Category: News
(Hall of Fame members in bold)
October 16:
Jim Ed Norman born in Ft. Myers, Florida, 1948 (now 60)
Stoney Cooper born in Harman, West Virginia, 1918 (died 1977)
Doyle Wilburn died (cancer), 1982 (was 52)
Don Reno died (post-operative complications), 1984 (was 58)
Ralph Stanley Museum opened, 2004
October 17:
Earl Thomas Conley born in Portsmouth, Ohio, 1941 (now 67)
Alan Jackson born in Newman, Georgia, 1958 (now 50)
Tennessee Ernie Ford died (liver disease), 1991 (was 72)
Jay Livingston died (pneumonia), 2001 (was 86). Among the songwriter's many credits were "Bonanza!," which Johnny Cash recorded, and "The Hanging Tree," which Marty Robbins recorded.
Bashful Brother Oswald (Beecher Ray Kirby) died (cancer), 2002 (was 90)
October 18:
Chuck Berry born in San Jose, California, 1926 (now 82). Among the rock and roll legend's hits that have made it to the country chart are "Memphis" (#10 hit for Fred Knoblock, 1981), "Brown Eyed Handsome Man" (#3 hit for Waylon Jennings, 1970), "The Promised Land" (#3 hit for Freddy Weller, 1970), and "Johnny B. Goode" (#1 hit for Buck Owens, 1969).
Keith Knudsen of Southern Pacific born in Ames, Iowa, 1952 (now 56)
Harty Taylor of Karl & Harty died (stroke), 1963 (was 58)
Hank Williams married Billie Jean Jones, 1952. After Williams' death, she would marry Johnny Horton.
Don Hecht died (heart attack), 2002 (was 72)
October 19:
Charlie Chase born in Rogersville, Tennessee, 1952 (now 56)
Don Parmley of the Bluegrass Cardinals born in Oliver Springs, Tennessee, 1933 (now 75)
Ebo Walker (ne Harry Shelor) of Bluegrass Alliance and New Grass Revival born in Louisville, Kentucky, 1941 (now 67)
Jeannie C. Riley born in Anson, Texas, 1945 (now 63)
Arthur E. "Uncle Art" Satherley born in Bristol, England, 1889 (died 1986)
Grant Turner died (heart failure), 1991 (was 79)
The first CMA Awards program was held, 1967. It was not televised.
October 20:
Wanda Jackson born in Maud, Oklahoma, 1937 (now 71)
Stuart Hamblin born in Kellyville, Texas, 1908 (died 1989)
Grandpa Jones born in Niagara, Kentucky, 1913 (died 1998)
Merle Travis died (heart attack), 1983 (was 65)
Rounder Records founded by Ken Irwin, Bill Nowlin, and Marian Leighton, 1970. Mr. Nowlin says this "birth" of Rounder is based on the date of their first invoice.
October 21:
Owen Bradley born in Westmoreland, Tennessee, 1915 (died 1998)
Bill Black died (brain tumor), 1965 (was 39)
Mel Street born in Grundy, Virginia, 1933 (died 1978)
Mel Street died (suicide), 1978 (45th birthday)
October 22:
Leon Chappelear died (suicide), 1962 (was 53)
Shelby Lynn born in Quantico, Virginia, 1968 (now 39)
Dorothy Shay, the "Park Avenue Hillbillie," died (heart attack), 1978 (was 57)
October 23:
Dwight Yoakam born in Pikeville, Kentucky, 1956 (now 52)
Junior Bryant of Ricochet born in Pecos, Texas, 1968 (now 40)
Mother Maybelle Carter died (respiratory arrest), 1978 (was 68)
Merle Watson died (tractor accident), 1985 (was 36). His father Doc's long-lasting tribute to his late son is the annual bluegrass event known as "MerleFest."
Rusty Kershaw died (heart attack), 2001 (was 63)
October 24:
Mark Gray (former member of Exile) born in Vicksburg, Mississippi, 1952 (now 56)
Jiles Perry "The Big Bopper" Richardson born in Sabine Pass, Texas, 1930 (died 1959). Among his songwriter credits is "White Lightnin'" by friend George Jones and Hank Snow's "Beggar to a King."
Kirk McGee died (natural causes), 1983 (was 83)
Rosey Nix Adams, daughter of June Carter Cash, died (carbon monoxide poisoning), 2003 (was 45)
October 25:
Mark Miller (Sawyer Brown) born in Dayton, Ohio, 1958 (now 50)
Jeanne Black born in Pomona, California, 1937 (now 71)
Chely Wright born in Kansas City, Missouri, 1970 (now 38)
Cousin Minnie Pearl born in Grinders Switch (actually, Centerville), Tennessee, 1912 (died 1996)
Roger Miller died (throat cancer), 1992 (was 56)
Johnnie Lee Willis died (heart ailment), 1984 (was 72)
Johnny Cash's last concert performance, Flint Michigan, 1997
October 26:
Keith Urban born in Whangarei, New Zeland, 1967 (now 41)
Hoyt Axton died (heart attack), 1999 (was 62)
Statler Brothers' final concert in their hometown of Salem, Virginia, 2002
October 27:
Dallas Frazier born in Spiro, Oklahoma, 1939 (now 69)
Ruby Wright born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1939 (now 69)
Lee Greenwood born in Southgate, California, 1942 (now 66)
Snuffy Jenkins born in Harris, North Carolina, 1908 (died 1990)
Floyd Cramer born in Campti, Louisiana, 1933 (died 1997)
Allan "Rocky" Lane died (cancer), 1973 (was 72). He is mentioned in the Statler Brothers' "Whatever Happened to Randolph Scott."
Grand Ole Opry moves to the Hillsboro Theater, 1934
October 28:
Charlie Daniels born in Wilmington, North Carolina, 1936 (now 72)
Brad Paisley born in Glen Dale, West Virginia, 1972 (now 36)
Bill Bolick of the Blue Sky Boys born in Hickory, North Carolina, 1917 (died 2008)
Jimmy Skinner died (heart attack), 1979 (was 70)
Mel Foree died (cancer), 1990 (age unknown)
Porter Wagoner died (lung cancer), 2007 (was 80)
October 29:
Sonny Osborne born in Hyden, Kentucky, 1937 (now 71)
Charlie Monk born in Noma, Florida, 1938 (now 70)
Albert E. Brumley born in Spiro, Oklahoma, 1905 (died 1977)
Ramblin' Jimmie Dolan born in Gardena, California, 1916 (died 1994)
Fred Maddox died (heart disease), 1992 (was 73)
October 30:
Timothy B. Schmit of Poco and the Eagles born in Sacramento, California, 1947 (now 61)
T. Graham Brown born in Atlanta, Georgia, 1954 (now 54)
Patsy Montana born in Hope, Arkansas, 1908 (died 1996)
Clifton Clowers born in Wolverton Mountain, Conway County, Arkansas, 1891 (died 1994)
Kitty Wells and Johnnie Wright married, 1937 (71 years!!)
October 31:
Kinky Friedman born in Chicago, Illinois, 1944 (now 63)
Dale Evans born in Uvalde, Texas, 1912 (died 2001)
Carl Belew died (cancer), 1990 (was 59)
Bob Atcher died (unknown causes), 1993 (was 79)
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Update on Hank Cochran
Category: News
With all the bad news that comes after a cancer diagnosis (as evident by the passing of Porter Wagoner and Hank Thompson last year), I am delighted to pass on some GREAT news.
Hank Cochran, the legendary songwriter (and singer -- remember he had a hit with his song, "Sally Was a Good Ol' Girl"), has received excellent news regarding his recent pancreatic cancer diagnosis. According to his publicist, Martha Moore, Cochran is out of the hospital and received an "all clear" on a CT scan last week. He is scheduled to start chemotherapy this week (don't think that's bad news: it's standard to give chemo or radiation to people who have had surgery for cancer, even when the doctors declare they "got it all" during the operation).
The great Hank Cochran
Cochran said, "This is the best news we could hope for." He offers his thanks for the prayers and well-wishes from country music fans around the world, saying, "It's what kept me going."
Continue to pray for this should-be-Hall-of-Fame legend as he continues his treatment. Most of us have been touched by cancer (either a family or a friend or, God forbid, a personal bout), and we know what a devil that horrid disease can be.
With all the bad news that comes after a cancer diagnosis (as evident by the passing of Porter Wagoner and Hank Thompson last year), I am delighted to pass on some GREAT news.
Hank Cochran, the legendary songwriter (and singer -- remember he had a hit with his song, "Sally Was a Good Ol' Girl"), has received excellent news regarding his recent pancreatic cancer diagnosis. According to his publicist, Martha Moore, Cochran is out of the hospital and received an "all clear" on a CT scan last week. He is scheduled to start chemotherapy this week (don't think that's bad news: it's standard to give chemo or radiation to people who have had surgery for cancer, even when the doctors declare they "got it all" during the operation).
The great Hank Cochran
Cochran said, "This is the best news we could hope for." He offers his thanks for the prayers and well-wishes from country music fans around the world, saying, "It's what kept me going."
Continue to pray for this should-be-Hall-of-Fame legend as he continues his treatment. Most of us have been touched by cancer (either a family or a friend or, God forbid, a personal bout), and we know what a devil that horrid disease can be.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Dates of Note in Country Music, October 1-15
Category: News
(Hall of Fame members in bold)
October 1:
Kelly Willis born in Lawton, Oklahoma, 1968 (now 40)
Skeets McDonald born in Greenway, Arkansas, 1915 (died 1968)
Bonnie Owens born in Blanchard, Oklahoma, 1932 (died 2006)
October 2:
Jo-El Sonnier born in Rayne, Louisiana, 1946 (now 62)
Tammy Sullivan born in Wagarville, Alabama, 1964 (now 44)
Chris LeDoux born in Biloxi, Mississippi, 1948 (died 2005)
Chubby Wise born in Lake City, Florida, 1915 (died 1996)
Gene Autry died (lymphoma), 1998 (was 91). The "Singing Cowboy" owned the Anaheim Angels, who dedicated their 2002 World Series victory to his memory.
Elvis Presley played the Grand Ole Opry, 1954
October 3:
Joe Allison born in McKinney, Texas, 1924 (died 2002)
Woody Guthrie died (Huntington's disease), 1967 (was 55). Among the folk singer's compositions were the Maddox Brothers and Rose's hit "Philadelphia Lawyer."
Del Wood died (stroke), 1989 (was 69)
October 4:
Leroy Van Dyke born in Spring Fork, Missouri, 1929 (now 79)
Larry Collins of the Collins Kids born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1944 (now 64)
Greg Hubbard of Sawyer Brown born in Orlando, Florida, 1960 (now 48)
Jerry Rivers died (cancer), 1996 (was 69)
A.L. "Doodle" Owens died (heart attack), 1999 (was 69)
Tammy Wynette's ordeal where she claimed to have been kidnapped and beaten began, 1978
October 5:
Radio station WSM born in Nashville at 650 on the AM dial, 1925 (now 83)
Margie Singleton born in Coushatta, Louisiana, 1935 (now 73)
Johnny Duncan born in Dublin, Texas, 1938 (died 2006)
October 6:
Tim Rushlow of Little Texas born in Arlington, Texas, 1966 (now 41)
Kendall Hayes born in Perryville, Kentucky, 1935 (died 1995)
Ted Daffan died (natural causes), 1996 (was 84)
October 7:
Jim Halsey born in Independence, Kansas, 1930 (now 78)
Dale Watson born in Birmingham, Alabama, 1962 (now 46)
Kieran Kane born in Queens, New York, 1949 (now 59)
Uncle Dave Macon born in Warren County, Tennessee, 1870 (died 1952)
Gordon Terry born in Decatur, Alabama, 1931 (died 2006)
Hugh Cherry born in Louisville, Kentucky, 1922 (died 1998)
Buddy Lee born in Brooklyn, New York, 1932 (died 1998)
Johnny Darrell died (diabetes complications), 1997 (was 57)
Jimmie Logsdon died (unknown cause), 2001 (was 79)
October 8:
Ricky Lee Phelps of the Kentucky Headhunters born in Paragould, Arkansas, 1953 (now 55)
Susan Raye born in Eugene, Oregon, 1944 (now 64)
Lynn Morris born in Lamesa, Texas, 1948 (now 60)
Jackie Frantz of Dave & Sugar born in Sidney, Ohio, 1950 (now 58)
Pete Drake born in Atlanta, Georgia, 1932 (died 1988)
October 9:
Goebel Reeves born in Sherman, Texas, 1899 (died 1969)
October 10:
John Prine born in Maywood, Illinois, 1946 (now 62). The folk singer has written a number of tunes that have become country and bluegrass standards, most notably, "Paradise."
Tanya Tucker born in Seminole, Texas, 1958 (now 50)
October 11:
Gene Watson born in Palestine, Texas, 1943 (now 65)
Paulette Carlson of Highway 101 born in Northfield, Minnesota, 1952 (now 56)
Dottie West born in McMinnville, Tennessee, 1932 (died 1991)
Rex Griffin died (tuberculosis), 1958 (was 46)
Tex Williams died (cancer), 1985 (was 68)
T. Tommy Cutrer died (heart attack), 1998 (was 74)
October 12:
Shane McAnally born in Mineral Wells, Texas, 1974 (now 34)
John Denver died (plane crash), 1997 (was 53)
October 13:
Rhett Akins born in Valdosta, Georgia, 1969 (now 39)
Lacy J. Dalton born in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, 1946 (now 62)
Anita Kerr born in Memphis, Tennessee, 1927 (now 81)
John Wiggins born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1962 (now 46)
Hoarce Lee Logan died (respiratory disease), 2002. The founder of the Louisiana Hayride also coined one of the most oft-repeated phrases in American popular culture: trying to calm down an audience after one Louisiana Hayride performer wowed the crowd, Logan announced, "Elvis has left the building."
October 14:
Kenny Roberts born in Lenoir City, Tennessee, 1926 (now 82)
Melba Montgomery born in Iron City, Tennessee, 1938 (now 70)
Bing Crosby died (heart attack), 1977. The legendary pop crooner has the distinction of being the first artist to have a #1 single on Billboard magazine's Country and Western charts, with his rendition of Al Dexter's "Pistol Packin' Mama," 1944.
October 15:
Dean Miller born in Los Angeles, California, 1965 (now 43)
(Hall of Fame members in bold)
October 1:
Kelly Willis born in Lawton, Oklahoma, 1968 (now 40)
Skeets McDonald born in Greenway, Arkansas, 1915 (died 1968)
Bonnie Owens born in Blanchard, Oklahoma, 1932 (died 2006)
October 2:
Jo-El Sonnier born in Rayne, Louisiana, 1946 (now 62)
Tammy Sullivan born in Wagarville, Alabama, 1964 (now 44)
Chris LeDoux born in Biloxi, Mississippi, 1948 (died 2005)
Chubby Wise born in Lake City, Florida, 1915 (died 1996)
Gene Autry died (lymphoma), 1998 (was 91). The "Singing Cowboy" owned the Anaheim Angels, who dedicated their 2002 World Series victory to his memory.
Elvis Presley played the Grand Ole Opry, 1954
October 3:
Joe Allison born in McKinney, Texas, 1924 (died 2002)
Woody Guthrie died (Huntington's disease), 1967 (was 55). Among the folk singer's compositions were the Maddox Brothers and Rose's hit "Philadelphia Lawyer."
Del Wood died (stroke), 1989 (was 69)
October 4:
Leroy Van Dyke born in Spring Fork, Missouri, 1929 (now 79)
Larry Collins of the Collins Kids born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1944 (now 64)
Greg Hubbard of Sawyer Brown born in Orlando, Florida, 1960 (now 48)
Jerry Rivers died (cancer), 1996 (was 69)
A.L. "Doodle" Owens died (heart attack), 1999 (was 69)
Tammy Wynette's ordeal where she claimed to have been kidnapped and beaten began, 1978
October 5:
Radio station WSM born in Nashville at 650 on the AM dial, 1925 (now 83)
Margie Singleton born in Coushatta, Louisiana, 1935 (now 73)
Johnny Duncan born in Dublin, Texas, 1938 (died 2006)
October 6:
Tim Rushlow of Little Texas born in Arlington, Texas, 1966 (now 41)
Kendall Hayes born in Perryville, Kentucky, 1935 (died 1995)
Ted Daffan died (natural causes), 1996 (was 84)
October 7:
Jim Halsey born in Independence, Kansas, 1930 (now 78)
Dale Watson born in Birmingham, Alabama, 1962 (now 46)
Kieran Kane born in Queens, New York, 1949 (now 59)
Uncle Dave Macon born in Warren County, Tennessee, 1870 (died 1952)
Gordon Terry born in Decatur, Alabama, 1931 (died 2006)
Hugh Cherry born in Louisville, Kentucky, 1922 (died 1998)
Buddy Lee born in Brooklyn, New York, 1932 (died 1998)
Johnny Darrell died (diabetes complications), 1997 (was 57)
Jimmie Logsdon died (unknown cause), 2001 (was 79)
October 8:
Ricky Lee Phelps of the Kentucky Headhunters born in Paragould, Arkansas, 1953 (now 55)
Susan Raye born in Eugene, Oregon, 1944 (now 64)
Lynn Morris born in Lamesa, Texas, 1948 (now 60)
Jackie Frantz of Dave & Sugar born in Sidney, Ohio, 1950 (now 58)
Pete Drake born in Atlanta, Georgia, 1932 (died 1988)
October 9:
Goebel Reeves born in Sherman, Texas, 1899 (died 1969)
October 10:
John Prine born in Maywood, Illinois, 1946 (now 62). The folk singer has written a number of tunes that have become country and bluegrass standards, most notably, "Paradise."
Tanya Tucker born in Seminole, Texas, 1958 (now 50)
October 11:
Gene Watson born in Palestine, Texas, 1943 (now 65)
Paulette Carlson of Highway 101 born in Northfield, Minnesota, 1952 (now 56)
Dottie West born in McMinnville, Tennessee, 1932 (died 1991)
Rex Griffin died (tuberculosis), 1958 (was 46)
Tex Williams died (cancer), 1985 (was 68)
T. Tommy Cutrer died (heart attack), 1998 (was 74)
October 12:
Shane McAnally born in Mineral Wells, Texas, 1974 (now 34)
John Denver died (plane crash), 1997 (was 53)
October 13:
Rhett Akins born in Valdosta, Georgia, 1969 (now 39)
Lacy J. Dalton born in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, 1946 (now 62)
Anita Kerr born in Memphis, Tennessee, 1927 (now 81)
John Wiggins born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1962 (now 46)
Hoarce Lee Logan died (respiratory disease), 2002. The founder of the Louisiana Hayride also coined one of the most oft-repeated phrases in American popular culture: trying to calm down an audience after one Louisiana Hayride performer wowed the crowd, Logan announced, "Elvis has left the building."
October 14:
Kenny Roberts born in Lenoir City, Tennessee, 1926 (now 82)
Melba Montgomery born in Iron City, Tennessee, 1938 (now 70)
Bing Crosby died (heart attack), 1977. The legendary pop crooner has the distinction of being the first artist to have a #1 single on Billboard magazine's Country and Western charts, with his rendition of Al Dexter's "Pistol Packin' Mama," 1944.
October 15:
Dean Miller born in Los Angeles, California, 1965 (now 43)
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Dates of Note in Country Music, September 16-30
Category: News
(Hall of Fame members in bold)
September 16:
Ralph Mooney born in Duncan, Oklahoma, 1928 (now 80)
David Bellamy of the Bellamy Brothers born in Darby, Florida, 1950 (now 58)
Sheb Wooley died (leukemia), 2003 (was 82)
September 17:
Hank Williams born in Mount Olive, Alabama, 1923 (died 1953)
John Ritter, son of Tex Ritter, born in Burbank, California, 1948 (died 2003)
Steve Sanders (William Lee Golden's one-time replacement in the Oak Ridge Boys) born in Richland, Georgia, 1952 (died 1998)
Bill Black born in Memphis, Tennessee, 1926 (died 1965)
RCA's 33 1/3 RPM "long-playing" (LP) record born, 1931
September 18:
Priscilla Mitchell born in Marietta, Georgia, 1941 (now 67)
Carl Jackson born in Louisville, Mississippi, 1953 (now 55)
Ervin T. Rouse born in Craven County, North Carolina, 1917 (died 1981)
September 19:
Trisha Yearwood born in Monticello, Georgia, 1964 (now 44)
Clyde Moody born in Cherokee, North Carolina, 1915 (died 1989)
Red Foley died (heart attack), 1968 (was 58)
Gram Parsons died (drug overdose), 1973 (was 26)
Skeeter Davis died (cancer), 2004 (was 72)
Slim Dusty ("Australian king of country music") died (cancer), 2003 (was 76)
September 20:
Pearl Butler born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1927 (died 1988)
Karl Farr died (heart attack), 1961 (was 52)
Steve Goodman died (post-bone marrow transplant kidney failure), 1984 (was 36). The folk singer/songwriter was posthumously awarded a Grammy for "Best Country Song" for Willie Nelson's version of "City of New Orleans."
September 21:
Faith Hill born in Jackson, Mississippi, 1967 (now 41)
Dickey Lee born in Memphis, Tennessee, 1936 (now 72)
Ronna Reeves born in Big Spring, Texas, 1966 (now 42)
Kenny Starr born in Topeka, Kansas, 1952 (now 56)
Don Felder, former guitarist/steel guitarist for the Eagles, born in Gainesville, Florida, 1947 (now 61)
Ted Daffan born in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana, 1912 (died 1996)
Walter Brennan died (emphysema), 1974 (was 80). Among the actor's charted hits were "Old Rivers" and a version of Bill Anderson's "Mama Sang a Song."
September 22:
Debby Boone born in Hackensack, New Jersey, 1956 (now 51). The "You Light Up My Life" singer is Red Foley's granddaughter.
September 23:
Roy Drusky died (emphysema), 2004 (was 74)
Bradley Kincaid died (natural causes), 1989 (was 94)
O.B. McClinton died (cancer), 1987 (was 45)
Jimmy Wakely died (emphysema), 1982 (was 68)
September 24:
Rosalie Allen died (congestive heart failure), 2003 (was 79)
September 25:
Larry Sparks born in Lebanon, Ohio, 1947 (now 61)
Royce Kendall born in St. Louis, Missouri, 1934 (died 1998)
September 26:
David Frizzell born in El Dorado, Arkansas, 1941 (now 67)
Lynn Anderson born in Grand Forks, North Dakota, 1947 (now 61)
Carlene Carter born in Madison, Tennessee, 1955 (now 53)
Doug Supernaw born in Bryan, Texas, 1960 (now 48)
Marty Robbins born in Glendale, Arizona, 1925 (died 1982)
September 27:
Uncle Josh Graves born in Tellico Plains, Tennessee, 1928 (died 2006)
Charlie Monroe died (cancer), 1975 (was 72)
September 28:
Johnny Mathis born in Maud, Texas, 1933 (now 65). Because of the rise of a pop singer by the same name, Mathis became known as "Country Johnny Mathis."
Ronnie Reno born in Buffalo, South Carolina, 1947 (now 61)
Laurie Lewis born in Long Beach, California, 1950 (now 58)
Mandy Barnett born in Crossville, Tennessee, 1975 (now 33)
Jerry Clower born in Liberty, Mississippi, 1926 (died 1998)
Tommy Collins born in Bethany, Oklahoma, 1930 (died 2000)
Joseph Falcon born in Rayne, Louisiana, 1900 (died 1965). Falcon is credited with the first Cajun recording, "Allons a Lafayette," in 1928.
Jim Boyd (of Bill Boyd and the Cowboy Ramblers) born in Fannin County, Texas, 1914 (died 1993)
Johnny Horton married Billie Jean Williams (widow of Hank Williams), 1953
September 29:
Jerry Lee Lewis born in Ferriday, Louisiana, 1935 (now 73)
Gene Autry born in Tioga Springs, Texas, 1907 (died 1998)
Bill Boyd born in Fannin County, Texas, 1910 (died 1977)
Tillman Franks born in Stamps, Arkansas, 1920 (died 2006)
Wesley Tuttle died (natural causes), 2003 (was 85)
Mickey Newbury died (lung disease), 2002 (was 62)
September 30:
Richard Bowden born in Linden, Texas, 1945 (now 63)
Deborah Allen born in Memphis, Tennessee, 1953 (now 55)
Marty Stuart born in Philadelphia, Mississippi, 1958 (now 50)
Mary Ford died (diabetes complications), 1977 (was 53)
Billboard magazine changed the name of the "Hillbilly and Western" chart to the "Country and Western" chart, 1950. Ernest Tubb is considered by many to be one of the people responsible for this, as he claimed that "hillbilly" was a derogatory term.
(Hall of Fame members in bold)
September 16:
Ralph Mooney born in Duncan, Oklahoma, 1928 (now 80)
David Bellamy of the Bellamy Brothers born in Darby, Florida, 1950 (now 58)
Sheb Wooley died (leukemia), 2003 (was 82)
September 17:
Hank Williams born in Mount Olive, Alabama, 1923 (died 1953)
John Ritter, son of Tex Ritter, born in Burbank, California, 1948 (died 2003)
Steve Sanders (William Lee Golden's one-time replacement in the Oak Ridge Boys) born in Richland, Georgia, 1952 (died 1998)
Bill Black born in Memphis, Tennessee, 1926 (died 1965)
RCA's 33 1/3 RPM "long-playing" (LP) record born, 1931
September 18:
Priscilla Mitchell born in Marietta, Georgia, 1941 (now 67)
Carl Jackson born in Louisville, Mississippi, 1953 (now 55)
Ervin T. Rouse born in Craven County, North Carolina, 1917 (died 1981)
September 19:
Trisha Yearwood born in Monticello, Georgia, 1964 (now 44)
Clyde Moody born in Cherokee, North Carolina, 1915 (died 1989)
Red Foley died (heart attack), 1968 (was 58)
Gram Parsons died (drug overdose), 1973 (was 26)
Skeeter Davis died (cancer), 2004 (was 72)
Slim Dusty ("Australian king of country music") died (cancer), 2003 (was 76)
September 20:
Pearl Butler born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1927 (died 1988)
Karl Farr died (heart attack), 1961 (was 52)
Steve Goodman died (post-bone marrow transplant kidney failure), 1984 (was 36). The folk singer/songwriter was posthumously awarded a Grammy for "Best Country Song" for Willie Nelson's version of "City of New Orleans."
September 21:
Faith Hill born in Jackson, Mississippi, 1967 (now 41)
Dickey Lee born in Memphis, Tennessee, 1936 (now 72)
Ronna Reeves born in Big Spring, Texas, 1966 (now 42)
Kenny Starr born in Topeka, Kansas, 1952 (now 56)
Don Felder, former guitarist/steel guitarist for the Eagles, born in Gainesville, Florida, 1947 (now 61)
Ted Daffan born in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana, 1912 (died 1996)
Walter Brennan died (emphysema), 1974 (was 80). Among the actor's charted hits were "Old Rivers" and a version of Bill Anderson's "Mama Sang a Song."
September 22:
Debby Boone born in Hackensack, New Jersey, 1956 (now 51). The "You Light Up My Life" singer is Red Foley's granddaughter.
September 23:
Roy Drusky died (emphysema), 2004 (was 74)
Bradley Kincaid died (natural causes), 1989 (was 94)
O.B. McClinton died (cancer), 1987 (was 45)
Jimmy Wakely died (emphysema), 1982 (was 68)
September 24:
Rosalie Allen died (congestive heart failure), 2003 (was 79)
September 25:
Larry Sparks born in Lebanon, Ohio, 1947 (now 61)
Royce Kendall born in St. Louis, Missouri, 1934 (died 1998)
September 26:
David Frizzell born in El Dorado, Arkansas, 1941 (now 67)
Lynn Anderson born in Grand Forks, North Dakota, 1947 (now 61)
Carlene Carter born in Madison, Tennessee, 1955 (now 53)
Doug Supernaw born in Bryan, Texas, 1960 (now 48)
Marty Robbins born in Glendale, Arizona, 1925 (died 1982)
September 27:
Uncle Josh Graves born in Tellico Plains, Tennessee, 1928 (died 2006)
Charlie Monroe died (cancer), 1975 (was 72)
September 28:
Johnny Mathis born in Maud, Texas, 1933 (now 65). Because of the rise of a pop singer by the same name, Mathis became known as "Country Johnny Mathis."
Ronnie Reno born in Buffalo, South Carolina, 1947 (now 61)
Laurie Lewis born in Long Beach, California, 1950 (now 58)
Mandy Barnett born in Crossville, Tennessee, 1975 (now 33)
Jerry Clower born in Liberty, Mississippi, 1926 (died 1998)
Tommy Collins born in Bethany, Oklahoma, 1930 (died 2000)
Joseph Falcon born in Rayne, Louisiana, 1900 (died 1965). Falcon is credited with the first Cajun recording, "Allons a Lafayette," in 1928.
Jim Boyd (of Bill Boyd and the Cowboy Ramblers) born in Fannin County, Texas, 1914 (died 1993)
Johnny Horton married Billie Jean Williams (widow of Hank Williams), 1953
September 29:
Jerry Lee Lewis born in Ferriday, Louisiana, 1935 (now 73)
Gene Autry born in Tioga Springs, Texas, 1907 (died 1998)
Bill Boyd born in Fannin County, Texas, 1910 (died 1977)
Tillman Franks born in Stamps, Arkansas, 1920 (died 2006)
Wesley Tuttle died (natural causes), 2003 (was 85)
Mickey Newbury died (lung disease), 2002 (was 62)
September 30:
Richard Bowden born in Linden, Texas, 1945 (now 63)
Deborah Allen born in Memphis, Tennessee, 1953 (now 55)
Marty Stuart born in Philadelphia, Mississippi, 1958 (now 50)
Mary Ford died (diabetes complications), 1977 (was 53)
Billboard magazine changed the name of the "Hillbilly and Western" chart to the "Country and Western" chart, 1950. Ernest Tubb is considered by many to be one of the people responsible for this, as he claimed that "hillbilly" was a derogatory term.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Powerless
Category: News
Hurricane Ike hit on Sunday, knocking out power to nearly 80% of Louisville.
Yes, Louisville. As in Kentucky. Thankfully, my property has no damage -- but no power, either.
The estimated time of power restoration for everyone is two weeks. Everything will be updated as soon as power is restored.
Hurricane Ike hit on Sunday, knocking out power to nearly 80% of Louisville.
Yes, Louisville. As in Kentucky. Thankfully, my property has no damage -- but no power, either.
The estimated time of power restoration for everyone is two weeks. Everything will be updated as soon as power is restored.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Pick Me Up on Your Way Down
Category: Obituary
The Grand Ole Opry's fans and members, and indeed all of country music, are in mourning at the news of the death of Charlie Walker. Walker died Friday (9/12). Newspaper reports state he had recently been diagnosed with colon cancer.
Charlie Walker, like a number of other country music performers (Bill Anderson, Wayne Raney, Jim Reeves) began as a disc jockey and graduated to being one of the performers whose records were played on radio stations across the country. He had one single on Decca, "Only You, Only You," in 1956 before moving to Columbia where he scored his biggest hits. The highlight of his career was his 1958 recording of a Harlan Howard song, "Pick Me Up on Your Way Down." The song went to #2 on the Billboard country charts for a month and established Walker as a star in the Texas-based honky tonk country music. Other hits included "Who Will Buy the Wine," "Wild as a Wildcat," "Close All the Honky Tonks," and his last top ten record, 1967's "Don't Squeeze My Sharmon" (a take-off on the Charmin toilet paper commercials that featured Mr. Whipple pleading with people not to squeeze the Charmin). The B-side of "Sharmon" was an outstanding Bill Anderson composition, "You Lied to Me," which was later covered by Tracy Byrd.
Walker spent 41 years as a member of the Grand Ole Opry, where he would perform his hits as well as other country classics. A favorite cover of his was Tex Williams' "Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)," which Walker introduced as "the first rap hit -- in 1946."
Walker began his career as a disc jockey in the early 1950s in San Antonio, Texas. His popularity in the profession earned him induction into the Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame in 1981. While working as a DJ he recorded on local labels, including the song "Tell Her Lies and Feed Her Candy" (later recorded by Porter Wagoner).
Walker's local success netted him a brief stint on Decca Records before he signed to Columbia (and later a Columbia subsidiary label, Epic). His trademark was the traditional hard-driving Texas honky-tonk sound, frequently punctuated by humorous songs (such as the aformentioned "Don't Squeeze My Sharmon" and "I Wouldn't Take Her to a Dogfight"). His last charted record came in 1974.
Walker landed the role of Hawkshaw Hawkins in the mid-80s film about the life of Patsy Cline, Sweet Dreams. He also appeared in some of the low-budget country music films of the mid-60s.
Charlie Walker was 81.
The Grand Ole Opry's fans and members, and indeed all of country music, are in mourning at the news of the death of Charlie Walker. Walker died Friday (9/12). Newspaper reports state he had recently been diagnosed with colon cancer.
Charlie Walker, like a number of other country music performers (Bill Anderson, Wayne Raney, Jim Reeves) began as a disc jockey and graduated to being one of the performers whose records were played on radio stations across the country. He had one single on Decca, "Only You, Only You," in 1956 before moving to Columbia where he scored his biggest hits. The highlight of his career was his 1958 recording of a Harlan Howard song, "Pick Me Up on Your Way Down." The song went to #2 on the Billboard country charts for a month and established Walker as a star in the Texas-based honky tonk country music. Other hits included "Who Will Buy the Wine," "Wild as a Wildcat," "Close All the Honky Tonks," and his last top ten record, 1967's "Don't Squeeze My Sharmon" (a take-off on the Charmin toilet paper commercials that featured Mr. Whipple pleading with people not to squeeze the Charmin). The B-side of "Sharmon" was an outstanding Bill Anderson composition, "You Lied to Me," which was later covered by Tracy Byrd.
Walker spent 41 years as a member of the Grand Ole Opry, where he would perform his hits as well as other country classics. A favorite cover of his was Tex Williams' "Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)," which Walker introduced as "the first rap hit -- in 1946."
Walker began his career as a disc jockey in the early 1950s in San Antonio, Texas. His popularity in the profession earned him induction into the Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame in 1981. While working as a DJ he recorded on local labels, including the song "Tell Her Lies and Feed Her Candy" (later recorded by Porter Wagoner).
Walker's local success netted him a brief stint on Decca Records before he signed to Columbia (and later a Columbia subsidiary label, Epic). His trademark was the traditional hard-driving Texas honky-tonk sound, frequently punctuated by humorous songs (such as the aformentioned "Don't Squeeze My Sharmon" and "I Wouldn't Take Her to a Dogfight"). His last charted record came in 1974.
Walker landed the role of Hawkshaw Hawkins in the mid-80s film about the life of Patsy Cline, Sweet Dreams. He also appeared in some of the low-budget country music films of the mid-60s.
Charlie Walker was 81.
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Dates of Note in Country Music, September 1-15
Category: News
(Hall of Fame members in bold)
September 1
Boxcar Willie born in Sterratt, Texas, 1931 (died 1999)
Johnny Mack Brown born in Dothan, Alabama, 1904 (died 1974). The western actor was the namesake of Lester "Roadhog" Moran and the Cadillac Cowboy's Live at the Johnny Mack Brown High School album.
Conway Twitty born in Friars Point, Mississippi, 1933 (died 1993)
Jerry Reed died (emphysema), 2008 (was 71)
September 2
Johnny Lee Wills born in Jewell, Texas, 1912 (died 1984)
Charline Authur born in Henrietta, Texas, 1929 (died 1987)
Grady Nutt born in Amarillo, Texas, 1934 (died 1982)
September 3
Tompall Glaser born in Spalding, Nebraska, 1933 (now 75)
Jimmy Riddle born in Dyersburg, Tennessee, 1918 (now 90)
Hank Thompson born in Waco, Texas, 1925 (died 2007)
September 4
Shot Jackson born in Wilmington, North Carolina, 1920 (died 1991)
Dottie West died (injuries from a car wreck), 1991 (was 58)
Carl Butler died (heart attack), 1992 (was 65)
September 5
The Country Music Association was founded, 1958
September 6
Mark Chesnutt born in Beaumont, Texas, 1963 (now 45)
David Allan Coe born in Akron, Ohio, 1939 (now 69)
Jeff Foxworthy born in Atlanta, Georgia, 1958 (now 50)
Mel McDaniel born in Checotah, Oklahoma, 1942 (now 66)
Zeke Clements born in Warrior, Alabama, 1911 (died 1994)
Ernest Tubb died (complications from emphysema), 1984 (was 70)
Autry Inman died (unknown cause), 1988 (was 59)
Roy Huskey Jr. died (cancer), 1997 (was 41)
September 7
Ronnie Dove born in Herndon, Virginia, 1940 (now 68)
Hubert Long died (brain tumor), 1972 (was 48)
September 8
Milton Brown born in Stephenville, Texas, 1903 (died 1936)
Patsy Cline born in Winchester, Virginia, 1932 (died 1963)
Harlan Howard born in Lexington, Kentucky, 1929 (died 2002)
Jimmie Rodgers born in Meridian, Mississippi, 1897 (died 1933)
September 9
Freddy Weller born in Atlanta, Georgia, 1947 (now 61)
Rodger Dale Tubb died (car wreck), 1938 (was 7 weeks old)
Bill Monroe died (stroke), 1996 (was 84)
September 10
Tommy Overstreet born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 1937 (now 71)
Rosie Flores born in San Antonio, Texas, 1956 (now 52)
Luke Wills born in Memphis, Texas, 1920 (died 2000)
September 11
Jimmie Davis born in Beech Springs, Louisiana, 1899 (died 2000)
Randy Hughes born in Gum, Tennessee, 1928 (died 1963)
Lorne Greene died (pneumonia), 1987 (was 72). The actor's recitation "Ringo" was a top 25 country hit in 1964.
Leon Payne died (heart attack), 1969 (was 52)
Bill (ne Homer) Callahan of the Callahan Brothers died (congestive heart failure), 2002 (was 90)
September 12
George Jones born in Saratoga, Texas, 1931 (now 77)
Leona Johnson Atkins of the Johnson Twins born in Jackson Township, Ohio, 1924 (now 84). One of WLW's "Johnson Twins," married Chet Atkins.
Lois Johnson Burns of the Johnson Twins born in Jackson Township, Ohio, 1924 (died 1989). One of WLW's "Johnson Twins," she married Jethro Burns of Homer & Jethro.
Helen Carter born in Maces Springs, Virginia, 1927 (died 1998)
Rod Brasfield died (heart failure), 1958 (was 48)
Johnny Cash died (Shy-Drager syndrome complications, diabetes, lung disease), 2003 (was 71)
John Ritter died (heart ailment), 2003 (was 54). The actor was the son of Western legend Tex Ritter.
September 13
Bobbie Cryner born in Woodland, California, 1961 (now 47)
Bill Monroe born in Rosine, Kentucky, 1911 (died 1996)
U.S. Postal Service issues a Roy Acuff postage stamp, 2003
September 14
John Berry born in Aiken, South Carolina, 1959 (now 49)
Mae Boren Axton born in Bardwell, Texas, 1914 (died 1997)
Don Walser born in Brownfield, Texas, 1934 (died 2006)
Vernon Dalhart died (heart attack), 1948 (was 65)
September 15
Roy Acuff born in Maynardsville, Tennesssee, 1903 (died 1992)
(Hall of Fame members in bold)
September 1
Boxcar Willie born in Sterratt, Texas, 1931 (died 1999)
Johnny Mack Brown born in Dothan, Alabama, 1904 (died 1974). The western actor was the namesake of Lester "Roadhog" Moran and the Cadillac Cowboy's Live at the Johnny Mack Brown High School album.
Conway Twitty born in Friars Point, Mississippi, 1933 (died 1993)
Jerry Reed died (emphysema), 2008 (was 71)
September 2
Johnny Lee Wills born in Jewell, Texas, 1912 (died 1984)
Charline Authur born in Henrietta, Texas, 1929 (died 1987)
Grady Nutt born in Amarillo, Texas, 1934 (died 1982)
September 3
Tompall Glaser born in Spalding, Nebraska, 1933 (now 75)
Jimmy Riddle born in Dyersburg, Tennessee, 1918 (now 90)
Hank Thompson born in Waco, Texas, 1925 (died 2007)
September 4
Shot Jackson born in Wilmington, North Carolina, 1920 (died 1991)
Dottie West died (injuries from a car wreck), 1991 (was 58)
Carl Butler died (heart attack), 1992 (was 65)
September 5
The Country Music Association was founded, 1958
September 6
Mark Chesnutt born in Beaumont, Texas, 1963 (now 45)
David Allan Coe born in Akron, Ohio, 1939 (now 69)
Jeff Foxworthy born in Atlanta, Georgia, 1958 (now 50)
Mel McDaniel born in Checotah, Oklahoma, 1942 (now 66)
Zeke Clements born in Warrior, Alabama, 1911 (died 1994)
Ernest Tubb died (complications from emphysema), 1984 (was 70)
Autry Inman died (unknown cause), 1988 (was 59)
Roy Huskey Jr. died (cancer), 1997 (was 41)
September 7
Ronnie Dove born in Herndon, Virginia, 1940 (now 68)
Hubert Long died (brain tumor), 1972 (was 48)
September 8
Milton Brown born in Stephenville, Texas, 1903 (died 1936)
Patsy Cline born in Winchester, Virginia, 1932 (died 1963)
Harlan Howard born in Lexington, Kentucky, 1929 (died 2002)
Jimmie Rodgers born in Meridian, Mississippi, 1897 (died 1933)
September 9
Freddy Weller born in Atlanta, Georgia, 1947 (now 61)
Rodger Dale Tubb died (car wreck), 1938 (was 7 weeks old)
Bill Monroe died (stroke), 1996 (was 84)
September 10
Tommy Overstreet born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 1937 (now 71)
Rosie Flores born in San Antonio, Texas, 1956 (now 52)
Luke Wills born in Memphis, Texas, 1920 (died 2000)
September 11
Jimmie Davis born in Beech Springs, Louisiana, 1899 (died 2000)
Randy Hughes born in Gum, Tennessee, 1928 (died 1963)
Lorne Greene died (pneumonia), 1987 (was 72). The actor's recitation "Ringo" was a top 25 country hit in 1964.
Leon Payne died (heart attack), 1969 (was 52)
Bill (ne Homer) Callahan of the Callahan Brothers died (congestive heart failure), 2002 (was 90)
September 12
George Jones born in Saratoga, Texas, 1931 (now 77)
Leona Johnson Atkins of the Johnson Twins born in Jackson Township, Ohio, 1924 (now 84). One of WLW's "Johnson Twins," married Chet Atkins.
Lois Johnson Burns of the Johnson Twins born in Jackson Township, Ohio, 1924 (died 1989). One of WLW's "Johnson Twins," she married Jethro Burns of Homer & Jethro.
Helen Carter born in Maces Springs, Virginia, 1927 (died 1998)
Rod Brasfield died (heart failure), 1958 (was 48)
Johnny Cash died (Shy-Drager syndrome complications, diabetes, lung disease), 2003 (was 71)
John Ritter died (heart ailment), 2003 (was 54). The actor was the son of Western legend Tex Ritter.
September 13
Bobbie Cryner born in Woodland, California, 1961 (now 47)
Bill Monroe born in Rosine, Kentucky, 1911 (died 1996)
U.S. Postal Service issues a Roy Acuff postage stamp, 2003
September 14
John Berry born in Aiken, South Carolina, 1959 (now 49)
Mae Boren Axton born in Bardwell, Texas, 1914 (died 1997)
Don Walser born in Brownfield, Texas, 1934 (died 2006)
Vernon Dalhart died (heart attack), 1948 (was 65)
September 15
Roy Acuff born in Maynardsville, Tennesssee, 1903 (died 1992)
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
You Won't Have This Day Again 'Cause Every Road Has Got to End
Category: Obituary/Tribute
Standing outside the Comedy Caravan one night after a Tim Wilson performance, Tim and I were discussing various country singers. "I've met a few Hall of Famers," Wilson said. "Of course, I did that song with Jerry Reed."
"Jerry's not in the Hall of Fame yet," I mused.
"You're kidding!" Wilson said. He paused a moment. "Well, he should be."
Jerry Reed suffered from Roger Miller syndrome. Much like the late Hall of Famer, Reed's "serious" work was overlooked. He was known for lighthearted, dare I say "silly" or "novelty" songs like "She Got the Gold Mine (I Got the Shaft)," "Amos Moses," "When You're Hot, You're Hot," and "I'm a Slave." The song that Tim Wilson referenced was "I Married a Woman Who Talks Like Jerry Reed" from Wilson's album Tuned Up. Wilson's great song told the tale of a woman with a great body but a horrid voice. Reed did the voice of the wife.
A lot of people would be surprised to know that Reed wrote Porter Wagoner's 1962 hit "Misery Loves Company" or Johnny Cash's 1972 hit "A Thing Called Love" (no relation to the song penned by John Hiatt that brought Bonnie Raitt a wheelbarrow full of Grammy awards in the late 80s).
And, of course, there was the guitar playing. When I was doing my internship at the Country Music Foundation, I ran into Chet Atkins (very literally -- I came out of the record storage stacks with an armload of albums and guess who was on the other side of the door?). There were a number of "generations" photos around the reading room, one of which was Merle Travis and Jerry Reed. "That's a great picture," Atkins commented. He was right. It was a great picture because it featured two great guitarists. Of Reed's three Grammy Awards, two were for his guitar playing, both for recordings with Atkins (Me and Jerry, 1970, and Sneakin' Around, 1992). He only won two CMA awards -- as "Instrumentalist of the Year."
The other sad "Roger Miller syndrome" that Reed had is that he has now passed without seeing his induction into the Hall of Fame. This is why it is so critical to put the deserving people in and NOW -- if Reed is inducted tomorrow, it's too late for him.
One of Jerry Reed's greatest songs is a minor hit from 1972 called "Smell the Flowers." Its lyrics on living life would make a most fitting epitaph to this giant of country music:
Got a troubled mind?
Friend, if you let too much worry rule your days
When you look back,
Do you feel like something precious slipped away
Oh my friend, are you the man
Who let the world slip through your hands
Can you remember when you smelled the flowers?
Smell the flowers while the roses bloom
Take the time, my friend and sing a happy tune
You won't have this day again 'cause every road has got to end
So don't forget my friend to smell the flowers.
Farewell to Jerry Reed Hubbard
March 20, 1937 - September 1, 2008
Standing outside the Comedy Caravan one night after a Tim Wilson performance, Tim and I were discussing various country singers. "I've met a few Hall of Famers," Wilson said. "Of course, I did that song with Jerry Reed."
"Jerry's not in the Hall of Fame yet," I mused.
"You're kidding!" Wilson said. He paused a moment. "Well, he should be."
Jerry Reed suffered from Roger Miller syndrome. Much like the late Hall of Famer, Reed's "serious" work was overlooked. He was known for lighthearted, dare I say "silly" or "novelty" songs like "She Got the Gold Mine (I Got the Shaft)," "Amos Moses," "When You're Hot, You're Hot," and "I'm a Slave." The song that Tim Wilson referenced was "I Married a Woman Who Talks Like Jerry Reed" from Wilson's album Tuned Up. Wilson's great song told the tale of a woman with a great body but a horrid voice. Reed did the voice of the wife.
A lot of people would be surprised to know that Reed wrote Porter Wagoner's 1962 hit "Misery Loves Company" or Johnny Cash's 1972 hit "A Thing Called Love" (no relation to the song penned by John Hiatt that brought Bonnie Raitt a wheelbarrow full of Grammy awards in the late 80s).
And, of course, there was the guitar playing. When I was doing my internship at the Country Music Foundation, I ran into Chet Atkins (very literally -- I came out of the record storage stacks with an armload of albums and guess who was on the other side of the door?). There were a number of "generations" photos around the reading room, one of which was Merle Travis and Jerry Reed. "That's a great picture," Atkins commented. He was right. It was a great picture because it featured two great guitarists. Of Reed's three Grammy Awards, two were for his guitar playing, both for recordings with Atkins (Me and Jerry, 1970, and Sneakin' Around, 1992). He only won two CMA awards -- as "Instrumentalist of the Year."
The other sad "Roger Miller syndrome" that Reed had is that he has now passed without seeing his induction into the Hall of Fame. This is why it is so critical to put the deserving people in and NOW -- if Reed is inducted tomorrow, it's too late for him.
One of Jerry Reed's greatest songs is a minor hit from 1972 called "Smell the Flowers." Its lyrics on living life would make a most fitting epitaph to this giant of country music:
Got a troubled mind?
Friend, if you let too much worry rule your days
When you look back,
Do you feel like something precious slipped away
Oh my friend, are you the man
Who let the world slip through your hands
Can you remember when you smelled the flowers?
Smell the flowers while the roses bloom
Take the time, my friend and sing a happy tune
You won't have this day again 'cause every road has got to end
So don't forget my friend to smell the flowers.
Farewell to Jerry Reed Hubbard
March 20, 1937 - September 1, 2008
FLASH: Jerry Reed Dies
Category: News/Obituary
Singer Jerry Reed has died. He died Monday of complications of emphysema at age 71.
More details later.
Singer Jerry Reed has died. He died Monday of complications of emphysema at age 71.
More details later.
Friday, August 22, 2008
A Golden Show
Category: Concert Review
The Country Gold tour rolled into the Kentucky State Fair on Thursday August 21. For two hours the very sizable crowd was entertained with country stars and legends.
Leroy Van Dyke was the emcee of the show and apparently the man responsible for putting the package together. "Every song you're gonna hear tonight, you'll know," Van Dyke promised the audience before launching into the biggest hit of his career, "Walk on By." His backing band, the Auctioneers, served as the back-up musicians for the rest of the stars on the bill. He concluded his set with "The Auctioneer," a song he said he wrote about his cousin's desire to become an auctioneer, although Van Dyke himself is a professional auctioneer.
Leroy Van Dyke at the autograph table
following the Country Gold performance
Next on the bill was T.G. Sheppard, who delighted the fans for 20 minutes (the biggest drawback of the package show -- no one was on stage long enough). He performed four of his biggest hits, including the masterful "Last Cheater's Waltz."
T.G. Sheppard signs autographs after the show
Helen Cornelius was the only female on the show, and honestly the biggest disappointment. Instead of doing her sole top 40 hit, "What Cha Doin' After Midnight, Baby," she chose instead to do Don Williams' "Lord, I Hope This Day is Good" and Jessi Colter's "I'm Not Lisa." In spite of ignoring her own solo songs, her voice is still very strong and enjoyable.
Next to take the stage was Jim Ed Brown, without question the highlight of the evening. The should-be Hall of Famer began with a quick rendition of "Lookin' Back to See," his first hit with his sisters from 55 years ago. He also performed "Pop a Top," a favorite with young and old alike (thanks to the recent cover by Alan Jackson).
The single greatest moment of Brown's performance, and of the entire show, was "The Three Bells." Instead of having Cornelius or members of the Auctioneers sing with him, he sang the song solo. The audience sang along on the chorus of the classic 1959 hit. It was positively magical.
Jim Ed Brown chatting and signing at the autograph table
Cornelius joined Brown for three of their duet hits, including "I Don't Want to Have to Marry You," but anything after "The Three Bells" was a letdown.
Following Jim Ed's performance, Van Dyke presented a guitar, autographed by everyone on the show, for auction. Van Dyke led the auction, which raised $3,600 for the Kentucky 4H and FFA organizations.
Steve and Rudy Gatlin took the stage after the auction to perform four songs. Their harmonies were obviously missing brother Larry to fill them out, but the two did very well on "Houston," "Broken Lady," and, with the audience's backing vocals, "All the Gold in California."
Steve Gatlin autographs a CD
The final act on stage was another Country Hall of Fame should-be, Bobby Bare. Again, limited by time, he only performed four songs, but the audience was thrilled with his rendition of "Me and Bobbie McGee" (which he recorded during his short stint on Mercury Records in the late 60s) and "Marie Laveau." "Detroit City" was another show-stopper.
Bobby Bare poses after signing an autograph
According to the Country Gold Tour 2008 web site, the line-up for the shows changes frequently. The people in Louisville were blessed to have such a "golden" line-up of performers, still singing the great country music that brought them to prominence and proving that country music is alive and well.
The Country Gold tour rolled into the Kentucky State Fair on Thursday August 21. For two hours the very sizable crowd was entertained with country stars and legends.
Leroy Van Dyke was the emcee of the show and apparently the man responsible for putting the package together. "Every song you're gonna hear tonight, you'll know," Van Dyke promised the audience before launching into the biggest hit of his career, "Walk on By." His backing band, the Auctioneers, served as the back-up musicians for the rest of the stars on the bill. He concluded his set with "The Auctioneer," a song he said he wrote about his cousin's desire to become an auctioneer, although Van Dyke himself is a professional auctioneer.
Leroy Van Dyke at the autograph table
following the Country Gold performance
Next on the bill was T.G. Sheppard, who delighted the fans for 20 minutes (the biggest drawback of the package show -- no one was on stage long enough). He performed four of his biggest hits, including the masterful "Last Cheater's Waltz."
T.G. Sheppard signs autographs after the show
Helen Cornelius was the only female on the show, and honestly the biggest disappointment. Instead of doing her sole top 40 hit, "What Cha Doin' After Midnight, Baby," she chose instead to do Don Williams' "Lord, I Hope This Day is Good" and Jessi Colter's "I'm Not Lisa." In spite of ignoring her own solo songs, her voice is still very strong and enjoyable.
Next to take the stage was Jim Ed Brown, without question the highlight of the evening. The should-be Hall of Famer began with a quick rendition of "Lookin' Back to See," his first hit with his sisters from 55 years ago. He also performed "Pop a Top," a favorite with young and old alike (thanks to the recent cover by Alan Jackson).
The single greatest moment of Brown's performance, and of the entire show, was "The Three Bells." Instead of having Cornelius or members of the Auctioneers sing with him, he sang the song solo. The audience sang along on the chorus of the classic 1959 hit. It was positively magical.
Jim Ed Brown chatting and signing at the autograph table
Cornelius joined Brown for three of their duet hits, including "I Don't Want to Have to Marry You," but anything after "The Three Bells" was a letdown.
Following Jim Ed's performance, Van Dyke presented a guitar, autographed by everyone on the show, for auction. Van Dyke led the auction, which raised $3,600 for the Kentucky 4H and FFA organizations.
Steve and Rudy Gatlin took the stage after the auction to perform four songs. Their harmonies were obviously missing brother Larry to fill them out, but the two did very well on "Houston," "Broken Lady," and, with the audience's backing vocals, "All the Gold in California."
Steve Gatlin autographs a CD
The final act on stage was another Country Hall of Fame should-be, Bobby Bare. Again, limited by time, he only performed four songs, but the audience was thrilled with his rendition of "Me and Bobbie McGee" (which he recorded during his short stint on Mercury Records in the late 60s) and "Marie Laveau." "Detroit City" was another show-stopper.
Bobby Bare poses after signing an autograph
According to the Country Gold Tour 2008 web site, the line-up for the shows changes frequently. The people in Louisville were blessed to have such a "golden" line-up of performers, still singing the great country music that brought them to prominence and proving that country music is alive and well.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Dates of Note in Country Music, August 16-31
Category: News
August 16:
Elvis Presley died (heart failure), 1977 (was 42)
Kathie Lee Gifford born in Paris, France, 1953 (now 55). Gifford began her career as one of the "Hee Haw honeys."
Billy Joe Shaver born in Corsica, Texas, 1939 (now 69)
Vassar Clements died (lung cancer), 2005 (was 77)
August 17:
Wayne Raney born in Wolf Bayou, Arkansas, 1920 (died 1993)
August 18:
Johnny Preston born in Port Arthur, Texas, 1939 (now 69). Preston is best known for "Running Bear," the 1959 hit which featured guitar work and backing vocals by George Jones.
Hank Penny born in Birmingham, Alabama, 1918 (died 1992)
The Louvin Brothers play their last official show as a duo (opening for Ray Price) in Watseka, Illinois, 1963. According to Charles Wolfe's biography, the duo that once commanded over $1100 per show as headliners received $250 for the performance.
August 19:
Eddy Raven born in Lafayette, Louisiana, 1944 (now 64)
Clay Walker born in Beaumont, Texas, 1969 (now 39)
Lee Ann Womack born in Jacksonville, Texas, 1966 (now 42)
August 20:
Rudy Gatlin born in Olney, Texas, 1952 (now 56)
Jim Reeves born in Galloway, Texas, 1923 (died 1964)
Justin Tubb born in San Antonio, Texas, 1935 (died 1998)
August 21:
Harold Reid born in Staunton, Virginia, 1939 (now 69)
Sam McGee died (tractor accident on his farm), 1975 (was 81)
August 22:
Holly Dunn born in San Antonio, Texas, 1957 (now 51)
Collin Raye born in DeQueen, Arkansas, 1959 (now 49)
Rod Brasfield born in Smithville, Arkansas, 1910 (died 1958)
Connie B. Gay born in Lizard Lick, North Carolina, 1914 (died 1989)
Horace "Aytchie" Burns died (heart attack), 1974 (was 56). Aytchie was a bass player at Knoxville's WNOX. He was also the older brother of Jethro Burns of Homer and Jethro.
Elizabeth Coleman Haynes died (kidney disease), 1976 (was 56). The one-time bass player for Angelina's Yodeling Cowgirls on the Renfro Valley Barn Dance was the wife of Homer Haynes of Homer & Jethro.
Floyd Tillman died (leukemia), 2003 (was 88)
August 23:
Rex Allen, Jr. born in Chicago, Illinois, 1947 (now 61)
Woody Paul born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1949 (now 59)
Tex Williams born in Anvil, Illinois, 1917 (died 1985)
"It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" hit #1 on the Billboard charts, 1952. The song, the first #1 hit for a female singer, was very controversial in its day, with many country stations refusing to play the song and the Grand Ole Opry management prohibiting Kitty Wells from performing the tune on the Opry.
August 24:
Fred Rose born in Evansville, Indiana, 1897 (died 1954)
Jerry Clower died (complications from heart surgery), 1998 (was 71)
Nat Stuckey died (lung cancer), 1988 (was 54)
August 25:
Jerry Rivers born in Miami, Florida, 1928 (died 1996)
Elvis Costello born in London, England, 1954 (now 54). The punk pioneer and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member is a die-hard country music fan who recorded an album of old country songs, Almost Blue, and has performed with numerous country legends including George Jones, Ricky Skaggs, Emmylou Harris, and Charlie Louvin. Johnny Cash recorded Costello's song "The Big Light" on Johnny Cash is Coming to Town.
Billy Ray Cyrus born in Flatwoods, Kentucky, 1961 (now 47)
Jo Dee Messina born in Holliston, Massachusetts, 1970 (now 38)
Cliff Bruner died (cancer), 2000 (was 85)
August 26:
Don Bowman born in Lubbock, Texas, 1937 (now 71)
Wilma Burgess died (heart attack), 2003 (was 64)
August 27:
J.D. Crowe born in Lexington, Kentucky, 1937 (now 71)
Jimmy C. Newman born in Big Mamou, Louisiana, 1927 (now 81)
Carter Stanley born in Dickenson County, Virginia, 1925 (died 1966)
Jim Denny died (cancer), 1963 (was 52). The Country Music Hall of Famer is most infamous for telling a guest arist after an appearance on the Grand Ole Opry, "You ain't goin' nowhere, son. You ought to go back to driving a truck." The person on the receiving end of Denny's criticism was Elvis Presley.
August 28:
Billy Grammer born in Benton, Illinois, 1925 (now 83)
LeAnn Rimes born in Jackson, Mississippi, 1982 (now 26)
August 29:
Shawn Camp born in Perryville, Arkansas, 1966 (now 42)
Archie Campbell died (heart attack), 1987 (was 67)
August 30:
Kitty Wells born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1919 (now 89)
Jon Hagar born in Chicago, Illinois, 1946 (now 62)
Jim Hagar born in Chicago, Illinois, 1946 (died 2008)
August 16:
Elvis Presley died (heart failure), 1977 (was 42)
Kathie Lee Gifford born in Paris, France, 1953 (now 55). Gifford began her career as one of the "Hee Haw honeys."
Billy Joe Shaver born in Corsica, Texas, 1939 (now 69)
Vassar Clements died (lung cancer), 2005 (was 77)
August 17:
Wayne Raney born in Wolf Bayou, Arkansas, 1920 (died 1993)
August 18:
Johnny Preston born in Port Arthur, Texas, 1939 (now 69). Preston is best known for "Running Bear," the 1959 hit which featured guitar work and backing vocals by George Jones.
Hank Penny born in Birmingham, Alabama, 1918 (died 1992)
The Louvin Brothers play their last official show as a duo (opening for Ray Price) in Watseka, Illinois, 1963. According to Charles Wolfe's biography, the duo that once commanded over $1100 per show as headliners received $250 for the performance.
August 19:
Eddy Raven born in Lafayette, Louisiana, 1944 (now 64)
Clay Walker born in Beaumont, Texas, 1969 (now 39)
Lee Ann Womack born in Jacksonville, Texas, 1966 (now 42)
August 20:
Rudy Gatlin born in Olney, Texas, 1952 (now 56)
Jim Reeves born in Galloway, Texas, 1923 (died 1964)
Justin Tubb born in San Antonio, Texas, 1935 (died 1998)
August 21:
Harold Reid born in Staunton, Virginia, 1939 (now 69)
Sam McGee died (tractor accident on his farm), 1975 (was 81)
August 22:
Holly Dunn born in San Antonio, Texas, 1957 (now 51)
Collin Raye born in DeQueen, Arkansas, 1959 (now 49)
Rod Brasfield born in Smithville, Arkansas, 1910 (died 1958)
Connie B. Gay born in Lizard Lick, North Carolina, 1914 (died 1989)
Horace "Aytchie" Burns died (heart attack), 1974 (was 56). Aytchie was a bass player at Knoxville's WNOX. He was also the older brother of Jethro Burns of Homer and Jethro.
Elizabeth Coleman Haynes died (kidney disease), 1976 (was 56). The one-time bass player for Angelina's Yodeling Cowgirls on the Renfro Valley Barn Dance was the wife of Homer Haynes of Homer & Jethro.
Floyd Tillman died (leukemia), 2003 (was 88)
August 23:
Rex Allen, Jr. born in Chicago, Illinois, 1947 (now 61)
Woody Paul born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1949 (now 59)
Tex Williams born in Anvil, Illinois, 1917 (died 1985)
"It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" hit #1 on the Billboard charts, 1952. The song, the first #1 hit for a female singer, was very controversial in its day, with many country stations refusing to play the song and the Grand Ole Opry management prohibiting Kitty Wells from performing the tune on the Opry.
August 24:
Fred Rose born in Evansville, Indiana, 1897 (died 1954)
Jerry Clower died (complications from heart surgery), 1998 (was 71)
Nat Stuckey died (lung cancer), 1988 (was 54)
August 25:
Jerry Rivers born in Miami, Florida, 1928 (died 1996)
Elvis Costello born in London, England, 1954 (now 54). The punk pioneer and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member is a die-hard country music fan who recorded an album of old country songs, Almost Blue, and has performed with numerous country legends including George Jones, Ricky Skaggs, Emmylou Harris, and Charlie Louvin. Johnny Cash recorded Costello's song "The Big Light" on Johnny Cash is Coming to Town.
Billy Ray Cyrus born in Flatwoods, Kentucky, 1961 (now 47)
Jo Dee Messina born in Holliston, Massachusetts, 1970 (now 38)
Cliff Bruner died (cancer), 2000 (was 85)
August 26:
Don Bowman born in Lubbock, Texas, 1937 (now 71)
Wilma Burgess died (heart attack), 2003 (was 64)
August 27:
J.D. Crowe born in Lexington, Kentucky, 1937 (now 71)
Jimmy C. Newman born in Big Mamou, Louisiana, 1927 (now 81)
Carter Stanley born in Dickenson County, Virginia, 1925 (died 1966)
Jim Denny died (cancer), 1963 (was 52). The Country Music Hall of Famer is most infamous for telling a guest arist after an appearance on the Grand Ole Opry, "You ain't goin' nowhere, son. You ought to go back to driving a truck." The person on the receiving end of Denny's criticism was Elvis Presley.
August 28:
Billy Grammer born in Benton, Illinois, 1925 (now 83)
LeAnn Rimes born in Jackson, Mississippi, 1982 (now 26)
August 29:
Shawn Camp born in Perryville, Arkansas, 1966 (now 42)
Archie Campbell died (heart attack), 1987 (was 67)
August 30:
Kitty Wells born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1919 (now 89)
Jon Hagar born in Chicago, Illinois, 1946 (now 62)
Jim Hagar born in Chicago, Illinois, 1946 (died 2008)
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Major Loss in Country Music
Category: Obituary
It is with tremendous sadness that I report the death of Don Helms.
Don died Monday (August 11) in Nashville of an apparent heart attack.
If you've heard any country music in the last 50 years, you've heard Don Helms. He was a steel guitar player who performed on countless sessions. His best-known riff could well be the opening music of "Your Cheatin' Heart" by Hank Williams, Helms' primary employer for five years.
In 1981, Helms made an appearance on Hank Williams Jr.'s album The Pressure is On, on the song "The Ballad of Hank Williams." "Don," Williams began, "tell us how it really was when you were working with Daddy." Helms then launched into a funny, and true, account of life as a member of the Drifting Cowboys Band to the tune of "The Eighth of January" (the same melody featured in "The Battle of New Orleans"). Helms lamented (with tongue firmly in cheek) that, while "Hank played nothing but sold-out halls", he found himself "pumping gas in greasy overalls 'cause he fired my ass and he fired Jerry Rivers...and he fired some people that he didn't even know."
Don Helms was 81.
It is with tremendous sadness that I report the death of Don Helms.
Don died Monday (August 11) in Nashville of an apparent heart attack.
If you've heard any country music in the last 50 years, you've heard Don Helms. He was a steel guitar player who performed on countless sessions. His best-known riff could well be the opening music of "Your Cheatin' Heart" by Hank Williams, Helms' primary employer for five years.
In 1981, Helms made an appearance on Hank Williams Jr.'s album The Pressure is On, on the song "The Ballad of Hank Williams." "Don," Williams began, "tell us how it really was when you were working with Daddy." Helms then launched into a funny, and true, account of life as a member of the Drifting Cowboys Band to the tune of "The Eighth of January" (the same melody featured in "The Battle of New Orleans"). Helms lamented (with tongue firmly in cheek) that, while "Hank played nothing but sold-out halls", he found himself "pumping gas in greasy overalls 'cause he fired my ass and he fired Jerry Rivers...and he fired some people that he didn't even know."
Don Helms was 81.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Isaac Hayes' Link to Country Music
Category: Obituary
Probably the last person you would think of having a link to country music would be soul legend Isaac Hayes.
Hayes, who died Sunday (8/10), featured a cover of the Jimmy Webb tune "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" on his landmark album Hot Buttered Soul.
A full report is in the other blog.
Probably the last person you would think of having a link to country music would be soul legend Isaac Hayes.
Hayes, who died Sunday (8/10), featured a cover of the Jimmy Webb tune "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" on his landmark album Hot Buttered Soul.
A full report is in the other blog.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Dates of Note in Country Music, August 1-15
Category: News
August 2:
Hank Cochran born in Isola, Mississippi, 1935 (now 73)
Betty Jack Davis died (car wreck), 1953 (was 21)
August 3:
Randy Scruggs born in Nashville, 1953 (now 55)
Gordon Stoker born in Gleason, Tennessee, 1924 (now 84)
Little Roy Wiggins died (heart disease and diabetes complications), 1999 (was 73)
August 4:
Louis Armstrong born in New Orleans, 1901 (died 1971). The legendary jazz trumpet player and singer recorded with Jimmie Rodgers.
Carson Robison born in Oswego, Kansas, 1890 (died 1957)
August 5:
Bobby Braddock born in Lakeland, Florida, 1940 (now 68)
Tim Wilson born in Columbus, Georgia, 1961 (now 47)
Terri Clark born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 1968 (now 40)
Vern "The Voice" Gosdin born in Woodland, Alabama, 1934 (now 74)
Sammi Smith born in Orange, California, 1943 (died 2005)
Luther Perkins died (injuries from a house fire), 1968 (was 40)
August 6:
Patsy and Peggy Lynn born in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee, 1964 (now 44)
Lisa Stewart born in Louisville, Mississippi, 1968 (now 40)
August 7:
Rodney Crowell born in Houston, Texas, 1950 (now 58)
Raul Malo of the Mavericks born in Miami, Florida, 1965 (now 43)
B.J. Thomas born in Hugo, Oklahoma, 1942 (now 66)
Homer Haynes died (heart attack), 1971 (was 51)
August 8:
Jamie O'Hara born in Toledo, Ohio, 1950 (now 58)
Mel Tillis born in Tampa, Florida, 1932 (now 76)
Webb Pierce born in West Monroe, Louisiana, 1926 (died 1991)
August 9:
Merle Kilgore born in Chickasha, Oklahoma, 1934 (died 2005)
August 10:
Jimmy Dean born in Plainview, Texas, 1928 (now 80)
Jimmy Martin born in Sneedville, Tennessee, 1927 (died 2005)
August 11:
John Conlee born in Versailles, Kentucky, 1946 (now 62)
August 12:
Mark Knopfler born in Glasgow, Scotland, 1949 (now 58). Knopfler, best known as guitarist and lead singer of Dire Straits, won a "Best Country Vocal Collaboration" Grammy with Chet Atkins in 1990 for the song "Poor Boy Blues."
Porter Wagoner born in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, 1927 (died 2007)
Buck Owens born in Sherman, Texas, 1929 (died 2006)
August 14:
Connie Smith born in Elkhart, Indiana, 1941 (now 67)
Charles K. Wolfe born in Sedalia, Missouri, 1943 (died 2006)
Johnny Duncan died (heart attack), 2006 (was 67)
August 15:
Bobby Helms born in Bloomington, Indiana, 1933 (died 1997)
Lew DeWitt died (complications from Chron's disease), 1990 (was 52)
Will Rogers died (plane crash with Wiley Post), 1935 (was 55)
August 2:
Hank Cochran born in Isola, Mississippi, 1935 (now 73)
Betty Jack Davis died (car wreck), 1953 (was 21)
August 3:
Randy Scruggs born in Nashville, 1953 (now 55)
Gordon Stoker born in Gleason, Tennessee, 1924 (now 84)
Little Roy Wiggins died (heart disease and diabetes complications), 1999 (was 73)
August 4:
Louis Armstrong born in New Orleans, 1901 (died 1971). The legendary jazz trumpet player and singer recorded with Jimmie Rodgers.
Carson Robison born in Oswego, Kansas, 1890 (died 1957)
August 5:
Bobby Braddock born in Lakeland, Florida, 1940 (now 68)
Tim Wilson born in Columbus, Georgia, 1961 (now 47)
Terri Clark born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 1968 (now 40)
Vern "The Voice" Gosdin born in Woodland, Alabama, 1934 (now 74)
Sammi Smith born in Orange, California, 1943 (died 2005)
Luther Perkins died (injuries from a house fire), 1968 (was 40)
August 6:
Patsy and Peggy Lynn born in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee, 1964 (now 44)
Lisa Stewart born in Louisville, Mississippi, 1968 (now 40)
August 7:
Rodney Crowell born in Houston, Texas, 1950 (now 58)
Raul Malo of the Mavericks born in Miami, Florida, 1965 (now 43)
B.J. Thomas born in Hugo, Oklahoma, 1942 (now 66)
Homer Haynes died (heart attack), 1971 (was 51)
August 8:
Jamie O'Hara born in Toledo, Ohio, 1950 (now 58)
Mel Tillis born in Tampa, Florida, 1932 (now 76)
Webb Pierce born in West Monroe, Louisiana, 1926 (died 1991)
August 9:
Merle Kilgore born in Chickasha, Oklahoma, 1934 (died 2005)
August 10:
Jimmy Dean born in Plainview, Texas, 1928 (now 80)
Jimmy Martin born in Sneedville, Tennessee, 1927 (died 2005)
August 11:
John Conlee born in Versailles, Kentucky, 1946 (now 62)
August 12:
Mark Knopfler born in Glasgow, Scotland, 1949 (now 58). Knopfler, best known as guitarist and lead singer of Dire Straits, won a "Best Country Vocal Collaboration" Grammy with Chet Atkins in 1990 for the song "Poor Boy Blues."
Porter Wagoner born in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, 1927 (died 2007)
Buck Owens born in Sherman, Texas, 1929 (died 2006)
August 14:
Connie Smith born in Elkhart, Indiana, 1941 (now 67)
Charles K. Wolfe born in Sedalia, Missouri, 1943 (died 2006)
Johnny Duncan died (heart attack), 2006 (was 67)
August 15:
Bobby Helms born in Bloomington, Indiana, 1933 (died 1997)
Lew DeWitt died (complications from Chron's disease), 1990 (was 52)
Will Rogers died (plane crash with Wiley Post), 1935 (was 55)
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Sick Call: Hank Cochran
Category: News
Legendary songwriter Hank Cochran, known for composing such hit songs as "I Fall to Pieces," "The Chair," "A-11," "Don't Touch Me," "I'd Fight the World," and It's Not Love (But It's Not Bad)," is currently in a Nashville hospital recovering from cancer surgery.
Cochran, who will turn 73 next month, underwent successful surgery to have tumors removed from his pancreas and lymph nodes.
"I feel so blessed," Cochran said in a press release through his agent. "The diagnosis was made very early, and the doctors expect me to make a full recovery."
Get-well wishes can be sent to Cochran via his MySpace site.
Legendary songwriter Hank Cochran, known for composing such hit songs as "I Fall to Pieces," "The Chair," "A-11," "Don't Touch Me," "I'd Fight the World," and It's Not Love (But It's Not Bad)," is currently in a Nashville hospital recovering from cancer surgery.
Cochran, who will turn 73 next month, underwent successful surgery to have tumors removed from his pancreas and lymph nodes.
"I feel so blessed," Cochran said in a press release through his agent. "The diagnosis was made very early, and the doctors expect me to make a full recovery."
Get-well wishes can be sent to Cochran via his MySpace site.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
See the Pyramids Along the Nile....
Category: Obituary
The Pee Wee King/Redd Stewart composition, "You Belong to Me," is a masterpiece of American music. Jim Reeves recorded the song on his album Jim Reeves, and a Patsy Cline rendition was on The Patsy Cline Story. It is best remembered, however, as the biggest hit in the career of Jo Stafford.
Jo Stafford died July 16 of congestive heart failure at the age of 90.
Although most of her career was in pop music, she did have one notable contribution to country. She was Cinderella G. Stump, the female vocalist on the Red Ingle & Natural Seven recording, "Tim-Tay-Shun." Additionally, a number of her pop hits were covers of country songs.
The other blog has more detailed information.
The Pee Wee King/Redd Stewart composition, "You Belong to Me," is a masterpiece of American music. Jim Reeves recorded the song on his album Jim Reeves, and a Patsy Cline rendition was on The Patsy Cline Story. It is best remembered, however, as the biggest hit in the career of Jo Stafford.
Jo Stafford died July 16 of congestive heart failure at the age of 90.
Although most of her career was in pop music, she did have one notable contribution to country. She was Cinderella G. Stump, the female vocalist on the Red Ingle & Natural Seven recording, "Tim-Tay-Shun." Additionally, a number of her pop hits were covers of country songs.
The other blog has more detailed information.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Never Too Early...
Category: Opinion
Now that Pop Stoneman has been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, people who have heard me begging for that event to happen probably think I have nothing else to implore the voters to do.
Waylon Jennings said it best: WRONG.
The Hall of Fame is still missing a number of highly worthy performers AND "non-performers" (that's a rule that the CMA has imposed on inductions: every third year, a non-performer must be elected).
A dream induction class for 2009 would look like this:
AL DEXTER. Dexter belongs for a simple reason: his popularity in the 1940s resulted in Billboard magazine creating the "Hillbilly and Western chart" (what we now know as the "Country Singles" chart). The first two #1 songs on this chart were Al Dexter songs; actually, the same song ("Pistol Packin' Mama," first by Bing Crosby [yes, that Bing Crosby] then by Dexter himself). historian Joel Whitburn ranks artists, and in the 1944-1993 BillboardTop Country Singles book Dexter was ranked #117 -- even though his last hit was in 1948.
THE WILBURN BROTHERS. Teddy and Doyle sang with their family as children, and before they became household names they were featured on songs by Webb Pierce and Ernest Tubb. Once they began recording on Decca, they took off. Their popularity resulted in a syndicated television show that featured Harold Morrison (sadly better known for his comedy and very loud jackets than his superb, underrated banjo playing) and a "girl singer" by the name of Loretta Lynn. Doyle died of cancer in 1982 and Teddy passed away in 2003 of congestive heart failure. They weren't the most loved fellows personally, but the Hall of Fame is about musical accomplishments, and the Wilburn Brothers certainly had the musical accomplishments to merit induction.
JEAN SHEPARD. From the west coast, where she began after being discovered by the late Hank Thompson, to the heart of Nashville, Jean Shepard's career has been long and sustained. Without question, she is one of the most overlooked female vocalists in the history of country music, and that is downright CRIMINAL. Her voice is still clear and strong. She is one of our true living legends, and she deserves to have her 50+-year career crowned while she's alive to see it happen.
THE MADDOX BROTHERS & ROSE. The Maddox Brothers were hailed as being "ten years ahead of their time" (or, as Fred Maddox use to correct, "Twenty!"). They were one of the top bands in the West Coast country scene in the 1940s and 50s, and their influence stretched from introducing colorful matching suits and onstage antics to homage from Merle Haggard in "The Old Man From the Mountain."
STONEWALL JACKSON. Stonewall's career began when he showed up in Nashville with a guitar and a song and took off. "Waterloo" was not only a major country hit, it was also a top 5 pop hit. He continued to have hits into the 1970s, and was a fan favorite on the Opry. Jackson currently is suing the Grand Ole Opry for age discrimination, and his induction into the Hall of Fame would tell the world that politics plays no part of the vote.
DR. CHARLES K. WOLFE. Biographies on Leadbelly, the Louvin Brothers, a detailed study on the beginning of the Grand Ole Opry, compilation of Alton Delmore's notes into the masterpiece Truth is Stranger Than Publicity, and exploration of the history of the fiddle in country music are but a few of the scholarly yet down-home works Charles Wolfe gave the world. With all the liner notes, articles, and books he wrote, one can only wonder how he found time to teach English at Middle Tennessee State as well. If a "non-performer" needs to be inducted, there can be no better choice than country's best historian. He is sorely missed.
I would include the Blue Sky Boys; however, since Bill Bolick passed away earlier this year, they are ineligible for three years (to prevent a "sympathy" vote). As soon as they are eligible, again, though, they need to be inducted as well.
If this dream comes true, then I can look for Connie Smith, Johnny Horton, Ferlin Husky, and Jim Ed Brown to be inducted in 2010! (Well, as the Louvin Brothers said, "when I stop dreaming...")
Now that Pop Stoneman has been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, people who have heard me begging for that event to happen probably think I have nothing else to implore the voters to do.
Waylon Jennings said it best: WRONG.
The Hall of Fame is still missing a number of highly worthy performers AND "non-performers" (that's a rule that the CMA has imposed on inductions: every third year, a non-performer must be elected).
A dream induction class for 2009 would look like this:
AL DEXTER. Dexter belongs for a simple reason: his popularity in the 1940s resulted in Billboard magazine creating the "Hillbilly and Western chart" (what we now know as the "Country Singles" chart). The first two #1 songs on this chart were Al Dexter songs; actually, the same song ("Pistol Packin' Mama," first by Bing Crosby [yes, that Bing Crosby] then by Dexter himself). historian Joel Whitburn ranks artists, and in the 1944-1993 BillboardTop Country Singles book Dexter was ranked #117 -- even though his last hit was in 1948.
THE WILBURN BROTHERS. Teddy and Doyle sang with their family as children, and before they became household names they were featured on songs by Webb Pierce and Ernest Tubb. Once they began recording on Decca, they took off. Their popularity resulted in a syndicated television show that featured Harold Morrison (sadly better known for his comedy and very loud jackets than his superb, underrated banjo playing) and a "girl singer" by the name of Loretta Lynn. Doyle died of cancer in 1982 and Teddy passed away in 2003 of congestive heart failure. They weren't the most loved fellows personally, but the Hall of Fame is about musical accomplishments, and the Wilburn Brothers certainly had the musical accomplishments to merit induction.
JEAN SHEPARD. From the west coast, where she began after being discovered by the late Hank Thompson, to the heart of Nashville, Jean Shepard's career has been long and sustained. Without question, she is one of the most overlooked female vocalists in the history of country music, and that is downright CRIMINAL. Her voice is still clear and strong. She is one of our true living legends, and she deserves to have her 50+-year career crowned while she's alive to see it happen.
THE MADDOX BROTHERS & ROSE. The Maddox Brothers were hailed as being "ten years ahead of their time" (or, as Fred Maddox use to correct, "Twenty!"). They were one of the top bands in the West Coast country scene in the 1940s and 50s, and their influence stretched from introducing colorful matching suits and onstage antics to homage from Merle Haggard in "The Old Man From the Mountain."
STONEWALL JACKSON. Stonewall's career began when he showed up in Nashville with a guitar and a song and took off. "Waterloo" was not only a major country hit, it was also a top 5 pop hit. He continued to have hits into the 1970s, and was a fan favorite on the Opry. Jackson currently is suing the Grand Ole Opry for age discrimination, and his induction into the Hall of Fame would tell the world that politics plays no part of the vote.
DR. CHARLES K. WOLFE. Biographies on Leadbelly, the Louvin Brothers, a detailed study on the beginning of the Grand Ole Opry, compilation of Alton Delmore's notes into the masterpiece Truth is Stranger Than Publicity, and exploration of the history of the fiddle in country music are but a few of the scholarly yet down-home works Charles Wolfe gave the world. With all the liner notes, articles, and books he wrote, one can only wonder how he found time to teach English at Middle Tennessee State as well. If a "non-performer" needs to be inducted, there can be no better choice than country's best historian. He is sorely missed.
I would include the Blue Sky Boys; however, since Bill Bolick passed away earlier this year, they are ineligible for three years (to prevent a "sympathy" vote). As soon as they are eligible, again, though, they need to be inducted as well.
If this dream comes true, then I can look for Connie Smith, Johnny Horton, Ferlin Husky, and Jim Ed Brown to be inducted in 2010! (Well, as the Louvin Brothers said, "when I stop dreaming...")
Dates of Note in Country Music, July 16-31
Category: News
July 16:
Ronny Robbins born in Phoenix, Arizona, 1949 (now 59)
July 17:
Red Sovine born in Charleston, West Virginia, 1918 (died 1980)
Harry Choates died (results of head injury), 1951 (was 29)
Dizzy Dean died (heart attack), 1974 (was 63). Dizzy was credited with giving Roy Acuff the nickname "King of Country Music."
Don Rich died (motorcycle accident), 1974 (was 32)
Wynn Stewart died (heart attack), 1985 (was 51)
July 18:
Ricky Skaggs born in Cordell, Kentucky, 1954 (now 54)
July 19:
George Hamilton IV born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 1937 (now 71)
Sue Thompson born in Nevada, Missouri, 1926 (now 82)
Lefty Frizzell died (stroke), 1975 (was 47)
July 20:
Radney Foster born in Del Rio, Texas, 1959 (now 49)
Sleepy LaBeef born in Smackover, Arkansas, 1935 (now 73)
T.G. Sheppard born in Humbolt, Tennessee, 1942 (now 66)
July 22:
Margaret Whiting born in Detroit, Michigan, 1924 (now 84). Although primarily a pop singer, Whiting had a series of duets with Jimmy Wakely in the 40s and 50s.
Don Henley of the Eagles born in Linden, Texas, 1947 (now 61). In addition to the Eagles, Henley was in a band, Shiloh, in the late 60s with Richard Bowden (later of Pinkard and Bowden) and Jim Ed Norman.
Bob Ferguson died (cancer), 2001 (was 73)
July 23:
Johnny Darrell born in Hopewell, Alabama, 1940 (now 68)
Alison Krauss born in Decatur, Illinois, 1971 (now 37)
July 25:
Roy Acuff Jr. born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1943 (now 65)
Steve Goodman born in Chicago, Illinois, 1948 (died 1984)
Charlie Rich died (blood clot in lung), 1995 (was 62)
July 27:
Bill Engvall born in Galveston, Texas, 1957 (now 51)
Bobbie Gentry born in Chickasaw, Mississippi, 1944 (now 64)
Henry "Homer" Haynes born in Knoxville, Tennessee, 1920 (died 1971)
July 28:
Frank Loesser died (lung cancer), 1969 (was 59). The composer was the "victim" of one of Homer and Jethro's earliest hits, "Baby, It's Cold Outside," in 1949 (which featured a young June Carter singing the female part). It was reported that Loesser had no objection to the parody (from an EP titled Homer and Jethro Fracture Frank Loesser), and only asked that the songwriter credit read, "With apologies to Frank Loesser" (which is on every copy of the song I have ever seen).
July 29:
Pete Drake died (lung disease), 1988 (was 55)
July 30:
Sam Phillips died (respiratory failure), 2003 (was 80)
July 31:
Jim Reeves died (plane crash), 1964 (was 40)
July 16:
Ronny Robbins born in Phoenix, Arizona, 1949 (now 59)
July 17:
Red Sovine born in Charleston, West Virginia, 1918 (died 1980)
Harry Choates died (results of head injury), 1951 (was 29)
Dizzy Dean died (heart attack), 1974 (was 63). Dizzy was credited with giving Roy Acuff the nickname "King of Country Music."
Don Rich died (motorcycle accident), 1974 (was 32)
Wynn Stewart died (heart attack), 1985 (was 51)
July 18:
Ricky Skaggs born in Cordell, Kentucky, 1954 (now 54)
July 19:
George Hamilton IV born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 1937 (now 71)
Sue Thompson born in Nevada, Missouri, 1926 (now 82)
Lefty Frizzell died (stroke), 1975 (was 47)
July 20:
Radney Foster born in Del Rio, Texas, 1959 (now 49)
Sleepy LaBeef born in Smackover, Arkansas, 1935 (now 73)
T.G. Sheppard born in Humbolt, Tennessee, 1942 (now 66)
July 22:
Margaret Whiting born in Detroit, Michigan, 1924 (now 84). Although primarily a pop singer, Whiting had a series of duets with Jimmy Wakely in the 40s and 50s.
Don Henley of the Eagles born in Linden, Texas, 1947 (now 61). In addition to the Eagles, Henley was in a band, Shiloh, in the late 60s with Richard Bowden (later of Pinkard and Bowden) and Jim Ed Norman.
Bob Ferguson died (cancer), 2001 (was 73)
July 23:
Johnny Darrell born in Hopewell, Alabama, 1940 (now 68)
Alison Krauss born in Decatur, Illinois, 1971 (now 37)
July 25:
Roy Acuff Jr. born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1943 (now 65)
Steve Goodman born in Chicago, Illinois, 1948 (died 1984)
Charlie Rich died (blood clot in lung), 1995 (was 62)
July 27:
Bill Engvall born in Galveston, Texas, 1957 (now 51)
Bobbie Gentry born in Chickasaw, Mississippi, 1944 (now 64)
Henry "Homer" Haynes born in Knoxville, Tennessee, 1920 (died 1971)
July 28:
Frank Loesser died (lung cancer), 1969 (was 59). The composer was the "victim" of one of Homer and Jethro's earliest hits, "Baby, It's Cold Outside," in 1949 (which featured a young June Carter singing the female part). It was reported that Loesser had no objection to the parody (from an EP titled Homer and Jethro Fracture Frank Loesser), and only asked that the songwriter credit read, "With apologies to Frank Loesser" (which is on every copy of the song I have ever seen).
July 29:
Pete Drake died (lung disease), 1988 (was 55)
July 30:
Sam Phillips died (respiratory failure), 2003 (was 80)
July 31:
Jim Reeves died (plane crash), 1964 (was 40)
Monday, July 14, 2008
Gretchen Wilson Wins "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" Contest
Category: News
To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the writing and publication of the 7th inning stretch song, "Take Me Out to the Ball Game," ESPN held a "battle of the bands," showcasing nine bands from various genres of music performing the song. The segment began with ESPN's baseball guru Peter Gammons (who released his own album of rock songs, Never Slow Down, Never Grow Old, in 2006) doing his own, Bo Diddley-inspired version.
The nine videos were put to a vote online, and the finalists were narrowed to three. ESPN announced that the winner was country singer Gretchen Wilson's rendition.
In a phone interview on Baseball Tonight, Wilson said she was thrilled to win. When asked about the concept, Wilson explained that she used Little League players in the Nashville area for the video. She also admitted to being a big St. Louis Cardinals fan, having grown up near St. Louis in Illinois.
The videos, including Gretchen Wilson's winning version
To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the writing and publication of the 7th inning stretch song, "Take Me Out to the Ball Game," ESPN held a "battle of the bands," showcasing nine bands from various genres of music performing the song. The segment began with ESPN's baseball guru Peter Gammons (who released his own album of rock songs, Never Slow Down, Never Grow Old, in 2006) doing his own, Bo Diddley-inspired version.
The nine videos were put to a vote online, and the finalists were narrowed to three. ESPN announced that the winner was country singer Gretchen Wilson's rendition.
In a phone interview on Baseball Tonight, Wilson said she was thrilled to win. When asked about the concept, Wilson explained that she used Little League players in the Nashville area for the video. She also admitted to being a big St. Louis Cardinals fan, having grown up near St. Louis in Illinois.
The videos, including Gretchen Wilson's winning version
Monday, June 30, 2008
Dates of Note in Country Music, July 1-15
CATEGORY: News
July 1:
Keith Whitley born in Sandy Hook, KY, 1955 (died 1989)
July 2:
Marvin Rainwater born in Wichita, Kansas, 1925 (now 83)
Ken Curtis (one-time member of Sons of the Pioneers as well as Gunsmoke actor) born in Lamar, Colorado, 1916 (died 1991)
July 3:
Johnny Lee born in Texas City, Texas, 1946 (now 62)
Aaron Tippin born in Pensacola, Florida, 1958 (now 50)
Johnny Russell died (complications of diabetes), 2001 (was 61)
July 4:
Ray Pillow born in Lynchburg, Virginia, 1937 (now 71)
Charlie Monroe born in Rosine, Kentucky, 1903 (died 1975)
Marion Worth born in Birmingham, Alabama, 1930 (died 1999)
Big Al Downing died (leukemia), 2005 (was 65)
July 6:
Jeannie Seely born in Titusville, Pennsylvania, 1940 (now 68)
Roy Rogers died (heart failure), 1998 (was 86)
July 7:
Charlie Louvin born in Rainsville, Alabama, 1927 (now 81)
Lonzo Sullivan born in Edmonton, Kentucky, 1917 (died 1967)
Doyle Wilburn born in Hardy, Arkansas, 1930 (died 1982)
George Morgan died (heart attack), 1975 (was 50)
July 8:
Toby Keith born in Clinton, Oklahoma, 1961 (now 47)
Louis Jordan (a jazz artist who had two country #1 hits in 1944) born in Brinkley, Arkansas, 1908 (died 1975)
July 9:
Jesse McReynolds born in Coeburn, Virginia, 1929 (now 78)
David Ball born in Rock Hill, South Carolina, 1953 (now 55)
Eddie Dean born in Posey, Texas, 1907 (died 1999)
Molly O'Day born in Pike County, Kentucky, 1923 (died 1987)
July 10:
"Hawk" Shaw Wilson of BR5-49 born in Topeka, Kansas, 1960 (now 48)
July 12:
Jimmie Driftwood died (heart attack), 1998 (was 91)
July 13:
Rhonda Vincent born in Kirksville, Missouri, 1962 (now 46)
Bradley Kincaid born in Level, Kentucky, 1895 (died 1989)
Tim Spencer born in Webb City, Missouri, 1908 (died 1974)
Riley Puckett died (blood poisoning), 1946 (was 62)
July 14:
Woody Guthrie born in Okemah, Oklahoma, 1912 (died 1967)
Del Reeves born in Sparta, North Carolina, 1933 (died 2007)
July 15:
Johnny Sea born in Gulfport, Mississippi, 1940 (now 68)
Cowboy Copas born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, 1913 (died 1963)
July 1:
Keith Whitley born in Sandy Hook, KY, 1955 (died 1989)
July 2:
Marvin Rainwater born in Wichita, Kansas, 1925 (now 83)
Ken Curtis (one-time member of Sons of the Pioneers as well as Gunsmoke actor) born in Lamar, Colorado, 1916 (died 1991)
July 3:
Johnny Lee born in Texas City, Texas, 1946 (now 62)
Aaron Tippin born in Pensacola, Florida, 1958 (now 50)
Johnny Russell died (complications of diabetes), 2001 (was 61)
July 4:
Ray Pillow born in Lynchburg, Virginia, 1937 (now 71)
Charlie Monroe born in Rosine, Kentucky, 1903 (died 1975)
Marion Worth born in Birmingham, Alabama, 1930 (died 1999)
Big Al Downing died (leukemia), 2005 (was 65)
July 6:
Jeannie Seely born in Titusville, Pennsylvania, 1940 (now 68)
Roy Rogers died (heart failure), 1998 (was 86)
July 7:
Charlie Louvin born in Rainsville, Alabama, 1927 (now 81)
Lonzo Sullivan born in Edmonton, Kentucky, 1917 (died 1967)
Doyle Wilburn born in Hardy, Arkansas, 1930 (died 1982)
George Morgan died (heart attack), 1975 (was 50)
July 8:
Toby Keith born in Clinton, Oklahoma, 1961 (now 47)
Louis Jordan (a jazz artist who had two country #1 hits in 1944) born in Brinkley, Arkansas, 1908 (died 1975)
July 9:
Jesse McReynolds born in Coeburn, Virginia, 1929 (now 78)
David Ball born in Rock Hill, South Carolina, 1953 (now 55)
Eddie Dean born in Posey, Texas, 1907 (died 1999)
Molly O'Day born in Pike County, Kentucky, 1923 (died 1987)
July 10:
"Hawk" Shaw Wilson of BR5-49 born in Topeka, Kansas, 1960 (now 48)
July 12:
Jimmie Driftwood died (heart attack), 1998 (was 91)
July 13:
Rhonda Vincent born in Kirksville, Missouri, 1962 (now 46)
Bradley Kincaid born in Level, Kentucky, 1895 (died 1989)
Tim Spencer born in Webb City, Missouri, 1908 (died 1974)
Riley Puckett died (blood poisoning), 1946 (was 62)
July 14:
Woody Guthrie born in Okemah, Oklahoma, 1912 (died 1967)
Del Reeves born in Sparta, North Carolina, 1933 (died 2007)
July 15:
Johnny Sea born in Gulfport, Mississippi, 1940 (now 68)
Cowboy Copas born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, 1913 (died 1963)
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Samantha Brown Gets Kinky
Category: News/Review
Samantha Brown's new Travel Channel series is Passport to Great Weekends, where she continues her successful half-hour format (Passport to Europe and Passport to Latin America) with a new twist: weekend jaunts.
Her first two trips are Las Vegas and Austin. If you're a Kinky Friedman fan, do not miss the Austin episode. The legendary performer makes a quick appearance early in the show, and he's in typical Kinky form: smoking a cigar at 9 a.m. and responding to Brown's question about how he got the name "Kinky" by telling her his full name, complete with a bleeped part. There are also way too brief segments on the Austin music scene peppered throughout the episode.
The series airs frequently on the Travel Channel. Upcoming repeats are June 27 at 8:00 p.m., June 28 at midnight, June 29 at noon, and July 2 at 11:30 p.m. (all times eastern). A full list of air dates can be found at the Travel Channel's web site.
Samantha Brown's new Travel Channel series is Passport to Great Weekends, where she continues her successful half-hour format (Passport to Europe and Passport to Latin America) with a new twist: weekend jaunts.
Her first two trips are Las Vegas and Austin. If you're a Kinky Friedman fan, do not miss the Austin episode. The legendary performer makes a quick appearance early in the show, and he's in typical Kinky form: smoking a cigar at 9 a.m. and responding to Brown's question about how he got the name "Kinky" by telling her his full name, complete with a bleeped part. There are also way too brief segments on the Austin music scene peppered throughout the episode.
The series airs frequently on the Travel Channel. Upcoming repeats are June 27 at 8:00 p.m., June 28 at midnight, June 29 at noon, and July 2 at 11:30 p.m. (all times eastern). A full list of air dates can be found at the Travel Channel's web site.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Dates of Note in Country Music, June 16-30
Category: News
June 16:
Billy "Crash" Craddock born in Greensboro, North Carolina, 1946 (now 62)
Bob Nolan of the Sons of the Pioneers died (heart attack), 1980 (was 72)
June 17:
Red Foley born in Blue Lick, Kentucky, 1910 (died 1968)
Stringbean (Dave Akeman) born in Annville, Kentucky, 1916 (died 1973)
Minnie Pearl suffered a stroke that ended her career, 1991
June 18:
Sir Paul McCartney born in Liverpool, England, 1942 (now 66). The legendary Beatle hit the country chart in 1974 with "Sally G." He was also introduced to a Friday Night Opry audience in 1974 by Roy Acuff, where McCartney proclaimed Nashville the "music capital of the universe."
Marty Haggard born in Bakersfield, California, 1958 (now 50)
Blake Shelton born in Ada, Oklahoma, 1976 (now 32)
Zeke Turner born in Lynchburg, Virginia, 1923 (died 2003)
Henry Maddox of the Maddox Brothers & Rose died (heart disease), 1974 (was 46)
June 19:
Doug Stone born in Marietta, Georgia, 1956 (now 52)
Howard Dixon of the Dixon Brothers born in Darlington, South Carolina, 1903 (died 1951)
Lester Flatt born in Sparta, Tennessee, 1914 (died 1979)
Pat Buttram born in Addison, Alabama, 1915 (died 1994)
Bobby Helms died (emphysema), 1997 (was 63)
June 20:
Anne Murray born in Springhill, Nova Scotia, 1945 (now 63)
Evelyn Mae Cox of the Cox Family born in Springhill, Louisiana, 1959 (now 49)
Jimmie Driftwood born in Mountain View, Arkansas, 1907 (died 1998)
T. Texas Tyler born in Mena, Arkansas, 1916 (died 1972)
Chet Atkins born in Luttrell, Tennessee, 1924 (died 2001)
Ira Louvin died (car wreck), 1965 (was 41)
Whitey Ford, the "Duke of Paducah," died (cancer), 1986 (was 85)
June 21:
Charlie Lamb born in Knoxville, Tennessee, 1921 (now 87)
Eddie Adcock born in Scottsville, Virginia, 1938 (now 70)
Leon Everette born in Aiken, South Carolina, 1948 (now 60)
Kathy Mattea born in Cross Lanes, West Virginia, 1959 (now 49)
Porter Howell of Little Texas born in Longview, Texas, 1964 (now 44)
June 22:
Peter Asher born in Williesden, Middlesex, England, 1944 (now 64). The former half of the pop duo Peter and Gordon was the producer of most of Linda Ronstadt's crossover hits.
Ralph S. Peer born in Independence, Missouri, 1892 (died 1960)
Kris Kristofferson born in Brownsville, Texas, 1936 (now 71)
Roy Drusky born in Atlanta, Georgia, 1930 (died 2004)
Elton Britt died (heart attack), 1972 (was 58)
June 23:
Zeb Turner born in Lynchburg, Virginia, 1915 (died 1978)
June Carter Cash born in Maces Springs, Virginia, 1929 (died 2003)
June 24:
Johnnie Bailes of the Bailes Brothers born in Kanawha County, West Virginia, 1918 (died 1989)
Foy Willing of Riders of the Purple Sage died (heart attack), 1978 (was 63)
June 25:
Jenifer Strait, daughter of George Strait, died (car wreck), 1986 (was 13)
Boudleaux Bryant died (cancer), 1987 (was 67)
Lew DeWitt retires from the Statler Brothers because of health issues, 1982
Billboard magazine renames the "Hillbilly" music chart the "Country and Western" chart, 1949
June 26:
Doc Williams born in Cleveland, Ohio, 1914 (now 94)
Kenny Baker born in Jenkins, Kentucky, 1926 (now 82)
Gretchen Wilson born in Granite City, Illinois, 1973 (now 35)
Colonel Tom Parker born in Breda, Netherlands, 1909 (died 1997). Before Elvis, Colonel Tom managed Hank Snow, Eddy Arnold, and Minnie Pearl.
Vernon Presley died (heart failure), 1979 (was 63)
Elvis Presley's final concert, at the Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis, 1977
June 27:
Lorrie Morgan born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1959 (now 49)
Elton Britt born in Marshall, Arkansas, 1913 (died 1972)
Rosalie Allen born in Old Forge, Pennsylavania, 1924 (died 2003)
Little Roy Wiggins born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1926 (died 1999)
Joe Maphis died (lung cancer), 1986 (was 65)
Bob Keeshan born in Lynbrook, New York, 1927 (died 2004). The Statler Brothers referenced Keeshan's best-known character in their hit "Flowers on the Wall:" "Smokin' cigarettes and watchin' Captain Kangaroo."
June 28:
George Morgan born in Waverly, Tennessee, 1924 (died 1975)
The WWVA Wheeling Jamboree began, 1940
June 29:
T. Tommy Cutrer born in Osyka, Mississippi, 1924 (died 1998)
Rosemary Clooney died (lung cancer), 2002 (was 74)
June 30:
Dwayne O'Brien of Little Texas born in Ada, Oklahoma, 1963 (now 45)
Doyle Holly born in Perkins, Oklahoma, 1936 (died 2007)
R.W. Blackwood of the Blackwood Brothers Quartet died (plane crash), 1954 (was 33)
Bill Lyles of the Blackwood Brothers Quartet died (plane crash), 1954 (age unknown)
Chet Atkins died (brain cancer), 2001 (was 77)
June 16:
Billy "Crash" Craddock born in Greensboro, North Carolina, 1946 (now 62)
Bob Nolan of the Sons of the Pioneers died (heart attack), 1980 (was 72)
June 17:
Red Foley born in Blue Lick, Kentucky, 1910 (died 1968)
Stringbean (Dave Akeman) born in Annville, Kentucky, 1916 (died 1973)
Minnie Pearl suffered a stroke that ended her career, 1991
June 18:
Sir Paul McCartney born in Liverpool, England, 1942 (now 66). The legendary Beatle hit the country chart in 1974 with "Sally G." He was also introduced to a Friday Night Opry audience in 1974 by Roy Acuff, where McCartney proclaimed Nashville the "music capital of the universe."
Marty Haggard born in Bakersfield, California, 1958 (now 50)
Blake Shelton born in Ada, Oklahoma, 1976 (now 32)
Zeke Turner born in Lynchburg, Virginia, 1923 (died 2003)
Henry Maddox of the Maddox Brothers & Rose died (heart disease), 1974 (was 46)
June 19:
Doug Stone born in Marietta, Georgia, 1956 (now 52)
Howard Dixon of the Dixon Brothers born in Darlington, South Carolina, 1903 (died 1951)
Lester Flatt born in Sparta, Tennessee, 1914 (died 1979)
Pat Buttram born in Addison, Alabama, 1915 (died 1994)
Bobby Helms died (emphysema), 1997 (was 63)
June 20:
Anne Murray born in Springhill, Nova Scotia, 1945 (now 63)
Evelyn Mae Cox of the Cox Family born in Springhill, Louisiana, 1959 (now 49)
Jimmie Driftwood born in Mountain View, Arkansas, 1907 (died 1998)
T. Texas Tyler born in Mena, Arkansas, 1916 (died 1972)
Chet Atkins born in Luttrell, Tennessee, 1924 (died 2001)
Ira Louvin died (car wreck), 1965 (was 41)
Whitey Ford, the "Duke of Paducah," died (cancer), 1986 (was 85)
June 21:
Charlie Lamb born in Knoxville, Tennessee, 1921 (now 87)
Eddie Adcock born in Scottsville, Virginia, 1938 (now 70)
Leon Everette born in Aiken, South Carolina, 1948 (now 60)
Kathy Mattea born in Cross Lanes, West Virginia, 1959 (now 49)
Porter Howell of Little Texas born in Longview, Texas, 1964 (now 44)
June 22:
Peter Asher born in Williesden, Middlesex, England, 1944 (now 64). The former half of the pop duo Peter and Gordon was the producer of most of Linda Ronstadt's crossover hits.
Ralph S. Peer born in Independence, Missouri, 1892 (died 1960)
Kris Kristofferson born in Brownsville, Texas, 1936 (now 71)
Roy Drusky born in Atlanta, Georgia, 1930 (died 2004)
Elton Britt died (heart attack), 1972 (was 58)
June 23:
Zeb Turner born in Lynchburg, Virginia, 1915 (died 1978)
June Carter Cash born in Maces Springs, Virginia, 1929 (died 2003)
June 24:
Johnnie Bailes of the Bailes Brothers born in Kanawha County, West Virginia, 1918 (died 1989)
Foy Willing of Riders of the Purple Sage died (heart attack), 1978 (was 63)
June 25:
Jenifer Strait, daughter of George Strait, died (car wreck), 1986 (was 13)
Boudleaux Bryant died (cancer), 1987 (was 67)
Lew DeWitt retires from the Statler Brothers because of health issues, 1982
Billboard magazine renames the "Hillbilly" music chart the "Country and Western" chart, 1949
June 26:
Doc Williams born in Cleveland, Ohio, 1914 (now 94)
Kenny Baker born in Jenkins, Kentucky, 1926 (now 82)
Gretchen Wilson born in Granite City, Illinois, 1973 (now 35)
Colonel Tom Parker born in Breda, Netherlands, 1909 (died 1997). Before Elvis, Colonel Tom managed Hank Snow, Eddy Arnold, and Minnie Pearl.
Vernon Presley died (heart failure), 1979 (was 63)
Elvis Presley's final concert, at the Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis, 1977
June 27:
Lorrie Morgan born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1959 (now 49)
Elton Britt born in Marshall, Arkansas, 1913 (died 1972)
Rosalie Allen born in Old Forge, Pennsylavania, 1924 (died 2003)
Little Roy Wiggins born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1926 (died 1999)
Joe Maphis died (lung cancer), 1986 (was 65)
Bob Keeshan born in Lynbrook, New York, 1927 (died 2004). The Statler Brothers referenced Keeshan's best-known character in their hit "Flowers on the Wall:" "Smokin' cigarettes and watchin' Captain Kangaroo."
June 28:
George Morgan born in Waverly, Tennessee, 1924 (died 1975)
The WWVA Wheeling Jamboree began, 1940
June 29:
T. Tommy Cutrer born in Osyka, Mississippi, 1924 (died 1998)
Rosemary Clooney died (lung cancer), 2002 (was 74)
June 30:
Dwayne O'Brien of Little Texas born in Ada, Oklahoma, 1963 (now 45)
Doyle Holly born in Perkins, Oklahoma, 1936 (died 2007)
R.W. Blackwood of the Blackwood Brothers Quartet died (plane crash), 1954 (was 33)
Bill Lyles of the Blackwood Brothers Quartet died (plane crash), 1954 (age unknown)
Chet Atkins died (brain cancer), 2001 (was 77)
"None of Them Had Leo Jackson's Talent to Help"
Category: Obituary
One thing missing from the 16-CD box set on Jim Reeves from Bear Family, Welcome to My World, is the live album Jim Reeves on Stage, which was released in 1968. On that album, Reeves did some songs while impersonating the artists who made them famous. One of those songs was "One By One." Reeves introduced the song by saying his guitarist, Leo Jackson, was going to help out. "Lots of people have done this before," Reeves said, "but none of them had Leo Jackson's talent to help." Launching into the song, Reeves did Red Foley's part while Jackson impersonated Kitty Wells. It was funny -- and a very good impression.
George "Leo" Jackson died May 4th of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his home in Nashville. Apparently, Jackson had been suffering from recurring back spasms that were terribly painful. He was given a medication that has listed, among its side effects, mental confusion. Friends and family are not sure whether it was the unbearable pain or the medication affecting his mental status that caused Jackson to end his life. Regardless, country music has lost a tremendous talent.
Leo Jackson was 18 when he was introduced to Jim Reeves shortly after Reeves' breakthrough hit "Mexican Joe." From that day until the day Reeves died in 1964 a musical partnership was forged, with only a temporary time-out for Jackson's stint in the Army interrupting things.
Following the plane crash that killed Reeves and his piano player/manager, Dean Manuel, Leo and the other surviving members of the Blue Boys toured in tribute to Jim and released albums on RCA. The band finally broke up in 1972, not because Reeves' popularity was waning but because Reeves' popularity was soaring thanks to re-releases and overdubs.
A gifted guitarist, Jackson became a very in-demand session musician. He performed on most of Alabama's albums and worked with Hank Williams, Jr. and Moe & Joe.
In the early 2000s Jackson was diagnosed with cancer, which he successfully fought. However, a back injury caused tremendous pain. According to one report, after a particularly nasty bout with the pain Jackson told a friend that he'd rather die than endure pain that terrible again.
Leo Jackson was 73.
One thing missing from the 16-CD box set on Jim Reeves from Bear Family, Welcome to My World, is the live album Jim Reeves on Stage, which was released in 1968. On that album, Reeves did some songs while impersonating the artists who made them famous. One of those songs was "One By One." Reeves introduced the song by saying his guitarist, Leo Jackson, was going to help out. "Lots of people have done this before," Reeves said, "but none of them had Leo Jackson's talent to help." Launching into the song, Reeves did Red Foley's part while Jackson impersonated Kitty Wells. It was funny -- and a very good impression.
George "Leo" Jackson died May 4th of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his home in Nashville. Apparently, Jackson had been suffering from recurring back spasms that were terribly painful. He was given a medication that has listed, among its side effects, mental confusion. Friends and family are not sure whether it was the unbearable pain or the medication affecting his mental status that caused Jackson to end his life. Regardless, country music has lost a tremendous talent.
Leo Jackson was 18 when he was introduced to Jim Reeves shortly after Reeves' breakthrough hit "Mexican Joe." From that day until the day Reeves died in 1964 a musical partnership was forged, with only a temporary time-out for Jackson's stint in the Army interrupting things.
Following the plane crash that killed Reeves and his piano player/manager, Dean Manuel, Leo and the other surviving members of the Blue Boys toured in tribute to Jim and released albums on RCA. The band finally broke up in 1972, not because Reeves' popularity was waning but because Reeves' popularity was soaring thanks to re-releases and overdubs.
A gifted guitarist, Jackson became a very in-demand session musician. He performed on most of Alabama's albums and worked with Hank Williams, Jr. and Moe & Joe.
In the early 2000s Jackson was diagnosed with cancer, which he successfully fought. However, a back injury caused tremendous pain. According to one report, after a particularly nasty bout with the pain Jackson told a friend that he'd rather die than endure pain that terrible again.
Leo Jackson was 73.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Put Your Gun Away, Waylon
Category: Obituary
George Joseph Nowlan died Thursday, June 12th.
Who?
You may know him better by his stage name: Danny Davis.
Danny Davis wore many hats during his long career. He was a champion, professionally-trained trumpet player who performed with jazz great Gene Krupa while still a teenager. As he grew older, he also performed with the likes of Art Mooney and Bob Crosby. He also sang (Davis & the Brass released an album of vocal performances, How I Love Them Old Songs) with Merv Griffin's band.
Davis turned his attention to production in the 50s. One of his biggest successes was producing Connie Francis during her most successful periods for MGM. Davis was also credited with bringing Herman's Hermits to the attention of American record executives.
In the 60s, Davis was a producer in Nashville, leaning more and more toward country. Among his production credits were the album Jim Reeves...And Some Friends, the Don Gibson/Dottie West collaboration "Rings of Gold," and the song that nabbed Waylon Jennings a Grammy: "MacArthur Park."
Yes, that "MacArthur Park." The legend is that Jennings was so infuriated with the notion of recording the Jimmy Webb pop composition that, during the recording session, Jennings pulled a gun on Davis. (Waylon later denied the story.)
During the late 1960s Davis assembled a group of musicians to record instrumental versions of country songs. While that was not that unusual (Chet Atkins and Merle Travis released album after album of instrumental renditions of songs), what was unusual was the choice of instruments. Davis used trumpets and trombones, augmented with banjo, to create Danny Davis and the Nashville Brass.
The sound was well-received in the late 60s. Their second album, The Nashville Brass Featuring Danny Davis Play More Nashville Sounds, won a Grammy award. Davis also took home the "best instrumental group" CMA Award six years in a row from 1969 through 74.
Although the recorded popularity faded during the 70s, Davis and the Brass continued to tour. He only retired from performing a few years ago to his home in Nashville with his wife, Barbara, where he began work on a book.
A sad, "brassy down home" farewell to Danny Davis, who died June 12 of cardiac arrest at age 83.
George Joseph Nowlan died Thursday, June 12th.
Who?
You may know him better by his stage name: Danny Davis.
Danny Davis wore many hats during his long career. He was a champion, professionally-trained trumpet player who performed with jazz great Gene Krupa while still a teenager. As he grew older, he also performed with the likes of Art Mooney and Bob Crosby. He also sang (Davis & the Brass released an album of vocal performances, How I Love Them Old Songs) with Merv Griffin's band.
Davis turned his attention to production in the 50s. One of his biggest successes was producing Connie Francis during her most successful periods for MGM. Davis was also credited with bringing Herman's Hermits to the attention of American record executives.
In the 60s, Davis was a producer in Nashville, leaning more and more toward country. Among his production credits were the album Jim Reeves...And Some Friends, the Don Gibson/Dottie West collaboration "Rings of Gold," and the song that nabbed Waylon Jennings a Grammy: "MacArthur Park."
Yes, that "MacArthur Park." The legend is that Jennings was so infuriated with the notion of recording the Jimmy Webb pop composition that, during the recording session, Jennings pulled a gun on Davis. (Waylon later denied the story.)
During the late 1960s Davis assembled a group of musicians to record instrumental versions of country songs. While that was not that unusual (Chet Atkins and Merle Travis released album after album of instrumental renditions of songs), what was unusual was the choice of instruments. Davis used trumpets and trombones, augmented with banjo, to create Danny Davis and the Nashville Brass.
The sound was well-received in the late 60s. Their second album, The Nashville Brass Featuring Danny Davis Play More Nashville Sounds, won a Grammy award. Davis also took home the "best instrumental group" CMA Award six years in a row from 1969 through 74.
Although the recorded popularity faded during the 70s, Davis and the Brass continued to tour. He only retired from performing a few years ago to his home in Nashville with his wife, Barbara, where he began work on a book.
A sad, "brassy down home" farewell to Danny Davis, who died June 12 of cardiac arrest at age 83.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)