Category: News
June 1:
Dale Warren of the Sons of the Pioneers born in Summerville, Kentucky, 1925 (now 83)
Andy Griffith born in Mount Airy, North Carolina, 1926 (now 82)
Pat Boone born in Jacksonville, Florida, 1934. The legendary pop crooner married Red Foley's daughter Shirley.
Hazel Dickens born in Mercer County, West Virginia, 1935 (now 73)
Wayne Kemp born in Greenwood, Arkansas, 1941 (now 67)
Ronnie Dunn of Brooks & Dunn born in Coleman, Texas, 1953 (now 55)
Elsie McWilliams born in Harperville, Mississippi, 1896 (died 1985)
Johnny Bond born in Enville, Oklahoma, 1915 (died 1978)
Lee Allen of the Allen Brothers born in Sewanee, Tennessee, 1906 (died 1981)
Jimmy Murphy died (unknown cause), 1981 (was 55)
June 2:
Carl Butler born in Knoxville, Tennessee, 1927 (died 1992)
Helen Carter died (heart failure), 1998 (was 70)
Adolph Hofner died (illness), 2000 (was 83)
June 3:
Fred "Too Slim" LeBour of Riders in the Sky born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1948 (now 60)
Jamie O'Neal born in Sydney, Australia, 1968 (now 40)
Curly Williams born in Cairo, Georgia, 1914 (died 1970)
Boots Randolph born in Paducah, Kentucky, 1927 (died 2007)
Wally Fowler died (drown), 1994 (was 77)
Van Stoneman of the Stoneman Family died (Parkinson's disease), 1995 (was 54)
June 4:
Linda Martell born in Leesville, South Carolina, 1941 (now 67). She was the first Black female artist to perform on the Grand Ole Opry.
Texas Ruby Owens born in Wise County, Texas, 1910 (died 1963)
Freddy Fender born in San Benito, Texas, 1937 (died 2006)
Zeke Clement died (unknown cause), 1994 (was 82)
John Hartford died (cancer), 2001 (was 63)
Alabama's annual "June Jam" concert began in Fort Payne, Alabama, 1982
June 5:
Don Reid of the Statler Brothers born in Staunton, Virginia, 1945 (now 63)
Gail Davies born in Broken Bow, Oklahoma, 1948 (now 60)
William "Hopalong Cassidy" Boyd born in Cambridge, Ohio, 1895 (died 1972)
Hal Lone Pine born in Pea Cove, Maine, 1916 (died 1977)
Lonzo Sullivan died (heart attack), 1967 (was 48)
Conway Twitty died (abdominal aneurysm), 1993 (was 59)
Ronald Reagan died (complications of Alzheimer's disease), 2004 (was 93). While governor of California, the former president signed a full pardon for former convict Merle Haggard.
Grand Ole Opry's first performance at the Ryman auditorium, 1943
June 6:
Joe Stampley born in Springhill, Louisiana, 1943 (now 65)
Gid Tanner of the Skillet Lickers born in Thomas Bridge, Georgia, 1885 (died 1960)
Asher Sizemore born in Manchester, Kentucky, 1906 (died 1973)
Charlie Cline of the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers born in Gilbert, West Virginia, 1931 (died 2004)
Claudette Orbison, wife of Roy Orbison, died (motorcycle accident), 1966 (was 24)
Grant Turner began his tenure as Grand Ole Opry announcer, 1944
June 7:
Sir Tom Jones born in Treforest, South Wales, 1940 (now 68). The legendary pop/rock singer had a hit with a cover of "Green, Green Grass of Home" in 1967 and hit the country charts with "Say You'll Stay Until Tomorrow" in 1977.
Larry Boone born in Cooper City, Florida, 1956 (now 52)
Dean Martin born in Steubenville, Ohio, 1917 (died 1995). The pop crooner recorded two albums of country music on Reprise in the early 60s and sang with Ricky Nelson in the John Wayne classic Rio Bravo in 1969.
Wynn Stewart born in Morrisville, Missouri, 1934 (died 1985)
Courtney Johnson of New Grass Revival died (lung cancer), 1996 (was 56)
June 8:
Vernon Oxford born in Rogers, Arkansas, 1941 (now 67)
Adolph Hofner born in Moulton, Texas, 1916 (died 2000)
Alton Delmore died (alcohol-related illness), 1964 (was 55)
Roba Stanley died (unknown cause), 1986 (was 76). She is credited as being the first female solo artist recorded in country music history (1924).
Tommy Perkins of the Texas Playboys died (car accident), 2003 (was 69)
June 9:
Les Paul born in Waukesha, Wisconsin, 1915 (now 93). In addition to his recordings with wife Mary Ford, Paul invented the solid-body electric guitar and multi-track recording.
June 10:
Herman Crook of the Crook Brothers died (heart attack), 1988 (was 89)
Steve Sanders, who replaced William Lee Golden in the Oak Ridge Boys for 15 years, died (suicide), 1998 (was 45)
Ray Charles died (complications of liver disease), 2004 (was 73). Charles made the country charts in the 80s with duets with George Jones and Willie Nelson, and his ground-breaking 1963 album Modern Sounds in Country Music presented country songs to a wide audience.
June 11:
Edwin Duhon of the Hackberry Ramblers born in Lafayette, Louisiana, 1910 (died 2006)
Brother Dave Gardner born in Jackson, Tennessee, 1926 (died 1983)
Jud Strunk born in Jamestown, New York, 1936 (died 1981)
Wilma Burgess born in Orlando, Florida, 1939 (died 2003)
John Wayne died (cancer), 1979 (was 72). The actor has been referenced in a number of country songs.
June 12:
Junior Brown born in Kirksville, Indiana, 1952 (now 55)
Rebecca Holden born in Austin, Texas, 1958 (now 50)
Penny Jay born in Monteagle Mountain, Tennessee, 1927 (died 2006)
Dr. Humphrey Bate of the Possum Hunters died (unknown cause), 1936 (was 61)
J.E. Mainer died (heart attack), 1971 (was 72)
Johnny Bond died (heart attack), 1978 (was 63)
June 13:
Howard Vokes born in Clearfield, Pennsylvania, 1931 (now 77)
Slim Dusty born in Kempsey, Australia, 1927 (died 2003)
June 14:
Burl Ives born in Newton, Illinois, 1909 (died 1995)
Lash LaRue born in Gretna, Louisiana, 1917 (died 1996). The Western actor was the first sidekick to western singer/actor/songwriter Eddie Dean and was mentioned in the Statler Brothers' "Whatever Happened to Randolph Scott."
Ernest V. "Pop" Stoneman died (illness), 1968 (was 75)
Patsy Cline suffered serious injuries in a car accident, 1961
June 15:
Terri Gibbs born in Miami, Florida, 1954 (now 54)
Blind Alfred Reed born in Floyd, Virginia, 1880 (died 1956)
Tex Owens born in Killeen, Texas, 1892 (died 1962)
Marvin Hughes born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1911 (died 1986)
Leon Payne born in Alba, Texas, 1917 (died 1969)
Waylon Jennings born in Littlefield, Texas, 1937 (died 2002)
Ruby Falls died (unknown cause), 1986 (was 40)
The summer replacement show for the CBS variety series The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour began airing, 1969. That show was Hee Haw.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
The Most Important Book
Category: News
The International Country Music Conference's (ICMC) Charles K. Wolfe Memorial Panel, held on Friday, May 23, celebrated the publishing of what can easily be considered the most important book on country music in the history of country music. The 40th anniversary of the publication of Country Music, USA was commemorated with a panel that included the book's author, Dr. Bill C. Malone.
With hundreds, if not thousands, of books on country music, rock and roll, punk, R&B, and all other forms of popular music sitting on the shelf at the book store or in Amazon.com's database, one might shrug and wonder just why one book is so important. The answer to that question is simple: before Country Music, USA, there simply were no books on country music. Malone chose the history of country music as the topic for his Ph.D. dissertation in 1962 at the University of Texas. To say his topic raised a few eyebrows is an understatement: in academia, writing about "music" meant one was writing about classical music. Popular music was unworthy of scholarly investigation and coverage.
Bill C. Malone autographs his ground-
breaking book Country Music, USA
at ICMC.
Anyone, from the most educated scholar (the late Dr. Wolfe, for whom the panel was named) to the lowliest country music blogger (that would be me), who has ever put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard and combined the eight parts of speech into sentences and paragraphs about country music owes a debt of gratitude to Dr. Malone for his work. He did not just open the door for other books, he kicked the door down, splintering with it the stereotypes that country music (or any other genre) was unapproachable on an academic level. Because Dr. Malone's dissertation was published, people saw that Beethoven and Mozart or the Baroque and Romantic eras of classical music were not the default definition of "a book about music." Serious works on rock, jazz, the blues, and all sub-genres of popular music have been published because Malone showed it could be done (and successfully).
Nearly any work on country music published in the last four decades will have Country Music, USA referenced in the bibliography section. More than that, every work on country music exists because Malone had the foresight to chronicle country and western music for all to read about.
The International Country Music Conference's (ICMC) Charles K. Wolfe Memorial Panel, held on Friday, May 23, celebrated the publishing of what can easily be considered the most important book on country music in the history of country music. The 40th anniversary of the publication of Country Music, USA was commemorated with a panel that included the book's author, Dr. Bill C. Malone.
With hundreds, if not thousands, of books on country music, rock and roll, punk, R&B, and all other forms of popular music sitting on the shelf at the book store or in Amazon.com's database, one might shrug and wonder just why one book is so important. The answer to that question is simple: before Country Music, USA, there simply were no books on country music. Malone chose the history of country music as the topic for his Ph.D. dissertation in 1962 at the University of Texas. To say his topic raised a few eyebrows is an understatement: in academia, writing about "music" meant one was writing about classical music. Popular music was unworthy of scholarly investigation and coverage.
Bill C. Malone autographs his ground-
breaking book Country Music, USA
at ICMC.
Anyone, from the most educated scholar (the late Dr. Wolfe, for whom the panel was named) to the lowliest country music blogger (that would be me), who has ever put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard and combined the eight parts of speech into sentences and paragraphs about country music owes a debt of gratitude to Dr. Malone for his work. He did not just open the door for other books, he kicked the door down, splintering with it the stereotypes that country music (or any other genre) was unapproachable on an academic level. Because Dr. Malone's dissertation was published, people saw that Beethoven and Mozart or the Baroque and Romantic eras of classical music were not the default definition of "a book about music." Serious works on rock, jazz, the blues, and all sub-genres of popular music have been published because Malone showed it could be done (and successfully).
Nearly any work on country music published in the last four decades will have Country Music, USA referenced in the bibliography section. More than that, every work on country music exists because Malone had the foresight to chronicle country and western music for all to read about.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
A Big Ol' Ay-EEE!
Category: News
"ICMC is the only organization to acknowledge this," Kevin Fontenot said ruefully at the beginning of the keynote address he and Ryan Brasseaux presented at the International Country Music Conference on Thursday evening.
"This" is the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the recording of "Allons a Lafayette" (commonly called just "Lafayette"), Joe Falcon (pronounced "falc-OWN") and Cleoma Breaux's song from April 27, 1928 that is universally recognized as the first recording in Cajun music.
Why is this important? For starters, there would have been no "Down at the Twist and Shout" by Mary-Chapin Carpenter or "Tear Stained Letter" by Jo-El Sonnier. The first record ever broadcast from space would have been something other than Doug Kershaw's "Louisiana Man," because Cajun would not exist. Far above that, however, it is important for any genre to recognize its heritage. The first recording of Cajun music is just as important as the recording of "Sally Gooden" by Eck Robertson in 1922 is to country music or "Rocket 88" is to rock and roll.
Fontenot said he begged the New Orleans Jazz Festival to do something to acknowledge the 80th anniversary of "Lafayette." No one in Louisiana was interested, however, which is puzzling given Cajun music's unbreakable bond to the state.
The two authors gave a presentation that included a biography of Joe Falcon (September 28, 1900 - November 19, 1965) and his wife, Cleoma Breaux (May 27, 1906 - April 9, 1941) and samples of their music. The ground-breaking recording was played, of course. There is nothing quite as awe-inspiring for a fan of music to listen to historical recordings.
Fontenot and Brasseaux have published numerous works on Cajun music individually and collectively, including Accordions, Fiddles, Two-Step & Swing: A Cajun Music Reader (2006). Brasseaux has a book, Cajun Breakdown, due out next year.
"ICMC is the only organization to acknowledge this," Kevin Fontenot said ruefully at the beginning of the keynote address he and Ryan Brasseaux presented at the International Country Music Conference on Thursday evening.
"This" is the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the recording of "Allons a Lafayette" (commonly called just "Lafayette"), Joe Falcon (pronounced "falc-OWN") and Cleoma Breaux's song from April 27, 1928 that is universally recognized as the first recording in Cajun music.
Why is this important? For starters, there would have been no "Down at the Twist and Shout" by Mary-Chapin Carpenter or "Tear Stained Letter" by Jo-El Sonnier. The first record ever broadcast from space would have been something other than Doug Kershaw's "Louisiana Man," because Cajun would not exist. Far above that, however, it is important for any genre to recognize its heritage. The first recording of Cajun music is just as important as the recording of "Sally Gooden" by Eck Robertson in 1922 is to country music or "Rocket 88" is to rock and roll.
Fontenot said he begged the New Orleans Jazz Festival to do something to acknowledge the 80th anniversary of "Lafayette." No one in Louisiana was interested, however, which is puzzling given Cajun music's unbreakable bond to the state.
The two authors gave a presentation that included a biography of Joe Falcon (September 28, 1900 - November 19, 1965) and his wife, Cleoma Breaux (May 27, 1906 - April 9, 1941) and samples of their music. The ground-breaking recording was played, of course. There is nothing quite as awe-inspiring for a fan of music to listen to historical recordings.
Fontenot and Brasseaux have published numerous works on Cajun music individually and collectively, including Accordions, Fiddles, Two-Step & Swing: A Cajun Music Reader (2006). Brasseaux has a book, Cajun Breakdown, due out next year.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
ICMC Opens on Thursday
Category: News
The 25th annual International Country Music Conference (ICMC) opens at 1 PM on Thursday, May 22. The three days will commemorate the following:
Presenters include host Dr. James Akenson, Ronnie Pugh, No Depression magazine's Barry Mazor, and Dr. John Rumble of the Country Music Hall of Fame. Other topics will include Kinky Friedman, the last years of Tommy Collins, Vernon Dalhart, and a comparison of the music of Faron Young and Marty Robbins.
The 25th annual International Country Music Conference (ICMC) opens at 1 PM on Thursday, May 22. The three days will commemorate the following:
- The 25th anniversary of ICMC, featuring two presenters from the first ICMC in 1984.
- The 40th anniversary of Bill Malone's groundbreaking work Country Music USA. The book will be the subject of the Charles K. Wolfe Memorial Panel and will include Dr. Malone.
- The 60th anniversary of Hank Williams' classic song "Lovesick Blues."
- The 60th anniversary of the Louisiana Hayride.
- The 75th anniversary of the death of Father of Country Music Jimmie Rodgers.
- The 80th anniversary of the first Cajun recording.
Presenters include host Dr. James Akenson, Ronnie Pugh, No Depression magazine's Barry Mazor, and Dr. John Rumble of the Country Music Hall of Fame. Other topics will include Kinky Friedman, the last years of Tommy Collins, Vernon Dalhart, and a comparison of the music of Faron Young and Marty Robbins.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Dates of Note in Country Music, May 16-31
Category: News
May 16:
Rick Trevino born in Austin, Texas, 1971 (now 37)
May 17:
Penny DeHaven born in Winchester, Virginia, 1948 (now 60)
Grant Turner born in Abeline, Texas, 1912 (died 1991)
Paul Warren born in Lyles, Tennessee, 1918 (died 1978)
Red Smiley of Reno & Smiley born in Marshall, North Carolina, 1925 (died 1984)
Wiley Walker of Wiley & Gene died (unknown causes), 1966 (was 54)
New Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum building opened, 2001
May 18:
Leon Ashley born in Newton County, Georgia, 1936 (now 72)
Rodney Dillard of the Dillards born in East St. Louis, Illinois, 1942 (now 66)
Joe Bonsall of the Oak Ridge Boys born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1948 (now 60)
Gary Scruggs born in Knoxville, Tennessee, 1949 (now 59)
George Strait born in Poteet, Texas, 1952 (now 56)
May 19:
Martha Carson born in Neon, Kentucky, 1921 (died 2004)
Mickey Newberry born in Houston, Texas, 1940 (died 2002)
May 20:
"Lonesome George" Gobel born in Chicago, Illinois, 1919 (died 1991). Although many may remember him as a comedian and regular on Hollywood Squares, one of Gobel's earliest jobs in entertainment was on the WLS National Barn Dance when he was a teenager in the 1930s.
May 21:
Charlie Poole died (heart failure), 1931 (was 39)
Billy Walker died (car wreck), 2006 (was 77)
Vaughn Monroe died (post-operative complications), 1973 (was 61). Among the pop singer's many hits was "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky."
May 22:
Miggie Lewis of the Lewis Family born in Richmond County, Georgia, 1926 (now 82)
Buddy Alan born in Mega, Arizona, 1948 (now 60)
Rich Alves of Pirates of the Mississippi born in Pleasanton, California, 1953 (now 55)
Ralph S. Peer born in Independence, Missouri, 1892 (died 1960)
Royce Kendall died (stroke), 1988 (was 63)
May 23:
Mac Wiseman born in Crimora, Virginia, 1925 (now 83)
Ken Irwin, co-founder of Rounder Records, born in New York, New York, 1944 (now 64)
Misty Morgan born in Buffalo, New York, 1945 (now 63)
Shelley West born in Cleveland, Ohio, 1958 (now 50)
Rosemary Clooney born in Maysville, Kentucky, 1928 (died 2002). The legendary pop singer recorded a number of country songs, including covering Carl Smith's hit "If Teardrops Were Pennies."
Rex Gosdin died (heart attack), 1983 (was 45)
May 24:
Mike Reid born in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, 1947 (now 61)
Rosanne Cash born in Memphis, Tennessee, 1955 (now 53)
Billy Gilman born in Westerly, Rhode Island, 1988 (now 20). Gilman's "One Voice" hit #1 when he was 12, making him the youngest person in Billboard country chart history to have a #1 song.
Gene Clark of the Byrds and Dillard & Clark died (bleeding ulcer), 1991 (was 46)
Jimmie Rodgers recorded "Old Love Letters (Bring Memories of You)," "Mississippi Delta Blues," "Somewhere Down Below the Dixon Line," and "Years Ago" in New York City, 1933. Ravaged with tuberculosis, they would serve as the final recordings of the Father of Country Music.
May 25:
Tom T. Hall born in Olive Hill, Kentucky, 1936 (now 72)
Jessi Colter born in Phoenix, Arizona, 1947 (now 61)
Dr. Humphrey Bate of the Possum Hunters born in Castallian Springs, Tennessee, 1875 (died 1936)
Ernest V. "Pop" Stoneman born in Monarat, Virginia, 1893 (died 1968)
May 26:
Levon Helm of the Band born in Marvell, Arkansas, 1940 (now 68). The actor and drummer/singer for the Band made his acting debut in Coal Miner's Daughter.
Hank Williams Jr. born in Shreveport, Louisiana, 1949 (now 59)
Jimmie Rodgers died (tuberculosis), 1933 (was 35)
Onie Wheeler died (heart attack), 1984 (was 62). He died on the Grand Ole Opry stage during a performance of the post-Friday Night Opry show, Grand Ole Gospel.
May 27:
Don Williams born in Floydada, Texas, 1939 (now 69)
Redd Stewart born in Ashland City, Tennessee, 1921 (died 2003)
Kenny Price born in Florence, Kentucky, 1931 (died 1987)
Opryland opened, 1972 (died 1997)
May 28:
John Fogerty born in Berkeley, California, 1945 (now 63). The leader of Creedence Clearwater Revival recorded an album of country songs under the pseudonym Blue Ridge Rangers in 1973, hitting the country chart with his rendition of "Jambalaya."
Jerry Douglas born in Warren, Ohio, 1956 (now 52)
Phil Vassar born in Lynchburg, Virginia, 1965 (now 43)
Gary Stewart born in Jenkins, Kentucky, 1945 (died 2003)
May 29:
Carl Story born in Lenoir, North Carolina, 1916 (died 1995)
Hank and Audrey Williams divorce, 1952
May 30:
Lewis Crook of the Crook Brothers born in Trousdale County, Tennessee, 1909 (died 1996)
Karl Davis of Karl & Harty died (cancer), 1979 (was 73)
May 31:
Vic Willis of the Willis Brothers born in Schulter, Oklahoma, 1922 (died 1995)
Johnny Paycheck born in Greenfield, Ohio, 1938 (died 2003)
May 16:
Rick Trevino born in Austin, Texas, 1971 (now 37)
May 17:
Penny DeHaven born in Winchester, Virginia, 1948 (now 60)
Grant Turner born in Abeline, Texas, 1912 (died 1991)
Paul Warren born in Lyles, Tennessee, 1918 (died 1978)
Red Smiley of Reno & Smiley born in Marshall, North Carolina, 1925 (died 1984)
Wiley Walker of Wiley & Gene died (unknown causes), 1966 (was 54)
New Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum building opened, 2001
May 18:
Leon Ashley born in Newton County, Georgia, 1936 (now 72)
Rodney Dillard of the Dillards born in East St. Louis, Illinois, 1942 (now 66)
Joe Bonsall of the Oak Ridge Boys born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1948 (now 60)
Gary Scruggs born in Knoxville, Tennessee, 1949 (now 59)
George Strait born in Poteet, Texas, 1952 (now 56)
May 19:
Martha Carson born in Neon, Kentucky, 1921 (died 2004)
Mickey Newberry born in Houston, Texas, 1940 (died 2002)
May 20:
"Lonesome George" Gobel born in Chicago, Illinois, 1919 (died 1991). Although many may remember him as a comedian and regular on Hollywood Squares, one of Gobel's earliest jobs in entertainment was on the WLS National Barn Dance when he was a teenager in the 1930s.
May 21:
Charlie Poole died (heart failure), 1931 (was 39)
Billy Walker died (car wreck), 2006 (was 77)
Vaughn Monroe died (post-operative complications), 1973 (was 61). Among the pop singer's many hits was "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky."
May 22:
Miggie Lewis of the Lewis Family born in Richmond County, Georgia, 1926 (now 82)
Buddy Alan born in Mega, Arizona, 1948 (now 60)
Rich Alves of Pirates of the Mississippi born in Pleasanton, California, 1953 (now 55)
Ralph S. Peer born in Independence, Missouri, 1892 (died 1960)
Royce Kendall died (stroke), 1988 (was 63)
May 23:
Mac Wiseman born in Crimora, Virginia, 1925 (now 83)
Ken Irwin, co-founder of Rounder Records, born in New York, New York, 1944 (now 64)
Misty Morgan born in Buffalo, New York, 1945 (now 63)
Shelley West born in Cleveland, Ohio, 1958 (now 50)
Rosemary Clooney born in Maysville, Kentucky, 1928 (died 2002). The legendary pop singer recorded a number of country songs, including covering Carl Smith's hit "If Teardrops Were Pennies."
Rex Gosdin died (heart attack), 1983 (was 45)
May 24:
Mike Reid born in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, 1947 (now 61)
Rosanne Cash born in Memphis, Tennessee, 1955 (now 53)
Billy Gilman born in Westerly, Rhode Island, 1988 (now 20). Gilman's "One Voice" hit #1 when he was 12, making him the youngest person in Billboard country chart history to have a #1 song.
Gene Clark of the Byrds and Dillard & Clark died (bleeding ulcer), 1991 (was 46)
Jimmie Rodgers recorded "Old Love Letters (Bring Memories of You)," "Mississippi Delta Blues," "Somewhere Down Below the Dixon Line," and "Years Ago" in New York City, 1933. Ravaged with tuberculosis, they would serve as the final recordings of the Father of Country Music.
May 25:
Tom T. Hall born in Olive Hill, Kentucky, 1936 (now 72)
Jessi Colter born in Phoenix, Arizona, 1947 (now 61)
Dr. Humphrey Bate of the Possum Hunters born in Castallian Springs, Tennessee, 1875 (died 1936)
Ernest V. "Pop" Stoneman born in Monarat, Virginia, 1893 (died 1968)
May 26:
Levon Helm of the Band born in Marvell, Arkansas, 1940 (now 68). The actor and drummer/singer for the Band made his acting debut in Coal Miner's Daughter.
Hank Williams Jr. born in Shreveport, Louisiana, 1949 (now 59)
Jimmie Rodgers died (tuberculosis), 1933 (was 35)
Onie Wheeler died (heart attack), 1984 (was 62). He died on the Grand Ole Opry stage during a performance of the post-Friday Night Opry show, Grand Ole Gospel.
May 27:
Don Williams born in Floydada, Texas, 1939 (now 69)
Redd Stewart born in Ashland City, Tennessee, 1921 (died 2003)
Kenny Price born in Florence, Kentucky, 1931 (died 1987)
Opryland opened, 1972 (died 1997)
May 28:
John Fogerty born in Berkeley, California, 1945 (now 63). The leader of Creedence Clearwater Revival recorded an album of country songs under the pseudonym Blue Ridge Rangers in 1973, hitting the country chart with his rendition of "Jambalaya."
Jerry Douglas born in Warren, Ohio, 1956 (now 52)
Phil Vassar born in Lynchburg, Virginia, 1965 (now 43)
Gary Stewart born in Jenkins, Kentucky, 1945 (died 2003)
May 29:
Carl Story born in Lenoir, North Carolina, 1916 (died 1995)
Hank and Audrey Williams divorce, 1952
May 30:
Lewis Crook of the Crook Brothers born in Trousdale County, Tennessee, 1909 (died 1996)
Karl Davis of Karl & Harty died (cancer), 1979 (was 73)
May 31:
Vic Willis of the Willis Brothers born in Schulter, Oklahoma, 1922 (died 1995)
Johnny Paycheck born in Greenfield, Ohio, 1938 (died 2003)
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Bus Crash Claims Southern Gospel Legend
Category: Obituary
Joyce "Dottie" Rambo, a Southern Gospel legend and Hall of Fame member, was killed on Mother's Day when a wind gust estimated at 50 MPH blew her tour bus off the road in southwestern Missouri and into an embankment.
Rambo hailed from Morgantown, Kentucky. She contributed over 2,500 Gospel songs to the world, many of which were covered by country artists. The Browns recorded "When I Lift Up My Head" in the early 60s; Elvis recorded "If That Isn't Love" in 1973; and the Whites recorded two Dottie Rambo songs on their Doing It By the Book release in the late 90s. Dolly Parton, a big fan, both recorded Rambo's songs and sang duets with her.
An album that is tentatively scheduled for release this summer, Sheltered, includes a duet, "Sheltered in the Arms of God," with the late Porter Wagoner.
Dottie Rambo was 74.
Joyce "Dottie" Rambo, a Southern Gospel legend and Hall of Fame member, was killed on Mother's Day when a wind gust estimated at 50 MPH blew her tour bus off the road in southwestern Missouri and into an embankment.
Rambo hailed from Morgantown, Kentucky. She contributed over 2,500 Gospel songs to the world, many of which were covered by country artists. The Browns recorded "When I Lift Up My Head" in the early 60s; Elvis recorded "If That Isn't Love" in 1973; and the Whites recorded two Dottie Rambo songs on their Doing It By the Book release in the late 90s. Dolly Parton, a big fan, both recorded Rambo's songs and sang duets with her.
An album that is tentatively scheduled for release this summer, Sheltered, includes a duet, "Sheltered in the Arms of God," with the late Porter Wagoner.
Dottie Rambo was 74.
Stubbs to Honor Eddy Arnold
Category: News
WSM's evening DJ and country music historian extraordinaire Eddie Stubbs will devote his May 14th show to Eddy Arnold. The show will air from 7-midnight central time.
The tribute can be heard on WSM's web site (click "listen live").
WSM's evening DJ and country music historian extraordinaire Eddie Stubbs will devote his May 14th show to Eddy Arnold. The show will air from 7-midnight central time.
The tribute can be heard on WSM's web site (click "listen live").
Saturday, May 10, 2008
A Bad Week for Country Music Gets Worse
Category: Obituary
For the third time this week, country music fans are in mourning.
Jerry Wallace, the man who had 1960s pop and 1970s country hits including "In the Misty Moonlight," died of congestive heart failure Monday (May 5) in Victorville, California.
Wallace scored a number of pop hits in the 1960s including the aforementioned Cindy Walker song, "Swingin' Down the Lane," "Shutters and Boards," and "Primrose Lane." In 1972, he recorded a song for an episode of Rod Serling's NIght Gallery. The song, "If You Leave Me Tonight, I'll Cry," was a #1 country hit and a top 40 pop hit and served to revive Wallace's career and transform him to primarily a country performer.
Jerry Wallace was 79.
For the third time this week, country music fans are in mourning.
Jerry Wallace, the man who had 1960s pop and 1970s country hits including "In the Misty Moonlight," died of congestive heart failure Monday (May 5) in Victorville, California.
Wallace scored a number of pop hits in the 1960s including the aforementioned Cindy Walker song, "Swingin' Down the Lane," "Shutters and Boards," and "Primrose Lane." In 1972, he recorded a song for an episode of Rod Serling's NIght Gallery. The song, "If You Leave Me Tonight, I'll Cry," was a #1 country hit and a top 40 pop hit and served to revive Wallace's career and transform him to primarily a country performer.
Jerry Wallace was 79.
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Play "Humpback Mule," Daddy!
Category: Tribute
Gene King pointed to a picture on the cluttered wall of his cluttered King's Record Shop (the very one depicted on the cover of the Rosanne Cash album named in its honor). "You know who that is?" he asked, tapping the man in the white hat amid the musicians.
I squinted to see. The photo was an early 1940s picture of the Golden West Cowboys, the band fronted by Gene King's brother Pee Wee. "It's Eddy Arnold," I identified the man whose image was behind King's finger.
Calling Eddy Arnold just a country singer is like calling Billy Graham just a preacher. He was an American icon, a man whose importance to country music can be summarized in one of two simple ways.
First, he is, to date, the only person in country music history to be awarded the CMA "Entertainer of the Year" award after being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. He was inducted in 1966 and won the award in 1967. That speaks volumes as to just how great his career was: in 1966, the year he was inducted into the Hall of Fame, he scored two #1 hits ("I Want to Go with You" and "Somebody Like Me"), plus had two more top five hits ("The Last Word in Lonesome is Me" and "The Tips of My Fingers"). He was also scoring pop hits (four of his songs made the pop top 40, the biggest being "Make the World Go Away" in 1965). To put this in perspective, remember just what was happening in music in 1966. It can be summed up in one word: Beatlemania. While other country artists were selling tens of thousands of copies (and were quite content with it), Arnold's sales were in the millions.
In good times and bad, both in the world of country music and the world in general, Eddy Arnold's records sold, and sold very well. The tally in the obits today is 85 million. Put that in perspective: Garth Brooks sold over 100 million in an era of videos, magazines, TV shows, cable channels, and records easily available everywhere. Eddy Arnold. on the other hand, had no CMT, no record store chains selling his records (for those who don't know, Ernest Tubb launched the famous Ernest Tubb Record Shop out of frustration over the fact that fans in the 1940s had a hard time locating country records in stores), no multimedia, internet blogging to help him along. To paraphrase John Houseman in that old commercial, Eddy Arnold did it the old-fashioned way: he earned it.
The second way to put Arnold's career in perspective is courtesy of Joel Whitburn, the author of numerous Billboard chart books. The Top Country Singles book has Eddy Arnold listed as the #1 singles artist on the country chart of all time. That's right, NO ONE -- not Billy Ray, Garth, or any hat-act-come-lately -- has overtaken him. The numbers are staggering, too: a total of 145 charted songs, 26 of which went to #1. In 1948, only six songs made it to #1 for the entire year. Five of them were by Eddy Arnold (the oddball was "One Has My Name (The Other Has My Heart)" by Jimmy Wakely): "Anytime," "Bouquet of Roses," "Texarkana Baby," "Just a Little Lovin' (Will God a Long Way)," and "A Heart Full of Love (For a Hand Full of Kisses)." He also had the last #1 song of 1947 ("I'll Hold You in My Heart [Till I Can Hold You in My Arms]"), so from November 1947 till November 1948, nobody but Eddy Arnold had a #1 song. Even the Beatles couldn't accomplish that at the height of their popularity.
I had two honored meetings with Eddy Arnold. First, I saw what may be the last time he sang on a stage, in May 2001. The Hall of Famers who were able attended the opening of the new Hall of Fame. As the ceremonies ended, Arnold started across the stage to leave and the band began playing "Anytime." Arnold stopped, went to a microphone, and began singing along. The band had to quickly change keys to accommodate Arnold's voice. It was short but magical.
The second came at last year's International Country Music Conference, when Eddy was the guest of honor for the Charles K. Wolfe Memorial Panel in a discussion of RCA's Studio B. He looked very good for an 89-year-old man, and he walked in under his own power. He regaled the crowd of 100 writers and students of country music with stories of his career and personal life. He spoke slowly, and he obviously had trouble hearing (longtime journalist Charlie Lamb, another panelist, repeated each question to Arnold after an audience member asked so Arnold could understand what was being asked). He did appear to have some problem (I've heard rumors that he had Alzheimer's), but it hardly mattered. He could have recited phone numbers and it would have been special. That may well be the last time Eddy Arnold made an "official" public appearance.
Eddy Arnold at ICMC, 2007
Apparently my first words in life were not "mommy" or "daddy." My parents both told me that, as a toddler, I would go to the record player and say, "Play 'Humpback Mule,' Daddy!" As a 2-year-old, I didn't know the title of the song was "The Richest Man in the World." Now, over 45 years later, I want to hear that song again. The lyrics would serve as a most fitting epitaph for a man who gladly shared his marvelous gift of music with the world:
But tell me,what are riches but contentment after all?
Other folks may think I'm poor but I know it's not so
'Cause when I count my blessings I'm the richest man I know
I've got a humpback mule, a plow, and a tater patch
Eggs that are gonna hatch someday
I've got my Lord above and a good girl to love me
I'm the richest man in the world.
Richard Edward Arnold
May 15, 1918 - May 8, 2008
Gene King pointed to a picture on the cluttered wall of his cluttered King's Record Shop (the very one depicted on the cover of the Rosanne Cash album named in its honor). "You know who that is?" he asked, tapping the man in the white hat amid the musicians.
I squinted to see. The photo was an early 1940s picture of the Golden West Cowboys, the band fronted by Gene King's brother Pee Wee. "It's Eddy Arnold," I identified the man whose image was behind King's finger.
Calling Eddy Arnold just a country singer is like calling Billy Graham just a preacher. He was an American icon, a man whose importance to country music can be summarized in one of two simple ways.
First, he is, to date, the only person in country music history to be awarded the CMA "Entertainer of the Year" award after being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. He was inducted in 1966 and won the award in 1967. That speaks volumes as to just how great his career was: in 1966, the year he was inducted into the Hall of Fame, he scored two #1 hits ("I Want to Go with You" and "Somebody Like Me"), plus had two more top five hits ("The Last Word in Lonesome is Me" and "The Tips of My Fingers"). He was also scoring pop hits (four of his songs made the pop top 40, the biggest being "Make the World Go Away" in 1965). To put this in perspective, remember just what was happening in music in 1966. It can be summed up in one word: Beatlemania. While other country artists were selling tens of thousands of copies (and were quite content with it), Arnold's sales were in the millions.
In good times and bad, both in the world of country music and the world in general, Eddy Arnold's records sold, and sold very well. The tally in the obits today is 85 million. Put that in perspective: Garth Brooks sold over 100 million in an era of videos, magazines, TV shows, cable channels, and records easily available everywhere. Eddy Arnold. on the other hand, had no CMT, no record store chains selling his records (for those who don't know, Ernest Tubb launched the famous Ernest Tubb Record Shop out of frustration over the fact that fans in the 1940s had a hard time locating country records in stores), no multimedia, internet blogging to help him along. To paraphrase John Houseman in that old commercial, Eddy Arnold did it the old-fashioned way: he earned it.
The second way to put Arnold's career in perspective is courtesy of Joel Whitburn, the author of numerous Billboard chart books. The Top Country Singles book has Eddy Arnold listed as the #1 singles artist on the country chart of all time. That's right, NO ONE -- not Billy Ray, Garth, or any hat-act-come-lately -- has overtaken him. The numbers are staggering, too: a total of 145 charted songs, 26 of which went to #1. In 1948, only six songs made it to #1 for the entire year. Five of them were by Eddy Arnold (the oddball was "One Has My Name (The Other Has My Heart)" by Jimmy Wakely): "Anytime," "Bouquet of Roses," "Texarkana Baby," "Just a Little Lovin' (Will God a Long Way)," and "A Heart Full of Love (For a Hand Full of Kisses)." He also had the last #1 song of 1947 ("I'll Hold You in My Heart [Till I Can Hold You in My Arms]"), so from November 1947 till November 1948, nobody but Eddy Arnold had a #1 song. Even the Beatles couldn't accomplish that at the height of their popularity.
I had two honored meetings with Eddy Arnold. First, I saw what may be the last time he sang on a stage, in May 2001. The Hall of Famers who were able attended the opening of the new Hall of Fame. As the ceremonies ended, Arnold started across the stage to leave and the band began playing "Anytime." Arnold stopped, went to a microphone, and began singing along. The band had to quickly change keys to accommodate Arnold's voice. It was short but magical.
The second came at last year's International Country Music Conference, when Eddy was the guest of honor for the Charles K. Wolfe Memorial Panel in a discussion of RCA's Studio B. He looked very good for an 89-year-old man, and he walked in under his own power. He regaled the crowd of 100 writers and students of country music with stories of his career and personal life. He spoke slowly, and he obviously had trouble hearing (longtime journalist Charlie Lamb, another panelist, repeated each question to Arnold after an audience member asked so Arnold could understand what was being asked). He did appear to have some problem (I've heard rumors that he had Alzheimer's), but it hardly mattered. He could have recited phone numbers and it would have been special. That may well be the last time Eddy Arnold made an "official" public appearance.
Eddy Arnold at ICMC, 2007
Apparently my first words in life were not "mommy" or "daddy." My parents both told me that, as a toddler, I would go to the record player and say, "Play 'Humpback Mule,' Daddy!" As a 2-year-old, I didn't know the title of the song was "The Richest Man in the World." Now, over 45 years later, I want to hear that song again. The lyrics would serve as a most fitting epitaph for a man who gladly shared his marvelous gift of music with the world:
But tell me,what are riches but contentment after all?
Other folks may think I'm poor but I know it's not so
'Cause when I count my blessings I'm the richest man I know
I've got a humpback mule, a plow, and a tater patch
Eggs that are gonna hatch someday
I've got my Lord above and a good girl to love me
I'm the richest man in the world.
Richard Edward Arnold
May 15, 1918 - May 8, 2008
BREAKING: Eddy Arnold Dies
Category: News
Eddy Arnold has passed away, just one week short of his 90th birthday, according to his biographer.
Arnold died this morning (Thursday, May 8), less than two months after the passing of his wife of 65 years. Arnold injured his hip in a fall shortly after Sally Arnold's death in March.
More later, including a photo of Eddy at the ICMC Charles Wolfe Memorial Panel last year.
Eddy Arnold has passed away, just one week short of his 90th birthday, according to his biographer.
Arnold died this morning (Thursday, May 8), less than two months after the passing of his wife of 65 years. Arnold injured his hip in a fall shortly after Sally Arnold's death in March.
More later, including a photo of Eddy at the ICMC Charles Wolfe Memorial Panel last year.
Friday, May 02, 2008
Half of "Hee Haw"'s Hager Twins Dies
Category: News/Obituary
Jim Hager, half of the singing/comedy duo the Hager Twins, died yesterday (May 1) in Nashville.
Hager collapsed at a Nashville coffee shop and died of an apparent heart attack according to Sam Lovullo, the producer of the long-running comedy/music program Hee Haw, where the Hager Twins made their name.
Jim and identical brother Jon Hager performed on Hee Haw for most of the show's history. They had five charted country songs (including an early version of Merle Haggard's song "Silver Wings"), but none made the top 40.
Jim Hager was 66.
Jim Hager, half of the singing/comedy duo the Hager Twins, died yesterday (May 1) in Nashville.
Hager collapsed at a Nashville coffee shop and died of an apparent heart attack according to Sam Lovullo, the producer of the long-running comedy/music program Hee Haw, where the Hager Twins made their name.
Jim and identical brother Jon Hager performed on Hee Haw for most of the show's history. They had five charted country songs (including an early version of Merle Haggard's song "Silver Wings"), but none made the top 40.
Jim Hager was 66.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Dates of Note in Country Music, May 1-15
Category: News
May 1:
Sonny James born in Hackleburg, Alabama, 1929 (now 79)
Wayne Hancock born in Dallas, Texas, 1965 (now 43)
Tim McGraw born in Delhi, Louisiana, 1967 (now 41)
Sam McGee born in Williamson County, Tennessee, 1894 (died 1975)
Jimmy Gately born in Springfield, Missouri, 1931 (died 1985)
Ott Devine born in Gadsen, Alabama, 1910 (died 1994)
Spike Jones died (emphysema), 1965 (was 53). The novelty band leader recorded with Homer and Jethro, and Red Ingle (of Red Ingle & Natural Seven, of "Temp-Tay-Shun" fame) was once a member of Jones' City Slickers.
May 2:
R.C. Bannon born in Dallas, Texas, 1945 (now 63)
Larry Gatlin born in Seminole, Texas, 1948 (now 60)
Ty Herndon born in Meridian, Mississippi, 1962 (now 46)
Roy Lee Centers of the Clinch Mountain Boys died (shot during a bar fight), 1974 (was 29)
May 3:
Jerry Chestnut born in Harlan County, Kentucky, 1931 (now 77)
Cactus Moser of Highway 101 born in Montrose, Colorado, 1957 (now 51)
Bing Crosby born in Tacoma, Washington, 1903 (died 1977). The pop crooner has the distinction of being the performer of the first #1 single in Billboard magazine's "Hillbilly and Western Singles" history with his rendition of Al Dexter's "Pistol Packin' Mama." Dexter's own recording was the second #1 song.
Dave Dudley born in Spencer, Wisconsin, 1928 (died 2003)
Patsy Montana died (unknown cause), 1996 (was 83)
Dollywood theme park opens in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, 1986
May 4:
Stella Parton born in Sevierville, Tennessee, 1949 (now 59)
Robert Ellis Orrall born in Winthrop, Massachusetts, 1955 (now 53)
Randy Travis born in Marshville, North Carolina, 1959 (now 49)
Al Dexter born in Jacksonville, Texas, 1902 (died 1984)
Bobby Austin born in Wenatchee, Washington, 1933 (died 2002)
Joe L. Frank died (illness), 1952 (was 52)
May 5:
Ace Cannon born in Grenada, Mississippi, 1934 (now 74)
Roni Stoneman born in Washington, DC, 1938 (now 70)
Glen Duncan of Lonesome Standard Time born in Columbus, Indiana, 1955 (now 53)
Tammy Wynette born in Itawamba County, Mississippi, 1942 (died 1998)
J.D. Miller born in Iota, Louisiana, 1922 (died 1996)
May 6:
Jimmie Dale Gilmore born in Austin, Texas, 1945 (now 63)
Cliff Carlisle born in Taylorsville, Kentucky, 1904 (died 1983)
May 7:
Lorie Collins of the Collins Kids born in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, 1942 (now 66)
Riley Puckett born in Alpharetta, Georgia, 1894 (died 1946)
Eddie Rabbitt died (cancer), 1998 (was 56)
May 8:
Homer Bailes of the Bailes Brothers born in Kanawha County, West Virginia, 1922 (now 86)
Jack Blanchard born in Buffalo, New York, 1942 (now 66)
Del Anthony Gray of Little Texas born in Hamilton, Ohio, 1968 (now 40)
Jimmie Tarlton of Darby & Tarlton born in Cheraw, South Carolina, 1892 (died 1979)
Benny Martin born in Sparta, Tennessee, 1928 (died 2001)
Rick Nelson born in Teaneck, New Jersey, 1940 (died 1985)
Leon Huff of the Light Crust Doughboys died (unknown cause), 1952 (was 39)
George D. Hay died (unknown cause), 1968 (was 72)
May 9:
Richie Furay of Poco born in Yellow Springs, Ohio, 1944 (now 64)
Bobby Lewis born in Hodgenville, Kentucky, 1946 (now 62)
Fuzzy Knight born in Fairmont, West Virginia, 1901 (died 1976). The actor appeared in several films as Tex Ritter's sidekick.
Hank Snow born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, 1914 (died 1999)
Nudie Cohen died (unknown cause), 1984 (was 81)
Keith Whitley died (alcohol poisoning), 1989 (was 33)
Jimmie Davis elected governor of Louisiana, 1944
May 10:
Carl T. Sprague born in Houston, Texas, 1895 (died 1979)
Mother Maybelle Carter born in Nicklesville, Virginia, 1909 (died 1979)
Shel Silverstein died (heat attack), 1999 (was 68)
May 11:
Mark Herndon of Alabama born in Springfield, Massachusetts, 1955 (now 53)
Bob Atcher born in West Point, Kentucky, 1914 (died 1993)
Lester Flatt died (heart failure), 1979 (was 64)
May 12:
Kix Brooks born in Shreveport, Louisiana, 1955 (now 53)
The Duke of Paducah, Benjamin "Whitey" Ford, born in DeSoto, Missouri, 1901 (died 1986)
Joe Maphis born in Suffolk, Virginia, 1921 (died 1986)
W. Lee "Pappy" O'Daniel died (unknown cause), 1969 (was 79)
May 13:
Johnnie Wright born in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, 1914 (now 94)
Ray Kennedy born in Buffalo, New York, 1954 (now 54)
Lari White born in Dunedin, Florida, 1965 (now 43)
Jack Anglin born in Columbia, Tennesee, 1916 (died 1963)
Gid Tanner died (unknown cause), 1960 (was 74)
Bob Wills died (pneumonia/complications of 1973 stroke), 1975 (was 70)
May 15:
Eddy Arnold born in Henderson, Tennessee, 1918 (died 2008)
K.T. Oslin born in Crossett, Arkansas, 1941 (now 67)
June Carter Cash died (complications from open heart surgery), 2003 (was 73)
May 1:
Sonny James born in Hackleburg, Alabama, 1929 (now 79)
Wayne Hancock born in Dallas, Texas, 1965 (now 43)
Tim McGraw born in Delhi, Louisiana, 1967 (now 41)
Sam McGee born in Williamson County, Tennessee, 1894 (died 1975)
Jimmy Gately born in Springfield, Missouri, 1931 (died 1985)
Ott Devine born in Gadsen, Alabama, 1910 (died 1994)
Spike Jones died (emphysema), 1965 (was 53). The novelty band leader recorded with Homer and Jethro, and Red Ingle (of Red Ingle & Natural Seven, of "Temp-Tay-Shun" fame) was once a member of Jones' City Slickers.
May 2:
R.C. Bannon born in Dallas, Texas, 1945 (now 63)
Larry Gatlin born in Seminole, Texas, 1948 (now 60)
Ty Herndon born in Meridian, Mississippi, 1962 (now 46)
Roy Lee Centers of the Clinch Mountain Boys died (shot during a bar fight), 1974 (was 29)
May 3:
Jerry Chestnut born in Harlan County, Kentucky, 1931 (now 77)
Cactus Moser of Highway 101 born in Montrose, Colorado, 1957 (now 51)
Bing Crosby born in Tacoma, Washington, 1903 (died 1977). The pop crooner has the distinction of being the performer of the first #1 single in Billboard magazine's "Hillbilly and Western Singles" history with his rendition of Al Dexter's "Pistol Packin' Mama." Dexter's own recording was the second #1 song.
Dave Dudley born in Spencer, Wisconsin, 1928 (died 2003)
Patsy Montana died (unknown cause), 1996 (was 83)
Dollywood theme park opens in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, 1986
May 4:
Stella Parton born in Sevierville, Tennessee, 1949 (now 59)
Robert Ellis Orrall born in Winthrop, Massachusetts, 1955 (now 53)
Randy Travis born in Marshville, North Carolina, 1959 (now 49)
Al Dexter born in Jacksonville, Texas, 1902 (died 1984)
Bobby Austin born in Wenatchee, Washington, 1933 (died 2002)
Joe L. Frank died (illness), 1952 (was 52)
May 5:
Ace Cannon born in Grenada, Mississippi, 1934 (now 74)
Roni Stoneman born in Washington, DC, 1938 (now 70)
Glen Duncan of Lonesome Standard Time born in Columbus, Indiana, 1955 (now 53)
Tammy Wynette born in Itawamba County, Mississippi, 1942 (died 1998)
J.D. Miller born in Iota, Louisiana, 1922 (died 1996)
May 6:
Jimmie Dale Gilmore born in Austin, Texas, 1945 (now 63)
Cliff Carlisle born in Taylorsville, Kentucky, 1904 (died 1983)
May 7:
Lorie Collins of the Collins Kids born in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, 1942 (now 66)
Riley Puckett born in Alpharetta, Georgia, 1894 (died 1946)
Eddie Rabbitt died (cancer), 1998 (was 56)
May 8:
Homer Bailes of the Bailes Brothers born in Kanawha County, West Virginia, 1922 (now 86)
Jack Blanchard born in Buffalo, New York, 1942 (now 66)
Del Anthony Gray of Little Texas born in Hamilton, Ohio, 1968 (now 40)
Jimmie Tarlton of Darby & Tarlton born in Cheraw, South Carolina, 1892 (died 1979)
Benny Martin born in Sparta, Tennessee, 1928 (died 2001)
Rick Nelson born in Teaneck, New Jersey, 1940 (died 1985)
Leon Huff of the Light Crust Doughboys died (unknown cause), 1952 (was 39)
George D. Hay died (unknown cause), 1968 (was 72)
May 9:
Richie Furay of Poco born in Yellow Springs, Ohio, 1944 (now 64)
Bobby Lewis born in Hodgenville, Kentucky, 1946 (now 62)
Fuzzy Knight born in Fairmont, West Virginia, 1901 (died 1976). The actor appeared in several films as Tex Ritter's sidekick.
Hank Snow born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, 1914 (died 1999)
Nudie Cohen died (unknown cause), 1984 (was 81)
Keith Whitley died (alcohol poisoning), 1989 (was 33)
Jimmie Davis elected governor of Louisiana, 1944
May 10:
Carl T. Sprague born in Houston, Texas, 1895 (died 1979)
Mother Maybelle Carter born in Nicklesville, Virginia, 1909 (died 1979)
Shel Silverstein died (heat attack), 1999 (was 68)
May 11:
Mark Herndon of Alabama born in Springfield, Massachusetts, 1955 (now 53)
Bob Atcher born in West Point, Kentucky, 1914 (died 1993)
Lester Flatt died (heart failure), 1979 (was 64)
May 12:
Kix Brooks born in Shreveport, Louisiana, 1955 (now 53)
The Duke of Paducah, Benjamin "Whitey" Ford, born in DeSoto, Missouri, 1901 (died 1986)
Joe Maphis born in Suffolk, Virginia, 1921 (died 1986)
W. Lee "Pappy" O'Daniel died (unknown cause), 1969 (was 79)
May 13:
Johnnie Wright born in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, 1914 (now 94)
Ray Kennedy born in Buffalo, New York, 1954 (now 54)
Lari White born in Dunedin, Florida, 1965 (now 43)
Jack Anglin born in Columbia, Tennesee, 1916 (died 1963)
Gid Tanner died (unknown cause), 1960 (was 74)
Bob Wills died (pneumonia/complications of 1973 stroke), 1975 (was 70)
May 15:
Eddy Arnold born in Henderson, Tennessee, 1918 (died 2008)
K.T. Oslin born in Crossett, Arkansas, 1941 (now 67)
June Carter Cash died (complications from open heart surgery), 2003 (was 73)
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
McCready Confirms Affair With Clemens
Category: News
Country singer Mindy McCready has confirmed a New York Daily News story that stated she and baseball pitcher Roger Clemens carried on an affair for over a decade.
McCready said in a statement that she "cannot refute anything in the story" the Daily News broke on April 29. The article claimed that the country singer first met Clemens when she was a 15-year-old singing in a karaoke bar in Florida. The paper also reports that Clemens sent McCready money when the singer's legal woes resulted in her filing for bankruptcy.
Clemens vehemently denied the initial report, which came to light as part of the ongoing defamation suit/feud between the pitcher and his former friend/trainer Brian McNamee. McNamee was the source of information that put Clemens' name in baseball's Mitchell Report as a user of steroids.
ESPN reported the story, with many of the analysts believing this latest revelation will cause Clemens to drop the defamation suit, since the affair can be used to establish "character" flaws against Clemens.
McCready, after years of drug and legal problems including time in jail, is working on a comeback album and a reality show. Clemens, a seven-time Cy Young award-winning pitcher, is currently unsigned by any major league team.
Country singer Mindy McCready has confirmed a New York Daily News story that stated she and baseball pitcher Roger Clemens carried on an affair for over a decade.
McCready said in a statement that she "cannot refute anything in the story" the Daily News broke on April 29. The article claimed that the country singer first met Clemens when she was a 15-year-old singing in a karaoke bar in Florida. The paper also reports that Clemens sent McCready money when the singer's legal woes resulted in her filing for bankruptcy.
Clemens vehemently denied the initial report, which came to light as part of the ongoing defamation suit/feud between the pitcher and his former friend/trainer Brian McNamee. McNamee was the source of information that put Clemens' name in baseball's Mitchell Report as a user of steroids.
ESPN reported the story, with many of the analysts believing this latest revelation will cause Clemens to drop the defamation suit, since the affair can be used to establish "character" flaws against Clemens.
McCready, after years of drug and legal problems including time in jail, is working on a comeback album and a reality show. Clemens, a seven-time Cy Young award-winning pitcher, is currently unsigned by any major league team.
Paul Davis Dies
Category: Obituary
The song "I Go Crazy" is a soft rock/pop staple. It was written and performed by Paul Davis. Davis also wrote (and originally recorded) "Ride 'Em Cowboy," some nine years before Juice Newton had a top 40 hit with the song.
Paul Davis died April 21, just one day after turning 60. He suffered a heart attack in his hometown of Meridian, Mississippi.
Davis had more pop hits than country hits, the biggest being "65 Love Affair." However, he did make the country chart five times, including two #1 hits, "You're Still New to Me" in 1986 and "I Won't Take Less Than Your Love" (with Tanya Tucker and Paul Overstreet) in 1987.
Davis survived a shooting in July, 1986, when a criminal shot him in the stomach outside a hotel. Early in his career, he did shows with Jim Croce just days before Croce's fatal plane crash in 1973. He said in an interview that Croce's death, as well as the death of another rock singer Davis considered a dear friend, Ronnie Van Zant of Lynyrd Skynyrd, kept Davis out of airplanes.
Farewell to Paul Davis, gone at age 60.
Paul Davis' MySpace site
The song "I Go Crazy" is a soft rock/pop staple. It was written and performed by Paul Davis. Davis also wrote (and originally recorded) "Ride 'Em Cowboy," some nine years before Juice Newton had a top 40 hit with the song.
Paul Davis died April 21, just one day after turning 60. He suffered a heart attack in his hometown of Meridian, Mississippi.
Davis had more pop hits than country hits, the biggest being "65 Love Affair." However, he did make the country chart five times, including two #1 hits, "You're Still New to Me" in 1986 and "I Won't Take Less Than Your Love" (with Tanya Tucker and Paul Overstreet) in 1987.
Davis survived a shooting in July, 1986, when a criminal shot him in the stomach outside a hotel. Early in his career, he did shows with Jim Croce just days before Croce's fatal plane crash in 1973. He said in an interview that Croce's death, as well as the death of another rock singer Davis considered a dear friend, Ronnie Van Zant of Lynyrd Skynyrd, kept Davis out of airplanes.
Farewell to Paul Davis, gone at age 60.
Paul Davis' MySpace site
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Dates of Note in Country Music, April 16-30
Category: News
April 16:
Dusty Springfield born in London, England, 1939 (died 1999). The legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer hit the country charts in 1962 as part of the Springfields with "Silver Threads and Golden Needles."
April 17:
Craig Anderson of Heartland born in Huntsville, Alabama, 1973 (now 35)
Eddie Cochran died (car wreck), 1960 (was 21). The rockabilly pioneer co-wrote "Summertime Blues," which Alan Jackson covered in country.
Dorsey Dixon died (heart attack), 1968 (was 70)
Hank Penny died (heart failure), 1992 (was 73)
Linda McCartney died (breast cancer), 1998 (was 56). Linda and husband Sir Paul McCartney's band, Wings, hit the country charts in 1974 with "Sally G."
Glenn Sutton died (heart attack), 2007 (was 69)
April 18:
Walt Richmond of the Tractors born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1947 (now 60)
Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown born in Vinton, Louisiana, 1924 (died 2005)
Your blogger born in Louisville, Kentucky, 19(mumble mumble) (not too old to cut the mustard)
April 19:
Bill Rice born in Datto, Arkansas, 1939 (now 69)
Bobby Russell born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1941 (died 1992)
Gary Brewer born in Louisville, Kentucky, 1965 (now 43)
Earl Bolick of the Blue Sky Boys died (unknown cause), 1998 (was 78)
The "National Barn Dance" debuted on WLS, Chicago, 1924
April 20:
Johnny Tillotson born in Jacksonville, Florida, 1939 (now 69)
Doyle Lawson of the Country Gentlemen and Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver born in Ford Town, Tennessee, 1944 (now 64)
Wade Hayes born in Bethel Acres, Oklahoma, 1969 (now 39)
Hylo Brown born in River, Kentucky, 1922 (died 2003)
Benny Hill found dead in his London flat (coronary thrombosis), 1992 (was 68). The British comedian's Benny Hill Show featured Boots Randolph's "Yakety Sax" as its theme song.
April 21:
Wade Mainer born in Buncombe, North Carolina, 1907 (now 100!)
Paul Davis born in Meridian, Mississippi, 1948 (now 60)
Ira Louvin born in Rainsville, Alabama, 1924 (died 1965)
Carl Belew born in Salina, Oklahoma, 1931 (died 1990)
April 22:
Glen Campbell born in Delight, Arkansas, 1936 (now 71)
Ray Griff born in Vancouver, British Columbia, 1940 (now 68)
Pat Enright of the Nashville Bluegrass Band born in Huntington, Indiana, 1945 (now 63)
Cleve Francis born in Jennings, Louisiana, 1945 (now 61)
Larry Groce born in Dallas, Texas, 1948 (now 60). The Mountain Stage host had one charted record, 1977's "Junk Food Junkie," which was a minor country hit.
Reuben Gosfield of Asleep at the Wheel born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1951 (now 57)
Heath Wright of Ricochet born in Vian, Oklahoma, 1967 (now 41)
Steve Sholes died (heart attack), 1968 (was 57)
Felice Bryant died (cancer), 2003 (was 77)
Richard Nixon died (stroke), 1994 (was 81). The former president's political troubles were chronicled in Tom T. Hall's song "Watergate Blues." Nixon also appeared on the Grand Ole Opry during its first night at the Opry House in 1974.
April 23:
Roland White of the Nashville Bluegrass Band born in Madawaska, Maine, 1938 (now 70)
Roy Orbison born in Vernon, Texas, 1936 (died 1988)
April 24:
Shirley Boone born in Chicago, Illinois, 1934 (now 74). Pat Boone's wife is also the daughter of legendary country singer Red Foley.
Rebecca Lynn Howard born in Salyersville, Kentucky, 1979 (now 29)
Harry McClintock died (unknown cause), 1957 (was 74). His greatest success would come years after his death when his recording of "Big Rock Candy Mountain" began the film O Brother, Where Art Thou.
Bonnie Owens died (Alzheimer's disease), 2006 (was 73)
April 25:
Larry Robbins of the Johnson Mountain Boys born in Dickerson, Maryland, 1945 (now 63)
Karl Farr of the Sons of the Pioneers born in Rochelle, Texas, 1909 (died 1961)
Cliff Bruner born in Texas City, Texas, 1915 (died 2000)
Vassar Clements born in Kinard, South Carolina, 1928 (died 2005)
O.B. McClinton born in Senatobia, Mississippi, 1940 (died 1987)
The musical Big River opened on Broadway, 1985. It won a "Best Musical" Tony for songwriter Roger Miller, making him, to date, the only country performer to ever win a Tony Award.
April 26:
Johnny Mosby born in Fort Smith, Arkansas, 1933 (now 75)
Duane Eddy born in Corning, New York, 1938 (now 70)
Fiddlin' Doc Roberts born in Richmond, Kentucky, 1897 (died 1978)
Cecil Null born in East War, West Virginia, 1927 (died 2001)
Tim Spencer of the Sons of the Pioneers died (unknown cause), 1974 (was 65)
Wesley Rose died (unknown cause), 1990 (was 72)
April 27:
Maxine Brown of the Browns born in Campti, Louisiana, 1931 (now 77)
Herb Pedersen of the Dillards and Desert Rose Band born in Berkley, California, 1944 (now 64)
Sydney Nathan, founder of King Records, born in Cincinnati, Ohio, 1903 (died 1968)
Jimmie Skinner born in Blue Lick, Kentucky, 1909 (died 1979)
April 28:
Dale Potter born in Puxico, Missouri, 1929 (died 1996)
Tommy Caldwell of the Marshall Tucker Band died (car wreck), 1980 (was 30)
Ken Curtis died (natural causes), 1991 (was 74). The Gunsmoke star was also a one-time member of the Sons of the Pioneers.
April 29:
Danny Davis of the Nashville Brass born in Dorchester, Massachusetts, 1925 (now 83)
Billy Mize born in Arkansas City, Kansas, 1929 (now 79)
Duane Allen of the Oak Ridge Boys born in Taylortown, Texas, 1943 (now 65)
Wayne Secrest of Confederate Railroad born in Alton, Illinois, 1950 (now 58)
Karen Brooks born in Dallas, Texas, 1954 (now 54)
Eddie Noack born in Houston, Texas, 1930 (died 1978)
April 30:
Fuzzy Owen born in Conway, Arkansas, 1929 (now 79)
Willie Nelson born in Abbott, Texas, 1933 (now 75)
Darrell McCall born in New Jasper, Ohio, 1940 (now 68)
Robert Earl Reynolds of the Mavericks born in Kansas City, Missouri, 1962 (now 46)
Johnny Horton born in Los Angeles, California, 1930 (died 1960)
Curly Chalker died (natural causes), 1998 (was 66)
WLS airs the final broadcast of the National Barn Dance, 1960, after 36 years on the air.
April 16:
Dusty Springfield born in London, England, 1939 (died 1999). The legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer hit the country charts in 1962 as part of the Springfields with "Silver Threads and Golden Needles."
April 17:
Craig Anderson of Heartland born in Huntsville, Alabama, 1973 (now 35)
Eddie Cochran died (car wreck), 1960 (was 21). The rockabilly pioneer co-wrote "Summertime Blues," which Alan Jackson covered in country.
Dorsey Dixon died (heart attack), 1968 (was 70)
Hank Penny died (heart failure), 1992 (was 73)
Linda McCartney died (breast cancer), 1998 (was 56). Linda and husband Sir Paul McCartney's band, Wings, hit the country charts in 1974 with "Sally G."
Glenn Sutton died (heart attack), 2007 (was 69)
April 18:
Walt Richmond of the Tractors born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1947 (now 60)
Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown born in Vinton, Louisiana, 1924 (died 2005)
Your blogger born in Louisville, Kentucky, 19(mumble mumble) (not too old to cut the mustard)
April 19:
Bill Rice born in Datto, Arkansas, 1939 (now 69)
Bobby Russell born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1941 (died 1992)
Gary Brewer born in Louisville, Kentucky, 1965 (now 43)
Earl Bolick of the Blue Sky Boys died (unknown cause), 1998 (was 78)
The "National Barn Dance" debuted on WLS, Chicago, 1924
April 20:
Johnny Tillotson born in Jacksonville, Florida, 1939 (now 69)
Doyle Lawson of the Country Gentlemen and Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver born in Ford Town, Tennessee, 1944 (now 64)
Wade Hayes born in Bethel Acres, Oklahoma, 1969 (now 39)
Hylo Brown born in River, Kentucky, 1922 (died 2003)
Benny Hill found dead in his London flat (coronary thrombosis), 1992 (was 68). The British comedian's Benny Hill Show featured Boots Randolph's "Yakety Sax" as its theme song.
April 21:
Wade Mainer born in Buncombe, North Carolina, 1907 (now 100!)
Paul Davis born in Meridian, Mississippi, 1948 (now 60)
Ira Louvin born in Rainsville, Alabama, 1924 (died 1965)
Carl Belew born in Salina, Oklahoma, 1931 (died 1990)
April 22:
Glen Campbell born in Delight, Arkansas, 1936 (now 71)
Ray Griff born in Vancouver, British Columbia, 1940 (now 68)
Pat Enright of the Nashville Bluegrass Band born in Huntington, Indiana, 1945 (now 63)
Cleve Francis born in Jennings, Louisiana, 1945 (now 61)
Larry Groce born in Dallas, Texas, 1948 (now 60). The Mountain Stage host had one charted record, 1977's "Junk Food Junkie," which was a minor country hit.
Reuben Gosfield of Asleep at the Wheel born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1951 (now 57)
Heath Wright of Ricochet born in Vian, Oklahoma, 1967 (now 41)
Steve Sholes died (heart attack), 1968 (was 57)
Felice Bryant died (cancer), 2003 (was 77)
Richard Nixon died (stroke), 1994 (was 81). The former president's political troubles were chronicled in Tom T. Hall's song "Watergate Blues." Nixon also appeared on the Grand Ole Opry during its first night at the Opry House in 1974.
April 23:
Roland White of the Nashville Bluegrass Band born in Madawaska, Maine, 1938 (now 70)
Roy Orbison born in Vernon, Texas, 1936 (died 1988)
April 24:
Shirley Boone born in Chicago, Illinois, 1934 (now 74). Pat Boone's wife is also the daughter of legendary country singer Red Foley.
Rebecca Lynn Howard born in Salyersville, Kentucky, 1979 (now 29)
Harry McClintock died (unknown cause), 1957 (was 74). His greatest success would come years after his death when his recording of "Big Rock Candy Mountain" began the film O Brother, Where Art Thou.
Bonnie Owens died (Alzheimer's disease), 2006 (was 73)
April 25:
Larry Robbins of the Johnson Mountain Boys born in Dickerson, Maryland, 1945 (now 63)
Karl Farr of the Sons of the Pioneers born in Rochelle, Texas, 1909 (died 1961)
Cliff Bruner born in Texas City, Texas, 1915 (died 2000)
Vassar Clements born in Kinard, South Carolina, 1928 (died 2005)
O.B. McClinton born in Senatobia, Mississippi, 1940 (died 1987)
The musical Big River opened on Broadway, 1985. It won a "Best Musical" Tony for songwriter Roger Miller, making him, to date, the only country performer to ever win a Tony Award.
April 26:
Johnny Mosby born in Fort Smith, Arkansas, 1933 (now 75)
Duane Eddy born in Corning, New York, 1938 (now 70)
Fiddlin' Doc Roberts born in Richmond, Kentucky, 1897 (died 1978)
Cecil Null born in East War, West Virginia, 1927 (died 2001)
Tim Spencer of the Sons of the Pioneers died (unknown cause), 1974 (was 65)
Wesley Rose died (unknown cause), 1990 (was 72)
April 27:
Maxine Brown of the Browns born in Campti, Louisiana, 1931 (now 77)
Herb Pedersen of the Dillards and Desert Rose Band born in Berkley, California, 1944 (now 64)
Sydney Nathan, founder of King Records, born in Cincinnati, Ohio, 1903 (died 1968)
Jimmie Skinner born in Blue Lick, Kentucky, 1909 (died 1979)
April 28:
Dale Potter born in Puxico, Missouri, 1929 (died 1996)
Tommy Caldwell of the Marshall Tucker Band died (car wreck), 1980 (was 30)
Ken Curtis died (natural causes), 1991 (was 74). The Gunsmoke star was also a one-time member of the Sons of the Pioneers.
April 29:
Danny Davis of the Nashville Brass born in Dorchester, Massachusetts, 1925 (now 83)
Billy Mize born in Arkansas City, Kansas, 1929 (now 79)
Duane Allen of the Oak Ridge Boys born in Taylortown, Texas, 1943 (now 65)
Wayne Secrest of Confederate Railroad born in Alton, Illinois, 1950 (now 58)
Karen Brooks born in Dallas, Texas, 1954 (now 54)
Eddie Noack born in Houston, Texas, 1930 (died 1978)
April 30:
Fuzzy Owen born in Conway, Arkansas, 1929 (now 79)
Willie Nelson born in Abbott, Texas, 1933 (now 75)
Darrell McCall born in New Jasper, Ohio, 1940 (now 68)
Robert Earl Reynolds of the Mavericks born in Kansas City, Missouri, 1962 (now 46)
Johnny Horton born in Los Angeles, California, 1930 (died 1960)
Curly Chalker died (natural causes), 1998 (was 66)
WLS airs the final broadcast of the National Barn Dance, 1960, after 36 years on the air.
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Saying Farewell to a True Legend
Category: Obituary
As far as I'm aware, Charlton Heston never made a country record. What he did create, however, were memorable roles. His death today at age 84 is a loss to the acting world, and to American culture.
A tribute is in the entertainment blog.
As far as I'm aware, Charlton Heston never made a country record. What he did create, however, were memorable roles. His death today at age 84 is a loss to the acting world, and to American culture.
A tribute is in the entertainment blog.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Dates of Note in Country Music, April 1-15
Category: News
April 1:
Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith born in Clinton, South Carolina, 1921 (now 87)
Jim Ed Brown born in Sparkman, Arkansas, 1934 (now 74)
Jules Verne Allen born in Waxahachie, Texas, 1883 (died 1945)
Jimmy Logsdon born in Panther, Kentucky, 1922 (died 2001)
CMA President Paul Cohen died (cancer), 1970 (was 71)
Rachel Veach joined Roy Acuff's Smoky Mountain Boys, 1939. She was the only female member in the 55-year history of the group. 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 Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum opened, 1967
April 2:
Warner Mack born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1935 (now 73)
Sonny Throckmorton born in Carlsbad, New Mexico, 1941 (now 67)
Emmylou Harris born in Birmingham, Alabama, 1947 (now 61)
Dean Townson of Pirates of the Mississippi born in Battle Creek, Michigan, 1959 (now 49)
Billy Dean born in Quincy, Florida, 1962 (now 46)
Cliff Carlisle died (unknown cause), 1983 (was 78)
April 3:
Billy Joe Royal born in Valdosta, Georgia, 1942 (now 66)
Curtis Stone of Highway 101 (and son of Cliffie Stone) born in North Hollywood, California, 1950 (now 58)
Hank Newman of the Georgia Crackers born in Cochran, Georgia, 1905 (died 1978)
Don Gibson born in Shelby, North Carolina, 1928 (died 2003)
Ella Mae Cooley murdered, 1961. Her husband, self-proclaimed "King of Western Swing" Spade Cooley, was convicted of her murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Red Allen died (cancer), 1993 (was 63)
The Louisiana Hayride debuts on KWKH, Shreveport, Louisiana, 1948. Among the artists who performed on the radio show were Elvis Presley, Hank Williams, Johnny Horton, and one-time emcee Jim Reeves.
April 4:
Norro Wilson born in Scottsville, Kentucky, 1938 (now 70)
Steve Gatlin of the Gatlin Brothers born in Olney, Texas, 1951 (now 57)
Troy Gentry of Montgomery-Gentry born in Lexington, Kentucky, 1967 (now 41)
Cy Coben born in Jersey City, New Jersey, 1919 (died 2006)
Red Sovine died (heart attack), 1980 (was 61)
April 5:
Jack Clement born in Whitehaven, Tennessee, 1931 (now 77)
Bill Clifton born in Riverwood, Maryland, 1931 (now 77). 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 Albany, New York, 1939 (now 69)
Tommy Cash born in Dyess, Arkansas, 1940 (now 68)
Bob McDill born in Beaumont, Texas, 1944 (now 64)
Stoney Edwards died (complications from diabetes), 1997 (was 67)
Gene Pitney died (natural causes), 2006 (was 65). In addition to his rock hits, Pitney recorded two albums of duets with George Jones.
April 6:
Vernon Dalhart born in Marion County, Texas, 1883 (died 1948)
Wade Ray born in Griffin, Indiana, 1913 (died 1998)
Merle Haggard born in Bakersfield, California, 1937 (now 71)
Tammy Wynette died (heart failure attributed to blood clot), 1998 (was 55)
The Grand Ole Opry was canceled due to rioting in the wake of Martin Luther King's assassination earlier in the week, 1968. This is the only time in the history of the Opry that a performance was canceled.
April 7:
Cal Smith born in Gans, Oklahoma, 1932 (now 76)
Bobby Bare born in Ironton, Ohio, 1935 (now 73)
John Dittrich of Restless Heart born in New York, New York, 1951 (now 57)
Leon "Pappy" Selph born in Houston, Texas, 1914 (died 1999)
Clyde Moody died (unknown cause), 1989 (was 73)
April 8:
John Schneider born in Mount Kisco, New York, 1960 (now 48)
Jimmy Osborne born in Winchester, Kentucky, 1923 (died 1957)
April 9:
Margo Smith born in Dayton, Ohio, 1942 (now 66)
Con Hunley born in Fountain City, Tennessee, 1945 (now 63)
Hal Ketchum born in Greenwich, New York, 1953 (now 55)
Mark Roberts of the Red Clay Ramblers born in Wareham, Massachusetts, 1957 (now 51)
Dave Innis of Restless Heart born in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, 1959 (now 49)
Carl Perkins born in Tiptonville, Tennessee, 1932 (died 1998)
Mae Boren Axton died (natural causes), 1997 (was 82)
April 10:
Weldon Myrick born in Jayton, Texas, 1938 (now 70). The steel guitar great co-wrote the Wilburn Brothers' "Hangin' Around" and suggested the town of Big Spring, Texas to Bill Anderson for the line "If you've never been to Paris, France / Big Spring, Texas will suit you fine" in "At the Time" (a hit for Jean Shepard).
Fiddlin' Arthur Smith born in Bold Spring, Tennessee, 1898 (died 1971)
Sheb Wooley born in Enick, Oklahoma, 1921 (died 2003)
Former home of Johnny and June Cash destroyed by fire, 2007. Bee Gee Barry Gibb owned the house at the time of the fire.
April 11:
Jim Lauderdale born in Troutman, North Carolina, 1957 (now 51)
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)
Eddie Miller died (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 (cancer/Alzheimer's), 2005 (was 79)
Jerry Byrd died (complications of Parkinson's disease), 2005 (was 85)
April 12:
Ned Miller born in Raines, Utah, 1925 (now 83)
Judy Lynn born in Boise, Idaho, 1936 (now 72)
Vince Gill born in Norman, Oklahoma, 1957 (now 51)
Ernie Lee born in Berea, Kentucky, 1916 (died 1991)
Lewis Crook of the Crook Brothers died (natural causes), 1997 (was 87)
Boxcar Willie died (leukemia), 1999 (was 67)
April 13:
Sam Bush born in Bowling Green, Kentucky, 1952 (now 56)
Bob Nolan of the Sons of the Pioneers born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, 1908 (died 1980)
Milton Brown died (injuries received in automobile accident on April 8), 1936 (was 32)
Guy Willis of the Willis Brothers died (unknown cause), 1981 (was 65)
Johnny Dollar died (unknown cause), 1986 (was 53)
April 14:
Loretta Lynn born in Butcher Holler, Kentucky, 1935 (now 73)
Stuart Duncan of the Nashville Bluegrass Band born in Quantico, Virginia, 1964 (now 44)
Vito Pelletteri died (complications from a stroke), 1977 (was 87)
Burl Ives died (cancer), 1995 (was 85)
April 15:
Roy Clark born in Meherrin, Virginia, 1933 (now 75)
J.L. Frank born in Limestone County, Alabama, 1900 (died 1952)
Bob Luman born in Nacogdoches, Texas, 1937 (died 1978)
Junior Barnard of Bob Wills' Texas Playboys died (car wreck), 1951 (was 30)
Rose Maddox died (various illnesses), 1998 (was 72)
Otto Kitsinger died (heart attack), 1998 (was 56). Otto was the historian and writer for Opry Backstage.
April 1:
Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith born in Clinton, South Carolina, 1921 (now 87)
Jim Ed Brown born in Sparkman, Arkansas, 1934 (now 74)
Jules Verne Allen born in Waxahachie, Texas, 1883 (died 1945)
Jimmy Logsdon born in Panther, Kentucky, 1922 (died 2001)
CMA President Paul Cohen died (cancer), 1970 (was 71)
Rachel Veach joined Roy Acuff's Smoky Mountain Boys, 1939. She was the only female member in the 55-year history of the group. 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 Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum opened, 1967
April 2:
Warner Mack born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1935 (now 73)
Sonny Throckmorton born in Carlsbad, New Mexico, 1941 (now 67)
Emmylou Harris born in Birmingham, Alabama, 1947 (now 61)
Dean Townson of Pirates of the Mississippi born in Battle Creek, Michigan, 1959 (now 49)
Billy Dean born in Quincy, Florida, 1962 (now 46)
Cliff Carlisle died (unknown cause), 1983 (was 78)
April 3:
Billy Joe Royal born in Valdosta, Georgia, 1942 (now 66)
Curtis Stone of Highway 101 (and son of Cliffie Stone) born in North Hollywood, California, 1950 (now 58)
Hank Newman of the Georgia Crackers born in Cochran, Georgia, 1905 (died 1978)
Don Gibson born in Shelby, North Carolina, 1928 (died 2003)
Ella Mae Cooley murdered, 1961. Her husband, self-proclaimed "King of Western Swing" Spade Cooley, was convicted of her murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Red Allen died (cancer), 1993 (was 63)
The Louisiana Hayride debuts on KWKH, Shreveport, Louisiana, 1948. Among the artists who performed on the radio show were Elvis Presley, Hank Williams, Johnny Horton, and one-time emcee Jim Reeves.
April 4:
Norro Wilson born in Scottsville, Kentucky, 1938 (now 70)
Steve Gatlin of the Gatlin Brothers born in Olney, Texas, 1951 (now 57)
Troy Gentry of Montgomery-Gentry born in Lexington, Kentucky, 1967 (now 41)
Cy Coben born in Jersey City, New Jersey, 1919 (died 2006)
Red Sovine died (heart attack), 1980 (was 61)
April 5:
Jack Clement born in Whitehaven, Tennessee, 1931 (now 77)
Bill Clifton born in Riverwood, Maryland, 1931 (now 77). 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 Albany, New York, 1939 (now 69)
Tommy Cash born in Dyess, Arkansas, 1940 (now 68)
Bob McDill born in Beaumont, Texas, 1944 (now 64)
Stoney Edwards died (complications from diabetes), 1997 (was 67)
Gene Pitney died (natural causes), 2006 (was 65). In addition to his rock hits, Pitney recorded two albums of duets with George Jones.
April 6:
Vernon Dalhart born in Marion County, Texas, 1883 (died 1948)
Wade Ray born in Griffin, Indiana, 1913 (died 1998)
Merle Haggard born in Bakersfield, California, 1937 (now 71)
Tammy Wynette died (heart failure attributed to blood clot), 1998 (was 55)
The Grand Ole Opry was canceled due to rioting in the wake of Martin Luther King's assassination earlier in the week, 1968. This is the only time in the history of the Opry that a performance was canceled.
April 7:
Cal Smith born in Gans, Oklahoma, 1932 (now 76)
Bobby Bare born in Ironton, Ohio, 1935 (now 73)
John Dittrich of Restless Heart born in New York, New York, 1951 (now 57)
Leon "Pappy" Selph born in Houston, Texas, 1914 (died 1999)
Clyde Moody died (unknown cause), 1989 (was 73)
April 8:
John Schneider born in Mount Kisco, New York, 1960 (now 48)
Jimmy Osborne born in Winchester, Kentucky, 1923 (died 1957)
April 9:
Margo Smith born in Dayton, Ohio, 1942 (now 66)
Con Hunley born in Fountain City, Tennessee, 1945 (now 63)
Hal Ketchum born in Greenwich, New York, 1953 (now 55)
Mark Roberts of the Red Clay Ramblers born in Wareham, Massachusetts, 1957 (now 51)
Dave Innis of Restless Heart born in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, 1959 (now 49)
Carl Perkins born in Tiptonville, Tennessee, 1932 (died 1998)
Mae Boren Axton died (natural causes), 1997 (was 82)
April 10:
Weldon Myrick born in Jayton, Texas, 1938 (now 70). The steel guitar great co-wrote the Wilburn Brothers' "Hangin' Around" and suggested the town of Big Spring, Texas to Bill Anderson for the line "If you've never been to Paris, France / Big Spring, Texas will suit you fine" in "At the Time" (a hit for Jean Shepard).
Fiddlin' Arthur Smith born in Bold Spring, Tennessee, 1898 (died 1971)
Sheb Wooley born in Enick, Oklahoma, 1921 (died 2003)
Former home of Johnny and June Cash destroyed by fire, 2007. Bee Gee Barry Gibb owned the house at the time of the fire.
April 11:
Jim Lauderdale born in Troutman, North Carolina, 1957 (now 51)
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)
Eddie Miller died (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 (cancer/Alzheimer's), 2005 (was 79)
Jerry Byrd died (complications of Parkinson's disease), 2005 (was 85)
April 12:
Ned Miller born in Raines, Utah, 1925 (now 83)
Judy Lynn born in Boise, Idaho, 1936 (now 72)
Vince Gill born in Norman, Oklahoma, 1957 (now 51)
Ernie Lee born in Berea, Kentucky, 1916 (died 1991)
Lewis Crook of the Crook Brothers died (natural causes), 1997 (was 87)
Boxcar Willie died (leukemia), 1999 (was 67)
April 13:
Sam Bush born in Bowling Green, Kentucky, 1952 (now 56)
Bob Nolan of the Sons of the Pioneers born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, 1908 (died 1980)
Milton Brown died (injuries received in automobile accident on April 8), 1936 (was 32)
Guy Willis of the Willis Brothers died (unknown cause), 1981 (was 65)
Johnny Dollar died (unknown cause), 1986 (was 53)
April 14:
Loretta Lynn born in Butcher Holler, Kentucky, 1935 (now 73)
Stuart Duncan of the Nashville Bluegrass Band born in Quantico, Virginia, 1964 (now 44)
Vito Pelletteri died (complications from a stroke), 1977 (was 87)
Burl Ives died (cancer), 1995 (was 85)
April 15:
Roy Clark born in Meherrin, Virginia, 1933 (now 75)
J.L. Frank born in Limestone County, Alabama, 1900 (died 1952)
Bob Luman born in Nacogdoches, Texas, 1937 (died 1978)
Junior Barnard of Bob Wills' Texas Playboys died (car wreck), 1951 (was 30)
Rose Maddox died (various illnesses), 1998 (was 72)
Otto Kitsinger died (heart attack), 1998 (was 56). Otto was the historian and writer for Opry Backstage.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
The End of an Era of Harmony
Category: News/Obituary
Harmony and family acts are synonymous with country music. One of the best in both categories was the Blue Sky Boys, the duo of brothers Bill and Earl Bolick, who enjoyed great success in the 1930s and 40s.
From Hickory, North Carolina comes the sad news that William "Bill" Bolick has passed away. He died last Friday (March 14th). No cause of death was given.
The Blue Sky Boys started in their home state of North Carolina, performing on radio shows and making public appearances. Their music featured guitar and mandolin with sparse, if any, additional accompaniment. Bill was most unique among mandolin players of his era (or any other): he never played "rhythm" chords, preferring instead to play single notes.
Their music was a combination of sacred tunes ("S-A-V-E-D" is among the best) and ballads that were common in country music. Bill was an excellent songwriter, giving the world what may still be country music's only double suicide song: "Katy Dear."
As music became amplified, the Blue Sky Boys found themselves less and less in demand. They retired from music and went their separate ways, with Earl moving to Atlanta to work for Lockheed while Bill worked for the railway mail service.
Earl Bolick died in 1998, ending any hopes of reunion offers that both brothers vehemently rejected throughout the last years of Earl's life. Now with the passing of Bill, a chapter in country music history -- a simpler time, when the music was more from the heart and less from the wallet -- has closed permanently.
Farewell to the great Bill Bolick, who died March 14 at the age of 90.
Harmony and family acts are synonymous with country music. One of the best in both categories was the Blue Sky Boys, the duo of brothers Bill and Earl Bolick, who enjoyed great success in the 1930s and 40s.
From Hickory, North Carolina comes the sad news that William "Bill" Bolick has passed away. He died last Friday (March 14th). No cause of death was given.
The Blue Sky Boys started in their home state of North Carolina, performing on radio shows and making public appearances. Their music featured guitar and mandolin with sparse, if any, additional accompaniment. Bill was most unique among mandolin players of his era (or any other): he never played "rhythm" chords, preferring instead to play single notes.
Their music was a combination of sacred tunes ("S-A-V-E-D" is among the best) and ballads that were common in country music. Bill was an excellent songwriter, giving the world what may still be country music's only double suicide song: "Katy Dear."
As music became amplified, the Blue Sky Boys found themselves less and less in demand. They retired from music and went their separate ways, with Earl moving to Atlanta to work for Lockheed while Bill worked for the railway mail service.
Earl Bolick died in 1998, ending any hopes of reunion offers that both brothers vehemently rejected throughout the last years of Earl's life. Now with the passing of Bill, a chapter in country music history -- a simpler time, when the music was more from the heart and less from the wallet -- has closed permanently.
Farewell to the great Bill Bolick, who died March 14 at the age of 90.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Dates of Note in Country Music, March 16-31
Category: News
March 16:
Jerry Jeff Walker born in Oneonta, New York, 1942 (now 66)
Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1951 (now 57)
Tim O'Brien born in Wheeling, West Virginia, 1954 (now 54)
Stan Thorn of Shenandoah born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, 1959 (now 49)
Ronnie McCoury born in York County, Pennsylvania, 1967 (now 41)
Robert Whitstein born in Colfax, Louisiana, 1944 (died 2001)
Plane crash kills Chris Austin, Kirk Capello, Joey Cigainero, Paula Kaye Evans, Terry Jackson, Michael Thomas, and Tony Saputo of Reba McEntire's band, 1991
March 17:
Jim Weatherly born in Pontotoc, Mississippi, 1943 (now 65)
Paul Overstreet born in Newton, Mississippi, 1955 (now 53)
Dick Curless born in Fort Fairfield, Maine, 1932 (died 1995)
Hugh Farr died (unknown causes), 1980 (was 77)
Sammy Pruett died (unknown causes), 1988 (was 61)
Terry Stafford died (liver failure), 1996 (was 55)
Bill Carlisle died (natural causes), 2003 (was 94)
March 18:
Billy Armstrong born in Streator, Illinois, 1930 (now 78)
Charley Pride born in Sledge, Mississippi, 1938 (now 70)
Margie Bowes born in Roxboro, North Carolina, 1941 (now 67)
James McMurty born in Fort Worth, Texas, 1962 (now 46)
Smiley Burnette born in Summum, Illinois, 1911 (died 1967)
John Phillips of the Mamas and Papas died (heart failure), 2001 (was 65). His solo hit, "Mississippi," was a country hit in 1971.
March 19:
Henry "Friendly Henry" Maddox born in Boaz, Alabama, 1928 (died 1974)
Speck Rhodes died (natural causes), 2000 (was 84)
Randall Hylton died (brain aneurysm), 2001 (was 55)
Tootsie's Orchid Lounge opened in Nashville, 1960
March 20:
Tommy Hunter born in London, Ontario, 1937 (now 71)
Jerry Reed born in Atlanta, Georgia, 1937 (now 71)
Douglas B. Green of Riders in the Sky born in Great Lakes, Illinois, 1946 (now 62)
Jim Seales of Shenandoah born in Hamilton, Alabama, 1954 (now 54)
March 21:
Carol Lee Cooper born in West Virginia, 1942 (now 68)
Tommy Hill died (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)
Uncle Dave Macon died (illness), 1952 (was 81)
Stoney Cooper died (heart attack), 1977 (was 59)
Carl Perkins injured in automobile accident, 1956
March 23:
David Grisman born in Passaic, New Jersey, 1945 (now 63)
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 (complications from heart bypass surgery), 1996 (was 73)
Ray "Pop" Lewis of the Lewis Family died (natural causes), 2004 (was 98)
Cindy Walker died (natural causes), 2006 (was 88)
March 24:
Peggy Sue Webb born in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky, 1947 (now 61)
Carson Robison died (unknown causes), 1957 (was 66)
Howard Dixon died (unknown - possible work accident), 1961 (was 57)
Henson Cargill died (complications from surgery), 2007 (was 66)
March 25:
Bonnie Guitar born in Seattle, Washington, 1923 (now 85)
Robbie Fulks born in York, Pennsylvania, 1963 (now 45)
Hoyt Axton born in Duncan, Oklahoma, 1938 (died 1999)
Jack Kapp died (cerebral hemorrhage), 1949 (was 47)
Buck Owens died (heart attack), 2006 (was 76)
March 26:
Bud Isaacs born in Bedford, Indiana, 1928 (now 80)
Vicki Lawrence born in Inglewood, California, 1949 (now 59). 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 58)
Michael Bonagura of Baillie & the Boys born in Newark, New Jersey, 1953 (now 55)
Dean Dillon born in Lake City, Tennessee, 1955 (now 53)
Charly McClain born in Jackson, Tennessee, 1956 (now 52)
Kenny Chesney born in Lutrell, Tennessee, 1968 (now 40)
March 27:
Bill Callahan of the Callahan Brothers born in Madison County, North Carolina, 1912 (now 96)
David Rogers born in Houston, Texas, 1936 (died 1993)
March 28:
Roy Dean Webb of the Dillards born in Independence, Missouri, 1937 (now 71)
Charlie McCoy born in Oak Hill, West Virginia, 1941 (now 67)
Reba McEntire born in Chockie, Oklahoma, 1955 (now 53)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.
Rusty Draper died (heart disease/throat cancer), 2003 (was 80)
March 29:
Brady Seals of Little Texas born in Hamilton, Ohio, 1969 (now 39)
Moon Mullican born in Corrigan, Texas, 1909 (died 1967)
Texas Ruby died (house fire), 1963 (was 54)
March 30:
Bobby Wright born in Charleston, West Virginia, 1942 (now 66)
Connie Cato born in Carlinville, Illinois, 1955 (now 53)
March 31:
John D. Loudermilk born in Durham, North Carolina, 1934 (now 74)
Greg Martin of the Kentucky Headhunters born in Louisville, Kentucky, 1954 (now 54)
Howdy Forrester born in Vernon, Tennessee, 1922 (died 1987)
Tommy Jackson born in Birmingham, Alabama, 1926 (died 1979)
Lefty Frizzell born in Corsicana, Texas, 1928 (died 1975)
Anita Carter born in Maces Springs, Virginia, 1933 (died 1999)
Skeets McDonald died (heart attack), 1968 (was 52)Carl Story died (complications from heart bypass surgery), 1995 (was 78)
March 16:
Jerry Jeff Walker born in Oneonta, New York, 1942 (now 66)
Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1951 (now 57)
Tim O'Brien born in Wheeling, West Virginia, 1954 (now 54)
Stan Thorn of Shenandoah born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, 1959 (now 49)
Ronnie McCoury born in York County, Pennsylvania, 1967 (now 41)
Robert Whitstein born in Colfax, Louisiana, 1944 (died 2001)
Plane crash kills Chris Austin, Kirk Capello, Joey Cigainero, Paula Kaye Evans, Terry Jackson, Michael Thomas, and Tony Saputo of Reba McEntire's band, 1991
March 17:
Jim Weatherly born in Pontotoc, Mississippi, 1943 (now 65)
Paul Overstreet born in Newton, Mississippi, 1955 (now 53)
Dick Curless born in Fort Fairfield, Maine, 1932 (died 1995)
Hugh Farr died (unknown causes), 1980 (was 77)
Sammy Pruett died (unknown causes), 1988 (was 61)
Terry Stafford died (liver failure), 1996 (was 55)
Bill Carlisle died (natural causes), 2003 (was 94)
March 18:
Billy Armstrong born in Streator, Illinois, 1930 (now 78)
Charley Pride born in Sledge, Mississippi, 1938 (now 70)
Margie Bowes born in Roxboro, North Carolina, 1941 (now 67)
James McMurty born in Fort Worth, Texas, 1962 (now 46)
Smiley Burnette born in Summum, Illinois, 1911 (died 1967)
John Phillips of the Mamas and Papas died (heart failure), 2001 (was 65). His solo hit, "Mississippi," was a country hit in 1971.
March 19:
Henry "Friendly Henry" Maddox born in Boaz, Alabama, 1928 (died 1974)
Speck Rhodes died (natural causes), 2000 (was 84)
Randall Hylton died (brain aneurysm), 2001 (was 55)
Tootsie's Orchid Lounge opened in Nashville, 1960
March 20:
Tommy Hunter born in London, Ontario, 1937 (now 71)
Jerry Reed born in Atlanta, Georgia, 1937 (now 71)
Douglas B. Green of Riders in the Sky born in Great Lakes, Illinois, 1946 (now 62)
Jim Seales of Shenandoah born in Hamilton, Alabama, 1954 (now 54)
March 21:
Carol Lee Cooper born in West Virginia, 1942 (now 68)
Tommy Hill died (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)
Uncle Dave Macon died (illness), 1952 (was 81)
Stoney Cooper died (heart attack), 1977 (was 59)
Carl Perkins injured in automobile accident, 1956
March 23:
David Grisman born in Passaic, New Jersey, 1945 (now 63)
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 (complications from heart bypass surgery), 1996 (was 73)
Ray "Pop" Lewis of the Lewis Family died (natural causes), 2004 (was 98)
Cindy Walker died (natural causes), 2006 (was 88)
March 24:
Peggy Sue Webb born in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky, 1947 (now 61)
Carson Robison died (unknown causes), 1957 (was 66)
Howard Dixon died (unknown - possible work accident), 1961 (was 57)
Henson Cargill died (complications from surgery), 2007 (was 66)
March 25:
Bonnie Guitar born in Seattle, Washington, 1923 (now 85)
Robbie Fulks born in York, Pennsylvania, 1963 (now 45)
Hoyt Axton born in Duncan, Oklahoma, 1938 (died 1999)
Jack Kapp died (cerebral hemorrhage), 1949 (was 47)
Buck Owens died (heart attack), 2006 (was 76)
March 26:
Bud Isaacs born in Bedford, Indiana, 1928 (now 80)
Vicki Lawrence born in Inglewood, California, 1949 (now 59). 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 58)
Michael Bonagura of Baillie & the Boys born in Newark, New Jersey, 1953 (now 55)
Dean Dillon born in Lake City, Tennessee, 1955 (now 53)
Charly McClain born in Jackson, Tennessee, 1956 (now 52)
Kenny Chesney born in Lutrell, Tennessee, 1968 (now 40)
March 27:
Bill Callahan of the Callahan Brothers born in Madison County, North Carolina, 1912 (now 96)
David Rogers born in Houston, Texas, 1936 (died 1993)
March 28:
Roy Dean Webb of the Dillards born in Independence, Missouri, 1937 (now 71)
Charlie McCoy born in Oak Hill, West Virginia, 1941 (now 67)
Reba McEntire born in Chockie, Oklahoma, 1955 (now 53)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.
Rusty Draper died (heart disease/throat cancer), 2003 (was 80)
March 29:
Brady Seals of Little Texas born in Hamilton, Ohio, 1969 (now 39)
Moon Mullican born in Corrigan, Texas, 1909 (died 1967)
Texas Ruby died (house fire), 1963 (was 54)
March 30:
Bobby Wright born in Charleston, West Virginia, 1942 (now 66)
Connie Cato born in Carlinville, Illinois, 1955 (now 53)
March 31:
John D. Loudermilk born in Durham, North Carolina, 1934 (now 74)
Greg Martin of the Kentucky Headhunters born in Louisville, Kentucky, 1954 (now 54)
Howdy Forrester born in Vernon, Tennessee, 1922 (died 1987)
Tommy Jackson born in Birmingham, Alabama, 1926 (died 1979)
Lefty Frizzell born in Corsicana, Texas, 1928 (died 1975)
Anita Carter born in Maces Springs, Virginia, 1933 (died 1999)
Skeets McDonald died (heart attack), 1968 (was 52)Carl Story died (complications from heart bypass surgery), 1995 (was 78)
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Just a Little Lovin' Sure Went a Long Way
Category: News/Obituary
Sixty six years of marriage ended on March 11 for Eddy Arnold. His wife, Sally, passed away in a hospital in suburban Nashville.
At last year's ICMC, Arnold was the keynote speaker for the Charles Wolfe Memorial Panel on the anniversary of Studio B. He regaled the audience with stories of his recording career and his life as a celebrity. One of the funniest involved him working in his yard when a tourist stopped by.
"Hey!"
"Hey what?" Arnold replied.
"Does somebody famous live here?"
"Yes."
"How much do they pay you to do the gardening?"
"Well," Arnold replied, "the owner lets me sleep with his wife!"
Sally Arnold was 87 and had suffered from Alzheimer's Disease and respiratory problems.
Sixty six years of marriage ended on March 11 for Eddy Arnold. His wife, Sally, passed away in a hospital in suburban Nashville.
At last year's ICMC, Arnold was the keynote speaker for the Charles Wolfe Memorial Panel on the anniversary of Studio B. He regaled the audience with stories of his recording career and his life as a celebrity. One of the funniest involved him working in his yard when a tourist stopped by.
"Hey!"
"Hey what?" Arnold replied.
"Does somebody famous live here?"
"Yes."
"How much do they pay you to do the gardening?"
"Well," Arnold replied, "the owner lets me sleep with his wife!"
Sally Arnold was 87 and had suffered from Alzheimer's Disease and respiratory problems.
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Sad News From the Rock/Blues World
Catetory: News
Jeff Healey, the blind Canadian guitarist best-known for his 1988 "Angel Eyes," has died.
Healey was 41 and suffered from various forms of cancer, including retino blastoma, which blinded him as a baby.
My rock/entertainment blog has more details.
Jeff Healey, the blind Canadian guitarist best-known for his 1988 "Angel Eyes," has died.
Healey was 41 and suffered from various forms of cancer, including retino blastoma, which blinded him as a baby.
My rock/entertainment blog has more details.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Dates of Note in Country Music, March 1-15
Category: News
March 1:
Janis Oliver of Sweethearts of the Rodeo born in Manhattan Beach, California, 1954 (now 54)
Sara Hickman born in Jacksonville, North Carolina, 1963 (now 45)
Clinton Gregory born in Martinsville, Virginia, 1966 (now 42)
Cliffie Stone born in Stockton, California, 1917 (died 1998)
Pearl Butler died (unknown cause), 198 (was 61)
Johnny Cash wed June Carter Smith Nix in Franklin, Kentucky, 1968
California governor Ronald Reagan issues a full pardon to Merle Haggard, 1972
March 2:
Doc Watson born in Deep Gap, North Carolina, 1923 (now 85)
Larry Stewart born in Paducah, Kentucky, 1959 (now 49)
Lonnie Glosson died (natural causes), 2001 (was 93)
March 3:
John Carter Cash born in Madison, Tennessee, 1970 (now 38)
Jimmy Heap born in Taylor, Texas, 1922 (died 1977)
Kyle Bailes died (unknown cause), 1996 (was 80)
Harlan Howard died (heart attack), 2002 (was 74)
Benefit concert for DJ "Cactus" Jack Call held in Kansas City, Missouri, 1963. Among those performing: Patsy Cline, Hawkshaw Hawkins, Cowboy Copas, Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper, George Jones, and Billy Walker.
March 4:
Betty Jack Davis born in Corbin, Kentucky, 1932 (died 1953)
John Duffey of the Country Gentlemen and Seldom Scene born in Washington, DC, 1934 (died 1996)
Scotty Stoneman died (overdose of prescription medication), 1973 (was 40)
Minnie Pearl died (complications from stroke), 1996 (was 83)
Eddie Dean died (emphysema), 1999 (was 91)
March 5:
Raymond Fairchild born in Cherokee, North Carolina, 1939 (now 69)
Jimmy Bryant born in Moultrie, Georgia, 1925 (died 1980)
Patsy Cline died (plane crash), 1963 (was 30)
Cowboy Copas died (plane crash), 1963 (was 59)
Hawkshaw Hawkins died (plane crash), 1963 (was 41)
Randy Hughes died (plane crash), 1963 (was 34). Hughes was Patsy Cline's manager and Cowboy Copas' son-in-law as well as the pilot of the ill-fated plane.
Anna Carter Davis, original member of the Chuck Wagon Gang and widow of Jimmie Davis, died (complications following a fall), 2004 (was 87)
March 6:
Red Simpson born in Higley, Arizona, 1934 (now 74)
Doug Dillard of the Dillards born in East St. Louis, Missouri, 1937 (now 71)
Skip Ewing born in Red Lands, California, 1964 (now 44)
Cliff Carlisle born in Mount Eden, Kentucky, 1904 (died 1983)
Bob Wills born in Turkey, Texas, 1905 (died 1975)
Jean Chapel of the Coon Creek Girls born in Neon, Kentucky, 1925 (died 1995)
George Jones critically injured in single-vehicle accident, 1999
The siege of the Alamo ended, 1836. Davy Crockett, subject of legendary song, was among those who died during the battle. Johnny Cash would memorialize the fight in his song "Remember the Alamo."
March 7:
Townes Van Zandt born in Fort Worth Texas, 1944 (died 1997)
Jack Anglin died (car wreck), 1963 (was 46)
Pee Wee King died (heart attack), 2000 (was 86)
March 8:
Jimmy Dormire of Confederate Railroad born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1960 (now 48)
Randy Meisner of Poco and the Eagles born in Scotts Bluff, Nebraska, 1946 (now 62)
Johnny Dollar born in Kilgore, Texas, 1933 (died 1986)
Jimmy Stoneman born of the Stoneman Family born in Washington, DC, 1937 (died 2002)
Lew DeWitt of the Statler Brothers born in Roanoke, Virginia, 1939 (died 1990)
Stuart Hamblen died (brain tumor), 1989 (was 80)
March 9:
Mickey Gilley born in Natchez, Mississippi, 1936 (now 72)
Jimmy Fadden of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band born in Long Beach, California, 1948 (now 60)
Ralph Sloan of the Ralph Sloan Dancers born in Wilson County, Tennessee, 1925 (died 1980)
George Burns died (natural causes), 1996 (was 100). The legendary actor had a country hit with "I Wish I Was Eighteen Again."
Chris LeDoux died (bile duct cancer), 2005 (was 56)
Final Saturday night Opry at the Ryman before the opening of the new Opry House, 1974
March 10:
Ralph Emery born in McEwen, Tennessee, 1933 (now 75)
Norman Blake born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, 1938 (now 70)
Johnnie Allan born in Rayne, Louisiana, 1938 (now 70)
Daryl Singletary born in Wigham, Georgia, 1971 (now 37)
Jethro Burns born in Knoxville, Tennessee, 1920 (died 1989)
Soul singer James Brown guests on the Grand Ole Opry at the request of Porter Wagoner, 1979
March 11:
Jimmy Fortune of the Statler Brothers born in Williamsburg, Virginia, 1955 (now 53)
W. Lee "Pappy" O'Daniel of the Light Crust Doughboys born in Malta, Ohio, 1890 (died 1969)
Jim Boyd of the Cowboy Ramblers died (unknown cause), 1993 (was 78)
March 12:
Marshall Wilborn of the Johnson Mountain Boys and the Lynn Morris Band born in Austin, Texas, 1952 (now 56)
James Taylor born in Belmont, Massachusetts, 1948 (now 60). The legendary rock superstar wrote "Bartender's Blues" and sang with George Jones on Jones' recording of the tune.
Ralph Sloan died (unknown illness), 1980 (was 55)
March 13:
Liz Anderson born in Roseau, Minnesota, 1930 (now 78)
Jan Howard born in West Plains, Missouri, 1930 (now 78)
Benny Martin died (nerve disorder/illness), 2001 (was 72)
Ezra Carter marries Maybelle Addington, 1926
March 14:
Michael Martin Murphy born in Oak Cliff, Texas, 1945 (now 63)
Doc Pomus died (lung cancer), 1991 (was 65)
Dale Potter died (cancer), 1996 (was 66)
Tommy Collins died (emphysema), 2000 (was 69)
Jimmy Martin died (cancer), 2005 (was 77)
March 15:
Carl Smith born in Maynardville, Tennessee, 1927 (now 81)
D.J. Fontana born in Shreveport, Louisiana, 1931 (now 77)
Gunilla Hutton of Hee Haw born in Goteborg, Sweden, 1946 (now 62)
Ry Cooder born in Los Angeles, California, 1947 (now 61)
The final Friday night Opry at the Ryman, 1974. The final song was the Opry cast singing "Will the Circle Be Unbroken."
March 1:
Janis Oliver of Sweethearts of the Rodeo born in Manhattan Beach, California, 1954 (now 54)
Sara Hickman born in Jacksonville, North Carolina, 1963 (now 45)
Clinton Gregory born in Martinsville, Virginia, 1966 (now 42)
Cliffie Stone born in Stockton, California, 1917 (died 1998)
Pearl Butler died (unknown cause), 198 (was 61)
Johnny Cash wed June Carter Smith Nix in Franklin, Kentucky, 1968
California governor Ronald Reagan issues a full pardon to Merle Haggard, 1972
March 2:
Doc Watson born in Deep Gap, North Carolina, 1923 (now 85)
Larry Stewart born in Paducah, Kentucky, 1959 (now 49)
Lonnie Glosson died (natural causes), 2001 (was 93)
March 3:
John Carter Cash born in Madison, Tennessee, 1970 (now 38)
Jimmy Heap born in Taylor, Texas, 1922 (died 1977)
Kyle Bailes died (unknown cause), 1996 (was 80)
Harlan Howard died (heart attack), 2002 (was 74)
Benefit concert for DJ "Cactus" Jack Call held in Kansas City, Missouri, 1963. Among those performing: Patsy Cline, Hawkshaw Hawkins, Cowboy Copas, Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper, George Jones, and Billy Walker.
March 4:
Betty Jack Davis born in Corbin, Kentucky, 1932 (died 1953)
John Duffey of the Country Gentlemen and Seldom Scene born in Washington, DC, 1934 (died 1996)
Scotty Stoneman died (overdose of prescription medication), 1973 (was 40)
Minnie Pearl died (complications from stroke), 1996 (was 83)
Eddie Dean died (emphysema), 1999 (was 91)
March 5:
Raymond Fairchild born in Cherokee, North Carolina, 1939 (now 69)
Jimmy Bryant born in Moultrie, Georgia, 1925 (died 1980)
Patsy Cline died (plane crash), 1963 (was 30)
Cowboy Copas died (plane crash), 1963 (was 59)
Hawkshaw Hawkins died (plane crash), 1963 (was 41)
Randy Hughes died (plane crash), 1963 (was 34). Hughes was Patsy Cline's manager and Cowboy Copas' son-in-law as well as the pilot of the ill-fated plane.
Anna Carter Davis, original member of the Chuck Wagon Gang and widow of Jimmie Davis, died (complications following a fall), 2004 (was 87)
March 6:
Red Simpson born in Higley, Arizona, 1934 (now 74)
Doug Dillard of the Dillards born in East St. Louis, Missouri, 1937 (now 71)
Skip Ewing born in Red Lands, California, 1964 (now 44)
Cliff Carlisle born in Mount Eden, Kentucky, 1904 (died 1983)
Bob Wills born in Turkey, Texas, 1905 (died 1975)
Jean Chapel of the Coon Creek Girls born in Neon, Kentucky, 1925 (died 1995)
George Jones critically injured in single-vehicle accident, 1999
The siege of the Alamo ended, 1836. Davy Crockett, subject of legendary song, was among those who died during the battle. Johnny Cash would memorialize the fight in his song "Remember the Alamo."
March 7:
Townes Van Zandt born in Fort Worth Texas, 1944 (died 1997)
Jack Anglin died (car wreck), 1963 (was 46)
Pee Wee King died (heart attack), 2000 (was 86)
March 8:
Jimmy Dormire of Confederate Railroad born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1960 (now 48)
Randy Meisner of Poco and the Eagles born in Scotts Bluff, Nebraska, 1946 (now 62)
Johnny Dollar born in Kilgore, Texas, 1933 (died 1986)
Jimmy Stoneman born of the Stoneman Family born in Washington, DC, 1937 (died 2002)
Lew DeWitt of the Statler Brothers born in Roanoke, Virginia, 1939 (died 1990)
Stuart Hamblen died (brain tumor), 1989 (was 80)
March 9:
Mickey Gilley born in Natchez, Mississippi, 1936 (now 72)
Jimmy Fadden of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band born in Long Beach, California, 1948 (now 60)
Ralph Sloan of the Ralph Sloan Dancers born in Wilson County, Tennessee, 1925 (died 1980)
George Burns died (natural causes), 1996 (was 100). The legendary actor had a country hit with "I Wish I Was Eighteen Again."
Chris LeDoux died (bile duct cancer), 2005 (was 56)
Final Saturday night Opry at the Ryman before the opening of the new Opry House, 1974
March 10:
Ralph Emery born in McEwen, Tennessee, 1933 (now 75)
Norman Blake born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, 1938 (now 70)
Johnnie Allan born in Rayne, Louisiana, 1938 (now 70)
Daryl Singletary born in Wigham, Georgia, 1971 (now 37)
Jethro Burns born in Knoxville, Tennessee, 1920 (died 1989)
Soul singer James Brown guests on the Grand Ole Opry at the request of Porter Wagoner, 1979
March 11:
Jimmy Fortune of the Statler Brothers born in Williamsburg, Virginia, 1955 (now 53)
W. Lee "Pappy" O'Daniel of the Light Crust Doughboys born in Malta, Ohio, 1890 (died 1969)
Jim Boyd of the Cowboy Ramblers died (unknown cause), 1993 (was 78)
March 12:
Marshall Wilborn of the Johnson Mountain Boys and the Lynn Morris Band born in Austin, Texas, 1952 (now 56)
James Taylor born in Belmont, Massachusetts, 1948 (now 60). The legendary rock superstar wrote "Bartender's Blues" and sang with George Jones on Jones' recording of the tune.
Ralph Sloan died (unknown illness), 1980 (was 55)
March 13:
Liz Anderson born in Roseau, Minnesota, 1930 (now 78)
Jan Howard born in West Plains, Missouri, 1930 (now 78)
Benny Martin died (nerve disorder/illness), 2001 (was 72)
Ezra Carter marries Maybelle Addington, 1926
March 14:
Michael Martin Murphy born in Oak Cliff, Texas, 1945 (now 63)
Doc Pomus died (lung cancer), 1991 (was 65)
Dale Potter died (cancer), 1996 (was 66)
Tommy Collins died (emphysema), 2000 (was 69)
Jimmy Martin died (cancer), 2005 (was 77)
March 15:
Carl Smith born in Maynardville, Tennessee, 1927 (now 81)
D.J. Fontana born in Shreveport, Louisiana, 1931 (now 77)
Gunilla Hutton of Hee Haw born in Goteborg, Sweden, 1946 (now 62)
Ry Cooder born in Los Angeles, California, 1947 (now 61)
The final Friday night Opry at the Ryman, 1974. The final song was the Opry cast singing "Will the Circle Be Unbroken."
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
The Death of a Forgotten Opry Star
Category: Obituary
Bobby Lord died February 16th after a lengthy illness. For most, if it was mentioned it was an afterthought, a long-forgotten Opry star with a few hits back in the 50s.
Bobby Lord has one top ten hit, "Without Your Love" in 1956. He had four other top 40 hits: "Yesterday's Letters," "Rainbow Girl," "You and Me Against the World," and "Wake Me Up Early in the Morning." He also had a syndicated television show, The Bobby Lord Show, in the late 60s and early 70s.
Lord retired from the business to his native Florida. There he became a successful real estate entrepreneur. He helped develop Nettles Island and Indian River Plantation estates. He also founded Stuart Insurance.
Although he had not been actively involved in country music for nearly 30 years, his passing is still a loss to the country music world.
Farewell to Bobby Lord, who passed away just six weeks after his 74th birthday.
Bobby Lord died February 16th after a lengthy illness. For most, if it was mentioned it was an afterthought, a long-forgotten Opry star with a few hits back in the 50s.
Bobby Lord has one top ten hit, "Without Your Love" in 1956. He had four other top 40 hits: "Yesterday's Letters," "Rainbow Girl," "You and Me Against the World," and "Wake Me Up Early in the Morning." He also had a syndicated television show, The Bobby Lord Show, in the late 60s and early 70s.
Lord retired from the business to his native Florida. There he became a successful real estate entrepreneur. He helped develop Nettles Island and Indian River Plantation estates. He also founded Stuart Insurance.
Although he had not been actively involved in country music for nearly 30 years, his passing is still a loss to the country music world.
Farewell to Bobby Lord, who passed away just six weeks after his 74th birthday.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
At LONG LAST It Has Happened!!
Category: News
For some reason, the announcement for the "class of 2008" Country Music Hall of Fame inductions was made today, rather than in August (when it has usually been, closer to the CMA nomination annoucements).
I am thrilled to death to post the class of 2008:
ERNEST V. STONEMAN: Shout bama-lama, it finally happened! A man whose popularity in the 1920s was crucial to the advacement of country music has finally gotten his just desserts.
THE STATLER BROTHERS: Another long overdue induction. One of country music's most enduring quartets, and one that transcended "country" for popular culture. Their song "Flowers on the Wall" was awarded a "contemporary ('rock and roll')" Grammy in 1965, which speaks volumes to their impact (and to the bewildering voting of the NARAS).
TOM T. HALL: I feared he would have to die to get inducted; however, the legendary "storyteller" is being inducted for his decades of hits of his own as well as writing others' hits (e.g., "Harper Valley P.T.A." by Jeannie C. Riley, "The Pool Shark," Dave Dudley's only #1 hit, and "(Margie's At the) Lincoln Park Inn" by Bobby Bare).
EMMYLOU HARRIS. Emmylou belongs in if for no other reason than, during the 1970s, she made it "cool" to proudly proclaim to listen to country music. Forget her career (which is significant enough to warrant induction). She was an ambassador for country music when most people were defining country as "I Honestly Love You."
Congratulations to the inductees.
And, THANK YOU, Hall of Fame voters!!!!
For some reason, the announcement for the "class of 2008" Country Music Hall of Fame inductions was made today, rather than in August (when it has usually been, closer to the CMA nomination annoucements).
I am thrilled to death to post the class of 2008:
ERNEST V. STONEMAN: Shout bama-lama, it finally happened! A man whose popularity in the 1920s was crucial to the advacement of country music has finally gotten his just desserts.
THE STATLER BROTHERS: Another long overdue induction. One of country music's most enduring quartets, and one that transcended "country" for popular culture. Their song "Flowers on the Wall" was awarded a "contemporary ('rock and roll')" Grammy in 1965, which speaks volumes to their impact (and to the bewildering voting of the NARAS).
TOM T. HALL: I feared he would have to die to get inducted; however, the legendary "storyteller" is being inducted for his decades of hits of his own as well as writing others' hits (e.g., "Harper Valley P.T.A." by Jeannie C. Riley, "The Pool Shark," Dave Dudley's only #1 hit, and "(Margie's At the) Lincoln Park Inn" by Bobby Bare).
EMMYLOU HARRIS. Emmylou belongs in if for no other reason than, during the 1970s, she made it "cool" to proudly proclaim to listen to country music. Forget her career (which is significant enough to warrant induction). She was an ambassador for country music when most people were defining country as "I Honestly Love You."
Congratulations to the inductees.
And, THANK YOU, Hall of Fame voters!!!!
Dates of Note in Country Music, February 16-29
Category: News
February 16:
Ronnie Milsap born in Robbinsville, North Carolina, 1944 (now 64)
Jo-Walker Meador born in Orlinda, Tennessee, 1924 (now 84)
Jimmy Wakely born in Mineola, Arkansas, 1914 (died 1982)
Smiley Burnette died (leukemia), 1967 (was 55)
February 17:
Buck Trent born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, 1938 (now 70)
Johnny Bush born in Houston, Texas, 1935 (now 73)
Jon Randall born in Dallas, Texas, 1969 (now 39)
Bryan White born in Shellman, Georgia, 1974 (now 34)
Billy Byrd born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1920 (died 2001)
Gene Pitney born in Hartford, Connecticut, 1940 (died 2006). The rock and roll legend recorded two albums of duets with George Jones.
Uncle Jimmy Thompson died (natural causes), 1931 (was 82)
Eck Robertson died (natural causes), 1975 (was 87)
Gus Hardin died (car wreck), 1996 (was 50)
February 18:
Juice Newton born in Lakehurst Naval Station, New Jersey, 1952 (now 56)
Dudley Connell of the Johnson Mountain Boys born in Scheer, West Virginia, 1956 (now 52)
Pee Wee King born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1914 (died 2000)
Tootsie Bess, owner of Tootsie's Orchid Lounge, died (cancer), 1978 (was 61)
Johnny Paycheck died (emphysema), 2003 (was 64)
February 19:
Lorianne Crook born in Wichita, Kansas, 1957 (now 51)
Cedric Rainwater (real name: Howard Watts) born in Monticello, Florida, 1913 (died 1970)
Grandpa Jones died (stroke), 1998 (was 84)
Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton officially break up, 1974
February 20:
Kathie Baillie of Baillie & the Boys born in Morristown, New Jersey, 1951 (now 57)
Claire Lynch born in Albany, New York, 1954 (now 54)
February 21:
Mary-Chapin Carpenter born in Princeton, New Jersey, 1958 (now 50)
Don Reno born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, 1926 (died 1984)
February 22:
Del Wood born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1920 (died 1989)
During a concert in London, Ontario, Johnny Cash asked June Carter to marry him, 1968
February 23:
Buck Griffin born in Corsicana, Texas, 1923 (now 85)
Rusty Young of Poco born in Long Beach, California, 1946 (now 62)
Minnie Pearl married Henry Cannon, 1947
February 24:
Little Roy Lewis of the Lewis Family born in Lincoln County, Georgia, 1942 (now 66)
Don Law born in London, England, 1902 (died 1982)
Webb Pierce died (cancer), 1991 (was 69)
Goldie Hill Smith died (cancer), 2005 (was 72)
Dinah Shore died (cancer), 1994 (was 77). The legendary pop singer and TV hostess was part of the family of live performers on WSM radio.
February 25:
Dr. Ralph Stanley born in Stratton, Virginia, 1927 (now 81)
Faron Young born in Shreveport, Louisiana, 1932 (died 1996)
February 26:
Jan Crutchfield born in Paducah, Kentucky, 1936 (now 72)
Billy Jack Wills born in Hall County, Texas, 1926 (died 1991)
Johnny Cash born in Kingsland, Arkansas, 1932 (died 2003)
February 27:
Chuck Glaser of the Glaser Brothers born in Spalding, Nebraska, 1936 (now 72)
Walter Bailes died (various health problems), 2000 (was 80)
February 28:
Don Helms born in New Brockton, Alabama, 1927 (now 81)
Joe South born in Atlanta, Georgia, 1940 (now 68)
James R. Denney born in Silver Point, Tennessee, 1911 (died 1963)
Audrey Williams born in Banks, Alabama, 1923 (died 1975)
Bunny Biggs of Jamup & Honey died (unknown causes), 1948 (was 52)
Fiddlin' Arthur Smith died (unknown causes), 1971 (was 72)
February 29:
Dinah Shore born in Winchester, Tennessee, 1916 (died 1994)
February 16:
Ronnie Milsap born in Robbinsville, North Carolina, 1944 (now 64)
Jo-Walker Meador born in Orlinda, Tennessee, 1924 (now 84)
Jimmy Wakely born in Mineola, Arkansas, 1914 (died 1982)
Smiley Burnette died (leukemia), 1967 (was 55)
February 17:
Buck Trent born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, 1938 (now 70)
Johnny Bush born in Houston, Texas, 1935 (now 73)
Jon Randall born in Dallas, Texas, 1969 (now 39)
Bryan White born in Shellman, Georgia, 1974 (now 34)
Billy Byrd born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1920 (died 2001)
Gene Pitney born in Hartford, Connecticut, 1940 (died 2006). The rock and roll legend recorded two albums of duets with George Jones.
Uncle Jimmy Thompson died (natural causes), 1931 (was 82)
Eck Robertson died (natural causes), 1975 (was 87)
Gus Hardin died (car wreck), 1996 (was 50)
February 18:
Juice Newton born in Lakehurst Naval Station, New Jersey, 1952 (now 56)
Dudley Connell of the Johnson Mountain Boys born in Scheer, West Virginia, 1956 (now 52)
Pee Wee King born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1914 (died 2000)
Tootsie Bess, owner of Tootsie's Orchid Lounge, died (cancer), 1978 (was 61)
Johnny Paycheck died (emphysema), 2003 (was 64)
February 19:
Lorianne Crook born in Wichita, Kansas, 1957 (now 51)
Cedric Rainwater (real name: Howard Watts) born in Monticello, Florida, 1913 (died 1970)
Grandpa Jones died (stroke), 1998 (was 84)
Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton officially break up, 1974
February 20:
Kathie Baillie of Baillie & the Boys born in Morristown, New Jersey, 1951 (now 57)
Claire Lynch born in Albany, New York, 1954 (now 54)
February 21:
Mary-Chapin Carpenter born in Princeton, New Jersey, 1958 (now 50)
Don Reno born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, 1926 (died 1984)
February 22:
Del Wood born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1920 (died 1989)
During a concert in London, Ontario, Johnny Cash asked June Carter to marry him, 1968
February 23:
Buck Griffin born in Corsicana, Texas, 1923 (now 85)
Rusty Young of Poco born in Long Beach, California, 1946 (now 62)
Minnie Pearl married Henry Cannon, 1947
February 24:
Little Roy Lewis of the Lewis Family born in Lincoln County, Georgia, 1942 (now 66)
Don Law born in London, England, 1902 (died 1982)
Webb Pierce died (cancer), 1991 (was 69)
Goldie Hill Smith died (cancer), 2005 (was 72)
Dinah Shore died (cancer), 1994 (was 77). The legendary pop singer and TV hostess was part of the family of live performers on WSM radio.
February 25:
Dr. Ralph Stanley born in Stratton, Virginia, 1927 (now 81)
Faron Young born in Shreveport, Louisiana, 1932 (died 1996)
February 26:
Jan Crutchfield born in Paducah, Kentucky, 1936 (now 72)
Billy Jack Wills born in Hall County, Texas, 1926 (died 1991)
Johnny Cash born in Kingsland, Arkansas, 1932 (died 2003)
February 27:
Chuck Glaser of the Glaser Brothers born in Spalding, Nebraska, 1936 (now 72)
Walter Bailes died (various health problems), 2000 (was 80)
February 28:
Don Helms born in New Brockton, Alabama, 1927 (now 81)
Joe South born in Atlanta, Georgia, 1940 (now 68)
James R. Denney born in Silver Point, Tennessee, 1911 (died 1963)
Audrey Williams born in Banks, Alabama, 1923 (died 1975)
Bunny Biggs of Jamup & Honey died (unknown causes), 1948 (was 52)
Fiddlin' Arthur Smith died (unknown causes), 1971 (was 72)
February 29:
Dinah Shore born in Winchester, Tennessee, 1916 (died 1994)
Monday, February 11, 2008
Charlie Louvin Good Quote of the Day
Category: News
If anyone should have a "book of quotes" published, it's Country Hall of Famer Charlie Louvin. He's come up with some doozies in his time (including one of my personal favorites, "Anymore, CMA stands for 'country, my ass!'").
This one was from the February 10th Nashville Tennessean:
"You have to go by your taste. I don't believe you're required to say why you like banana pudding or why you like Red Foley. If you don't like it, you shouldn't sing it."
Amen, Brother Charlie.
If anyone should have a "book of quotes" published, it's Country Hall of Famer Charlie Louvin. He's come up with some doozies in his time (including one of my personal favorites, "Anymore, CMA stands for 'country, my ass!'").
This one was from the February 10th Nashville Tennessean:
"You have to go by your taste. I don't believe you're required to say why you like banana pudding or why you like Red Foley. If you don't like it, you shouldn't sing it."
Amen, Brother Charlie.
Missing From the CD Reissues
Category: Review
Last week I was transferring some albums onto CD. One of my favorites was in the pile, and it made me wonder: why do I have to put this on CD? Why hasn't it been reissued?
The album in question is At the Country Club, the 1960 live album by Homer and Jethro. This album is a riot. It begins with Archie Campbell introducing the duo as "one of the biggest has-beens in the business" before Homer and Jethro take the stage, with Jethro introducing themselves as "the Everly Brothers of the Stone Age." From there, it only gets funnier. "The Billboard Song," "The Battle of Kookamonga," and "How Much is That Hound Dog in the Window" are all here, along with many others and marvelous between-song banter (barbs and jabs) that shows just why these two extremely underrated musicians and funny men were inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001.
That brings up an interesting point. Homer and Jethro stand as the one Hall of Fame act with the fewest issues on CD. When Richard Weitz attended the ICMC conference in 2007, I specifically asked him about the possibility of a Homer and Jethro box set. He replied, "No, I can't. I'd lose money." That's sad, because people need to know just where Weird Al learned to spoof.
Perhaps someday some record label, be it RCA (their original label) or an overseas reissue company will see fit to put one or two of Homer and Jethro's albums out on CD. If so, here's hoping they begin with At the Country Club. This is not just a funny Homer and Jethro album, it's a great, funny album by anyone's standards.
Last week I was transferring some albums onto CD. One of my favorites was in the pile, and it made me wonder: why do I have to put this on CD? Why hasn't it been reissued?
The album in question is At the Country Club, the 1960 live album by Homer and Jethro. This album is a riot. It begins with Archie Campbell introducing the duo as "one of the biggest has-beens in the business" before Homer and Jethro take the stage, with Jethro introducing themselves as "the Everly Brothers of the Stone Age." From there, it only gets funnier. "The Billboard Song," "The Battle of Kookamonga," and "How Much is That Hound Dog in the Window" are all here, along with many others and marvelous between-song banter (barbs and jabs) that shows just why these two extremely underrated musicians and funny men were inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001.
That brings up an interesting point. Homer and Jethro stand as the one Hall of Fame act with the fewest issues on CD. When Richard Weitz attended the ICMC conference in 2007, I specifically asked him about the possibility of a Homer and Jethro box set. He replied, "No, I can't. I'd lose money." That's sad, because people need to know just where Weird Al learned to spoof.
Perhaps someday some record label, be it RCA (their original label) or an overseas reissue company will see fit to put one or two of Homer and Jethro's albums out on CD. If so, here's hoping they begin with At the Country Club. This is not just a funny Homer and Jethro album, it's a great, funny album by anyone's standards.
Saturday, February 02, 2008
The Day the Music Died and Affected Country Music
Category: Memorial
But something touched me deep inside
The day the music died
-- Don McLean, "American Pie"
February 3, 1959 is still regarded, 49 years after the fact, as one of the darkest days in the history of rock and roll. Three stars, 17-year-old Ritchie Valens, 22-year-old Buddy Holly, and 28-year-old J.P. "Big Bopper" Richardson, perished in a plane crash en route to the next stop on their "Winter Dance Party" tour. What many people don't talk about is what a loss to country music occurred that fateful early morning near Mason City, Iowa.
Jiles Perry Richardson was a disc jockey and a songwriter. He wrote a number of songs that have become staples in country music, chief among them, "White Lightnin'." J.P. Richardson and George Jones were very good friends. Jones played guitar and sang background vocals (along with Richardson) on Johnny Preston's only #1 hit, "Running Bear" (which Richardson wrote). Ten years after Preston's version was a pop hit, Sonny James made a #1 country hit out of the song.
Richardson may be dismissed as a novelty songwriter because of songs like "Running Bear," "White Lightnin'," and his own hit as "The Big Bopper" (the song that put him on the ill-fated tour), "Chantilly Lace." That's a gross misrepresentation of the man's talents. Only 28 when he died, he left a treasure trove of songs he had written. He also wrote Jones' song "The Treasure of Love" and Hank Snow's beautiful ballad, "Beggar to a King."
It is unfair to refer to "the day the music died" as a "rock and roll" tragedy, for country music lost an important songwriter as well. Indeed, all of music suffered that day.
But something touched me deep inside
The day the music died
-- Don McLean, "American Pie"
February 3, 1959 is still regarded, 49 years after the fact, as one of the darkest days in the history of rock and roll. Three stars, 17-year-old Ritchie Valens, 22-year-old Buddy Holly, and 28-year-old J.P. "Big Bopper" Richardson, perished in a plane crash en route to the next stop on their "Winter Dance Party" tour. What many people don't talk about is what a loss to country music occurred that fateful early morning near Mason City, Iowa.
Jiles Perry Richardson was a disc jockey and a songwriter. He wrote a number of songs that have become staples in country music, chief among them, "White Lightnin'." J.P. Richardson and George Jones were very good friends. Jones played guitar and sang background vocals (along with Richardson) on Johnny Preston's only #1 hit, "Running Bear" (which Richardson wrote). Ten years after Preston's version was a pop hit, Sonny James made a #1 country hit out of the song.
Richardson may be dismissed as a novelty songwriter because of songs like "Running Bear," "White Lightnin'," and his own hit as "The Big Bopper" (the song that put him on the ill-fated tour), "Chantilly Lace." That's a gross misrepresentation of the man's talents. Only 28 when he died, he left a treasure trove of songs he had written. He also wrote Jones' song "The Treasure of Love" and Hank Snow's beautiful ballad, "Beggar to a King."
It is unfair to refer to "the day the music died" as a "rock and roll" tragedy, for country music lost an important songwriter as well. Indeed, all of music suffered that day.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Dates of Note in Country Music, February 1-15
Category: News
February 1:
Don Everly born in Brownie, Kentucky, 1937 (now 71)
Ray Sawyer of Dr. Hook born in Chicksaw, Alabama, 1937 (now 70)
Del McCoury born in Bakersville, North Carolina, 1939 (now 69)
Lisa Marie Presley born in Memphis, Tennessee, 1968 (now 40)
Scotty Wiseman died (heart attack), 1981 (was 71)
February 2:
Glenn Barber born in Hollis, Oklahoma, 1935 (now 73)
Howard Bellamy of the Bellamy Brothers born in Darby, Florida, 1946 (now 62)
Emmett Miller born in Macon, Georgia, 1900 (died 1962)
Lester McFarland of Mac & Bob born in Gray, Kentucky, 1902 (died 1984)
Rusty Kershaw born in Tiel Ridge, Louisiana, 1938 (died 2001)
Louise Scruggs, wife and manager of Earl Scruggs, died, 2006 (was 78)
February 3:
Dave Rich born in Briar Creek, Kentucky, 1936 (now 72). Ernest Tubb heard a recording of Rich's and hounded friend Ray Price throughout a game of golf to record the song. The song? "City Lights."
Matraca Berg born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1964 (now 44)
Betty Foley, daughter and one-time duet partner of Red Foley, born in Chicago, Illinois, 1933 (died 1990)
Jiles Perry "J.P." Richardson died (plane crash), 1959 (was 28)
Buddy Holly died (plane crash), 1959 (was 22)
James Blackwood of the Blackwood Brothers Quartet died (stroke), 2002 (was 83). He was the last member of the original legendary Southern Gospel quartet.
February 4:
Clint Black born in Long Branch, New Jersey, 1962 (now 46)
Chris McDaniel of Confederate Railroad born in Rock Springs, Georgia, 1965 (now 43)
Vic McAlpin born in Defeated Creek, Tennessee, 1918 (died 1980)
Jethro Burns died (cancer), 1989 (was 68)
February 5:
Claude King born in Shreveport, Louisiana, 1933 (now 75).
Sara Evans born in Boonville, Missouri, 1971 (now 37)
Henson Cargill born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 1941 (died 2007)
Eddy Noack died (cerebral hemorrhage), 1978 (was 47)
February 6:
Dale Reno of the Reno Brothers born in Roanoke, Virginia, 1961 (now 47)
Richie McDonald of Lonestar born in Lubbock, Texas, 1962 (now 46)
Anita Cochran born in Pontiac, Michigan, 1967 (now 41)
Violet Koehler of the original Coon Creek Girls born in Wilton, Wisconsin, 1916 (died 1973)
Merle Kilgore died (cancer), 2005 (was 70)
Frankie Laine died (complications from hip replacement surgery), 2007 (was 93)
February 7:
Wilma Lee Cooper born in Valley Head, West Virginia, 1921 (now 87)
Garth Brooks born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1962 (now 46)
Tony Booth born in Tampa, Florida, 1943 (now 65)
Warren Smith born in Humphreys County, Mississippi, 1933 (died 1980)
Ambrose Allen of the Allen Brothers born in Sewanee, Tennessee, 1901 (died 1959)
Dale Evans died (congestive heart failure), 2001 (was 88)
Patsy Cline's last recording session, Nashville, 1963. The last song she recorded was a cover of Moon Mullican's "I'll Sail My Ship Alone."
Jim Reeves recorded "Four Walls" in Nashville, 1957. This song is said by many to be the beginning of the "Nashville Sound."
February 8:
Joe South born in Atlanta, Georgia, 1942 (now 66)
Dan Seals born in McCamey, Texas, 1948 (now 60)
Don Wayne Reno of the Reno Brothers born in Roanoke, Virginia, 1963 (now 45)
Pappy Daily born in Yoakum, Texas, 1902 (died 1987)
Bob Dunn born in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma, 1908 (died 1971). Dunn is credited as being the first country musician to use amplification for his instrument.
Merle Watson born in Deep Gap, North Carolina, 1949 (died 1985)
Lulu Belle Wiseman died (Alzheimer's disease), 1999 (was 84)
Keith Knudsen of Southern Pacific died (chronic pneumonia), 2005 (was 56)
February 9:
Joe Ely born in Amarillo, Texas, 1947 (now 61)
Travis Tritt born in Marietta, Georgia, 1963 (now 45)
Ernest Tubb born in Crisp, Texas, 1914 (died 1984)
February 10:
George York of the York Brothers born in Louisa, Kentucky, 1910 (died 1974)
Arthur Satherley died (natural causes), 1986 (was 96)
Kendall Hayes died (cancer), 1995 (was 59)
Jim Varney died (lung cancer), 2000 (was 50)
February 11:
Wesley Rose born in Chicago, Illinois, 1918 (died 1980)
February 12:
Moe Bandy born in Meridian, Mississippi, 1944 (now 64)
Stephen Sholes born in Washington, DC, 1911 (died 1968)
Red Allen born in Pigeon Roost, Kentucky, 1930 (died 1993)
Lorne Greene born in Ottawa, Ontario, 1915 (died 1987). The legendary actor hit the Billboard top 40 country charts in 1964 with "Ringo."
Sammi Smith died (emphysema), 2005 (was 61)
February 13:
David McLaughlin of the Johnson Mountain Boys born in Washington, DC, 1958 (now 50)
Tennessee Ernie Ford born in Bristol, Tennessee, 1919 (died 1991)
Boudleaux Bryant born in Shellman, Georgia, 1920 (died 1987)
Jim McReynolds of Jim & Jessee born in Coeburn, Virginia, 1927 (died 2003)
Charlie Moore born in Piedmont, South Carolina, 1935 (died 1979)
Buddy Lee died (cancer), 1998 (was 65)
Waylon Jennings died (complications of diabetes), 2002 (was 64)
February 14:
Razzy Bailey born in Five Points, Alabama, 1939 (now 69)
Bill Nowlin, co-founder of Rounder Records, born in Boston, Massachusetts, 1945 (now 63)
Harry Stone born in Jacksonville, Florida, 1898 (died 1968)
Lonnie Glosson born in Judsonia, Arkansas, 1908 (died 2001)
February 15:
Hank Locklin born in McLellan, Florida, 1918 (now 90)
Wally Fowler born in Adairsville, Georgia, 1917 (died 1994)
Louise Scruggs born in Lebanon, Tennessee, 1927 (died 2006)
Dorris Macon died (suicide), 1981 (was 71)
Nat "King" Cole died (lung cancer), 1965 (was 45). The legendary pop crooner hit #1 on the Billboard country charts in 1944 (with the King Cole Trio) with the song "Straighten Up and Fly Right."
February 1:
Don Everly born in Brownie, Kentucky, 1937 (now 71)
Ray Sawyer of Dr. Hook born in Chicksaw, Alabama, 1937 (now 70)
Del McCoury born in Bakersville, North Carolina, 1939 (now 69)
Lisa Marie Presley born in Memphis, Tennessee, 1968 (now 40)
Scotty Wiseman died (heart attack), 1981 (was 71)
February 2:
Glenn Barber born in Hollis, Oklahoma, 1935 (now 73)
Howard Bellamy of the Bellamy Brothers born in Darby, Florida, 1946 (now 62)
Emmett Miller born in Macon, Georgia, 1900 (died 1962)
Lester McFarland of Mac & Bob born in Gray, Kentucky, 1902 (died 1984)
Rusty Kershaw born in Tiel Ridge, Louisiana, 1938 (died 2001)
Louise Scruggs, wife and manager of Earl Scruggs, died, 2006 (was 78)
February 3:
Dave Rich born in Briar Creek, Kentucky, 1936 (now 72). Ernest Tubb heard a recording of Rich's and hounded friend Ray Price throughout a game of golf to record the song. The song? "City Lights."
Matraca Berg born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1964 (now 44)
Betty Foley, daughter and one-time duet partner of Red Foley, born in Chicago, Illinois, 1933 (died 1990)
Jiles Perry "J.P." Richardson died (plane crash), 1959 (was 28)
Buddy Holly died (plane crash), 1959 (was 22)
James Blackwood of the Blackwood Brothers Quartet died (stroke), 2002 (was 83). He was the last member of the original legendary Southern Gospel quartet.
February 4:
Clint Black born in Long Branch, New Jersey, 1962 (now 46)
Chris McDaniel of Confederate Railroad born in Rock Springs, Georgia, 1965 (now 43)
Vic McAlpin born in Defeated Creek, Tennessee, 1918 (died 1980)
Jethro Burns died (cancer), 1989 (was 68)
February 5:
Claude King born in Shreveport, Louisiana, 1933 (now 75).
Sara Evans born in Boonville, Missouri, 1971 (now 37)
Henson Cargill born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 1941 (died 2007)
Eddy Noack died (cerebral hemorrhage), 1978 (was 47)
February 6:
Dale Reno of the Reno Brothers born in Roanoke, Virginia, 1961 (now 47)
Richie McDonald of Lonestar born in Lubbock, Texas, 1962 (now 46)
Anita Cochran born in Pontiac, Michigan, 1967 (now 41)
Violet Koehler of the original Coon Creek Girls born in Wilton, Wisconsin, 1916 (died 1973)
Merle Kilgore died (cancer), 2005 (was 70)
Frankie Laine died (complications from hip replacement surgery), 2007 (was 93)
February 7:
Wilma Lee Cooper born in Valley Head, West Virginia, 1921 (now 87)
Garth Brooks born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1962 (now 46)
Tony Booth born in Tampa, Florida, 1943 (now 65)
Warren Smith born in Humphreys County, Mississippi, 1933 (died 1980)
Ambrose Allen of the Allen Brothers born in Sewanee, Tennessee, 1901 (died 1959)
Dale Evans died (congestive heart failure), 2001 (was 88)
Patsy Cline's last recording session, Nashville, 1963. The last song she recorded was a cover of Moon Mullican's "I'll Sail My Ship Alone."
Jim Reeves recorded "Four Walls" in Nashville, 1957. This song is said by many to be the beginning of the "Nashville Sound."
February 8:
Joe South born in Atlanta, Georgia, 1942 (now 66)
Dan Seals born in McCamey, Texas, 1948 (now 60)
Don Wayne Reno of the Reno Brothers born in Roanoke, Virginia, 1963 (now 45)
Pappy Daily born in Yoakum, Texas, 1902 (died 1987)
Bob Dunn born in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma, 1908 (died 1971). Dunn is credited as being the first country musician to use amplification for his instrument.
Merle Watson born in Deep Gap, North Carolina, 1949 (died 1985)
Lulu Belle Wiseman died (Alzheimer's disease), 1999 (was 84)
Keith Knudsen of Southern Pacific died (chronic pneumonia), 2005 (was 56)
February 9:
Joe Ely born in Amarillo, Texas, 1947 (now 61)
Travis Tritt born in Marietta, Georgia, 1963 (now 45)
Ernest Tubb born in Crisp, Texas, 1914 (died 1984)
February 10:
George York of the York Brothers born in Louisa, Kentucky, 1910 (died 1974)
Arthur Satherley died (natural causes), 1986 (was 96)
Kendall Hayes died (cancer), 1995 (was 59)
Jim Varney died (lung cancer), 2000 (was 50)
February 11:
Wesley Rose born in Chicago, Illinois, 1918 (died 1980)
February 12:
Moe Bandy born in Meridian, Mississippi, 1944 (now 64)
Stephen Sholes born in Washington, DC, 1911 (died 1968)
Red Allen born in Pigeon Roost, Kentucky, 1930 (died 1993)
Lorne Greene born in Ottawa, Ontario, 1915 (died 1987). The legendary actor hit the Billboard top 40 country charts in 1964 with "Ringo."
Sammi Smith died (emphysema), 2005 (was 61)
February 13:
David McLaughlin of the Johnson Mountain Boys born in Washington, DC, 1958 (now 50)
Tennessee Ernie Ford born in Bristol, Tennessee, 1919 (died 1991)
Boudleaux Bryant born in Shellman, Georgia, 1920 (died 1987)
Jim McReynolds of Jim & Jessee born in Coeburn, Virginia, 1927 (died 2003)
Charlie Moore born in Piedmont, South Carolina, 1935 (died 1979)
Buddy Lee died (cancer), 1998 (was 65)
Waylon Jennings died (complications of diabetes), 2002 (was 64)
February 14:
Razzy Bailey born in Five Points, Alabama, 1939 (now 69)
Bill Nowlin, co-founder of Rounder Records, born in Boston, Massachusetts, 1945 (now 63)
Harry Stone born in Jacksonville, Florida, 1898 (died 1968)
Lonnie Glosson born in Judsonia, Arkansas, 1908 (died 2001)
February 15:
Hank Locklin born in McLellan, Florida, 1918 (now 90)
Wally Fowler born in Adairsville, Georgia, 1917 (died 1994)
Louise Scruggs born in Lebanon, Tennessee, 1927 (died 2006)
Dorris Macon died (suicide), 1981 (was 71)
Nat "King" Cole died (lung cancer), 1965 (was 45). The legendary pop crooner hit #1 on the Billboard country charts in 1944 (with the King Cole Trio) with the song "Straighten Up and Fly Right."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)