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 enshrined. CM=Country Music; BG=Bluegrass; NS=Nashville Songwriter; SG=Southern Gospel; StG=Steel Guitar)
September 1
Steve Goetzman of Exile born in Louisville, Kentucky, 1950 (now 65)
Maggie Cavender (NS 89) born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1918 (died 1996)
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 (CM 99, NS 93) born in Friars Point, Mississippi, 1933 (died 1993)
George Riddle born in Marion, Indiana, 1935 (died 2014)
Delia "Mom" Upchurch, the "Den Mother to the Stars," died in Nashville, Tennessee (unknown cause), 1967 (was 85)
Jerry Reed (NS 05) died in Nashville, Tennessee (emphysema), 2008 (was 71)
Hal David (NS 84) died in Los Angeles, California (stroke), 2012 (was 91)
Doug Bounsall died in Las Vegas, Nevada (car wreck), 2012 (was 61)
September 2
Paul Wylie Deakin of the Mavericks born in Miami, Florida, 1959 (now 56)
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 in Minden, Louisiana (unknown cause), 1986 (was 74)
September 3
Jimmy Riddle born in Dyersburg, Tennessee, 1918 (died 1981)
Hank Thompson (CM 89, NS 97) born in Waco, Texas, 1925 (died 2007)
Tompall Glaser born in Spalding, Nebraska, 1933 (died 2013)
September 4
Kathy Louvin born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1957 (now 58)
Harold "Shot" Jackson (StG 86) born in Wilmington, North Carolina, 1920 (died 1991)
Dottie West died in Nashville, Tennessee (injuries from a car wreck), 1991 (was 58)
Carl Butler died in Franklin, Tennessee (heart attack), 1992 (was 65)
September 5
Chuck Seitz born in Cincinnati, Ohio, 1918 (died 2012). In addition to serving as a Grammy-nominated recording engineer at King and RCA Seitz co-wrote the classic "Before I Met You."
Curley Williams died in Montgomery, Alabama (unknown cause), 1970 (was 66)
Joe South (NS 79) died in Atlanta, Georgia (heart failure), 2012 (was 72)
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
David Allan Coe born in Akron, Ohio, 1939 (now 76)
Buddy Miller born in Fairborn, Ohio, 1952 (now 63)
Jeff Foxworthy born in Atlanta, Georgia, 1958 (now 57)
Mark Chesnutt born in Beaumont, Texas, 1963 (now 52)
Zeke Clements (NS 71) born near Empire, Alabama, 1911 (died 1994)
Paul Yandell, C.G.P. born in Mayfield, Kentucky, 1935 (died 2011)
Mel McDaniel born in Checotah, Oklahoma, 1942 (died 2011)
Ernest Tubb (CM 64, NS 70) died in Nashville, Tennessee (complications from emphysema), 1984 (was 70)
Autry Inman died (unknown cause), 1988 (was 59)
Roy Huskey Jr. died in Nashville, Tennessee (cancer), 1997 (was 41)
September 7
Ronnie Dove born in Herndon, Virginia, 1940 (now 75)
Mark D. Sanders (NS 09) born in Los Angeles, California, 1950 (now 65)
Buddy Holly (NS 94) born in Lubbock, Texas, 1936 (died 1959)
Hubert Long (CM 79) died in Nashville, Tennessee (brain tumor), 1972 (was 48)
Warren Zevon died in Los Angeles, California (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.
Oscar Sullivan died in Nashville, Tennessee (leukemia), 2012 (was 93)
September 8
Jimmie Rodgers (CM 61, NS 70) born in Meridian, Mississippi, 1897 (died 1933)
Milton Brown born in Stephenville, Texas, 1903 (died 1936)
Patsy Cline (CM 73) born in Winchester, Virginia, 1932 (died 1963)
Harlan Howard (CM 97, NS 73) born in Detroit, Michigan, 1929 (died 2002)
September 9
Freddy Weller born in Atlanta, Georgia, 1947 (now 68)
Rodger Dale Tubb died in Fredericksburg, Texas (car wreck), 1938 (was 7 weeks old)
Tex Owens (NS 71) died in New Baden, Texas (unknown cause), 1962 (was 70)
Bill Monroe (CM 70, BG 91, NS 71) died in Nashville, Tennessee (stroke), 1996 (was 84)
September 10
Tommy Overstreet born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 1937 (now 78)
Rosie Flores born in San Antonio, Texas, 1956 (now 59)
Luke Wills born in Memphis, Texas, 1920 (died 2000)
Joe (ne Walter) Callahan of the Callahan Brothers died in Asheville, North Carolina (cancer), 1971 (was 61)
September 11
Jimmie Davis (CM 72, NS 71) born in Beech Springs, Louisiana, 1899 (died 2000)
Randy Hughes born in Gum, Tennessee, 1928 (died 1963)
Lorne Greene died in Santa Monica, California (pneumonia), 1987 (was 72). The actor's recitation "Ringo" was a top 25 country hit in 1964.
Leon Payne (NS 70) died in San Antonio, Texas (heart attack), 1969 (was 52)
Bill (ne Homer) Callahan of the Callahan Brothers died in Dallas, Texas (congestive heart failure), 2002 (was 90)
Terrorists crash planes into the World Trade Center's twin towers in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington DC, 2001. The attack spawned several country songs including Alan Jackson's "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" and Toby Keith's "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)."
September 12
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.
Leona Johnson Atkins born in Jackson Township, Ohio, 1924 (died 2009). One of WLW's "Johnson Twins," she married Chet Atkins in 1946.
Helen Carter born in Maces Springs, Virginia, 1927 (died 1998)
George Jones (CM 92) born in Saratoga, Texas, 1931 (died 2013)
Rod Brasfield (CM 87) died in Martin, Tennessee (heart failure), 1958 (was 48)
Johnny Cash (CM 80, NS 77) died in Nashville, Tennessee (Shy-Drager syndrome complications, diabetes, lung disease), 2003 (was 71)
John Ritter died in Los Angeles, California (heart ailment), 2003 (was 54). The actor was the son of Western legend Tex Ritter.
Charlie Walker died in Nashville, Tennessee (colon cancer), 2008 (was 81)
Don Wayne (NS 78) died in Nashville, Tennessee (cancer), 2011 (was 78)
Wade Mainer died in Flint, Michigan (congestive heart failure), 2011 (was 104)
September 13
Bobbie Cryner born in Woodland, California, 1961 (now 53)
Bill Monroe (CM 70, BG 91, NS 71) born in Rosine, Kentucky, 1911 (died 1996)
Wilma Lee Cooper died in Nashville, Tennessee (natural causes), 2011 (was 90)
Roy Acuff postage stamp issued by the U.S. Postal Service, 2003
September 14
John Berry born in Aiken, South Carolina, 1959 (now 56)
Mae Boren Axton born in Bardwell, Texas, 1914 (died 1997)
Don Walser born in Brownfield, Texas, 1934 (died 2006)
Vernon Dalhart (CM 81, NS 70) died in Bridgeport, Connecticut (heart attack), 1948 (was 65)
Beasley Smith (NS 83) died in Nashville, Tennessee (cerebral hemorrhage), 1968 (was 66)
Hank Williams arrived in Nashville and met with Fred Rose to discuss a record or publishing deal, 1946
September 15
Roy Acuff (CM 62) born in Maynardsville, Tennesssee, 1903 (died 1992)
Patsy Cline married Charlie Dick, 1957
Monday, August 31, 2015
Sunday, August 16, 2015
Dates of Note in Country Music, August 16-31
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 enshrined. CM=Country Music; BG=Bluegrass; NS=Nashville Songwriter; SG=Southern Gospel, StG=Steel Guitar; RR=also inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
August 16:
Billy Joe Shaver (NS 04) born in Corsica, Texas, 1939 (now 76)
Kathie Lee Gifford born in Paris, France, 1953 (now 62). Gifford began her career as one of the "Hee Haw honeys."
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 (CM 98, RR 86) died at Graceland, Memphis, Tennessee (heart failure), 1977 (was 42)
Vassar Clements died in Nashville, Tennessee (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 (CM 98) born in Akron, Ohio, 1927 (now 88)
Wayne Raney (DJ 93) born in Wolf Bayou, Arkansas, 1920 (died 1993)
August 18:
Bob Koefer (StG 04) born in Clay Center, Kansas, 1928 (now 87)
Allen Reynolds (NS 00) born in North Little Rock, Arkansas, 1938 (now 77)
Hank Penny born in Birmingham, Alabama, 1918 (died 1992)
Molly Bee born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 1939 (died 2009)
Johnny Preston born in Port Arthur, Texas, 1939 (died 2011). Preston is best known for "Running Bear," the 1959 hit written by J.P. Richardson and featuring guitar work and backing vocals by George Jones.
Charlie Waller (BG 96) died in Gordonsville, Virginia (heart attack), 2004 (was 69)
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:
Roger Cook (NS 97) born in Bristol, England, 1940 (now 75)
Eddy Raven born in Lafayette, Louisiana, 1944 (now 71)
Larry Sasser (StG 11) born in Gainesville, Georgia, 1947 (now 68)
Lee Ann Womack born in Jacksonville, Texas, 1966 (now 49)
Clay Walker born in Beaumont, Texas, 1969 (now 46)
Curly Ray Cline (BG 09) died in Rockhouse, Kentucky (illness), 1997 (was 74)
August 20:
Rudy Gatlin born in Olney, Texas, 1952 (now 63)
John Hiatt (NS 08) born in Indianapolis, Indiana, 1952 (now 63)
Ralph Stanley II born in Coeburn, Virginia, 1958 (now 56)
Jim Reeves born in Galloway, Texas, 1923 (died 1964)
"Sneaky Pete" Kleinow (StG 07) born in South Bend, Indiana, 1934 (died 2007)
Justin Tubb born in San Antonio, Texas, 1935 (died 1998)
Louis Innis died (heart attack), 1982 (was 63)
Leon McAuliffe (StG 78) died in Tulsa, Oklahoma (illness), 1988 (was 71)
Red Rhodes (StG 05) died in Los Angeles, California (lung disease), 1995 (was 64)
August 21:
Kenny Rogers (CM 13) born in Houston, Texas, 1938 (now 77)
Harold Reid (CM 08) born in Staunton, Virginia, 1939 (now 76)
Nick Kane of the Mavericks born in Jerusalem, Georgia, 1954 (now 61)
Sam McGee died in Williamson County, Tennessee (tractor accident on his farm), 1975 (was 81)
Murray "Buddy" Harman died in Nashville, Tennessee (congestive heart failure), 2008 (was 79)
August 22:
Rounder Records co-founder Marian Leighton-Levy born in Harrington, Maine, 1948 (now 67)
Holly Dunn born in San Antonio, Texas, 1957 (now 58)
Collin Raye born in DeQueen, Arkansas, 1959 (now 56)
Rod Brasfield (CM 87) born in Smithville, Arkansas, 1910 (died 1958)
Connie B. Gay (CM 80) born in Lizard Lick, North Carolina, 1914 (died 1989)
Horace "Aytchie" Burns died in Knoxville, Tennessee (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 in Hammond, Indiana (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 in Gladewater, Texas (suicide [gunshot]), 1962 (was 53)
Mooney Lynn, the husband of Loretta Lynn, died in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee (heart failure/diabetes), 1996 (was 69)
Floyd Tillman (CM 83, NS 70) died in Houston, Texas (leukemia), 2003 (was 88)
August 23:
Rex Allen, Jr. born in Chicago, Illinois, 1947 (now 68)
Woody Paul of Riders in the Sky born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1949 (now 66)
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:
Teea Goans born in Lowry City, Missouri, 1980 (now 35)
Fred Rose (CM 61, NS 70) born in Evansville, Indiana, 1897 (died 1954)
Jerry Clower died in Jackson, Mississippi (complications from heart surgery), 1998 (was 71)
Nat Stuckey died in Nashville, Tennessee (lung cancer), 1988 (was 54)
August 25:
Elvis Costello born in London, England, 1954 (now 61). The punk pioneer and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member 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.
Jo Dee Messina born in Holliston, Massachusetts, 1970 (now 45)
Jerry Rivers born in Miami, Florida, 1928 (died 1996)
Cliff Bruner died in Texas City, Texas (cancer), 2000 (was 85)
August 26:
Jimmy Olander of Diamond Rio born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1961 (now 54)
Don Bowman born in Lubbock, Texas, 1937 (died 2013)
Bob Miller (NS 70) died in Nyack, New York (unknown cause), 1955 (was 59)
Wilma Burgess died in Nashville, Tennessee (heart attack), 2003 (was 64)
Harlow Wilcox died in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (heart attack), 2003 (was 59)
August 27:
J.D. Crowe (BG 03) born in Lexington, Kentucky, 1937 (now 78)
Jeff Cook of Alabama (CM 05) born in Fort Payne, Alabama, 1949 (now 65)
Carter Stanley (BG 92) born in Dickenson County, Virginia, 1925 (died 1966)
Oliver "Mooney" Lynn, husband of Loretta Lynn, born in Butcher Holler, Kentucky, 1926 (died 1996)
Jimmy C. Newman born in Big Mamou, Louisiana, 1927 (died 2014)
Frances Preston (CM 92) born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1928 (died 2012)
'David "Bunny" Biggs of Jamup & Honey died in Nashville, Tennessee (unknown causes), 1948 (was 52)
Jim Denny (CM 66) died in Nashville, Tennessee (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:
LeAnn Rimes born in Jackson, Mississippi, 1982 (now 33)
Billy Grammer born in Benton, Illinois, 1925 (died 2011)
Archie Campbell died in Knoxville, Tennessee (post-operative complications following June heart attack), 1987 (was 67)
August 29:
Don Schlitz (NS 93) born in Durham, North Carolina, 1952 (now 63)
Dan Truman of Diamond Rio born in St. George, Utah, 1956 (now 59)
Grady Cole born in Lafayette, Georgia, 1909 (died 1981)
August 30:
Kitty Wells (CM 76) born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1919 (died 2012)
Jon Hagar born in Chicago, Illinois, 1946 (died 2009)
Jim Hagar born in Chicago, Illinois, 1946 (died 2008)
August 31:
Noel Boggs (StG 81) died in Los Angeles, California (heart attack), 1974 (was 56)
(Hall of Fame members in bold on birth/death date, followed by hall[s] of fame in which they are enshrined and the year enshrined. CM=Country Music; BG=Bluegrass; NS=Nashville Songwriter; SG=Southern Gospel, StG=Steel Guitar; RR=also inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
August 16:
Billy Joe Shaver (NS 04) born in Corsica, Texas, 1939 (now 76)
Kathie Lee Gifford born in Paris, France, 1953 (now 62). Gifford began her career as one of the "Hee Haw honeys."
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 (CM 98, RR 86) died at Graceland, Memphis, Tennessee (heart failure), 1977 (was 42)
Vassar Clements died in Nashville, Tennessee (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 (CM 98) born in Akron, Ohio, 1927 (now 88)
Wayne Raney (DJ 93) born in Wolf Bayou, Arkansas, 1920 (died 1993)
August 18:
Bob Koefer (StG 04) born in Clay Center, Kansas, 1928 (now 87)
Allen Reynolds (NS 00) born in North Little Rock, Arkansas, 1938 (now 77)
Hank Penny born in Birmingham, Alabama, 1918 (died 1992)
Molly Bee born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 1939 (died 2009)
Johnny Preston born in Port Arthur, Texas, 1939 (died 2011). Preston is best known for "Running Bear," the 1959 hit written by J.P. Richardson and featuring guitar work and backing vocals by George Jones.
Charlie Waller (BG 96) died in Gordonsville, Virginia (heart attack), 2004 (was 69)
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:
Roger Cook (NS 97) born in Bristol, England, 1940 (now 75)
Eddy Raven born in Lafayette, Louisiana, 1944 (now 71)
Larry Sasser (StG 11) born in Gainesville, Georgia, 1947 (now 68)
Lee Ann Womack born in Jacksonville, Texas, 1966 (now 49)
Clay Walker born in Beaumont, Texas, 1969 (now 46)
Curly Ray Cline (BG 09) died in Rockhouse, Kentucky (illness), 1997 (was 74)
August 20:
Rudy Gatlin born in Olney, Texas, 1952 (now 63)
John Hiatt (NS 08) born in Indianapolis, Indiana, 1952 (now 63)
Ralph Stanley II born in Coeburn, Virginia, 1958 (now 56)
Jim Reeves born in Galloway, Texas, 1923 (died 1964)
"Sneaky Pete" Kleinow (StG 07) born in South Bend, Indiana, 1934 (died 2007)
Justin Tubb born in San Antonio, Texas, 1935 (died 1998)
Louis Innis died (heart attack), 1982 (was 63)
Leon McAuliffe (StG 78) died in Tulsa, Oklahoma (illness), 1988 (was 71)
Red Rhodes (StG 05) died in Los Angeles, California (lung disease), 1995 (was 64)
August 21:
Kenny Rogers (CM 13) born in Houston, Texas, 1938 (now 77)
Harold Reid (CM 08) born in Staunton, Virginia, 1939 (now 76)
Nick Kane of the Mavericks born in Jerusalem, Georgia, 1954 (now 61)
Sam McGee died in Williamson County, Tennessee (tractor accident on his farm), 1975 (was 81)
Murray "Buddy" Harman died in Nashville, Tennessee (congestive heart failure), 2008 (was 79)
August 22:
Rounder Records co-founder Marian Leighton-Levy born in Harrington, Maine, 1948 (now 67)
Holly Dunn born in San Antonio, Texas, 1957 (now 58)
Collin Raye born in DeQueen, Arkansas, 1959 (now 56)
Rod Brasfield (CM 87) born in Smithville, Arkansas, 1910 (died 1958)
Connie B. Gay (CM 80) born in Lizard Lick, North Carolina, 1914 (died 1989)
Horace "Aytchie" Burns died in Knoxville, Tennessee (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 in Hammond, Indiana (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 in Gladewater, Texas (suicide [gunshot]), 1962 (was 53)
Mooney Lynn, the husband of Loretta Lynn, died in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee (heart failure/diabetes), 1996 (was 69)
Floyd Tillman (CM 83, NS 70) died in Houston, Texas (leukemia), 2003 (was 88)
August 23:
Rex Allen, Jr. born in Chicago, Illinois, 1947 (now 68)
Woody Paul of Riders in the Sky born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1949 (now 66)
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:
Teea Goans born in Lowry City, Missouri, 1980 (now 35)
Fred Rose (CM 61, NS 70) born in Evansville, Indiana, 1897 (died 1954)
Jerry Clower died in Jackson, Mississippi (complications from heart surgery), 1998 (was 71)
Nat Stuckey died in Nashville, Tennessee (lung cancer), 1988 (was 54)
August 25:
Elvis Costello born in London, England, 1954 (now 61). The punk pioneer and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member 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.
Jo Dee Messina born in Holliston, Massachusetts, 1970 (now 45)
Jerry Rivers born in Miami, Florida, 1928 (died 1996)
Cliff Bruner died in Texas City, Texas (cancer), 2000 (was 85)
August 26:
Jimmy Olander of Diamond Rio born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1961 (now 54)
Don Bowman born in Lubbock, Texas, 1937 (died 2013)
Bob Miller (NS 70) died in Nyack, New York (unknown cause), 1955 (was 59)
Wilma Burgess died in Nashville, Tennessee (heart attack), 2003 (was 64)
Harlow Wilcox died in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (heart attack), 2003 (was 59)
August 27:
J.D. Crowe (BG 03) born in Lexington, Kentucky, 1937 (now 78)
Jeff Cook of Alabama (CM 05) born in Fort Payne, Alabama, 1949 (now 65)
Carter Stanley (BG 92) born in Dickenson County, Virginia, 1925 (died 1966)
Oliver "Mooney" Lynn, husband of Loretta Lynn, born in Butcher Holler, Kentucky, 1926 (died 1996)
Jimmy C. Newman born in Big Mamou, Louisiana, 1927 (died 2014)
Frances Preston (CM 92) born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1928 (died 2012)
'David "Bunny" Biggs of Jamup & Honey died in Nashville, Tennessee (unknown causes), 1948 (was 52)
Jim Denny (CM 66) died in Nashville, Tennessee (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:
LeAnn Rimes born in Jackson, Mississippi, 1982 (now 33)
Billy Grammer born in Benton, Illinois, 1925 (died 2011)
Archie Campbell died in Knoxville, Tennessee (post-operative complications following June heart attack), 1987 (was 67)
August 29:
Don Schlitz (NS 93) born in Durham, North Carolina, 1952 (now 63)
Dan Truman of Diamond Rio born in St. George, Utah, 1956 (now 59)
Grady Cole born in Lafayette, Georgia, 1909 (died 1981)
August 30:
Kitty Wells (CM 76) born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1919 (died 2012)
Jon Hagar born in Chicago, Illinois, 1946 (died 2009)
Jim Hagar born in Chicago, Illinois, 1946 (died 2008)
August 31:
Noel Boggs (StG 81) died in Los Angeles, California (heart attack), 1974 (was 56)
Wednesday, August 05, 2015
A Wreath Upon His Door
Category: News/Obituary
Country music has taken a pounding the past week with the deaths of Buddy Emmons, Lynn Anderson, and Top Billing International president and noted Nashville executive Tandy Rice. Add to that list the legendary producer Billy Sherrill.
Sherrill, a 2010 Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, died yesterday (8/4) after a short illness.
Although hailed as one of the most important producers in Nashville during the "countrypolitan" era of the late 60's and 70's, Sherrill was also a noted songwriter. Among the award-winning songs he co-wrote: "A Very Special Love Song," "Almost Persuaded," and "Stand By Your Man."
His work as a producer, however, will undoubtably be his lasting legacy. From Elvis Costello's album of country covers, Almost Blue, to Tammy Wynette's legendary hits, Sherrill was simply a genius in the recording studio. Nearly every act he recorded said as much. The evidence is in the rich, full sound of the records that defined country music in the late 60's and early 70's.
Then there was "He Stopped Loving Her Today."
The story is legendary, how George Jones balked at the notion of recording the Bobby Braddock song. "It's too damn morbid," Jones complained. Sherrill held firm, in the end giving Jones a number one hit and country music what, to many, is its defining song.
Billy Sherrill was 78.
Country music has taken a pounding the past week with the deaths of Buddy Emmons, Lynn Anderson, and Top Billing International president and noted Nashville executive Tandy Rice. Add to that list the legendary producer Billy Sherrill.
Sherrill, a 2010 Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, died yesterday (8/4) after a short illness.
Although hailed as one of the most important producers in Nashville during the "countrypolitan" era of the late 60's and 70's, Sherrill was also a noted songwriter. Among the award-winning songs he co-wrote: "A Very Special Love Song," "Almost Persuaded," and "Stand By Your Man."
His work as a producer, however, will undoubtably be his lasting legacy. From Elvis Costello's album of country covers, Almost Blue, to Tammy Wynette's legendary hits, Sherrill was simply a genius in the recording studio. Nearly every act he recorded said as much. The evidence is in the rich, full sound of the records that defined country music in the late 60's and early 70's.
Then there was "He Stopped Loving Her Today."
The story is legendary, how George Jones balked at the notion of recording the Bobby Braddock song. "It's too damn morbid," Jones complained. Sherrill held firm, in the end giving Jones a number one hit and country music what, to many, is its defining song.
Billy Sherrill was 78.
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