Category: 50 Songs to Hear
This is one of two songs that has two different versions in its review (the other is "Train Leaves Here This Morning," by both Dillard & Clark and the Eagles, in rock). Each version is superlative, which is why they are both mentioned.
SONG: Winter's Come and Gone
ARTISTS: Gillian Welch; Dailey & Vincent
SONGWRITER: Gillian Welch
ALBUMS: Hell Among the Yearlings; Brothers From Different Mothers
YEAR/LABEL: 1998, Acony; 2009, Rounder
It can be so valuable to be an outsider.
(Gillian Welch)
Gillian Welch has emerged as one of the best singer-songwriters of the past decade. Dailey and Vincent have quickly become the dominant band of bluegrass. They have met musically twice: the opening salvo of Dailey & Vincent's career after the two men joined up from their tenures in Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver and Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, respectively, was the gospel masterpiece "By the Mark," which Welch wrote, and this song.
The song is a pure delight, a simple song with the three choruses aimed at three different birds: a redbird, a bluebird, and a blackbird. While each verse is sung to the individual birds with a feel of the winter drabs ("been so lonesome shaking that morning chill"), the chorus turns to joy, reminding everyone that the return of the birds signals the return of spring: "winter's come and gone, a little bird told me so."
This is a totally enjoyable song. So are either of these two acts.
OTHER DAILEY & VINCENT SONGS TO INVESTIGATE:
"By the Mark" (from Dailey & Vincent) -- another Gillian Welch composition that Dailey & Vincent recorded. This was their first hit and set their career on its successful course.
The entire Dailey & Vincent Sing the Statler Brothers album -- Dailey & Vincent manage to pull off an almost impossible feat: performing a tribute to the Statler Brothers that simultaneously presents the songs in a fresh light without being a note-for-note copy.
The entire Singing From the Heart album -- twelve a cappella gospel songs showing that the human voice is one of the best instruments in a band.
OTHER GILLIAN WELCH MUSIC TO INVESTIGATE:
"Caleb Meyer" (from Hell Among the Yearlings) -- not for the squemish, rapist Caleb gets exactly what he deserves in this gem that a friend describes as "payback for all those 'Pretty Polly' songs in bluegrass."
"By the Mark" (from Revival) -- the Dailey & Vincent version is great, and so is the original.
"I'll Fly Away" (from the O Brother, Where Art Thou soundtrack) -- a stunning version of the classic gospel song.
"I Want to Sing That Rock and Roll" (from Time [The Revelator]) -- how can a song called "I Want to Sing That Rock and Roll" sound like a Carter Family song? Listen and see.
PREVIOUS SONGS:
(Country)
Where Do I Go to Throw a Picture Away
When My Rowboat Comes In
When I Lift Up My Head
Rose of My Heart
Rock of Ages, Hide Thou Me
Playboy
Our Town
Old Memories Mean Nothing to Me
Not That I Care
Nobody Eats at Linebaugh's Anymore
My Book of Memories
Lost to a StrangerA Little Bitty Heart
Life Has Its Little Ups and Downs
Life is Too Short
I Want a Home in Dixie
I Lost Today
Fingerprints
Down to the River to Pray
Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyeballs
A Death in the Family
Dark as a Dungeon
Bottomless Well
(Rock)
Train Leaves Here This Morning
Swallowed By the Cracks
Stephen
Stealin' Time
Starting Tomorrow
Spellbound
Sleep's Dark and Silent Gate
She's a Runaway
Painted Bells
Out to Sea
One More Song
New Delhi Freight TrainMillworker
Long Way Home
Island
Heart of Rome
Harriet Tubman's Gonna Carry Me Home
Entella Hotel
Desperados Under the Eaves
Crossing Muddy Waters
Cliffs of Dooneen
Bruised Orange (Chain of Sorrow)
Baby Mine
Monday, November 29, 2010
Sunday, November 28, 2010
"Clean As a Whistle"
Category: News
Charlie Louvin hosted the November 27 taping of the Midnight Jamboree at the Ernest Tubb Record Shop's Texas Troubadour Theater. During the show he presented his fans with an early Christmas present: his most recent medical report in his battle against pancreatic cancer pronounced him "clean as a whistle" from the disease. Louvin was diagnosed earlier this year and spent his 83rd birthday preparing for surgery and treatment.
Louvin said he had lost 40 pounds and his appetite in the ordeal; however, the turning point came recently when he asked wife Betty to fix him some cornbread and onion and milk to drink. This signaled a return in his appetite. He looked far less frail than two months ago, when he and Betty celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary on the Midnight Jamboree. He was also stronger physically, standing during most of the show and able to sing. This, too, is in contrast to the September performance where he lacked the energy or the wind to sing or even rise from his seat.
Louvin is not fully recovered: he was unable to attend the post-show autograph signing because he was tired and weak, but store owner David McCormick assured the fans it was because Louvin had failed to eat earlier, not a side-effect from his disease.
This is good news; however, continue to pray for this Hall of Fame great. Cancer is a terrible disease that likes to come back on its victims.
Charlie Louvin hosted the November 27 taping of the Midnight Jamboree at the Ernest Tubb Record Shop's Texas Troubadour Theater. During the show he presented his fans with an early Christmas present: his most recent medical report in his battle against pancreatic cancer pronounced him "clean as a whistle" from the disease. Louvin was diagnosed earlier this year and spent his 83rd birthday preparing for surgery and treatment.
Louvin said he had lost 40 pounds and his appetite in the ordeal; however, the turning point came recently when he asked wife Betty to fix him some cornbread and onion and milk to drink. This signaled a return in his appetite. He looked far less frail than two months ago, when he and Betty celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary on the Midnight Jamboree. He was also stronger physically, standing during most of the show and able to sing. This, too, is in contrast to the September performance where he lacked the energy or the wind to sing or even rise from his seat.
Louvin is not fully recovered: he was unable to attend the post-show autograph signing because he was tired and weak, but store owner David McCormick assured the fans it was because Louvin had failed to eat earlier, not a side-effect from his disease.
This is good news; however, continue to pray for this Hall of Fame great. Cancer is a terrible disease that likes to come back on its victims.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Dates of Note in Country Music, November 16-30
Category: News
(Country Music Hall of Famers in bold)
November 16:
Troy Seals born in Bill Hill, Kentucky, 1938 (now 72)
Larry Cordel born in Cordell, Kentucky, 1949 (now 61)
Will Goleman of the Cactus Brothers born in Shreveport, Louisiana, 1963 (now 47)
Ernest Tubb biographer Ronnie Pugh born in Texas, year unknown
Earl Bolick born in Hickory, North Carolina, 1919 (died 1998)
J.D. Sumner died (heart attack), 1998 (was 73)
November 17:
Gordon Lightfoot born in Orilla, Ontario, Canada, 1938 (now 72). The legendary folk singer has written such hits as Marty Robbins' "Ribbon of Darkness" and Bill Anderson's "Did She Mention My Name," and a number of his own recordings have made the country chart.
Eva Foley (Red Foley's wife) died (suicide), 1951 (was 33)
Don Gibson died (natural causes), 2003 (was 75)
November 18:
Jessi Alexander born in Jackson, Tennessee, 1976 (now 34)
John McFee of Southern Pacific born in Santa Cruz, California, 1953 (now 57)
Doug Sahm died (heart attack), 1999 (was 58)
November 19:
Billy Currington born in Savannah, Georgia, 1973 (now 37)
Jerry Foster born in Tallapoosa, Missouri, 1935 (now 75)
Joe Falcon died (unknown cause), 1965 (was 65). Falcon is credited with making the first recording of a Cajun song in 1928 with "Allons a Lafayette."
Bobby Russell died (coronary artery disease), 1992 (was 51)
November 20:
Curly Putman born in Princeton, Alabama, 1930 (now 80)
George Grantham of Poco and Ricky Skaggs' band born in Cordell, Oklahoma, 1947 (now 63)
Dierks Bentley born in Phoenix, Arizona, 1975 (now 35)
Josh Turner born in Hannah, South Carolina, 1977 (now 33)
Judy Canova born in Starke, Florida, 1913 (died 1983)
Eck Robertson born in Madison County, Arkansas, 1897 (died 1975)
RCA buys the contract of Elvis Presley from Sun Records for $35,000, 1955
November 21:
Jean Shepard born in Paul Valley, Oklahoma, 1933 (now 77)
Joe Carson born in Holliday, Texas, 1936 (died 1964)
Jim Eanes died (congestive heart failure), 1995 (was 71)
Charlie Daniels pulls out of "Country Freedom Concert" after being told not to perform "This Ain't No Rag, It's a Flag," 2001
November 22:
Wiley Post born in Grand Saline, Texas, 1899 (died 1935)
Doye O'Dell born in Plainview, Texas, 1912 (died 2001)
First Disc Jockey Convention held in Nashville, 1952
Keith Whitley and Lorrie Morgan married, 1986
November 23:
Jerry Sullivan born in Wagarville, Alabama, 1933 (now 77)
Charlie Sizemore born in Richmond, Kentucky, 1960 (now 50)
Spade Cooley died (heart attack), 1969 (was 58)
Grady Nutt died (plane crash), 1982 (was 48)
Roy Acuff died (congestive heart failure), 1992 (was 89)
Smokey Rogers died (unknown cause), 1993 (was 76)
November 24:
Johnny Carver born in Jackson, Mississippi, 1940 (now 70)
Stoney Edwards born in Seminole, Oklahoma, 1929 (died 1997)
Teddy Wilburn died (congestive heart failure), 2003 (was 71)
Wanted! The Outlaws by Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Tompall Glaser, and Jessi Colter certified platinum, making it the first certified platinum album in country music
November 25:
Amy Grant born in Augusta, Georgia, 1960 (now 50)
Eddie Stubbs born in Gaithersburg, Maryland, 1961 (now 49)
Biff Collie born in Little Rock, Arkansas, 1926 (died 1992)
Ralph Emery debuts on WSM in overnight slot, 1957
November 26:
Joe Nichols born in Rogers, Arkansas, 1976 (now 34)
November 27:
Eddie Rabbitt born in Brooklyn, New York, 1941 (died 1998)
Charlene Arthur died (illness), 1987 (was 58)
November 28:
WSM Barn Dance (later known as the Grand Ole Opry) born, 1925 (now 85)
Carrie Rodgers, widow of Jimmie Rodgers, died (cancer), 1961
November 29:
Jody Miller born in Phoenix, Arizona, 1941 (now 69)
Joel Whitburn born in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, 1938 (now 72)
Merle Travis born in Rosewood, Kentucky, 1917 (died 1983)
Jim Nesbitt died (heart ailment), 2007 (was 75)
November 30:
Bob Moore born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1932 (now 78)
Jeannie Kendall born in St. Louis, Missouri, 1954 (now 56)
Mindy McCready born in Ft. Myers, Florida, 1975 (now 35)
Teddy Wilburn born in Hardy, Arkansas, 1931 (died 2003)
Jack Reno born in Bloomfield, Iowa, 1935 (died 2008)
David Houston died (brain aneurysm), 1993 (was 54)
(Country Music Hall of Famers in bold)
November 16:
Troy Seals born in Bill Hill, Kentucky, 1938 (now 72)
Larry Cordel born in Cordell, Kentucky, 1949 (now 61)
Will Goleman of the Cactus Brothers born in Shreveport, Louisiana, 1963 (now 47)
Ernest Tubb biographer Ronnie Pugh born in Texas, year unknown
Earl Bolick born in Hickory, North Carolina, 1919 (died 1998)
J.D. Sumner died (heart attack), 1998 (was 73)
November 17:
Gordon Lightfoot born in Orilla, Ontario, Canada, 1938 (now 72). The legendary folk singer has written such hits as Marty Robbins' "Ribbon of Darkness" and Bill Anderson's "Did She Mention My Name," and a number of his own recordings have made the country chart.
Eva Foley (Red Foley's wife) died (suicide), 1951 (was 33)
Don Gibson died (natural causes), 2003 (was 75)
November 18:
Jessi Alexander born in Jackson, Tennessee, 1976 (now 34)
John McFee of Southern Pacific born in Santa Cruz, California, 1953 (now 57)
Doug Sahm died (heart attack), 1999 (was 58)
November 19:
Billy Currington born in Savannah, Georgia, 1973 (now 37)
Jerry Foster born in Tallapoosa, Missouri, 1935 (now 75)
Joe Falcon died (unknown cause), 1965 (was 65). Falcon is credited with making the first recording of a Cajun song in 1928 with "Allons a Lafayette."
Bobby Russell died (coronary artery disease), 1992 (was 51)
November 20:
Curly Putman born in Princeton, Alabama, 1930 (now 80)
George Grantham of Poco and Ricky Skaggs' band born in Cordell, Oklahoma, 1947 (now 63)
Dierks Bentley born in Phoenix, Arizona, 1975 (now 35)
Josh Turner born in Hannah, South Carolina, 1977 (now 33)
Judy Canova born in Starke, Florida, 1913 (died 1983)
Eck Robertson born in Madison County, Arkansas, 1897 (died 1975)
RCA buys the contract of Elvis Presley from Sun Records for $35,000, 1955
November 21:
Jean Shepard born in Paul Valley, Oklahoma, 1933 (now 77)
Joe Carson born in Holliday, Texas, 1936 (died 1964)
Jim Eanes died (congestive heart failure), 1995 (was 71)
Charlie Daniels pulls out of "Country Freedom Concert" after being told not to perform "This Ain't No Rag, It's a Flag," 2001
November 22:
Wiley Post born in Grand Saline, Texas, 1899 (died 1935)
Doye O'Dell born in Plainview, Texas, 1912 (died 2001)
First Disc Jockey Convention held in Nashville, 1952
Keith Whitley and Lorrie Morgan married, 1986
November 23:
Jerry Sullivan born in Wagarville, Alabama, 1933 (now 77)
Charlie Sizemore born in Richmond, Kentucky, 1960 (now 50)
Spade Cooley died (heart attack), 1969 (was 58)
Grady Nutt died (plane crash), 1982 (was 48)
Roy Acuff died (congestive heart failure), 1992 (was 89)
Smokey Rogers died (unknown cause), 1993 (was 76)
November 24:
Johnny Carver born in Jackson, Mississippi, 1940 (now 70)
Stoney Edwards born in Seminole, Oklahoma, 1929 (died 1997)
Teddy Wilburn died (congestive heart failure), 2003 (was 71)
Wanted! The Outlaws by Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Tompall Glaser, and Jessi Colter certified platinum, making it the first certified platinum album in country music
November 25:
Amy Grant born in Augusta, Georgia, 1960 (now 50)
Eddie Stubbs born in Gaithersburg, Maryland, 1961 (now 49)
Biff Collie born in Little Rock, Arkansas, 1926 (died 1992)
Ralph Emery debuts on WSM in overnight slot, 1957
November 26:
Joe Nichols born in Rogers, Arkansas, 1976 (now 34)
November 27:
Eddie Rabbitt born in Brooklyn, New York, 1941 (died 1998)
Charlene Arthur died (illness), 1987 (was 58)
November 28:
WSM Barn Dance (later known as the Grand Ole Opry) born, 1925 (now 85)
Carrie Rodgers, widow of Jimmie Rodgers, died (cancer), 1961
November 29:
Jody Miller born in Phoenix, Arizona, 1941 (now 69)
Joel Whitburn born in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, 1938 (now 72)
Merle Travis born in Rosewood, Kentucky, 1917 (died 1983)
Jim Nesbitt died (heart ailment), 2007 (was 75)
November 30:
Bob Moore born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1932 (now 78)
Jeannie Kendall born in St. Louis, Missouri, 1954 (now 56)
Mindy McCready born in Ft. Myers, Florida, 1975 (now 35)
Teddy Wilburn born in Hardy, Arkansas, 1931 (died 2003)
Jack Reno born in Bloomfield, Iowa, 1935 (died 2008)
David Houston died (brain aneurysm), 1993 (was 54)
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
A Thank You to the Veterans of Country Music
Category: Tribute
We pause on Veterans Day to pay tribute to the men and women who have served our nation by service in the Armed Forces.
Here is a list of some of the country music singers and songwriters who have blessed us with their music and their military service.
ARMY: Jules Verne Allen (World War I), Bobby Bare, Jim Ed Brown, Aytchie Burns (World War II), Jethro Burns (World War II), Tommy Cash, Homer Haynes (World War II), Harlan Howard, Kris Kristofferson, Charlie Louvin (World War II and Korea), Ira Louvin, Darrell McCall, Skeets McDonald, Jesse McReynolds (Korea), Jim McReynolds (Korea), Roger Miller, Webb Pierce, Elvis Presley, John Prine, Boots Randolph, Jerry Reed, Don Reno (World War II), Ralph Stanley (World War II), George Strait, Nat Stuckey (Korea), Conway Twitty, Charlie Walker, Doyle Wilburn (Korea), Teddy Wilburn (Korea), Faron Young.
NAVY: Archie Campbell (World War II), Cy Coben (World War II), Larry Cordle, Stonewall Jackson, Johnny Lee (Vietnam), Bill Nettles (World War I), Johnny Paycheck, Ray Pillow, Marty Robbins (World War II), Carl Smith, Hank Thompson (World War II).
AIR FORCE/ARMY AIR CORPS: Gene Autry (World War II), Johnny Cash, Jimmy Dean, Tennessee Ernie Ford (World War II), Willie Nelson, Mike Nesmith, Del Reeves, Charlie Rich, Carter Stanley (World War II), Mel Tillis.
MARINES: Wendy Bagwell (World War II), Tommy Collins, Don Everly, Phil Everly, Freddy Fender, Josh Garcin, Freddie Hart (World War II), George Jones, Ray Price (World War II), Charles Whitstein, Robert Whitstein (Vietnam).
MERCHANT MARINES: Ferlin Husky (World War II).
TWO BRANCHES: Bob Ferguson (first Army, then Marines; in the Korean War as a Marine).
Thank you.
We pause on Veterans Day to pay tribute to the men and women who have served our nation by service in the Armed Forces.
Here is a list of some of the country music singers and songwriters who have blessed us with their music and their military service.
ARMY: Jules Verne Allen (World War I), Bobby Bare, Jim Ed Brown, Aytchie Burns (World War II), Jethro Burns (World War II), Tommy Cash, Homer Haynes (World War II), Harlan Howard, Kris Kristofferson, Charlie Louvin (World War II and Korea), Ira Louvin, Darrell McCall, Skeets McDonald, Jesse McReynolds (Korea), Jim McReynolds (Korea), Roger Miller, Webb Pierce, Elvis Presley, John Prine, Boots Randolph, Jerry Reed, Don Reno (World War II), Ralph Stanley (World War II), George Strait, Nat Stuckey (Korea), Conway Twitty, Charlie Walker, Doyle Wilburn (Korea), Teddy Wilburn (Korea), Faron Young.
NAVY: Archie Campbell (World War II), Cy Coben (World War II), Larry Cordle, Stonewall Jackson, Johnny Lee (Vietnam), Bill Nettles (World War I), Johnny Paycheck, Ray Pillow, Marty Robbins (World War II), Carl Smith, Hank Thompson (World War II).
AIR FORCE/ARMY AIR CORPS: Gene Autry (World War II), Johnny Cash, Jimmy Dean, Tennessee Ernie Ford (World War II), Willie Nelson, Mike Nesmith, Del Reeves, Charlie Rich, Carter Stanley (World War II), Mel Tillis.
MARINES: Wendy Bagwell (World War II), Tommy Collins, Don Everly, Phil Everly, Freddy Fender, Josh Garcin, Freddie Hart (World War II), George Jones, Ray Price (World War II), Charles Whitstein, Robert Whitstein (Vietnam).
MERCHANT MARINES: Ferlin Husky (World War II).
TWO BRANCHES: Bob Ferguson (first Army, then Marines; in the Korean War as a Marine).
Thank you.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
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 73)
Lyle Lovett born in Klein, Texas, 1957 (now 53)
Keith Stegall born in Wichita Falls, Texas, 1954 (now 56)
Lew Childre born in Opp, Alabama, 1901 (died 1961)
Buddy Killen died (cancer), 2006 (was 73)
Jack Reno died (brain cancer), 2008 (was 72)
November 2:
John David Souther born in Detroit, Michigan, 1945 (now 65)
Earl Yager of the Johnson Mountain Boys born in Gordonsville, Virginia, 1953 (now 57)
k.d. lang born in Consort, Alberta, 1961 (now 49)
Charlie Walker born in Copeville, Texas, 1926 (died 2008)
Elaine Tubb, wife of Ernest Tubb and subject of the song "Blue-Eyed Elaine," died, 2001 (was 85)
November 3:
Ray Edenton born in Mineral, Virginia, 1926 (now 84)
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 Rodgers, Fred Rose, and Hank Williams become the first inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame, 1961
Merle Haggard granted parole from San Quentin, 1960
November 4:
Kim Forrester born in Oglethorpe, Georgia, 1960 (now 50)
Will Rogers born near Oologah, Oklahoma, 1879 (died 1935)
Audrey Williams died (illness), 1975 (was 52)
Dale Noe died (unknown cause), 2004 (was 76)
November 5:
Billy Sherrill born in Phil Campbell, Alabama, 1936 (now 74)
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 (car wreck), 1960 (was 35)
Jimmie Davis died (natural causes), 2000 (was 101)
Dorothy Southworth Ritter died (natural causes), 2003 (was 88)
November 6:
Stonewall Jackson born in Emerson, North Carolina, 1932 (now 78)
Guy Clark born in Monahan, Texas, 1941 (now 69)
Glenn Frey of the Eagles born in Detroit, Michigan, 1948 (now 62)
Doug Sahm born in San Antonio, Texas, 1941 (died 1999)
Hank Thompson died (lung cancer), 2007 (was 82)
Elvis Presley became a member of Louisiana Hayride, 1954
November 7:
Robin Lee born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1953 (now 56)
Red Ingle born in Toledo, Ohio, 1906 (died 1965)
Archie Campbell born in Bull's Gap, Tennessee, 1914 (died 1987)
A.P. Carter died (illness), 1960 (was 68)
Red Foley's daughter, Shirley, married Pat Boone, 1953
Gene Wooten died (cancer), 2001 (was 49)
Marty Robbins participated in his final NASCAR race, 1982
November 8:
Patti Page (Clara Fowler) born in Claremore, Oklahoma, 1927 (now 83)
Scotty Wiseman born in Ingalls, North Carolina, 1909 (died 1981)
Ivory Joe Hunter died (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 70)
Pat Severs of Pirates of the Mississippi born in Elmira, New York, 1952 (now 58)
Paul Cohen born in Chicago, Illinois, 1908 (died 1970)
Onie Wheeler born in Senath, Missouri, 1921 (died 1984)
Dave "Stringbean" Akeman died (murdered), 1973 (was 58)
Curly Fox died (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 72)
Hank "Sugarfoot" Garland born in Cow Pens, South Carolina, 1930 (died 2004)
Wade Ray died (illness), 1998 (was 85)
November 12:
Barbara Fairchild born in Lafe, Arkansas, 1950 (now 60)
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 (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 64)
Jack Guthrie born in Olive, Oklahoma, 1915 (died 1948)
Buddy Killen born in Florence, South Carolina, 1932 (died 2006)
Jerry Lee Lewis Jr. died (car wreck), 1973 (was 20)
Junior Samples died (heart attack), 1983 (was 57)
November 14:
Ken Carson born in Coalgate, Oklahoma, 1914 (died 1994)
Robert Whitstein died (heart attack), 2001 (was 57)
November 15:
William Fries (C.W. McCall) born in Audubon, Iowa, 1928 (now 82)
Jack Ingram born in Houston, Texas, 1970 (now 40)
Albert E. Brumley died (unknown cause), 1977 (was 72)
(Country Music Hall of Famers in bold)
November 1:
Bill Anderson born in Columbia, South Carolina, 1937 (now 73)
Lyle Lovett born in Klein, Texas, 1957 (now 53)
Keith Stegall born in Wichita Falls, Texas, 1954 (now 56)
Lew Childre born in Opp, Alabama, 1901 (died 1961)
Buddy Killen died (cancer), 2006 (was 73)
Jack Reno died (brain cancer), 2008 (was 72)
November 2:
John David Souther born in Detroit, Michigan, 1945 (now 65)
Earl Yager of the Johnson Mountain Boys born in Gordonsville, Virginia, 1953 (now 57)
k.d. lang born in Consort, Alberta, 1961 (now 49)
Charlie Walker born in Copeville, Texas, 1926 (died 2008)
Elaine Tubb, wife of Ernest Tubb and subject of the song "Blue-Eyed Elaine," died, 2001 (was 85)
November 3:
Ray Edenton born in Mineral, Virginia, 1926 (now 84)
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 Rodgers, Fred Rose, and Hank Williams become the first inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame, 1961
Merle Haggard granted parole from San Quentin, 1960
November 4:
Kim Forrester born in Oglethorpe, Georgia, 1960 (now 50)
Will Rogers born near Oologah, Oklahoma, 1879 (died 1935)
Audrey Williams died (illness), 1975 (was 52)
Dale Noe died (unknown cause), 2004 (was 76)
November 5:
Billy Sherrill born in Phil Campbell, Alabama, 1936 (now 74)
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 (car wreck), 1960 (was 35)
Jimmie Davis died (natural causes), 2000 (was 101)
Dorothy Southworth Ritter died (natural causes), 2003 (was 88)
November 6:
Stonewall Jackson born in Emerson, North Carolina, 1932 (now 78)
Guy Clark born in Monahan, Texas, 1941 (now 69)
Glenn Frey of the Eagles born in Detroit, Michigan, 1948 (now 62)
Doug Sahm born in San Antonio, Texas, 1941 (died 1999)
Hank Thompson died (lung cancer), 2007 (was 82)
Elvis Presley became a member of Louisiana Hayride, 1954
November 7:
Robin Lee born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1953 (now 56)
Red Ingle born in Toledo, Ohio, 1906 (died 1965)
Archie Campbell born in Bull's Gap, Tennessee, 1914 (died 1987)
A.P. Carter died (illness), 1960 (was 68)
Red Foley's daughter, Shirley, married Pat Boone, 1953
Gene Wooten died (cancer), 2001 (was 49)
Marty Robbins participated in his final NASCAR race, 1982
November 8:
Patti Page (Clara Fowler) born in Claremore, Oklahoma, 1927 (now 83)
Scotty Wiseman born in Ingalls, North Carolina, 1909 (died 1981)
Ivory Joe Hunter died (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 70)
Pat Severs of Pirates of the Mississippi born in Elmira, New York, 1952 (now 58)
Paul Cohen born in Chicago, Illinois, 1908 (died 1970)
Onie Wheeler born in Senath, Missouri, 1921 (died 1984)
Dave "Stringbean" Akeman died (murdered), 1973 (was 58)
Curly Fox died (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 72)
Hank "Sugarfoot" Garland born in Cow Pens, South Carolina, 1930 (died 2004)
Wade Ray died (illness), 1998 (was 85)
November 12:
Barbara Fairchild born in Lafe, Arkansas, 1950 (now 60)
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 (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 64)
Jack Guthrie born in Olive, Oklahoma, 1915 (died 1948)
Buddy Killen born in Florence, South Carolina, 1932 (died 2006)
Jerry Lee Lewis Jr. died (car wreck), 1973 (was 20)
Junior Samples died (heart attack), 1983 (was 57)
November 14:
Ken Carson born in Coalgate, Oklahoma, 1914 (died 1994)
Robert Whitstein died (heart attack), 2001 (was 57)
November 15:
William Fries (C.W. McCall) born in Audubon, Iowa, 1928 (now 82)
Jack Ingram born in Houston, Texas, 1970 (now 40)
Albert E. Brumley died (unknown cause), 1977 (was 72)
Thursday, October 28, 2010
It's That Time of the Year Again...
Category: Opinion
By now the first ballots for the 2011 Hall of Fame selection have been sent out to the three hundred or so anonymous voters who get the privilege of selecting who goes in. As these people are unknown except to a select few in the Country Music Association (which is understandable, it prevents vote buying by undeserving acts), this is a general appeal to those people. Consider this one of those "for your consideration" ads that fill the trade papers at nomination/voting time for the Grammy, Emmy, and Oscar awards.
I will be the first to admit that there are a number of people who may or may not be a worthy candidate for induction. I am also a realist: just because I like someone does not mean they are automatically Hall of Fame quality. We must never water down the criteria for induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame lest it become a parody (much the way the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame currently is, with this year's nominations of one-hit wonders and rap acts while excluding legitimately "famous" [it is a hall of fame, after all] acts from the nomination process). Also, I would hate to see the voters act as though they have some birthright to the induction vote (the way people in the Baseball Writers Association seem to feel about their duty to the Baseball Hall of Fame: some of them return blank ballots every year because they arrogantly claim nobody deserves a unanimous vote, and others claim that one steroid user will never get their vote while saying they'd vote for another steroid user in a heartbeat). The people who are potential inductees, the country music industry in general, and all of the fans who not only like the artists but who walk through those doors in Nashville and lay down $20 (or $33 to go to Studio B as well) to view the plaques deserve educated, informed voters who take their responsibility seriously and will not just mark a ballot because someone died (sadly, Patsy Montana was inducted that way: she died after the ballots were mailed in 1996) or because someone is the retiring president of the CMA (I lost count as to how many people were inducted this way).
With that, I humbly present "for your consideration" the following acts for induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2011:
Veterans Category:
Wilburn Brothers. I know they were not well-liked in Nashville, for various reasons; however, both Teddy and Doyle are gone now, so bury the hatchet and those ill feelings and induct them! Do they belong? They had one of the most successful syndicated country music shows in existence in the 60s and early 70s (which still airs on RFD-TV) and a career that spanned four decades. They also launched the career of a gal from Butcher Holler, Kentucky.
Elton Britt. If we can induct (rightfully, in my opinion) Vernon Dalhart for having the first million-seller in country music history and Patsy Montana for being the first woman to sell a million, then Elton Britt can also be inducted for having the distinction of being the first recipient of a gold record awarded to a country song ("There's a Star-Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere," 1942). Britt's career, however, was much more than that: a superb yodeler and movie actor (he appeared in western films in the 40s) who continued to chart until shortly before his death in 1972.
Al Dexter. Al Dexter is the reason Billboard magazine created a "hillbilly and western" chart in 1944. The phenomenal success of "Pistol Packin' Mama" throughout the last part of 1943 bumped pop acts out of their position on the charts. The Hall of Fame, as mentioned earlier, has acknowledged the historic firsts in country music. This man's popularity in the 1940s gave us another historic first: a chart to track the popularity of country music.
Cowboy Copas. Eddie Stubbs says it every time he plays a Copas record: "This man did so much more in country music than just die in a plane crash with Patsy Cline." In fact, he was the superstar on that ill-fated plane in 1963: Patsy had just had a few hits and Hawkshaw Hawkins' career was mostly as a good but "regional" or "minor" success.
The Browns. Along with Jean Shepard, they are (thanks to Ferlin Husky's induction this year) the final "superstar" act of the 1950s and early 1960s who need to be inducted . They were so much more than "The Three Bells," although the success of that song in country and pop in an era of Elvis is in and of itself criteria enough for induction.
Archie Campbell. There is no more deserving comedian who is not in than the mayor of Bull's Gap, Tennessee. His popularity in Knoxville in the 1930s and 40s was such that he was thrown a parade when he was discharged from the Navy. After that, he went on to success as a recording star of both comedic ("Rindercella" and other spoonerisms) and straight ("Trouble in the Amen Corner") material, a noted songwriter, and one of the writers and stars of Hee Haw from its inception until his death.
Modern Category:
Connie Smith. Connie Smith still owns the record for the biggest #1 debut single ("Once a Day," 1964, which stayed at #1 for over a month). Her string of hits is long and continues today with her work with her husband, Marty Stuart.
Reba McEntire. I'm not a fan of her music for the most part, but to deny the success this woman has enjoyed in country music (and taking it to a larger audience courtesy of her successful television show) is to appear downright idiotic.
Ray Stevens. Until "The Streak" came along in 1974, country music had only seen one million-selling comedy record (Homer and Jethro's "How Much is That Hound Dog in the Window" in 1953). Stevens is now known primarily as a comedian; however, he netted two Grammy awards for "serious" material (including "Everything is Beautiful" in 1970). He is also well-known outside the confines of country music for his material.
Non-Performer:
The third category alternates every year between musician (Charlie McCoy was the last inductee in that area), songwriter (Bill Sherrill this year), and non-performer. Sadly, most of the time the "non-performer" is a CMA executive or someone in the Nashville industry, as if to say that country music never existed outside of Nashville (when, in reality, Nashville was a latecomer to the country music bandwagon). I would love to see someone other than "the usual suspects" nominated/inducted this year:
Syd Nathan. Nathan owned King Records, the Cincinnati-based record company that bears the distinction of being the first (and until Heart of Texas Records, the only) exclusively country music record label when it launched in 1943. If that isn't worthy of induction, NOTHING is. After all, "hillbilly music" was still dismissed as unimportant during the 1940s (to the point where the lack of stores carrying country records prompted Ernest Tubb to start his own record store in 1947), and Nathan took a huge gamble -- one that paid off handsomely with acts such as future Hall of Famers Grandpa Jones, Merle Travis, the Delmore Brothers, Homer & Jethro, and Bill Carlisle.
Bill C. Malone. Dr. Malone literally wrote the book on country music when his doctoral thesis was published in 1968 as Country Music USA. It is the reference book for scholars, writers, journalists, and anyone who wants to know the history of country music. I am a fan, admittedly; but there is a good reason for that: without Malone's ground-breaking work, there would be no books on country music today.
Lowell Blanchard. Blanchard was the program director at WNOX in Knoxville. Under his supervision, the station became the cradle of the Hall of Fame, featuring acts from Roy Acuff in the 1930s to Don Gibson in the 1950s.
Horace Logan. Don't recognize the name? You will recognize the talent he introduced to the world: Hank Williams, Elvis Presley, Johnnie & Jack, Kitty Wells, Faron Young, and Jim Reeves. Logan was the founder of the Louisiana Hayride, one of the most important "barn dance" shows in America.
Nothing would make me happier than to see some of these names on the induction list when it is released in February.
By now the first ballots for the 2011 Hall of Fame selection have been sent out to the three hundred or so anonymous voters who get the privilege of selecting who goes in. As these people are unknown except to a select few in the Country Music Association (which is understandable, it prevents vote buying by undeserving acts), this is a general appeal to those people. Consider this one of those "for your consideration" ads that fill the trade papers at nomination/voting time for the Grammy, Emmy, and Oscar awards.
I will be the first to admit that there are a number of people who may or may not be a worthy candidate for induction. I am also a realist: just because I like someone does not mean they are automatically Hall of Fame quality. We must never water down the criteria for induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame lest it become a parody (much the way the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame currently is, with this year's nominations of one-hit wonders and rap acts while excluding legitimately "famous" [it is a hall of fame, after all] acts from the nomination process). Also, I would hate to see the voters act as though they have some birthright to the induction vote (the way people in the Baseball Writers Association seem to feel about their duty to the Baseball Hall of Fame: some of them return blank ballots every year because they arrogantly claim nobody deserves a unanimous vote, and others claim that one steroid user will never get their vote while saying they'd vote for another steroid user in a heartbeat). The people who are potential inductees, the country music industry in general, and all of the fans who not only like the artists but who walk through those doors in Nashville and lay down $20 (or $33 to go to Studio B as well) to view the plaques deserve educated, informed voters who take their responsibility seriously and will not just mark a ballot because someone died (sadly, Patsy Montana was inducted that way: she died after the ballots were mailed in 1996) or because someone is the retiring president of the CMA (I lost count as to how many people were inducted this way).
With that, I humbly present "for your consideration" the following acts for induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2011:
Veterans Category:
Wilburn Brothers. I know they were not well-liked in Nashville, for various reasons; however, both Teddy and Doyle are gone now, so bury the hatchet and those ill feelings and induct them! Do they belong? They had one of the most successful syndicated country music shows in existence in the 60s and early 70s (which still airs on RFD-TV) and a career that spanned four decades. They also launched the career of a gal from Butcher Holler, Kentucky.
Elton Britt. If we can induct (rightfully, in my opinion) Vernon Dalhart for having the first million-seller in country music history and Patsy Montana for being the first woman to sell a million, then Elton Britt can also be inducted for having the distinction of being the first recipient of a gold record awarded to a country song ("There's a Star-Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere," 1942). Britt's career, however, was much more than that: a superb yodeler and movie actor (he appeared in western films in the 40s) who continued to chart until shortly before his death in 1972.
Al Dexter. Al Dexter is the reason Billboard magazine created a "hillbilly and western" chart in 1944. The phenomenal success of "Pistol Packin' Mama" throughout the last part of 1943 bumped pop acts out of their position on the charts. The Hall of Fame, as mentioned earlier, has acknowledged the historic firsts in country music. This man's popularity in the 1940s gave us another historic first: a chart to track the popularity of country music.
Cowboy Copas. Eddie Stubbs says it every time he plays a Copas record: "This man did so much more in country music than just die in a plane crash with Patsy Cline." In fact, he was the superstar on that ill-fated plane in 1963: Patsy had just had a few hits and Hawkshaw Hawkins' career was mostly as a good but "regional" or "minor" success.
The Browns. Along with Jean Shepard, they are (thanks to Ferlin Husky's induction this year) the final "superstar" act of the 1950s and early 1960s who need to be inducted . They were so much more than "The Three Bells," although the success of that song in country and pop in an era of Elvis is in and of itself criteria enough for induction.
Archie Campbell. There is no more deserving comedian who is not in than the mayor of Bull's Gap, Tennessee. His popularity in Knoxville in the 1930s and 40s was such that he was thrown a parade when he was discharged from the Navy. After that, he went on to success as a recording star of both comedic ("Rindercella" and other spoonerisms) and straight ("Trouble in the Amen Corner") material, a noted songwriter, and one of the writers and stars of Hee Haw from its inception until his death.
Modern Category:
Connie Smith. Connie Smith still owns the record for the biggest #1 debut single ("Once a Day," 1964, which stayed at #1 for over a month). Her string of hits is long and continues today with her work with her husband, Marty Stuart.
Reba McEntire. I'm not a fan of her music for the most part, but to deny the success this woman has enjoyed in country music (and taking it to a larger audience courtesy of her successful television show) is to appear downright idiotic.
Ray Stevens. Until "The Streak" came along in 1974, country music had only seen one million-selling comedy record (Homer and Jethro's "How Much is That Hound Dog in the Window" in 1953). Stevens is now known primarily as a comedian; however, he netted two Grammy awards for "serious" material (including "Everything is Beautiful" in 1970). He is also well-known outside the confines of country music for his material.
Non-Performer:
The third category alternates every year between musician (Charlie McCoy was the last inductee in that area), songwriter (Bill Sherrill this year), and non-performer. Sadly, most of the time the "non-performer" is a CMA executive or someone in the Nashville industry, as if to say that country music never existed outside of Nashville (when, in reality, Nashville was a latecomer to the country music bandwagon). I would love to see someone other than "the usual suspects" nominated/inducted this year:
Syd Nathan. Nathan owned King Records, the Cincinnati-based record company that bears the distinction of being the first (and until Heart of Texas Records, the only) exclusively country music record label when it launched in 1943. If that isn't worthy of induction, NOTHING is. After all, "hillbilly music" was still dismissed as unimportant during the 1940s (to the point where the lack of stores carrying country records prompted Ernest Tubb to start his own record store in 1947), and Nathan took a huge gamble -- one that paid off handsomely with acts such as future Hall of Famers Grandpa Jones, Merle Travis, the Delmore Brothers, Homer & Jethro, and Bill Carlisle.
Bill C. Malone. Dr. Malone literally wrote the book on country music when his doctoral thesis was published in 1968 as Country Music USA. It is the reference book for scholars, writers, journalists, and anyone who wants to know the history of country music. I am a fan, admittedly; but there is a good reason for that: without Malone's ground-breaking work, there would be no books on country music today.
Lowell Blanchard. Blanchard was the program director at WNOX in Knoxville. Under his supervision, the station became the cradle of the Hall of Fame, featuring acts from Roy Acuff in the 1930s to Don Gibson in the 1950s.
Horace Logan. Don't recognize the name? You will recognize the talent he introduced to the world: Hank Williams, Elvis Presley, Johnnie & Jack, Kitty Wells, Faron Young, and Jim Reeves. Logan was the founder of the Louisiana Hayride, one of the most important "barn dance" shows in America.
Nothing would make me happier than to see some of these names on the induction list when it is released in February.
Friday, October 15, 2010
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 62)
Stoney Cooper born in Harman, West Virginia, 1918 (died 1977)
Doyle Wilburn died (cancer), 1982 (was 52)
Don Reno died (post-operative complications), 1984 (was 58)
Danny Dill died (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 69)
Alan Jackson born in Newman, Georgia, 1958 (now 52)
Tennessee Ernie Ford died (liver disease), 1991 (was 72)
Jay Livingston died (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 (cancer), 2002 (was 90)
October 18:
Chuck Berry born in San Jose, California, 1926 (now 84). 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 58)
Harty Taylor of Karl & Harty died (stroke), 1963 (was 58)
Hank Williams married Billie Jean Jones, 1952. After Williams' death, she would marry Johnny Horton.
Don Hecht died (heart attack), 2002 (was 72)
October 19:
Charlie Chase born in Rogersville, Tennessee, 1952 (now 58)
Don Parmley of the Bluegrass Cardinals born in Oliver Springs, Tennessee, 1933 (now 77)
Ebo Walker (ne Harry Shelor) of Bluegrass Alliance and New Grass Revival born in Louisville, Kentucky, 1941 (now 69)
Jeannie C. Riley born in Anson, Texas, 1945 (now 65)
Arthur E. "Uncle Art" Satherley born in Bristol, England, 1889 (died 1986)
Grant Turner died (heart failure), 1991 (was 79)
The CMA Awards were held, 1967. The awards show was not televised.
October 20:
Wanda Jackson born in Maud, Oklahoma, 1937 (now 73)
Stuart Hamblin born in Kellyville, Texas, 1908 (died 1989)
Grandpa Jones born in Niagara, Kentucky, 1913 (died 1998)
Merle Travis died (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 (brain tumor), 1965 (was 39)
Mel Street born in Grundy, Virginia, 1933 (died 1978)
Mel Street died (suicide), 1978 (45th birthday)
Leona Johnson Atkins, member of WLW's Johnson Twins and widow of Chet Atkins, died (illness), 2009 (was 85)
October 22:
Shelby Lynn born in Quantico, Virginia, 1968 (now 42)
Leon Chappelear died (suicide), 1962 (was 53)
Dorothy Shay, the "Park Avenue Hillbillie," died (heart attack), 1978 (was 57)
October 23:
Dwight Yoakam born in Pikeville, Kentucky, 1956 (now 54)
Junior Bryant of Ricochet born in Pecos, Texas, 1968 (now 42)
Mother Maybelle Carter died (respiratory arrest), 1978 (was 68)
Merle Watson died (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 (heart attack), 2001 (was 63)
October 24:
Mark Gray (former member of Exile) born in Vicksburg, Mississippi, 1952 (now 58)
Jiles Perry "The Big Bopper" Richardson born in Sabine Pass, Texas, 1930 (died 1959). Among his songwriter credits is "White Lightnin'" by friend George Jones and Hank Snow's "Beggar to a King."
Kirk McGee died (natural causes), 1983 (was 83)
Rosey Nix Adams, daughter of June Carter Cash, died (carbon monoxide poisoning), 2003 (was 45)
October 25:
Mark Miller (Sawyer Brown) born in Dayton, Ohio, 1958 (now 52)
Jeanne Black born in Pomona, California, 1937 (now 73)
Chely Wright born in Kansas City, Missouri, 1970 (now 40)
Cousin Minnie Pearl (Sarah Ophelia Colley Canon) born in Grinders Switch (actually, Centerville), Tennessee, 1912 (died 1996)
Roger Miller died (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 43)
Hoyt Axton died (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 71)
Lee Greenwood born in Southgate, California, 1942 (now 68)
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 (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
October 28:
Mitchell Torok born in Houston, Texas, 1929 (now 81)
Charlie Daniels born in Wilmington, North Carolina, 1936 (now 74)
Brad Paisley born in Glen Dale, West Virginia, 1972 (now 38)
Bill Bolick of the Blue Sky Boys born in Hickory, North Carolina, 1917 (died 2008)
Jimmy Skinner died (heart attack), 1979 (was 70)
Mel Foree died (cancer), 1990 (age unknown)
Porter Wagoner died (lung cancer), 2007 (was 80)
October 29:
Sonny Osborne born in Hyden, Kentucky, 1937 (now 73)
Charlie Monk born in Noma, Florida, 1938 (now 72)
Albert E. Brumley born in Spiro, Oklahoma, 1905 (died 1977)
Ramblin' Jimmie Dolan born in Gardena, California, 1916 (died 1994)
Fred Maddox died (heart disease), 1992 (was 73)
October 30:
Timothy B. Schmit of Poco and the Eagles born in Sacramento, California, 1947 (now 63)
T. Graham Brown born in Atlanta, Georgia, 1954 (now 56)
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 (73 years!!)
October 31:
Anita Kerr born in Memphis, Tennessee, 1927 (now 83)
Richard "Kinky" Friedman born in Chicago, Illinois, 1944 (now 66)
Dale Evans born in Uvalde, Texas, 1912 (died 2001)
Carl Belew died (cancer), 1990 (was 59)
Bob Atcher died (unknown causes), 1993 (was 79)
(Country Music Hall of Famers in bold)
October 16:
Jim Ed Norman born in Ft. Myers, Florida, 1948 (now 62)
Stoney Cooper born in Harman, West Virginia, 1918 (died 1977)
Doyle Wilburn died (cancer), 1982 (was 52)
Don Reno died (post-operative complications), 1984 (was 58)
Danny Dill died (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 69)
Alan Jackson born in Newman, Georgia, 1958 (now 52)
Tennessee Ernie Ford died (liver disease), 1991 (was 72)
Jay Livingston died (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 (cancer), 2002 (was 90)
October 18:
Chuck Berry born in San Jose, California, 1926 (now 84). 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 58)
Harty Taylor of Karl & Harty died (stroke), 1963 (was 58)
Hank Williams married Billie Jean Jones, 1952. After Williams' death, she would marry Johnny Horton.
Don Hecht died (heart attack), 2002 (was 72)
October 19:
Charlie Chase born in Rogersville, Tennessee, 1952 (now 58)
Don Parmley of the Bluegrass Cardinals born in Oliver Springs, Tennessee, 1933 (now 77)
Ebo Walker (ne Harry Shelor) of Bluegrass Alliance and New Grass Revival born in Louisville, Kentucky, 1941 (now 69)
Jeannie C. Riley born in Anson, Texas, 1945 (now 65)
Arthur E. "Uncle Art" Satherley born in Bristol, England, 1889 (died 1986)
Grant Turner died (heart failure), 1991 (was 79)
The CMA Awards were held, 1967. The awards show was not televised.
October 20:
Wanda Jackson born in Maud, Oklahoma, 1937 (now 73)
Stuart Hamblin born in Kellyville, Texas, 1908 (died 1989)
Grandpa Jones born in Niagara, Kentucky, 1913 (died 1998)
Merle Travis died (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 (brain tumor), 1965 (was 39)
Mel Street born in Grundy, Virginia, 1933 (died 1978)
Mel Street died (suicide), 1978 (45th birthday)
Leona Johnson Atkins, member of WLW's Johnson Twins and widow of Chet Atkins, died (illness), 2009 (was 85)
October 22:
Shelby Lynn born in Quantico, Virginia, 1968 (now 42)
Leon Chappelear died (suicide), 1962 (was 53)
Dorothy Shay, the "Park Avenue Hillbillie," died (heart attack), 1978 (was 57)
October 23:
Dwight Yoakam born in Pikeville, Kentucky, 1956 (now 54)
Junior Bryant of Ricochet born in Pecos, Texas, 1968 (now 42)
Mother Maybelle Carter died (respiratory arrest), 1978 (was 68)
Merle Watson died (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 (heart attack), 2001 (was 63)
October 24:
Mark Gray (former member of Exile) born in Vicksburg, Mississippi, 1952 (now 58)
Jiles Perry "The Big Bopper" Richardson born in Sabine Pass, Texas, 1930 (died 1959). Among his songwriter credits is "White Lightnin'" by friend George Jones and Hank Snow's "Beggar to a King."
Kirk McGee died (natural causes), 1983 (was 83)
Rosey Nix Adams, daughter of June Carter Cash, died (carbon monoxide poisoning), 2003 (was 45)
October 25:
Mark Miller (Sawyer Brown) born in Dayton, Ohio, 1958 (now 52)
Jeanne Black born in Pomona, California, 1937 (now 73)
Chely Wright born in Kansas City, Missouri, 1970 (now 40)
Cousin Minnie Pearl (Sarah Ophelia Colley Canon) born in Grinders Switch (actually, Centerville), Tennessee, 1912 (died 1996)
Roger Miller died (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 43)
Hoyt Axton died (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 71)
Lee Greenwood born in Southgate, California, 1942 (now 68)
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 (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
October 28:
Mitchell Torok born in Houston, Texas, 1929 (now 81)
Charlie Daniels born in Wilmington, North Carolina, 1936 (now 74)
Brad Paisley born in Glen Dale, West Virginia, 1972 (now 38)
Bill Bolick of the Blue Sky Boys born in Hickory, North Carolina, 1917 (died 2008)
Jimmy Skinner died (heart attack), 1979 (was 70)
Mel Foree died (cancer), 1990 (age unknown)
Porter Wagoner died (lung cancer), 2007 (was 80)
October 29:
Sonny Osborne born in Hyden, Kentucky, 1937 (now 73)
Charlie Monk born in Noma, Florida, 1938 (now 72)
Albert E. Brumley born in Spiro, Oklahoma, 1905 (died 1977)
Ramblin' Jimmie Dolan born in Gardena, California, 1916 (died 1994)
Fred Maddox died (heart disease), 1992 (was 73)
October 30:
Timothy B. Schmit of Poco and the Eagles born in Sacramento, California, 1947 (now 63)
T. Graham Brown born in Atlanta, Georgia, 1954 (now 56)
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 (73 years!!)
October 31:
Anita Kerr born in Memphis, Tennessee, 1927 (now 83)
Richard "Kinky" Friedman born in Chicago, Illinois, 1944 (now 66)
Dale Evans born in Uvalde, Texas, 1912 (died 2001)
Carl Belew died (cancer), 1990 (was 59)
Bob Atcher died (unknown causes), 1993 (was 79)
Saturday, October 09, 2010
Dailey and Vincent Clean Up at IBMA
Category: News
Dailey and Vincent are well on their way to becoming the supergroup of bluegrass music following their dominance of the awards at the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) awards ceremony held September 30th in Nashville.
The duo's three trophies for album of the year, vocal group, and entertainer of the year bring their tally to twelve awards, all accumulated since their 2008 breakout with the Gillian Welch gospel tune "By the Mark." They have also appeared on other award-winning projects (such as this year's "Recorded Event" award recipient, singing with Larry Stephenson on the cover of the Louvin Brothers' "Give This Message to Your Heart"), and the graphics for their best album tribute to the Statler Brothers also snagged an award.
Michael Cleveland, the masterful fiddler from Kentucky, picked up his fifth consecutive award (and eighth overall) as best fiddler, and he and his band Flamekeeper were awarded their fourth consecutive "instrumental band" trophy.
Rob Ickes repeated as Dobro player of the year, his twelfth award. Rob emerged as the Dobro player with the reunited Whitstein Brothers band in the early 90s and from there has become, along with the legendary Jerry Douglas, the standard for Dobro players.
Louise Scruggs, wife of Earl Scruggs, was inducted into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame for her work as her husband's manager. John Hartford was also inducted for his lasting legacy as a performer, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter. Both awards, sadly, were posthumous inductions.
The complete list of winners:
BLUEGRASS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
John Hartford
Louise Scruggs
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Dailey & Vincent
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Dailey & Vincent
INSTRUMENTAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Russell Moore
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Claire Lynch
SONG OF THE YEAR
"Ring The Bell", The Gibson Brothers (artists), Chet O'Keefe (songwriter)
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Dailey & Vincent Sing The Statler Brothers; Dailey & Vincent (artists & producers); Cracker Barrel/Rounder
RECORDED EVENT OF THE YEAR
"Give This Message To Your Heart", Larry Stephenson featuring Dailey & Vincent (artists), Ben Surratt & Larry Stephenson (producers), Whysper Dream
INSTRUMENTAL RECORDED PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
"Durang's Hornpipe" by Adam Steffey (artist), Barry Bales & Gary Paczosa (producers)
GOSPEL RECORDED PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
"Ring The Bell", The Gibson Brothers (artists & producers), Chet O'Keefe (songwriter), Compass Records
EMERGING ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Josh Williams Band
INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMERS OF THE YEAR
BANJO: Kristin Scott Benson
BASS: Marshall Wilborn
FIDDLE: Michael Cleveland
DOBRO: Rob Ickes
GUITAR: Josh Williams
MANDOLIN: Adam Steffey
Distinguished Achievement Award Recipients
Benjamin "Tex" Logan
Sherry Boyd
Lynn Morris
Richard Weize
Pete Wernick
Bluegrass Broadcaster of the Year:
Kyle Cantrell; Sirius XM Satellite Radio
Print Media Person of the Year
Eddie Dean & Dr. Ralph Stanley, authors of Man of Constant Sorrow: My Life and Times (Gotham Books)
Best Liner Notes for a Recorded Project
Dr. Ted Olson (writer), Appalachia Music from Home, Various Artists, Lonesome Records (label)
Best Graphic Design for a Recorded Project
Julie Craig, Cracker Barrel (designer); Dailey & Vincent; Dailey & Vincent Sing The Statler Brothers; Cracker Barrel/Rounder (label)
Bluegrass Event of the Year Award:
14th Annual Podunk Bluegrass Music Festival; East Hartford, CT
Dailey and Vincent are well on their way to becoming the supergroup of bluegrass music following their dominance of the awards at the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) awards ceremony held September 30th in Nashville.
The duo's three trophies for album of the year, vocal group, and entertainer of the year bring their tally to twelve awards, all accumulated since their 2008 breakout with the Gillian Welch gospel tune "By the Mark." They have also appeared on other award-winning projects (such as this year's "Recorded Event" award recipient, singing with Larry Stephenson on the cover of the Louvin Brothers' "Give This Message to Your Heart"), and the graphics for their best album tribute to the Statler Brothers also snagged an award.
Michael Cleveland, the masterful fiddler from Kentucky, picked up his fifth consecutive award (and eighth overall) as best fiddler, and he and his band Flamekeeper were awarded their fourth consecutive "instrumental band" trophy.
Rob Ickes repeated as Dobro player of the year, his twelfth award. Rob emerged as the Dobro player with the reunited Whitstein Brothers band in the early 90s and from there has become, along with the legendary Jerry Douglas, the standard for Dobro players.
Louise Scruggs, wife of Earl Scruggs, was inducted into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame for her work as her husband's manager. John Hartford was also inducted for his lasting legacy as a performer, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter. Both awards, sadly, were posthumous inductions.
The complete list of winners:
BLUEGRASS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
John Hartford
Louise Scruggs
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Dailey & Vincent
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Dailey & Vincent
INSTRUMENTAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Russell Moore
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Claire Lynch
SONG OF THE YEAR
"Ring The Bell", The Gibson Brothers (artists), Chet O'Keefe (songwriter)
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Dailey & Vincent Sing The Statler Brothers; Dailey & Vincent (artists & producers); Cracker Barrel/Rounder
RECORDED EVENT OF THE YEAR
"Give This Message To Your Heart", Larry Stephenson featuring Dailey & Vincent (artists), Ben Surratt & Larry Stephenson (producers), Whysper Dream
INSTRUMENTAL RECORDED PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
"Durang's Hornpipe" by Adam Steffey (artist), Barry Bales & Gary Paczosa (producers)
GOSPEL RECORDED PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
"Ring The Bell", The Gibson Brothers (artists & producers), Chet O'Keefe (songwriter), Compass Records
EMERGING ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Josh Williams Band
INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMERS OF THE YEAR
BANJO: Kristin Scott Benson
BASS: Marshall Wilborn
FIDDLE: Michael Cleveland
DOBRO: Rob Ickes
GUITAR: Josh Williams
MANDOLIN: Adam Steffey
Distinguished Achievement Award Recipients
Benjamin "Tex" Logan
Sherry Boyd
Lynn Morris
Richard Weize
Pete Wernick
Bluegrass Broadcaster of the Year:
Kyle Cantrell; Sirius XM Satellite Radio
Print Media Person of the Year
Eddie Dean & Dr. Ralph Stanley, authors of Man of Constant Sorrow: My Life and Times (Gotham Books)
Best Liner Notes for a Recorded Project
Dr. Ted Olson (writer), Appalachia Music from Home, Various Artists, Lonesome Records (label)
Best Graphic Design for a Recorded Project
Julie Craig, Cracker Barrel (designer); Dailey & Vincent; Dailey & Vincent Sing The Statler Brothers; Cracker Barrel/Rounder (label)
Bluegrass Event of the Year Award:
14th Annual Podunk Bluegrass Music Festival; East Hartford, CT
Monday, October 04, 2010
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 42)
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 64)
Tammy Sullivan born in Wagarville, Alabama, 1964 (now 46)
Chris LeDoux born in Biloxi, Mississippi, 1948 (died 2005)
Chubby Wise born in Lake City, Florida, 1915 (died 1996)
Gene Autry died (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 (Huntington's disease), 1967 (was 55). Among the folk singer's compositions were the Maddox Brothers and Rose's hit "Philadelphia Lawyer."
Del Wood died (stroke), 1989 (was 69)
October 4:
Leroy Van Dyke born in Spring Fork, Missouri, 1929 (now 81)
Larry Collins of the Collins Kids born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1944 (now 66)
Greg Hubbard of Sawyer Brown born in Orlando, Florida, 1960 (now 50)
Jerry Rivers died (cancer), 1996 (was 69)
A.L. "Doodle" Owens died (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 85)
Margie Singleton born in Coushatta, Louisiana, 1935 (now 75)
Johnny Duncan born in Dublin, Texas, 1938 (died 2006)
October 6:
Tim Rushlow of Little Texas born in Arlington, Texas, 1966 (now 44)
Kendall Hayes born in Perryville, Kentucky, 1935 (died 1995)
Ted Daffan died (natural causes), 1996 (was 84)
October 7:
Jim Halsey born in Independence, Kansas, 1930 (now 80)
Dale Watson born in Birmingham, Alabama, 1962 (now 48)
Kieran Kane born in Queens, New York, 1949 (now 61)
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 (diabetes complications), 1997 (was 57)
Jimmie Logsdon died (unknown cause), 2001 (was 79)
Shelby Singleton died (brain cancer), 2009 (was 77)
Jimmie Rodgers' first recording, "The Soldier's Sweetheart" / "Sleep Baby Sleep," released, 1927
October 8:
Ricky Lee Phelps of the Kentucky Headhunters born in Paragould, Arkansas, 1953 (now 57)
Susan Raye born in Eugene, Oregon, 1944 (now 66)
Lynn Morris born in Lamesa, Texas, 1948 (now 62)
Jackie Frantz of Dave & Sugar born in Sidney, Ohio, 1950 (now 60)
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 64)
Tanya Tucker born in Seminole, Texas, 1958 (now 52)
Don Pierce, founder of Starday Records, born in Ballard, Washington, 1915 (died 2005)
October 11:
Gene Watson born in Palestine, Texas, 1943 (now 67)
Paulette Carlson of Highway 101 born in Northfield, Minnesota, 1952 (now 58)
Dottie West born in McMinnville, Tennessee, 1932 (died 1991)
Rex Griffin died (tuberculosis), 1958 (was 46)
Tex Williams died (cancer), 1985 (was 68)
T. Tommy Cutrer died (heart attack), 1998 (was 74)
October 12:
Shane McAnally born in Mineral Wells, Texas, 1974 (now 35)
John Denver died (plane crash), 1997 (was 53)
October 13:
Rhett Akins born in Valdosta, Georgia, 1969 (now 41)
Lacy J. Dalton born in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, 1946 (now 64)
Anita Kerr born in Memphis, Tennessee, 1927 (now 83)
John Wiggins born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1962 (now 48)
Hoarce Lee Logan died (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 84)
Melba Montgomery born in Iron City, Tennessee, 1938 (now 72)
Bing Crosby died (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," 1944.
October 15:
Dean Miller born in Los Angeles, California, 1965 (now 45)
(Country Music Hall of Famers in bold)
October 1:
Kelly Willis born in Lawton, Oklahoma, 1968 (now 42)
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 64)
Tammy Sullivan born in Wagarville, Alabama, 1964 (now 46)
Chris LeDoux born in Biloxi, Mississippi, 1948 (died 2005)
Chubby Wise born in Lake City, Florida, 1915 (died 1996)
Gene Autry died (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 (Huntington's disease), 1967 (was 55). Among the folk singer's compositions were the Maddox Brothers and Rose's hit "Philadelphia Lawyer."
Del Wood died (stroke), 1989 (was 69)
October 4:
Leroy Van Dyke born in Spring Fork, Missouri, 1929 (now 81)
Larry Collins of the Collins Kids born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1944 (now 66)
Greg Hubbard of Sawyer Brown born in Orlando, Florida, 1960 (now 50)
Jerry Rivers died (cancer), 1996 (was 69)
A.L. "Doodle" Owens died (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 85)
Margie Singleton born in Coushatta, Louisiana, 1935 (now 75)
Johnny Duncan born in Dublin, Texas, 1938 (died 2006)
October 6:
Tim Rushlow of Little Texas born in Arlington, Texas, 1966 (now 44)
Kendall Hayes born in Perryville, Kentucky, 1935 (died 1995)
Ted Daffan died (natural causes), 1996 (was 84)
October 7:
Jim Halsey born in Independence, Kansas, 1930 (now 80)
Dale Watson born in Birmingham, Alabama, 1962 (now 48)
Kieran Kane born in Queens, New York, 1949 (now 61)
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 (diabetes complications), 1997 (was 57)
Jimmie Logsdon died (unknown cause), 2001 (was 79)
Shelby Singleton died (brain cancer), 2009 (was 77)
Jimmie Rodgers' first recording, "The Soldier's Sweetheart" / "Sleep Baby Sleep," released, 1927
October 8:
Ricky Lee Phelps of the Kentucky Headhunters born in Paragould, Arkansas, 1953 (now 57)
Susan Raye born in Eugene, Oregon, 1944 (now 66)
Lynn Morris born in Lamesa, Texas, 1948 (now 62)
Jackie Frantz of Dave & Sugar born in Sidney, Ohio, 1950 (now 60)
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 64)
Tanya Tucker born in Seminole, Texas, 1958 (now 52)
Don Pierce, founder of Starday Records, born in Ballard, Washington, 1915 (died 2005)
October 11:
Gene Watson born in Palestine, Texas, 1943 (now 67)
Paulette Carlson of Highway 101 born in Northfield, Minnesota, 1952 (now 58)
Dottie West born in McMinnville, Tennessee, 1932 (died 1991)
Rex Griffin died (tuberculosis), 1958 (was 46)
Tex Williams died (cancer), 1985 (was 68)
T. Tommy Cutrer died (heart attack), 1998 (was 74)
October 12:
Shane McAnally born in Mineral Wells, Texas, 1974 (now 35)
John Denver died (plane crash), 1997 (was 53)
October 13:
Rhett Akins born in Valdosta, Georgia, 1969 (now 41)
Lacy J. Dalton born in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, 1946 (now 64)
Anita Kerr born in Memphis, Tennessee, 1927 (now 83)
John Wiggins born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1962 (now 48)
Hoarce Lee Logan died (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 84)
Melba Montgomery born in Iron City, Tennessee, 1938 (now 72)
Bing Crosby died (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," 1944.
October 15:
Dean Miller born in Los Angeles, California, 1965 (now 45)
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Charlie Louvin on the Midnite Jamboree
Category: News
Country Music Hall of Fame legend Charlie Louvin is scheduled to host the Midnite Jamboree this evening (9/18). The show is now taped at 10 p.m. (central time) and replayed the next week.
Click here to watch and/or listen to the taping. The show begins at 11 p.m. eastern, 10 p.m. central, etc.
Charlie has recently been diagnosed with stage II pancreatic cancer, and an attempted Whipple procedure in August was unsuccessful. Louvin's site said that they were "exploring alternative treatments." "I don't know what they have planned," Louvin was quoted as saying, "but I'm sure it'll hurt."
Don't forget to keep him in your prayers.
Country Music Hall of Fame legend Charlie Louvin is scheduled to host the Midnite Jamboree this evening (9/18). The show is now taped at 10 p.m. (central time) and replayed the next week.
Click here to watch and/or listen to the taping. The show begins at 11 p.m. eastern, 10 p.m. central, etc.
Charlie has recently been diagnosed with stage II pancreatic cancer, and an attempted Whipple procedure in August was unsuccessful. Louvin's site said that they were "exploring alternative treatments." "I don't know what they have planned," Louvin was quoted as saying, "but I'm sure it'll hurt."
Don't forget to keep him in your prayers.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Dates of Note in Country Music, September 16-30
Category: News
(Country Music Hall of Famers in bold)
September 16:
Ralph Mooney born in Duncan, Oklahoma, 1928 (now 82)
David Bellamy of the Bellamy Brothers born in Darby, Florida, 1950 (now 60)
Bobby Randall of Sawyer Brown born in Midland, Michigan, 1952 (now 58)
Terry McBride of McBride & the Ride born in Austin, Texas, 1958 (now 52)
Sheb Wooley died (leukemia), 2003 (was 82)
September 17:
Hank Williams born in Mount Olive, Alabama, 1923 (died 1953)
John Ritter, son of Tex Ritter, born in Burbank, California, 1948 (died 2003)
Steve Sanders (William Lee Golden's one-time replacement in the Oak Ridge Boys) born in Richland, Georgia, 1952 (died 1998)
Bill Black born in Memphis, Tennessee, 1926 (died 1965)
RCA's 33 1/3 RPM "long-playing" (LP) record born, 1931
September 18:
Priscilla Mitchell born in Marietta, Georgia, 1941 (now 69). In addition to her own singing career, she was married to Jerry Reed from 1959 until his death in 2008.
Carl Jackson born in Louisville, Mississippi, 1953 (now 57)
Ervin T. Rouse born in Craven County, North Carolina, 1917 (died 1981)
September 19:
Trisha Yearwood born in Monticello, Georgia, 1964 (now 46)
Clyde Moody born in Cherokee, North Carolina, 1915 (died 1989)
Danny Dill born in Carroll County, Tennessee, 1924 (died 2008)
Red Foley died (heart attack), 1968 (was 58)
Gram Parsons died (drug overdose), 1973 (was 26)
Skeeter Davis died (cancer), 2004 (was 72)
Slim Dusty ("Australian king of country music") died (cancer), 2003 (was 76)
Carl Smith married singer Goldie Hill, 1957
September 20:
Pearl Butler born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1927 (died 1988)
Karl Farr died (heart attack), 1961 (was 52)
Jim Croce died (plane crash), 1973 (was 30). The folk singer/songwriter's pop hit "I'll Have to Say I Love You in a Song" made the country charts a year after his death.
Steve Goodman died (liver and kidney failure/leukemia), 1984 (was 36)
Hank Williams re-joined the Louisiana Hayride after being fired from the Grand Ole Opry, 1952
September 21:
Faith Hill born in Jackson, Mississippi, 1967 (now 43)
Dickey Lee born in Memphis, Tennessee, 1936 (now 74)
Don Felder, former guitarist/steel guitarist for the Eagles, born in Gainesville, Florida, 1947 (now 63)
Daryl Mosley of New Tradition born in Waverly, Tennessee, 1964 (now 46)
Ronna Reeves born in Big Spring, Texas, 1966 (now 44)
Kenny Starr born in Topeka, Kansas, 1952 (now 58)
Ted Daffan born in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana, 1912 (died 1996)
Walter Brennan died (emphysema), 1974 (was 80). Among the actor's charted hits were "Old Rivers" and a version of Bill Anderson's "Mama Sang a Song."
September 22:
June Forester of the Forester Sisters born in Lookout Mountain, Georgia, 1952 (now 58)
Debby Boone born in Hackensack, New Jersey, 1956 (now 53). The "You Light Up My Life" singer is Red Foley's granddaughter.
Roy "Pop" Lewis Sr. of the Lewis Family, born in Pickens, South Carolina, 1905 (died 2004)
September 23:
Don Herron Jr. of BR5-49 born in Steubenville, Ohio, 1962 (now 48)
Roy Drusky died (emphysema), 2004 (was 74)
Bradley Kincaid died (natural causes), 1989 (was 94)
O.B. McClinton died (cancer), 1987 (was 45)
Jimmy Wakely died (emphysema), 1982 (was 68)
Roy Horton died (unknown cause), 2003 (was 88)
Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys make their first recording session, 1935
September 24:
Rosalie Allen died (congestive heart failure), 2003 (was 79)
Jim Denny fired as Opry manager, 1956
September 25:
Ian Tyson born in Victoria, British Columbia, 1933 (now 77)
Larry Sparks born in Lebanon, Ohio, 1947 (now 63)
Royce Kendall born in St. Louis, Missouri, 1934 (died 1998)
Little Jimmy Dickens became a member of the Grand Ole Opry, 1948. He is celebrating 62 years as an Opry member, which is one of the longest tenures in the history of the show.
September 26:
David Frizzell born in El Dorado, Arkansas, 1941 (now 69)
Lynn Anderson born in Grand Forks, North Dakota, 1947 (now 63)
Carlene Carter born in Madison, Tennessee, 1955 (now 55)
Doug Supernaw born in Bryan, Texas, 1960 (now 50)
Marty Robbins born in Glendale, Arizona, 1925 (died 1982)
The Beverly Hillbillies debuted on CBS, 1962. The program featured appearances by Roy Clark as Cousin Roy and Flatt and Scruggs as friends of the Clampetts, and the show was frequently sponsored by Kellogg's Corn Flakes with ads featuring Homer and Jethro.
September 27:
Uncle Josh Graves born in Tellico Plains, Tennessee, 1928 (died 2006)
Charlie Monroe died (cancer), 1975 (was 72)
September 28:
Johnny Mathis born in Maud, Texas, 1933 (now 77). Because of the rise of a pop singer by the same name, Mathis became known as "Country Johnny Mathis."
Ronnie Reno born in Buffalo, South Carolina, 1947 (now 63)
Laurie Lewis born in Long Beach, California, 1950 (now 60)
Mandy Barnett born in Crossville, Tennessee, 1975 (now 35)
Jerry Clower born in Liberty, Mississippi, 1926 (died 1998)
Tommy Collins (ne Leonard Sipes) born in Bethany, Oklahoma, 1930 (died 2000)
Joseph Falcon born in Rayne, Louisiana, 1900 (died 1965). Falcon is credited with the first Cajun recording, "Allons a Lafayette," in 1928.
Jim Boyd (of Bill Boyd and the Cowboy Ramblers) born in Fannin County, Texas, 1914 (died 1993)
Johnny Horton married Billie Jean Williams (widow of Hank Williams), 1953
September 29:
Jerry Lee Lewis born in Ferriday, Louisiana, 1935 (now 75)
Gene Autry born in Tioga Springs, Texas, 1907 (died 1998)
Bill Boyd born in Fannin County, Texas, 1910 (died 1977)
Tillman Franks born in Stamps, Arkansas, 1920 (died 2006)
Wesley Tuttle died (natural causes), 2003 (was 85)
Mickey Newbury died (lung disease), 2002 (was 62)
September 30:
Richard Bowden born in Linden, Texas, 1945 (now 65)
Johnny Burns born in Knoxville, Tennessee, 1948 (now 62). The son of Jethro Burns is a singer/songwriter/guitarist on his own, and worked for many years with country-folk icon John Prine.
Deborah Allen born in Memphis, Tennessee, 1953 (now 57)
Marty Stuart born in Philadelphia, Mississippi, 1958 (now 52)
Mary Ford died (diabetes complications), 1977 (was 53)
Ruby Wright died (heart disease), 2009 (was 69)
Billboard magazine changed the name of the "Hillbilly and Western" chart to the "Country and Western" chart, 1950. Ernest Tubb is considered by many to be one of the people responsible for this, as he claimed that "hillbilly" was a derogatory term.
(Country Music Hall of Famers in bold)
September 16:
Ralph Mooney born in Duncan, Oklahoma, 1928 (now 82)
David Bellamy of the Bellamy Brothers born in Darby, Florida, 1950 (now 60)
Bobby Randall of Sawyer Brown born in Midland, Michigan, 1952 (now 58)
Terry McBride of McBride & the Ride born in Austin, Texas, 1958 (now 52)
Sheb Wooley died (leukemia), 2003 (was 82)
September 17:
Hank Williams born in Mount Olive, Alabama, 1923 (died 1953)
John Ritter, son of Tex Ritter, born in Burbank, California, 1948 (died 2003)
Steve Sanders (William Lee Golden's one-time replacement in the Oak Ridge Boys) born in Richland, Georgia, 1952 (died 1998)
Bill Black born in Memphis, Tennessee, 1926 (died 1965)
RCA's 33 1/3 RPM "long-playing" (LP) record born, 1931
September 18:
Priscilla Mitchell born in Marietta, Georgia, 1941 (now 69). In addition to her own singing career, she was married to Jerry Reed from 1959 until his death in 2008.
Carl Jackson born in Louisville, Mississippi, 1953 (now 57)
Ervin T. Rouse born in Craven County, North Carolina, 1917 (died 1981)
September 19:
Trisha Yearwood born in Monticello, Georgia, 1964 (now 46)
Clyde Moody born in Cherokee, North Carolina, 1915 (died 1989)
Danny Dill born in Carroll County, Tennessee, 1924 (died 2008)
Red Foley died (heart attack), 1968 (was 58)
Gram Parsons died (drug overdose), 1973 (was 26)
Skeeter Davis died (cancer), 2004 (was 72)
Slim Dusty ("Australian king of country music") died (cancer), 2003 (was 76)
Carl Smith married singer Goldie Hill, 1957
September 20:
Pearl Butler born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1927 (died 1988)
Karl Farr died (heart attack), 1961 (was 52)
Jim Croce died (plane crash), 1973 (was 30). The folk singer/songwriter's pop hit "I'll Have to Say I Love You in a Song" made the country charts a year after his death.
Steve Goodman died (liver and kidney failure/leukemia), 1984 (was 36)
Hank Williams re-joined the Louisiana Hayride after being fired from the Grand Ole Opry, 1952
September 21:
Faith Hill born in Jackson, Mississippi, 1967 (now 43)
Dickey Lee born in Memphis, Tennessee, 1936 (now 74)
Don Felder, former guitarist/steel guitarist for the Eagles, born in Gainesville, Florida, 1947 (now 63)
Daryl Mosley of New Tradition born in Waverly, Tennessee, 1964 (now 46)
Ronna Reeves born in Big Spring, Texas, 1966 (now 44)
Kenny Starr born in Topeka, Kansas, 1952 (now 58)
Ted Daffan born in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana, 1912 (died 1996)
Walter Brennan died (emphysema), 1974 (was 80). Among the actor's charted hits were "Old Rivers" and a version of Bill Anderson's "Mama Sang a Song."
September 22:
June Forester of the Forester Sisters born in Lookout Mountain, Georgia, 1952 (now 58)
Debby Boone born in Hackensack, New Jersey, 1956 (now 53). The "You Light Up My Life" singer is Red Foley's granddaughter.
Roy "Pop" Lewis Sr. of the Lewis Family, born in Pickens, South Carolina, 1905 (died 2004)
September 23:
Don Herron Jr. of BR5-49 born in Steubenville, Ohio, 1962 (now 48)
Roy Drusky died (emphysema), 2004 (was 74)
Bradley Kincaid died (natural causes), 1989 (was 94)
O.B. McClinton died (cancer), 1987 (was 45)
Jimmy Wakely died (emphysema), 1982 (was 68)
Roy Horton died (unknown cause), 2003 (was 88)
Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys make their first recording session, 1935
September 24:
Rosalie Allen died (congestive heart failure), 2003 (was 79)
Jim Denny fired as Opry manager, 1956
September 25:
Ian Tyson born in Victoria, British Columbia, 1933 (now 77)
Larry Sparks born in Lebanon, Ohio, 1947 (now 63)
Royce Kendall born in St. Louis, Missouri, 1934 (died 1998)
Little Jimmy Dickens became a member of the Grand Ole Opry, 1948. He is celebrating 62 years as an Opry member, which is one of the longest tenures in the history of the show.
September 26:
David Frizzell born in El Dorado, Arkansas, 1941 (now 69)
Lynn Anderson born in Grand Forks, North Dakota, 1947 (now 63)
Carlene Carter born in Madison, Tennessee, 1955 (now 55)
Doug Supernaw born in Bryan, Texas, 1960 (now 50)
Marty Robbins born in Glendale, Arizona, 1925 (died 1982)
The Beverly Hillbillies debuted on CBS, 1962. The program featured appearances by Roy Clark as Cousin Roy and Flatt and Scruggs as friends of the Clampetts, and the show was frequently sponsored by Kellogg's Corn Flakes with ads featuring Homer and Jethro.
September 27:
Uncle Josh Graves born in Tellico Plains, Tennessee, 1928 (died 2006)
Charlie Monroe died (cancer), 1975 (was 72)
September 28:
Johnny Mathis born in Maud, Texas, 1933 (now 77). Because of the rise of a pop singer by the same name, Mathis became known as "Country Johnny Mathis."
Ronnie Reno born in Buffalo, South Carolina, 1947 (now 63)
Laurie Lewis born in Long Beach, California, 1950 (now 60)
Mandy Barnett born in Crossville, Tennessee, 1975 (now 35)
Jerry Clower born in Liberty, Mississippi, 1926 (died 1998)
Tommy Collins (ne Leonard Sipes) born in Bethany, Oklahoma, 1930 (died 2000)
Joseph Falcon born in Rayne, Louisiana, 1900 (died 1965). Falcon is credited with the first Cajun recording, "Allons a Lafayette," in 1928.
Jim Boyd (of Bill Boyd and the Cowboy Ramblers) born in Fannin County, Texas, 1914 (died 1993)
Johnny Horton married Billie Jean Williams (widow of Hank Williams), 1953
September 29:
Jerry Lee Lewis born in Ferriday, Louisiana, 1935 (now 75)
Gene Autry born in Tioga Springs, Texas, 1907 (died 1998)
Bill Boyd born in Fannin County, Texas, 1910 (died 1977)
Tillman Franks born in Stamps, Arkansas, 1920 (died 2006)
Wesley Tuttle died (natural causes), 2003 (was 85)
Mickey Newbury died (lung disease), 2002 (was 62)
September 30:
Richard Bowden born in Linden, Texas, 1945 (now 65)
Johnny Burns born in Knoxville, Tennessee, 1948 (now 62). The son of Jethro Burns is a singer/songwriter/guitarist on his own, and worked for many years with country-folk icon John Prine.
Deborah Allen born in Memphis, Tennessee, 1953 (now 57)
Marty Stuart born in Philadelphia, Mississippi, 1958 (now 52)
Mary Ford died (diabetes complications), 1977 (was 53)
Ruby Wright died (heart disease), 2009 (was 69)
Billboard magazine changed the name of the "Hillbilly and Western" chart to the "Country and Western" chart, 1950. Ernest Tubb is considered by many to be one of the people responsible for this, as he claimed that "hillbilly" was a derogatory term.
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
Dates of Note in Country Music, September 1-15
Category: News
(Country Music Hall of Famers in bold)
September 1
Steve Goetzman of Exile born in Louisville, Kentucky, 1950 (now 60)
Boxcar Willie (ne Lecil Travis Martin) born in Sterratt, Texas, 1931 (died 1999)
Johnny Mack Brown born in Dothan, Alabama, 1904 (died 1974). The western actor was the namesake of Lester "Roadhog" Moran and the Cadillac Cowboy's Live at the Johnny Mack Brown High School album.
Conway Twitty born in Friars Point, Mississippi, 1933 (died 1993)
Jerry Reed died (emphysema), 2008 (was 71)
September 2
Paul Wylie Deakin of the Mavericks born in Miami, Florida, 1959 (now 51)
Johnny Lee Wills born in Jewell, Texas, 1912 (died 1984)
Charline Authur born in Henrietta, Texas, 1929 (died 1987)
Grady Nutt born in Amarillo, Texas, 1934 (died 1982)
Fabor Robinson, founder of Fabor Records, died (unknown cause), 1986 (was 74)
September 3
Tompall Glaser born in Spalding, Nebraska, 1933 (now 77)
Jimmy Riddle born in Dyersburg, Tennessee, 1918 (died 1981)
Hank Thompson born in Waco, Texas, 1925 (died 2007)
September 4
Shot Jackson born in Wilmington, North Carolina, 1920 (died 1991)
Dottie West died (injuries from a car wreck), 1991 (was 58)
Carl Butler died (heart attack), 1992 (was 65)
September 5
Curley Williams died (unknown cause), 1970 (was 66)
The Country Music Association was founded, 1958
The Lewis Family's final concert, 2009. The bluegrass and gospel band began performing in 1951.
September 6
Mark Chesnutt born in Beaumont, Texas, 1963 (now 47)
David Allan Coe born in Akron, Ohio, 1939 (now 71)
Jeff Foxworthy born in Atlanta, Georgia, 1958 (now 52)
Mel McDaniel born in Checotah, Oklahoma, 1942 (now 68)
Zeke Clements born in Warrior, Alabama, 1911 (died 1994)
Ernest Tubb died (complications from emphysema), 1984 (was 70)
Autry Inman died (unknown cause), 1988 (was 59)
Roy Huskey Jr. died (cancer), 1997 (was 41)
September 7
Ronnie Dove born in Herndon, Virginia, 1940 (now 70)
Buddy Holly born in Lubbock, Texas, 1936 (died 1959). The rock and roll pioneer began in country music, and among his band members was Waylon Jennings.
Hubert Long died (brain tumor), 1972 (was 48)
Warren Zevon died (mesothelioma), 2003 (was 56). The folk-rock singer wrote "Poor Poor Pitiful Me," which made the country charts by both Linda Ronstadt and Terri Clark, and Dwight Yoakam recorded Zevon's "Carmelita" and sang on two of Zevon's albums. Zevon also appeared in the movie South of Heaven, West of Hell with Yoakam.
September 8
Jimmie Rodgers born in Meridian, Mississippi, 1897 (died 1933)
Milton Brown born in Stephenville, Texas, 1903 (died 1936)
Patsy Cline born in Winchester, Virginia, 1932 (died 1963)
Harlan Howard born in Detroit, Michigan, 1929 (died 2002)
September 9
Freddy Weller born in Atlanta, Georgia, 1947 (now 63)
Charline Arthur born in Henrietta, Texas, 1929 (died 1987)
Rodger Dale Tubb died (car wreck), 1938 (was 7 weeks old)
Tex Owens died (unknown cause), 1962 (was 70)
Bill Monroe died (stroke), 1996 (was 84)
September 10
Tommy Overstreet born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 1937 (now 73)
Rosie Flores born in San Antonio, Texas, 1956 (now 54)
Luke Wills born in Memphis, Texas, 1920 (died 2000)
Joe (ne Walter) Callahan of the Callahan Brothers died (cancer), 1971 (was 61)
September 11
Jimmie Davis born in Beech Springs, Louisiana, 1899 (died 2000)
Randy Hughes born in Gum, Tennessee, 1928 (died 1963)
Lorne Greene died (pneumonia), 1987 (was 72). The actor's recitation "Ringo" was a top 25 country hit in 1964.
Leon Payne died (heart attack), 1969 (was 52)
Bill (ne Homer) Callahan of the Callahan Brothers died (congestive heart failure), 2002 (was 90)
September 12
George Jones born in Saratoga, Texas, 1931 (now 79)
Leona Johnson Atkins born in Jackson Township, Ohio, 1924 (died 2009). One of WLW's "Johnson Twins," she married Chet Atkins in 1946.
Lois Johnson Burns born in Jackson Township, Ohio, 1924 (died 1989). One of WLW's "Johnson Twins," she married Jethro Burns of Homer & Jethro in 1946.
Helen Carter born in Maces Springs, Virginia, 1927 (died 1998)
Rod Brasfield died (heart failure), 1958 (was 48)
Johnny Cash died (Shy-Drager syndrome complications, diabetes, lung disease), 2003 (was 71)
John Ritter died (heart ailment), 2003 (was 54). The actor was the son of Western legend Tex Ritter.
Charlie Walker died (colon cancer), 2008 (was 81)
September 13
Bobbie Cryner born in Woodland, California, 1961 (now 49)
Bill Monroe born in Rosine, Kentucky, 1911 (died 1996)
U.S. Postal Service issues a Roy Acuff postage stamp, 2003
September 14
John Berry born in Aiken, South Carolina, 1959 (now 51)
Mae Boren Axton born in Bardwell, Texas, 1914 (died 1997)
Don Walser born in Brownfield, Texas, 1934 (died 2006)
Vernon Dalhart died (heart attack), 1948 (was 65)
September 15
Roy Acuff born in Maynardsville, Tennesssee, 1903 (died 1992)
Patsy Cline married Charlie Dick, 1957
(Country Music Hall of Famers in bold)
September 1
Steve Goetzman of Exile born in Louisville, Kentucky, 1950 (now 60)
Boxcar Willie (ne Lecil Travis Martin) born in Sterratt, Texas, 1931 (died 1999)
Johnny Mack Brown born in Dothan, Alabama, 1904 (died 1974). The western actor was the namesake of Lester "Roadhog" Moran and the Cadillac Cowboy's Live at the Johnny Mack Brown High School album.
Conway Twitty born in Friars Point, Mississippi, 1933 (died 1993)
Jerry Reed died (emphysema), 2008 (was 71)
September 2
Paul Wylie Deakin of the Mavericks born in Miami, Florida, 1959 (now 51)
Johnny Lee Wills born in Jewell, Texas, 1912 (died 1984)
Charline Authur born in Henrietta, Texas, 1929 (died 1987)
Grady Nutt born in Amarillo, Texas, 1934 (died 1982)
Fabor Robinson, founder of Fabor Records, died (unknown cause), 1986 (was 74)
September 3
Tompall Glaser born in Spalding, Nebraska, 1933 (now 77)
Jimmy Riddle born in Dyersburg, Tennessee, 1918 (died 1981)
Hank Thompson born in Waco, Texas, 1925 (died 2007)
September 4
Shot Jackson born in Wilmington, North Carolina, 1920 (died 1991)
Dottie West died (injuries from a car wreck), 1991 (was 58)
Carl Butler died (heart attack), 1992 (was 65)
September 5
Curley Williams died (unknown cause), 1970 (was 66)
The Country Music Association was founded, 1958
The Lewis Family's final concert, 2009. The bluegrass and gospel band began performing in 1951.
September 6
Mark Chesnutt born in Beaumont, Texas, 1963 (now 47)
David Allan Coe born in Akron, Ohio, 1939 (now 71)
Jeff Foxworthy born in Atlanta, Georgia, 1958 (now 52)
Mel McDaniel born in Checotah, Oklahoma, 1942 (now 68)
Zeke Clements born in Warrior, Alabama, 1911 (died 1994)
Ernest Tubb died (complications from emphysema), 1984 (was 70)
Autry Inman died (unknown cause), 1988 (was 59)
Roy Huskey Jr. died (cancer), 1997 (was 41)
September 7
Ronnie Dove born in Herndon, Virginia, 1940 (now 70)
Buddy Holly born in Lubbock, Texas, 1936 (died 1959). The rock and roll pioneer began in country music, and among his band members was Waylon Jennings.
Hubert Long died (brain tumor), 1972 (was 48)
Warren Zevon died (mesothelioma), 2003 (was 56). The folk-rock singer wrote "Poor Poor Pitiful Me," which made the country charts by both Linda Ronstadt and Terri Clark, and Dwight Yoakam recorded Zevon's "Carmelita" and sang on two of Zevon's albums. Zevon also appeared in the movie South of Heaven, West of Hell with Yoakam.
September 8
Jimmie Rodgers born in Meridian, Mississippi, 1897 (died 1933)
Milton Brown born in Stephenville, Texas, 1903 (died 1936)
Patsy Cline born in Winchester, Virginia, 1932 (died 1963)
Harlan Howard born in Detroit, Michigan, 1929 (died 2002)
September 9
Freddy Weller born in Atlanta, Georgia, 1947 (now 63)
Charline Arthur born in Henrietta, Texas, 1929 (died 1987)
Rodger Dale Tubb died (car wreck), 1938 (was 7 weeks old)
Tex Owens died (unknown cause), 1962 (was 70)
Bill Monroe died (stroke), 1996 (was 84)
September 10
Tommy Overstreet born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 1937 (now 73)
Rosie Flores born in San Antonio, Texas, 1956 (now 54)
Luke Wills born in Memphis, Texas, 1920 (died 2000)
Joe (ne Walter) Callahan of the Callahan Brothers died (cancer), 1971 (was 61)
September 11
Jimmie Davis born in Beech Springs, Louisiana, 1899 (died 2000)
Randy Hughes born in Gum, Tennessee, 1928 (died 1963)
Lorne Greene died (pneumonia), 1987 (was 72). The actor's recitation "Ringo" was a top 25 country hit in 1964.
Leon Payne died (heart attack), 1969 (was 52)
Bill (ne Homer) Callahan of the Callahan Brothers died (congestive heart failure), 2002 (was 90)
September 12
George Jones born in Saratoga, Texas, 1931 (now 79)
Leona Johnson Atkins born in Jackson Township, Ohio, 1924 (died 2009). One of WLW's "Johnson Twins," she married Chet Atkins in 1946.
Lois Johnson Burns born in Jackson Township, Ohio, 1924 (died 1989). One of WLW's "Johnson Twins," she married Jethro Burns of Homer & Jethro in 1946.
Helen Carter born in Maces Springs, Virginia, 1927 (died 1998)
Rod Brasfield died (heart failure), 1958 (was 48)
Johnny Cash died (Shy-Drager syndrome complications, diabetes, lung disease), 2003 (was 71)
John Ritter died (heart ailment), 2003 (was 54). The actor was the son of Western legend Tex Ritter.
Charlie Walker died (colon cancer), 2008 (was 81)
September 13
Bobbie Cryner born in Woodland, California, 1961 (now 49)
Bill Monroe born in Rosine, Kentucky, 1911 (died 1996)
U.S. Postal Service issues a Roy Acuff postage stamp, 2003
September 14
John Berry born in Aiken, South Carolina, 1959 (now 51)
Mae Boren Axton born in Bardwell, Texas, 1914 (died 1997)
Don Walser born in Brownfield, Texas, 1934 (died 2006)
Vernon Dalhart died (heart attack), 1948 (was 65)
September 15
Roy Acuff born in Maynardsville, Tennesssee, 1903 (died 1992)
Patsy Cline married Charlie Dick, 1957
Monday, August 16, 2010
Dates of Note in Country Music, August 16-31
Category: News
Country Music Hall of Famers in bold
August 16:
Kathie Lee Gifford born in Paris, France, 1953 (now 57). Gifford began her career as one of the "Hee Haw honeys."
Billy Joe Shaver born in Corsica, Texas, 1939 (now 71)
Emory Martin born in Hickman County, Tennessee, 1889 (died 2006). Martin was the one-armed banjo player at the Renfro Valley Barn Dance.
Elvis Presley died (heart failure), 1977 (was 42)
Vassar Clements died (lung cancer), 2005 (was 77)
Patsy Montana recorded "I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart," 1935. The song would become country music's first million-seller by a female.
August 17:
E.W. "Bud" Wendell born in Akron, Ohio, 1927 (now 83)
Wayne Raney born in Wolf Bayou, Arkansas, 1920 (died 1993)
August 18:
Johnny Preston born in Port Arthur, Texas, 1939 (now 71). Preston is best known for "Running Bear," the 1959 hit which featured guitar work and backing vocals by George Jones.
Hank Penny born in Birmingham, Alabama, 1918 (died 1992)
Molly Bee born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 1939 (died 2009)The Louvin Brothers play their last official show as a duo (opening for Ray Price) in Watseka, Illinois, 1963. According to Charles Wolfe's biography, the duo that once commanded over $1,100 per show as headliners received $250 for the performance.
August 19:
Eddy Raven born in Lafayette, Louisiana, 1944 (now 66)
Lee Ann Womack born in Jacksonville, Texas, 1966 (now 44)
Clay Walker born in Beaumont, Texas, 1969 (now 41)
Curly Ray Cline died (illness), 1997 (was 74)
August 20:
Rudy Gatlin born in Olney, Texas, 1952 (now 58)
Ralph Stanley II born in Coeburn, Virginia, 1958 (now 52)
Jim Reeves born in Galloway, Texas, 1923 (died 1964)
Justin Tubb born in San Antonio, Texas, 1935 (died 1998)
Louis Innis died (heart attack), 1982 (was 63)
Leon McAuliffe died (illness), 1988 (was 71)
August 21:
Harold Reid born in Staunton, Virginia, 1939 (now 71)
Nick Kane of the Mavericks born in Jerusalem, Georgia, 1954 (now 56)
Teea Goans born in Lowry City, Missouri, year unknown
Sam McGee died (tractor accident on his farm), 1975 (was 81)
Murray "Buddy" Harman died (congestive heart failure), 2008 (was 79)
August 22:
Rounder Records co-owner Marian Leighton-Levy born in Harrington, Maine, 1948 (now 62)
Holly Dunn born in San Antonio, Texas, 1957 (now 53)
Collin Raye born in DeQueen, Arkansas, 1959 (now 51)
Rod Brasfield born in Smithville, Arkansas, 1910 (died 1958)
Connie B. Gay born in Lizard Lick, North Carolina, 1914 (died 1989)
Horace "Aytchie" Burns died (heart attack), 1974 (was 56). Aytchie was a bass player at Knoxville's WNOX and on the Renfro Valley Barn Dance. He was also the older brother of Jethro Burns.
Elizabeth Haynes born in Greenville, Kentucky, 1920 (died 1976)
Elizabeth Haynes died (kidney disease), 1976 (56th birthday). The one-time bass player and "red-headed yodeling gal" on the Renfro Valley Barn Dance was the wife of Homer Haynes.
Leon Chappelear died (suicide [gunshot]), 1962 (was 53)
Mooney Lynn, the husband of Loretta Lynn, died (heart failure/diabetes), 1996 (was 69)
Floyd Tillman died (leukemia), 2003 (was 88)
August 23:
Rex Allen, Jr. born in Chicago, Illinois, 1947 (now 63)
Woody Paul of Riders in the Sky born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1949 (now 61)
Tex Williams born in Anvil, Illinois, 1917 (died 1985)
Leslie York of the York Brothers born in Louisa, Kentucky, 1917 (died 1984)
"It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" hit #1 on the Billboard charts, 1952. The song, the first #1 hit for a female singer, was very controversial in its day, with many country stations refusing to play the song and the Grand Ole Opry management prohibiting Kitty Wells from performing the tune on the Opry.
August 24:
Fred Rose born in Evansville, Indiana, 1897 (died 1954)
Jerry Clower died (complications from heart surgery), 1998 (was 71)
Nat Stuckey died (lung cancer), 1988 (was 54)
August 25:
Elvis Costello born in London, England, 1954 (now 56). The punk pioneer and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member is a die-hard country music fan who recorded an album of old country songs, Almost Blue, and has performed with numerous country legends including George Jones, Ricky Skaggs, Emmylou Harris, and Charlie Louvin. Johnny Cash recorded Costello's song "The Big Light" on Johnny Cash is Coming to Town.
Billy Ray Cyrus born in Flatwoods, Kentucky, 1961 (now 49)
Jo Dee Messina born in Holliston, Massachusetts, 1970 (now 40)
Jerry Rivers born in Miami, Florida, 1928 (died 1996)
Cliff Bruner died (cancer), 2000 (was 85)
August 26:
Don Bowman born in Lubbock, Texas, 1937 (now 73)
Jimmy Olander of Diamond Rio born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1961 (now 49)
Wilma Burgess died (heart attack), 2003 (was 64)
August 27:
Jimmy C. Newman born in Big Mamou, Louisiana, 1927 (now 83)
J.D. Crowe born in Lexington, Kentucky, 1937 (now 73)
Frances Preston born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1934 (now 76)
Jeff Cook of Alabama born in Fort Payne, Alabama, 1949 (now 61)
Carter Stanley born in Dickenson County, Virginia, 1925 (died 1966)
Oliver "Mooney" Lynn, husband of Loretta Lynn, born in Butcher Holler, Kentucky, 1926 (died 1996)
David "Bunny" Biggs of Jamup & Honey died in Nashville, Tennessee (unknown causes), 1948 (was 52)
Jim Denny died (cancer), 1963 (was 52). For his Hall of Fame career, Denny may be most infamous for telling a guest artist after an appearance on the Grand Ole Opry, "You ain't goin' nowhere, son. You ought to go back to driving a truck." The person on the receiving end of Denny's criticism was Elvis Presley.
August 28:
Billy Grammer born in Benton, Illinois, 1925 (now 85)
LeAnn Rimes born in Jackson, Mississippi, 1982 (now 28)
August 29:
Shawn Camp born in Perryville, Arkansas, 1966 (now 43)
Dan Truman of Diamond Rio born in St. George, Utah, 1956 (now 54)
Grady Cole born in Lafayette, Georgia, 1909 (died 1981). He and wife Hazel wrote the country gospel classic "Tramp on the Street."
Archie Campbell died (heart attack), 1987 (was 67)
August 30:
Kitty Wells born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1919 (now 91)
Jon Hagar born in Chicago, Illinois, 1946 (died 2009)
Jim Hagar born in Chicago, Illinois, 1946 (died 2008)
Country Music Hall of Famers in bold
August 16:
Kathie Lee Gifford born in Paris, France, 1953 (now 57). Gifford began her career as one of the "Hee Haw honeys."
Billy Joe Shaver born in Corsica, Texas, 1939 (now 71)
Emory Martin born in Hickman County, Tennessee, 1889 (died 2006). Martin was the one-armed banjo player at the Renfro Valley Barn Dance.
Elvis Presley died (heart failure), 1977 (was 42)
Vassar Clements died (lung cancer), 2005 (was 77)
Patsy Montana recorded "I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart," 1935. The song would become country music's first million-seller by a female.
August 17:
E.W. "Bud" Wendell born in Akron, Ohio, 1927 (now 83)
Wayne Raney born in Wolf Bayou, Arkansas, 1920 (died 1993)
August 18:
Johnny Preston born in Port Arthur, Texas, 1939 (now 71). Preston is best known for "Running Bear," the 1959 hit which featured guitar work and backing vocals by George Jones.
Hank Penny born in Birmingham, Alabama, 1918 (died 1992)
Molly Bee born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 1939 (died 2009)The Louvin Brothers play their last official show as a duo (opening for Ray Price) in Watseka, Illinois, 1963. According to Charles Wolfe's biography, the duo that once commanded over $1,100 per show as headliners received $250 for the performance.
August 19:
Eddy Raven born in Lafayette, Louisiana, 1944 (now 66)
Lee Ann Womack born in Jacksonville, Texas, 1966 (now 44)
Clay Walker born in Beaumont, Texas, 1969 (now 41)
Curly Ray Cline died (illness), 1997 (was 74)
August 20:
Rudy Gatlin born in Olney, Texas, 1952 (now 58)
Ralph Stanley II born in Coeburn, Virginia, 1958 (now 52)
Jim Reeves born in Galloway, Texas, 1923 (died 1964)
Justin Tubb born in San Antonio, Texas, 1935 (died 1998)
Louis Innis died (heart attack), 1982 (was 63)
Leon McAuliffe died (illness), 1988 (was 71)
August 21:
Harold Reid born in Staunton, Virginia, 1939 (now 71)
Nick Kane of the Mavericks born in Jerusalem, Georgia, 1954 (now 56)
Teea Goans born in Lowry City, Missouri, year unknown
Sam McGee died (tractor accident on his farm), 1975 (was 81)
Murray "Buddy" Harman died (congestive heart failure), 2008 (was 79)
August 22:
Rounder Records co-owner Marian Leighton-Levy born in Harrington, Maine, 1948 (now 62)
Holly Dunn born in San Antonio, Texas, 1957 (now 53)
Collin Raye born in DeQueen, Arkansas, 1959 (now 51)
Rod Brasfield born in Smithville, Arkansas, 1910 (died 1958)
Connie B. Gay born in Lizard Lick, North Carolina, 1914 (died 1989)
Horace "Aytchie" Burns died (heart attack), 1974 (was 56). Aytchie was a bass player at Knoxville's WNOX and on the Renfro Valley Barn Dance. He was also the older brother of Jethro Burns.
Elizabeth Haynes born in Greenville, Kentucky, 1920 (died 1976)
Elizabeth Haynes died (kidney disease), 1976 (56th birthday). The one-time bass player and "red-headed yodeling gal" on the Renfro Valley Barn Dance was the wife of Homer Haynes.
Leon Chappelear died (suicide [gunshot]), 1962 (was 53)
Mooney Lynn, the husband of Loretta Lynn, died (heart failure/diabetes), 1996 (was 69)
Floyd Tillman died (leukemia), 2003 (was 88)
August 23:
Rex Allen, Jr. born in Chicago, Illinois, 1947 (now 63)
Woody Paul of Riders in the Sky born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1949 (now 61)
Tex Williams born in Anvil, Illinois, 1917 (died 1985)
Leslie York of the York Brothers born in Louisa, Kentucky, 1917 (died 1984)
"It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" hit #1 on the Billboard charts, 1952. The song, the first #1 hit for a female singer, was very controversial in its day, with many country stations refusing to play the song and the Grand Ole Opry management prohibiting Kitty Wells from performing the tune on the Opry.
August 24:
Fred Rose born in Evansville, Indiana, 1897 (died 1954)
Jerry Clower died (complications from heart surgery), 1998 (was 71)
Nat Stuckey died (lung cancer), 1988 (was 54)
August 25:
Elvis Costello born in London, England, 1954 (now 56). The punk pioneer and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member is a die-hard country music fan who recorded an album of old country songs, Almost Blue, and has performed with numerous country legends including George Jones, Ricky Skaggs, Emmylou Harris, and Charlie Louvin. Johnny Cash recorded Costello's song "The Big Light" on Johnny Cash is Coming to Town.
Billy Ray Cyrus born in Flatwoods, Kentucky, 1961 (now 49)
Jo Dee Messina born in Holliston, Massachusetts, 1970 (now 40)
Jerry Rivers born in Miami, Florida, 1928 (died 1996)
Cliff Bruner died (cancer), 2000 (was 85)
August 26:
Don Bowman born in Lubbock, Texas, 1937 (now 73)
Jimmy Olander of Diamond Rio born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1961 (now 49)
Wilma Burgess died (heart attack), 2003 (was 64)
August 27:
Jimmy C. Newman born in Big Mamou, Louisiana, 1927 (now 83)
J.D. Crowe born in Lexington, Kentucky, 1937 (now 73)
Frances Preston born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1934 (now 76)
Jeff Cook of Alabama born in Fort Payne, Alabama, 1949 (now 61)
Carter Stanley born in Dickenson County, Virginia, 1925 (died 1966)
Oliver "Mooney" Lynn, husband of Loretta Lynn, born in Butcher Holler, Kentucky, 1926 (died 1996)
David "Bunny" Biggs of Jamup & Honey died in Nashville, Tennessee (unknown causes), 1948 (was 52)
Jim Denny died (cancer), 1963 (was 52). For his Hall of Fame career, Denny may be most infamous for telling a guest artist after an appearance on the Grand Ole Opry, "You ain't goin' nowhere, son. You ought to go back to driving a truck." The person on the receiving end of Denny's criticism was Elvis Presley.
August 28:
Billy Grammer born in Benton, Illinois, 1925 (now 85)
LeAnn Rimes born in Jackson, Mississippi, 1982 (now 28)
August 29:
Shawn Camp born in Perryville, Arkansas, 1966 (now 43)
Dan Truman of Diamond Rio born in St. George, Utah, 1956 (now 54)
Grady Cole born in Lafayette, Georgia, 1909 (died 1981). He and wife Hazel wrote the country gospel classic "Tramp on the Street."
Archie Campbell died (heart attack), 1987 (was 67)
August 30:
Kitty Wells born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1919 (now 91)
Jon Hagar born in Chicago, Illinois, 1946 (died 2009)
Jim Hagar born in Chicago, Illinois, 1946 (died 2008)
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