Dates of Note in Country Music, January 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 enshrined.  CM=Country Music; BG=Bluegrass; NS=Nashville Songwriter; SG=Southern Gospel; StG=Steel Guitar; RR=also in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)

January 1:

Frank Kettering of the Hoosier Hot Shots born in Monmouth, Illinois, 1909 (died 1973)
Hank Williams (CM 61, NS 70, RR 87) died in the back seat of a car between Knoxville, Tennessee and Oak Hill, West Virginia (cardiac arrest), 1953 (was 29)
Aubrey "Moon" Mullican (NS 76) died in Beaumont, Texas (heart attack), 1967 (was 57)
Floyd "Salty" Holmes of the Prairie Ramblers died (unknown cause), 1970 (was 60)
Townes Van Zandt died in Mount Juliet, Tennessee (heart attack), 1997 (was 52)
Del Reeves died in Nashville, Tennessee (emphysema), 2007 (was 73)
Patti Page (Clara Fowler) died in Encinitas, California (long illness), 2013 (was 85)
Cousin Jody (ne James Summey) quit Roy Acuff's Smoky Mountain Boys (along with two other members), 1939.  Acuff replaced Cousin Jody with Beecher Ray Kirby, who was later nicknamed "Bashful Brother Oswald."
Johnny Cash played at San Quentin prison, 1959. Among the prisoners in attendance was Merle Haggard.
The first episode of The Porter Wagoner Show aired in syndication, 1961

January 2:

Harold Bradley (CM 06) born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1926 (now 90)
Dick Feller born in Bronaugh, Missouri, 1943 (now 73)
Roger Miller (CM 95, NS 73) born in Fort Worth, Texas, 1936 (died 1992)
Red Smiley (BG 92) died in Richmond, Virginia (complications from diabetes), 1972 (was 47)
Tex Ritter (CM 64, NS 71) died in Nashville, Tennessee (heart attack), 1974 (was 68)
Wayne Walker (NS 75) died in Nashville, Tennessee (cancer), 1979 (was 53)
Little Jimmy Dickens (CM 83) died in Nashville, Tennessee (heart failure/stroke), 2015 (was 94)

January 3:

Nikki Nelson of Highway 101 born in San Diego, California, 1969 (now 47)
Leon McAuliffe (StG 78) born in Houston, Texas, 1917 (died 1988)
Elwood Goins (BG 09) born in Bramwell, WV, 1936 (died 2007)
Felton Jarvis died in Nashville, Tennessee (stroke), 1981 (was 46)
Doye O'Dell died in Northridge, California (complications of a stroke), 2001 (was 88)
Quanah Talmadge Tubb (better known as Billy Talmadge Tubb) died in El Paso, Texas (unknown causes), 2007 (was 81)
Phil Everly (CM 01, RR 86) died in Burbank, California (COPD), 2014 (was 74)
Grandpa Jones suffered stroke after performing on the Grand Ole Opry, 1998
Sam Phillips opened Sun Recording Studio, 1950

January 4:

Mike Henderson born in Independence, Missouri, 1955 (now 61)
Kathy Forester of the Forester Sisters born in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, 1955 (now 61)
Patty Loveless born in Pikeville, Kentucky, 1957 (now 59)
Deana Carter born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1966 (now 50)
Lorene Mann born in Huntland, Tennessee, 1937 (died 2013)
Clayton McMichen died in Battletown, Kentucky (unknown causes), 1970 (was 69)
Jake Hess (SG 97) died in Opelika, Alabama (complications of heart attack), 2004 (was 76)
First barn dance program in America airs on WBAP, Fort Worth, Texas, 1923

January 5:

Steve Ripley of the Tractors born in Boise, Idaho, 1950 (now 66)
Iris DeMent born in Paragould, Arkansas, 1961 (now 55)
Big Bill Lister born in Kenedy, Texas, 1923 (died 2009)

Sam Phillips (Sun Records owner) (CM 01, RR 86) born in Florence, Alabama, 1923 (died 2003)
Tug McGraw, former baseball pitcher and father of Tim McGraw, died in his son's home in Nashville, Tennessee (brain cancer), 2004 (was 59)

January 6:

Joey Miskulin ("Joey the Cow Polka King") of Riders in the Sky born in Chicago, Illinois, 1949 (now 67)
Jett Williams born in Montgomery, Alabama, 1953 (now 63)
Harry "Hap" Peebles born in Anthony, Kansas, 1913 (died 1993)
Earl Scruggs (CM 85, BG 91, NS 07) born in Flint Hill, North Carolina, 1924 (died 2012)
Autry Inman born in Florence, Alabama, 1929 (died 1988)

Bobby Lord born in Sanford, Florida, 1934 (died 2008)

Chubby Wise (BG 98) died in Bowie, Maryland (heart attack), 1996 (was 80)
Bobby Austin died in Camas, Washington (illness), 2002 (was 68)
Sneaky Pete Kleinkow died in Petaluma, California (complications of Alzheimer's disease), 2007 (was 72)
Ken Nelson (CM 01) died in Somis, California (natural causes), 2008 (was 96)

January 7:

Leona Williams born in Vienna, Missouri, 1943 (now 73)
Marshall Chapman born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, 1949 (now 67)
David Lee Murphy born in Herrin, Illinois, 1959 (now 57)
Bunny Biggs (Jamup of Jamup and Honey) born, 1897 (died 1948)
Jack Greene born in Maryville, Tennessee, 1930 (died 2013)
Owen Bradley (CM 74) died in Nashville, Tennessee (heart ailment/complications of flu), 1998 (was 82)

January 8:

Christy Lane born in Peoria, Illinois, 1940 (now 76)
Holly Tashian born in New York, New York, 1946 (now 70)

Hoke Rice of the Rice Brothers born in Gainesville, Georgia, 1909 (died 1974)
Luther Perkins born in Memphis, Tennessee, 1928 (died 1968)
Elvis Presley (CM 98, RR 86) born in Tupelo, Mississippi, 1935 (died 1977)
Randall Hylton born in Willis, Virginia, 1946 (died 2001)
Sara Carter (CM 70, BG 01) died in Lodi, California (lengthy illness), 1979 (was 79)
Maxwell Emmett "Pat" Buttram, died in Los Angeles, California (kidney failure), 1994 (was 78)
The U.S. Postal Service issues a 29c postage stamp featuring Elvis Presley, 1993. The stamp is the Postal Service's best-selling commemorative stamp of all-time, with sales of over 517,000,000.
Billboard magazine publishes first "Hillbilly Records" chart, 1944. The first #1 song was "Pistol Packin' Mama" -- the Bing Crosby & Andrews Sisters' version. Al Dexter's original would be the second #1 song in Billboard chart history.

January 9:

Henry Slaughter (SG 06) born in Roxboro, North Carolina, 1926 (now 90)
Roy Head born in Three Rivers, Texas, 1943 (now 73)
Crystal Gayle born in Paintsville, Kentucky, 1951 (now 65)
Jimmy Day (StG 82) born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, 1934 (died 1999)
Big Al Downing born in Lenapah, Oklahoma, 1940 (died 2005)
Jimmy Boyd ("I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus") born in McComb, Mississippi, 1940 (died 2009)

Richard Nixon born in Yorba Linda, California, 1913 (died 1994). Nixon was the first sitting U.S. president to attend the Grand Ole Opry (1974).
Jon Hager of the Hager Twins died in Nashville, Tennessee (illness), 2009 (was 67)

January 10:

Curly Ray Cline (BG 09) born in Braisden, West Virginia, 1923 (died 1997)
Zeb Turner died (cancer), 1978 (was 62)
Loretta Webb married Oliver "Mooney" Lynn, 1948

January 11:

Naomi Judd born in Ashland, Kentucky, 1946 (now 70)
Robert Earl Keen born in Houston, Texas, 1956 (now 60)
Kelly Hogan born in Atlanta, Georgia, 1965 (now 50)
Tommy Duncan born in Hillsboro, Texas, 1911 (died 1967)
Goldie Hill Smith born in Kanes County, Texas, 1933 (died 2005)
Max D. Barnes (NS 92) died in Nashville, Tennesee (pneumonia), 2004 (was 67)
Jimmy Griffin of the Remingtons died in Franklin, Tennessee (cancer), 2005 (was 61)
Margaret Whiting died in Englewood, New Jersey (natural causes), 2011 (was 86)
Stonewall Jackson filed $10 million age discrimination lawsuit against the Grand Ole Opry, 2007

January 12:

William Lee Golden of the Oak Ridge Boys (CM 15) born in Brewton, Alabama, 1939 (now 77)
Ricky Van Shelton born in Danville, Virginia, 1952 (now 64)
LaWanda Lindsey born in Tampa, Florida, 1953 (now 63)
Claudia Church Crowell born in Lenoir, North Carolina, 1962 (now 54)
Tex Ritter (CM 64, NS 71) born in Panola County, Texas, 1905 (died 1974)
Jack Rhodes (NS 72) born in Gedden, Texas, 1907 (died 1968)
Ray Price (CM 96) born in Perryville, Texas, 1926 (died 2013)
Paul Warren (BG 13) died in Nashville, Tennessee (illness), 1978 (was 59)
Charlie Collins died in Nashville, Tennessee (stroke), 2012 (was 78)
The film O Brother, Where Art Thou opened nationwide, 2001. The soundtrack won three Grammy awards: Album of the Year, Best Country Collaboration with Vocals (Dan Tyminski, "Man of Constant Sorrow"), and Best Male Country Vocal Performance (Dr. Ralph Stanley, "O Death"). It also sold over eight million copies and sparked a brief resurgence in the popularity of bluegrass and traditional country music.

January 13:

Trace Adkins born in Springhill, Louisiana, 1962 (now 54)
Ezra Cline (BG 09) born in Gilbert Creek, VA, 1907 (died 1984)
Jenny Lou Carson (NS 71) born in Decatur, Illinois, 1915 (died 1978)
Stephen Foster (NS 10) died in New York New York (complications of fever and blood loss from cut), 1864 (was 37)
Doyle Holly died in Nashville, Tennessee (prostate cancer), 2007 (was 70)

January 14:

Joseph Henry "T-Bone" Burnett born in St. Louis Missouri, 1948 (now 67).  An Americana music performer and producer (of albums by Los Lobos and the BoDeans), he was the producer of the award-winning soundtrack to O Brother, Where Art Thou.
Billie Jo Spears born in Beaumont, Texas, 1937 (died 2011) 

January 15:

Peter Kuykendall (BG 96), co-founder of Bluegrass Unlimited magazine, born in Wasington, DC, 1938 (now 78)
David Lynn Jones born in Bexar, Arkansas, 1950 (now 66)
Kurt Howell of Southern Pacific born in Winter Haven, Florida, 1958 (now 58)
Billy Walker born in Ralls, Texas, 1929 (died 2006)
Ron Davies born in Shreveport, Louisiana, 1946 (died 2003)

Jack Guthrie died in Livermore, California (tuberculosis), 1948 (was 32)
Vic Willis died in Hohenwald, Tennessee (car wreck), 1995 (was 72)

The Final Notes of 2015

Category:  Tribute

Here are the people in country music who sang their final song in 2015.

Roy Acuff Jr. (November 5, unknown causes, age 72):  the son of "King of Country Music" Roy Acuff was also a country singer in the 1960's.

Lynn Anderson (July 30, heart attack, age 67):  daughter of songwriter/singer Liz Anderson who went on to a Grammy-winning career with hits that included the 1970 smash "Rose Garden."

Bonnie Lou (real name: Mary Joan Kath) (December 8, natural causes, age 91):  a staple on the Cincinnati-based Midwestern Hayride radio show and television program, she had several recordings on King as a country singer before migrating to rockabilly in the mid-50's.

Jerry Brightman (March 9, heart attack, age 63):  steel guitar player for Buck Owens and the Buckaroos during the Hee Haw days.

Jim Ed Brown (June 11, cancer, age 81):  one of the 2015 Hall of Fame inductees, Brown's career began with his sisters with hits such as "The Three Bells" and "Lookin' Back to See" and continued through a hit-filled solo career.

Al Bunetta (March 22, cancer, age 72):  the manager for folk-country acts John Prine and Steve Goodman, and the co-founder of Prine's label, Oh Boy Records.

Wayne Carson (July 20, various illnesses, age 72):  Songwriters Hall of Fame member who penned pop classics such as "The Letter" and "Soul Deep" but will always be remembered for giving the world "Always On My Mind."

Bud Carter (March 12, illness, age 83):  Steel Guitar Hall of Fame member who made countless contributions to the production of pedal steel guitars.

Boomer Castleman (September 1, cancer, age 70):  inventor of the palm pedal effect for guitars was also a singer ("Judy Mae"), songwriter, and guitarist for the likes of Michael Martin Murphy, George Jones, and Tammy Wynette.

Charlie Dick (November 8, natural causes, age 81):  the widower of Patsy Cline was a tireless champion of keeping her legacy alive.

Little Jimmy Dickens (January 2, heart failure/stroke, age 94):  a Hall of Famer with a long history of hits, he was the oldest member and longest tenured member of the Opry at the time of his death.

Dorothy "Dottie" Dillard (May 6, natural causes, age 91):  a member of the Anita Kerr Singers, who backed countless singers on recordings in the "Nashville Sound" era of country music.  She is one of three members of the Anita Kerr Singers to die this year (with Dolores Dinning and Millie Kirkham).

Donna Douglas (January 2, pancreatic cancer, age 81):  "Ellie May" from The Beverly Hillbillies, a show that featured Flatt & Scruggs and Roy Clark in guest roles.

Dolores Dinning Edgin (June 17, natural causes, age 86):  Nashville session vocalist in the Anita Kerr Singers and member of Hee Haw's "Nashville Edition" vocal group.   She was one of three members of the Anita Kerr Singers to pass away this year, along with Millie Kirkham and Dottie Dillard.

Bobby Emmons (February 23, illness, age 72):  piano player (played on Elvis songs and Dusty Springfield's "Son of a Preacher Man") and songwriter who wrote hits such as "The Wurlitzer Prize (I Don't Want to Get Over You)" and "Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)."

Buddy Emmons (July 29, unknown, age 78):  a steel guitar player's steel guitar player, Emmons worked in country music for over five decades and helped develop the production of the pedal steel guitar through his co-founding the Sho-Bud company.

Monroe Fields (February 21, lung cancer, age 86):  bluegrass and country multi-instrumentalist who played bass with Bill Monroe and Jim & Jesse, and mandolin and tenor vocals with Charlie Louvin in the 90's.

Tom "Snuff" Garrett (December 17, unknown cause, age 76):  an all-purpose record producer who sat behind the controls on sessions by the likes of Gary Lewis & the Playboys and Cher to Tanya Tucker, Ronnie Milsap, and Eddie Rabbitt.

Johnny Gimble (May 9, complications of stroke, age 88):  one of country music's most important fiddlers ever, from his stint as a Texas Playboy to session work to his work in the Hee Haw "Million Dollar Band."

Dixie Hall (January 16, brain cancer, age 80):  the wife of Tom T. Hall was his partner in songwriting as well as life, penning over 500 songs for bluegrass and country acts.

Ted Harris (November 22, unknown cause, age 78):  Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer who wrote, among others, the classic "Crystal Chandeliers" and Dottie West's hit "Paper Mansions."

Don Harron (January 17, cancer, age 90):  Canadian actor and writer who spent a quarter of a century making people laugh on Hee Haw as KORN announcer Charlie Farquharson.

John Jennings (October 16, kidney cancer, age 61):  singer and guitarist who produced albums for artists such as Mary-Chapin Carpenter and Iris DeMent.

Wade Jessen (March 5, heart attack, age 53):  Billboard magazine country music editor and host of "Rear View: The History of Country Music" on the Willie's Roadhouse Sirius/XM channel.  

Bob Johnston (August 14, heart failure, age 83):  Columbia Records producer who worked on several albums including Dylan's Nashville Skyline Johnny Cash's classic At Folsom Prison and At San Quentin albums.

Ramona Jones (November 17, heart attack, age 91):  the widow of Grandpa Jones was a singer and instrumentalist herself.

Wayne Kemp (March 9, various illnesses, age 73):  Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member who wrote hits recorded by George Jones ("The Love Bug"), Conway Twitty ("Next In Line"), and George Strait ("The Fireman"), among many others.

Millie Kirkham (December 13, complications of a stroke, age 91):  a Nashville session vocalist who put her mark on history by singing the classic part of Elvis's "Blue Christmas."  She worked with the Jordanaires and the Anita Kerr Singers, singing background on songs such as "Gone" and "Heaven Says Hello."  She was the third member of the Anita Kerr Singers to die in 2015 (along with Dolores Dinning and Dottie Dillard).

Red Lane (July 1, cancer, age 76):  Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member with a long list of hits for acts from Waylon Jennings ("Walk On Out of My Mind") to Willie Nelson ("Black Jack County Chain") to John Conlee ("Miss Emily's Picture").  He co-wrote "Darlin' You Know I Wouldn't Lie" with Wayne Kemp, who also died this year.

Lance Leroy (December 17, unknown causes, age 84):  Bluegrass Hall of Fame music promotor who worked tirelessly for all of his clients, from the superstars (he booked Lester Flatt and the Nashville Grass) to the upstarts.

Neil LeVang (January 26, natural causes, age 83):  multi-instrumentalist who was the primary country musician on The Lawrence Welk Show as well as a session musician for the likes of Elvis, Glen Campbell, and the Judds.

Mosie Lister (February 12, natural causes, age 93):  member of the legendary southern gospel group the Statesmen Quartet and author of a number of gospel songs including "Where No One Stands Alone."

Bill Littleton (January 17, pneumonia, age 75):  songwriter, musician, and journalist who covered country music for Performance magazine.

Benjamin "Tex" Logan (April 24, renal failure, age 85):  renown fiddler who played with Bill Monroe and wrote Monroe's holiday classic "Christmas Time's a-Comin'."

Julia Mainer (January 21, natural causes, age 95):  Wade Mainer's wife of 73 years performed bluegrass and gospel with him for decades.

Sandy Mason (April 1, pancreatic cancer, age 71):  songwriter of such hits as "Two Pina Coladas" by Garth Brooks and Crystal Gayle's "When I Dream."

A.J. Masters (January 19, prostate cancer, age 64):  country songwriter best-known for co-writing "Change My Mind," recorded by both the Oak Ridge Boys and John Berry.

Alan Mayor (February 23, dementia/complications of stroke, age 65):  one of Nashville's best-known photographer of country music stars.

Daron Norwood (July 22, unknown cause, age 49):  90's singer best known for the song "Cowboys Don't Cry."

Tommy Overstreet (November 2, heart disease/lung disease, age 78):  country singer in the early 70's with hits such as "Gwen (Congratulations)," "I Don't Know You (Anymore)," and "Heaven Is My Woman's Love."

Don Pfrimmer (December 7, leukemia, age 78):  country songwriter whose list of hits include Mickey Gilley's "The Power of Positive Drinking," "Meet in the Middle" by Diamond Rio, and Lonestar's hit "My Front Porch Looking In."

Ruth Poe (April 26, natural causes, age 88):  one of the Poe Sisters, members of the Grand Ole Opry in the 1940's, she was one of the last links to the 1940's-era Opry.

Chuck Pyle (November 6, unknown cause, age 70):  singer/songwriter whose songs were recorded by the likes of Jerry Jeff Walker ("Jaded Lover") and Chris LeDoux ("Cadillac Cowboy").

Tandy Rice (August 4, respiratory failure, age 76):  past CMA board of directors president and country music promotor at Top Billing International for acts such as Dolly Parton, Tom T. Hall, and Porter Wagoner.

Jean Ritchie (June 1, natural causes, age 92):  Appalachian folk music singer, songwriter, and historian, her song "Blue Diamond Mines" was covered by the Johnson Mountain Boys.

Don Robertson (March 16, natural causes, age 92):  Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member responsible for writing hits such as "I Really Don't Want to Know," "Please Help Me, I'm Falling," and "I Don't Hurt Anymore."

Billy Joe Royal (October 6, unknown causes, age 73):  60's pop/rock singer ("Down in the Boondocks," "Hush") who successfully transitioned to country singer in the 80's and 90's.

Kenny Seratt (August 25, unknown causes, age 80):  country songwriter and singer with several minor hits, the biggest of which was "Until the Bitter End" in 1980.

Billy Sherrill (August 4, short illness, age 78):  Country Music Hall of Fame songwriter ("Almost Persuaded," "A Very Special Love Song") and producer (George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Elvis Costello) and the man behind the controls when one of country's greatest hits, "He Stopped Loving Her Today," was recorded.

Tom Skinner (July 12, heart disease, age 61):  the former bassist for Garth Brooks' band became a red dirt singer/songwriter later in his career.

Bob Stegall (May 27, Lewy Body disease, age 85):  Louisiana-based country singer and musician who played steel guitar for Johnny Horton.  His son, Keith, is also a country singer.

Patsy Stoneman (July 23, natural causes, age 90):  one of the members of the Stoneman Family and daughter of Hall of Famer Ernest V. "Pop" Stoneman.

John Stuart (April 9, unknown cause, age 83):  the father of country/bluegrass singer Marty Stuart.

Tut Taylor (April 9, natural causes, age 91):  legendary bluegrass Dobro player who played with everyone from John Hartford to backing Roy Acuff on the King of Country Music's final Opry performance. 

Sid Tepper (April 24, natural causes, age 96):  songwriter who teamed up with Roy Bennett to write several Elvis songs ("G.I. Blues," "Song of the Shrimp") as well as hits like "Red Roses for a Blue Lady."

Allen Toussaint (November 9, heart attack, age 77):  legendary singer/songwriter whose long string of credits include Glen Campbell's 1977 #1 hit "Southern Nights."

Elbert West (May 18, illness, age 47):  songwriter who wrote Tracy Lawrence's hits "Sticks and Stones" and "Can't Break It to My Heart."

Hal Willis (September 4, unknown cause, age 82):  Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame member who had an international hit with "The Lumberjack" and also wrote songs such as "Just Ain't" for Flatt & Scruggs and "Don't Tell Me" for Jim Reeves.

James "Spider" Wilson (February 26, cancer, age 79):  Opry staff band guitarist for over 50 years, a member of Little Jimmy Dickens' Country Boys, and prolific session guitarist who worked with the likes of Faron Young, Mel Tillis, Bill Anderson, and Skeeter Davis.

Hugh Wright (September 25, natural causes, age 63):  drummer and co-founder of the band Boy Howdy.

Finally, Craig Strickland, the lead singer for an up-and-coming country-rock band called Backroad Anthem, is missing and feared dead after he and a friend left for a hunting trip on December 27 in the midst of a severe winter storm.  His friend's body was found on December 28, along with a capsized boat.

Farewell, and thank you for the music.

Dates of Note in Country Music, December 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; DJ=Country Disc Jockey; NS=Nashville Songwriter; SG=Southern Gospel; StG=Steel Guitar WS=Western Swing; RR=also in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)

December 16:

Jim Glaser of the Glaser Brothers born in Spalding, Nebraska, 1937 (now 78)
Jeff Carson born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1964 (now 51)
Shelby Singleton born in Waskom, Texas, 1931 (died 2009)
Jenny Lou Carson (NS 71) died in Torrance, California (unknown causes), 1978 (was 63)
Martha Carson died in Nashville, Tennessee (natural causes), 2004 (was 83)
Gary Stewart died in Fort Pierce, Florida (suicide [gunshot]), 2003 (was 58)
Dan Fogelberg died in Deer Island, Maine (cancer), 2007 (was 56)
Ray Price (CM 96) died in Mount Pleasant, Texas (pancreatic cancer), 2013 (was 87)

December 17:

Frankie Miller born in Victoria, Texas, 1931 (now 84)
Sharon White Skaggs born in Wichita Falls, Texas, 1953 (now 62) 
Tracy Byrd born in Vidor, Texas, 1966 (now 49)
Karl Davis born in Mount Vernon, Kentucky, 1905 (died 1979)
Spade Cooley born in Grand, Oklahoma, 1910 (died 1969)
Nat Stuckey born in Cass County, Texas, 1933 (died 1988)
Roy Huskey Jr. born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1956 (died 1997)
Rex Allen Sr. died in Tuscon, Arizona (accidentally run over by car), 1999 (was 77)
Commercial plane carrying Doug Stone crash-lands in Chicago, 1999. Stone was uninjured.

December 18:

Cledus T. Judd (real name: James Poole) born in Crowe Springs, Georgia, 1964 (now 51)
Wilf Carter (Montana Slim) (NS 71) born in Port Hilford, Nova Scotia, 1904 (died 1996)
The Louvin Brothers' first recording session (they recorded "Alabama") at Castle Studios, Nashville, 1947

December 19:

John McEuen of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Bang born in Long Beach, California, 1945 (now 70)
Janie Fricke born in South Whitney, Indiana, 1947 (now 68)
Jumpin' Bill Carlisle (CM 02) born in Wakefield, Kentucky, 1908 (died 2003)
Little Jimmy Dickens (CM 83) born in Bolt, West Virginia, 1920 (died 2015)
Marion Worth died in Madison, Tennessee (emphysema), 1999 (was 69)
Hank Williams' last show, given at the Skyline Club, Austin, Texas, 1952
Johnny Paycheck shot a man outside a bar in Greenfield, Ohio, 1985

December 20:

Skeeter Willis of the Willis Brothers born in Colton, Oklahoma, 1917 (died 1976)
Jack Stapp (CM 89) died in Nashville, Tennessee (unknown cause), 1980 (was 68)
Don Law (CM 01) died in LaMarque, Texas (unknown cause), 1982 (was 80)
Hank Snow (CM 79, NS 78) died in Nashville, Tennessee (various illnesses), 1999 (was 85)
Chip Young died in Nashville, Tennessee (complications from heart surgery), 2014 (was 76)

December 21:

Freddie Hart (NS 04) born in Lockapoke, Alabama, 1926 (now 89)
Lee Roy Parnell born in Abilene, Texas, 1956 (now 59)
Christy Forrester of the Forester Sisters born in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, 1962 (now 53)
Vito Pellettieri born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1889 (died 1977)
Floyd "Lightnin'" Chance born in Como, Mississippi, 1925 (died 2005)
Natchee the Indian (ne Lester Vernon Storer) died in Santa Clara, California (unknown cause), 1970 (was 54)
John Bailes of the Bailes brothers died (unknown cause), 1989 (was 71)
Harold Morrison died in Springfield, Missouri (illness), 1993 (was 62)

December 22:

Red Stegall born in Gainesville, Texas, 1937 (now 78)
Chuck Mead of BR5-49 born in Nevada, Missouri, 1960 (now 55)
Paul Martin of Exile born in Winchester, Kentucky, 1962 (now 53)
Harold "Hawkshaw" Hawkins born in Huntington, West Virginia, 1921 (died 1963)
Dave Dudley died in Danbury, Wisconsin (heart attack), 2003 (was 75)
Dennis Linde (NS 01) died in Nashville, Tennessee (lung disease), 2006 (was 63)

December 23:

Murray "Buddy" Harman born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1928 (died 2008)

December 24:

Lulu Belle Wiseman born in Boone, North Carolina, 1913 (died 1999)
Zane Beck (StG 91) born in Clarksville, Arkansas, 1927 (died 1985)
Jake Hess (SG 97) born in Limestone County, Alabama, 1927 (died 2004)
Stoney Edwards born in Seminole, Oklahoma, 1929 (died 1997)
William J. "Billy" Hill (NS 82) died in Boston, Massachusetts (heart attack), 1940 (was 41)
Charlie Moore died in Maryland (illness), 1979 (was 44)

December 25:

J.R. "Curly" Seckler (BG 04) born in China Grove, North Carolina, 1919 (now 96)
Jimmy Buffett (NS 06) born in Pascagoula, Mississippi, 1946 (now 69)
Barbara Mandrell (CM 09, StG 09) born in Houston, Texas, 1948 (now 67)
Steve Wariner born in Noblesville, Indiana, 1954 (now 61)
Alton Delmore (CM 01, NS 71) born in Elkmont, Alabama, 1908 (died 1964)
Billy Nelson, Willie Nelson's son, died in Nashville, Tennessee (suicide [hanged self]), 1991 (was 33)
Johnny Cash and family robbed and held at gunpoint in their Jamaica home, 1982

December 26:

Ronnie Prophet born in Calument, Quebec, 1938 (now 77)
Bob Carpenter of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1946 (now 69)
Travis Lewis of the Lewis Family (BG 06) born in Greenwood, South Carolina, 1958 (now 57)
Audrey Wiggins born in Asheville, North Carolina, 1967 (now 48)
Beecher Ray "Pete" "Bashful Brother Oswald" Kirby born in Sevier County, Tennessee, 1911 (died 2002)
Harry Choates born in Rayne, Louisiana, 1911 (died 1951)
Jimmie Osborne died in Louisville, Kentucky (suicide [gunshot]), 1957 (was 34)
Red Foley and wife Sally injured in a fire in their apartment in Nashhville, 1964

December 27:

Leonard T. "LT" Zinn (StG 05) born in Hanover, Pennsylvania, 1924 (now 91)
Scotty Moore born in Gadsden, Tennessee, 1931 (now 84)
Les Taylor of Exile born in Oneida, Kentucky, 1948 (now 67)
Darrin Vincent of Dailey &Vincent born in Kirkville, Missouri, 1969 (now 46)
John Hughey (StG 96) born in Elaine, Arkansas, 1933 (died 2007)
Bob Luman died in Nashville, Tennessee (pneumonia), 1978 (was 41)
Hoagy Carmichael (NS 88) died in Rancho Mirage, California (heart ailment), 1981 (was 82)
Kent Robbins (NS 98) died in Clanton, Alabama (car wreck), 1997 (was 50)
Vestal Goodman (SG 02) died in Celebration, Florida (complications from the flu), 2003 (was 74)
Hank "Sugarfoot" Garland died in Orange Park, Florida (staph infection), 2004 (was 74)

December 28:

Joe Diffie born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1958 (now 57)
Mike McGuire of Shenandoah born in Haleyville, Alabama, 1958 (now 57)
Marty Roe of Diamond Rio born in Lebanon, Ohio, 1960 (now 55)
Dorsey Burnette born in Memphis, Tennessee, 1932 (died 1979)
Mike Auldridge (BG 14) died in Silver Spring, Maryland (cancer), 2012 (was 73)
Hank Williams Jr.'s first recording session at age 14, 1963

December 29:

Rose Lee Maphis born in Baltimore, Maryland, 1922 (now 93)
Ed Bruce born in Keiser, Arkansas, 1939 (now 76)

December 30:

Melvin Goins (BG 09) born in Bramwell, West Virginia, 1933 (now 82)
Suzy Bogguss born in Aledo, Illinois, 1956 (now 59)
Joaquin Murphey (StG 80) born in Hollywood, California, 1923 (died 1999)
Bob Ferguson born in Willow Spring, Missouri, 1927 (died 2001)
Orville "Red" Rhodes (StG 05) born in Alton, Illinois, 1930 (died 1995)
Skeeter Davis (nee Mary Frances Penick) born in Dry Ridge, Kentucky, 1931 (died 2004)
John Hartford (BG 10) born in New York, New York, 1937 (died 2001)
Mike Auldridge (BG 14) born in Washington, DC, 1938 (died 2012)
Elsie McWilliams (NS 79) died in Meridian, Mississippi (natural causes), 1985 (was 89)
Henry Strzelecki died in Nashville, Tennessee (hit by car), 2014 (was 75)


December 31:

Talmade Lewis of the Lewis Family (BG 06) born in Lincolnton, Georgia, 1934 (now 81)
Rex Allen Sr. born in Wilcox, Arizona, 1920 (died 1999)
Dale Noe born in New Boston, Ohio, 1927 (died 2005)
John Denver born in Roswell, New Mexico, 1943 (died 1997)
Rick Nelson died in DeKalb, Texas (plane crash), 1985 (was 45)
Floyd Cramer (CM 03) died in Nashville, Tennessee (lung cancer), 1997 (was 64)
Jim McReynolds of Jim & Jesse (BG 93) died in Gallatin, Tennessee (cancer), 2002 (was 75)
Charlie Louvin injured in car accident near Manchester, Tennessee, 2001
The original Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum building closed, 2000