saw as he passed through the curtain was Homer, in his seat, doubled over in laughter. As Jethro neared Homer's seat Haynes asked innocently, "Anything wrong?"

"Nothing," Jethro replied. "The captain wanted my autograph, that's all."

Celebrate the 90th anniversary of the birth of Kenneth "Jethro" Burns by spinning a few Homer and Jethro albums (you have to use albums, since there are only two compilation CDs in print). Here's one to get your funny bone warmed up:




Enjoy the musical and comedy magic that is Homer and Jethro.

Dates of Note in Country Music, March 1-15

Category: News

(Country Music Hall of Famers in bold)

March 1:

Janis Oliver of Sweethearts of the Rodeo born in Manhattan Beach, California, 1954 (now 56)
Sara Hickman born in Jacksonville, North Carolina, 1963 (now 47)
Clinton Gregory born in Martinsville, Virginia, 1966 (now 44)
Cliffie Stone born in Stockton, California, 1917 (died 1998)
Pearl Butler died (unknown cause), 198 (was 61)
Johnny Cash wed June Carter Smith Nix in Franklin, Kentucky, 1968
California governor Ronald Reagan issues a full pardon to Merle Haggard, 1972
RCA Victor debuts a new format -- the 45 RPM record, 1949

March 2:

Doc Watson born in Deep Gap, North Carolina, 1923 (now 87)
Larry Stewart born in Paducah, Kentucky, 1959 (now 51)
Lonnie Glosson died (natural causes), 2001 (was 93)

March 3:

John Carter Cash born in Madison, Tennessee, 1970 (now 40)Jimmy Heap born in Taylor, Texas, 1922 (died 1977)
Kyle Bailes died (unknown cause), 1996 (was 80)
Harlan Howard died (heart attack), 2002 (was 74)
Ernie Ashworth died (heart attack), 2009 (was 80)
Benefit concert for DJ "Cactus" Jack Call held in Kansas City, Missouri, 1963. Among those performing: Patsy Cline, Hawkshaw Hawkins, Cowboy Copas, Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper, George Jones, and Billy Walker.

March 4:

Betty Jack Davis born in Corbin, Kentucky, 1932 (died 1953)
John Duffey of the Country Gentlemen and Seldom Scene born in Washington, DC, 1934 (died 1996)
Scotty Stoneman died (overdose of prescription medication), 1973 (was 40)
Minnie Pearl died (complications from stroke), 1996 (was 83)
Eddie Dean died (emphysema), 1999 (was 91)

March 5:

Raymond Fairchild born in Cherokee, North Carolina, 1939 (now 71)
Jimmy Bryant born in Moultrie, Georgia, 1925 (died 1980)
Patsy Cline died (plane crash), 1963 (was 30)
Cowboy Copas died (plane crash), 1963 (was 59)
Hawkshaw Hawkins died (plane crash), 1963 (was 41)
Randy Hughes died (plane crash), 1963 (was 34). Hughes was Patsy Cline's manager and Cowboy Copas' son-in-law as well as the pilot of the ill-fated plane.
Syd Nathan died (heart disease), 1968 (was 63). The Cincinnati record store owner founded King Records in 1943, making it the first all-country music record label in history.
Anna Carter Davis, original member of the Chuck Wagon Gang and widow of Jimmie Davis, died (complications following a fall), 2004 (was 87)
Elvis Presley honorably discharged from the Army, 1960

March 6:

Red Simpson born in Higley, Arizona, 1934 (now 76)
Ray Walker of the Jordanaires born in Centerville, Mississippi, 1934 (now 76)
Doug Dillard of the Dillards born in East St. Louis, Missouri, 1937 (now 73)
Skip Ewing born in Red Lands, California, 1964 (now 46)Cliff Carlisle born in Mount Eden, Kentucky, 1904 (died 1983)
Bob Wills born in Turkey, Texas, 1905 (died 1975)
Jean Chapel of the Coon Creek Girls born in Neon, Kentucky, 1925 (died 1995)George Jones critically injured in single-vehicle accident, 1999
The siege of the Alamo ended, 1836. Davy Crockett, subject of legendary song, was among those who died during the battle. Johnny Cash would memorialize the fight in his song "Remember the Alamo."

March 7:

Townes Van Zandt born in Fort Worth Texas, 1944 (died 1997)
Jack Anglin died (car wreck), 1963 (was 46). Anglin was on his way to Patsy Cline's memorial service at the time of his accident.
Pee Wee King died (heart attack), 2000 (was 86)

March 8:
Jimmy Dormire of Confederate Railroad born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1960 (now 50)
Randy Meisner of Poco and the Eagles born in Scotts Bluff, Nebraska, 1946 (now 64)
Johnny Dollar born in Kilgore, Texas, 1933 (died 1986)
Jimmy Stoneman of the Stoneman Family born in Washington, DC, 1937 (died 2002)
Lew DeWitt of the Statler Brothers born in Roanoke, Virginia, 1939 (died 1990)
Stuart Hamblen died (brain tumor), 1989 (was 80)
Hank Locklin died (natural causes), 2009 (was 90)

March 9:

Mickey Gilley born in Natchez, Mississippi, 1936 (now 74)
Jimmy Fadden of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band born in Long Beach, California, 1948 (now 62)
Ralph Sloan of the Ralph Sloan Dancers born in Wilson County, Tennessee, 1925 (died 1980)
George Burns died (natural causes), 1996 (was 100). The legendary actor had a country hit with "I Wish I Was Eighteen Again."
Chris LeDoux died (bile duct cancer), 2005 (was 56)
Final Saturday night Opry at the Ryman before the opening of the new Opry House, 1974

March 10:

Ralph Emery born in McEwen, Tennessee, 1933 (now 77)
Norman Blake born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, 1938 (now 72)Johnnie Allan born in Rayne, Louisiana, 1938 (now 72)
Daryl Singletary born in Wigham, Georgia, 1971 (now 39)
Kenneth "Jethro" Burns born in Conasauga, Tennessee, 1920 (died 1989)
Soul singer James Brown guests on the Grand Ole Opry at the request of Porter Wagoner, 1979

March 11:

Jimmy Fortune of the Statler Brothers born in Williamsburg, Virginia, 1955 (now 55)
W. Lee "Pappy" O'Daniel of the Light Crust Doughboys born in Malta, Ohio, 1890 (died 1969)
Jim Boyd of the Cowboy Ramblers died (unknown cause), 1993 (was 78)

March 12:

Marshall Wilborn of the Johnson Mountain Boys and the Lynn Morris Band born in Austin, Texas, 1952 (now 58)
James Taylor born in Belmont, Massachusetts, 1948 (now 62). The legendary pop/folk superstar wrote "Bartender's Blues" and sang with George Jones on Jones' recording of the tune.
Ralph Sloan died (unknown illness), 1980 (was 55)

March 13:

Liz Anderson born in Roseau, Minnesota, 1930 (now 80)
Jan Howard born in West Plains, Missouri, 1930 (now 80)
Benny Martin died (nerve disorder/illness), 2001 (was 72)
Ezra Carter marries Maybelle Addington, 1926

March 14:

Michael Martin Murphy born in Oak Cliff, Texas, 1945 (now 65)
Doc Pomus died (lung cancer), 1991 (was 65)
Dale Potter died (cancer), 1996 (was 66)
Tommy Collins died (emphysema), 2000 (was 69)
Jimmy Martin died (cancer), 2005 (was 77)
Bill Bolick of the Blue Sky Boys died (natural causes), 2008 (was 90)

March 15:
D.J. Fontana born in Shreveport, Louisiana, 1931 (now 79)
Gunilla Hutton of Hee Haw born in Goteborg, Sweden, 1946 (now 64)
Ry Cooder born in Los Angeles, California, 1947 (now 63)
Carl Smith born in Maynardville, Tennessee, 1927 (died 2010)
The final Friday night Opry at the Ryman, 1974. The final song was the Opry cast singing "Will the Circle Be Unbroken."

Congratulations Times Four

Category: News

The Country Music Hall of Fame class of 2010 has been announced. The Hall of Fame opens its doors to the following greats:

Jimmy Dean: Long before he was the "sausage king," Jimmy Dean hosted a ground-breaking television show. The regulars on that show included a young Roy Clark and a young Jim Henson, manning Dean's friend Rowlf the dog.

Ferlin Husky: One of the last 1950s superstars to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, Ferlin gave the world classics like "Gone," "Wings of a Dove," and "A Dear John Letter." He also gave the world Simon Crum.

Billy Sherrill: Sherrill rose to fame in the late 60s as a producer for Epic Records artists David Houston and Tammy Wynette -- and writing a number of their hits, such as "Almost Persuaded," "Your Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad," and "Stand By Your Man."

Don Williams: Country's "Gentle Giant" started in the early 70s with songs like "Amanda" and has continued to please audiences since.

Congratulations to the Hall of Fame's class of 2010!