Dates of Note in Country Music, November 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; DJ=Country Disc Jockey; NS=Nashville Songwriter; SG=Southern Gospel; StG=Steel Guitar; WS=Western Swing; GLA=Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award; RR=country performer also in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)

November 1:

Bill Anderson (CM 01, NS 75) born in Columbia, South Carolina, 1937 (now 84)
Keith Stegall born in Wichita Falls, Texas, 1954 (now 67)
Lyle Lovett born in Klein, Texas, 1957 (now 64)
Lew Childre born in Opp, Alabama, 1901 (died 1961)
Buddy Killen died in Nashville, Tennessee (cancer), 2006 (was 73)
Jack Reno died in Florence, Kentucky (brain cancer), 2008 (was 72)
Jan Crutchfield died in Nashville, Tennessee (unknown cause), 2012 (was 74)
Dave Rowland of Dave & Sugar died in Nashville, Tennessee (stroke), 2018 (was 74)

November 2:

John David Souther born in Detroit, Michigan, 1945 (now 76)
Earl Yager of the Johnson Mountain Boys (BG 20) born in Gordonsville, Virginia, 1953 (now 68)
k.d. lang born in Consort, Alberta, 1961 (now 60)
Charlie Walker born in Copeville, Texas, 1926 (died 2008)
Elaine Tubb, former wife of Ernest Tubb and subject of the song "Blue-Eyed Elaine," died in Nashville, Tennessee, 2001 (was 85)
Tommy Overstreet died in Hillsboro, Oregon (heart disease/lung disease), 2015 (was 78)

November 3:

Ray Edenton born in Mineral, Virginia, 1926 (now 95)
Fabor Robison born in Beebe, Arkansas, 1911 (died 1986)
Leon Huff born in Whitesboro, Texas, 1912 (died 1952)
John Maddox of the Maddox Brothers & Rose born in Boaz, Alabama, 1915 (died 1968)
Kay Starr died in Beverly Hills, California (Alzheimer's disease), 2016 (was 94)
The first inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame -- Jimmie Rodgers, Fred Rose, and Hank Williams -- announced, 1961
Merle Haggard paroled from San Quentin prison, 1960

November 4:

Kim Forrester born in Oglethorpe, Georgia, 1960 (now 61)
Will Rogers born near Oologah, Oklahoma, 1879 (died 1935)
Audrey Williams died in Nashville, Tennessee (illness), 1975 (was 52)
Dale Noe died in Phoenix, Arizona (unknown cause), 2004 (was 76)

November 5:

Lowell Blanchard born in Palmer, Illinois, 1910 (died 1968). Blanchard was the program director at WNOX in the 1930's and began the Midday Merry-Go-Round.
Roy Rogers (ne Leonard Slye) (CM 80 and 88) born in Cincinnati, Ohio, 1911 (died 1998)
Roy Horton (CM 82) born in Broad Top, Pennsylvania, 1914 (died 2003)
Billy Sherrill (CM 10, NS 84) born in Phil Campbell, Alabama, 1936 (died 2015)
Gram Parsons born in Winter Haven, Florida, 1946 (died 1973)
Johnny Horton died in Milano, Texas (car wreck), 1960 (was 35)
Jimmie Davis (CM 72, NS 71) died in Baton Rouge, Louisiana (natural causes), 2000 (was 101)
Dorothy Southworth Ritter died in Woodland Hills, California (natural causes), 2003 (was 88)
Author/biographer Patsi Bale-Cox died in Nashville, Tennessee (emphysema), 2011 (was 66)
Roy Acuff Jr. died in Nashville, Tennessee (unknown cause), 2015 (was 72)

November 6:

Stonewall Jackson born in Emerson, North Carolina, 1932 (now 89)
Guy Clark (NS 04) born in Monahan, Texas, 1941 (died 2016)
Doug Sahm born in San Antonio, Texas, 1941 (died 1999)
Glenn Frey of the Eagles born in Detroit, Michigan, 1948 (died 2016)
Hank Thompson (CM 89, NS 97) died in Fort Worth, Texas (lung cancer), 2007 (was 82)
Elvis Presley became a member of Louisiana Hayride, 1954

November 7:

Robin Lee born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1953 (now 68)
Red Ingle born in Toledo, Ohio, 1906 (died 1965)
Archie Campbell born in Bull's Gap, Tennessee, 1914 (died 1987)
Howard "Happy" Goodman (SG 98) born in northeast Alabama, 1921 (died 2002)
A.P. Carter (CM 70, NS 70) died in Kingsport, Tennessee (heart ailment), 1960 (was 68)
Gene Wooten died in Nashville, Tennessee (cancer), 2001 (was 49)
Red Foley's daughter, Shirley, married Pat Boone, 1953
Marty Robbins participated in his final NASCAR race, 1982

November 8:

Patti Page (Clara Fowler) born in Claremore, Oklahoma, 1927 (died 2013)
Scotty Wiseman (NS 71) born in Ingalls, North Carolina, 1909 (died 1981)
Ivory Joe Hunter died in Memphis, Tennessee (lung cancer), 1974 (was 60). A number of the R&B singer/songwriter's songs were turned into country hits by Sonny James, including "Since I Met You, Baby" and "Empty Arms."
Bobby Caldwell (StG 10) died in St. Louis, Missouri (cancer), 2009 (was 68)
Charlie Dick died in Nashville, Tennessee (natural causes), 2015 (was 81)

November 9:

George D. Hay (CM 66) born in Attica, Indiana, 1895 (died 1968)
Curly Fox born in Graysville, Tennessee, 1910 (died 1995)
James "Spider" Rich, co-writer of "Yakety Sax," died (unknown cause), 2003 (was 80)

November 10:

Donna Fargo (Yvonne Vaughn) born in Mount Airy, North Carolina, 1940 (now 81)
Pat Severs of Pirates of the Mississippi born in Elmira, New York, 1952 (now 69)
Paul Cohen (CM 76) born in Chicago, Illinois, 1908 (died 1970)
Buford Abner of the Swanee River Boys (SG 02) born in Lineville, Alabama, 1917 (died 2011)
Onie Wheeler born in Senath, Missouri, 1921 (died 1984)
Dave "Stringbean" Akeman died in Ridgetop, Tennessee (murdered), 1973 (was 58)
Arnim "Curly" Fox died in Graysville, Tennessee (natural causes), 1995 (was 85)
The Edmund Fitzgerald sank in Lake Superior, killing all 29 aboard, 1975. The shipwreck inspired Gordon Lightfoot's 1976 pop/country/folk hit "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald."

November 11:

Narvel Felts born near Keiser, Arkansas, 1938 (now 83)
Hank "Sugarfoot" Garland born in Cow Pens, South Carolina, 1930 (died 2004)
Don Stover (BG 02) died in Brandywine, Maryland (cancer), 1996 (was 68)
Wade Ray died in Sparta, Illinois (illness), 1998 (was 85)
Mary Reeves Davis, widow of Jim Reeves and manager of Jim Reeves Enterprises and the Jim Reeves Museum, died in Nashville, Tennessee (Alzheimer's disease), 1999 (was 70)

November 12:

Barbara Fairchild born in Lafe, Arkansas, 1950 (now 71)
Jerry Kilgore born in Tillamook, Oregon, 1964 (now 57)
Jo Stafford born in Coalinga, California, 1917 (died 2008). The pop singer was the girl singer on Red Ingle & Natural Seven's hit "Tem-Tay-Shun."
John Lair, Renfro Valley Barn Dance founder, died in Mount Vernon, Kentucky (natural causes), 1985 (was 91)
Homer and Jethro's legendary live album At the Country Club recorded in Nashville, 1959
Groundbreaking ceremonies held for construction of the Grand Ole Opry House (current home of the Opry), 1971
The IRS confiscated Willie Nelson's belongings as payment for his tax bill, 1990

November 13:

Ray Wylie Hubbard born in Soper, Oklahoma, 1946 (now 75)
Jack Guthrie born in Olive, Oklahoma, 1915 (died 1948)
Buddy Killen born in Florence, South Carolina, 1932 (died 2006)
Jerry Lee Lewis Jr. died near Hernando, Mississippi (car wreck), 1973 (was 20)
Steve Nelson (NS 73) died (unknown cause), 1981 (was 73)
Alvin "Junior" Samples died in Cumming, Georgia (heart attack), 1983 (was 57)

Doug Supernaw died in Texas (bladder and lung cancer), 2020 (was 60)

November 14:

Gretchen Peters (NS 14) born in Bronxville, New York, 1957 (now 64)
Ken Carson born in Coalgate, Oklahoma, 1914 (died 1994)
Noel Boggs (StG 81) born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 1917 (died 1974)
Robert Whitstein died in Colfax, Louisiana (heart attack), 2001 (was 57)

November 15:

William Fries (C.W. McCall) born in Audubon, Iowa, 1928 (now 93)
Jack Ingram born in Houston, Texas, 1970 (now 51)
Albert E. Brumley (NS 70, SG 97) died in Powell, Missouri (unknown cause), 1977 (was 72)
Speedy West (StG 81) died in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma (unknown cause), 2003 (was 79)
Holly Dunn died in Albuquerque, New Mexico (ovarian cancer), 2016 (was 59)
Roy Clark (CM 09) died in Tulsa, Oklahoma (pneumonia), 2018 (was 85)

Good Ol’ Rocky Top

 Category: News/Obituary

The year 2021 continues to make us weep as we bid farewell to our music greats.  This time, it’s Roland “Sonny” Osborne.

Osborne, the banjo playing half of the Bluegrass Hall of Fame Osborne Brothers, died Sunday (10/24) after suffering a stroke.

Hailing from the eastern Kentucky town of Hyden (best known for the 1970 coal mining disaster there), Bobby and Sonny Osborne grew up with a love of music, drawn to the sounds heard on the Grand Ole Opry.  Before Bobby, six years Sonny’s senior, joined the Marine Corps the two brothers had formed a band and were playing locally.  While Bobby was in the Marines in Korea, Sonny managed to land one of the most enviable jobs in music: banjo player in Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys. 

After Bobby was discharged the brothers worked basically with other acts, including 1954 recordings with Jimmy Martin (who was fresh out of Monroe’s band himself) and trio recordings with Red Allen.

Forming their own band in the early 60s, the Osborne Brothers were forerunners of “modern bluegrass” or “newgrass.”  Sonny started using electric banjos, and a number of the Osborne Brothers’ hits in the late 60s and early 70s featured famously NON-bluegrass instruments like electric guitars, steel guitars, and drums.

And then there’s “Rocky Top.”

The Felice and Boudleaux Bryant song went from a little tune to being an official state song of Tennessee, the “fight song” for the University of Tennessee’s sports teams, and even the name of the former town of Lake City, Tennessee.  People who know nothing else about country or bluegrass music know “Rocky Top.”

Sonny retired from performing professionally following rotator cuff surgery in the early 2000s, and Bobby transitioned to a solo act with his band Rocky Top X-Press.  Sonny remained very active in music, though, writing columns for Bluegrass Today and teaching banjo.

Farewell to the great Sonny Osborne, who was five days shy of his 84th birthday. 

Dates of Note in Country Music, October 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; GLA=Grammy Lifetime Achievement recipient; RR=also inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)

October 16:

Jim Ed Norman born in Ft. Myers, Florida, 1948 (now 73)
Stoney Cooper born in Harman, West Virginia, 1918 (died 1977)
Doyle Wilburn died in Nashville, Tennessee (cancer), 1982 (was 52)
Don Reno (BG 92) died in Charlottesville, Virginia (post-operative complications), 1984 (was 58)
Danny Dill (NS 75) died in Nashville, Tennessee (unknown cause), 2008 (was 84)

Johnny Bush died in San Antonio, Texas (pneumonia), 2020 (was 85)
Naomi Judd retired from touring because of health issues, 1990
Ralph Stanley Museum opened, 2004

October 17:

Alan Jackson (CM 17, NS 11) born in Newman, Georgia, 1958 (now 63)
Earl Thomas Conley born in Portsmouth, Ohio, 1941 (died 2019)
Tennessee Ernie Ford (CM 90) died in Reston, Virginia (liver disease), 1991 (was 72)
Jay Livingston died in Los Angeles, California (pneumonia), 2001 (was 86). Among the songwriter's many credits were "Bonanza!," which Johnny Cash recorded, and "The Hanging Tree," which Marty Robbins recorded.
Bashful Brother Oswald (Beecher Ray Kirby) died in Nashville, Tennessee (cancer), 2002 (was 90)

Bob Kingsley (DJ 98) died in Weatherford, Texas (bladder cancer), 2019 (was 80)

October 18:

Keith Knudsen of Southern Pacific born in Ames, Iowa, 1952 (now 69)
Chuck Berry (NS 82, RR 86; GLA 84) born in San Jose, California, 1926 (died 2017)
Harty Taylor of Karl & Harty died (stroke), 1963 (was 58)
Don Hecht died in Miami, Florida (heart attack), 2002 (was 72)
Paul Craft (NS 14) died in Nashville, Tennessee (illness), 2014 (was 76)
Hank Williams married Billie Jean Jones in Minden, Louisiana, 1952. After Williams' death, she would marry Johnny Horton.

October 19:

Jeannie C. Riley born in Anson, Texas, 1945 (now 76)
Charlie Chase born in Rogersville, Tennessee, 1952 (now 69)
Arthur E. "Uncle Art" Satherley (CM 71) born in Bristol, England, 1889 (died 1986)
Don Parmley of the Bluegrass Cardinals born in Oliver Springs, Tennessee, 1933 (died 2016)
Grant Turner (CM 81) died in Nashville, Tennessee (heart failure), 1991 (was 79)
The first CMA Awards were held in Nashville, 1967. The awards show was not televised.

October 20:

Wanda Jackson born in Maud, Oklahoma, 1937 (now 84)
Stuart Hamblin (NS 70) born in Kellyville, Texas, 1908 (died 1989)
Louis "Grandpa" Jones (CM 78) born in Niagara, Kentucky, 1913 (died 1998)
Kenny Seratt born in Manilla, Arkansas, 1934 (died 2015)
Merle Travis (CM 77, NS 70) died in Tahlequah, Oklahoma (heart attack), 1983 (was 65)
Leon Ashley died in Hendersonville, Tennessee (illness), 2013 (was 77)
Rounder Records founded by Ken Irwin, Bill Nowlin, and Marian Leighton, 1970. Mr. Nowlin says this "birth" of Rounder is based on the date of their first invoice.

October 21:

Steve Cropper (NS 10) born in Willow Springs, Missouri, 1941 (now 80)
Owen Bradley (CM 74) born in Westmoreland, Tennessee, 1915 (died 1998)
Bill Black died in Memphis, Tennessee (brain tumor), 1965 (was 39)
Mel Street born in Grundy, Virginia, 1933 (died 1978)
Mel Street died in Hendersonville, Tennessee (suicide), 1978 (45th birthday)
Sonny Burns died in Nacogdoches, Texas (unknown cause), 1992 (was 62)
Leona Johnson Atkins, member of WLW's Johnson Twins and widow of Chet Atkins, died in Nashville, Tennessee (illness), 2009 (was 85)

October 22:

Shelby Lynn born in Quantico, Virginia, 1968 (now 53)
Curly Chalker (StG 85) born in Enterprise, Alabama, 1931 (died 1998)
Leon Chappelear died in Gladewater, Texas (suicide), 1962 (was 53)
Dorothy Shay, the "Park Avenue Hillbillie," died in Santa Monica, California (heart attack), 1978 (was 57)

Margie Bowes died in Brentwood, Tennessee (long illness), 2020 (was 81)

October 23:

Dwight Yoakam (NS 19) born in Pikeville, Kentucky, 1956 (now 65)
Junior Bryant of Ricochet born in Pecos, Texas, 1968 (now 53)
Eric Gibson of the Gibson brothers born in Clinton, New York, 1970 (now 51)
Mother Maybelle Carter (CM 70, BG 01) died in Nashville, Tennessee (respiratory arrest), 1978 (was 69)
Merle Watson died in Caldwell County, North Carolina (tractor accident), 1985 (was 36). His father Doc's long-lasting tribute to his late son is the annual bluegrass and roots music event known as "MerleFest."
Rusty Kershaw died in New Orleans, Louisiana (heart attack), 2001 (was 63)
Jeanne Black died in Orem, Utah (Alzheimer's disease), 2014 (was 77)

Jerry Jeff Walker died in Austin, Texas (throat cancer), 2020 (was 78)

October 24:

John Bettis (NS 11) born in Long Beach, California, 1946 (now 75)
Jiles Perry "The Big Bopper" Richardson born in Sabine Pass, Texas, 1930 (died 1959). Among his songwriter credits are "White Lightnin'" by friend George Jones and Hank Snow's "Beggar to a King."
Sanger D. Shafer (NS 89) born in Whitney, Texas, 1934 (died 2019)
Mark Gray of Exile born in Vicksburg, Mississippi, 1952 (died 2016)
Kirk McGee died in Nashville, Tennessee (natural causes), 1983 (was 83)
Gene Sullivan (NS 71) died in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (unknown cause), 1984 (was 70)
Rosey Nix Adams, daughter of June Carter Cash, died in Montgomery County, Tennessee (carbon monoxide poisoning), 2003 (was 45)

Sonny Osborne (BG 94) died in Nashville, Tennessee (complications of a stroke), 2021 (was 83)

October 25:

Mark Miller of Sawyer Brown born in Dayton, Ohio, 1958 (now 63)
Cousin Minnie Pearl (Sarah Ophelia Colley Canon) (CM 75) born in Grinders Switch (actually, Centerville), Tennessee, 1912 (died 1996)
Jeanne Black born in Pomona, California, 1937 (died 2014)
Johnnie Lee Willis died (heart ailment), 1984 (was 72)
Roger Miller (CM 95, NS 73) died in Los Angeles, California (throat cancer), 1992 (was 56)
Earl "Joaquin" Murphey (StG 80) died in Los Angeles, California (cancer), 1999 (was 75)
Johnny Cash's last concert performance, Flint Michigan, 1997

October 26:

Neal Matthews Jr. (CM 01) born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1929 (died 2000)
Hoyt Axton died in Victor, Montana (heart attack), 1999 (was 62)

Rose Lee Maphis died in Nashville, Tennessee (natural causes), 2021 (was 98)
Statler Brothers' final concert in their hometown of Salem, Virginia, 2002

October 27:

Dallas Frazier (NS 76) born in Spiro, Oklahoma, 1939 (now 82)
Lee Greenwood born in Southgate, California, 1942 (now 79)
Snuffy Jenkins born in Harris, North Carolina, 1908 (died 1990)
Floyd Cramer (CM 03) born in Campti, Louisiana, 1933 (died 1997)
Ruby Wright born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1939 (died 2009)
Allan "Rocky" Lane died in Woodland Hills, California (cancer), 1973 (was 72). He is mentioned in the Statler Brothers' "Whatever Happened to Randolph Scott."
Hoyt Hawkins (CM 01) died in Nashville, Tennessee (heart attack), 1982 (was 55)
Freddie Hart (NS 04) died in Burbank, California (pneumonia), 2018 (was 91)
Grand Ole Opry moved to the Hillsboro Theater, 1934
The Anaheim Angels won game seven of the World Series and their first (and to date, only) World Series title, 2002.  The Angels were owned by Gene Autry until his death, and the team dedicated the championship to his memory.

October 28:

Mitchell Torok born in Houston, Texas, 1929 (now 92)
Brad Paisley born in Glen Dale, West Virginia, 1972 (now 49)
Bill Bolick of the Blue Sky Boys born in Hickory, North Carolina, 1917 (died 2008)

Charlie Daniels (CM 16) born in Wilmington, North Carolina, 1936 (died 2020)
Jimmy Skinner died in Nashville, Tennessee (heart attack), 1979 (was 70)
Mel Foree died (cancer), 1990 (age unknown)
Marijohn Wilkin (NS 75) died in Nashville, Tennessee (heart disease), 2006 (was 86)
Porter Wagoner (CM 02) died in Nashville, Tennessee (lung cancer), 2007 (was 80)

Billy Joe Shaver died in Waco, Texas (stroke), 2020 (was 81)

October 29:

Charlie Monk born in Noma, Florida, 1938 (now 83)
Albert E. Brumley (NS 70) born in Spiro, Oklahoma, 1905 (died 1977)
Ramblin' Jimmie Dolan born in Gardena, California, 1916 (died 1994)

Sonny Osborne (BG 94) born in Roark, Kentucky, 1937 (died 2021)

Fred Maddox died in Fresno, California (heart disease), 1992 (was 73)

October 30:

Timothy B. Schmit of Poco and the Eagles born in Sacramento, California, 1947 (now 74)
T. Graham Brown born in Atlanta, Georgia, 1954 (now 67)
Patsy Montana (nee Ruby Rose Blevins) (CM 96) born in Hope, Arkansas, 1908 (died 1996)
Billy Bowman (StG 89) born in Johnson City, Tennessee, 1928 (died 1989)
Clifton Clowers born in Wolverton Mountain, Conway County, Arkansas, 1891 (died 1994)
Ron Davies died in Nashville, Tennessee (heart attack), 2003 (was 57)
Curly Putman (NS 76) died in Lebanon, Tennessee (long illness), 2016 (was 85)
Kitty Wells and Johnnie Wright wed, 1937 

October 31:

Richard "Kinky" Friedman born in Chicago, Illinois, 1944 (now 77)
Dale Evans born in Uvalde, Texas, 1912 (died 2001)
Tom Morrell (Steel Guitar 01) born in Dallas, Texas, 1938 (died 2007)
Carl Belew (NS 76) died in Salina, Oklahoma (cancer), 1990 (was 59)

Bob Atcher died in Prospect, Kentucky (unknown causes), 1993 (was 79)