Dates of Note in Country Music, May 1-15

Category: News

Country Music Hall of Famers in bold

May 1:

Sonny James (ne James Loden) born in Hackleburg, Alabama, 1929 (now 82)
Rita Coolidge born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1944 (now 67). Although primarily a pop singer, Coolidge had a dozen songs chart in country. She is also the former wife of Kris Kristofferson.
Wayne Hancock born in Dallas, Texas, 1965 (now 46)
Sam McGee born in Williamson County, Tennessee, 1894 (died 1975)
Jimmy Gately born in Springfield, Missouri, 1931 (died 1985)
Ott Devine born in Gadsen, Alabama, 1910 (died 1994)
Spike Jones died in Bel Air, California (emphysema), 1965 (was 53). The novelty band leader recorded "Pal-Yat-Chee" with Homer and Jethro, and Red Ingle (of Red Ingle & Natural Seven, of "Temp-Tay-Shun" fame) was once a member of Jones' City Slickers.
Jim Hager of the Hager Twins died in Nashville, Tennessee (heart attack), 2008 (was 66)
Elvis Presley married Priscilla Beaulieu in Las Vegas, Nevada, 1967
A six-inch rainstorm hit Nashville, flooding the Grand Ole Opry House, the Opryland Hotel, the WSM-AM studios, the basement of the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Wildhorse Saloon, the instrument storage business Soundcheck, and a number of country singers' homes, 2010. The two-day total rainfall would surpass 13 inches and kill nearly two dozen.

May 2:

R.C. Bannon born in Dallas, Texas, 1945 (now 66)
Larry Gatlin born in Seminole, Texas, 1948 (now 63)
Ty Herndon born in Meridian, Mississippi, 1962 (now 49)
Roy Lee Centers of the Clinch Mountain Boys died in Jackson, Kentucky (shot to death -- details disputed between a fight, "road rage" or murder), 1974 (was 29)
"Slowly" by Webb Pierce hits #1 on the Billboard charts, 1954. It becomes the first #1 song to feature the pedal steel guitar.

May 3:

Jerry Chestnut born in Harlan County, Kentucky, 1931 (now 80)
Cactus Moser of Highway 101 born in Montrose, Colorado, 1957 (now 54)
Bing Crosby born in Tacoma, Washington, 1903 (died 1977). The pop crooner has the distinction of being the performer of the first #1 single in Billboard magazine's "Hillbilly and Western Singles" history with his rendition of Al Dexter's "Pistol Packin' Mama." Dexter's own recording was the second #1 song.
Dave Dudley born in Spencer, Wisconsin, 1928 (died 2003)
Patsy Montana died in San Jancinto, California (unknown cause), 1996 (was 83)
Dollywood theme park opened in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, 1986

May 4:

Stella Parton born in Sevierville, Tennessee, 1949 (now 62)
Robert Ellis Orrall born in Winthrop, Massachusetts, 1955 (now 56)
Randy Travis born in Marshville, North Carolina, 1959 (now 52)
Al Dexter (ne Clarence Albert Poindexter) born in Jacksonville, Texas, 1902 (died 1984)
Bobby Austin born in Wenatchee, Washington, 1933 (died 2002)
Joe L. Frank died in Chicago, Illinois (illness), 1952 (was 52)
Leo Jackson died in Nashville, Tennessee (suicide [gunshot]), 2008 (was 73)

May 5:

Ace Cannon born in Grenada, Mississippi, 1934 (now 77)
Roni Stoneman born in Washington, DC, 1938 (now 73)
Glen Duncan of Lonesome Standard Time born in Columbus, Indiana, 1955 (now 56)
Tammy Wynette born in Itawamba County, Mississippi, 1942 (died 1998)
J.D. Miller born in Iota, Louisiana, 1922 (died 1996)
Jerry Wallace died in Corona, California (congestive heart failure), 2008 (was 79)

May 6:

Jimmie Dale Gilmore born in Austin, Texas, 1945 (now 66)
Cliff Carlisle born in Taylorsville, Kentucky, 1904 (died 1983)

May 7:

Lorie Collins of the Collins Kids born in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, 1942 (now 69)
Riley Puckett born in Alpharetta, Georgia, 1894 (died 1946)
Horace "Aytchie" Burns born in Cisco, Georgia, 1918 (died 1974). Aytchie, the older brother of Jethro Burns, was a bass player at WNOX, in the Stringdusters with his brother and Homer Haynes, and at the Renfro Valley Barn Dance. While in the Army he was also the platoon sergeant of Roger Miller.
Eddie Rabbitt died in Nashville, Tennessee (lung cancer), 1998 (was 56)

May 8:

Homer Bailes of the Bailes Brothers born in Kanawha County, West Virginia, 1922 (now 89)
Jack Blanchard born in Buffalo, New York, 1942 (now 69)
Del Anthony Gray of Little Texas born in Hamilton, Ohio, 1968 (now 43)
Jimmie Tarlton of Darby & Tarlton born in Cheraw, South Carolina, 1892 (died 1979)
Benny Martin born in Sparta, Tennessee, 1928 (died 2001)
Rick Nelson born in Teaneck, New Jersey, 1940 (died 1985)
Leon Huff of the Light Crust Doughboys died (unknown cause), 1952 (was 39)
George D. Hay died in Virginia Beach, Virginia (unknown cause), 1968 (was 72)
Eddy Arnold died in Brentwood, Tennessee (complications from a fall), 2008 (was 89)

May 9:

Richie Furay of Poco born in Yellow Springs, Ohio, 1944 (now 67)
Bobby Lewis born in Hodgenville, Kentucky, 1946 (now 65)
Fuzzy Knight born in Fairmont, West Virginia, 1901 (died 1976). The actor appeared in several films as Tex Ritter's sidekick.
Hank Snow born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, 1914 (died 1999)
Nudie Cohn died in Hollywood, California (unknown cause), 1984 (was 81)
Keith Whitley died in Nashville, Tennessee (alcohol poisoning), 1989 (was 33)
Jimmie Davis elected governor of Louisiana, 1944

May 10:

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

May 11:

Mark Herndon of Alabama born in Springfield, Massachusetts, 1955 (now 56)
Bob Atcher born in West Point, Kentucky, 1914 (died 1993)
Lester Flatt died in Nashville, Tennessee (heart failure), 1979 (was 64)

May 12:

Kix Brooks born in Shreveport, Louisiana, 1955 (now 56)
The Duke of Paducah, Benjamin "Whitey" Ford, born in DeSoto, Missouri, 1901 (died 1986)
Joe Maphis born in Suffolk, Virginia, 1921 (died 1986)
Leroy Pullins born in Berea, Kentucky, 1940 (died 1984)
W. Lee "Pappy" O'Daniel died in Dallas, Texas (unknown cause), 1969 (was 79)

May 13:

Johnnie Wright born in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, 1914 (now 97)
Ray Kennedy born in Buffalo, New York, 1954 (now 57)
Lari White born in Dunedin, Florida, 1965 (now 46)
Jack Anglin born in Columbia, Tennesee, 1916 (died 1963)
Gid Tanner died in Dacula, Georgia (unknown cause), 1960 (was 74)
Bob Wills died Fort Worth, Texas (pneumonia/complications of 1973 stroke), 1975 (was 70)

May 15:
K.T. Oslin born in Crossett, Arkansas, 1941 (now 70)

Eddy Arnold born in Henderson, Tennessee, 1918 (died 2008)
June Carter Cash died in Nashville, Tennessee (complications from open heart surgery), 2003 (was 73)

The Sad End of the Reign of Bluegrass Music's Queen

Category:  News/Obituary


It is with tremendous sadness that I report the passing of bluegrass music's Queen Mother, the gifted singer/songwriter Hazel Dickens.  Dickens died in her sleep today (April 22).


Hazel Dickens was the poster child for what music should be:  unpolished, uncompromising, and from the heart.  Dickens wrote and sang of the hard times in West Virginia, and she knew exactly of what she sang.  She blended the folk songwriting traditions of Woody Guthrie and the early country sounds of the Carter Family into a precious sound.  It wasn't pretty, but those songs reminded everyone that life isn't pretty.


Her influence was everywhere.  Acts lined up to record her songs.  Lynn Morris's rendition of "Mama's Hands" was the 1996 IBMA "song of the year."  The final Johnson Mountain Boys album included their rendition of Dickens' "My Better Years."  Even the Judds, the bastion of 1980s commercial country, proclaimed their main influence was Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard.  In 1993 she was given IBMA's "Distinguished Achievement Award."  


One of my most treasured memories of Hazel was at IBMA.  A late-night, post-showcase performance highlighted the female performers on Rounder Records (excepting Alison Krauss). Near the end of the show Hazel was invited onstage.  Before she sang she commented, "It's great to be up here with my children."  That was, and is, the truth.  Bluegrass music is far richer because Hazel graced the genre with her presence.


Hazel Dickens was 75.

Midnite Jamboree Back to Normal

Category:  News


After an interesting winter that saw 10 p.m. tapings, tape delayed broadcasts and no live shows at all for several weeks, the Midnite Jamboree is back to normal.  The show is once again airing live at midnight from the Texas Troubadour Theater next to the Ernest Tubb Record Shop on Music Valley Drive in Nashville.


Last fall the show began an unprecedented switch from its format that had held since its debut in 1947.  Instead of airing live at midnight the show began taping programs.  The taped shows were held at 10 p.m. then broadcast a week later (instead of the same night).  From Christmas until the first part of March the show was completely silent for the first time ever, allowing WSM to air rebroadcasts of "classic shows."


Barbara Fairchild welcomed the show back to live status in March.  It currently runs with its longstanding format.

Dates of Note in Country Music, April 15-30

Category: News

Country Music Hall of Famers in bold

April 16:

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

April 17:

Craig Anderson of Heartland born in Huntsville, Alabama, 1973 (now 38)

Eddie Cochran died in Bath, England (injuries from an April 16 car wreck), 1960 (was 21). The rockabilly pioneer co-wrote "Summertime Blues," which Alan Jackson covered in country.

Dorsey Dixon died in Plant City, Florida (heart attack), 1968 (was 70)

Hank Penny died in Camarillo, California (heart failure), 1992 (was 73)

Linda McCartney died in Tuscon, Arizona (breast cancer), 1998 (was 56). Linda and husband Sir Paul McCartney's band, Wings, hit the country charts in 1974 with "Sally G."

Glenn Sutton died in Nashville, Tennessee (heart attack), 2007 (was 69)

April 18:

Walt Richmond of the Tractors born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1947 (now 64)

Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown born in Vinton, Louisiana, 1924 (died 2005)

Your blogger born in Louisville, Kentucky, 19(??) (now taking Hadacol 'cause I'm not so young after all)

Milton Brown died in Fort Worth, Texas (pneumonia resulting from injuries in an April 13 car wreck), 1936 (was 32)

April 19:

Bill Rice born in Datto, Arkansas, 1939 (now 72)

Gary Brewer born in Louisville, Kentucky, 1965 (now 46)

Bobby Russell born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1941 (died 1992)

Earl Bolick of the Blue Sky Boys died in Tucker, Georgia (unknown cause), 1998 (was 78)

The "National Barn Dance" debuted on WLS, Chicago, 1924

April 20:

Johnny Tillotson born in Jacksonville, Florida, 1939 (now 72)

Doyle Lawson of the Country Gentlemen and Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver born in Ford Town, Tennessee, 1944 (now 67)

Wade Hayes born in Bethel Acres, Oklahoma, 1969 (now 42)

Frank "Hylo" Brown born in River, Kentucky, 1922 (died 2003)

Benny Hill found dead in his London flat (coronary thrombosis), 1992 (was 68). The British comedian's Benny Hill Show featured Boots Randolph's "Yakety Sax" as its theme song.

April 21:

Wade Mainer born in Buncombe, North Carolina, 1907 (now 104!)

Paul Davis born in Meridian, Mississippi, 1948 (died 2008)

Ira Louvin born in Section, Alabama, 1924 (died 1965)

Carl Belew born in Salina, Oklahoma, 1931 (died 1990)

April 22:

Glen Campbell born in Delight, Arkansas, 1936 (now 75)

Ray Griff born in Vancouver, British Columbia, 1940 (now 71)

Pat Enright of the Nashville Bluegrass Band born in Huntington, Indiana, 1945 (now 66)

Cleve Francis born in Jennings, Louisiana, 1945 (now 66)

Larry Groce born in Dallas, Texas, 1948 (now 63). The Mountain Stage host had one charted record, 1977's "Junk Food Junkie," which was a minor country hit.

Reuben Gosfield of Asleep at the Wheel born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1951 (now 60)

Heath Wright of Ricochet born in Vian, Oklahoma, 1967 (now 44)

Steve Sholes died in Nashville, Tennessee (heart attack), 1968 (was 57)

Felice Bryant died in Nashville, Tennessee (cancer), 2003 (was 77)

Paul Davis died in Meridian, Mississippi (heart attack), 2008 (was 60)

Richard Nixon died in New York, New York (stroke), 1994 (was 81). The former president's political troubles were chronicled in Tom T. Hall's song "Watergate Blues." Nixon also appeared on the Grand Ole Opry during its first night at the Opry House in 1974.

April 23:

Roland White of the Nashville Bluegrass Band born in Madawaska, Maine, 1938 (now 73)

Roy Orbison born in Vernon, Texas, 1936 (died 1988)

April 24:

Shirley Boone born in Chicago, Illinois, 1934 (now 77). Pat Boone's wife is also the daughter of Red Foley.

Rebecca Lynn Howard born in Salyersville, Kentucky, 1979 (now 32)

Harry McClintock died in San Francisco, California (unknown cause), 1957 (was 74). His greatest success would come decades after his death when his recording of "Big Rock Candy Mountain" began the film O Brother, Where Art Thou.

Bonnie Owens died in Bakersfield, California (Alzheimer's disease), 2006 (was 73)

April 25:

Larry Robbins of the Johnson Mountain Boys born in Dickerson, Maryland, 1945 (now 66)

Karl Farr of the Sons of the Pioneers born in Rochelle, Texas, 1909 (died 1961)

Cliff Bruner born in Texas City, Texas, 1915 (died 2000)

Vassar Clements born in Kinard, South Carolina, 1928 (died 2005)

O.B. McClinton born in Senatobia, Mississippi, 1940 (died 1987)

The musical Big River opened on Broadway, 1985. It won a "Best Musical" Tony for songwriter Roger Miller, making him, to date, the only country performer to ever win a Tony Award.

April 26:

Johnny Mosby born in Fort Smith, Arkansas, 1933 (now 78)

Duane Eddy born in Corning, New York, 1938 (now 73)

Fiddlin' Doc Roberts born in Richmond, Kentucky, 1897 (died 1978)

Cecil Null born in East War, West Virginia, 1927 (died 2001)

Tim Spencer of the Sons of the Pioneers died in Apple Valley, California (long illness), 1974 (was 65)

Wesley Rose died in Nashville, Tennessee (unknown cause), 1990 (was 72)

April 27:

Maxine Brown of the Browns born in Campti, Louisiana, 1931 (now 80)

Herb Pedersen of the Dillards and Desert Rose Band born in Berkley, California, 1944 (now 66)

Sydney Nathan, founder of King Records, born in Cincinnati, Ohio, 1904 (died 1968)

Jimmie Skinner born in Blue Lick, Kentucky, 1909 (died 1979)

April 28:

Dale Potter born in Puxico, Missouri, 1929 (died 1996)

Tommy Caldwell of the Marshall Tucker Band died in Spartanburg, South Carolina (injuries from an April 21 car wreck), 1980 (was 30)

Ken Curtis died in Clovis, California (heart attack), 1991 (was 74). The Gunsmoke star was also a one-time member of the Sons of the Pioneers.

April 29:

Billy Mize born in Arkansas City, Kansas, 1929 (now 82)

Duane Allen of the Oak Ridge Boys born in Taylortown, Texas, 1943 (now 68)

Wayne Secrest of Confederate Railroad born in Alton, Illinois, 1950 (now 61)

Karen Brooks born in Dallas, Texas, 1954 (now 57)

Danny Davis (ne George Joseph Nowlan) of the Nashville Brass born in Dorchester, Massachusetts, 1925 (died 2008)

Eddie Noack born in Houston, Texas, 1930 (died 1978)
Vern Gosdin died in Nashville, Tennessee (stroke), 2009 (was 74)

April 30:

Fuzzy Owen born in Conway, Arkansas, 1929 (now 82)

Willie Nelson born in Abbott, Texas, 1933 (now 78)

Darrell McCall born in New Jasper, Ohio, 1940 (now 71)

Robert Earl Reynolds of the Mavericks born in Kansas City, Missouri, 1962 (now 49)

Johnny Horton born in Los Angeles, California, 1930 (died 1960)

Curly Chalker died in Hendersonville, Tennessee (brain cancer), 1998 (was 66)

WLS airs the final broadcast of the National Barn Dance, 1960, after 36 years on the air.