NEWS

Country Music Hall of Fame member Jerry Bradley, 83, died peacefully on July 17 in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. He was the son of Owen Bradley, who mostly originated the Nashville Sound, and nephew of A-Team guitarist Harold Bradley, both also in the Hall of Fame, as well as husband of the late Connie Bradley, who led ASCAP for three decades. Jerry Owen Bradley was born in Nashville on January 30, 1940. After two years in the Army, he became an engineer and record producer in Bradley’s Barn, after his dad built the studio in 1965. While working at RCA, Jerry was the force behind producing the very first country album to achieve Platinum status, 1976’s Wanted: The Outlaws, by Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Jessi Colter, and Tompall Glaser. He was President of the Country Music Association during 1974-1975 and heavily involved in CMA’s annual Fan Fair. (more…)

NEWS

Congratulations to Bill Anderson for being a Grand Ole Opry member for 62 years, longer than any other performer in history. He broke the record of Herman Crook, who joined with his string band, The Crook Brothers, in 1926 and stayed on the Opry for 61 years, 11 months, and 17 days, until his death in 1988. Bill writes on Facebook: “Tuesday July 11, 1961….I was sitting in my living room watching a black and white telecast of the Major League All-Star baseball game from San Francisco, when I received a telephone call that changed my life. I almost didn’t get up to answer the phone. Who would dare to call and interrupt me in the middle of such a momentous event? After about the third ring, I got up, shuffled into the den, and picked up the receiver. I’m sure my greeting sounded a bit less than cheerful.” It was Ott Devine, calling to ask if Bill would like to become a member of the Opry. Bill says, “I’m not sure I even watched another pitch. I was too busy calling friends and family to share the news. I was made the 48th member of the Opry cast four days later.” His membership has never lapsed. The Opry will commemorate the anniversary on Saturday, July 22. (more…)