Earlier than we stay up for 2025, let’s look again at 2024 and bear in mind the necessary people we misplaced, from big superstars, to songwriters and facet gamers. All of them contributed to the music we love, and should be remembered.
Please observe: Each effort was expended to verify most everybody was included right here, and any potential omissions are purely unintended. In the event you occur to see somebody you imagine belongs right here, please be happy to talk up within the feedback part beneath for the advantage of us all.
Larry Collins – January fifth – Age 79
He wrote “You’re The Purpose God Made Oklahoma,” which hit #1 for David Frizzell and Shelly West, and was additionally nominated for the CMA’s Music of the Yr. He wrote “House” with Mac Davis, which was recorded by Nancy Sinatra earlier than Mac himself had a success with it. He additionally wrote Tanya Tucker’s signature track “Delta Daybreak” with songwriter Alex Harvey, which shot a 13-year-old Tanya into stardom. However earlier than any of this, Larry Collins had his personal profession as a toddler prodigy that helped affect nation and rock n’ roll on a grand scale.
Paired along with his sister, they grew to become generally known as The Collins Children. They signed to Columbia Information and launched quite a few singles akin to “Hop, Skip and Leap” and “Hoy Hoy.” In 1956 when the Grand Ole Opry made its first televised broadcast, The Collins Children appeared as visitors. Tex Ritter’s Ranch Get together TV present discovered syndication within the late ’50’s, beaming The Collins Children into properties nationwide. (learn extra)
Jo-El Sonnier – January thirteenth – Age 77
Grammy-winning nation and Cajun singer, and accordion and guitar participant Jo-El Sonnier was a real keeper of the flame in American roots music, and a uncommon soul who put the preservation of the music earlier than the rest. From the Prime 10 of the nation music charts to the annals of regional roots, Jo-El Sonnier was beloved by many. An autistic performer earlier than a lot of the world even knew what that meant, he persevered by private struggles to turn out to be a star whereas all the time placing the music first.
As cliché as it might sound, it’s nonetheless true that Jo-El Sonnier died doing what he cherished to do, which was performing and assembly followers. After spending Friday on the Coronary heart of Texas Nation Music Museum in Brady, Sonnier performed the Llano Nation Opry in Llano, Texas Saturday night, January thirteenth. After an hour-long set that ended along with his signature rendition of the track “Tear-Stained Letter,” he got here out to play an encore of “Jambalaya” by Hank Williams.
After the present, Jo-El Sonnier took a second to relaxation earlier than he was scheduled to signal autographs. It was then that he suffered cardiac arrest. (learn extra)
Billy Prepare dinner
Recognized for working with band akin to Bob Wayne and the Outlaw Carnies and the .357 String Band, Billy Prepare dinner was thought-about a necessary participant within the underground nation and roots scene that exploded within the late 00’s main into the 2010’s. He was additionally a singer and songwriter who performed along with his personal band as properly.
Billy Prepare dinner had been a guitarist for a few years and was performing with the band Corrine Rose when he was picked up as a major participant within the Outlaw Carnies behind underground nation artist Bob Wayne. Whereas taking part in a present in Sturgis in 2007, he first rubbed elbows with the .357 String Band outfit. In June of 2009 when the .357 String Band parted methods mandolin participant Jayke Orvis, Billy Prepare dinner joined the band full time, touring with them and showing on their 2010 album Lightning from the North. (learn extra)
Margo Smith – January twenty third – Age 84
“The Tennessee Yodeler” is what she got here to be generally known as on account of her robust yodeling expertise, although she was born and raised on a farm outdoors of Dayton, Ohio. From a really early age, she needed to be a performer after watching the Midwestern Hayride out of close by Cincinnati. She shortly perfected a yodel, which grew to become the inspiration for her singing type.
Margo Smith’s biggest success got here in 1978 together with her album Don’t Break The Coronary heart That Loves You, which noticed the title monitor and “It Solely Harm For a Little Whereas” each hit #1 in nation. “Little Issues Imply a Lot” additionally went to #3 from the album. Although Smith recorded cowl songs from each nation and pop, she was additionally a songwriter herself, and located success with authentic compositions. (learn extra)
Toby Keith – February fifth – Age 62
Toby Keith was a rustic music star, and one of the crucial necessary and profitable to ever do it. Within the first decade of the 2000’s, there was no nation music artist that was extra commercially profitable than Toby Keith, each as an entertainer, and as a businessman. Keith put 20 #1 singles on the charts throughout an eight yr run, and had one other seven #2’s throughout this identical interval. Toby Keith was mainstream nation music within the aughts.
Toby Keith was an American, and maybe one of the crucial outspoken, supportive, and excessive profile champions of the American ultimate and people who have been sworn to guard it in flesh and blood than anybody else in public life. Like so many People enraged in regards to the sucker punch of September eleventh, 2001, Keith put these feelings into track in ways in which embodied the very feelings individuals felt, and in paramount and unprecedented methods, pushing the envelope of acceptable parlance.
However most significantly, Toby Keith was a human. This was introduced into stark distinction not too long ago after years of slowly fading away from the nation highlight like so typically occurs with getting older nation stars, whereas additionally slowly deteriorating because of the ravages of abdomen Most cancers. The sickness took a person who was as soon as a tower of an individual to only a frail, hollowed-out model of his earlier boisterous self, placing Toby Keith’s humanness on full show for each his supporters and detractors to see in ways in which drew honest concern and empathy throughout cultural and political divides. (learn extra)
Mojo Nixon – February seventh – Age 66
There was no one else like Mojo Nixon in music, and there was no lane for what he did when he set out. Regardless of being his personal worst enemy and a publicist’s worst nightmare, Mojo Nixon nonetheless someway made his method by the world to turn out to be a cult icon who was revered from the underground of nation, to the rockabilly and rock world, to the West Coast punk scene. He was an American authentic, testing the boundaries of decency.
Regardless of the lyrics being edgy and oddball, Mojo had an underlying anti-commerialization and anti-celebrity worship message to his music that made his profession a bit extra mental then one may glean from the floor. What Mojo was most identified for not too long ago was as a DJ on Sirius XM’s Outlaw channel.
Mojo Nixon’s passing occurred in shut proximity to shut buddies and fellow musicians on the Outlaw Nation Cruise who revered the musician, DJ, emcee, and common loopy man as a legend and an icon. (learn extra)
Dex Romweber – February sixteenth – Age 57
In music, a technique you possibly can break down musicians is by classifying them as both originators, or imitators. Each originators and imitators are essential within the music world. The imitators are those that may take the originator’s concepts and make them accessible, current them to the plenty, combine music from totally different originators collectively, and popularize kinds, as a result of generally the originators are too untamed, too avant-garde for mass consumption.
Somebody individuals may finger as an originator of music is the widely-influential artist and producer Jack White, however even Jack might be damaged down additional. In the event you observe his influences, the place you’ll find yourself is a handful of artists, together with an early 90’s band referred to as The Flat Duo Jets, and their frontman Dexter Romweber, who went on to very immediately affect the formation of The White Stripes, The Black Keys, and the emergence of the two-person energy duo. (learn extra)
Roni Stoneman – February twenty second – Age 85
Stoneman performed a Gibson RB-250 Bow Tie banjo, and had her personal approach that mixed robust Scruggs-like fingerpicking with occasional frailing to emphasise sure phrases. Even when performing conventional nation and bluegrass tunes, she all the time introduced a component of humor to her performances.
Although her banjo expertise could be highlighted on Hee-Haw for 18 years, it actually was Roni’s hilarious character research into the nagging housewife and determined spinster that put her on the map for a lot of. Ida Lee Nagger together with her hole enamel and ribbon tied in her hair grew to become a fixture and favourite within the Hee-Haw solid reverse husband Lavern performed by Gordie Tapp. Stoneman even would seem in different segments as Ida Lee circuitously affiliated with the character.
Roni Stoneman wasn’t simply the First Woman of the Banjo, she was additionally one of many final surviving members of the Stoneman legacy in nation music. (learn extra)
W.C. Clark – March 2nd – Age 84
There are few guys whose legacies loom bigger in Austin, TX than blues guitar legend W.C. Clark. Although the blues is the place he resided, his affect ran like a vein all through all of the music originating within the Dwell Music Capital of the World, and resonated worldwide as that affect was carried by the solid of musical characters that calls Austin house. Now W.C. Clark has been referred to as house himself, leaving a legacy behind that received’t quickly be forgotten.
Together with Lou Ann Barton, W.C. Clark and Stevie Ray Vaughan would kind the now legendary Triple Menace Revue in September of 1977, which was a blues explosion in Austin, and set the usual for the Austin blues scene. Jimmie and Stevie Ray Vaughan weren’t W.C. Clark’s solely protégé’s. Brothers Will and Charlie Sexton additionally grew to become massive acolytes of the W.C. Clark sound, with Charlie Sexton carrying that affect on as a producer and a mainstay within the band of Bob Dylan, talking to W.C. Clark’s far-reaching impression. (learn extra)
Brit Turner – March third – Age 57
The heartbeat of Blackberry Smoke, Brit Turner, had been affected by main well being points, from a coronary heart assault in 2022, to a analysis of an aggressive glioblastoma mind tumor in November of 2022 and subsequent mind surgical procedure. On Sunday night, March third, Blackberry Smoke introduced that Brit Turner had handed away.
Together with being a founding member of the band since its inception in 2000, Brit Turner was the precise brother of Blackberry Smoke bass participant Richard Turner, and was additionally thought-about the massive brother to everybody within the band. He was additionally the band’s de facto historian, chronicling the band all alongside the best way. Brit stored collections of all of the accolades, accomplishments, tour posters, credentials, and all the things else from the band’s lineage.
Regardless of Brit Turner’s dire analysis, he continued to play with the band dwell, even whereas receiving remedy. The loss of life of Brit Turner leaves a crater of a gap in Blackberry Smoke, Southern rock, and the better nation and roots world. (learn extra)
Malcolm Holcombe – March ninth – Age 68
There are these musicians whose songs and affect work just like the scaffolding holding up the facade of American roots. We’re not speaking in regards to the previous legends that everybody nonetheless is aware of the title of. We’re speaking in regards to the songwriters who work within the shadows and all the time have, as a result of they cower from the highlight, self-sabotage every time success begins to come back inside their grasp, and would by no means really feel snug in their very own pores and skin if their sound reached past the 4 partitions of dingy listening rooms in backwater areas.
Malcolm Holcombe was considered one of these elemental songwriters. Too uncooked, genuine, and unpolished for the highlight, however a spellbinding affect on many who gladly step into it, he was the origin of a number of sounds and approaches to what at this time we label as Americana music. Even when he was younger he sounded outdated. Even in well being he appeared to be ravaged with illness. Holcombe was just like the very hills and valleys, roots, rocks, soil and branches singing out, should you have been affected person and quiet sufficient to listen to them, and knew the place to hunt out their viewers. (learn extra)
Brother Dege – March ninth – Age 56
Along with his bluesy voice and resonator guitar, Dege Legg who glided by the stage title Brother Dege mixed robust roots influences from blues and nation with swampy sounds closely influenced by his house state of Louisiana. Brother Dege rocketed to nationwide stardom when director Quentin Tarantino determined to make use of his track “Too Outdated to Die Younger” in a pivotal scene within the landmark movie Django Unchained from 2012. The track and the remainder of the soundtrack went on to be nominated for a Grammy Award for “Finest Compilation Soundtrack for Visible Media.”
Legg was the lead singer for the rock band Santeria for a decade earlier than shifting to Los Angeles in 2004 to pursue a recording contract. When that didn’t pan out, he returned to Lafayette and performed guitar within the band of well-known Louisiana musician C.C. Adcock, in addition to one other band referred to as Black Bayou Construkt. It was the Django Unchained alternative that allowed Brother Dege to pursue his personal music full time. (learn extra)
Erv Woolsey & Gene Elders – March twentieth
The group of gamers, managers, and personnel round George Strait is a small, close-knit household. It’s been the loyalty and continuity of the George Strait camp for occurring 45+ years has positioned “King” George on the very pinnacle of the nation style for the lion’s share of that interval. That’s the reason the lack of not only one, however two of Strait’s most loyal and long-serving compadres on the identical day created a double dose of tragedy no music group ought to ever should endure.
If you wish to return in time and level to at least one man who was primarily accountable for placing George Strait on the trail to nation music stardom as a staunch traditionalist from Texas, it will be his supervisor Erv Woolsey. It began in 1975 at a bar and dance corridor in San Marcos, Texas referred to as The Prairie Rose that Woolsey owned on the time. Instantly impressed by Strait’s voice and his laid-back disposition, he noticed a star within the making, and set off to make that occur.
The identical yr that Woolsey began working for George Strait full-time, fiddle participant Gene Elders formally joined George Strait’s legendary Ace within the Gap band. He would shortly turn out to be a mainstay on stage with Strait, together with taking part in within the prolonged lineup of Lyle Lovett’s Massive Band for 11 years. Whereas not on the highway, Elders labored as a studio musician, showing on the albums of Townes Van Zandt, Dale Watson, Lucinda Williams, Kevin Fowler, Joan Baez, and Silverada simply to call a number of, in addition to on studio albums from Lovett and Strait. (learn extra)
Pat Molak – April 2nd – Age 76
Think about a Texas music scene with out Gruene Corridor. It’s troublesome to unattainable to do. And if it wasn’t for Pat Molak discovering the ruins of an outdated city simply north of New Braunfels, and making it his life’s goal to protect it and switch it into one thing memorable, who is aware of the place Texas music could be. Gruene Corridor is the shrine, the epicenter, the Mecca of Texas nation.
Born and raised in San Antonio, Pat Molak attended the College of Texas in Austin, although by no means graduated. What he did get in Austin was first-hand perception into the music scene that was sprouting up in Texas because of guys like Willie Nelson and Jerry Jeff Walker. After making an attempt his hand unsuccessfully as a stockbroker, he got down to open his personal honky tonk to assist help and turn out to be part of the burgeoning Texas music scene. (learn extra)
Jerry Abbott – April 2nd – Age 80
To the rock world, Jerry Abbott was generally known as the daddy of heavy metallic legends “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott and Vinnie Paul Abbott, a.ok.a. the lead guitarist and drummer for the heavy metallic band Pantera, and later Damageplan. Jerry didn’t simply sire the rock legends, he was additionally Pantera’s first supervisor, and produced 4 of their early albums.
However earlier than his sons acquired into music, Jerry Abbott was a rustic singer, guitar participant, songwriter, and in addition labored as a producer and engineer within the enterprise. These well-versed within the Pantera world know that the band had shut ties to nation music, together with by Hank Williams III and David Allan Coe. However it began with their dad, who not simply instilled them with a love for nation music, however used his data from the nation music enterprise to assist the band get their begin.
Within the late ’70s, Jerry Abbott wrote songs recorded by nation performer Danny Wooden, and Freddy Fender recorded his track “If You’re Ever in Texas.” Then in 1978, Abbott recorded a few singles of his personal, “I Need a Little Cowboy” and “Owe It All to You.” Neither of the songs went very far. However in 1979, Abbott co-wrote the track “Play Collectively Once more Once more” that grew to become a success for Buck Owens. (learn extra)
Dickey Betts – April 18th – Age 80
The world has misplaced one of many biggest guitar gamers of all time. Rock and roll has misplaced a Corridor of Famer. Southern rock has misplaced a founding father. Nation music has misplaced considered one of its biggest influences. And the Southlands have misplaced considered one of its most cherished sons. Like a excessive ‘E’ string hitting the sweetest observe of a hovering harmonious guitar solo, a collective exhalation of honest grief, however timeless gratitude pierces by the din of on a regular basis information to mark the loss of life of the indomitable Dickey Betts.
It wasn’t simple for Dickey Betts to differentiate himself from the throngs of guitar gamers birthed from the golden period of basic rock, particularly when his personal band mate was Duane Allman, who achieved God-like standing himself earlier than passing away in 1971. However as a substitute of battling at heart stage for consideration as was the usual of the period, Dickey and Duane harmoniously collaborated, discovering a sound that was better than the sum of their particular person elements, revolutionizing Southern music right away, and rock and roll forevermore. (learn extra)
Duane Eddy – April thirtieth – Age 86
Duane Eddy died on Wednesday, Could 1st after abandoning a legacy that undoubtedly stands as one of the crucial influential within the realm of electrical guitar within the instrument’s historical past. Most notably, Duane Eddy is given credit score for inventing the guitar tone generally known as “twang.”
Earlier than there have been spring reverb setups in guitar amplifiers, or reverb and echo pedals and results for gamers to modify on and off—not to mention digital filters to mimic all of this by a keystroke within the digital realm—it was Duane Eddy and his producer Lee Hazelwood who needed to harness this watery, reverberative impact mechanically, improvising the sound from scratch.
By way of instantly recognizable songs from the Nineteen Fifties like “Insurgent Rouser” and “Peter Gunn,” Eddy revolutionized the sound of electrical guitar from the brilliant and exact taking part in of the time to one thing with extra physique, boldness, and a faraway really feel. (learn extra)
Tom Foote – April twenty ninth – Age 71
Tom Foote goes to date again with George Strait, it was Foote who helped rent George in 1975 to entrance the San Marcos, TX band referred to as Stoney Ridge. Foote based Stoney Ridge with bass participant Terry Hale, metal guitarist Mike Each day, Ron Cabal on lead guitar, and singer Jay Dominguez at Southwest Texas State College in San Marcos, now generally known as Texas State. They performed largely honky tonk and Western Swing covers.
However when singer Jay Dominguez left the band, a search went out for a brand new singer. An agricultural science pupil at Southwest Texas named George Strait answered a flyer, and have become the brand new frontman. The Ace within the Gap Band’s first official gig was on October 13, 1975 on the Cheatham Avenue Warehouse, with Ted Stubblefield on drums. However Tom Foote shortly changed him later that yr. Together with taking part in drums, Foote was additionally the de facto supervisor of the band, reserving lots of the gigs, and dealing with the logistics.
Tom Foote would stay Strait’s drummer till 1983 when he was changed by Roger Montgomery. However Foote stayed on as Strait’s official highway manger—a place he held all the best way till his loss of life. (learn extra)
Jim Mills – Could third – Age 57
Many have performed the banjo within the annals of nation, folks, and bluegrass music. Jim Mills lived the banjo.
He was most recognizable because the banjo participant in Kentucky Thunder behind Ricky Skaggs for 14 years, beginning within the late ’90s up till 2010. Mills additionally performed on 11 Ricky Skaggs albums over that interval. Previous to that, Mills spent 5 years taking part in in Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver. He additionally did a stint within the bluegrass band Summer season Wages initially of his profession, in addition to the Bass Mountain Boys between Doyle Lawson and Ricky Skaggs.
Jim Mills would additionally play banjo for Dolly Parton on her albums Grass Is Blue (1999) and Little Sparrow (2001), together with numerous different artists and initiatives all through the period. By way of this time, Jim Mills was thought-about by most because the premier banjo participant of the period, and received the celebrated IBMA Banjo Participant of the Yr award a record-setting six instances (1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006). (learn extra)
Mark James – June eighth – Age 83
It truly is a disgrace that songwriters are so relegated to the shadows of fashionable music after they typically play probably the most seminal function in making the magic that all of us love to listen to. It’s particularly unlucky right here within the streaming period once we’re all one more step faraway from the liner notes, that are generally the one recognition these creators obtain.
Think about should you disappeared the legacy of a songwriter like Mark James, and what fashionable music would sound like, or what it wouldn’t sound like, if he was by no means round.
Some songwriters amass a grasp’s catalog of economic hits, whereas others go on to solely be identified for a number of choose however considerably necessary compositions. In lots of respects, each of this stuff are true for Mark James. He wrote scores of songs for numerous artists throughout the nation, rock, and fashionable music world. However even should you don’t know a few of his songs, and even the artists that sang them, everyone is aware of “Suspicious Minds,” “All the time On My Thoughts,” and “Hooked on a Feeling.” (learn extra)
Jeremy Tepper – June 14th – Age 60
As a musician, journalist, label proprietor, and one of the crucial necessary individuals concerned in connecting impartial nation followers with the music they wish to hear, it’s going to be onerous for the music group to recover from the sudden and tragic lack of Jeremy Tepper. Will probably be even more durable to fill his sneakers.
Jeremy Tepper was the Program Director behind Sirius XM’s Outlaw Nation channel since 2004, to not point out Willie’s Roadhouse and the Street Canine Trucking channel. For 20 years, Tepper was essential to giving a nationwide format to many artists in impartial nation and Americana that in any other case may not have one. Tepper wasn’t only a figurehead. He was a hands-on curator who additionally helped guide and manage the annual Outlaw Nation Cruise.
Jeremy Tepper wore many hats, and lived many lives within the music realm all through his profession. What was a continuing was his dedication to try to get cool music to the individuals. (learn extra)
Kinky Friedman – June twenty seventh – Age 79
Life is quite a bit much less colourful and kinky. However by the rewiring of our brains, the boundaries and buttons pushed, from the attractive to the ribald, to the profound and the completely absurd, we’re all gifted a world that may be a little much less uptight and much more cool, because of the incomparable Kinky Friedman.
As a musician, songwriter, iconoclast, poet, author, politician, and cigar connoisseur, Kinky Friedman couldn’t assist however pursue his passions regardless of the place they took him, and to stir the great sort of hassle every time he acquired there. After serving two years within the Peace Corps, Richard Samet Friedman adopted his nickname “Kinky” as a stage title, and based Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys in 1973— a play off of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys.
With songs that went from inappropriate and offensive to politically strident, they instantly began making waves and stirring consideration as Austin was shortly changing into the cooler various to Nashville. (learn extra)
Joe Bonsall – July ninth – Age 76
Since 1943, one model or one other of The Oak Ridge Boys has been round in nation and Gospel music, making them a mainstay of the American musical expertise. And since October of 1973, Joe Bonsall had been part of the group’s most legendary lineup together with Duane Allen, William Lee Golden and Richard Sterban, becoming a member of the group when he was 25.
The Nation Music Corridor of Famers and Grand Ole Opry members have all the time been extra of a collective than something, with all 4 males bringing that particular magic that stored them collectively for thus lengthy, and stored the music and the majesty of their four-part harmonies resonant for half a century.
But when the band had a frontrunner for the final 50 years, it was Joe. It was typically Joe who would communicate for the group, each from the stage and to the press. It was Joe who had such a personable method that it doesn’t matter what he was talking about, you discovered it agreeable. (learn extra)
Dave Loggins – July tenth – Age 76
There are some songs that when the final phrase is written and the interval is dotted on the finish, they instantly turn out to be timeless and genre-less on account of how expertly they encapsulate a human expertise.
For 50 years, “Please Come To Boston” by Dave Loggins has been a kind of songs. Written by Loggins himself, it grew to become a simple listening/mushy rock #1 hit for him again in 1974, and the track that will go on to outline his profession. However the nation world noticed that “Please Come To Boston” was a rustic track at its coronary heart, and that’s the place it will finally turn out to be a typical.
When each Joan Baez and David Allan Coe launched their very own model of the track in 1976, it spoke to its far reaching resonance. Coe’s model is the place it was arguably most popularized in nation. Jimmy Buffett, Willie Nelson, Glen Campbell, Tammy Wynette, B.W. Stevenson, Lee Hazlewood, and later Reba McEntire, Accomplice Railroad, Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney, and Wade Bowen would all cowl it as properly.
“Please Come To Boston” is clearly probably the most recognizable track from the Dave Loggins catalog, however some within the sports activities world might disagree. His instrumental “Augusta,” has been used because the music behind the annual Masters Golf Match in Georgia since 1981. (learn extra)
Jason and Kelly Nelon Clark, Amber Nelon Kistler – July twenty sixth
In an airplane crash on Friday, July twenty sixth, three of the 4 present members of The Nelons perished. Husband and spouse Jason and Kelly Nelon Clark died within the aircraft crash, together with their daughter, Amber Nelon Kistler. The couple’s youngest daughter and lone surviving member of the band, Autumn Nelon Streetman, was ready for her household on the airport in Seattle the place they have been scheduled to carry out on a cruise.
Additionally perishing within the aircraft crash have been Nathan Kistler, who was the husband of Amber Nelon Kistler, making it 4 members from the better Nelon household who died. The household’s assistant Melodi Hodges additionally died, in addition to the pilot Larry Haynie, and his spouse Melissa Haynie. The aircraft went down close to Gillette, Wyoming and reportedly precipitated a 38-acre wildfire.
For practically 50 years, The Rex Nelon Singers, who grew to become identified merely as The Nelons in 1985, have been one of many teams that helped outline the nexus between nation and Gospel music, also known as Southern Gospel. The group has been nominated for 3 Grammy Awards and quite a few Dove Awards all through the legacy of the band that has seen generations of the Nelon Household take up the mantle of the household’s music. The group was inducted into the Gospel Corridor of Fame in 2016. (learn extra)
Bobby Hicks – August sixteenth – Age 91
It’s robust to know the place to start out enumerating the various contributions of fiddle legend Bobby Hicks, and unattainable to encapsulate all of them in a number of sentences and paragraphs. From spending over 50 years on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry, to taking part in in Invoice Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys, from successful 10 Grammy Awards and spending 1 / 4 century with Ricky Skaggs, to being inducted into the Worldwide Bluegrass Music Corridor of Fame in 2017, Bobby Hicks noticed and did all of it.
Bobby Hicks was thought-about the “King of the Double Stops” by a lot of his fiddle-playing brothers and sisters, and in some estimations, he was one of many biggest fiddle gamers of all time. Bobby Hicks was additionally one of many oldest nation and bluegrass legends round on the time of his passing. (learn extra)
Pete Wade – August twenty eighth – Age 88
Whether or not you acknowledge his title or not, you most actually acknowledge the work. Pete Wade performed on the #1 Ray Worth hit “Loopy Arms.” He performed on what many think about the best nation track in historical past, “He Stopped Loving Her In the present day” by George Jones. One of many causes Pete Wade was so revered by each his fellow musicians and lots of singers was on account of how adept he was taking part in with a metal guitar participant. Understanding the metal guitar himself, he was capable of infer his elements to regardless of the metal guitar was doing, and vice versa, leading to a extra harmonious collaboration.
Pete Wade would turn out to be a mainstay in nation music studio classes for some 60 years. Starting his session work within the Nineteen Fifties, he would go on to take part within the Johnny Money American Recordings into the 2000s, and performed on Dale Watson’s album Carryin’ On launched in 2010. In between he would play on albums from Linda Ronstadt, Kitty Wells, Johnny Paycheck, Jerry Lee Lewis, Jerry Reed, Waylon Jennings, Kenny Rogers, Leon Russell, Ok.D. Lang, Joan Baez, The Statler Brothers, and lots of extra. (learn extra)
Tommy Money – September thirteenth – Age 84
With the best way the legacy of Johnny Money looms so massive, you possibly can nearly overlook that Johnny’s brother eight years his junior additionally had a fairly sizable profession of his personal. Tommy Money was the youngest of the seven youngsters of Ray and Carrie (Rivers) Money, and much like Johnny, his music profession began whereas he was nonetheless serving within the army and have become a DJ for the Armed Forces Radio Community.
After leaving the army, Tommy Money began touring round with Hank Williams Jr. earlier than signing with Musicor Information in 1965, and began releasing singles. He wasn’t too profitable on the label, and eventual moved to United Artists, the place he began gaining consideration. It was the track “Six White Horses” in 1969 written by Larry Murray in regards to the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. that put Tommy Money on the map in his personal proper, incomes him a #4 hit in nation, and a #1 in Canada. (learn extra)
JD Souther – September seventeenth – Age 78
It’s onerous to grasp how the California nation affect or the catalog of The Eagles would maintain up if songwriter JD Souther had not been such an necessary a part of them. He wrote so lots of the songs that will turn out to be instrumental to West Coast nation’s worldwide enchantment, impressed his fellow songwriters of the period and area to step up their sport, and sang a number of hits himself.
JD Souther dated each Linda Ronstadt and Stevie Nicks at totally different factors. He sang and wrote songs with a few of California nation’s most seminal stars akin to Chris Hillman and Richie Furay. He was an actor, and mentor to different songwriters as properly. And based on most everybody who knew him, he handed away immediately and earlier than his time.
“Heartache Tonight”, “Better of My Love,” “James Dean,” “Sufferer of Love,” and “New Child in City” have been all songs written or co-written by Souther that at the moment are thought-about important to the repertoire of The Eagles. He wrote Linda Ronstadt’s “Faithless Love” and “White Rhythm and Blues,” sang quite a few duet’s with Ronstadt together with “Prisoner in Disguise,” and co-produced her 1973 album Don’t Cry Now. (learn extra)
Hugh Prestwood – September twenty second – Age 82
Songwriter Hugh Prestwood lived an achieved and fulfilling life as an expert songwriter, penning massive hits for a number of the largest artists in nation music, and being acknowledged by his friends and a number of the premier songwriting establishments. He was additionally an authentic performer who launched a number of albums himself.
Prestwood arguably hit his peak round 1990 when a number of fashionable artists discovered success along with his songs. Shenandoah had a success with “Ghost in This Home,” which Alison Krauss additionally recorded afterward. Freeway 101 had a success with “Bing Bang Increase.” When Randy Travis recorded Hugh’s “Arduous Rock Backside of Your Coronary heart,” the track stayed at #1 for 4 weeks—an unprecedented run in nation that hadn’t been achieved in 12 years at the moment.
Tanya Tucker, Don Williams, The Judds, Jerry Douglas, and extra additionally recorded Hugh Prestwood songs through the years, whereas he additionally spent some 20 years educating songwriting lessons and workshops on the New Faculty in Manhattan whereas residing in Lengthy Island. (learn extra)
Kris Kristofferson – September twenty eighth – Age 88
Being easy and backwards wasn’t simply the evaluation of nation music that many individuals in america believed earlier than Rhodes Scholar, Military Ranger, and helicopter pilot Kris Kristofferson ditched all of it to maneuver to Nashville and take a job as a janitor to get his foot within the door of the music enterprise. This was the evaluation of Kristofferson’s circle of relatives. They disowned him for making the profession transfer.
However by his songs and their transformational energy in nation music, Kris Kristofferson wouldn’t simply show his household fallacious, he would revolutionize the mindset of your complete listening public, and clue them into the poeticism and the ability that nation music may wield by written phrase set to rhyme. This is able to open up your complete style to a wholly new viewers, and period.
Kris Kristofferson was a lot greater than a rustic artist. It’s simply occurred to be that nation music may declare him as their very own, and was proud to. The world is a a lot colder place with out Kris Kristofferson. However it’s additionally a way more wonderful place due to him. (learn extra)
Phil Lesh – October twenty fifth – Age 84
Phil Lesh may need been a part of the so-called “Different Ones” within the Grateful Lifeless behind Jerry Garcia. However for a lot of bass gamers, Phil Lesh was the solely one. Lesh was one of many first true lead bass gamers in fashionable American music past the jazz self-discipline. With guys like Jack Bruce and Jack Casady, and earlier than Geddy Lee and Les Claypool, Phil Lesh helped pioneer the bass as greater than only a rhythm instrument in rock n’ roll. Phil Lesh was removed from a backline character of a well-known band. He was his personal autonomous musical establishment.
Music would most actually be a much less attention-grabbing, colourful, aspiring, and riveting factor with out the bass of Phil Lesh influencing musicians from a big selection of disciplines, together with nation. His passing after a few years of illnesses, and a complete profession preserving the Grateful Lifeless’s music and reminiscence alive after the passing of Jerry Garcia, isn’t simply notable and necessary, it’s monumental.
Phil Lesh was a patriarch of the bass. (learn extra)
Tommy Alverson – November 14th – Age 74
Maybe east of the Sabine River, or west of Amarillo or Abilene, probably the most you may get from somebody should you point out the title Tommy Alverson is, “sounds acquainted.” However down in Texas, he may as properly be a patron saint. Everyone in Texas music is aware of of Tommy Alverson, as a result of he’s synonymous with the music of the state, and was considered one of Texas nation’s founding fathers.
Tommy Alverson’s songs have been of Texas, from Texas, and for Texas. Properly earlier than it grew to become cliché for Texas artists to sing about Texas, Tommy Alverson was doing it. One of many causes Texas bands sing about Texas is as a result of all of them wish to be like Tommy Alverson. If individuals from different states needed to hear alongside to his Texas songs, that was completely positive with Tommy. However his coronary heart, his sound, and his spirit was all the time true to the Lone Star State. (learn extra)
Duncan Warwick – November seventeenth – Age 63
Even because the web has put many print publications out-of-business and maybe made the concept of individuals cozying up with {a magazine} to examine their favourite artist or discover one thing new to hear to look quaint and out of date, Nation Music Individuals has stored printing month-to-month points no totally different than it’s performed for 50 years, with some 650 points in whole printed. Over that point it’s received the Wesley Rose Worldwide Achievement Award handed out by the Nation Music Affiliation (CMA) twice.
Even higher, Nation Music Individuals has all the time been proud to remain true to what nation music is meant to be. And since 2009, all of this has primarily been the fault the individual on the helm of Nation Music Individuals, editor Duncan Warwick. Often known as a staunch supporter of conventional nation music who was unafraid to share his trustworthy opinion, he was the guts and soul of Nation Music Individuals for 15 years. He’d been combating a protracted battle with Most cancers. (learn extra)
David Mallett – December seventeenth – Age 73
He wrote one of the crucial acknowledged and beloved folks songs in historical past. He wrote scores of different folks songs that went on to be recorded by some 150 separate artists. He additionally composed songs for quite a few nation performers, together with Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, and Kathy Mattea, and contributed to the catalog of Hal Ketchum. And although he did his time in Nashville as an expert songwriter, these in Maine know him as a proud son and poet laureate, and remembered David Mallett fondly.
To inform the story of David Mallett, you will need to begin with “Backyard Music.” Having Pete Seeger cowl considered one of your songs is the final word validation in folks circles, however a cavalcade of performers added it to their repertoire as properly, from Peter, Paul, and Mary, to John Denver, to even The Muppets. David Mallet has handed on, however his backyard nonetheless grows, inch by inch, row by row. (learn extra)
John Hadley – December 18th – Age 83
The time period “Renaissance Man” is bandied about typically. And sometimes, it’s employed to flatter versus precisely describe. Relating to songwriter, actor, painter, poet, author, comic, educational, and musician John Hadley, someway “Renaissance Man” doesn’t appear to encapsulate the complete breadth of his contributions. Over 1,000 songs have been printed by John Hadley in his profession.
George Jones, Roger Miller, Waylon Jennings, Jerry Reed, Garth Brooks, the [Dixie] Chicks, Wynonna Judd, Linda Ronstadt, Trisha Yearwood, Bobby Naked, Moe Bandy, T. Graham Brown, Joe Cocker, George Burns, Burt Reynolds and Dean Martin have been simply a number of the names John Hadley wrote songs for. He was additionally an everyday collaborator with writers akin to Kevin Welch, David Olney, Tim O’Brien, Terri Hendrix, and Gary Nicholson simply to call a number of.
John Hadley was additionally an artwork professor on the College of Oklahoma for some 22 years—from 1965 to 1987. (learn extra)
Earl West – January tenth – Age 79 – Bluegrass bass participant for Appalachian Categorical.
Audie Blaylock – January tenth – Age 62 – Guitarist and singer for the bluegrass band Redline who additionally labored with Jimmy Martin, Rhonda Vincent, Michael Cleveland, and others.
Tony Laiolo – January thirty first – Age 74 – Singer and songwriter identified for internet hosting rounds and songwriter nights in Nashville.
Len Holsclaw – February nineteenth – Age 90 – Founding member of the Worldwide Bluegrass Music Affiliation (IBMA), and supervisor of The Nation Gents for 25 years.
Allison Cornell – February twenty first (introduced) – Age 61 – Fiddle participant for Shania Twain
Al Jones – March 2nd – Age 92 – Bluegrass guitarist and singer identified for performing with Frank Vital.
Ozzy Osment – March fifth – Age 71 – Nation music’s “Ozzy” who backed Tom T. Corridor, Faron Younger and Brenda Lee. He later labored with Kenny Chesney and others.
Anthony Scarlati – March eighth – Age 63 – Photojournalist for Nation Music Weekly, Nashville Arts Journal, Guitar Participant Journal, MusicRow and extra.
Steve Lowry – March tenth – Age 63 – Music business photographer.
Judy Lee – March twentieth – Age 89 – Nation and bluegrass guitarist generally known as a member of the all-woman band The Rhythm Queens. Appeared on The Grand Ole Opry and Louisiana Hayride quite a few instances.
Shelby Webre – March twenty second – Age 32 – Famous Texas music supporter and co-owner of The County Line listening room in Abbott/West, TX. Saving Nation Music reader (and critic). Handed away tragically after a battle with Most cancers.
Norah Lee Allen – March thirty first – Age 76 – Spouse of Oak Ridge Boys singer Duane Allen who was additionally an expert singer herself.
Bucky Wilkin – April sixth – Age 77 – Recognized greatest as the author and performer of “G.T.O.” in Ronny & The Daytonas, he was additionally a roommate of Kris Kristofferson for some time, and the 2 wrote songs collectively. Bucky was greatest identified in rock, however spent massive quantities of time in Nashville.
Ben Eldridge – April 14th – Age 85 – Founding member of bluegrass band The Seldom Scene and bluegrass banjo legend. Ben is in within the Bluegrass Corridor of Fame.
Frank Wakefield – April twenty sixth – Age 89 – Mandolin participant and member of the Blue Ridge Mountain Boys, the Chain Mountain Boys, together with taking part in for Jimmy Martin and The Stanley Brothers.
Roy Carter – April twenty ninth – Age 68 – Founding father of Excessive Sierra Music Pageant and DelFest amongst different occasions.
Chris Stafford – Could 2nd – Age 36 – Lafayette Cajun musician of Feufollet and different bands. 4 time Grammy nominee.
Wayland Hollyfield – Could sixth – Age 82 – Nashville Songwriters Corridor of Fame member who wrote twelve #1 singles, and greater than 40 Prime 10 hits. A wildly-successful songwriter, his songs have been recorded by George Strait, Conway Twitty, Randy Travis, The Judds, Barbara Mandrell, Reba McEntire, and Waylon Jennings amongst others.
James Gregory – Could ninth – Age 78 – Comic who recurrently appeared on nation packages together with radio exhibits, Larry’s Nation Diner, Nation’s Household Reunion, and different packages. He appeared on the Grand Ole Opry.
Larry Garris – Could eleventh – Age 75 – Proprietor of 50-year-old music retailer Nook Music in Nashville.
Bud Logan – Could thirteenth – Age 83 – Producer for John Conlee and T. Graham Brown.
Frank Ifield – Could 18th – Age 86 – Australian nation and pop legend who integrated yodeling into his music.
Patrick Gottsch – Could 18th – Age 70 – Founding father of the Rural Media Group and RFD-TV.
John Schweers – Could twenty eighth – Age 78 – Towering nation songwriter who scored quite a few #1 hits, and had songs recorded by Ronnie Milsap, George Jones, Charley Delight, Waylon Jennings, Tom T. Corridor, Tanya Tucker, Don Williams, Conway Twitty, and lots of extra. Schweers has been nominated for the Nashville Songwriters Corridor of Fame six instances, however by no means inducted.
Wayne Bledsoe – June 2nd – Age 83 – Founding father of Bluegrass Now journal, radio broadcaster, and 1996 IBMA Print/Media Individual of the Yr who wrote many liner notes for bluegrass albums.
Gerrie Lynn – June fifth – Age 86 – Columbia Information-signed nation singer who carried out on the Grand Ole Opry quite a few instances, and was well-known for her track “I’ll Decide Up The Items”—a solution to Patsy Cline’s “I Fall to Items.”
Wayne Hobbs – June tenth – Age 72 – Metal guitar participant for Invoice Anderson, Marty Robbins, Connie Smith, Barbara Mandrell, and others who appeared on the Grand Ole Opry and Hee-Haw many instances.
Joe Scaife – June twelfth – Age 68 – Famous studio engineer and producer, in addition to a songwriter, backing vocalist, and percussionist.
Buzz Cason – June sixteenth – Age 84 – Songwriter, session vocalist, studio proprietor, and throughout music man credited for serving to to determine Nashville as a musical epicenter.
Randall Collins – June twenty seventh – Age 84 – Fiddle participant who carried out with Jimmy Martin, Mac Wiseman, and Invoice Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys. He was additionally a founding member of The Pinnacle Boys.
Artie Rose – June twenty eighth – Age 93 – Dobro participant who performed with Harry and Jeanie West, David Grisman, and others.
Herb Applin – June twenty ninth – Age 86 – Bluegrass multi-instrumentalist who carried out within the Berkshire Mountain Boys and the Outdated Time Bluegrass Singers.
Danny Carter – June thirtieth – Age 71 – Guitar participant within the newgrass duo The Carter Brothers.
Cliff Waldron – July 1st – Age 83 – Bluegrass guitarist and bandleader for quite a few teams round Washington D.C.
Rusty Golden – July 1st – Age 65 – Son of Oak Ridge Boys Member William Lee Golden, Rusty was a profession musician in his personal proper, beginning on drums, shifting to piano and keyboard, and taking part in in a number of outfits and on studio initiatives. He carried out with Larry Gatlin, and within the bands Golden Speer, and The Goldens along with his father.
Michael Corcoran – July 2nd (introduced) – Age 68 – Honored Austin music journalist and critic who wrote for Spin, Rolling Stone, Nationwide Lampoon, Dallas Morning Information, and the Austin American-Statesman.
Mark Germino – July third – Age 73 – Folks pop artist who had John Anderson, Vern Gosdin, Bobby Naked, and others document his songs.
Mary Martin – July 4th – Age 85 – Critically necessary music supervisor and label government who launched Bob Dylan to The Band, managed Leonard Cohen, Rodney Crowell, Vince Gill, signed Emmylou Harris to Warner, and Clint Black and Lorrie Morgan to RCA.
Harry Traum – July seventeenth – Age 86 – Folks and nation performer and trainer who was the primary to cowl songs by Bob Dylan. Launched many lesson tapes in audio and video kind that featured greats akin to Invoice Monroe, Ralph Stanley, and Tony Rice.
Jerry Fuller – July 18th – Age 85 – Author of Ricky Nelson’s “Travelin’ Man,” in addition to songs for Ray Worth, Reba McEntire, Hank Snow, Marty Robbins, and Barbara Mandrell. Fuller was additionally the man who satisfied Glen Campbell to maneuver to Los Angeles.
J. Remington Wilde – July twentieth – Age 72 – Songwriter for Randy Travis, Conway Twitty, Gary Allan, and others.
Craig Morris – July twenty seventh – Age 70 – Banjoist for bands King Cotton and the Meltons amongst others.
Katie Laur – August third – Bluegrass vocalist and bandleader who hosted a radio present on WNKU from Northern Kentucky College for 27 years.
Ray Kirkland – August fifth – Age 83 – Singer and multi-instrumentalist identified for performing with the Osborne Brothers, Jim & Jesse, together with Grandpa Jones and Kitty Wells later of their careers.
Don Morris – August eighth – Purple Filth legend and bassist for the Purple Filth Rangers. Oklahoma Music Corridor of Fame inductee.
Donnie Winters – August 18th – Age 73 – Member of the Southern rock outfit The Winters Brothers who carried out round Nashville for a few years. Later in life, Winters was a famous sound engineer in Nashville golf equipment.
Will Jennings – September sixth – Songwriters Corridor of Fame member who wrote iconic songs akin to “Greater Love,” “Up The place We Belong,” and “Tears in Heaven.” Johnny Paycheck, Johnny Money, Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn, and Emmylou Harris all recorded his songs.
Billy Sherrill – September tenth – Age 77 – Studio engineer who labored with Kenny Rogers, The Marshall Tucker band, Kenney Chesney, and lots of others. No relation to the legendary nation producer additionally named Billy Sherrill.
David Davis – September fifteenth – Age 63 – Bluegrass musician and frontman of the Warrior River Boys. He handed away in an vehicle accident.
Billy Edd Wheeler – September sixteenth – Age 91 – Songwriter and performer who wrote notable hits akin to “Jackson (Johnny Money and June Carter) and “Coward of the County” (Kenny Rogers). Wheeler was additionally a playwright and poet.
Invoice Simpson – September 18th – Age 90 – Bluegrass banjoist who performed in Invoice Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys.
Tom Morgan – September twenty sixth – Age 92 – Bluegrass guitarist and bassist who performed bass in The Nation Gents and The Kentuckians amongst different outfits.
Owsley Manier – October 1st – Age 77 – Co-founder of Nashville’s legendary membership The Exit/In.
Buzz Rabin – October twelfth – Age 83 – Nation singer/songwriter whose songs have been recorded by Willie Nelson, Ringo Starr, Jerry Lee Lewis, Mel Tillis, Johnny Money, Invoice Anderson, Johnny Paycheck, George Strait, Alabama, Hank Williams, Jr., and others. Rabin wrote Ringo Starr’s “Beaucoups of Blues.”
Lee Dunbar – October 14th – Age 63 – Southwest Virginia banjo champion who competed and received a number of instances a competitions in Galax, VA.
Barbara Dane – October twentieth – Age 97 – Folks and Gospel singer who recorded for Folkways Information and was acknowledged as one of many oldest residing roots music performers.
Eddie Burton – November ninth – Age 77 – Session guitarist and songwriter who had songs recorded by George Jones and Tammy Wynette amongst others.
Ella Jenkins – November ninth – Age 100 – Often known as the “The First Woman of Kids’s Folks Songs” and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner.
Zeke Dawson – November eleventh – Age 84 – Nation and bluegrass fiddle participant who toured with George Jones and Loretta Lynn from 1974 to 1984, and appeared within the movie Coal Miner’s Daughter.
Wendell Wiles – November thirteenth – Age 77 – Mandolin participant from North Carolina who appeared on the Grand Ole Opry and Midnite Jamboree.
David Parton – November fifteenth – Age 82 – Brother to Dolly Parton and Stella Parton.
Lonnie Hoppers – November seventeenth – Age 89 – Banjo participant who carried out in Invoice Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys within the early ’60s. He later performed in his personal teams akin to Lonnie Hoppers & New Union.
Toni Worth – November twenty second – Age 63 – Famous Austin nation blues singer.
Charlie Cheney – November twenty sixth – Age 69 – Stuart, VA banjo participant.
Marshall Brickman – November twenty ninth – Age 85 – Melodic banjo participant who additionally wrote screenplays for Woody Allen movies.
Mike Duncan – December seventh – Age 72 – Bluegrass photographer.
Larysa Jaye – December eighth – Age 40 – Nashville-based singer and songwriter who carried out on Decrease Broadway. She died in an vehicle accident.
Martha Sharp – December eleventh – Age 87 – Songwriter and government at Warner Music well-known for signing Randy Travis.
Bob Perilla – December twelfth – Age 71 – Frontman and guitar participant of the band Massive Hillbilly Bluegrass and a fixture of the Washington D.C. bluegrass world.
Eugene Ward – December fifteenth – Age 92 – Husband of Jeannie Seely.
Paul Roper – December seventeenth – Age 45 – President of Dualtone Music Group who helped develop the careers of artists like Shakey Graves, Shovels & Rope, Langhorne Slim, and Mt. Pleasure. He handed away from Most cancers.
Bobby Kallus – December twenty second – Beloved Central Texas drummer.
