Country Music Hall of Fame 2014 Inductees Announced

Category:  News

The 2014 Country Music Hall of Fame inductees were announced this morning (4/22) in ceremonies held in the rotunda at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville.

As I predicted, the late Hank Cochran was enshrined in the Songwriter category in his first year of eligibility following his death from pancreatic cancer in 2010.  His widow, Suzi, accepted, saying, "I never dreamt it would be me and not Hank standing here.  I'm so proud of Hank, and so thrilled for our family."

The Modern Era inductee is Ronnie Milsap, one of country's stalwarts of the mid-70's to mid-80's.  He had 35 #1 hits over the course of his career, and his video of "Lost in the 50's Tonight" became the first video by a country artist to be played on the rock video channel MTV.

The biggest surprise of the day came in the Veterans Era induction.  Mac Wiseman, a legend in bluegrass music (and one of the first seven inductees into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame, enshrined in 1993) but with practically no straight country career (he had only nine singles on the country charts), was inducted.  In addition to a long career in music that goes back to a stint in Molly O'Day's Cumberland Mountain Folks, Wiseman was the first secretary of the Country Music Association, the governing body that elects the individuals to the Hall of Fame, as well as an executive for the Dot Records label in the 50's and early 60's.  

2014 inductee Mac Wiseman
performing at MerleFest in 1995.
c.2014 K.F. Raizor

I'm especially thrilled for Wiseman, who will be 89 next month.  He is a true gentleman, an incredible entertainer (all he has to do is sit on a stool and sing and you are in the palm of his hand), and his voice (his nickname is "The Voice With a Heart," and for a reason) is unique, distinct, and warm (you never forget a song once you hear Mac sing it!).  

Congratulations to the new inductees.

Glen Campbell Moved to Treatment Facility

Category:  News

Country Music Hall of Fame member Glen Campbell has been moved to a facility that specializes in treatment of individuals with Alzheimer's disease.

Campbell, who will turn 78 on April 22, made his diagnosis of Alzheimer's public in 2011.  He began a series of farewell concert tours, which unfortunately were cut short approximately one year ago when his condition reached the point that he could no longer continue.  Although details haven't been released, it appears that Campbell's health has deteriorated to the point where we have seen him in public for the final time.

Campbell has always been considered a first-rate guitarist, having performed on Beach Boys tours prior to the beginning of his Grammy-winning career.  His Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour show was a summer replacement for the Smothers Brothers' variety show on CBS in 1968 and became a regular series in 1969.  In addition to the four Grammy awards he received in his career he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Grammy in 2012.

Last year the Alzheimer's Association presented the inaugural "Glen Campbell Courage Award" to Campbell at the 22nd annual "Night At Sardi's" fundraising event.  A film about Campbell's battle with the disease, Glen Campbell...I'll Be Me, will debut on Friday (4/18) at the Nashville Film Festival.

Dates of Note in Country Music, April 16-30

Category: News

(Hall of Fame members in bold on birth/death date, followed by hall[s] of fame in which they are enshrined and the year[s] enshrined.  CM=Country Music; BG=Bluegrass; NS=Nashville Songwriter SG=Southern Gospel)

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 41)

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 (NS 99) died in Nashville, Tennessee (heart attack), 2007 (was 69)

April 18:

Walt Richmond of the Tractors born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1947 (now 67)

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

Your blogger born in Louisville, Kentucky, 19(?!) (now 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:

Jody Carver (Steel Guitar 04) born in Brooklyn, New York, 1929 (now 85)
Bill Rice (NS 94) born in Datto, Arkansas, 1939 (now 75)

Gary Brewer born in Louisville, Kentucky, 1965 (now 49)

Bobby Russell (NS 94) born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1941 (died 1992)

Earl Bolick of the Blue Sky Boys died in Tucker, Georgia (unknown cause), 1998 (was 78)
Levon Helm died in New York, NY (throat cancer), 2012 (was 71)
The "National Barn Dance" debuted on WLS, Chicago, 1924

April 20:

Johnny Tillotson born in Jacksonville, Florida, 1939 (now 75)

Doyle Lawson (BG 12) born in Ford Town, Tennessee, 1944 (now 70)

Wade Hayes born in Bethel Acres, Oklahoma, 1969 (now 45)

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 (died 2011)

Ira Louvin (CM 01, NS 79) born in Section, Alabama, 1924 (died 1965)

Carl Belew born in Salina, Oklahoma, 1931 (died 1990)
Paul Davis (NS 10) born in Meridian, Mississippi, 1948 (died 2008)
Neal Matthews Jr. (CM 01) died in Nashville, Tennessee (heart attack), 2000 (was 70)

April 22:

Glen Campbell (CM 05) born in Delight, Arkansas, 1936 (now 78)

Ray Griff born in Vancouver, British Columbia, 1940 (now 74)

Pat Enright of the Nashville Bluegrass Band born in Huntington, Indiana, 1945 (now 69)

Cleve Francis born in Jennings, Louisiana, 1945 (now 69)

Larry Groce born in Dallas, Texas, 1948 (now 66). 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 63)

Heath Wright of Ricochet born in Vian, Oklahoma, 1967 (now 45)

Steve Sholes (CM 67) died in Nashville, Tennessee (heart attack), 1968 (was 57)

Felice Bryant (CM 91, NS 72) died in Nashville, Tennessee (cancer), 2003 (was 77)

Paul Davis (NS 10) 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.
Hazel Dickens died in Washington, DC (pneumonia), 2011 (was 75)

April 23:

Roland White of the Nashville Bluegrass Band born in Madawaska, Maine, 1938 (now 76)

Roy Orbison (NS 87) born in Vernon, Texas, 1936 (died 1988)
Kent Robbins (NS 98) born in Mayfield, Kentucky, 1947 (died 1997)

April 24:

Shirley Boone born in Chicago, Illinois, 1934 (now 80). Pat Boone's wife is also the daughter of Red Foley.

Rebecca Lynn Howard born in Salyersville, Kentucky, 1979 (now 35)

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.
Bobby Garrett (Steel Guitar 95) died in Tyler, Texas (cancer), 1999 (was 64)

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 69)

Karl Farr (CM 80) 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 81)

Duane Eddy born in Corning, New York, 1938 (now 76)

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

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

Tim Spencer (CM 80) died in Apple Valley, California (long illness), 1974 (was 65)

Wesley Rose (CM 86) died in Nashville, Tennessee (unknown cause), 1990 (was 72)
George Jones (CM 92) died in Nashville, Tennessee (respiratory failure), 2013 (was 81)

April 27:

Maxine Brown of the Browns born in Campti, Louisiana, 1931 (now 83)

Herb Pedersen of the Dillards and Desert Rose Band born in Berkley, California, 1944 (now 69)

Sydney Nathan (BG 06) 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 85)

Duane Allen of the Oak Ridge Boys born in Taylortown, Texas, 1943 (now 71)

Wayne Secrest of Confederate Railroad born in Alton, Illinois, 1950 (now 64)

Karen Brooks born in Dallas, Texas, 1954 (now 60)

Eddie Noack born in Houston, Texas, 1930 (died 1978)

Vern Gosdin died in Nashville, Tennessee (stroke), 2009 (was 74)
Kenny Roberts died in Alton, Massachusetts (natural causes), 2012 (was 85)

April 30:

Fuzzy Owen born in Conway, Arkansas, 1929 (now 85)

Willie Nelson (CM 93, NS 73) born in Abbott, Texas, 1933 (now 81)

Darrell McCall born in New Jasper, Ohio, 1940 (now 74)
Johnny Farina (Steel Guitar 02) born in Brooklyn, New York, 1941 (now 73)

Robert Earl Reynolds of the Mavericks born in Kansas City, Missouri, 1962 (now 52)

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

Curly Chalker (Steel Guitar 85) 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.

Country Obits

Category:  News

It's been a rough week in country music.  We've lost two major players this week, sadly right around their birthdays.

Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith:  There were plenty of "Arthur Smith" artists (notably, Fiddlin' Arthur Smith and Arthur Q. Smith), but only one wrote "Dueling Banjos."  Don't think that and "Guitar Boogie" are the only two things that Arthur Smith gave the world, however:  he wrote the gospel classic "The Fourth Man" (most recently covered by Dailey & Vincent on their Cracker Barrel gospel album) and nearly 500 other songs.  Arthur Smith died of natural causes at his home in Charlotte, North Carolina on April 3, two days after turning 93.

George Shuffler:  Bluegrass music's "style" is known as cross-picking, and George Shuffler is one of the men who brought it into the world.  Shuffler played guitar with the Stanley Brothers, then with Ralph Stanley's Clinch Mountain Boys and recorded with the likes of Don Reno.  Shuffler would have turned 89 on April 11.  He died April 7 after some time in poor health.

A couple of relatives have also passed away recently, and they need to be acknowledged as well:

Stella Fulks:  The grandmother of alt-country great Robbie Fulks died in York, Pennsylvania on March 31.  She was 96 years old.

Parker Rector:  Thelma Ernestine "Parker" Rector, the widow of legendary bluegrass mandolin great Red Rector, died March 12 in Knoxville after a bout with cancer.  She was 86.

Remember these families in your thoughts and prayers.

Dates of Note in Country Music, April 1-15

Category: News


(Hall of Fame members in bold on birth/death date, followed by hall[s] of fame in which they are enshrined and the year[s] enshrined.  CM=Country Music; BG=Bluegrass; NS=Nashville Songwriter SG=Southern Gospel)

April 1:

Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith born in Clinton, South Carolina, 1921 (now 93)

Jim Ed Brown born in Sparkman, Arkansas, 1934 (now 80)

Jules Verne Allen born in Waxahachie, Texas, 1883 (died 1945)

Jimmy Logsdon born in Panther, Kentucky, 1922 (died 2001)

Paul Cohen (CM 76) died in Nashville, Tennessee (cancer), 1970 (was 71)

Rachel Veach joined Roy Acuff's Smoky Mountain Boys, 1939. Her presence gave rise to Pete Kirby's nickname "Bashful Brother Oswald:" a woman traveling with a group of men was scandalous, so Kirby was billed as Veach's "bashful brother" to quell any rumors.

The original Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum opened, 1967

April 2:

Warner Mack born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1938 (now 76)

Sonny Throckmorton (NS 87) born in Carlsbad, New Mexico, 1941 (now 73)

Emmylou Harris (CM 08) born in Birmingham, Alabama, 1947 (now 67)

Dean Townson of Pirates of the Mississippi born in Battle Creek, Michigan, 1959 (now 55)

Billy Dean born in Quincy, Florida, 1962 (now 52)
Mose Rager born in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, 1911 (died 1986). The guitarist was a significant influence on the thumbpicking style of another guitarist from the region, Merle Travis.
Cliff Carlisle died in Lexington, Kentucky (unknown cause), 1983 (was 78)
Former Country Gentleman Doyle Lawson formed Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, 1979

April 3:

Billy Joe Royal born in Valdosta, Georgia, 1942 (now 72)
Richard Thompson born in Notting Hill, London, 1949 (now 65).  The legendary folk-rock singer/songwriter and guitarist wrote and originally recorded "1952 Vincent Black Lightning," later a bluegrass hit for Del McCoury, as well as Jo-El Sonnier's biggest hit, "Tear-Stained Letter" (which was also covered by Faith Hill).

Curtis Stone of Highway 101 (and son of Cliffie Stone) born in North Hollywood, California, 1950 (now 64)

Hank Newman of the Georgia Crackers born in Cochran, Georgia, 1905 (died 1978)

Don Gibson (CM 01, NS 73) born in Shelby, North Carolina, 1928 (died 2003)

Ella Mae Cooley murdered, 1961. Her husband, self-proclaimed "King of Western Swing" Spade Cooley, was convicted of her murder and sentenced to life in prison.
David Keli'i (Steel Guitar 90) died in Honolulu, Hawaii (unknown cause), 1983 (was 68)
Harley "Red" Allen (BG 05) died in Dayton, Ohio (cancer), 1993 (was 63)

Starday Records owner Don Pierce died in Nashville, Tennessee (heart attack), 2005 (was 89)
The Louisiana Hayride debuted on KWKH, Shreveport, Louisiana, 1948. Among the artists who performed on the radio show were Elvis Presley, Hank Williams, Claude King, Johnny Horton, and one-time emcee Jim Reeves.

April 4:

Norro Wilson (NS 96) born in Scottsville, Kentucky, 1938 (now 76)

Steve Gatlin of the Gatlin Brothers born in Olney, Texas, 1951 (now 62)

Troy Gentry of Montgomery Gentry born in Lexington, Kentucky, 1967 (now 47)

Cy Coben (ne Cohen)  born in Jersey City, New Jersey, 1919 (died 2006)

Red Sovine died in Nashville, Tennessee (heart attack while driving), 1980 (was 61)

April 5:

Bill Clifton (BG 08) (ne William August Marburg) born in Riverwood, Maryland, 1931 (now 83). In addition to being a bluegrass performer, Clifton is also credited with starting the bluegrass festival, when he organized a July 4, 1961 show in Luray, Virginia.

June Stearns born in Alpha, Kentucky, 1939 (now 75)

Tommy Cash born in Dyess, Arkansas, 1940 (now 74)

Bob McDill (NS 85) born in Beaumont, Texas, 1944 (now 70)
Pat Green born in San Antonio, Texas, 1972 (now 42)
Lewis Phillips of the Lewis Family (BG 06) born in Washington, GA, 1972 (now 42)
Laura Rogers of the Secret Sisters born in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, 1986 (now 28)
Jack Clement (NS 73, CM 13) born in Whitehaven, Tennessee, 1931 (died 2013)
Charlie Collins of Roy Acuff's Smoky Mountain Boys born in Caryville, Tennessee, 1933 (died 2012)
Frenchy "Stoney" Edwards died in Oklahoma (stomach cancer), 1997 (was 67)

Gene Pitney died in Cardiff, Wales (heart disease), 2006 (was 65). In addition to his rock hits, Pitney recorded two albums of duets with George Jones.

April 6:

Merle Haggard (CM 94, NS 77) born in Bakersfield, California, 1937 (now 77) 
Vernon Dalhart (CM 81, NS 70) (ne Marion Try Slaughter) born in Marion County, Texas, 1883 (died 1948)

Dick Kaihue McIntire (Steel Guitar 82) born in Honolulu, Hawaii, 1902 (died 1951)

Wade Ray born in Griffin, Indiana, 1913 (died 1998)

Tammy Wynette (CM 98, NS 09) died in Nashville, Tennessee (heart failure attributed to blood clot), 1998 (was 55)

Grand Ole Opry shows were canceled due to rioting in the wake of Martin Luther King's assassination earlier in the week, 1968

April 7:

Bobby Bare (CM 13) born in Ironton, Ohio, 1935 (now 79)

John Dittrich of Restless Heart born in New York, New York, 1951 (now 63)

Leon "Pappy" Selph born in Houston, Texas, 1914 (died 1999)
Cal Smith born in Gans, Oklahoma, 1932 (died 2013)

Clyde Moody died in Nashville, Tennessee (unknown cause), 1989 (was 73)
Henry Glover died in St. Albans, New York (heart attack), 1991 (was 69)
Jeff Newman (Steel Guitar 99) died in Watertown, Tennessee (plane crash), 2004 (was 62)

April 8:

John Schneider born in Mount Kisco, New York, 1960 (now 54)

Jimmy Osborne born in Winchester, Kentucky, 1923 (died 1957)

April 9:

Margo Smith born in Dayton, Ohio, 1942 (now 72)

Con Hunley born in Fountain City, Tennessee, 1945 (now 69)

Hal Ketchum born in Greenwich, New York, 1953 (now 61)

Mark Roberts of the Red Clay Ramblers born in Wareham, Massachusetts, 1957 (now 57)

Dave Innis of Restless Heart born in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, 1959 (now 55)

Carl Perkins (NS 85) born in Tiptonville, Tennessee, 1932 (died 1998)

Darrell Glenn died in Fort Worth, Texas (cancer), 1990 (was 54)

Mae Boren Axton died in Nashville, Tennessee (natural causes), 1997 (was 82)

April 10:

DeWitt Scott (Steel Guitar 92) born in Amarillo, Texas, 1932 (now 82)
Weldon Myrick (Steel Guitar 97) born in Jayton, Texas, 1938 (now 75)
Fiddlin' Arthur Smith born in Bold Spring, Tennessee, 1898 (died 1971)

Sheb Wooley born in Enick, Oklahoma, 1921 (died 2003)

Former home of Johnny and June Cash destroyed by fire, 2007. Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees owned the house at the time of the fire.  In 2010 the Gatlin Brothers referenced the fire in a song titled "Johnny Cash is Dead and His House Burned Down."

April 11:

Jim Lauderdale born in Troutman, North Carolina, 1957 (now 57)

Harty Taylor of Karl & Harty born in Mount Vernon, Kentucky, 1905 (died 1963)

Millie Good of the Girls of the Golden West born in Mount Carmel, Illinois, 1913 (died 1993)
George Shuffler (BG 11) born in Valdese, North Carolina, 1925 (died 2014)
Eddie Miller died in Nashville, Tennessee (unknown cause), 1977 (was 83). In addition to writing a number of songs, including "I've Loved and Lost Again" which was recorded by Patsy Cline during her stint on Four Star, Miller co-founded the Nashville Songwriters' Association International.

Lighnin' Chance died in Nashville, Tennessee (cancer/Alzheimer's), 2005 (was 79)

Jerry Byrd (Steel Guitar 78) died in Honolulu, Hawaii (complications of Parkinson's disease), 2005 (was 85)

April 12:

Ned Miller born in Raines, Utah, 1925 (now 89)
Ron Elliott (Steel Guitar 09) born in Salisbury, Maryland, 1936 (now 78)

Vince Gill (CM 07, NS 05) born in Norman, Oklahoma, 1957 (now 57)

Ernie Lee born in Berea, Kentucky, 1916 (died 1991)

Judy Lynn born in Boise, Idaho, 1936 (died 2010)

Lewis Crook of the Crook Brothers died in Nashville, Tennessee (natural causes), 1997 (was 87)

Boxcar Willie died in Branson, Missouri (leukemia), 1999 (was 67)

April 13:

Sam Bush born in Bowling Green, Kentucky, 1952 (now 62)

Bob Nolan (CM 80, NS 71) of the Sons of the Pioneers born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, 1908 (died 1980)

Guy Willis of the Willis Brothers died in Nashville, Tennessee (unknown cause), 1981 (was 65)

Johnny Dollar died in Nashville, Tennessee (suicide), 1986 (was 53)

April 14:

Loretta Lynn (CM 88, NS 83) born in Butcher Holler, Kentucky, 1932 (now 82)

Stuart Duncan of the Nashville Bluegrass Band born in Quantico, Virginia, 1964 (now 50)

Vito Pelletteri died in Nashville, Tennessee (complications from a stroke), 1977 (was 87)

Burl Ives died in Anacortes, Washington (throat cancer), 1995 (was 85)

April 15:

Roy Clark (CM 09) born in Meherrin, Virginia, 1933 (now 81)

J.L. Frank (CM 67) born in Limestone County, Alabama, 1900 (died 1952)

Bob Luman born in Nacogdoches, Texas, 1937 (died 1978)

Junior Barnard of Bob Wills' Texas Playboys died (car wreck), 1951 (was 30)

Rose Maddox died in Ashland, Oregon (kidney failure), 1998 (was 72)

Otto Kitsinger died in Nashville, Tennessee (heart attack), 1998 (was 54). Kitsinger was the historian and writer for CMT's Opry Backstage.