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; StG=Steel Guitar; GLA= Grammy Lifetime Achievement recipient; PMF= Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient; RR=country performer also in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)

April 1:

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

Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith born in Clinton, South Carolina, 1921 (died 2014)

Jimmy Logsdon born in Panther, Kentucky, 1922 (died 2001)
Jim Ed Brown (CM 15) born in Sparkman, Arkansas, 1934 (died 2015)

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

Roland White (BG 17, BG 19) died in Nashville, Tennessee (complications from heart attack), 2022 (was 83)

C.W. McCall died in Ouray, Colorado (lung cancer), 2022 (was 93)

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:

Sonny Throckmorton (NS 87) born in Carlsbad, New Mexico, 1941 (now 81)

Emmylou Harris (CM 08) born in Birmingham, Alabama, 1947 (now 75)

Dean Townson of Pirates of the Mississippi born in Battle Creek, Michigan, 1959 (now 63)

Billy Dean born in Quincy, Florida, 1962 (now 60)
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.

Warner Mack born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1938 (died 2022)

Cliff Carlisle died in Lexington, Kentucky (unknown cause), 1983 (was 78)
Former Country Gentleman Doyle Lawson formed Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, 1979

April 3:

Richard Thompson born in Notting Hill, London, 1949 (now 73).  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 72)

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)
Billy Joe Royal born in Valdosta, Georgia, 1942 (died 2015)

Ella Mae Cooley murdered in Tehachapi, California, 1961 (was 37). Her husband, self-proclaimed "King of Western Swing" Spade Cooley, was convicted of her murder and sentenced to life in prison.
David Keli'i (StG 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)
Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith died in Charlotte, North Carolina (natural causes), 2014 (was 93)
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:

Steve Gatlin of the Gatlin Brothers born in Olney, Texas, 1951 (now 70)

Cy Coben (ne Cohen)  born in Jersey City, New Jersey, 1919 (died 2006)
Norro Wilson (NS 96) born in Scottsville, Kentucky, 1938 (died 2017)
Troy Gentry of Montgomery Gentry born in Lexington, Kentucky, 1967 (died 2017)

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 91). 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 84)

Tommy Cash born in Dyess, Arkansas, 1940 (now 82)

Bob McDill (NS 85) born in Beaumont, Texas, 1944 (now 78)
Pat Green born in San Antonio, Texas, 1972 (now 50)
Lewis Phillips of the Lewis Family (BG 06) born in Washington, GA, 1972 (now 50)
Laura Rogers of the Secret Sisters born in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, 1986 (now 36)
Jack Clement (CM 13, NS 73) 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 (RR 02) 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:

Vernon Dalhart (CM 81, NS 70) (ne Marion Try Slaughter) born in Marion County, Texas, 1883 (died 1948)

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

Wade Ray born in Griffin, Indiana, 1913 (died 1998)
Merle Haggard (CM 94, NS 77, GLA 06) born in Bakersfield, California, 1937 (died 2016)
Tammy Wynette (CM 98, NS 09) died in Nashville, Tennessee (heart failure attributed to blood clot), 1998 (was 55)
Merle Haggard (CM 94, NS 77, GLA 06) died in Palo Cedro, California (pneumonia), 2016 (79th birthday) 

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 87)

John Dittrich of Restless Heart born in New York, New York, 1951 (now 71)

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 (StG 99) died in Watertown, Tennessee (plane crash), 2004 (was 62)
George Shuffler (BG 11) died in Valdese, North Carolina (long illness), 2014 (was 88)
John Prine (NS 03) died in Nashville, Tennessee (COVID-19), 2020 (was 73)

April 8:

John Schneider born in Mount Kisco, New York, 1960 (now 62)

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

April 9:

Margo Smith born in Dayton, Ohio, 1942 (now 80)

Con Hunley born in Fountain City, Tennessee, 1945 (now 77)

Mark Roberts of the Red Clay Ramblers born in Wareham, Massachusetts, 1957 (now 65)

Dave Innis of Restless Heart born in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, 1959 (now 63)

Carl Perkins (NS 85, RR 87) born in Tiptonville, Tennessee, 1932 (died 1998)

Hal Ketchum born in Greenwich, New York, 1953 (died 2020)

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

Mae Boren Axton died in Nashville, Tennessee (natural causes), 1997 (was 82)
Tut Taylor died in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina (natural causes), 2015 (was 91)

April 10:

Fiddlin' Arthur Smith born in Bold Spring, Tennessee, 1898 (died 1971)

Sheb Wooley born in Enick, Oklahoma, 1921 (died 2003)
DeWitt "Scotty" Scott (StG 92) born in Amarillo, Texas, 1932 (died 2015)
Weldon Myrick (StG 97) born in Jayton, Texas, 1938 (died 2014)

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 64)

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 (StG 78) died in Honolulu, Hawaii (complications of Parkinson's disease), 2005 (was 85)

April 12:

Ron Elliott (StG 09) born in Salisbury, Maryland, 1936 (now 86)

Vince Gill (CM 07, NS 05) born in Norman, Oklahoma, 1957 (now 66)

Ernie Lee born in Berea, Kentucky, 1916 (died 1991)
Ned Miller born in Raines, Utah, 1925 (died 2016)

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 (BG 20) born in Bowling Green, Kentucky, 1952 (now 70)

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, GLA 10, PMF 13) born in Butcher Holler, Kentucky, 1932 (now 90)

Stuart Duncan of the Nashville Bluegrass Band born in Quantico, Virginia, 1964 (now 57)

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

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

Rusty Young of Poco (StG 13) died in Davisville, Missouri (heart attack), 2021 (was 75)

April 15:

Chris Stapleton born in Lexington, Kentucky, 1978 (now 44)

J.L. Frank (CM 67) born in Limestone County, Alabama, 1900 (died 1952)
Roy Clark (CM 09) born in Meherrin, Virginia, 1933 (died 2018)

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.

Dates of Note in Country Music, March 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; RB=Rockabilly; SG=Southern Gospel; StG=Steel Guitar; WMA=Western Music Association; WS=Western Swing; GLA=Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award; RR=country performer also inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.)

March 16:

Ray Walker of the Jordanaires (CM 01) born in Centerville, Mississippi, 1934 (now 88)
Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel (WS 94) born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1951 (now 71)
Tim O'Brien born in Wheeling, West Virginia, 1954 (now 68)
Stan Thorn of Shenandoah born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, 1959 (now 63)
Ronnie McCoury born in York County, Pennsylvania, 1967 (now 55)

Jerry Jeff Walker (ne Ronald Clyde Crosby) born in Oneonta, New York, 1942 (died 2020)
Robert Whitstein born in Colfax, Louisiana, 1944 (died 2001)
Carlton Haney (BG 98) died in Greensboro, North Carolina (stroke), 2011 (was 82)
Plane crash at Otay Mountain near San Diego, California kills Reba McEntire band members Chris Austin, Kirk Capello, Joey Cigainero, Paula Kaye Evans, Terry Jackson, Michael Thomas, and Tony Saputo, 1991

March 17:

Paul Overstreet (NS 03) born in Newton, Mississippi, 1955 (now 67)
Dick Curless born in Fort Fairfield, Maine, 1932 (died 1995)

Jim Weatherly (NS 06) born in Pontotoc, Mississippi, 1943 (died 2021)
Hugh Farr (CM 80) died in Casper, Wyoming (unknown causes), 1980 (was 77)
Jimmy Gately died in Madison, Tennessee (unknown causes), 1985 (was 53)
Sammy Pruett died in Birmingham, Alabama (unknown causes), 1988 (was 61)
Terry Stafford died in Amarillo, Texas (liver failure), 1996 (was 55)
Bill Carlisle (CM 02) died in Nashville, Tennessee (natural causes), 2003 (was 94)
Ferlin Husky (CM 10) died in Nashville, Tennessee (congestive heart failure/colon cancer), 2011 (was 85)
Steve Young died in Nashville, Tennessee (complications from a fall), 2016 (was 73)
Chuck Berry (NS 82, RR 86) died in Wentzville, Missouri (heart attack), 2017 (was 90)

March 18:

Billy Armstrong born in Streator, Illinois, 1930 (now 92)
James McMurty born in Fort Worth, Texas, 1962 (now 60)
Smiley Burnette (NS 71) born in Summum, Illinois, 1911 (died 1967)

Charley Pride (CM 00, GLA 17) born in Sledge, Mississippi, 1934 (died 2020)

Margie Bowes born in Roxboro, North Carolina, 1941 (died 2020)
Dennis Linde (NS 05) born in Abilene, Texas, 1943 (died 2006)
John Phillips of the Mamas and Papas died in Los Angeles, California (heart failure), 2001 (was 65). His solo hit, "Mississippi," was a country hit in 1971.
Ned Miller died in Medford, Oregon (natural causes), 2016 (was 90)
Dave Rich died in Loanview, Texas (unknown cause), 2020 (was 84)

March 19:

Henry "Friendly Henry" Maddox born in Boaz, Alabama, 1928 (died 1974)

Bob Kingsley (DJ 98) born, 1939 (died 2019)
Speck Rhodes died in Nashville, Tennessee (natural causes), 2000 (was 84)
Randall Hylton died in Nashville, Tennessee (brain aneurysm), 2001 (was 55)
Tootsie's Orchid Lounge opened in Nashville, 1960

March 20:

Tommy Hunter born in London, Ontario, 1937 (now 85)

Don Edwards (WMA 05) born in Boonton, New Jersey, 1939 (now 83)
Douglas B. Green (Ranger Doug) of Riders in the Sky and the Time Jumpers born in Great Lakes, Illinois, 1946 (now 76)
Jim Seales of Shenandoah born in Hamilton, Alabama, 1954 (now 68)
Jerry Reed (CM 17, NS 05) born in Atlanta, Georgia, 1937 (died 2008)
Ralph Mooney (StG 83) died in Kennedale, Texas (kidney cancer), 2011 (was 82)
Kenny Rogers (CM 13) died in Sandy Springs, Georgia (cancer), 2020 (was 81)

J.T. Gray (BG 20) died in Nashville, Tennessee (illness), 2021 (was 75)

March 21:

Carol Lee Cooper born in West Virginia, 1942 (now 80)
Tommy Hill died in Nashville, Tennessee (liver and heart ailments), 2002 (was 72)

March 22:

Charlie Poole born in Randolph County, North Carolina, 1892 (died 1931)
Hoyle Nix of the West Texas Cowboys born in Azel, Texas, 1918 (died 1985)
Jimmy Work born in Akron, Ohio, 1924 (died 2018)
Bobby Garrett (Steel Guitar 95) born in Dallas, Texas, 1935 (died 1999)
Uncle Dave Macon (CM 66) died in Murfreesboro, Tennessee (illness), 1952 (was 81)
Stoney Cooper died in Nashville, Tennessee (heart attack), 1977 (was 59)
Carl Perkins injured in automobile accident near Wilmington, Delaware, 1956

March 23:

David Grisman born in Passaic, New Jersey, 1945 (now 77)

Fiddlin' John Carson born in Fannin County, Georgia, 1868 (died 1949)
Jim Anglin born in Franklin, Tennessee, 1913 (died 1987)
Smokey Rogers born in McMinnville, Tennessee, 1917 (died 1993)
J.D. Miller died in Crowley, Louisiana (complications from heart bypass surgery), 1996 (was 73)
James Roy "Pop" Lewis (BG 06) of the Lewis Family died in Lincoln County, Georgia (natural causes), 2004 (was 98)
Cindy Walker (CM 97, NS 70) died in Mexia, Texas (natural causes), 2006 (was 88)

March 24:

Peggy Sue Webb born in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky, 1947 (now 75)
Carson Robison (NS 71) died in Poughkeepsie, New York (unknown causes), 1957 (was 66)
Howard Dixon died in East Rockingham, North Carolina (unknown - possible work accident), 1961 (was 57)
Maggie Cavender (NS 89) died in Nashville, Tennessee (stroke), 1996 (was 77)
Henson Cargill died in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (complications from surgery), 2007 (was 66)

March 25:

Robbie Fulks born in York, Pennsylvania, 1963 (now 59)
Shad Cobb born in Hazel Dale, Washington, 1973 (now 49)
Natchee the Indian (ne Lester Vernon Storer) born in Peebles, Ohio, 1916 (died 1970)
Bonnie Guitar born in Seattle, Washington, 1923 (died 2019)
Hoyt Axton born in Duncan, Oklahoma, 1938 (died 1999)
Jack Kapp died in New York, New York (cerebral hemorrhage), 1949 (was 47)
Buck Owens (CM 96, NS 96) died in Bakersfield, California (heart attack), 2006 (was 76)

March 26:

Vicki Lawrence born in Inglewood, California, 1949 (now 73). The Carol Burnett Show actress had one hit, "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia," which made both the pop and country charts.
Ronnie McDowell born in Fountain Head, Tennessee, 1950 (now 72)
Michael Bonagura of Baillie & the Boys born in Newark, New Jersey, 1953 (now 69)
Dean Dillon (NS 02) born in Lake City, Tennessee, 1955 (now 67)
Charly McClain born in Jackson, Tennessee, 1956 (now 66)
Bud Isaacs (StG 84) born in Bedford, Indiana, 1928 (died 2016)
John Starling of the Seldom Scene (BG 14) born in Durham, North Carolina, 1940 (died 2019)
Julian Tharpe (StG 08) born in Skipperville, Alabama, 1937 (died 1994)

March 27:

Bill Callahan of the Callahan Brothers born in Madison County, North Carolina, 1912 (died 2002)
Don Warden (StG 08) born in Mountain Grove, Missouri, 1929 (died 2017)
David Rogers born in Houston, Texas, 1936 (died 1993)

March 28:

Charlie McCoy (CM 09) born in Oak Hill, West Virginia, 1941 (now 81)
Reba McEntire (CM 11) born in Chockie, Oklahoma, 1955 (now 67)
Jay Livingston born in McDonald, Pennsylvania, 1915 (died 2001). The pop songwriter's many hits include "Silver Bells," which has been recorded by many country performers.
Dean Webb (BG 09) of the Dillards born in Independence, Missouri, 1937 (died 2018)
W.C. Handy (NS 83) died in New York, New York (bronchial pneumonia), 1958 (was 84)

Farrell "Rusty" Draper died in Bellevue, Washington (heart disease/throat cancer), 2003 (was 80)
Glenn Barber died in Gallatin, Tennessee (heart ailment), 2008 (was 73)
Earl Scruggs (CM 85, BG 91, NS 07) died in Nashville, Tennessee (natural causes), 2012 (was 88)
Jan Howard died in Nashville, Tennessee (natural causes), 2020 (was 90)

March 29:

Paul Humphrey (BG 09) of the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers born in Wytheville, Virginia, 1935 (now 87)
Brady Seals of Little Texas born in Hamilton, Ohio, 1969 (now 53)
Moon Mullican (NS 76) born in Corrigan, Texas, 1909 (died 1967)
Jerry Byrd (StG 78) born in Lima, Ohio, 1920 (died 2005)
Texas Ruby died in Nashville, Tennessee (house fire), 1963 (was 54)
Opry announcer Hal Durham died in Nashville, Tennessee (unknown cause), 2009 (was 77)
Kenny O'Dell (NS 96) died in Nashville, Tennessee (natural causes), 2018 (was 73)
Joe Diffie died in Nashville, Tennessee (COVID-19), 2020 (was 61)

March 30:

Bobby Wright born in Charleston, West Virginia, 1942 (now 80)
Connie Cato born in Carlinville, Illinois, 1955 (now 67)

March 31:

Greg Martin of the Kentucky Headhunters born in Louisville, Kentucky, 1954 (now 68)
Howdy Forrester born in Vernon, Tennessee, 1922 (died 1987)
Tommy Jackson born in Birmingham, Alabama, 1926 (died 1979)
Hoyt Hawkins (CM 01) of the Jordanaires born in Paducah, Kentucky, 1927 (died 1982)
William O. "Lefty" Frizzell (CM 82, NS 72) born in Corsicana, Texas, 1928 (died 1975)
Anita Carter born in Maces Springs, Virginia, 1933 (died 1999)
John D. Loudermilk (NS 76) born in Durham, North Carolina, 1934 (died 2016)

Phil Leadbetter born in Knoxville, Tennessee, 1962 (died 2021)
Skeets McDonald died in Inglewood, California (heart attack), 1968 (was 52)
Carl Story (BG 07) died in Greer, South Carolina (complications from heart bypass surgery), 1995 (was 78)
Mel McDaniel died in Hendersonville, Tennessee (lung cancer), 2011 (was 68)