Grand Ole Opry member Charlie Walker died of colon cancer on Friday at his home in Hendersonville, Tennessee. Walker, originally from Copeville, Texas, was a prominent radio DJ in San Antonio for seven years prior to embarking on a career as a singer. His first big hit, penned by Harlan Howard, was the 1958 release [...]
Accomplished Southern Gospel songwriter Dottie Rambo was tragically killed in a tour bus accident on May 11. Authorities are unclear to what made the bus steer out of control, all I do know is that gospel music lost someone very special. In the same vein as Bill Gaither, Dottie was known for great gospel songs [...]
Country music lost yet another great artist with the passing of Jerry Wallace, 79, on May 5. Wallace’s hits include “Primrose Lane” (1959) and “If You Leave Me Tonight I’ll Cry” (1972). Wallace, who was nicknamed “Mr. Smooth” because of his singing style, retired in the late ’70s. He had put out over 45 chart successes in his career.
It is with great sorrow that we report the death of Eddy Arnold at age 89. Arnold, whose hits included “Make the World Go Away” and “The Last Word in Lonesome is Me,” was one of the most successful country singers in history. Joel Whitburn’s book, “Top Country Singles 1944-1993,” ranks Arnold the No. 1 [...]
Jim Hager, a member of the Hee Haw cast from 1969 until 1988, died on Thursday of a heart attack. Hager, who was discovered by Buck Owens while performing at Disneyland and later signed a recording contract with Capitol Records, collapsed in a the parking lot of a coffee house on 12th Avenue South in [...]
We regret to report that songwriter John Stewart passed away in San Diego on January 19th after suffering a brain aneurism. Stewart first gained recognition in 1961 when he replaced Dave Guard as a member of the Kingston Trio, a folk music outfit with which he performed until 1967. Shortly after he left the Trio, [...]
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Don’t misinterpret the title to this blog. If Hank Thompson had it his way, he would be performing till the day he dies. However, Hank will be retiring for health reasons. The reasons have not been made public, but he is recovering at a Hospital, close to his Fort Worth home. Tracy Pitcox, Hank’s spokesperson, [...]
According to the Tennessean, Nashville’s premiere newspaper, the family of Boots Randolph asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the The Boots Randolph Scholarship Fund, Blair School of Music, US Bank, 600 S Main St, Goodlettsville, TN, 37072.
The Blair School of Music is part of Vanderbilt University, located in Nashville. The Blair [...]
Country Music during the sixties was defined by it’s signature Nashville Sound. You just didn’t hear the preverbial steel guitar cry or the fiddle, but whole string and brass sections were being used to create this unique sound. Boots Randolph, born in Paducah, Ky, was a main session player during this era, and played on [...]
Southern Rock has always been closely related to Country Music. Many of the country music artists that exist today would not have the popularity that they have experienced if it weren’t for bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd, 38 Special, and the Byrds. On Friday, June 29th, we lost one of the founding members of the Marshall [...]