Diane’s Country Music Newsletter — 21 August 2024

NEWS

At a luncheon on August 15, The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (NaSHOF) announced its 2024 inductees: David Bellamy (Veteran Songwriter/Artist), Al Anderson and Liz Rose (Contemporary Songwriters), Dan Penn and Victoria Shaw (Veteran Songwriters), with Brad Paisley (Contemporary Songwriter/Artist) being inducted next year as a member of the 2025 class because a scheduling conflict made him unable to attend this year’s ceremony. MusicRow reports: Anderson’s songwriter credits include “Trip Around The Sun” (Jimmy Buffett & Martina McBride), “Unbelievable” (Diamond Rio) and “The Cowboy In Me” (Tim McGraw). Rose’s songbook features “White Horse” (Taylor Swift), “Crazy Girl” (Eli Young Band), and “Girl Crush” (Little Big Town). Penn’s hits include “Do Right Woman, Do Right Man” (Aretha Franklin), “The Dark End Of The Street” (James Carr) and “I’m Your Puppet” (James & Bobby Purify). Shaw is best known for “The River” (Garth Brooks), “I Love The Way You Love Me” (John Michael Montgomery) and “Nobody Wants To Be Lonely” (Ricky Martin & Christina Aguilera). Bellamy recorded many of his own compositions as a part of the Bellamy Brothers, including “If I Said You Have A Beautiful Body (Would You Hold It Against Me),” “Old Hippie,” and “Crazy From The Heart.” Bill Anderson writes on Facebook, “I joined with Steve Wariner (L) and Larry Gatlin (R) today to congratulate David Bellamy of The Bellamy Brothers on the announcement that he will be joining us as a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame this fall . . .. Welcome to the club, David, you have certainly earned your way here. I’ll look forward to your formal induction on November 6th.”

Kathy Hughes, daughter of Cowboy Copas, died August 10 at age 89 in Nashville. She spent her early life with her dad on the road and in the studio. She lost him and her first husband, Randy Hughes, in the 1963 plane crash that also killed Patsy Cline and Hawkshaw Hawkins. Country Aircheck reports that Kathy later worked for Capitol Records and married label head Marvin Hughes (no relation). She has two sons, Larry Hughes from her first marriage and Rick Hughes from her second, who both have careers in the music industry.

Someone had told me that Williams & Ree (The Indian and The White Guy) have retired from performing due to Terry Ree’s health issues, but I didn’t see any news articles. Now, I’ve run across an announcement from the Deadwood Mountain Grand, dated May 1, that said, “The Saturday, November 25th performance by comedy legends Williams & Ree at Deadwood Mountain Grand has been canceled. Terry Ree noted that the group has been contemplating retirement for quite some time and after nearly 60 years of performing, have finally decided to stop touring.” It’s a sad feeling to realize we will no longer be entertained by the music and comedy of Terry Ree and Bruce Williams.

Country musician Ray Kirkland, 83, died August 5 at Centennial Hospital in Nashville after a long illness. He played guitar, fiddle, banjo, and bass guitar in a music career that lasted over 50 years. He toured with Jim and Jesse and the Virginia Boys, Jimmy C. Newman, the Osborne Brothers, and Kitty Wells. He appeared on the Grand Ole Opry and in many country music TV shows. WTVY in Dothan, Alabama, reports that his portrait appears on a mural in downtown Dothan: Wiregrass Country Music, which recognizes successful country music musicians and includes, among others, Hank Williams and Hank Williams, Jr. from Montgomery, Audrey Williams from Banks, Don Helms from New Brockton, Curly Chalker from Enterprise, Charlie Monk from Geneva, and Ray Kirkland from Dothan.

On August 5, JesseLee Jones rented the entire 400 block of lower Broadway in Nashville to celebrate his 25 years as proprietor of Robert’s Western World. On large stages at both ends of the closed-off street, music played from 10:30 am until 11:00 pm, when Brazilbilly closed the show. According to Saving Country Music, the regular bands and artists who play Robert’s were given lengthy sets, along with special guests that included Country Music Hall of Fame and Grand Ole Opry members. JesseLee had become friends with owner Robert Moore shortly after arriving from Sao Paulo, Brazil, in 1995 with little money and a love for Marty Robbins. Hearing him sing “El Paso,” Moore gave him a platform. From there, JesseLee started his band, Brazilbilly, and eventually purchased the honky tonk on August 5, 1999. Since then, he has operated with the goal of preserving country music and Marty’s memory. We visited Robert’s Western World when in Nashville for the release of Twentieth Century Drifter in 2012. I admired the Marty Robbins display on the wall while we enjoyed the two-hour Brazilbilly set. JesseLee purchased a copy of the book. For photos and a list of entertainers at the recent party, go to https://savingcountrymusic.com/roberts-western-world-celebrates-25-years-on-lower-broadway/.

Donnie Winters, son of country musician Don Winters, died unexpectedly on Sunday, August 18, the evening before his 74th birthday. Donnie’s wife, Paula, posted on Facebook, “We think it was heart failure as a result of Covid pneumonia that he had in 2021.” Donnie had just made a Facebook post the previous day. Bobby Braddock writes on Facebook, “I first met Donnie when I got a job as Marty Robbins’s piano player and Donnie’s dad, Don Winters, was Marty’s longtime high harmony singer. I was 24 and Donnie was about 15. I liked him instantly.” Born Donald ‘Donnie’ Leroy Winters Jr, in 1950, Donnie and brother Dennis founded The Winters Brothers Band. Marty Robbins recorded 10 of the brothers’ songs. At the time of his death, Donnie hosted a writer’s round on Friday nights at the Millennium Maxwell House Hotel in Nashville. Visitation will be held Saturday, August 24, 11 am-1 pm at West Harpeth Funeral Home, 6962 Charlotte Pike 37209, followed by a celebration of life at the family farm, 7554 Buffalo Road 37221. Everyone is invited to bring an instrument and sing a song in remembrance of Donnie.

In a recent interview with Taste of Country, Phil Vassar, 62, talked about his heart attack and stroke in early 2023. He wasn’t feeling well, and he knew he had genetic heart disease. He worked out every day, didn’t drink or party, ate healthy foods, and still kept feeling bad. He asked himself, “Man, what is wrong?” He was at home, following a tour, when the genes caught up with him and he had a heart attack. His housemate did CPR until the paramedics arrived. “They had to shock me 11 times and cracked some ribs,” he says. “I don’t remember any of that. But they did a heck of a job getting me back.” Three days later, in the hospital, he had a stroke. “It was a weird thing, but I dropped dead,” he says. “I was dead for 30 minutes a couple times. No heartbeat at all.” He now feels great and is back to performing. “Thank goodness for medicine,” he says. “I mean, you think you’re doing everything right, and then it all goes wrong. It’s just weird that way. But that’s this life, I suppose.” He is known for hits like “Carlene,” “Just Another Day in Paradise,” and “In a Real Love.”

Three Taylor Swift concerts were canceled in Vienna, Austria, due to terrorist threats. Her shows were scheduled at Ernst-Happel-Stadion in Austria as part of her international Eras Tour, reports TMZ, with an expected audience of 200,000. Police arrested three individuals they claimed planned the attack: a 19-year-old, a 17-year-old, and a 15-year-old. One of the terrorists allegedly planned to drive a vehicle into the crowd outside the venue and immediately thereafter a bomb would have been detonated. The 17-year-old suspect got a job at the stadium in the days leading up to the concerts. He was arrested outside the venue. The suspects also intended to use knives. Austrian officials claim the 19-year-old has fully confessed to the attack plans, saying he felt it morally “right to kill infidels.” Authorities say all three suspects were radicalized online in the last month. A search warrant executed at the 19-year-old’s home turned up bomb-making materials and downloaded bomb-making instructions … further evidence this was an amateur attempt. CNN says he planned to kill himself during the attack either during a standoff with police or an explosion. It appears a device could have been detonated by the 17-year-old who would have been working inside the venue. Authorities say the whole of Europe is on high alert … with concern ISIS is using Austria as an “operational area.”

Bobby Hicks, 91, died in his sleep on August 16, from complications of heart disease and following surgery to install a pacemaker. He had suffered a heart attack six days earlier. Bluegrass Today calls him “surely among the most celebrated and enduring musicians to ever play bluegrass music.” Born Robert Caldwell Hicks in Newton, North Carolina, in 1933, he grew up in a family that played traditional mountain music. In 1953, he was hired to play bass on several North Carolina dates with Bill Monroe. Bill offered him the job full time and moved him from bass to fiddle. After serving in the U.S. Army from 1956-58, Bobby rejoined the Bluegrass Boys, recording and touring with them. He later worked for Porter Wagoner in Nashville and Judy Lynn in Las Vegas. He joined the Ricky Skaggs touring band in 1981, where he stayed until retiring from the road in 2004 at age 71. He performed with bands near his western North Carolina home and continued to play his fiddle, banjo, and guitar, until his death. He was inducted into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 2017 and did not live to see his upcoming 2024 induction into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame on October 17.

“Dolly Beauty” is the name of the new Dolly Parton cosmetics line, reports Classic Country Music. The first product, available August 22, is the Heaven’s Kiss lipstick collection; each lipstick costs $20 and comes in four shades. The packaging is decorated with sparkling rhinestones. “I feel glamorous on the inside, so I want to look like it on the outside,” Dolly wrote on social media. “I’ve wanted to be pretty my whole life like most girls, especially country girls that have a dream of glamour. I started creating my own little makeup things at home when I was just a kid, and I’ve been known for wearing makeup–usually too much–for years.” Fans can sign up to get updates on new product launches.

When Jeannie Seely, 84, went home to Townville (population 322), Pennsylvania, to unveil road signs in her honor, she didn’t expect to end up in the hospital. The Music Universe reports she was briefly hospitalized at St. Clare Hospital in Pittsburgh for acute diverticulitis and dehydration. She called it “yet another opportunity to experience Pennsylvania hospitality,” adding, “I’m very proud to call the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania my birthplace.” She was born in and raised on a farm outside nearby Townville and was eleven years old when she first sang on the radio. The unveiling ceremony for the “Home of Jeannie Seely” signs took place July 29 at the Townville Fire Station–where she first sang in front of a crowd. Bluegrass group Cutter & Cash and The Kentucky Grass sang one of her songs, “Farm in Pennsyltucky,” before introducing her. Jeannie unveiled one of two road signs that will be placed on PA Route 408, at each end of the town: “Home of Jeannie Seely, Grammy Awarded Grand Ole Opry Legend, Class of 1958.” Her graduating class had originally put up signs, but they were deteriorating and needed to be replaced.

Heart of Texas Records announces the release of two new albums. Both are available for streaming via StarVista Music and on CD at www.heartoftexascountry.com. First is It’s About Time by Jody Nix. The CD includes a mixture of favorites and new songs: “I’ll Catch You When You Fall,” “Ain’t No Fun To Be Alone In San Antone,” “Texas Girl,” “Memory Maker,” “Faded Love,” “Somebody’s Back In Town,” “First From The Last,” “Tribute To Bob Wills,” “When You Know How To Fall,” “Somewhere In Texas,” “Dream of Me,” and “End of The Line.” The album was produced by Jody Nix and Jake Hooker. Jody says, “We didn’t want to do songs that have been over-recorded and also want to pick ones that are beloved by our fans.” Jody Nix has been inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame, West Texas Hall of Fame, Western Swing Hall of Fame, and the Cowboy Hall of Fame. Justin Trevino has released One Tear at a Time (The Acoustic Sessions). This is his first acoustic collection, and it features new recordings of 15 favorite songs he has performed throughout his career, plus four new songs and a bonus track. Justin picked songs, he says, “that I thought were lyrically strong and would shine through in an acoustic setting. I hope people will really take in these lyrics and appreciate the craftsmanship that went into them.” The bonus track is “I Think I’ll Go Somewhere and Cry Myself to Sleep.” Instead of a new acoustic recording, Justin realized he wanted to use the version he had recorded 21 years ago and never released. It is the only song on the album with a full band. Bill Anderson gave him a new song, “Right About Now,” for the album. Justin also recorded “What if the Tables Were Turned,” a song he wrote for Curtis Potter, who died before getting a chance to record it. Justin pays tribute to Johnny Bush by recording “Jealously Insane,” a song Johnny wrote years ago and then added a second verse but didn’t record it before his death. “I’m probably the only person besides him that knows those new lyrics and felt it was my duty to preserve this for him and not let them get lost to the sands of time,” Justin says.

MetLife Stadium, home of the New York Giants and Jets, hosted Kenny Chesney for his eighth appearance there. His previous best of 59,999 tickets sold in 2022 was surpassed by over a thousand tickets. The Music Universe quotes Kenny as saying, “No Shoes Nation always shows up hard when we play New York, but this crowd, even before they could see us, they made sure we felt all that passion. It was incredible.” He adds, “To be on that stage, singing these songs for No Shoes Nation in a place like MetLife? What could be more perfect?” Kenny has performed over 200 stadium shows to date for his No Shoes Nation fans.

I asked Dallas Wayne of SiriusXM’s Willie’s Roadhouse for a report on the recent Texas Country Music Hall of Fame induction, and here’s what he said:

LETTERS

Stacy Harris of Stacy’s Music Row Report says, “I was saddened, but not surprised, by how relatively little notice Sandy Posey’s passing generated. I guess the extent of ‘play’ depends upon who’s in charge and increasingly it is a younger generation I’m guessing never heard of Sandy until her passing. Great to hear your Randy Travis book is ‘moving along’ with the upcoming phases of the pre-publication schedule accounted for in a manner that shows that the project is a priority. There’s no greater feeling than knowing that the people you are working with are equally committed to timely publication and otherwise ‘on board.’”

Ken Johnson sends the obituary of Kathy Hughes, along with this note: “What a coincidence that both of Kathy Hughes’s husbands had the same last name. And how unbelievably sad that she lost her father Cowboy Copas AND her husband Randy Hughes in the plane crash that also claimed Patsy Cline & Hawkshaw Hawkins. When I worked in radio, I often spoke with both of her sons, Larry and Rick, who worked in record promotion. Both were very nice guys and true gentlemen. Condolences to both. Here’s one of the duets recorded by Kathy (Hughes) and her dad. Clearly a song ‘of its time.’ written by Felice & Boudleaux Bryant. Reminds me of the type of harmony done by Margaret Whiting & Jimmy Wakely.”

Bobby Fischer writes from Nashville, “Diane, you’re a doll to give a lot of folks a chance to say a little something. Always loved plugging songs. A fave from the past, I wrote ‘The writing on the wall’ with Freddy Weller. Pitched the demo around, longed for a George cut, gave it to Larry Lee, he called me and said, ‘Nancy Jones said put a hold on this song. George loves it.’ Wow I got a George Jones cut–my hero. Also, could you put ‘Doolittle’s Dancing Pig’ on your newsletter to click and play for a chuckle to your world fans? I wrote it with Freddy Weller and Dickey Lee.

Diane: This is an experiment. I didn’t know I could incorporate .mp3 files into my newsletter. Let’s see if it works.

Glenda Bowman sends this sad news: “You may not remember or have known my brother Ray Kirkland who was a musician, singer & songwriter in Nashville for over 50 years. I wanted to let you know Ray passed away August 5th at Centennial Hospital in Nashville after a long illness at the age of 83. He moved to Nashville in 1965 when he was hired to play bass for Grand Ole Opry artists Jim & Jesse & continued to work with them often over the years. He also played bass for The Osborne Brothers; he opened the show for Jimmy C. Newman for 8 years and then worked with Grandpa Jones. He also played bass and opened the show for Kitty Wells for several years until she retired. He was also a member of The Wheeling Jamboree in Wheeling WV in the late 1960s & 1970s. He had a solo career & had several releases on Chart Records during the ‘60s & ‘70s. I will appreciate you mentioning Ray’s passing in your newsletter, he had a lot of friends in Nashville & the music industry.”

Eric Calhoun says, “As I am writing this, I have just entered to attend a meet-and-greet with Lainey Wilson on Friday, August 23, on Mission Beach in San Diego. I am still gathering information about Billy Bob’s, a honky-tonk in Fort Worth, where Wilson was discovered. Great to see Lonestar still together, I hadn’t heard of anything new from them. Finally, a note to all country music enthusiasts to keep your country radio stations! We just came up on the 18th anniversary of the sudden signoff of Country 93.9 KZLA. Go Country 105.1 KKGO has helped fill the void, but it’s the listeners that have driven the station.”

Martha Moore, of so much MOORE media, writes from Nashville, “Iconic entertainer Sammy Kershaw takes a moment to chat with his opening act, young Country Star Tori Martin. He performed his hits to a sold-out crowd at the Wild Hogs Saloon in Walford, Iowa and Tori treated the fans to her current chart-rising LuckySky Music single, ‘Lost In The Country,’ and more.”

Dominique ‘Imperial’ Anglares writes from France, “Thank you very much for that new Country Music newsletter. Keep these coming. Warmest regards.”

Roger Ball requests, “Please add me to your email list to receive your Nashville newsletter.”

Carol Grace Anderson says, “Thanks for always keeping us informed here in Music City!”

FAREWELL TO BRIGADIER GENERAL DEAN MANN

After sending out my last newsletter, I left my house to attend a funeral visitation. When I returned home, I opened a newsletter rejection notice in my email and was shocked to read “recipient rejected” for the email address of Dean Mann. I had just come from standing watch with the American Legion Honor Guard by his casket. It hadn’t occurred to me I’d lost a longtime newsletter reader. Dean retired from the South Dakota National Guard as a brigadier general long before I met him at the Legion post. He was still coaching track and field events, a sport he was involved in for more than 60 years; he is a member of the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame. His favorite singer was Gene Watson, and he sailed on every country music cruise that included Gene. He often sent me emails about singers and events (you may remember reading his letters), and every time I saw him, he had a question or comment about a country music show or singer. Dean died at age 92 on July 31. His funeral took place at the time originally scheduled for the ribbon cutting of the National Guard’s new BG Dean Mann Readiness Center along I-229. From a U.S. Navy officer to a U.S. Army officer and fellow country music enthusiast: “Fair winds and following seas.”

COME TO THE SOUTH DAKOTA STATE FAIR

Sherwin Linton has invited me once again to speak to his Centennial Stage audience at the South Dakota State Fair in Huron. Thursday, August 29, is Veterans Day at the fair, and I’ll be joining Sherwin prior to his 2 and 4 p.m. shows to talk about my books and military career. At 1:45, I’m planning to discuss the progress of my Randy Travis biography, and at 3:45, I’ll provide an introduction to my next biography subject, Calvin Graham, who served on battleship USS South Dakota when he was twelve years old, making him the youngest military servicemember of World War II. Come see us!

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

I enjoyed watching this PBS rerun special, Charley Pride: I’m Just Me, so I looked up the 52-minute video on YouTube to share it with you. The show (circa 2019) begins with Charley turning on a projector to show scenes of his childhood and ends with him turning off the projector. He and other famous people tell the story of his life. Charley died December 12, 2020, at age 86.

NASHVILLE SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME – 2022 – second half

Texas native Gary Nicholson, born in 1949, was raised in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and became friends with Jim Ed Norman while living in Los Angeles. He moved to Nashville and worked as a guitar player and songwriter. His co-written songs include “Your Love Shines Through” by Mickey Gilley, “That’s The Thing About Love” by Don Williams, “The Power Of Love” by Charley Pride, “Working Without A Net” by Waylon Jennings, “Brilliant Conversationalist” by T. Graham Brown, “One More Last Chance” by Vince Gill (written with Vince), “She Couldn’t Change Me” by Montgomery-Gentry, and “Squeeze Me In” by Garth Brooks & Trisha Yearwood. He also wrote Patty Loveless’s “The Trouble With The Truth.” His song “Fallin’ And Flyin’” was performed by Jeff Bridges & Colin Farrell in the movie Crazy Heart. He and Richard Leigh wrote “Waiting on the Light to Change,” which Randy Travis recorded with B.B. King for his 1990 Heroes and Friends album. Gary has 600 recorded songs spanning multiple genres. In 2011 he was inducted into the Texas Heritage Songwriters Hall of Fame. He is 74 years old and has a website at https://garynicholsonmusic.com/.

Eilleen Regina Edwards Twain, better known as Shania Twain, was born in 1965 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. After graduating from high school, she toured Ontario with a band before returning home in 1987 to care for her younger siblings after their parents died in a car accident. She continued performing and was signed five years later to Mercury Nashville. Her many hit songs, written with then-husband Mutt Lange, include “You’re Still The One,” “Come On Over,” “Forever And For Always,” “You’ve Got A Way,” “(If You’re Not In It For Love) I’m Outta Here!,” “Love Gets Me Every Time,” “No One Needs To Know,” “Man! I Feel Like A Woman!,” “From This Moment On” and “That Don’t Impress Me Much.” Shania was named NSAI’s 1998 Songwriter/Artist of the Year and BMI’s 1999/2000 Country Songwriter of the Year. She was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2011, has a website at https://www.shaniatwain.com/#/, and turns 59at the end of this month.

Steve Wariner, born in 1954 in Noblesville, Indiana, was 17 when Dottie West saw his performance in a local club and invited him to join her band. Chet Atkins later hired him as a bass player and signed him to his first recording contract at RCA Records. Steve wrote his own hits: “You Can Dream Of Me,” “Baby I’m Yours,” “Precious Thing,” “I Got Dreams,” “Where Did I Go Wrong,” “Two Teardrops,” and “Holes In The Floor Of Heaven.” Hits he wrote or cowrote for other artists include “Nothin’ But The Taillights” by Clint Black, “Where The Blacktop Ends” by Keith Urban, and “Longneck Bottle,” which he recorded with Garth Brooks. Steve joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1996 and was inducted into the National Thumbpickers Hall of Fame in 2009 and the Musicians Hall of Fame in 2019. He has a website at https://www.stevewariner.com/. Steven Noel Wariner will celebrate his 70th birthday on Christmas Day.

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