April Birthdays

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April 1

John Barbata

b. 1945 in Passaic, NJ
rock musician, instrument: drums
with The Turtles (1966- ), "Wanderin' Kind" (1966), "Outside Chance" (1966), "You, Baby" (#20 1966), "Rugs of Woods and Flowers" (1967), "Happy Together" (#1 1967), "She'd Rather Be with Me" (#3 1967), "You Know What I Mean" (#12 1967), "She's My Girl" (#14 1967), "Elenore" (#6 1968), "You Showed Me" (#6 1969)
with Jefferson Airplane (1972-74)
founding member of Jefferson Starship (1974-78), "Miracles" (#3 1975), "With Your Love" (#12 1976), "Don't Let it Rain" (1976), "Runaway" (#12 1978), "Count on Me" (#8 1978)
see Jefferson Airplane and The Turtles

Alan Blakely (Alan David Blakely)

b. 1942 in Kent, England - d. 10 Jun 1996 in Kent, England (cancer)
pop/rock singer
instruments: rhythm guitar, keyboards
founding member of Brian Poole and the Tremeloes (1958-66), "Do You Love Me?" (1963), "I Wish I Could Dance" (1964), "Someone, Someone" (#97 1964), "After a While" (1965), "I Want Candy" (1965)
with The Tremeloes (1966- ), "Here Comes My Baby" (#13 1967), * "Silence is Golden" (#11 1967), "Even the Bad Times are Good" (#36 1967), "Suddenly You Love Me" (#44 1968)
music producer

Danny Brooks (Jim Mealey)

b. 1942 in Philadelphia, PA - d. 1978
rock/R&B singer (bass)
founding member of The Dovells (1960-197?), "Letters of Love" (1960), "The Bristol Stomp" (#2 1961), "Do the Continental" (#37 1962), "Bristol Twistin' Annie" (#27 1962), "Hully Gully Baby" (#25 1962), "Kissin' in the Kitchen" (1962), * "You Can't Sit Down" (#3 1963), "You Can't Run Away From Yourself" (1963), "Watusi With Lucy" (1964), "Happy Birthday Just the Same" (1964), "Dragster on the Prowl" (1964)
The Dovells sang backup on Chubby Checker's "Let's Twist Again" (#8, #26c 1961)

Jim Ed Brown (James Edward Brown)

b. 1934 in Sparkman, AR
country/pop singer
instrument: guitar
"I Heard a Memory Last Night" (1965), "The Last Laugh" (1966), "You Can Have Her" (#18c 1966), "Pop a Top" (#3c 1967), "Bottle, Bottle" (#13c 1967), "I Just Came From There" (1968), * "Morning" (#4c 1970), "Lift Ring, Pull Open" (1970), "Circumstantial Evidence" (1970), "Angel's Sunday" (#13c 1971), "Every Mile of the Way" (1971), "Southern Loving" (#6c 1973), "Sometime Sunshine" (#10c 1974), "It's That Time of Night" (#10c 1974)
duets with Helen Cornelius, "I Don't Want to Have to Marry You" (#1c 1976), "Saying Hello, Saying I Love You, Saying Goodbye" (#2c 1976), "I'll Never Be Free" (#11c 1978), "If the World Ran Out of Love Tonight" (#6c 1978), "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" (#10c 1979), "Lying in Love with You" (#2c 1979), "Fools" (#3c 1979), "Morning Comes Too Early" (#5c 1980), "Don't Bother to Knock" (#13c 1981)
founding member of The Browns (1955-66), "Here Today and Gone Tomorrow" (#7c 1955, he co-wrote), "Draggin' Main Street" (1956), "I Take the Chance" (#2c 1956), "I Heard the Bluebirds Sing" (#4c 1957), "The Three Bells (The Jimmy Brown Story)" (#1c, #1 1959), "Scarlet Ribbons (for Her Hair)" (#13, #7c 1959), "The Old Lamplighter" (#5, #20c 1960), "Margo (the Ninth of May)" (1960), "Alpha and Omega" (1961), "Dear Teresa" (1963), "Then I'll Stop Loving You" (#12c 1964), "Oh No, Not My Baby" (#24 1965), "Meadowgreen" (1965), "I'd Just Be Fool Enough" (#16c 1966), "Coming Back to You" (#19c 1966)
duet with Maxine Brown, "Looking Back to See" (#8c 1954, he co-wrote)
songwriter
md. to Rebecca Sue Perry; brother of Maxine and Bonnie Brown

Kenny Buttrey (Aaron Kenneth Buttrey)

b. 1945 in Nashville, TN - d. 12 Sep 2004 in Nashville, TN (cancer)
country singer
country/rock musician, instrument: drums
founding member of Barefoot Jerry (1971-72), "Finishing Touches" (1971)
founding member of Area Code 615, "Why Ask Why?" (1969), "Southern Comfort" (1969), "Stone Fox Chase" (1970)
session musician on Bob Dylan's "Just Like a Woman" (#33 1966), "Rainy Day Women #12 and 35" (#2 1966), "I Want You" (#20 1966), "Lay Lady Lay" (#7 1969); Neil Young's "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" (#33 1970), "Heart of Gold" (#1 1972); Jimmy Buffett's "Margaritaville" (#8, #13c 1977), "Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes" (#37, #24c 1977); and with Bob Seger, Charlie McCoy, Donovan, Joan Baez, and others
arranger

Arthur Crier (Arthur Griffin Lewis Crier, Jr.)

b. 1935 in Manhattan, NY (grew up in the Bronx, NY) - d. 22 Jul 2004 in Warsaw, NC (heart attack)
doo-wop/pop singer (bass)
founding member of The Chimes (1953- ), "Never Love Another" (1953), (not the group that had the 1960 hit)
with The Mellows (1956-59, 1984- ), "Moon of Silver" (1957)
founding member of The Halos (1960- ), "Nag" (#25 1961, One-Hit Wonder, he wrote), "Copy Cat" (1961, he co-wrote)
The Halos sang backup on Curtis Lee's "Pretty Little Angel Eyes" (#7 1961), "Under the Moon of Love" (#50 1961); Barry Mann's "Who Put the Bomp?" (#7 1961); and with Ben E. King, Connie Francis, Bobby Vinton, Dion, Little Eva, Johnny Mathis, and others
songwriter
music producer
father of Sabu Crier of Go, grandfather of Keith Sweat (Keith Sabu Crier, Jr.)
served in the Marines
see Arthur Crier on Marv Goldberg's R&B Notebooks

Pat Fairley (Patrick Fairley)

b. 1946 in Glasgow, Scotland
pop/rock musician, instruments: bass, guitar
founding member of The Marmalade (1966-72), "It's All Leading Up to Saturday Night" (1966), "I See the Rain" (1967), "Lovin' Things" (1968), "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" (1968), "Reflections of My Life" (#10 1970), "Rainbow" (1970)
owns a bar in Los Angeles, CA called Scotland Yard

Frank Gari (Frank Daniel Garofalo)

b. 1942 in New York City, NY
"Your Only Love" (1959), "Utopia" (#27 1961), "Lullaby of Love" (#23 1961), "The Last Bus Left at Midnight" (1961), "Princess" (#30 1961), "Tonight is Our Last Night" (1961), "April" (1968)
backup singer with Frank Sinatra, and others
songwriter
jingle writer

Terri Hendrix

b. 1959 in San Antonio, TX
country/folk singer
instruments: acoustic guitar, mandolin, harmonica
"Places in Between" (2000), "Don't Pet the Dog" (2001), "My Own Place" (2001), "Truth is Strange" (2002), "Enjoy the Ride" (2004), "Long Ride Home" (2004), "Invisible Friend" (2005), "Car Car" (2005)
songwriter
see Terri Hendrix

Rudy Isley (Rudolph Bernard Isley)

b. 1939 in Cincinnati, OH
R&B/rock/soul/doo-wop singer
founding member of The Isley Brothers (1954-89), "Angels Cried" (1957), "Everybody's Gonna Rock and Roll" (1958), "Say You Love Me, Too" (1960), "Write to Me" (1961), "Teach Me How to Shimmy" (1961), "Standing on the Dance Floor" (1961), "Twistin' with Linda" (1962), "Twist and Shout" (#17 1962), "I Say Love" (1963), "Move on Over and Let Me Dance" (1965), "Wild as a Tiger" (1965), "This Old Heart of Mine (is Weak for You)" (#12 1966), "I Guess I'll Always Love You" (1966), "One Too Many Heartaches" (1967), "All Because I Love You" (1968), "Behind a Painted Smile" (1968), "I Turned You on" (#23 1969), "It's Your Thing" (#2 1969, he co-wrote), "Love the One You're With" (#18 1971), "That Lady" (#6 1973, he co-wrote), "Fight the Power" (#4 1975, he co-wrote), "For the Love of You" (#23 1975), "Footsteps in the Dark" (1978), "Take Me to the Next Phase" (1978), "I Wanna Be with You" (1979), "Don't Say Goodnight (It's Time for Love)" (#39 1980), "Welcome into My Night" (1982)
songwriter
minister
see The Isley Brothers

Marcy Jo (Marcy Rae Sockel)

b. 1944 in Pittsburgh, PA
pop singer
"Ronnie" (#81 1961, she wrote), "Since Gary Went in the Navy" (1961), "Jumping Jack" (1961), "I'm a Dreamer, Aren't We All?" (1962), "How Softly a Heart Breaks" (1962), "The Next Time" (1963)
duet with Eddie Rambeau, "Those Golden Oldies" (1963), "Lover's Medley" (1963), "The Car-Hop and the Hard-Top" (1963)
songwriter

Ronnie 'Plonk' Lane (Ronald Frederick Lane)

b. 1946 in London, England – d. 4 Jun 1997 in Trinidad, CO (pneumonia after suffering from multiple sclerosis for many years)
rock singer
instrument: bass
"You're So Right" (1979, he wrote), "One Step" (1979, he co-wrote), "Don't Tell Me Now" (1979, he wrote)
founding member of Small Faces (1965-69), "I Can't Dance With You" (1966), "Itchycoo Park" (#16 1967, One-Hit Wonder), "Tin Soldier" (#73 1967), "I'm Only Dreaming" (1967), "Lazy Sunday" (1968)
founding member of The Faces (1970-73), "Love Lives Here" (1971), "Stay with Me" (#17 1972), Cindy Incidentally" (#48 1973)
founding member of Slim Chance, "The Poacher" (1974, he wrote), "Silk Stockings" (1974, he co-wrote), "A Little Piece of Nothing" (1974, he wrote), "You Never Can Tell" (1974), "Give Me a Penny" (1974, he wrote), "Nobody's Listenin'" (1975, he wrote), "Don't Try and Change My Mind" (1975, he wrote)
duets with Ron Wood, "Car Radio" (1976, he co-wrote), "Just for a Moment" (1976, he co-wrote)
songwriter
see The Faces
see The Small Faces

Woody Lee

b. 1968 in Garland, TX
country singer
instrument: guitar
"Get Over it" (#46c 1995), "I Like the Sound of That" (#58c 1995), "Out of Hand" (2006), "Forever for Me" (2006), "You're the Only Heartache" (2006)
songwriter, wrote Tracy Lawrence's "I See it Now" (#2c 1994)

Jimmie Logsdon (Jimmy Lloyd Logsdon aka Jimmy Lloyd)

b. 1922 in Panther, KY - d. 7 Oct 2001 in Louisville, KY
country/rockabilly singer
"Road of Regret" (1951), "Midnight Boogie" (1953), "Hank Williams Sings the Blues No More" (1953), "You're Cheating Yourself" (1963), "Mother's Flower Garden" (1963), "Hundred-Proof Heartache" (1963), "I Guess I've Let You Down" (1964)
recorded as Jimmie Lloyd, "(We've Reached) the Beginning of the End" (1957), "Where the Rio De Rosa Flows" (1957, he wrote), "You're Gone, Baby" (1958)
songwriter
DJ
served in the Army Air Corps during WWII (1944-46)

Phil Margo

b. 1942 in Brooklyn, NY
doo-wop singer (bass)
instrument: drums, guitar
founding member of The Tokens (1960- ), "When I Go to Sleep at Night" (1961), "(Hey Hey) Juanita" (1961), "Tonight I Fell in Love" (#15 1961, he co-wrote), * "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" (#1 1961), "Please Write" (1963), "Two Cars" (1963), "Let's Go to the Drag Strip" (1963), "(A Girl Named) Arlene" (1964), "Sylvie Sleepin'" (1965), "Only My Friend" (1965), "I Hear the Trumpets Blow" (#30 1966, he wrote), "The Greatest Moments in a Girl's Life" (1966), "Green Plant" (1967), "Portrait of My Love" (#36 1967), "She Let's Her Hair Down (Early in the Morning)" (1970), "I Could See Me (Dancin' With You)" (1970)
founding member of Cross-Country, "Just a Thought" (1973), "Cross Country" (1973)
brother of Mitch Margo
see The Tokens
see The Tokens on Wikipedia

Bob Nolan (Robert Clarence Nobles)

b. 1908 in New Brunswick, Canada – d. 16 Jun 1980 (heart attack)
country singer (baritone)
instruments: guitar, string bass, upright bass
"Angel in the Choir" (1952), "House of Broken Dreams" (1952), "I Can't Lie to Myself" (1953)
with The Rocky Mountaineers (1931-32)
with The Pioneer Trio (1933-34)
founding member of the Sons of the Pioneers (1934-49, 1955-59), "Nellie's Blue Eyes" (1934), "Moonlight on the Prairie" (1934, he co-wrote), "Hills of Old Montana" (1934), "Cowboy's Dance Song" (1934), "Let Me Keep My Memories" (1943), "No One to Cry to" (#6c 1946), "Home in Oklahoma" (1946), "Baby Doll" (#5c 1947), "Teardrops in My Heart" (#4c 1947, #7c 1948, he co-wrote), "The Everlasting Hills of Oklahoma" (1947), "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" (#11c 1948, he wrote), "Room Full of Roses" (#26, #10c 1949, he co-wrote), "The Timber Trail" (1949), "Santa Fe, New Mexico" (1949), "The Tennessee Rock and Roll" (1955), "The Three of Us" (1955), "A Fiddle, a Rifle, an Axe and a Bible" (1958), "Blue Shadows on the Trail" (1959), "Riders in the Sky" (1959)
the Sons of the Pioneers backing Roy Rogers, "Blue Shadows on the Trail" (#6c 1948), "That Palomino Pal of Mine" (1949)
songwriter
cowboy actor
see Bob Nolan
see The Sons of the Pioneers on CMT.com

Jeff Porcaro (Jeffrey Thomas Porcaro)

b. 1954 in Hartford, CT - d. 5 Aug 1992 in Los Angeles, CA (heart attack)
rock musician, instrument: drums
founding member of Toto (1977-92), "Hold the Line" (#5 1978), "99" (#26 1979), "Rosanna" (#2 1982), "Africa" (#1 1983), "I Won't Hold Back" (#10 1983), "I'll Be Over You" (#11 1986), "Pamela" (#22 1988)
session musician with Steely Dan, Paul McCartney, Bonnie Raitt, Bozz Scaggs, Paul Anka, Eric Clapton, Lionel Richie, and others
md. to Susan Norris (1983-92, his death)
his heart attack was triggered by an allergic reaction to a pesticide he was putting on his yard

Jane Powell (Suzanne Lorraine Burce)

b. 1929 in Portland, OR
pop singer
"Kiss Me Again" (1949), "Will You Remember?" (1949), "A Kiss in the Dark" (1949), "True Love" (#15 1956, One-Hit Wonder)
duets with Vic Damone, "Sometimes I'm Happy" (1955), "I Know That You Know" (1955)
actress
md. 5th to actor Dick Moore

Debbie Reynolds (Mary Francis Reynolds)

b. 1932 in El Paso, TX (grew up in Burbank, CA)
pop singer
"French Heels" (1957), "Tammy" (#1 1957), "I Saw a Country Boy" (1957), "Love is a Simple Thing" (1959), "Ask Me to Go Steady" (1959), "Am I That Easy to Forget?" (#25 1960), "It Looks Like Rain in Cherry Blossom Lane" (1960), "People Will Say We're in Love" (1962), "Is Goodbye That Easy to Say?" (1963)
actress; humanitarian
md. to Eddie Fisher

Artur 'Guitar Boogie' Smith

b. 1921 in Clinton, SC
country musician, instruments: guitar, fiddle, banjo
founding member of Arthur Smith and His Crackerjacks, "Banjo Boogie" (#9c 1948, he wrote), "Guitar Boogie" (#9c 1949, he wrote), "Boomerang" (#8c 1949, he wrote), "Teen-Age Rebel" (1957), "Shh" (1960), "Fishin' Fever" (1961), "Foolish Questions - Silly Answers" (1962), "The Stuttering Song" (1963), "Mona Lisa" (1964), "Psychoanalysis" (1969)
songwriter, co-wrote Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandrell's "Dueling Banjos" (#5c 1973)
served in the Navy

Eddie Wilson

b. 1943
rock singer
with Eddie and the Cruisers
he is a fictional character with a fictional group from a novel that was made into a couple of movies; possibly his birthday and bio was originally posted somewhere as an April Fool joke

April 2

Thumbs Carllile (Kenneth Ray Carllile)

b. 1931 in St. Louis, MO - d. 31 Jul 1987 (heart attack)
country/pop singer
instruments: guitar
"It's a Good Day" (1968), "High Noon" (1968), "Just the Way You Are" (1979), "Sunshine of My Life" (1979)
with Little Jimmie Dickens' Country Boys (1949-52), "Country Boy" (#7c 1949), "Take an Old Cold Tater and Wait" (#7c 1949), "My Heart's Bouquet" (#10c 1949, he wrote), "Sleeping at the Foot of the Bed" (#6c 1950), "Hillbilly Fever" (#3c 1950)
songwriter
served in the Army (1952-54)
md. to singer/songwriter, Virginia Boyle (1955- ); father of Virginia Carllile

Phil Castrodale

b. 1942
doo-wop singer
founding member and first tenor of The Reflections (1961- ), "You Said Goodbye" (1963), * "(Just Like) Romeo and Juliet" (#6 1964, One-Hit Wonder), "Like Columbus Did" (#96 1964), "Can't You Tell By the Look in My Eyes?" (1964), "Poor Man's Son" (#55 1965), "Deborah Ann" (1965), "June Bride" (1965), "Girl in the Candy Store" (1965)

Glen Dale (Richard Garforth)

b. 1943 in Kent, England
rock singer
instrument: guitar
"I've Got You on My Mind" (1968), "Now I See You, Now I Don't" (1968)
founding member of The Fortunes (1963-66), "You've Got Your Troubles" (#7 1965), "Here it Comes Again" (#27 1965), "This Golden Ring" (#82 1966)
see The Fortunes

Billy Dean (William Harold Dean)

b. 1962 in Quincy, FL
country singer
instruments: guitar, fiddle, piano
"Somewhere in My Broken Heart" (#3c 1991), "You Don't Count the Cost" (#4c 1991), "Only the Wind" (#4c 1991), "Only Here for a Little While" (#3c 1991), "Billy the Kid" (#4c 1992), "If There Hadn't Been You" (#3c 1992), "Tryin' to Hide a Fire in the Dark" (#6c 1993), "We Just Disagree" (#9c 1994), "It's What I Do" (#5c 1996), "That Girl's Been Spyin' on Me" (#4c 1996), "Real Man" (#33c 1998), "Let Them Be Little" (#8c 2005)
duet with Suzy Bogguss, "Something up My Sleeve" (1993)
duet with Kenny Rogers and Alison Krauss, "Buy Me a Rose" (#1c 2000)
duet with David Gates, "I Can't Find the Words to Say Goodbye" (1994, they co-wrote)
songwriter
see Billy Dean

Chris Frank

b. 1952 in Omaha, NE
country/folk/novelty singer
instruments: accordion, guitar, trombone, tuba, piano
with The Red Clay Ramblers (1987- ), "Katie's Ride" (1989), "Far North" (1989), "Annie Oakley" (1992), "Barbecue" (1992), "Long Day's Journey into Night" (2001), "Half a Life Without a Dog" (2001), "Pictures of You" (2001), "Fiddlesticks" (2001), "Should've Seen it Coming" (2001)
session musician with Jim Watson, and others
see the Red Clay Ramblers

Marvin Gaye (Marvin Pentz Gay Jr.)

b. 1939 in Washington. DC – d. 1 Apr 1984 (shot by his father during an argument)
R&B/doo-wop singer
instruments: piano, keyboards, drums
"Stubborn Kind of Fellow" (1962), "I'm Yours, You're Mine" (1962), "Hitch Hike" (#30 1963), "Can I Get a Witness?" (#22 1963), "Pride and Joy" (#10 1963), "Try it, Baby" (#15 1964), "You're a Wonderful One" (#15 1964), "Ain't That Peculiar?" (#8 1965), "Pretty Little Baby" (#25 1965), "I'll Be Doggone" (#8 1965), "How Sweet it is to Be Loved by You" (#6 1965), "One More Heartache" (#29 1966), "Your Unchanging Love" (#33 1967), "I Heard it Through the Grapevine" (#1 1968, he wrote), "Too Busy Thinking about My Baby" (#4 1969), "That's the Way Love is" (#7 1969), "What's Goin' On?" (#2 1971), "Mercy, Mercy Me (The Ecology)" (#4 1971), "Let's Get it on" (#1 1973), "Distant Lover" (1974), "Got to Give it Up" (#1 1977), "A Far Cry" (1981), "Sexual Healing" (#3 1983)
with The Moonglows (1958-60, replaced Bobby Lester), "Soda Pop" (1958), "I'll Never Stop Wanting You" (1959)
duets with Tammi Terrell, "Your Precious Love" (#5 1967), "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (#19 1967), "If I Could Build My Whole World Around You" (#10 1967), "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" (#8 1968), "You're All I Need to Get By" (#7 1968), "What You Gave Me" (1969)
duets with Mary Wells, "Once Upon a Time" (#19 1964), "What's the Matter with You, Baby?" (#17 1964)
duets with Kim Weston, "What Good am I Without You?" (#61 1964), "It Takes Two" (#14 1967), "If I Had My Way" (1971)
duets with Diana Ross, "My Mistake (Was to Love You)" (1973), "You're a Special Part of Me" (1973)
session musician on The Marvelettes' "Please, Mister Postman" (#1 1961)
songwriter, wrote Martha and the Vandellas' "Dancing in the Streets" (#2 1964)
music producer, arranger
see The Moonglows on Wikipedia
see Marvin Gaye

Emmylou Harris (Emmy Lou Harris)

b. 1947 in Birmingham, AL (grew up in NC and Woodbridge, VA)
folk/country/bluegrass/rock singer
instrument: guitar
"Too Far Gone" (#73c 1975; #13c 1979), "If I Could Only Win Your Love" (#4c 1975), "Together Again" (#65, #1c 1976), "Amarillo" (1976), "One of These Days" (#3c 1976), "Sweet Dreams" (#1c 1976), "Two More Bottles of Wine" (#1c 1978), "To Daddy" (#3c 1978), "Save the Last Dance for Me" (#4c 1979), "Blue Kentucky Girl" (#6c 1979), "Beneath Still Waters" (#1c 1980), "The Boxer" (#13c 1980), "Another Pot of Tea" (1982), "Born to Run" (#3c 1982), "Tennessee Rose" (#9c 1982), "I'm Movin' on" (#5c 1983), "(Lost His Love) on Our Last Date" (#1c 1983), "Drivin' Wheel" (#26c 1984), "In My Dreams" (#9c 1984), "Pledging My Love" (#9c 1984), "Timberline" (#55c 1985), "The Ballad of Sally Rose" (1985, she co-wrote), "White Line" (#14c 1985, she co-wrote), "I Had My Heart Set on You" (#60c 1986), "Icy Blue Heart" (1989), "Heartbreak Hill" (#8c 1989), "Abraham, Martin and John" (1992), "Orphan Girl" (1995), "Love Still Remains" (1998)
with Trio, "Telling Me Lies" (#3c 1987), "To Know Him is to Love Him" (#1c 1987), "Those Memories of You" (#5c 1987), "Wildflowers" (#6c 1988), "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind?" (1999)
duet with Iris Dement, "Wildwood Flower" (1998)
duet with Southern Pacific, "Thing About You" (#14c 1985)
duet with Buck Owens, "Play 'Together Again', Again" (#11c 1979)
duet with Linda Ronstadt, "The Sweetest Gift" (#12c 1976)
duet with Roy Orbison, "That Lovin' You Feelin' Again" (#55, #6c 1980)
duet with Don Williams, "If I Needed You" (#3c 1981)
duet with John Denver, "Wild Montana Skies" (#14c 1983)
duet with Earl Thomas Conley, "We Believe in Happy Endings" (#1c 1988)
duet with Vern Gosdin, "Hangin' on" (#16 2976)
duet with Keni Thomas and Vince Gill, "Not Me" (#47c 2005)
songwriter
md. 1st to songwriter, Tom Slocum (1969-70); md. 2nd to Brian Ahern (1977-83); md. 3rd to Paul Kennerly (1985-93)
see Emmylou Harris
see the Emmylou Harris fan site

Buddy Jewell

b. 1961 in Osceola, AR or Lepanto, AR
country singer
"Help Pour Out the Rain (Lacey's Song)" (#29, #3c 2003, he wrote), "Sweet Southern Comfort" (#40, #3c 2004), "One Step at a Time" (#38c 2004), "If She Were Any Other Woman" (#27c 2005)
songwriter
see Buddy Jewell

Jill King

b. 1974/75 in AL
country singer
instrument: guitar
"The Part I Don't Understand" (2003), "Makes Perfect Sense to Me" (2003), "Not Knowing Anymore" (2003), "One Mississippi" (#60c 2003), "98.6 and Fallin'" (#56c 2004)
songwriter

Warner Mack (Warner MacPherson)

b. 1935/38 in Nashville, TN (grew up in Vicksburg, MS)
country singer
instrument: guitar
"Is it Wrong (For Lovin' You)?" (#61, #9c 1957, he wrote), "The First Chance I Get" (1958), "Since I Lost You" (1958), "Someone Somewhere" (1960), "I'll Run Back to You" (1960), "Tears for Two" (1961), "Sittin' in an All Night Café" (#4c 1964), * "The Bridge Washed Out" (#1c 1965), "Forever We'll Walk Hand in Hand" (1965), "Sittin' on a Rock (Cryin' in a Creek)" (#3c 1965), "Talkin' to the Wall" (#3c 1966, he co-wrote), "When Lonely Hits Your Heart" (1967), "How Long Will it Take" (#4c 1967, he wrote), "I'm Gonna Move on" (#7c 1968, he wrote), "Leave My Dream Alone" (#6c 1969, he wrote), "I'll Still Be Missing You" (#8c 1969, he wrote), "Live for the Good Times" (#16c 1970, he wrote), "Draggin' the River" (#45c 1972, he wrote), "These Crazy Thoughts (Run Through My Mind)" (#87c 1977, he wrote)
songwriter
see Warner Mack

Herbert Mills (Herbert Bowles Mills)

b. 1912 in Piqua, OH – d. 12 Apr 1989 (viral meningitis)
pop/swing/R&B singer
founding member of The Mills Brothers (1931-82), "Sleepy Head" (#2 1934), "Sweet Adeline" (#10 1939), "Paper Doll" (#1 1943), "You Always Hurt the One You Love" (#1 1944), "Daddy's Little Girl" (#5 1950), "Be My Life's Companion" (1951), "The Window-Washer Man" (1952), "The Glow-Worm" (#1 1952), "(Who-Who-Who) Who Put the Devil in Evelyn's Eyes?" (1953), "I Found the Only Girl for Me" (1962), "You're Making the Wrong Guy Happy" (1965), "Honeysuckle Rose Blues Bossa Nova" (1967), "Cab Driver" (#23 1968), "My Shy Violet" (1968), "The Flower Road" (1968), "The Ol' Race Track" (1968), "It Ain't No Big Thing" (#64c 1970), "Smile Away Every Rainy Day" (1970), "A Donut and a Dream" (1972)
see The Mills Brothers

Lou Monte (Louis Scaglione)

b. 1917 - 12 Jun 1989
novelty singer
"Just Like Before" (1954), "Cat's Whiskers" (1954), "Vera's Veranda" (1954), "When I Hold You in My Arms" (1954), "Rosina (The Menu Song)" (1955), "Someone Else is Taking You Home" (1957), "Angelique" (1958), "Skinny Lena" (1958), "Lazy Mary" (1958), "Katareena" (1961), "Pepino, the Italian Mouse" (#5 1962), "Oh, Tessie" (1962), "Pasquale, the Italian Pussycat" (1963), "Who Stole My Provolone" (1963), "You're So Bella, Isabella" (1964), "Paul Revere's Horse" (1965), "Cheech the Cat" (1966), "I Don't Play With Matches Anymore" (1967), "My Wife, the Dancer" (1970), "Leaky Gondola" (1970)

David Robinson

b. 1953 in Boston, MA
rock/pop singer
instrument: drums
founding member of The Cars (1976-87), "Just What I Needed" (#27 1978), "Let's Go" (#14 1979), "Shake it Up" (#4 1981), "You Might Think" (#7 1984), "Drive" (#3 1984), "Hello Again" (#20 1984), "Why Can't I Have You?" (#33 1985), "You are the Girl" (#17 1987)

Leon Russell (Claude Russell Bridges)

b. 1941/42 in Lawton, OK
country/rock/blues singer
instruments: trumpet, piano, keyboards
"The Girl I Lost in the Rain" (1963), "Home Sweet Oklahoma" (1971, he wrote), "Strangers in a Strange Land" (1971, he wrote), "Tight Rope" (#11 1972), "Lady Blue" (1975), "Good-Time Charlie's Got the Blues" (#1c 1984)
recorded as Hank Wilson, "Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms" (#57c 1973), "A Six-Pack to Go" (#68c 1974)
with The Marketts, "Surfer's Stomp" (#31 1962), "Balboa Blue" (1962), "Out of Limits" (#3 1963), "Vanishing Point" (1964), "Batman Theme" (#17 1966) (not sure if he was on all of the songs)
founding member of The Super Stocks (1964-65), "'T' Roadster" (1964), "Ballad of Bonneville" (1964), "Wheel Stands" (1964), "Trophy Run" (1964), "Redondo Beach" (1964), "Malibu Blues" (1964), "Readin', Ridin' and Racin'" (1964)
duet with Joe Cocker, "The Letter" (#7 1970)
duets with Willie Nelson, "Heartbreak Hotel" (#1c 1979), "Wabash Cannonball" (#91c 1984, he wrote)
session musician on Gary Lewis and the Playboys' "This Diamond Ring" (#1 1965); and with the Rolling Stones, Jerry Lee Lewis, and others
songwriter, co-wrote the Plastic Ono Band's "Give Peace a Chance" (#14 1969); George Benson's "This Masquerade" (#10 1976)
arranger
see Leon Russell

Sonny Throckmorton (James Fron Throckmorton)

b. 1941 in Carlsbad, NM (grew up in Wichita Falls, TX)
country singer
instrument: bass
"Lovin' You Lovin' Me" (#73c 1977, he wrote), "I Wish You Could Have Turned My Head (and Left My Heart Alone)" (#54c 1978), "Smooth Sailin'" (#47c 1979, he co-wrote), "A Girl Like You" (#77c 1971)
bass player with Carl and Pearl Butler (1964-65)
session musician
songwriter, wrote Dave and Sugar's "I'm Knee-Deep in Loving You" (#2c 1977); Bobby Lewis' "How Long Has it Been?" (#5c 1965); Jerry Lee Lewis' "Middle-Age Crazy" (#4c 1977); George Burns' "I Wish I Was Eighteen Again" (#15c 1980); The Oak Ridge Boys "I Wish You Could Have Turned My Head (and Left My Heart Alone)" (#2c 1982), "Tryin' to Love Two Women" (#1c 1980)
co-wrote The Judds' "Why Not Me?" (#1c 1984); Moe Bandy's "It's a Cheatin' Situation" (#2c 1979); Tommy Overstreet's "Fadin' in, Fadin' Out" (#11c 1978); T.G. Sheppard's "I Feel Like Lovin' You Again" (#1c 1980); "Johnny Duncan's "Thinkin' of a Rendezvous" (#1c 1976)

Dean Townson

b. 1959 in Battle Creek, MI
country/rock musician, instrument: bass
founding member of Pirates of the Mississippi (1987-96), "Honky-Tonk Blues" (#26c 1990), "Feed Jake" (#15c 1990), "This Ain't the Denver I Remember" (1991), "Till I'm Holding You Again" (#22c 1992), "Dream You" (#68c 1993), "The Biggest Broken Heart in Tennessee" (1995), "Weakness for the Weekend" (1995)
session musician

Leon Wilkeson (Leon Russell Wilkeson)

b. 1952 in Jacksonville, FL - d. 27 Jul 2001 in FL (liver disease)
rock musician, instrument: bass
with Lynyrd Skynyrd (1972-77), "Tuesday's Gone" (1973), "Freebird" (#19 1974), "Saturday Night Special" (#27 1975), "Double Trouble" (#80 1976), "Give Me Back My Bullets" (1976), "What's Your Name?" (#13 1977), "You've Got the Right" (1978)
founding member of the Rossington Collins Band (1979-81), "Don't Misunderstand Me" (1980)
founding member of the new Lynyrd Skynyrd (1987-2001), "Pure and Simple" (1991), "Can't Take That Away" (1993), "We Ain't Much Different" (1997), "Blame it on a Sad Song" (1997)
seriously injured in the plane crash that killed other Lynyrd Skynyrd members in 1977
see Lynyrd Skynyrd

Kurt Winter

b. 1943 in Canada
rock/blues musician, instrument: guitar
with The Guess Who (1970-74, 1979), "No Time" (#6 1970), "Hand-Me-Down World" (#17 1970), "Share the Land" (#10 1970), "American Woman" (#1 1970), "Bus Rider" (1970), "Rain Dance" (#19 1971, he co-wrote), "One Divided" (1971), Heartbroken Bopper" (#47 1972), "Guns, Guns, Guns" (1972), "Clap for the Wolfman" (#6 1974, he co-wrote), "Star Baby" (#39 1974), "Dancin' Fool" (#28 1975)
songwriter
see The Guess Who on Wikipedia

April 3

Jeff Barry (Jeffrey Adelberg)

b. 1938 in Brooklyn, NY
pop singer
instrument: percussions
"It's Called Rock and Roll" (1959), "All You Need is a Quarter" (1960)
founding member of The Raindrops (1963- ), "What a Guy" (#41 1963, he co-wrote), "The Kind of Boy You Can't Forget" (#17 1963, One-Hit Wonder, he co-wrote), "That Boy John" (1963, he co-wrote), "Even Though You Can't Dance" (1964, he co-wrote), "One More Tear" (1964), "My Mama Don't Like Him" (1965)
songwriter, wrote Ricky Valence's "Tell Laura I Love Her" (#1 1960)
co-wrote, The Shangri-Las' "Leader of the Pack" (#1 1964), "Give Us Your Blessing" (#29 1965); The Exciters' "He's Got the Power" (#57 1963); Darlene Love's "(Today I Met) the Boy I'm Gonna Marry" (#39 1963); The Ronettes' "Be My Baby" (#2 1963), "Baby, I Love You" (#24 1963); The Crystals' "Da Doo Ron Ron" (#3 1963), "Then He Kissed Me" (#6 1963); Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans' "Wait 'Til My Bobby Gets Home" (#26 1963), "Why Do Lovers Break Each Other's Hearts?" (#38 1963); Manfred Mann's "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" (#1 1964); The Dixie Cups' "Chapel of Love" (#1 1964), "People Say" (#12 1964), "You Should Have Seen the Way He Looked at Me" (#39 1964); Ike and Tina Turner's "River Deep, Mountain High" (#88 1971); The Jelly Beans' "I Wanna Love Him So Bad" (#9 1964); Lesley Gore's "The Look of Love" (#27 1965)
md. to songwriter, Ellie Greenwich (1963-65)
see Jeff Barry

Jan Berry (William Jan Berry)

b. 1941 in Los Angeles, CA – d. 26 Mar 2004 in Los Angeles, CA (seizure)
pop singer
"Universal Coward" (1965, reply to Donovan's "Universal Soldier")
founding member of Jan and Dean, "Baby Talk" (#10 1959), "Surf City" (#1 1963), "Drag City" (#10 1963), "Linda" (#28 1963), "Honolulu Lulu" (#11 1963), * "Little Old Lady from Pasadena" (#3 1964), "Dead Man's Curve" (#8 1964), "Ride the Wild Surf" (#16 1964), "Sidewalk Surfin'" (#25 1964), "The Anaheim, Azusa and Cucamonga Sewing Circle, Book Review and Timing Association" (#77 1964), "Freeway Flyer" (1965), "Like a Summer Rain" (1966), "Popsicle" (#21 1966), "Bucket 'T'" (1966)
founding member of Jan and Arnie, "Jennie Lee" (#8 1958, One-Hit Wonder), "Gas Money" (1958), "Bonnie Lou" (1958), "I Love Linda" (1958)
songwriter
music producer
suffered brain damage in 1966 when he crashed his Corvette Stingray into a parked truck but eventually was able to continue his career
see Jan and Dean

Beatrice Best

b. 1934 in Goldsboro, NC
doo-wop/soul singer
baritone with The Jive Five (1962-64, 1978- , and reunions), "What Time is it?" (1962), "These Golden Rings" (1962), "Lily Marlene" (1963), "Prove Every Word You Say" (1964), "She's My Girl" (1978), "Rain" (1978)

Jim Cox

b. 1930 in Vansant, VA
country/bluegrass singer
instruments: string bass, banjo
with The Country Gentlemen (1958-60), "Darling Alalee" (1960), "Helen" (1960), "Letter to Tom" (1960), "Drifting Too Far" (1960)
see Charlie Waller

Doris Day (Doris Von Kappelhoff)

b. 1922/24 in Cincinnati, OH
pop singer
"A Chocolate Sundae on a Saturday Night" (1947), "It's Magic" (#2 1948), "Bewitched" (#9 1950), "A Guy is a Guy" (#1 1952), "Once in a While" (#9 1952), "If I Give My Heart to You" (#3 1954), "Secret Love" (#1 1954), "Black Hills of Dakota" (1954), "There's a Rising Moon" (1955), * "Whatever Will Be Will Be (Que Sera, Sera)" (#2 1956)
with the Les Brown and His Band of Renown, "My Dreams are Getting Better All the Time" (#1 1945), "You Won't Be Satisfied Until You Break My Heart" (#2 1946)
dancer; actress
animal rights activist
md. 1st to Al Jorden (1941-42); md. 2nd to George Weidler (1946); md. 3rd to Martin Melcher (1948-68, his death); md. 4th to Barry Comden (1976-80)
see the Doris Day Animal Foundation website

Stan Freeman

b. 1920 in Waterbury, CT - d. 13 Jan 2001 in Los Angeles, CA (emphysema)
jazz/swing singers
instruments: piano, harpsichord
"When I Look in Your Eyes" (1967), "Fascination" (1967), "Strangers in the Night" (1967)
with Glenn Miller's Army Air Force Band
with the Tex Beneke Orchestra
session musician on Rosemary Clooney's, "Come on-a My House" (#1 1951); Percy Faith's, "Delicado" (#1 1952); and with Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, and others
songwriter
arranger
comedian; author

Don Gibson (Donald Eugene Gibson)

b. 1928 in Shelby, NC – d. 17 Nov 2003 in Nashville, TN
country/pop singer
instruments: guitar, bass
"Red Lips, White Lies and Blue Hours" (1951), "Dark Future" (1952), "Blue Million Tears" (1952), "Sweet Dreams" (#9c 1956, he wrote), "I Ain't Gonna Waste My Time" (1956), "I'm Gonna Fool Everybody" (1956), "Give Myself a Party" (#5c 1958, he wrote), "Oh, Lonesome Me" (#7, #1c 1958, he wrote), "I Can't Stop Loving You" (#7c 1958, he wrote), "Blue Blue Day" (#20, #1c 1958, he wrote), "Don't Tell Me Your Troubles" (#5 1959, he wrote), "Lonesome Old House" (#71 #11c 1959, he wrote), "Who Cares" (#3c 1959, he wrote), "I'm Movin' on" (#14c 1960), "Just One Time" (#29, #2c 1960, he wrote), "Sea of Heartbreak" (#21, #2c 1961, he wrote), "Lonesome No. 1" (#59, #2c 1961, he wrote), "Sweet Dreams of You" (#93, #6c 1961, he wrote), "I Can Mend Your Broken Heart" (#5c 1962, he wrote), "Head Over Heels in Love with You" (#12c 1963), "A Love That Can't Be" (1964), "(Yes) I'm Hurtin'" (#6c 1966, he wrote), "Funny, Familiar, Forgotten Feelings" (#8c 1967), "It's a Long, Long Way to Georgia" (1968), "Montego Bay" (1970), "Country Green" (#5c 1971, he co-wrote), "Woman, Sensuous Woman" (#1c 1972), * "Touch the Morning" (#6c 1973), "One Day at a Time" (#8c 1974, he co-wrote), "Bring Back Your Love to Me" (#9c 1974, he wrote), "Starting All Over Again" (#16c 1978)
duets with Dottie West, "Rings of Gold" (#2c 1969), "There's a Story (Goin' Round)" (#7c 1970, he wrote)
songwriter, wrote Ronnie Milsap's "I'd Be a Legend in My Time" (#1c 1975)

Steve Grossman

b. 1962 in West Ipswich, NY
country/rock musician, instruments: drums, percussions
founding member of The Gibson/Miller Band (1990- ), "Big Heart" (#37c 1993), "High Rollin'" (#20c 1993), "Texas Tattoo" (#22c 1993), "Stone Cold Country" (#40c 1993), "Red, White and Blue Collar" (#59c 1994), "Mamas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to Be Cowboys" (#49c 1994), "All Because of You" (1994), "Sudden Stop" (1994)
this is not The Steve Grossman Quartet sax player
see The Gibson/Miller Band on WikipediA

James Leroy

b. 1947 in Ontario, Canada - d. 10 May 1979 in Ontario, Canada (suicide)
folk/rock musician, instruments: guitar, keyboards
"Lady Ellen" (1974), "Some Kind of a Fool" (1974)
founding member of Denim (1973-74, 1978-79), "Touch of Magic" (1973), "You Look Good in Denim" (1973, he wrote), "Make it All Worthwhile" (1973)
lead singer with Boarding House (1976- )
see James Leroy

Richard Manuel

b. 1943 in Ontario, Canada – d. 4 Mar 1986 in Winter Park, FL (hung himself)
rock/folk singer
instruments: piano, keyboards, organ, sax, harmonica, drums
"Katie's Been Gone" (1967), "Saved" (1972), "She Knows" (1986)
with The Hawks (1961-66), "He Don't Love You" (1965), "The Stones I Throw" (1965)
with The Hawks backing Bob Dylan (1965-66), "Just Like a Woman" (#33 1966), "Rainy Day Women #12 and 35" (#2 1966), "I Want You" (#20 1966), "Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat" (#81 1966)
founding member of The Band (1967-76, 83-86), "The Weight" (#63 1968), "Up on Cripple Creek" (#25 1969), "Life is a Carnival" (#72c 1971), "Thinking Out Loud" (1971), "Don't Do it" (#34 1972), "Ain't Got No Home" (#73 1973)
session musician
songwriter
see The Band

Howard Margolin

b. 1943
pop/doo-wop singer
founding member of The Demensions (1960-65), "Over the Rainbow" (#16 1960, a One-Hit Wonder), "Nursery Rhyme Rock" (1960), "Again" (1961), "Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep" (1961), "Seven Days a Week" (1961), "Theresa" (1961), "My Foolish Heart" (1963), "Just One More Chance" (1963), "My Old Girlfriend" (1964), "This Time Next Year" (1964), "A Little White Gardenia" (1964)

Jimmy McGriff (James Harrell McGriff, Jr.)

b. 1936 in Philadelphia, PA
soul/blues/bop/jazz musician, instruments: organ, piano, bass
"I've Got a Woman" (#20 1962, One-Hit Wonder), "All about My Girl" (#50 1963), "M.G. Blues" (1963), "Kiko" (1964), "Step One" (1964), "South West" (1964), "The Worm" (1968)
session musician
policeman
served in the Army in the Korean War
see Jimmy McGriff

Dee Murray (David Murray Oates)

b. 1946 in Kent, England - d. 15 Jan 1992 (stroke)
rock singer
instrument: bass
with The Spencer Davis Group (1969-70)
with Elton John's band (1971-75, 1981-83), "Your Song" (#8 1971), "Crocodile Rock" (#1 1972), "Daniel" (#2 1973), "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (#2 1973), "Bennie and the Jets" (#1 1974), "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (#2 1974), "Philadelphia Freedom" (#1 1975), "Island Girl" (#1 1975), Lucy in the Sky (With Diamonds) (#1 1975), "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" (#4 1975), and others
session musician with Kiki Dee, Barbi Benton, Alice Cooper, and others
he was on chemo for malignant melanoma at the time of his stroke
see Dee Murray
see the Spencer Davis Group

Wayne Newton (Carson Wayne Newton)

b. 1942 in Roanoke, VA
pop singer
"Danke Schoen" (#13 1963), "Stagecoach to Cheyenne" (1966), "Daddy, Don't You Walk So Fast" (#4, #55c 1972), "Years" (#35 1980)
duet with Tammy Wynette, "While the Feeling's Good" (#63c 1989)
songwriter
md. to Elaine Okamura (1968-85), md. to Kathleen McCrone (1994- )
see Wayne Newton on Wikipedia

Tony Orlando (Michael Anthony Orlando Cassivitis)

b. 1944 in Manhattan, NY
pop singer
"Bless You" (#15 1961), "Halfway to Paradise" (#39 1961), "She Loves Me (for What I Am)" (1965), "Sweets for My Sweet" (#54 1979)
founding member and lead of Tony Orlando and Dawn, "Candida" (#3 1971), * "Knock Three Times" (#1 1971), "Tie a Yellow Ribbon (Round the Old Oak Tree)" (#1 1973), "Say, Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose" (#3 1973), "Steppin' Out (Gonna Boogie Tonight)" (#7 1974), "He Don't Love You (Like I Love You)" (#1 1975), "Cupid" (#22 1976)
lead singer of Wind, "Make Believe" (#28 1969, One-Hit Wonder)
founding member of The Five Gents
recorded as Bertell Dache, "Not Just Tomorrow, But Always" (reply to The Shirelles' "Will You Love Me Tomorrow?")

Kenny Overby

b. 1944
R&B singer (bass)
founding member of Ronnie and the Hi-Lites, "I Wish That We Were Married" (#16 1962, One-Hit Wonder), "Be Kind" (#120 1962), "Send My Love (Special Delivery)" (1962), "A Slow Dance" (#116 1963), "High School Romance" (1963)
see Ronnie and the Hi-Lites on Wikipedia

Barry Pritchard

b. 1944 in Birmingham, England – d. 11 Jan 1999 (heart attack)
rock singer
instruments: guitar, keyboards
founding member of The Fortunes (1963-95), "You've Got Your Troubles" (#7 1965), "Here it Comes Again" (#27 1965), "This Golden Ring" (#82 1966), "Lifetime of Love" (1970), "That Same Old Feeling" (#62 1970), "Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again" (#15 1971), "Freedom Come, Freedom Go" (#72 1972), "Kentucky Girl" (1977)
see The Fortunes

Billy Joe Royal

b. 1942/45 in Valdosta, GA (grew up in Marietta, GA)
country/pop singer
instruments: steel guitar, piano, drums
"Dark Glasses" (1962), "Perhaps" (1962), "Down in the Boondocks" (#9 1965), "I Knew You When" (#14 1965), "We Haven't a Moment to Lose" (1966), "Cherry Hill Park" (#15 1969), "No Love Like a First Love" (1980), "Burned Like a Rocket" (#10c 1986), "I Miss You Already" (#14c 1986), "Old Bridges Burn Slow" (#11c 1987), "I'll Pin a Note on Your Pillow" (#5c 1988), "Out of Sight and Out of Mind" (#10c 1988), "It Keeps Right on Hurtin'" (#17c 1988), "Tell it Like it is" (#2c 1988), "Love Has No Right" (#4c 1989, he co-wrote), "Till I Can't Take it Anymore" (#2c 1990), "If the Jukebox Took Teardrops" (#29c 1991), "Searchin' for Some Kind of Clue" (#17c 1990), "Class of '65" (2001), "Where Did the 60's Go?" (2001)
duet with Donna Fargo, "Members Only" (#23c 1987)
songwriter

Curtis Stone

b. 1950 in North Hollywood, CA
country/rock singer
instruments: guitar, bass, mandolin
founding member of Highway 101 (1986- ), "The Bed You Made for Me" (#4c 1987), "Whiskey, if You Were a Woman" (#2c 1987), "Somewhere Tonight" (#1c 1987), "Cry, Cry, Cry" (#1c 1987), "Do You Love Me (Just Say Yes)?" (#1 1988), "All the Reasons Why" (#5c 1988), "Setting Me Up" (#7c 1989), "Honky-Tonk Heart" (#6c 1989), "Who's Lonely Now?" (#1 1989), "Walkin' Talkin' Cryin' Barely Beatin' Broken Heart" (#4c 1990), "This Side of Goodbye" (#11c 1990), "Restless Kind" (1991), "Baby, I'm Missing You" (#22c 1992), "You Baby You" (#67c 1993), "She Don't Have the Heart to Love You" (1996), "Long List of Obvious Reasons" (2003)
see Highway 101

Stuart Swanlund

b. 1958
country/rock singer
instrument: slide guitar
with The Marshall Tucker Band (1985- ), "Hangin' Out in Smokey Places" (#44c 1987), "Dancin' Shoes" (1988), "Stay in the Country" (1990), "Chase the Memory" (1990), "And the Hills" (1990), "Country Road" (1990), "Why Can't You Love Me?" (1990), "Destruction" (1990), "Love Will" (1990), "Driving You Out of My Mind" (#68c 1992), "Walk Outside the Lines" (#71c 1993), "Daddy's Eyes" (1993), "The First to Say Goodbye" (1993), "If That isn't Love" (1993), "Lost in Time" (1993), "I Like Good Music" (1997), "Love I Gave to You" (1998), "Long Goodbye" (1998), "Ways of a Woman" (1998), "Southern Belle" (1998), "Will the Circle Be Unbroken?" (1999), "His Eye is on the Sparrow" (1999), "Down This Road Before" (2004), "Angel (With a Honky-Tonk Heart)" (2004)
see The Marshall Tucker Band

Tommy Tieman (Thomas E. Tieman)

b. 1942 in Austin, TX
folk singer
with The Serendipity Singers (1963-70), "Don't Let the Rain Come Down (Crooked Little Man)" (#6 1964), "Beans in My Ears" (#30 1964), "Take Your Shoes Off" (1964), "Autumn Wind" (1964), "Down Where the Wind Blows" (1964), "Cloudy Summer Afternoon" (1965), "Boots and Stetsons" (1965), "When Peaches Grow on Lilac Trees" (1965), "My Heart Keeps Following You" (1965)
songwriter
see The Serendipity Singers

Joey Vann (Joseph Canzano aka Chubby)

b. 1943 – d. 28 Feb 1984 (heart attack)
doo-wop/rock/pop singer
"My Love, My Love" (1965), "Try to Remember" (1965)
with The Utopians, "Ain't No Such Thing" (1962)
founding member and lead singer of The Duprees (1962-64), "My Own True Love" (1962), "You Belong to Me" (#7 1962), "Gone with the Wind" (#89 1963), "Have You Heard?" (#18 1963), "Why Don't You Believe Me?" (#37 1963), "The Sand and the Sea" (1963), "It's No Sin" (#74 1963), "It isn't Fair" (1964), "Wishing Ring" (1964)

Lois Wilkinson

b. 1946 in Lincolnshire, England
pop/folk singer
founding member of The Caravelles (1963-65), "You Don't Have to Be a Baby to Cry" (#3 1963, One-Hit Wonder), "I Was Wrong" (1963), "True Love Never Runs Smooth" (1964), "You Are Here" (1964)

Phillipe Wynne (Philip Walker)

b. 1941 in Detroit, MI or Cincinnati, OH- d. 14 Jul 1984 in Oakland, CA (died on stage of a heart attack)
R&B/pop/gospel singer (tenor)
lead singer of The Spinners (1972-77), "I'll Be Around (Whenever You Want Me)" (#3 1972), "Could it Be I'm Falling in Love?" (#4 1972), "One of a Kind (Love Affair)" (#11 1973), "I'm Coming Home" (#18 1974), "They Just Can't Stop it (Games People Play)" (#5 1975), "The Rubberband Man" (#2 1976)
The Spinners and Dionne Warwicke, "Then Came You" (#1 1974)

Dave Yorko

b. 1941
rock musician, instrument: guitar
founding member of Johnny and the Hurricanes (1959-61), "Crossfire" (#23 1959), "Red River Rock" (#5 1959), "Reveille Rock" (#25 1959), "Beatnik Fly" (#15 1960), "Down Yonder" (#48 1960), "Sheba" (1960), "Rocking Goose" (#60 1960), "You Are My Sunshine" (#91 1960), "Ja-Da" (#86 1961), "High Voltage" (1961)

April 4

Randle Chowning

b. 1950 in Mountain View, MO
country/rock singer
instruments: lead guitar, acoustic guitar, steel guitar, mandolin, harmonica
founding member of Ozark Mountain Daredevils (1971-76), "If You Want to Get to Heaven" (#14c 1974), "It Probably Always Will" (1974), "Kansas, You Fooler" (1974), "Jackie Blue" (#3c 1975), "If I Only Knew" (1975), "Homemade Wine" (1976), "You Made it Right" (#83c 1976)
songwriter
see The Ozark Mountain Daredevils

Clay Davidson

b. 1971 in Saltville, VA
country/rock singer
instrument: guitar
"My Best Friend and Me" (2000), "Plain Old Pain" (2000), "I Can't Lie to Me" (#26c 2000, he co-wrote), "Unconditional" (#49, #3c 2000), "Sometimes" (#21c 2001, he co-wrote)
songwriter

Cecil Gant

b. 1913 in Nashville, TN - d. 4 Feb 1951 in Nashville, TN
blues singer
instrument: piano
"Grass is Getting Greener Every Day" (1944), "Midnight on Central Avenue" (1945), "Make Believe Girl" (1945), "Boogie Woogie" (1947), "Special Delivery" (1948), "I'm a Good Man But a Poor Man" (1949), "Nashville Jumps" (1949), "We're Gonna Rock" (1950), "Rock Little Baby" (1951), "Alma" (1951), "Cindy Lou" (1951), "Sloppy Joes" (1952)
songwriter
served in the Army during WWII

Steve Gatlin (Steven Daryl Gatlin)

b. 1951 in Olney, TX
country singer
founding member of The Gatlin Brothers (1979- ), "All the Gold in California" (#1c 1979), "What Are We Doin' Lonesome?" (#4 1981), "Sure Feels Like Love" (#5c 1982), "Houston (Means I'm One Day Closer to You)" (#1c 1983), "Denver" (#7c 1984), * "The Lady Takes the Cowboy Every Time" (#3c 1984), "She Used to Be Somebody's Baby" (#2c 1986), "Talkin' to the Moon" (#4c 1987)
backup singer on Larry Gatlin's "Sweet Becky Walker" (#40c 1973), "Delta Dirt" (#84, #14c 1974), "Broken Lady" (#5c 1976), "Love is Just a Game" (#3c 1977), "I Just Wish You Were Someone I Love" (#1c 1977), "Nighttime Magic" (#2c 1978), "I've Done Enough Dyin' Today" (#7c 1978)
md. to Cynthia Guerra; brother of Larry and Rudy Gatlin

Michael Gordon (Michael Z. Gordon)

b. in Minneapolis, MN (grew up in Rapid City, SD)
rock musician, instruments: piano, rhythm guitar
founding member of The Marketts, "Surfer's Stomp" (#31 1962, he co-wrote), "Balboa Blue" (1962), "Out of Limits" (#3 1963, he co-wrote), "Vanishing Point" (1964), "Batman Theme" (#17 1966)
with The Routers (group of session musicians), * "Let's Go (Pony)" (#19 1962, One-Hit Wonder)
session musician
songwriter, wrote Ed Ames' "Apologize" (#79 1968)
movie producer
he raises thoroughbred race horses

Dave Hill (David John Hill)

b. 1946 in Devon, England
rock singer
instrument: lead guitar
founding member of Slade (1966-91, 1993- ), "My, Oh My" (#37 1983), * "Run Run Away" (#20 1984)
he plays guitar right handed because he couldn't afford to pay extra for a left-handed one when he started out

Kris Jensen (Peter Jensen)

b. 1942 in New Haven, CT
pop/rock/country singer
instrument: guitar
"Staying up Late" (1959), "Bonnie Baby" (1959), "Your Daddy Don't Like Me" (1961), "3 Vanilla, 2 Chocolate, 1 Pistachio Ice Cream Cones" (1961), "Torture" (#20 1962, One-Hit Wonder), "I Went A-Walkin'" (1962), "Big As I Can Dream" (1963), "Poor Unlucky Me" (1963), "You've Only Got Me to Lose" (1964), "Little Wind-Up Doll" (1964)

Major Lance

b. 1939 in Winterville, MS (grew up in Chicago, IL) – d. 3 Sep 1994 in Decatur, GA (cancer and heart failure)
soul singer
"The Monkey Time" (#8 1963), "Hey, Little Girl" (#13 1963), "Mama Didn't Know" (1963, reply to Jan Bradley's "Mama Didn't Lie"), "Matador" (#20 1964), "Curious Mind (Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um)" (#5 1964, re-released in disco style in 1974), "Rhythm" (#24 1964), "I'm So Lost" (1964), "Come See" (#40 1965), "Ain't No Soul (in These Shoes)" (1966), "Shadows of a Memory" (1969), "I Never Thought I'd Be Losing You" (1978)
amateur boxer; dancer
served 4 years in prison (1978-82) for selling cocaine

Hugh Masekela (Hugh Ramopolo Masekela)

b. 1939 in Witbank, South Africa
jazz/pop singer
instruments: trumpet, piano, flugelhorn, coronet
"Up, up and Away" (#71 1968), "Grazing in the Grass" (#1 1968, One-Hit Wonder), "Puffin' on Down the Track" (#71 1968), "Riot" (#55 1969), "100,000 Miles to Memphis" (1969)
md. to Miriam Makeba (1964-66)

Ted McMichael

b. 1908 in Marshalltown, IA - d. 27 Feb 2001 in Camarillo, CA (pneumonia)
pop/jazz/swing singer (baritone)
founding member of The Merry Macs (1930-64), "The Little White Church on the Hill" (1932), "Pop Goes the Weasel" (1938), "Ta Ha Wa Nu Wa (Hawaiian War Chant)" (#14 1939), "Jingle Jangle Jingle" (#4 1942), "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition" (#8 1942), "Mairzy Doats" (#1 1944), "Pretty Kitty Blue Eyes" (1944), "Sentimental Journey" (#4 1945), "Laughing on the Outside" (#9 1946), "Ashby De La Zooch" (#21 1946), "I'm in Clover" (1955), "Why Can't We Begin Where We Left Off?" (1956), "Whitewall Tires" (1956)
brother of Joe and Judd McMichael
see The Merry Macs on Singers.com

Ann J. Morton (Anna Jane White)

b. 1943 in Muldrow, OK
country/western swing singer
"Poor Wilted Rose" (#82c 1976, she wrote), "You Don't Have to Be a Baby to Cry" (#73c 1977), "Blueberry Hill" (#72c 1977), "Black and Blue Heart" (#83c 1978), "My Empty Arms" (#42c 1979), "(We Used to Kiss Each Other on the Lips But) it's All Over Now" (#63c 1980, she co-wrote), "Life-Long Love" (2002)
songwriter, wrote Hank Thompson's "I've Come Awful Close" (#11c 1972)
sister of Jim Mundy and Bill White

Declan Mulligan

b. 1938 in Ireland
rock/pop/folk/country singer
instrument: guitar
founding member of The Beau Brummels (1964-65), "Laugh Laugh" (#15 1965), * "Just a Little" (#8 1965), "You Tell Me Why" (1965), "Sad Little Girl" (1965)
with the Black Velvet Band
sessionist
songwriter
see The Beau Brummels

Berry Oakley (Raymond Berry Oakley III)

b. 1948 in Chicago, IL - d. 11 Nov 1972 in Macon, GA (motorcycle accident three blocks from Duane Allman's 1971 accident)
rock/blues/country singer
instruments: bass, guitar
with The Roemans, "Give Me a Chance" (1964), "Your Friend" (1964), "Lost Little Girl" (1965), "Pleasing You Pleases Me" (1966)
with Dickey Betts' band Second Coming
founding member of the Allman Brothers Band (1969-72), "Black-Hearted Woman" (1969), "Revival" (#92 1971), "Melissa" (1972)
see The Allman Brothers

Anthony Perkins

b. 1932 in New York, NY (grew up in Boston, MA) - d. 12 Sep 1992 in Los Angeles, CA (complications of AIDS)
"First Romance" (1956), "She Used to Be My Girl" (1956), "Moonlight Swim" (#24 1957, One-Hit Wonder), "If You'll Be Mine" (1957), "Fools in Love" (1957)
actor, including as Norman Bates in Psycho
md. to actress/model Berry Berenson
quote by Anthony Perkins: "I have learned more about love, selflessness and human understanding from the people I have met in this great adventure in the world of AIDS than I ever did in the cutthroat, competitive world in which I spent my life."

Margo Sylvia (Margo J. Lopez)

b. 1936 in Woburn, MA – d. 25 Oct 1991 (heart attack)
doo-wop/pop singer
founding member and lead singer of The Tune Weavers (195?-62, and reunions), "Happy, Happy Birthday Baby" (#11 1957, One-Hit Wonder, she co-wrote), "Pamela Jean" (1957), "This Can't Be Love" (1960), "Congratulations on Your Wedding" (1962, she co-wrote), "Your Skies of Blue" (1962), "I've Tried" (1988)
songwriter
md. to John Sylvia; sister of Gilbert Lopez; cousin of Charlotte Davis

Robin Ward (Jacqueline McDonnell, aka Jackie Ward)

b. 1941 in HI (grew up in NE)
pop singer
"Today I Fell in Love" (1963), "Wonderful Summer" (#14 1963, One-Hit Wonder), "In His Car" (1964), "Wishing" (1964), "Winter's Here" (1964)
with The Ray Conniff Singers, "Somewhere My Love (Lara's Theme)" (#10 1966)
with The Anita Kerr Singers "A House is Not a Home" (1971)
backup singer on Pat Boone's "Speedy Gonzales" (#6 1962); Barbara Stresisand's "Stoney End" (#6 1970); and with The Partridge Family, Gordon Lightfoot, Joan Baez and others
md. Mr. Ward

Muddy Waters (McKinley Morganfield)

b. 1915 in Rolling Fork, MS (raised near Clarksdale, MS) – d. 30 Apr 1983 in Westmont, IL (heart attack)
folk/blues singer
instruments: harmonica, guitar, electric guitar
"Walkin' Blues" (1950), "Sad Letter Blues" (1950), "Blow, Wind, Blow" (1953), "Walkin' Thru the Park" (1959), "Clouds in My Heart" (1959), "Soon Forgotten" (1960), "Tough Times" (1962), "You Can't Lose What You Never Had" (1964), "Short Dress Woman" (1964), "When the Eagle Flies" (1967), "Tom Cat" (1968), "Let's Spend the Night Together" (1968), "Howlin' Wolf" (1969), "Cross-Eyed Cat" (1977)

Norro Wilson (Norris D. Wilson)

b. 1938 in Scottsville, KY
country singer
"Stranger to Me" (1968), "Sunset and Vine" (1968), "Love Comes But Once in a Lifetime" (#44c 1969), "Do it to Someone You Love" (#20c 1970), "In the Loneliness of the City" (1970), "Young Enough to Want to (Fool Enough to Try)" (#53c 1970), "Everybody Needs Lovin'" (#28c 1973), "Ain't it Good (to Feel This Way)?" (#35c 1973)
duet with Margo Smith, "So Close Again" (#43c 1977)
songwriter, wrote David Houston's "Baby, Baby (I Know You're a Lady)" (#1c 1969); Charlie Rich's "I Love My Friend" (#24, #1c 1974); Tammy Wynette's "Another Lonely Song" (#1c 1974), "I'll See Him Through" (#100, #2c 1970); Joe Stampley's "Soul Song" (#37, #1c 1972)
co-wrote Joe Stampley's "If You Touch Me (You've Got to Love Me)" (#9c 1972); Charlie Rich's "The Most Beautiful Girl" (#1, #1c 1973), "A Very Special Love Song" (#11, #1c 1974); George Jones' "A Picture of Me Without You" (#5c 1972), "The Grand Tour" (#1c 1974)
music producer

Gary Wolf

b. 1948 in Richmond, KY
country singer
"Love Never Dies" (#51c 1982), "Gettin' in to Tennessee Tonight" (1982), "Ages and Pages Ago" (1982), "The Perfect Picture (to Fit My Frame of Mind)" (#64c 1982), "Livin' on Memories" (#62c 1983), "Heart After Heart" (1983), "It's My Life" (#73c 1985)
songwriter

Mike Zero

b. 1947 in Brooklyn, NY
doo-wop singer (first tenor)
founding member of Randy and the Rainbows (1962- ), "Denise" (#10 1963), "Why Do Kids Grow Up?" (#97 1963), "Dry Your Eyes" (1964), "Little Hot Rod Suzie" (1964), "Lovely Lies" (1966), "I'll Forget Her Tomorrow" (1966), "Hey, Look Who's Dancin'" (1970), "A Simple Love Song" (1978)
brother of Sal Zero

April 5

Billy Bland

b. 1932 in Wilmington, NC
pop/R&B/rock singer
"If I Could Be Your Man" (1957), * "Let the Little Girl Dance" (#7 1960, One-Hit Wonder), "You Were Born to Be Loved" (#94 1960), "Harmony" (#91 1960), "Make Believe Lover" (1960), "My Heart's on Fire" (1961, he wrote), "Can't Stop Her From Dancing" (1961), "Little Boy Blue" (1963)
once ran a soul food restaurant in NY

Nicholas Caldwell

b. 1944 in Loma Linda, CA
R&B singer
instrument: harmonica
founding member of The Whispers (1964- ), "It's Rainin', "It's Pourin'" (1964), "Seems Like I Gotta Do Wrong" (#50 1970), "A Mother for My Children" (#92 1974), "Make it with You" (#94 1977), "And the Beat Goes on" (#19 1980), "Lady" (#28 1980), "It's a Love Thing" (#28 1981), "I Can Make it Better" (1981), "Tonight" (#84 1983), "Rock Steady" (#7 1987), "Innocent" (#55 1990), "My Heart, Your Heart" (1990), "Make Sweet Love to Me" (1995), "For the Cool in You" (1997), "As Soon As I Get Home" (1997)
arranger
see The Whispers

Tommy Cash

b. 1940 in Dyess, AR
country singer
instrument: guitar
"The Sounds of Goodbye" (#41c 1968), "Six White Horses" (#79, #4c 1969), "Rise and Shine" (#9c 1970), "One Song Away" (#9c 1970), "So This is Love" (#20c 1971), "Listen" (#24c 1972, he co-wrote), "I Recall a Gypsy Woman" (#16c 1973), "She Met a Stranger, I Met a Train" (#21c 1974), "The One I Sing My Love Songs to" (1975), "The Cowboy and the Lady" (#63c 1977)
duet with Tommy Jennings, "My Mother's Other Son" (1983)
songwriter
real estate agent
served in the Army
younger brother of Johnny Cash
see Tommy Cash

Allan Clarke (Harold Allan Clarke)

b. 1942 in Lancashire, England
pop/rock singer
instrument: guitar
"Stand by Me" (1976), "If You Think You Know How to Love Me" (1976)
founding member of The Hollies (1962-71, 1973-2000), "Ain't That Just Like Me?" (1963), "What Kind of Boy?" (1964), "Look Through Any Window" (#32 1966), "Bus Stop" (#5 1966), "Stop Stop Stop" (#7 1966), "Carrie Anne" (#9 1967), "Pay You Back with Interest" (#28 1967), "On a Carousel" (#11 1967), "Pegasus" (1967), "Jennifer Eccles" (#40 1968), "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" (1969), "Reflections of a Long Time Past" (1969), "Long Dark Road" (1971), "The Air That I Breathe" (#6 1974)
songwriter
see The Hollies

Richard Clasky

b. 1942
rock/do-wop singer
founding member of The Safaris (1959-61), "Image of a Girl" (#6 1960, One-Hit Wonder), "Girl with the Story in Her Eyes" (#85 1960, he co-wrote), "Soldier of Fortune" (1961)
songwriter

Cowboy Jack Clement (Jack Henderson Clement)

b. 1931/32 in Memphis, TN
country/rock/rockabilly/folk singer
instruments: steel guitar, rhythm guitar, dobro, bass
"Time After Time After Time" (1963), "Just Because You Ask Me to" (1977), "We Must Believe in Magic" (#86c 1978), "All I Want to Do in Life" (#84c 1978), "Gone Girl" (1978, he wrote), "Trapped in an Old Country Song" (2004, he co-wrote), "Every Place I've Ever Been" (2004, he co-wrote)
session musician with Johnny Cash, John Prine, and others
songwriter, wrote Johnny Cash's "Ballad of a Teenage Queen" (#14, #1c 1958), "Guess Things Happen That Way" (#11, #1c 1958), "One on the Right is on the Left" (#46, #2c 1966); Bobby's Bare's "Miller's Cave" (#33, #4c 1964); Charley Pride's "Just between You and Me" (#9c 1966); Jim Reeves' "I Know One" (#82, #6c 1960); George Jones' "A Girl I Used to Know" (#3c 1962)
co-wrote Charley Pride's "Does My Ring Hurt Your Finger?" (#4c 1967)
music producer

Bill Clifton (William August Marburg)

b. 1931 in Riverwood, MD
bluegrass singer
instrument: guitar, piano, autoharp
"Mary Dear" (1957), "Cedar Grove" (1958), "Spring Hill Disaster" (1958), "Take Back Your Heart" (1959), "Dixie Darling" (1959), "Corey" (1959), "When Autumn Leaves Begin to Fall" (1959), "Mail Carrier's Warning" (1960), "Bed on the Floor" (1960), "Bring Back My Blue-Eyed Boy" (1961), "March Wind" (1962), "The Girl I Left in Sunny Tennessee" (1962)
songwriter
served in the military

Troy Gentry (Troy Lee Gentry)

b. 1967 in Lexington, KY
country singer
instrument: guitar
founding member of Montgomery Gentry, "Hillbilly Shoes" (#62, #13c 1999), "Lonely and Gone" (#46, #5c 1999), "She Couldn't Change Me" (#37, #2c 2001), * "My Town" (#40, #5c 2002), * "Speed" (#47, #5c 2003), "If You Ever Stop Loving Me" (#1c 2004), "Gone" (#3c 2005), "Something to Be Proud of" (#1c 2005), "She Don't Tell Me to" (#6c 2006), "Some People Change" (#10c 2007)
songwriter
md. to Angie McClure (1999- )

Pat Green (Patrick Craven Green)

b. 1972 in San Antonio, TX (grew up in Waco, TX)
country singer
instrument: guitar
"Carry on" (#35c 2001, he co-wrote), "Three Days" (#36c 2002, he co-wrote), "Wave on Wave" (#39, #3c 2003, he co-wrote), "Don't Break My Heart Again" (#21c 2004, he co-wrote), "Temporary Angel" (2004, he co-wrote), "Somewhere Between Texas and Mexico" (2004), "Baby Doll" (#21c 2005, he co-wrote), "Feels Just Like it Should" (#80, #13c 2006), "Dixie Lullaby" (#26c 2007), "Way Back Texas" (#28c 2007)
duet with Sara Evans, "Finders Keepers" (2006)
songwriter

David LaFlamme

b. 1941 in New Britain, CT (grew up in Salt Lake City, UT)
folk/rock singer
instrument: electric violin, guitar
"Spirit of America" (1976), "Forever and a Day" (1976)
founding member of It's a Beautiful Day (1967-73, and reunions), "White Bird" (#118 1969, he co-wrote), "Time is" (1969), "The Dolphins" (1970), "Essence of Now" (1970), "Anytime" (1971), "Place of Dreams" (1971), "Angels and Animals" (1972), "Going to Another Party" (1972), "Ridin' Thumb" (1973), "Pick Up Sticks" (2000, he wrote), "Hot Summer Day" (2000, he wrote)
session musician
songwriter
served in the Army

Bob McDill (Robert Lee McDill)

b. 1944 in Walden, TX
country/folk musician, instruments: acoustic guitar, banjo
session musician with Don Williams, Susan Taylor, Rex Allen, and others
songwriter (he wrote more than 150 hit songs), wrote Don Williams' "Come Early Morning" (#12c 1974), "(Turn Out the Light and) Love Me Tonight" (#1c 1975), "Say it Again" (#1c 1976), "Good Ole Boys Like Me" (#2c 1980); Mel McDaniel's "Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans on" (#1c 1985), "Right in the Palm of Your Hand" (#10c 1981); Crystal Gayle's "I'll Do it All Over Again" (#2c 1977); Alan Jackson's "Gone Country" (#1c 1994); Alabama's "Song of the South" (#1c 1989); Keith Whitley's "Don't Close Your Eyes" (#1c 1988); Mel Street's "I Met a Friend of Yours Today" (#10c 1976); Jacky Ward's "Save Your Heart for Me" (#8c 1980); Conway Twitty's "I've Never Seen the Likes of You" (#6c 1980); Ronnie Milsap's "Nobody Likes Sad Songs" (#1c 1979), "Why Don't You Spend the Night?" (#1c 1980); Earl Thomas Conlee's "What She is (is a Woman in Love)" (#1c 1988); Earl Thomas Conlee and Emmylou Harris' "We Believe in Happy Endings" (#1c 1988); Doug Stone's "In a Different Light" (#1c 1991); Shenandoah's "If Bubba Can Dance (I Can Too)" (#1c 1994)
co-wrote Mel McDaniel's "Louisiana Saturday Night" (#7c 1981); Dan Seals' "Big Wheels in the Moonlight" (#1c 1988); Pam Tillis' "All the Good Ones Are Gone" (#4c 1997); John Schneider's "I've Been Around Long Enough to Know" (#1c 1984); Johnny Russell's "Rednecks, White Socks and Blue Ribbon Beer" (#4c 1973); Dave and Sugar's "The Door is Always Open" (#1 1976); Don Williams' "She Never Knew Me" (#2c 1976); Dan Seals' "Everything That Glitters (is Not Gold)" (#1c 1986); Sammy Kershaw's "She Don't Know She's Beautiful" (#1c 1993)
served in the Navy

Lewis Phillips

b. 1972 in Washington, GA
bluegrass/country singer
instruments: banjo, guitar
with The Lewis Family, "Just Like Angels in the Sky" (1984), "Green Pastures" (1986), "On the Wings of a Dove" (1988), "Looking Through the Windows of Heaven" (1990), "You are My Sunshine" (1996), "God's Gonna Getcha for That" (1998), "Angels Gathering Flowers" (2004), "Those Good Old Country Sundays" (2006)
md. to Laney Scott (2000- )
see The Lewis Family

Bill Pickering (Billy Duane Pickering)

b. 1927 near Murchison, TX - d. 25 Jan 1985
rockabilly/rock singer
founding member of The Pickering Brothers aka The Picks, "They Linger on" (1969, he co-wrote), "Close the Book" (1969), "Going Down the River" (1969), "Words" (1970)
The Picks backed Buddy Holly on "Oh, Boy" (#10 1957), "Maybe Baby" (#17 1958), and others
songwriter
brother of John Pickering
see The Picks

Vernon Sandusky

b. 1929 - d. 1 Aug 1997 in Paragould, AR
pop/rock/rockabilly singer
instrument: lead guitar
founding member of The Chartbusters, "She's the One" (#33 1964), "Stop the Music" (1964), "Leavin' You" (1966), "Glass Houses" (1967)
founding member of the Poe-Kats
with Roy Clark's band
songwriter
music producer

Crispian St. Peters (Robin Peter Smith)

b. 1939 in Kent, England
pop singer
* "The Pied Piper" (#4 1966), "You Were on My Mind" (#36 1967), "Free Spirit" (1967), "No Longer Mine" (1968), "Soft as a Rose" (1969), "Samantha" (1975)
songwriter
poet
see Crispian St. Peters

June Stearns (Agnes June Stearns)

b. 1939 in Albany, NY
country singer
instrument: guitar
"Empty House" (#47c 1968), "The Future Ex-Mrs. Jones" (1968), "Habit, Not Desire" (1968), "Tear for Tear" (1968), "Walking Midnight Road" (#53c 1969), "Tyin' Strings" (#41c 1970)
duet with Johnny Duncan, "Jackson Ain't a Very Big Town" (#21c 1968)
duet with Lefty Frizzell, "Have You Ever Been Untrue?" (1968)
duet with Gene Martin, "Three Sides to the Story" (1963)

Gale Storm (Josephine Owaissa Cottle)

b. 1922 in Bloomington, TX (grew up in Houston, TX)
pop singer
"I Hear You Knocking" (#2 1956), "Teenage Prayer" (#6 1956), "Memories Are Made of This" (#5 1956), "Orange Blossoms" (1956), "Why Do Fools Fall in Love?" (#9 1956), "Ivory Tower" (#6 1956), "Dark Moon" (#4 1957)
actress
her middle name is a native American word meaning 'bluebird'
md. to Lee Bonnell (aka Terry Belmont)
see Gale Storm

Ronnie White (Ronald White)

b. 1939 in Detroit, MI – d. 26 Aug 1995 in Detroit, MI (leukemia)
soul singer (baritone)
founding member of The Miracles (1955-83, 1993-95), "Who's Loving You?" (1960), "Come on, Do the Jerk" (1961), "Shop Around" (#2 1961), "If Your Mother Only Knew" (1962), "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" (#8 1962), "Mickey's Monkey" (#8 1963), "I've Gotta Dance to Keep from Crying" (#35 1963), "I Like it Like That" (#27 1964), "Ooo Baby Baby" (#16 1965), "My Girl Has Gone" (#14 1965), "The Tracks of My Tears" (#16 1965), "(Come 'Round Here) I'm the One You Need" (#17 1966), * "I Second That Emotion" (#4 1967), "More Love" (#23 1967), "Yester Love" (#31 1968), "Special Occasion" (#26 1968), "If You Can Want" (#11 1968), "Abraham, Martin and John" (#33 1969), "Baby Baby Don't Cry" (#8 1969), "Doggone Right" (1969), "The Tears of a Clown" (#1 1970), "Flower Girl" (1971), "Do it, Baby" (#13 1974), "Smog" (1976), "Love Machine" (#1 1976)
songwriter, co-wrote The Temptations' "My Girl" (#1 1965)
see The Miracles on Wikipedia

Tony Williams

b. 1928 in Elisabeth, NJ – d. 7/14 Aug 1992 in NY (diabetes and emphysema)
pop/R&B/doo-wop/soul singer(tenor)
founding member and lead singer of The Platters (1953-61), "Tell the World" (1954), * "Only You (and You Alone)" (#5 1955), "I'm Just a Dancing Partner" (1955), "The Great Pretender" (#1 1956), "My Prayer" (#1 1956), "(You've Got) the Magic Touch" (1956), "On My Word of Honor" (1957), "My Dream" (1957), "Twilight Time" (#1 1958), "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" (#1 1959), "Harbor Lights" (#8 1960), "I'll Never Smile Again" (#25 1961), "Endless Street" (1965)

April 6

Vernon Dalhart (Marion Ty Slaughter, II)

b. 1883 near Jefferson, TX - d. 14 Sep 1948 in Bridgeport, CT (heart failure)
country/folk singer
instrument: harmonica
"Til the Clouds Roll By" (1917), "Wreck of the Old 97" (1924), "The Prisoner's Song" (1925, the first million-selling country music single), "Miami Storm" (1926), "The Wreck of the Shenandoah" (1926), "On That Dixie Bee Line" (1926), "Lucky Lindy" (1927), "Farm Relief Song" (1929, recorded as Al Craver)
duets with Carson Robison, "A Memory That Time Cannot Erase" (1928), "My Blue Ridge Mountain Home" (1928)
recorded as Vernon Dale, Hugh Lattimer, Frank Evans, Bob White, and other names
md. to Sadie Lee Moore-Livingston (1901- )

Dottsy (Dottsy Brodt)

b. 1953/54 in Sequin, TX
country singer
"Storms Never Last" (#17c 1975), "I'll Be Your San Antone Rose" (#12c 1976), "(After Sweet Memories) Play Born to Lose Again" (#10c 1977), "It Should Have Been Easy" (#22c 1977), "Here in Love" (#20c 1978), "Slip Away" (#22c 1979)
duet with Waylon Jennings, "Trying to Satisfy You" (#12c 1979)
special education teacher
md. to Robin Dwyer (1981- )

Merle Haggard (Merle Ronald Haggard)

b. 1937 in Bakersfield, CA
country singer
instruments: bass, guitar, fiddle
"Sing a Sad Song" (#19c 1964), "Sam Hill" (#45c 1964), "(My Friends Are Gonna be) Strangers" (#10c 1964), "Ramblin' Fever" (#2c 1977, he wrote), "If We're Not Back in Love by Monday" (#2c 1977), "I'm Always on a Mountain When I Fall" (#2c 1978), "My Own Kind of Hat" (#4c 1979, he co-wrote), "Red Bandana" (#4c 1979, he wrote), "Footlights" (1979), "I Think I'll Just Stay Here and Drink" (#1c 1980, he wrote), "Rainbow Stew" (#4c 1981, he wrote), "My Favorite Memory" (#1c 1981, he wrote), "Big City" (#1c 1982), "Going Where the Lonely Go" (#1c 1982, he wrote), "You Take Me for Granted" (#1c 1983), "That's the Way Love Goes" (#1c 1984), "Someday When Things Are Good" (#1c 1984), "Let's Chase Each Other Around the Room" (#1c 1984, he co-wrote), * "Natural High" (#1c 1985), "Make-Up and Faded Blue Jeans" (#55c 1985, he wrote), * "A Friend in California" (#9c 1986), * "I Had a Beautiful Time" (#5c 1986, he wrote), * "Chill Factor" (#9c 1988, he wrote), * "Twinkle Twinkle, Lucky Star" (#1c 1988, he wrote), "5:01 Blues" (#18c 1988), "A Better Love Next Time" (#4c 1989), "Lucky Old Colorado" (1991), "A Bar in Bakersfield" (1991), "In My Next Life" (#56c 1994)
founding member of Merle Haggard and the Strangers, "I'm a Lonesome Fugitive" (#1c 1966), "Swinging Doors" (#5c 1966, he wrote), "The Bottle Let Me Down" (#3c 1966, he wrote), "I Threw Away the Rose" (#2c 1967, he wrote), "Branded Man" (#1c 1967, he wrote), "Sing Me Back Home" (#1c 1968, he wrote), "The Legend of Bonnie and Clyde" (#1c 1968, he wrote), "Mama Tried" (#1c 1968, he wrote), "I Take a Lot of Pride in What I Am" (#3c 1968, he wrote), "Hungry Eyes" (#1c 1969, he wrote), "Workin' Man Blues" (#1c 1969, he wrote), "Okie from Muskogee" (#41, #1c 1969, he co-wrote), "The Fightin' Side of Me" (#92, #1c 1970, he wrote), "I Can't Be Myself" (#3c 1970, he wrote), "Someday We'll Look Back" (#2c 1971, he wrote), "Daddy Frank (the Guitar Man)" (#1c 1971, he wrote), "Carolyn" (#58, #1c 1972, he wrote), "Grandma Harp" (#1c 1972, he wrote), * "It's Not Love (But it's Not Bad)" (#1c 1972), "I Wonder if They Ever Think of Me" (#1c 1973, he wrote), "Everybody's Had the Blues" (#62, #1c 1973, he wrote), "If We Make it Through December" (#28, #1c 1974, he wrote), "Things Aren't Funny Anymore" (#1c 1974, he wrote), "Old Man from the Mountains" (#1c 1974, he wrote), "Kentucky Gambler" (#1c 1974), * "Always Wanting You" (#1c 1975, he wrote), "Movin' on" (#1c 1975, he wrote), "The Roots of My Raising" (#1c 1976), "Cherokee Maiden" (#1c 1976), "What Have You Got Planned Tonight, Diana?" (1976)
duet with Bonnie Owens, "Just Between the Two of Us" (#28c 1964)
duet with Janie Fricke, * "A Place to Fall Apart" (#1c 1985, he co-wrote)
duets with George Jones, "Yesterday's Wine" (#1c 1982), "C.C. Waterback" (#10c 1983, he wrote)
duets with Leona Williams, "The Bull and the Beaver" (#8c 1978), "Let's Pretend We're Not Married Tonight" (1983), "We're Strangers Again" (#42c 1983, he co-wrote)
duets with Willie Nelson, "Reasons to Quit" (#6c 1983, he wrote), "Pancho and Lefty" (#1c 1983)
duet with Clint Eastwood, "Barroom Buddies" (#1c 1980)
songwriter
actor
In late 1957, Merle and some friends (all drunk) tried to burglarize a restaurant. it was earlier than they realized and still open. The owner knew Merle so he was soon caught and sent to jail. After a short stay he escaped. He was recaptured and sentenced to San Quentin. He saw Johnny Cash perform there in 1959 then was paroled in 1960 after serving almost 3 years of a 5 year sentence
md. 1st to Leona Hobbs, md. to singer, Bonnie Owens (1965- ); md. 3rd to singer, Leona Williams (1978-84); md. to Theresa Anne Lane (1993- )
quote by Merle Haggard: "'Cause I was already a smoker, it was easy to get addicted. The one thing that they don't teach you about marijuana is how addictive it is."
see Merle Haggard on Wikipedia

Warren Haynes

b. 1960 (grew up in Asheville, NC)
country/rock/blues singer
instrument: guitar
with the Allman Brothers Band (1989-97, 2000- ), "Good Clean Fun" (1990), "Seven Turns" (1990), "It Ain't Over Yet" (1990), "The High Cost of Low Living" (2003, he co-wrote), "Old Friend" (2003, he co-wrote), "Who to Believe" (2003, he co-wrote)
songwriter, co-wrote Garth Brooks "Two of a Kind, Working on a Full House" (#1c 1991)
supports Habitat for Humanity
md. to DJ, Stefani Scamardo
see The Allman Brothers

Andre Previn (Andreas Ludwig Priwin)

b. 1929 in Berlin, Germany (grew up in Los Angeles, CA)
pop/jazz musician, instrument: piano
"The Gypsy in My Soul" (1949), "Who Cares (as Long as You Care For Me)?" (1950), "All Alone Monday" (1950), "I Know Why and So Do You" (1952)
songwriter
became a U.S. citizen in 1943
md. 1st to Betty Bennett; md. 2nd to Dory Langdon (1959-70); md. 3rd to actress, Mia Farrow; md. 4th to Heather Sneddon (1982-2002); md. 5th to violinist, Anne-Sophie Mutter (200?-06)
see Andre Previn

Julie Rogers (Julie Rolls)

b. 1943 in England
pop/rock singer
instrument: piano
* "The Wedding" (#10 1964, One-Hit Wonder), "Like a Child" (1964), "In My Room" (1965), "Three Unspoken Words" (1965), "Hawaiian Wedding Song" (1965), "These Gentle Hands" (1966), "Don't Speak of Love" (1968), "Which Way to Nowhere?" (1969), "Flying Without Wings" (2003), "As if We Never Said Goodbye" (2003)

Hedy West (Hedwig Grace West)

b. 1938 in Cartersville, GA - d. 3 Jul 2005
folk singer
instrument: guitar, banjo
"The Lark" (1961), "500 Miles" (1963, she wrote), "Letter From Down the Road" (1963), "The Honest Farmer (Pans of Biscuits)" (1964), "Anger in the Land" (1964, she co-wrote)
songwriter

April 7

Bobby Bare (Robert Joseph Bare)

b. 1935 in Ironton, OH
country/folk singer
instrument: guitar
"Down on the Corner of Love" (1956), "No Letter From My Baby" (1960), "Shame on Me" (#23, #18c 1962), "It All Depends on Linda" (1963), "Dear Wastebasket" (1963), "500 Miles Away from Home" (#10, #4c 1963, he co-wrote), "Detroit City" (#16, #6c 1963), * "Jeannie's Last Kiss" (1964), * "Miller's Cave" (#33, #4c 1964), "It's Alright" (#7c 1965), "Talk Me Some Sense" (1965), "Four Strong Winds" (#60, #3c 1966), "The Streets of Baltimore" (#5c 1966), "Charleston Railroad Tavern" (1967), "(Margie's at) the Lincoln Park Inn" (#4c 1969), * "God Bless America Again" (#16c 1969, he co-wrote), "That's How I Got to Memphis" (#3c 1970), "Come Sundown" (#7c 1971), "Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends" (#8c 1971), "Ride Me Down Easy" (#11c 1973), "Lullabies, Legends, and Lies" (1973), "Marie Laveau" (#1c 1974), "The Winner" (#13c 1976), "Sleep Tight, Goodnight Man" (#11c 1978), "Yard Full of Rusty Cars" (1978), "The Way I Feel Tonight" (1978), "Numbers" (#11c 1979), "Going Back to Texas" (1980), "Appaloosa Rider" (1980), * "New Cut Road" (#18c 1981), "Someplace to Come When it Rains" (1983), * "Above and Beyond" (1994)
his hit "The All-American Boy" (#3, #2c 1958, he co-wrote) was mistakenly credited to Bill Parsons
duet with Bobby Bare, Jr., * "Daddy, What If?" (#41, #2c 1973)
duet with Rosanne Cash, "No Memories Hangin' Around" (#17c 1979)
duet with Skeeter Davis, * "Invisible Tears" (1965), "Dear John Letter" (#11c 1965), "Your Husband, My Wife" (#22 1970)
with Liz Anderson and Norma Jean, "The Game of Triangles" (#5c 1966), "Homesick" (#38c 1967)
songwriter
md. to Jeannie (1964- )
served in the Army (1958-61)

Patricia Bennett

b. 1947 in New York, NY
pop/rock singer
founding member of The Chiffons (1960-72, and reunions), "Tonight's the Night" (#76 1960), * "He's So Fine" (#1 1963), * "One Fine Day" (#5 1963), "A Love So Fine" (1963), "I Have a Boyfriend" (#36 1963), "Why Am I So Shy?" (1963), "I'm Gonna Dry My Eyes" (1963), "Easy to Love (So Hard to Get)" (1964), "Sailor Boy" (1964), "Nobody Knows What's Going on (in My Mind But Me)" (1965), "Tonight I'm Gonna Dream" (1965), "Did You Ever Go Steady?" (1966), "Sweet-Talkin' Guy" (#10 1966), "Three Dips of Ice Cream" (1969)
The Chiffons recording as The Four Pennies, "My Block" (#67 1963), "When the Boy's Happy (the Girl's Happy Too)" (#95 1963)
see The Chiffons

B.B. Cunningham, Jr. (Buddy Blake Cunningham, Jr.)

b. 1938/42 in Jackson, MS
rock/pop singer
instruments: organ, piano, guitar, bass
"Trip to Bandstand" (1959), "Ivory Marbles" (1961)
recorded as Buddy Blake, "Please Convince Me" (1957)
founding members and lead singer of The Hombres (1967-68), "Let it Out (Let it All Hang Out)" (#12 1967, One-Hit Wonder, he co-wrote)
with Jerry Lee Lewis' band (1997- )
session musician
songwriter
brother of Bill Cunningham of The Box Tops

Kathy Dee

b. 1933 in Moundsville, WV - d. 3 Nov 1968
country singer
"The Ways of the Heart" (1961), "How Long Does it Take to Forget?" (1961), "Unkind Words" (#18c 1963), "Only as Far as the Door" (1963), "Don't Leave Me Lonely Too Long" (#44c 1964), "I Promise Not to Cry" (1964), "Shadow of a Girl" (1968)

John Dittrich

b. 1951 in New York, NY or Union, NY or Batavia, NY
country/rock singer
instrument: drums
founding member of Restless Heart (1984-96, 1998, 2003- ), "Let the Heartache Ride" (#23c 1985), "(Back to the) Heartbreak Kid" (#7c 1986), "Till I Loved You" (#10c 1986), "That Rock Won't Roll" (#1c 1986), * "I'll Still Be Loving You" (#33, #1c 1987), "Why Does it Have to Be (Wrong or Right)?" (#1c 1987), "Wheels" (#1c 1988), "The Bluest Eyes in Texas" (#1c 1988), "A Tender Lie" (#1c 1988), "Say What's in Your Heart" (#4c 1989), "Big Dreams in a Small Town" (#3c 1989), "Fast Movin' Train" (#4c 1990), "Dancy's Dream" (#5c 1990), "Long Lost Friend" (#16c 1991, he wrote), "You Can Depend on Me" (#3c 1992), "When She Cries" (#11, #9c 1993), "Mending Fences" (#13c 1993), "We Got the Love" (#11c 1993), "No End to This Road" (#33c 1998), "Feel My Way to You" (#29c 2004)
founding member of Buffalo Club (1997), "If She Don't Love You" (#9c 1997), "Nothin' Less Than Love" (#26c 1997), "Heart, Hold on" (#53c 1997), "After Alice" (1997)
see Restless Heart

Spencer Dryden (Spencer Dryden Wheeler)

b. 1938 in New York, NY (grew up in CA) – d. 11 Jan 2005 in Petaluma, CA (complications of colon cancer)
country/rock singer
instruments: drums, percussions
with Jefferson Airplane (1967-70, replaced Skip Spence), "Somebody to Love" (#5 1967), "White Rabbit" (#8 1967), "Today" (1967), "Watch Her Ride" (1967), "Volunteers" (#65 1969)
Jefferson Airplane performed at Woodstock
with The New Riders of the Purple Sage (1970-77, replaced Mickey Hart), "Louisiana Lady" (1971), "Last Lonely Eagle" (1971), "Runnin' Back to You" (1972), "California Day" (1972), "On My Way Back Home" (1972), "Lonesome L.A. Cowboy" (1973), "Sunday Susie" (1974), "Neon Rose" (1974), "Farewell, Angelina" (1975), "Strangers on a Train" (1975), "Annie May" (1976), "Fifteen Days Under the Hood" (1976), "(Just) Another Night in Reno" (1977), "Till I Met You" (1977), "Green Eyes a Flashing" (1977), "Echoes" (1977)
manager of The New Riders of the Purple Sage (1978- )
songwriter
see Jefferson Airplane
see New Riders of the Purple Sage

Percy Faith

b. 1908 in Toronto, Canada – d. in Encino, CA 9 Feb 1976 (cancer)
instrument: piano
founding member and leader of the Percy Faith Orchestra, "Oodles of Noodles" (1949), "Norah" (1950), "Always, Always" (1951), "Perpetual Notion" (1951), "In the Middle of a Riddle" (1951), "I Was Dancing With Someone" (1951), "Delicado" (#1 1952), "The Song from Moulin Rouge (Where is Your Heart)" (#1 1953, he wrote), "With a Little Bit of Luck" (1956), "Never Till Now" (1957), "Theme from 'A Summer Place'" (#1 1960, he wrote), "Ride Through the Night" (1961), "Who Knows What Might Have Been?" (1961), "Jacqueline's Journey" (1962), "Kahlua" (1965), "Cheryl" (1966), "Beautiful Obsession" (1973), "1, 2, 3, 4" (1975, he wrote)
songwriter
arranger; music producer

Pearly Gates (Viola Billips)

b. 1946 in AL
soul/pop singer
"Johnny and the Jukebox" (1974), "Dancing on a Dream" (1979), "Action" (1985), "Third Time Lucky" (1986), "Fading into the Night" (1987)
founding member of The Flirtations (1965-73, and reunions), "Someone Out There" (1968), "Nothing But a Heartache" (#34 1969, a One-Hit Wonder), "What's Good About Goodbye, My Love?" (1970), "Can't Stop Loving You" (#101 1970), "Give Me Love" (#105 1971), "Little Darling (I Need You)" (1972), "One Night of Love" (1975)

Billie 'Lady Day' Holiday (Eleanora Fagan Gough aka Eleanora Harris)

b. 1915 in Philadelphia, PA or Baltimore, MD – d. 17 Jul 1959 in New York, NY (cirrhosis of the liver after years of alcoholism and heroin addiction)
jazz singer
"A Fine Romance" (#9 1936), "No Regrets" (#9 1936), "Billie's Blues" (1936, she wrote), "One, Two, Button Your Shoe" (1936), "On the Sentimental Side" (1938), "I've Got a Date With a Dream" (1938), "Here it is Tomorrow Again" (1938), "Ghost of Yesterday" (1940), "Lover Man" (1944), "Detour Ahead" (1951), "I'm a Fool to Want You" (1958)
backed by Teddy Wilson and His Orchestra, "Miss Brown to You" (1935), "A Sunbonnet Blue (and a Yellow Straw Hat)" (1935), "These 'n' That 'n' Those" (1936), "Life Begins When You're in Love" (1936), "These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You)" (1936), "I Cried for You" (1936), "It's Like Reaching for the Moon" (1936)
with Count Basie, and others
md. to trombone player, Jimmy Monroe (1941-47), md. to Louis McKay (1952- )
see Billie Holiday

Janis Ian (Janis Eddy Fink)

b. 1951 in New York, NY (grew up in NJ)
folk/pop/rock singer
"Society's Child (Baby I've Been Thinking)" (#14 1967, she wrote), "Tea and Sympathy" (1975), "When the Party's Over" (#20 1975), "At Seventeen" (#3 1975), "Fly Too High" (1979), "Under the Covers" (#71 1981), "Child in a Barren Land" (1992), "Breaking Silence" (1993, about abuse), "His Hands" (1993), "Take Me Walking in the Rain" (1995)
songwriter
she was one of the first artists to release some of her songs as free downloads on the internet
science fiction author
see Janis Ian

Don Julian

b. 1937 in Los Angeles, CA - d. 6 Nov 1998 (pneumonia)
R&B/rock/pop singer
"What Chance Has a Man?" (1965)
founding member and lead singer of The Meadowlarks (aka The Larks) (1953- ), "Love Only You" (1954), "Embarrassing Moments" (1955), "Always and Always" (1955), "Please Love a Fool" (1956), "Please Say You Love Me" (1957), "There's a Girl" (1960), "Heaven Only Knows" (1962), "The Jerk" (#7 1964, One-Hit Wonder), "Forget Me" (1964), "The Answer Came Too Late" (1966), "The Penguin" (1966), "Low Rider Girl" (1966), "My Favorite Beer Joint" (1973)
see the Meadowlarks on Marv Goldbert's R&B Notebook

Jimmy King

b. 1949 - d. 10 Dec 1967 in Lake Monona, WI
soul/R&B musician, instrument: guitar
with The Bar-Kays (1966-67), "Give Everybody Some" (#76 1967)
The Bar-Kays were Otis Redding's backup band (1967)
he was killed in the same plane crash as Otis Redding

Dean Miller (Roger Dean Miller, Jr.)

b. 1966 in Los Angeles, CA (grew up in Santa Fe, NM)
country singer
instruments: flute, guitar
"Nowhere USA" (#54c 1997, he wrote), "I Used to Know Her" (1997, he co-wrote), "Dreams" (1997, he wrote), "My Heart's Broke Down (But My Mind's Made Up)" (#67c 1997, he co-wrote), "Wake Up and Smell the Whiskey" (#57c 1998, he co-wrote), "Love is a Game" (#58c 2002, he co-wrote), "Ready for the Rain" (2005, he wrote), "On a Good Day" (2005, he wrote)
songwriter, co-wrote Terri Clark's "A Little Gasoline" (#13c 2000); Trace Adkins' "I'm Gonna Love You Anyway" (#36c 2000)
actor
son of singer/songwriter, Roger Miller

Dee Mullins

b. 1937 in Gafford, TX - d. 19 Mar 1991
country singer
"I've Really Got a Right to Cry" (1959), "Texas Tea" (#51c 1968), "The Continuing Story of Harper Valley PTA" (1969), "Remember Bethlehem" (#71c 1971), "In a Small Town" (1971), "Irma Jackson" (1971), "Rusty Nails, Puppy Dog Tails and Boys" (1972), "Circle Me" (#61c 1973)

John Oates

b. 1949 in New York, NY
soul/rock/pop singer (baritone)
"Love in a Dangerous Time" (2002), "Unspoken" (2002)
founding member of Hall and Oates (1972- ), "Back Together Again" (#28 1976), "Sara Smile" (#4 1976), "She's Gone" (#7 1976), "Rich Girl" (#1 1977), "It's a Laugh" (#20 1978), "Wait for Me" (#18 1980), "You Make My Dreams" (#5 1981), "Private Eyes" (#1 1981), "Kiss on My List" (#1 1981), "Maneater" (#1 1982), "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" (#1 1982), "Say it isn't So" (#2 1983), "One on One" (#7 1983), "Family Man" (#6 1983), "Out of Touch" (#1 1984), "Adult Education" (#8 1984), "Possession Obsession" (#30 1985), "Method of Modern Love" (#5 1985), "Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid" (#18 1985), "Everything Your Heart Desires" (#3 1988), "So Close" (#11 1990)
see Hall and Oates

Spencer Ross (Robert Mersey)

b. 1917 in New York, NY
pop singer
"Tracy's Theme" (#13 1960, One-Hit Wonder), "Thanksgiving Day Parade" (1960), "Theme for a Lonely Evening" (1960)
songwriter

Mongo Santamaria (Ramon Santamaria)

b. 1922 Havana, Cuba - 1 Feb 2003 in Miami, FL
jazz/soul musician, instruments: drums, percussions
"Love, Oh Love" (1962), "Not Hardly" (1962), "Watermelon Man" (#10 1963), "La Bamba" (1964), "Old Clothes" (1967), "Sheila" (1969), "Cloud Nine" (#32 1969), "The Sunshine of Your Love" (1970)
session musician with Perez Prado, and others
songwriter

Cal Smith (Calvin Grant Shofner)

b. 1932 in Gans, OK (grew up in Oakland, CA)
country singer
instrument: guitar
"I'm Left Cause She Was Right" (1966), "I'll Just Go on Home" (1966), "The Only Thing I Want" (#58c 1967), "Destination: Atlanta, Georgia" (1968), "Did She Ask About Me?" (1968), "Drinking Champagne" (#35c 1968), "You Can't Housebreak a Tomcat" (1969), "I've Found Someone of My Own" (#4c 1972), "The Lord Knows I'm Drinking" (#64, #1c 1973), "Country Bumpkin" (#1c 1974, CMA single of the year 1974), "It's Time to Pay the Fiddler" (#1c 1975), "She Talked a Lot About Texas" (#13c 1975), "Thunderstorms" (#33c 1976), "I Just Came Home to Count the Memories" (#15c 1977)
with Ernest Tubb's
Texas Troubadours (1962-68)
duet with Billy Parker, "Love Don't Know a Lady (From a Honky-Tonk Girl)" (#59c 1983)
served in the military (1956-58)
see The Texas Troubadours on Hillbilly-Music dawt dom

Charlie Thomas

b. 1937/39 in VA or New York, NY
doo-wop/R&B singer (bass)
lead singer of The Drifters (1959-67), "There Goes My Baby" (#2 1959), * "Dance with Me" (#15 1959), * "This Magic Moment" (#16 1960), * "Save the Last Dance for Me" (#1 1960), "Please Stay" (#14 1961), "She Never Talked to Me That Way" (1961), "Somebody New Dancing with You" (1961), "Sweets for My Sweet" (#16 1961), "I Count the Tears" (#17 1961), "When My Little Girl is Smiling" (#28 1962), "On Broadway" (#9 1963), "Up on the Roof" (#5 1963), "I'll Take You Home" (#25 1963), "Under the Boardwalk" (#4 1964), "Saturday Night at the Movies" (#18 1964), "At the Club" (#43 1965), "Answer the Phone" (1965), "I'll Take You Where the Music's Playing" (1965), "Memories Are Made of This" (#48 1966)

April 8

Paul Buskirk

b. 1923 in WV - d. Mar 2002
country/rock musician, instruments: mandolin, tenor banjo, guitar, dobro
"Nacogdoches Waltz" (1993), "I Will Wait for You" (1993), "Little Rock GetaWay" (1993)
session musician with Lefty Frizzell, Tex Ritter, Roy Acuff, Ray Price, Rex Allen, Eddie Arnold, Willie Nelson, and others
songwriter, co-wrote Willie Nelson's "Night Life" (#20c 1980)
taught Willie Nelson to play the guitar

Charlie Harrison

b. 1953 in Staffordshire, England
rock singer
instrument: bass
with Poco (1977- , replaced George Grantham), "Crazy Love" (#17, #95c 1979), "Heart of the Night" (#20, #96c 1979), "Nothin' to Hide" (#39 1990), "One Tear at a Time" (2002), "Never Get Enough" (2003), "Shake it" (2003), "Never Loved...Never Hurt Like This" (2005), "Father's Day" (2006)
with Monty and the Pythons
with Coyote Blu
with Rod Stewart's band
see Poco

Steve Howe (Stephen James Howe)

b. 1947 in London, England
rock singer
instruments: electric guitar, acoustic guitar, steel guitar, mandolin, bass
"Doors of Sleep" (1975), "Beginnings" (1975), "Surface Tension" (1979), "Sensitive Chaos" (1991), "Turbulence" (1991), "Road to One's Self" (1993), "Luck of the Draw" (1993)
with Yes (1970-81, and reunions)
founding member of Asia (1981-84), "Only Time Will Tell" (#17 1982), "Heat of the Moment" (#4 1982), "Don't Cry" (#10 1983), "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes" (#34 1983)
session musician
see Steve Howe
see Asia on Wikipedia

Leon Huff

b. 1942 in Camden, NJ
R&B musician, instrument: piano
"No Greater Love" (1980, he wrote), "This One's for Us" (1980, he wrote)
session musician on The Pixies Three's "Birthday Party" (#40 1963), and others
songwriter, wrote Patty and the Emblems' "Mixed-Up, Shook-Up Girl" (#37 1964)
co-wrote Dee Dee Warwick's "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" (#32 1968); Soul Survivors' "Expressway to Your Heart" (#4 1967); The Intruders' "Cowboys to Girls" (#6 1968); Jerry Butler's "Only the Strong Survive" (#4 1969); Billy Paul's "Me and Mrs. Jones" (#1 1972); Simply Red's "If You Don't Know Me by Now" (#1 1989); The O'Jays' "Love Train" (#1 1972), "For the Love of Money" (#9 1973); MSFB's "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)" (#1 1974); The Three Degrees' "When Will I See You Again?" (#2 1974)
music producer

J.J. Jackson (Jerome Louis Jackson)

b. 1941 in Brooklyn, NY
soul singer
instruments: percussions, organ
"Ring, Telephone" (1963), "False Face" (1963), "But it's Alright" (#22 1966, One-Hit Wonder, he co-wrote), "Four Walls" (1966), "You've Got Me Dizzy" (1966), "Seems Like I've Been Here Before" (1967), "Til Love Goes Out of Style" (1967), "In the Same Old Way" (1969), "Win, Lose or Draw" (1969)
songwriter
arranger
this is not the MTV 'veejay'

Raymond Jackson (Raymond Earl Jackson)

b. 1941 - d. 1972 (house fire)
soul/rock musician, instruments: trombone, piano
founding member of The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band (1968- ), "Do Your Thing" (#11 1969), "Till You Get Enough" (#67 1969), "Love Land" (#16 1970), "Express Yourself" (#12 1970), "Road Without an End" (1970), "Solution for Pollution" (1971), "Your Love (Means Everything to Me)" (#12 1971), "I Got Love" (1972)
songwriter, co-wrote Barbara Mandrell's "(If Loving You is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right" (#31, #1c 1979)
arranger
see The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band on Wikipedia

Julian Lennon (John Charles Julian Lennon)

b. 8 Apr 1963 in Liverpool, England
pop singer
instruments: guitar, piano, drums
"Say You're Wrong" (#21 1985), "Valotte" (#9 1985), "Too Late for Goodbyes" (#5 1985), "Now You're in Heaven" (1989)
son of singer, John Lennon and his first wife, Cynthia

Peggy Lennon

b. 1941 in Los Angeles, CA
pop singer
founding member of The Lennon Sisters (1955-99), "Tonight You Belong to Me" (#15 1956, with Lawrence Welk's orchestra), "Shake Me I Rattle" (1957), "Graduation Dance" (1958), "Slumber Party" (1959), "Hundred and One in the Sun" (1959), "I Walked with the Wind" (1960), "Darlin' Meggie" (1961), "On the Double" (1961), "Lida Rose" (1962), "Little Lady Make Believe" (1964), "I'm Coming Back to You" (1969), "I'm So Glad That You Found Me" (1968)
Lennon Sisters and Larry Dean, "Bubble Gum" (1958)
sister of Dianne, Kathy and Janet Lennon
md. 1st to Dick Cathcart (1964- ); md. 2nd to Robert Felt (1995- )

Larry Norman (Larry David Norman)

b. 1947 in Corpus Christi, TX - 24 Feb 2008 in Salem, OR (heart disease)
Christian/rock singer
instruments: keyboards, guitar
"I Wish We'd All Been Ready" (1969), "Peace Pollution Revolution" (1970), "Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music?" (1972), "I've Got to Learn to Live Without You" (1972), "She's a Dancer" (1973), "Lonely By Myself" (1973), "Song For a Small Circle of Friends" (1976)
founding member and lead singer of People (1966-68), "I Love You" (#14 1968, One-Hit Wonder, he co-wrote), "Somebody Tell Me My Name" (1968)
songwriter
music producer

John Schneider (John Richard Schneider)

b. 1960 in Mount Kisco, NY (grew up in Atlanta, GA)
country/pop singer
instruments: guitar, piano
"It's Now or Never" (#14, #4c 1981), "In the Driver's Seat" (#72, #56c 1982), "I've Been Around Long Enough to Know" (#1c 1984), "Country Girls" (#1c 1984), * "What's a Memory Like You (Doing in a Love Like This)?" (#1c 1985), "You're the Last Thing I Needed Tonight" (#1c 1985, #6c 1987), "If We Can't Have Forever" (1985), "At the Sound of the Tone" (#5c 1986), "He Finally Made Up Her Mind" (1986), "If it Was Anyone But You" (#59c 1987)
songwriter
actor
md. 1st to former Miss America, Tawney Elaine Godin (1983-86); md. 2nd to Elly Castle (1993- )

April 9

Kaye Adams (Princetta Kay Adams)

b. 1941 in Knox City, TN (grew up in Vernon, TX)
country singer
"She Didn't Color Daddy" (1966), "Six Days a Waiting" (1966), "Honky-Tonk Heartache" (1967), "Till Temptation Gets the Better of Me" (1967), "I Let a Stranger Buy the Wine" (1967), "Too Used to Being With You" (1969), "Reason to Feel" (1973), "I Never Got to Nashville" (1975), "Country Dreamer" (1975)
duets with Dick Curless, "A Devil Like Me Needs an Angel Like You" (1966), "Terrible Tangled Web" (1966)
duet with Cliffie Stone, "Little Pink Mack" (#30c 1966)
md. 1st to Robert Wesley Willard (1958-67)

Bob Corbin (Robert Phillip Corbin)

b. 1951 in Butler, PA
country/rock singer
instrument: guitar, keyboards
founding member of Corbin Hanner (1979-84, 1990- ), "Livin' the Good Life" (#46c 1981, he wrote), "Everybody Knows I'm Yours" (#46c 1982), "Oklahoma Crude" (#49c 1982, he wrote), "Work Song" (#55c 1990, he wrote), "Wild Winds" (1990), "I Will Stand by You" (#49c 1992, he wrote), "Any Road" (#71c 1992, he co-wrote)
songwriter

Gus Hardin (Carol Ann Blankenship)

b. 1945 in Tulsa, OK – d. 17 Feb 1996 in Tulsa, OK (auto accident)
country/rock singer
"After the Last Goodbye" (#10c 1983), "If I Didn't Love You" (#26c 1983), "Loving You Hurts" (#32c 1983), "Fallen Angel (Flying High Tonight)" (#41c 1984)
duet with Earl Thomas Conley, "All Tangled up in Love" (#8c 1984)

Con Hunley (Conrad Logan Hunley)

b. 1945 in Fountain City, TN
country/pop singer
instrument: piano
"Pick up the Pieces" (#96c 1977), "I'll Always Remember That Song" (#75c 1977), "Cry, Darling, Cry" (#34c 1978), "Weekend Friend" (#13c 1978), "I've Been Waiting for You All My Life" (#14c 1979), "That's All That Matters" (1979), "You've Still Got a Place in My Heart" (#14c 1979), "Since I Fell for You" (#20c 1979), "I Don't Want to Lose You" (#20c 1980), "Foolish Feelings" (1980), "You Lay a Whole Lot of Love on Me" (#19c 1980), "They Never Lost You" (#19c 1980), "What's New with You?" (#11c 1980), "I Still Have Dreamin'" (1982), "Oh, Girl" (#12c 1982), "It Used to Be Me" (1982), "All-American Country Boy" (#57c 1985), "What Am I Gonna Do about You?" (#48c 1986), "Sweet Memories" (2003), "If You Ever Had Forever in Mind" (2003), "Still" (2004, the first version to be sung instead of recited), "Look at Me Loving You Again" (2005), "Deep in the Arms of Texas" (2005), "I'm Back to Putting up a Front Again" (2005), "Rockin' in the Arms of Your Memory" (2006), "Shoot from the Heart" (2006), "I Can See You with My Eyes Closed" (2006)
songwriter
served in the Air Force (1965-69)
see Con Hunley

Dave Innis

b. 1959 in Bartlesville, OK
country/rock singer
instruments: piano, keyboards, guitar
founding member of Restless Heart (1984-93, 2003- ), "Let the Heartache Ride" (#23c 1985), "(Back to the) Heartbreak Kid" (#7c 1986), "Till I Loved You" (#10c 1986), "That Rock Won't Roll" (#1c 1986), * "I'll Still Be Loving You" (#33, #1c 1987), "Why Does it Have to Be (Wrong or Right)?" (#1c 1987), "Wheels" (#1c 1988), "The Bluest Eyes in Texas" (#1c 1988), "A Tender Lie" (#1c 1988), "Say What's in Your Heart" (#4c 1989), "Big Dreams in a Small Town" (#3c 1989), "Fast Movin' Train" (#4c 1990), "Long Lost Friend" (#16c 1991, he wrote), "You Can Depend on Me" (#3c 1992), "When She Cries" (#11, #9c 1993), "Mending Fences" (#11c 1993), "Feel My Way to You" (#29c 2004)
see Restless Heart

Hal Ketchum (Hal Michael Ketchum)

b. 1953 in Greenwich, NY
country singer
instruments: guitar, drums
"Better Left Unsaid" (1987), "Small-Town Saturday Night" (#2c 1991), "Past the Point of Rescue" (#2c 1991), "Five O'clock World" (#16c 1992), "Daddy's Oldsmobile" (1992), "Momma Knows the Highway" (#8c 1993), "Sure Love" (#3c 1993), "Hearts Are Gonna Roll" (#2c 1993, he co-wrote), "(Tonight We Just Might) Fall in Love Again" (#20c 1994, he co-wrote), "Stay Forever" (#8c 1995, he co-wrote), "I Saw the Light" (#36c 1998), "She is" (#40c 2001, he wrote), "Just This Side of Heaven" (#47c 2006)
duet with Lari White, "That's How You Know (When You're in Love)" (#10c 1995)
songwriter
md. to Gina Pacconi (1998- )
see Hal Ketchum

Tom Lehrer (Thomas Andrew Lehrer)

b. 1928
folk/novelty/satirical singer
instrument: piano
"The Hunting Song" (1953), "Be Prepared" (1953), "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park" (1959), "It Makes a Fellow Proud to Be a Soldier" (1959), "The Elements" (1959)
songwriter
math professor at Harvard
served in the Army (1955-57)
see Tom Lehrer

Jesse McCartney

b. 1987 in Westchester, NY
pop singer
* "Beautiful Soul" (#5 2004), "That Was Then" (2004), "She's No You" (#41 2005, he co-wrote), "Because You Live" (2005), "Right Where You Want Me" (#26 2006), "Just Go" (2007)
with Dream Street (1999-2002)
songwriter
actor
humanitarian

Jimmie Osborne (James Osborne, Jr.)

b. 1923 in Winchester, KY - d. 26 Dec 1957/58 (shot himself)
folk/country singer
instruments: guitar, bass, drums
"Your Lies Have Broken My Heart" (1947), "Forever Far Apart" (1947), "My Heart Echoes" (#10c 1948), "The Death of Little Kathy Fiscus" (#7c 1949, he wrote), "What a Price to Pay for Love" (1949, he wrote), "Your Lovin' and Huggin'" (1949, he wrote), "Tears of Saint Anne" (1949), "God, Please Protect America" (#9c 1950, he wrote), "Thank God for Victory in Korea" (1950), "My Saddest Mistake" (1951), "The Door to My Heart is Open Wide" (1951, he wrote), "Give Me Back My Ring and Picture" (1952), "How Many Hearts Can You Break?" (1952, he wrote), "Automobile Baby" (1952), "I Did and I Does and I Do" (1954), "You Can't Sometimes Always Hardly Tell" (1955), "Victims of an Innocent Dance" (1955), "You Get the Roses, I Get the Thorns" (1959, he wrote), "A Vacant Sign Upon My Heart" (1961), "Helpless Heart" (1961)
not the Jimmy Osborne who was The Byrds' drummer
songwriter
"The Death of Little Kathy Fiscus" was a true story of a little girl who suffocated in an abandoned well, it sold over a million copies and he contributed half the royalties to her memorial fund
md. to Margaret Lacy (1940- )

Gene Parsons (Gene Victor Parsons)

b. 1944 in Los Angeles, CA
rock/country/folk singer
instruments: drums, guitar, pedal steel guitar, mandolin, bass, harmonica
"Do Not Disturb" (1973), "Back Again" (1973, he wrote), "My Kingdom for a Car" (1979), "Melodies from a Bird in Flyght" (1979, he co-wrote)
drummer with The Byrds (1969-73), "Ballad of Easy Rider" (#65 1969), "Cowgirl in the Sand" (1972)
lead singer with the Flying Burrito Brothers (1974-79), "Building Fires" (1975), "Sweet Desert Childhood" (1975, he wrote), "Big Bayou" (1976), "Another Shade of Grey" (1979), "White Line Fever" (#95c 1980)
founding member of Parsons Green (1987- ), "Birds of a Feather" (1987, he co-wrote), "Wind and Rain" (1987, he co-wrote), "Catch the Wind" (1987), "Cowboy Girl" (2001)
session musician
songwriter
md. to singer Meridian Green (1986- )

Carl Perkins (Carl Lee Perkins)

b. 1932 near Tiptonville, TN – d. 19 Jan 1998 in Jackson, TN (had throat cancer, died from a stroke)
rockabilly/blues singer
instrument: rhythm guitar
"Honky-Tonk Gal" (1954), "Sure to Fall" (1955), "Let the Jukebox Keep on Playing" (1955), "Blue Suede Shoes" (#2, #1c 1956, he wrote on a potato sack because he couldn't afford paper), "Boppin' the Blues" (#70, #7c 1956), "I'm Sorry I'm Not Sorry" (1956), "Your True Love" (#67, #13c 1957), "Pink Pedal Pushers" (#17, #91c 1958, he wrote), "A Levi Jacket (and a Long Tail Shirt)" (1958), "Pointed-Toe Shoes" (1959), "Too Much for a Man to Understand" (1960), "The Fool I Used to Be" (1962), "Country Boy's Dream" (#22c 1967), "Restless" (#20c 1969, he wrote)
with The Perkins Brothers
duet with Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, "Birth of Rock and Roll" (#31c 1986, he co-wrote)
duet with Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash, "Walk That Lonesome Valley" (1956)
session guitarist on Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney's "Ebony and Ivory" (#1 1982)
backup singer with Johnny Cash, and others
songwriter, wrote Norma Jean's "Go Cat Go" (#8c 1964); Johnny Cash's "Daddy Sang Bass" (#42, #1c 1969)

Mark Roberts

b. 1957 in Wareham, MA
country/folk/Celtic musician, instruments: flute, 5-string banjo, tin whistle, keyboards
with The Red Clay Ramblers (1994- ), "Long Day's Journey into Night" (2001), "Half a Life Without a Dog" (2001), "Pictures of You" (2001), "Fiddlesticks" (2001), "Should've Seen it Coming" (2001)
music producer
see the Red Clay Ramblers

Chico Ryan (David Allen Ryan)

b. 1948 in Arlington, MA – d. 26 Jul 1998
pop/rock singer
instrument: bass
with Sha Na Na (1973- ), "Don't Want to Say Goodbye" (1975), "Shot Down in Denver" (1975), "Only One Song" (1978)
with The Happenings, "See You in September" (#3 1966), "He Thinks He's a Hero" (1966), "Go Away, Little Girl" (#12 1966), "Tea Time" (1966), "Lilies by Monet" (1966), "I Got Rhythm" (#3 1967), "Living in Darkness" (1969), "Won't Anybody Listen?" (1969), "Strawberry Morning" (1972), "Me Without You" (1972)
see Sha Na Na
see The Happenings

Margo Smith (Betty Lou Miller)

b. 1942 in Dayton, OH
country/folk/Christian singer, yodeler
instruments: guitar, piano
"There I Said it" (#8c 1975, she wrote), "Save Your Kisses for Me" (#10c 1976), "Take My Breath Away" (#7c 1976, she co-wrote), "Don't Break the Heart That Loves You" (#1c 1978), "It Only Hurts a Little While" (#1c 1978), "Little Things Mean a Lot" (#3c 1978), "Still a Woman" (#7c 1979, she co-wrote), "We'd Better Love it Over" (1979), "I'd Rather Be Sorry" (1979), "The Shuffle Song" (#13c 1980, she co-wrote), "He Gives Me Diamonds, You Give Me Chills" (#52c 1980), "Let Me Be Her Tonight" (1980), "Please Tell Him That I Said Hello" (#63c 1984), "Echo Me" (#77c 1988)
duets with Rex Allen, Jr., "Cup of Tea" (#12c 1981), "While the Feeling's Good" (#26c 1981)
duet with Tom Grant, "Everyday People" (#63c 1985)
songwriter
teacher
see Margo Smith

Emil Stucchio

b. 1944 in Brooklyn, NY
R&B singer
lead singer and founding member of The Classics (1958- ), "Angel Angela" (1960), "Life is But a Dream" (1961), "Blue Moon" (#50 1962), "Til Then" (#20 1963, One-Hit Wonder), "P.S. I Love You" (1963), "Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams (and Dream Your Troubles Away)" (1963), "Dancing With You" (1965)

Philip Wright

b. 1948/50 in Nottingham, England
pop/rock singer
instrument: drums
founding member and lead singer of Paper Lace (1969-97, and reunions), "Elsie" (1971), "I've Got You, That's Enough for Me" (1972), "Billy, Don't Be a Hero" (#96 1974), * "The Night Chicago Died" (#1 1974, One-Hit Wonder), * "The Black-Eyed Boys" (1974)
with Sons and Lovers

April 10

Martin Denny

b. 1911 in NY (grew up in Los Angeles, CA) – d. 2 Mar 2005 in HI
pop/swing musician, instrument: piano
"Quiet Village" (#2 1959), "Volcano" (1960), "Blue Carousel" (1963), "Cousin Ray" (1963), "Strawberry Tree" (1963)
songwriter
served in the Army Air Force during WWII

Lon Hannah

b. 1956 in Pasadena, CA
country singer
instruments: fiddle, guitar
founding members of The Sons of the San Joaquin (1987- ), "Prairie Girl" (1995), "Where the Very Same Cottonwoods Grow" (1996), "Horses, Cattle and Coyotes" (1999), "When the Coyotes Come Near" (1999), "Land of Enchantment" (1999), "God Gave the Cowboy Montana" (2000), "Way Out Yonder" (2006), "There's a Rainbow Over the Range" (2006)
session musician
son of Joe Hannah
teacher
see Sons of the San Joaquin

Bill Hutchens

b. 19?? in Sandy Ridge, NC
country/rock singer
founding member of The Hutchens, "Even Fools Get Lucky Sometimes" (1995), "Knock, Knock" (#56c 1995), "That Train Don't Stop Here Anymore" (1995), "She Just Wants to Dance" (1995), "I'd Know" (1995)

Wayne Massey

b. 19?? in Glendale, CA
country singer
"Diamonds and Teardrops" (#82c 1981), "Say You'll Stay" (#57c 1983), "Shoot the Moon" (#81c 1989), "What Made You Say That?" (1989), "This Time I Know Where I'm Gonna Fall" (1989), "My Heart's in the Right Place" (1989)
duets with Charly McClain, "With Just One Look in Your Eyes" (#5c 1985), "You Are My Music, You Are My Song" (#10c 1986), "When it's Down to Me and You" (#17c 1986)
actor
md. to singer Charly McClain (1984- )

Weldon Myrick

b. 1938 in Jayton, TX - d. June 2, 2014
country musician, instrument: fiddle, steel guitar
"Don't Make Me Go Home" (1969), "Cry Like a Baby" (1969), "Connie's Song" (1976), "Charlotte" (1976), "Letters Have No Arms" (2001)
steel guitarist with Area Code 615 (1969-70), "Why Ask Why?" (1969), "Southern Comfort" (1969), "Stone Fox Chase" (1970)
session musician with Roy Acuff, Bob Luman, Delbert McClinton, Chet Atkins, Joan Baez, Ronnie Milsap, the Oak Ridge Boys, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, Jessi Colter, Elvis Presley, Marty Robbins, Janie Fricke, Tom T. Hall, "George Strait, Alan Jackson, Aaron Tippin, Steve Wariner, Patty Loveless, "Dwight Yoakam, Chely Wright, and others
songwriter
see Weldon Myrick

Nate Nelson (Nathaniel Nelson)

b. 1932 in Chicago, IL – d. 1/10 Apr/Jun 1984 in Boston, MA (heart attack)
soul/rock/pop/doo-wop singer
withThe Flamingos (1955-61), "A Kiss from Your Lips" (1956), "Jerri Lee" (1957), "Lovers Never Say Goodbye" (#52 1958), "I Only Have Eyes for You" (#11 1959), "At the Prom" (1959), "Time Was" (#45 1959), "Mio Amore" (#74 1959), "Nobody Loves Me Like You" (#30 1960), "Your Other Love" (#54 1960), "You, Me, and the Sea" (1960), "My Memories of You" (1961)
with The Starglows, "Let's Be Lovers" (1963), "Walk Softly Away" (1963)
with The Platters (1962-84, replaced Paul Robi), "It's Magic" (1962), "I Love You 1000 Times" (1966)

Joe Ruvio

b. 1947
R&B/rock singer
instrument: sax
founding member of The Brooklyn Bridge (1968- ), "From My Window" (1968), "The Worst That Could Happen" (#3 1969, One-Hit Wonder), "You'll Never Walk Alone" (1969), "Blessed is the Rain" (1969), "Opposites" (1970)
see Johnny Maestro and the Brooklyn Bridge

Junior Samples (Alvin Samples, Jr.)

b. 1926/27 in Cumming, GA or Buena Park, CA – d. 13 Nov 1983 in Cumming, GA (heart attack)
country/novelty singer
instrument: harmonica
"The World's Biggest Whopper" (#52c 1967), "Moonshining" (1967), "The Disorderly House" (1967), "The Rabbit Song" (1969), "Doggone (My Dog is Gone)" (1969), "Uncommonly Well" (1969)
duets with Archie Campbell, "Birds, Bees, Girls and Stuff Like That" (1969)
comedian
stock car racer

Brian Setzer

b. 1959 in Long Island, NY
rockabilly/rock/swing singer
instrument: guitar
founding member of the Brian Setzer Orchestra, "Rumble in Brighton" (1996, he co-wrote), "Jump, Jive an' Wail" (1998), "Sleepwalk" (1998), "Caravan" (2000), "'49 Mercury Blues" (2000), "Drive Like Lightning (Crash Like Thunder)" (2000), "Hot Rod Girl" (2001), "Ignition" (2001), "Who Would Love This Car But Me?" (2001), "Peroxide Blonde in a Hopped-up Ford" (2005), "A Red Cadillac and a Black Mustache" (2005), "My Favorite Things" (2006)
founding member of The Stray Cats (1979-84, and reunions), "Rock This Town" (#9 1982), "Stray Cat Strut" (#3 1982, he wrote), "Rev it up and Go" (1983), "(She's) Sexy and Seventeen" (#5 1983), "I Won't Stand in Your Way" (#35 1983), "Hot-Rod Gang" (1983), "Rebels Rule" (1983)
founding member of '68 Comeback Special
songwriter
md. to singer Julie Reiten (2005- )
see The Stray Cats
see Brian Setzer

Bobby Smith (Robert Smith)

b. 1936/37 in Detroit, MI
R&B/pop singer
founding member of The Spinners (1957- ), "That's What Girls Are Made For" (#27 1961), "Heebie Jeebies" (1961), "I'll Always Love You" (#35 1965), "Truly Yours" (1966), "In My Diary" (1969), "It's a Shame" (#14 1970), "I'll Be Around (Whenever You Want Me)" (#3 1972), "Could it Be I'm Falling in Love?" (#4 1972), "One of a Kind (Love Affair)" (#11 1973), "I'm Coming Home" (#18 1974), "They Just Can't Stop it (Games People Play)" (#5 1975), "The Rubberband Man" (#2 1976), "I'm Tired of Giving" (1977), "Working My Way Back to You"/"Forgive Me Girl" (medley) (#2 1979), "Heavy on the Sunshine" (1980), "Cupid" (#4 1980)
The Spinners and Dionne Warwicke, "Then Came You" (#1 1974)

Jesse 'Guitar' Taylor

b. 1950 in Lubbock, TX - d. 7 Mar 2006 in Austin, TX (complications of hepatitis C and cirrhosis)
country/rockabilly/rock singer
instrument: guitar
with The T. Nickel House Band
with Joe Ely's band (1975-82), "All My Love" (#89c 1977), "I Had My Hopes up High" (1977), "Because of the Wind" (1978), "Honky-Tonk Masquerade" (1978), "She Leaves You Where You Are" (1979), "Musta Gotta Notta Lotta" (#40 1981), "Road Hawg" (1981)
sessionist with Billy Joe Shaver, Butch Hancock, Kinky Friedman, Townes Van Zandt, and others
Golden Gloves boxer; artist

Ricky Valence (David Spencer)

b. 1940 in South Wales
pop singer
"Tell Laura I Love Her" (#1 1960, One-Hit Wonder), "Once Upon a Time" (1960)
songwriter

Sheb Wooley (Shelby F. Wooley aka Ben Colder)

b. 1921 near Erick, OK – d. 16/17 Sep 2003 in Nashville, TN (leukemia)
country/novelty/rock singer
instrument: guitar
"Peeping Through the Keyhole" (1954), "Time Won't Heal an Aching Heart" (1954), * "(One-Eyed, One-Horned Flying) Purple People Eater" (#1 1958, One-Hit Wonder), "Skin-Tight, Pin-Striped, Purple Pedal Pushers" (1961), "That's My Dad" (#51, #1c 1962, he wrote), "Blue Guitar" (#33c 1964, he wrote), "I'll Leave the Singing to the Bluebirds" (#34c 1966), "I Remember Loving You" (#52c 1968, he wrote), "One-Man Band" (#63c 1969, he wrote)
recorded as Ben Colder, "Don't Go Near the Eskimos" (#62, #18c 1963, he co-wrote, parody of Rex Allen's "Don't Go Near the Indians"), "Still (No. 2)" (#30c 1963), "Almost Persuaded (No. 2)" (#58, #6c 1966, parody of David Houston's "Almost Persuaded"), "Ain't it Funny How Wine Sips Away" (1967, parody of "Ain't it Funny How Time Slips Away"), "Harper Valley PTA (Later That Same Day)" (#67, #24c 1968, he co-wrote, parody of Jeannie C. Riley's "Harper Valley PTA"), "Fifteen Beers Ago" (#50c 1971, parody of Conway Twitty's "Fifteen Years Ago", he co-wrote)
songwriter, wrote Rusty Draper's "Are You Satisfied?" (#11c 1956)
bandleader
DJ; comedian; actor
rodeo rider
md. to Roger Miller's sister, Melba Miller
see Sheb Wooley

April 11

Steve Azar (Stephen Thomas Azar)

b. 1964 in Greenville, MS
country singer
instrument: guitar
"I Never Stopped Lovin' You" (#50c 1996, he co-wrote), "I Don't Want to Be Me (Till Monday) (#2c 2001, he co-wrote), "Waitin' on Joe" (#28c 2002, he wrote), "Doin' it Right" (#47c 2005, he co-wrote), "You Don't Know a Thing" (#47c 2006)
songwriter
photographer
see Steve Azar

Richard Berry

b. 1935 in Extension, LA – d. 23 Jan 1997 in Los Angeles, CA (aneurysm)
pop/R&B/doo-wop singer
instrument: guitar
"Pretty Brown Eyes" (1956), "In a Really Big Way" (1961), "Empty Chair" (1963)
founding member of Richard Berry and the Pharaohs, "No Kissin' and Huggin'" (1956), "Somewhere There's a Rainbow" (1959)
founding member of The Flairs, "Tell Him You Love Him" (1953), "She Wants to Rock" (1953), "This is the Night for Love" (1954), "I'd Climb the Hills and the Mountains" (1959)
backed by Arthur Lee Maye and the Crowns, "Please Tell Me" (1955), "(Uh Oh) Get Out of the car" (1955)
sessionist
songwriter, wrote The Kingsmen's "Louie, Louie" (#2 1963)
music producer
md. to Dorothy Adams

Jimmy Lee Fautheree (James Walton Fautheree)

b. 1934 in El Dorado, AR - d. 29 Jun 2004 in Dallas, TX (cancer)
rockabilly/country singer
instrument: guitar
"Go Ahead and Go" (1951, he wrote), "I'm Diggin' a Hole (to Bury My Heart)" (1951), "Look What Love Will Do" (1958), "I Found the Doorknob" (reply to "Can't Find the Door Knob")
founding member of Jimmy and Johnny (1953- ), "I'm Beginning to Remember" (1954), "If You Don't, Somebody Else Will" (#3c 1954, he co-wrote), "Another Man's Name" (1956), "Living in a Dream World" (1957), "Can't Find the Door Knob" (1958, he wrote), "Keep Telling Me" (1958), "All I Need is Time" (1959), "Knock on Wood" (1961)
session musician on Faron Young's "Sweet Dreams" (#2c 1956); and with Lefty Frizzell, Webb Pierce, and others
songwriter
see Jimmy Lee

Millie Good (Mildred Fern Goad)

b. 1913 in Mount Carmel, IL - d. 1993
country singer
instrument: guitar
founding member of The Girls of the Golden West, "Faded Love Letters of Mine" (1933), "Put My Little Shoes Away" (1933), "My Love is a Rider (Bucking Bronco)" (1934), "I Want to Be a Real Cowboy Girl" (1935), "Silvery Moon on the Golden Gate" (1938, she co-wrote), "Home Sweet Home in Texas" (1933, she co-wrote)
songwriter
md. to Bill McCluskey

Jim Lauderdale

b. 1957 in Stateville, NC
country/bluegrass singer
instrument: guitar
"Stay Out of My Arms" (#86c 1988), "Pretty Close to the Truth" (1994), "Am I Only Dreaming This?" (1996), "Whisper" (1998), "I Will Wait for You" (1999), "I Feel Like Singing Today" (1999), "First Things First" (2001), "Lost in the Lonesome Pines" (2002), "Rollin' the Dice" (2002), "There and Back Again" (2002), "Trashcan Tomcat" (2004), "Headed for the Hills" (2004)
backup singer for Carlene Carter, Dwight Yoakam, and others
songwriter

George Shuffler (George Saunders Shuffler)

b. 1925 in Burke County, NC
bluegrass/country musician, instruments: guitar, bass
"Will You Miss Me?" (1998), "Uncloudy Days" (1998), "Love, Please Come Here" (2000), "My Home's Across the Blue Ridge Mountains" (2000)
with The Clinch Mountain Boys (1951-69), "I'm a Man of Constant Sorrow" (1951, 1959, 1961), "I'm Lonesome Without You" (1953), "Lonesome and Blue" (1955), "Midnight Ramble" (1958), "Gonna Paint the Town" (1958), "The Memory of Your Smile" (1959), "How Far to Little Rock?" (#17c 1960), "Stone Walls and Steel Bars" (1963), "Lips That Lie" (1963), "I Just Stood There" (1964), "Rollin' on Rubber Wheels" (1965), "The End of the Road" (1966), "Shout, Little Lucie" (1964), "The Hills of Roan County" (1967), "Hemlock and Primrose" (1967), "Highway Ambush" (1969), "I'll Just Go Away" (1969)
The Clinch Mountain Boys were also known as The Stanley Brothers
duets with James Alan Shelton, "Nobody's Business" (2000), "Old Leather" (2000)

Cleotha Staples

b. 1934 in Drew, MS
gospel/soul/blues/pop singer
founding member of The Staple Singers (1948-76), "Faith and Grace" (1953), "This May Be the Last Time" (1960), "Too Close" (1960), "Use What You Got" (1962), "I Wish I Had Answered" (1963), "I'll Fly Away" (1965), "For What it's Worth" (#66 1967), "Got to Be Some Changes Made" (1968), "The Gardener" (1969), "Who Took the Merry Out of Christmas?" (#2 1970), "Heavy Makes You Happy (Sha-Na-Boom-Boom)" (#27 1971), "I'll Take You There" (#1 1972), "Respect Yourself" (#12 1972), "If You're Ready (Come Go with Me)" (#9 1973), "Touch a Hand, Make a Friend" (#23 1974), "Let's Do it Again" (#1 1975)
see The Staple Singers on Wikipedia

Angie Sylvers (Angela Marie Sylvers)

b. 1960
R&B/soul singer
with The Sylvers (1975- ), "Boogie Fever" (#1 1976), "Cotton Candy" (#57 1976), "Hot Line" (#5 1976), "High School Dance" (#17 1977), "Any Way You Want Me" (1977), "Mahogany (Do You Know)?" (1979)
see The Sylvers on soulwalking

Chalee Tennison

b. 1969 in Freeport, TX
country singer
"Someone Else's Turn to Cry" (#46c 1999, she co-wrote), * "I'd Rather Miss You" (1999), "Just Because She Lives There" (#36c 2000), "Makin' up with You" (#56c 2000), "What I Tell Myself" (2000), "Go Back" (#36c 2001), "Lonesome Road" (#54c 2002), "More to This Than That" (2003), "The Mind of This Woman" (2003), "Easy Lovin' You" (#5c 2004)
songwriter
prison guard; substitute teacher
md. to guitarist, Mark Gillespie (2001- )
see Chalee Tennison on Wikipedia

April 12

JoJo Benson (Joseph A. Hewell)

b. 1938 in Phenix City, AL
soul singer
duets with Peggy Scott, "Pickin' Wild Mountain Berries" (#27 1968), "Lover's Holiday" (#31 1968), "Soulshake" (#37 1969)

Alex Briley (Alexander Briley)

b. 1951/56 in New York, NY
pop/disco singer
with Village People (1977- , military character), "Macho Man" (#25 1978), * "Y.M.C.A." (#2 1978), "Hot Cop" (1978), "In the Navy" (#3 1979), "Go West" (1979), "Can't Stop the Music" (1980), "Do You Wanna Spend the Night?" (1981), "5 O'Clock in the Morning" (1981), "Sex Over the Phone" (1985)
contrary to the group's image, only Felipe Rose was actually gay
see Village People

Jerry Burkhart (Jerry Dean Burkhart)

b. 19?? in Waco, TX (grew up in Aquilla, TX)
country singer
instrument: guitar
"Cryin' Steel" (2003), "Dodging Memories" (2003), "Lonely, Sad and Blue" (2003), "Whoop-De-Doo" (2003)
founding member of Runnin' on Empty
songwriter
auto mechanic

David Cassidy (aka Keith Partridge)

b. 1950 in New York, NY
pop singer
instrument: guitar
"Cherish" (#9 1971), "How Can I Be Sure?" (#25 1972), "Could it Be Forever?" (#37 1972)
with The Partridge Family, * "I Think I Love You" (1970), "I'll Meet You Halfway" (#9 1971), "I Woke up in Love This Morning" (#13 1971), "Lyin' to Myself" (#27 1990)
actor
step-son of Shirley Jones
see David Cassidy

Deryl Dodd (Deryl Dwayne Dodd)

b. 1964 in Dallas, TX
country singer
instruments: guitar, steel guitar, banjo
"That's How I Got to Memphis" (#36c 1996), "Movin' Out to the Country" (#61c 1997, he wrote), "A Bitter End" (#26c 1998, he co-wrote), "She Does the Best She Can" (2004), "Somethin' Ain't Always Better Than Nothin'" (2004), "Feels Like Home to Me" (2006), "It's Only Cause You're Lonely" (2006)
sessionist with Tracy Lawrence, and others
songwriter

Tony Douglas

b. 1929 in Martins Mill, TX
country singer
"Echoes of You" (1956, he wrote), "Old Blue Monday" (1956), "World in My Arms" (1958), "Baby, When the Sun Goes Down" (1958), "The Woman Behind This Man" (1961), "Gabby Abby" (1962), "His and Hers" (#23c 1963, he co-wrote), "It Didn't Help Much" (1965), "Empty Crowded Room" (1966), "Fastest Gun Alive" (1967), "Thank You for Touching My Life" (#35c 1973), "My Last Day" (#37c 1973)
songwriter
served in the Army during the Korean War

Helen Forrest (Helen Fogel aka 'Bonnie Blue')

b. 1917 in Atlantic City, NJ - d. 11 Jul 1999 in Woodland Hills, CA (congestive heart failure)
swing/jazz/pop singer
with Artie Shaw's band, "They Say" (1939), "Any Old Time" (1938)
with Benny Goodman and His Orchestra (1939-41)
with the Lionel Hampton Band
with the Harry James Orchestra (1941-44), "Skylark" (#11 1942), "Manhattan Serenade" (1942), "Springtime in the Rockies" (#1 1943), "I Had the Craziest Dream" (#1 1943), "I've Heard That Song Before" (#1 1943, duet with Dick Haymes), "I Heard You Cried Last Night" (1943)
duet with Dick Haymes, "Some Sunday Morning" (1945)
actress
civil rights activist
see Benny Goodman
see The Harry James Orchestra

Vince Gill (Vincent Grant Gill)

b. 1957 in Norman, Oklahoma
country/rock/bluegrass singer
instruments: guitar, bass, fiddle, mandolin, dobro, banjo
"Oklahoma Borderline" (#9c 1985, he co-wrote), "Cinderella" (#5c 1987), "Everybody's Sweetheart" (#11c 1988, he wrote), * "Never Knew Lonely" (#3c 1990, he wrote), "Liza Jane" (#7c 1991, he co-wrote), * "Look at Us" (#4c 1991, he co-wrote), * "I Quit" (1991), * "If I Didn't Have You in My World" (1991), * "Take Your Memory with You" (#2c 1991, he wrote), * "Sparkle" (1992), "One More Last Chance" (#1c 1993, he co-wrote), "Don't Let Our Love Start Slippin' Away" (#1c 1993, he co-wrote), "I Still Believe in You" (#1c 1993, he co-wrote), "No Future in the Past" (#3c 1993, he co-wrote), "Whenever You Come Around" (#72, #2c 1994, he co-wrote), "Tryin' to Get Over You" (#88, #1c 1994, he wrote), "What the Cowgirls Do" (#2c 1994, he co-wrote), "When Love Finds You" (#3c 1995, he co-wrote), "Which Bridge to Cross (Which Bridge to Burn)" (#4c 1995, he co-wrote), "You Better Think Twice" (#2c 1995, he co-wrote), "Worlds Apart" (#5c 1996, he co-wrote), "Pretty Little Adriana" (#2c 1996, he wrote), "A Little More Love" (#2c 1996, he wrote), * "You and You Alone" (#8c 1997, he wrote), "If You Ever Have Forever in Mind" (#60, #5c 1998, he co-wrote), * "Kindly Keep it Country" (#33c 1998, he co-wrote), "Lived to Tell it All" (1998), "Feels Like Love" (#52, #6c 2000, he co-wrote), "Next Big Thing" (#17c 2003, he co-wrote), "The Reason Why" (#28c 2006), "Nothin' Left to Say" (2006)
with Pure Prairie League (1979-81), "I Can't Believe" (1979), "I'm Almost Ready" (#34 1980), "Let Me Love You Tonight" (#10 1980), "Still Right Here in My Heart" (#28 1981), "You're Mine Tonight" (#68 1981)
with The Cherry Bombs (1981- , Rodney Crowell's road band)
with The Notorious Cherry Bombs (2002- ), "Making Memories of Us" (2004), "Forever Someday" (2004), Let it Roll, Let it Ride" (2004), "If I Ever Break Your Heart" (2004)
with The Bluegrass Alliance
with Sundance
duet with Dolly Parton "I Will Always Love You" (#15c 1995)
duet with Rosanne Cash, "If it Weren't for Him" (#10c 1985, he co-wrote)
duets with Reba McEntire, "Oklahoma Swing" (#13c 1989, he co-wrote), * "The Heart Won't Lie" (#1c 1993)
duets with Patty Loveless "When I Call Your Name" (#2c 1990, he co-wrote, CMA single of the year 1990), "My Kind of Woman, My Kind of Man" (#27c 1999, he wrote)
duet with Amy Grant, "House of Love" (#37 1995)
duet with Steve Wariner and Ricky Skaggs, "Restless" (#25c 1991)
duet with Terri Clark, "I Can't Keep You in Love with Me" (2006)
duet with Brooks and Dunn and Sheryl Crow, "Building Bridges" (#66, #4c 2006)
duets with Byron Berline, "Rose of Old Kentucky" (1995), "Sweet Memory Waltz" (1995)
duet with Emmylou Harris and Keni Thomas, "Not Me" (#47c 2005)
backup on Sara Evans' "No Place That Far" (#37, #1c 1999)
session guitarist with Asleep at the Wheel, and others
songwriter
golfer
md. to Janis Oliver (1980-97); md. to Amy Grant (2000- )
quote by Vince Gill: "The funny thing is, people's perceptions of what a song is about is usually wrong a majority of the time. But they're still going to read what they want to into it."
see The Notorious Cherry Bombs
see Pure Prairie League

Lois Harris

b. 1940
pop/doo-wop singer
founding member of The Chantels (1957-60, and reunions), "He's Gone" (#71 1957), "Maybe" (#15 1958), "Every Night (I Pray)" (#39 1958), "I Love You So" (#42 1958)
nurse
md. to Mr. Powell

Homer Joy

b. 19?? in AR (grew up in Spokane, WA)
country/honky-tonk singer
"John Law" (#80c 1974, he wrote), "I Just Called to Listen" (2007), "Oklahoma Blues" (2007), "Sure Gets Cold When it Rains" (2007), "If I Ever Get Back to Memphis" (2007)
duet with Buck Owens, "John Law" (2007, he wrote)
songwriter, wrote Dwight Yoakam and Buck Owens' "Streets of Bakersfield" (#1c 1988)
he had a heart transplant in 2006

John Kay (Joachim Fritz Krauledat)

b. 1944 in Germany
rock singer
instruments: rhythm guitar, harmonica
"That's When I Think of You" (1978), "Sweet Memories" (1997), "Dodging Bullets" (2001)
founding member and lead singer of Steppenwolf (1967-72, 1974-76, 1981- ), "Born to Be Wild" (#2 1968), "Magic Carpet Ride" (#3 1968), "Rock Me" (#10 1969, he wrote), "It's Never Too Late" (#51 1969, he co-wrote), "Move Over" (#31 1969, he co-wrote), "Monster" (#39 1969, he co-wrote), "From Here to There Eventually" (1969), "Hey Lawdy Mama" (#35 1970, he co-wrote), "Ride With Me" (#52 1971), "For Ladies Only" (#64 1971, he co-wrote), "Sparkle Eyes" (1971, he co-wrote), "Straight-Shootin' Woman" (#29 1974), "Another Lifetime" (1975), "Someone Told a Lie" (1975, he co-wrote), "Annie, Annie Over" (1975), "Skullduggery" (1976), "Ain't Nothing Like it Used to Be" (1981, he wrote), "None of the Above" (1982, he wrote), "Slender Thread of Hope" (1984, he wrote), "Man on a Mission" (1987, he wrote), "Rock 'n' Roll War" (1990, he co-wrote), "Bad Attitude" (1996, he co-wrote), "Feed the Fire" (1996, he co-wrote)
songwriter
he has been nearly blind since childhood
see Steppenwolf

Judy Lynn (Judy Lynn Voiten)

b. 1936/38 in Boise, ID
country singer, yodeler
"See if I Care" (1958), "Footsteps of a Fool" (#7c 1962), "My Father's Voice" (#16c 1963, she wrote), "When You Thanked Me for the Roses" (1963), "My Secret" (#29c 1963, she wrote), "Moment of Silence" (1965), "My Heart Gets in the Way" (1966), "Your Picture on the Wall" (1966), "Yellowstone" (1967), "Little Shoes" (1967), "Married to a Memory" (#74c 1971), "The Closest I Ever Came" (1971), "1927 Kansas City" (1971), "Elusive Butterfly" (1971), "Winterwood" (1973), "Give Me Something to Believe in" (1973), "You Make the World I Live in" (1973)
songwriter
Miss Idaho (1955); minister

Ned Miller (Henry Ned Miller)

b. 1925 in Raines, UT
country singer
instrument: guitar
"Lights in the Street" (1957), "Old Mother Nature" (1957), "Turn Back" (1957), "With Enough Love" (1958), "From a Jack to a King" (#6, #2c 1963, Pop One-Hit Wonder, he wrote), "One among the Many" (#27c 1963, he wrote), "The Man Behind the Gun" (1963, he co-wrote), "Another Fool Like Me" (#28c 1964, he co-wrote), "Dusty Guitar" (1964), "Invisible Tears" (#13c 1965, he co-wrote), "Do What You Do Do Well" (#52, #7c 1965, he wrote), "Summer Roses" (#39c 1966, he wrote), "The Lover's Song" (1970), "Autumn Winds" (1970), "Cold Grey Bars" (1970)
session musician on Bonnie Guitar's "Dark Moon" (#6, #14c 1957, he wrote)
songwriter, co-wrote Gale Storm's "Dark Moon" (#4 1957); Jimmy C. Newman's "A Fallen Star" (#23, #2c 1957)
served in the Marines
he suffered from severe stage fright

Willie Pernell

b. 1945 in Houston, TX
soul musician
with Archie Bell and the Drells (196?-79), "She's My Woman, She's My Girl" (1968), "Tighten Up" (#1 1968), "I Just Can't Stop Dancing" (#9 1968), "There's Gonna Be a Showdown" (#21 1969), "Dancing to Your Music" (1970), "Don't Let the Music Slip Away" (1970), "I Could Dance All Night" (1975), "Everybody Have a Good Time" (1977)
see The Drells on soulwalking

Lois Reeves (Sandra Delores Reeves)

b. 1948 in Detroit, MI
doo-wop/soul/blues/rock/pop singer
with Martha and the Vandellas, (1967-72, and reunions, replaced Betty Kelley), "Jimmy Mack" (#10 1967), "Honey Chile" (#11 1967), "I Can't Dance to That Music You're Playin'" (1968), "Bless You" (#33 1971)
younger sister of Martha Reeves
see The Vandellas

Tiny Tim (Herbert Buckingham Khaury)

b. 1932 in Brooklyn, NY - 30 Nov 1996 (suffered a heart attack during a performance and died a few hours later)
pop/novelty singer (falsetto/baritone)
instrument: ukulele
"April Showers" (1966), "Tiptoe Through the Tulips (With Me)" (#17 1968, One-Hit Wonder), "This is All I Ask" (1968), "On the Good Ship Lollipop" (1969), "The Ballad of Attica Prison" (1971, he wrote), "Alice Blue Gown" (1973), "Tip-Toe Disco" (1977), "I Ain't No Cowboy (I Just Found This Hat)" (1977), "Tip-Toe to the Gas Pumps" (1979), "Hickey on Your Neck" (1979), "Memory" (1984), "Leave Me Satisfied" (#70c 1988)
md. 1st to Victoria May Budinger (aka 'Miss Vicki') (1969-77), they named their daughter Tulip

Billy Vaughn (Richard Smith Vaughn)

b. 1919 in Glasgow, KY – d. 26 Sep 1991 in Escondido, CA
pop singer (baritone)
instrument: piano
founding member and leader of The Billy Vaughn Orchestra, "The Whistler and His Dog" (1953), "Melody of Love" (#2 1955), "Shifting Whispering Sands" (1955), "Calico Cathy" (1955), "Moody Trudy" (1955), "Till I Waltz Again with You" (1956), "Naughty Annetta" (1957), "Raunchy" (#10 1957), "Sail Along Silvery Moon" (1958), "Look for a Star" (#19 1960), "Beg Your Pardon" (1960), "Wheels" (#28 1961), "Blue Tomorrow" (1961), "A Swingin' Safari" (#13 1962), "Blue Flame" (1962), "Broken Doll" (1963), "Making Other Plans" (1965), "Yellow Roses Mean Goodbye" (1967), "Lolly" (1968), "Moonlight Makes Memories" (1968)
with The Hilltoppers (1952-56), "Trying" (1952), "I Keep Telling Myself" (1952), "Love Walked in" (#8 1953), "P.S. I Love You" (#4 1953), "I Found Your Letter" (1954), "Bettina" (1954), "Only You (and You Alone)" (#8 1955), "Do the Bop" (1956), "Faded Rose" (1956), "Until You're Mine" (1956)
songwriter
arranger; actor

Bernard Williams

b. 1944 - d. 5 Jul 2006
soul musician, instrument: sax
with Dyke and the Blazers (1964-71), "Don't Bug Me" (1967), "Shotgun Slim" (1969), "We Got More Soul" (1969, he wrote), "Let a Woman Be a Woman, Let a Man Be a Man" (1969), "City Dump" (1969), "Runaway People" (1970), "The Wobble" (1971)

April 13

Peabo Bryson (Robert Peabo Bryson)

b. 1951 in Greenville, SC
soul/pop singer
"Feel the Fire" (1978, he wrote), "I'm So into You" (1978), "If Ever You're in My Arms Again" (#10 1985), "Can You Stop the Rain?" (1991)
duet with Roberta Flack, "Tonight I Celebrate My Love" (#16 1983)
duet with Natalie Cole, "Gimme Some Time" (1979)
duet with Celine Dion, "Beauty and the Beast" (#9 1992)
duet with Kenny G, "By the Time This Night is Over" (#25 1993)
songwriter
music producer

Sam Bush

b. 1952 in Bowling Green, KY
country/bluegrass singer
instruments: fiddle, guitar, mandolin
"Crooked Smile" (1985), "Is This Love?" (1996), "Face Tomorrow" (1998)
with The Bluegrass Alliance (1970-71)
founding member of New Grass Revival (1971-89, and reunions), "I Wish I Said" (1972), "With Care from Someone" (1972), "When the Storm is Over" (1975), "How about You?" (1977), "Like a Child in the Rain" (1977), "Dancin' with the Angels" (1979), "Goin' to the Fair" (1979), "You're the Best Friend That I Know" (1984), "Where Do I Go from Here?" (1984), "Ain't That Peculiar" (#53c 1986), "Unconditional Love" (#44c 1987), "Hold on to a Dream" (1987), "One-Way Street" (1987), "Can't Stop Now" (#45c 1988), "Callin' Baton Rouge" (#37c 1989)
with J.D. Crowe and the New South (1986), * "Say You Lied" (1986), "Belleville, Georgia" (1986), "Miner's Lady" (1986)
with Strength in Numbers, "No Apologies" (1989)
see New Grass Revival on Wikipedia

Denise Carlson (Denise A. Carlson-Long)

b. 1956 in Rochester, MN - d. 3 May 2006
western swing/bluegrass singer
instrument: fiddle
with Everybody and His Brother
with Swing Sisters
founding member of Cowboy Jazz (1979-86), "Too Much Fun" (1981), "Baby, Don't Call" (1981), "A Cowgirl's Dream" (1982)
with Denise and DeNephews
session musician

Jack Casady (John William Casady)

b. 1944 in Washington, D.C.
rock/blues/folk musician, instrument: bass
"Listen to the Wind" (2003), "Outside" (2003, he wrote), "Dead Letter Box" (2003, he co-wrote)
founding member of Jefferson Airplane (1965-74, and reunions), "It's No Secret" (1966), "Bringing Me Down" (1966), "Somebody to Love" (#5 1967), "White Rabbit" (#8 1967), "Today" (1967), "Watch Her Ride" (1967), "Volunteers" (#65 1969), "Feel So Good" (1971), "Pretty as You Feel" (1971), "Trial By Fire" (1971)
Jefferson Airplane performed at Woodstock
founding member of Hot Tuna (1970-76, and reunions)
founding member of SVT (1980-81)
founding member of KBC Band (1986)
founding member of Jefferson Airplane's Volunteers (2000- )
session musician
songwriter
see Jefferson Airplane

Lester Chambers

b. 1940 in Flora, MI/MS
R&B/rock/pop singer
instrument: harmonica
founding member of The Chambers Brothers (1954- ), "Love Me Like the Rain" (1967), "Falling in Love" (1967), "Time Has Come Today" (#11 1968), "I Can't Turn You Loose" (#37 1968), "To Love Somebody" (1969), "Have a Little Faith" (1969)

Tony Clarke (Ralph Thomas Williams)

b. 1940 in NY (grew up in Detroit, MI) - d. 28 Aug 1971 in Detroit, MI (possibly in domestic dispute with his wife)
soul singer
"The Entertainer" (#31 1964, One-Hit Wonder), "This Heart of Mine" (1964), "Joyce Elaine" (1965), "No Sense of Direction" (1968)
songwriter, wrote Etta James' "Pushover" (#25 1963)
actor

Tim Feild (Richard Timothy Feild aka Reshad Feild)

b. 1936 in London, England - d. 2 Mar 1999 in England
folk/pop singer
founding member of The Springfields (1960-61), "Dear John" (1961), "Breakaway" (1961)
author, mystic
see The Springfields on Wikipedia

Al Green (Albert Greene)

b. 1946 near Forest City, AR (grew up in Grand Rapids, MI)
gospel/soul singer
Tired of Being Alone" (#11 1971), "Tomorrow's Dream" (1971), "Let's Stay Together" (#1 1972), "I'm Still in Love with You" (#3 1972), "You Ought to Be with Me" (#3 1973), "Call Me (Come Back Home)" (#10 1973), "I Tried to Tell Myself" (1977), "Wait Here" (1978)
with The Soul Mates, "Back up Train" (1967)
duet with Annie Lennox, "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" (#9 1988)
songwriter
music producer; pastor

Horace Key

b. 1934 in Atlanta, GA
soul singer
founding member of The Tams (1960-73), "Untie Me" (#60 1962), "Disillusioned" (1962), "If You're So Smart (Why Do You Have a Broken Heart?)" (1962), "What Kind of Fool (Do You Think I Am)?" (#9 1963, One-Hit Wonder), "Hey Girl, Don't Bother Me" (1964), "Shelter" (1966), "Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy" (#61 1968), "There's a Great Big Change in Me" (1969)
see The Tams

John McElrath (John Grady McElrath)

b. 1941 in Greenwood, SC
rock/pop/R&B singer
instrument: keyboards
founding member of The Swingin' Medallions (1963- ), "Double Shot (of My Baby's Love)" (#17 1966, One-Hit Wonder), "She Drives Me Out of My Mind" (#71 1966), "Bow and Arrow" (1967), "Hey, Hey, Baby" (1968), "Don't Let Your Feet Touch the Ground" (1971)
see The Medallions

Allan Orkins

b. 1932 in Brattleboro, VT - d. 16 Mar 2002 in M
rock/country musician, instrument: lead guitar
founding member of The Northern Lights (1958-59, 1960), "All Alone" (1960), "Swirl" (1960)
The Northern Lights billed as The Busters, "Bust Out" (recorded 1960, #25 1963, he co-wrote)
songwriter

Jim Pons

b. 1946 in Santa Monica, CA
rock/bluegrass/folk/gospel singer
instrument: bass, upright bass
founding member of The Leaves (1963-67), "Hey Joe, Where You Gonna Go?" (#31 1966, One-Hit Wonder), "Funny Little World" (1966), "Girl From the East" (1966), "Too Many People" (1966), "Back on the Avenue" (1966, he co-wrote)
with The Turtles (1967-70), "Rugs of Woods and Flowers" (1967), "Happy Together" (#1 1967), "She'd Rather Be with Me" (#3 1967), "You Know What I Mean" (#12 1967), "She's My Girl" (#14 1967), "Elenore" (#6 1968), "You Showed Me" (#6 1969)
with The Mothers of Invention (1971-74, and reunions), "Tuna Fish Promenade" (1971), "Dental Hygeine Dilemma" (1971), "Magdalena" (1972, about abuse), "Excentrifugal Forz" (1974)
with the Deep Creek Bluegrass Band
songwriter
videographer for the New York Jets
see The Mothers of Invention on Wikipedia
see The Turtles

Wade Ray (Lyman Wade Ray)

b. 1913 (maybe Apr 6) in Evansville, IN (grew up in Boynton, AR) - d. 11 Nov 1998 in Sparta, IL
western swing singer
instrument: fiddle, guitar, tenor banjo
"June-Bug Jitters" (1952), "Call Me Up" (1953), "Burned Fingers" (1953), "Albino Stallion" (1955), "Because of a Lie" (1955), "I Need a Good Girl Bad" (1956), "Just an Old-Fashioned Locket" (1956), "Burning Desire" (1957), "Wild Heart" (1957), "It's My Way" (1962), "A Penny for Your Thoughts" (1966), "Any Old Arms Won't Do" (1966)
with The Prairie Ramblers (1945-49)
The Prairie Ramblers also recorded as Rusty Gill and the Westernaires, "Whatever Made You Stop Loving Me?" (1941, he wrote), "I Ain't the Man I Used to Be" (1941), "Weary and Worried" (1941), "Straddlin' My Saddle" (1941), "Blaze Away" (1941), "In a Little Texas Town" (1941), "To You and My West Virginia Home" (1941), "Let Me Wake up in Wyoming" (1941)
with Sons of the Pioneers (1961-62)
session fiddler
first performer to play an electric fiddle
served in the Army (1943-45)
see The Sons of the Pioneers on CMT.com

Dale Sanders (Dale A. Sanders)

b. 19?? in AK
country singer
* "Honky-Tonk Song" (2006), "A Piece of Yesterday" (2006), "Fire in the Desert Sky" (2006)
founding member of The Sanders (198?-89), "You Fit Right into My Heart" (#76c 1988), "Grandma's Old Wood Stove" (#64c 1989), "Who Needs You" (#73c 1989)
brother of Vicki Sanders

Tammy Stephens

b. 1961 in Arlington, TX
country/pop singer
founding member and second soprano of Girls Next Door (1982-91), "Slow Boat to China" (#8c 1986), "Love Will Get You Through Times with No Money" (#18c 1986), "Baby, I Want it" (#26c 1986), "Walk Me in the Rain" (#28c 1987), "Easy to Find" (#57c 1987), "How Can They Call This Cheating?" (1990), "How about Us?" (#71c 1990), "Last Goodbye" (1990)
sessionist

Peter Sweval (Piet Sweval)

b. 1948 in Toms River, NJ - d. 23 Jan 1990
rock/pop singer
instrument: bass
founding member of Looking Glass (1969-74), "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)" (#1 1972), "Jenny Lynne" (1972), "Don't it Make You Feel Good?" (1972), Jimmy Loves Marianne" (#33 1973)
founding member of Starz, "Cherry Baby" (#33 1977)

April 14

Ritchie Blackmore (Richard Hugh Blackmore)

b. 1945 in England
rock musician, instrument: electric guitar, bass, mandolin
founding member of Deep Purple (1968-74, 1984-93), "Hush" (#4 1968), "Kentucky Woman" (1968), "Speed King" (1970, he co-wrote), "Highway Star" (1972, he co-wrote), "Lazy" (1972, he co-wrote), "Smoke on the Water" (#4 1973, he co-wrote), "Woman from Tokyo" (1973, he co-wrote), "Smooth Dancer" (1973, he co-wrote), "Might Just Take Your Life" (1974, he co-wrote), "Perfect Strangers" (1984, he co-wrote), "Wasted Sunsets" (1984, he co-wrote), "Too Much is Not Enough" (1990), "Breakfast in Bed" (1990, he co-wrote), "The Battle Rages on" (1993, he co-wrote), "Anya" (1993, he co-wrote)
founding member of Rainbow (1975-84, 1994-97), "Man on the Silver Mountain" (1975), "Catch the Rainbow" (1975), "Long Live Rock 'n' Roll" (1978), "I Surrender" (1981), "Stone Cold" (1982)
duets with Candice Night as Blackmore's Night (1997- ), "The Clock Ticks on" (1998, he co-wrote), "No Second Chance" (1998, he co-wrote), "Under a Violent Moon" (1999, he co-wrote), "Written in the Stars" (2001, he co-wrote), "I Still Remember" (2001, he co-wrote), "Ghost of a Rose" (2003, he co-wrote), "Just Call My Name (I'll Be There)" (2006, he co-wrote)
session musician
songwriter
md. to singer, Candice Night
see Deep Purple
see Deep Purple on classic bands.com

Donnie Bowser (Donald Bowshier)

b. 1937 in Madison Mills, OH - d. 22 Feb 2002 (heart attack)
country/rockabilly singer
instrument: guitar
"Tight Shoe Boogie" (1953), "I Cried in My Sleep" (1953), "Stone Heart" (1957, he wrote), "Got the Best of Me" (1958), "It's Our Secret" (1958), "Falling for You" (#90c 1989)
with The Radio Ranch Boys, "Rock and Roll Joys" (1957), "Love So Rare" (1958)
songwriter
having polio as a child left him confined to a wheelchair

Tony Burrows (Anthony Burrows)

b. 1942 in England
pop singer
"Melanie Makes Me Smile" (#87 1970), "Every Little Move She Makes" (1970), "I'll Get Along Somehow, Girl" (1970)
as Edison Lighthouse on * "Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes" (#5 1970, One-Hit Wonder), "Every Lonely Day" (1970), "Take a Little Time" (1970), (the group formed later)
as White Plains, * "My Baby Loves Lovin'" (#13 1970, One-Hit Wonder) (the group formed later)
with The Flower Pot Men, "Let's Go to San Francisco" (1967), "A Walk in the Sky" (1968), "In a Moment of Madness" (1969)
with The First Class, "Beach Baby" (#4 1974, One-Hit Wonder)
with The Pipkins, "Gimme Dat Ding" (#9 1970, One-Hit Wonder)
with Brotherhood of Man (1970), "United We Stand" (#13 1970), "Love One Another" (1970)
backup singer with Elton John, Cliff Richard, and others
songwriter
music publisher

Dennis Byron (Dennis Ronald Byron)

b. 1949 in Cardiff
blues/pop musician, instrument: drums
founding member of Amen Corner (1966-69), "World of Broken Hearts" (1967), "(If Paradise is) Half as Nice" (1969), "Hello, Suzie" (1969)
founding member of Fair Weather (1970-71), "Natural Sinner" (1970), "Haven't I Tried?" (1970)

Stuart Duncan

b. 1964 in Quantico, VA
bluegrass/country musician, instrument: fiddle, mandolin
with The Nashville Bluegrass Band (1985- ), "Baby-Blue Eyes" (1985), "All I Want is You" (1987), "Weary Blues from Waitin'" (1990), "I'll Just Keep on Lovin' You" (1991), "Train of Yesterday" (1993), "Dark Shadows of Night" (1995), "Almost" (1995), "Blue Cadillac" (1998), "Down a Winding Road" (1998), "There's a Better Way" (2004), "Garfield's Blackberry Blossom" (2004), "The Luckiest Man Alive" (2004)
session musician

Bill Harris (William Harris II aka Willie Harris)

b. 1925 in Nashville, TN or NC – d. 10 Dec 1988 (pancreatic cancer)
R&B/jazz singer
instrument: guitar
founding member of The Clovers (1946-58), "Yes Sir, That's My Baby" (1950), "Don't You Know I Love You?" (#1 1951), "Here Goes a Fool" (1953), "I've Got My Eyes on You" (1954), "In the Morning Time" (1955), "Love, Love, Love" (#30 1956)

Loretta Lynn (Loretta Webb aka 'Queen of Country Music')

b. 1935 in Butcher Holler, KY
country singer
instrument: guitar
"I'm a Honky-Tonk Girl" (#14c 1960, she wrote), "Success" (#6c 1962), "Before I'm Over You" (#4c 1963), "Happy Birthday" (#3c 1964), "Blue Kentucky Girl" (#7c 1965), "Dear Uncle Sam" (#4c 1966, she wrote), * "You Ain't Woman Enough (to Take My Man)" (#2c 1966, she wrote), * "Country Christmas" (1966), "Don't Come Home Drinkin' (With Lovin' on Your Mind)" (#1c 1967, she co-wrote), "What Kind of a Girl (Do You Think I Am)?" (#5c 1967, she co-wrote), "Get What 'Cha Got and Go" (1967), "Fist City" (#1c 1968, she wrote), "You Never Were Mine" (1968), "Your Squaw is in the Warpath" (#3c 1968, she wrote), "You've Just Stepped in (From Steppin' Out on Me)" (#2c 1968), "Woman of the World (Leave My World Alone)" (#1c 1969), "Coal Miner's Daughter" (#83, #1c 1970, she wrote), * "You're Lookin' at Country" (#5c 1971, she wrote), "One's on the Way" (#1c 1971), "Here I Am Again" (#3c 1972), * "Love is the Foundation" (#1c 1973), "Rated X" (#1c 1973, she wrote), "Trouble in Paradise" (#1c 1974), "The Pill" (#70, #5c 1975), "When the Tingle Becomes a Chill" (#2c 1975), "Somebody Somewhere (Don't Know What He's Missin' Tonight)" (#1c 1976), "She's Got You" (#1c 1977), "Why Can't He Be You?" (#7c 1977), "Out of My Head and Back in My Bed" (#1c 1978), "I Can't Feel You Anymore" (#3c 1979), "I've Got a Picture of Us on My Mind" (#5c 1979), "Naked in the Rain" (#30c 1980), "I Lie" (#9c 1982), * "If I Ain't Got it, You Don't Need it" (1982), "Heart, Don't Do This to Me" (#19c 1985), * "Who Was That Stranger?" (#57c 1988), "Country in My Genes" (#72c 2000)
duets with Conway Twitty, * "Hello, Darlin'" (#1, #1c 1970), "After the Fire is Gone" (#56, #1c 1971), "Lead Me on" (#1c 1971), "Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man" (#1c 1973), "As Soon As I Hang up the Phone" (#1c 1974), * "It All Falls Down" (1974), "Feelin's" (#1c 1975), "The Letter" (#3c 1976), "I Can't Love You Enough" (#2c 1977), "It's True Love" (#5c 1980), "I Still Believe in Waltzes" (#2c 1981), * "We've Been Strong Long Enough" (1981), * "I Can't Help it if I'm Still in Love with You" (1988)
duet with Ernest Tubb, "Mr. and Mrs. Used to Be" (#11c 1964), "Our Hearts Are Holding Hands" (#24c 1965)
duets with Dolly Parton and Tammy Wynette, * "I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know (About Him) (1993), "Silver Threads and Golden Needles" (#68c 1993), * "Wings of a Dove" (1993)
songwriter
md. at age thirteen to 'Mooney' Lynn (1948-96, his death); had four children by age eighteen
sister of Crystal Gayle, Jay Lee Webb, Peggy Webb
quotes by Loretta Lynn, "My attitude toward men who mess around is simple: if you find 'em, kill 'em."
"A woman's two cents worth is worth two cents in the music business."
see Loretta Lynn

April 15

Roy Clark (Roy Linwood Clark)

b. 1933 in Meherrin, VA
country singer
instruments: guitar, fiddle, banjo, mandolin, trumpet
"Texas Twist" (1961), "Tips of My Fingers" (#45, #10c 1963), "Which One of Us is to Blame?" (1964), "When the Wind Blows in Chicago" (#37c 1965), "It Just Happened That Way" (1968), "Other People's Sunshine" (1968), "Yesterday, When I Was Young" (#19, #9c 1969, Pop One-Hit Wonder), "Thank God and Greyhound You're Gone" (#90, #6c 1970), "I Never Picked Cotton" (#5c 1970), "Back in the Race" (1971), "I'll Take the Time" (1972), "Lawrence Welk, Hee-Haw, Counter-Revolution Polka" (1972), "Come Live with Me" (#89, #1c 1973), "Honeymoon Feelin'" (#4c 1974), "The Great Divide" (1974), "If I Had to Do it All Over Again (I'd Do it with You)" (#2c 1975), "Think Summer" (#21c 1976), "I Have a Dream, I Have a Dream" (#26c 1977), "Near You" (1978), "Paradise Knife and Gun Club" (1982), "A Way Without Words" (1982)
comedian; actor; boxer
md. to Barbara Joyce Rupard (1957- )

Big Edd (Thomas Edward Cisco)

b. 1930 in Toone, TN - d. 20 Sep 2001 in Westport, TN (heart failure)
rockabilly/country singer
instrument: guitar
founding member and leader of Eddy Starr and His Orchestra, "Once Upon a Time in the West" (1980), "At Seventeen" (1982), "Give Up Your Guns" (1982), "Streets of London" (1982), "Angie" (1982)
session musician with Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Hank Snow, Ernest Tubb, Porter Wangoner, George Jones, and others
DJ
served in the Army (1951-55)
md. to Velma Jean Bridges

Bob Luman (Robert Glynn Luman)

b. 1937 in Blackjack, TX or Nacogdoches, TX – d. 27 Dec 1978 in Nashville, TN (pneumonia)
rockabilly/country singer
instrument: guitar
"A Red Cadillac and Black Mustache" (1957), "Make Up Your Mind, Baby" (1958), "Buttercup" (1959), "Class of '59" (1959), * "Let's Think about Living" (#7, #9c 1960, Pop One-Hit Wonder), "The Pig Latin Song" (1961), "Big River Rose" (1962), "Interstate 40" (1963), "Too Hot to Dance" (1963), "The File" (#24c 1964), "Fire Engine Red" (1964), "Tears From Out of Nowhere" (1965), "(Can't Get You) Off My Mind" (1966), "Ain't Got Time to Be Unhappy" (#19c 1968), "I Like Trains" (#50c 1969), "Every Day I Have to Cry Some" (#23c 1969), "The Gun" (#60c 1970), "Honky-Tonk Man" (#22c 1970), "I Got a Woman" (#40c 1971), "When You Say Love" (#6c 1972), "Lonely Women Make Good Lovers" (#4c 1972), "Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)" (#7c 1973), "Still Loving You" (#7c 1973), "Just Enough to Make Me Stay" (#23c 1974), "The Pay Phone" (#13c 1977)
songwriter
baseball player
served in the military

Carolyn Woods

b. 1947
R&B/rock musician, instruments: organ, keyboards
founding member of The Brooklyn Bridge (1968- ), "From My Window" (1968), "The Worst That Could Happen" (#3 1969, One-Hit Wonder), "You'll Never Walk Alone" (1969), "Your Husband, My Wife" (1969), "Blessed is the Rain" (1969), "Opposites" (1970)
see Johnny Maestro and the Brooklyn Bridge

Florian Zabach

b. 1931 in Chicago, IL - d. 25 Feb 2006
pop/jazz musician, instrument: violin
"The Hot Canary" (#13 1951), "Red Canary" (1953), "When the White Lilacs Bloom Again" (1956), "Oceans of Love" (1961)
songwriter
served in the Army Medical Corps

April 16

Perry Botkin, Jr. (aka Bunny Botkin)

b. 1933 in New York, NY
pop musician
"Waltz of the Hunter" (1960), "Where Does Love Go?" (1965), "What Difference Does it Make?" (2000), "Dialog for Answering Machines" (2000)
duet with Barry DeVorzon, "Nadia's Theme" (#8 1976, he co-wrote)
founding member and leader of the Perry Botkin Orchestra; they backed Roy Rogers, Bing Crosby, and others
songwriter, co-wrote Sammy Turner's "Paradise" (#46 1960)
arranger; music producer

Stefan Grossman

b. 1945 in Brooklyn, NY
folk/blues musician, instruments: acoustic guitar, slide guitar
"Slow Blues in C" (1970), "County Line" (1970), "Friends Forever" (1975, he wrote), "Lullaby for Anna" (1975, he wrote), "Sparkling on the Wind" (1988), "Crossed Canoes" (1998, he wrote), "Kaleidoscope Rage" (1998, he wrote)
with The Fugs
with the Chicago Loop, "(When She Needs Good Lovin') She Comes to Me" (#37 1966)
duets with John Renbourn, "Water Gypsy" (1980), "Idaho Potato" (1980, he co-wrote)
duets with Duck Baker, "Northern Skies, Southern Blues" (1997, he wrote), "Jacksonville Blues" (1997, he co-wrote)
music producer

Roy Hamilton

b. 1929 in Leesburg, GA – d. 20 Jul 1969 in New Rochelle, NY (stroke)
R&B/gospel singer
"Unchained Melody" (#6 1955), "Don't Let Go" (#13 1958), "Lonely Hands" (1960), "You Can Have Her" (#12 1961), "She Makes Me Wanna Dance" (1964), "Walk Hand in Hand" (1966), "The Dark End of the Street" (1969)
see Roy Hamilton

Henry Mancini (Enrico Nicola Mancini)

b. 1924 in Cleveland, OH (grew up in West Aliquippa, PA) - d. 14 Jun 1994 in Los Angeles, CA (cancer)
founding member and leader of Henry Mancini and His Orchestra, "Cha Cha Cha for Gia" (1956), "Let's Walk" (1960), "Mr. Lucky" (#21 1960), "Breakfast at Tiffany's" (1961), "Rhapsody in Blue" (1963), "Pink Panther Theme" (#31 1964), "Moment to Moment" (1965, he wrote), "He Shouldn't-a, Hadn't-a, Oughtn't-a Swang on Me" (1965), "Driftwood and Dreams" (1966, he wrote), "We've Loved Before" (1966, he wrote), "Happy Barefoot Boy" (1967, he wrote), "A Man, a Horse, and a Gun" (1968), "Natalie" (1969), "Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet" (#1 1969), "Phone Call to the Past" (1970), "Slow Hot Wind" (1976, he wrote), "It's Easy to Say" (1979), "Luke and Meggie" (1983)
duets with Charley Pride, "You'll Still Be the One" (1971), "All His Children" (#2c 1972)
songwriter, co-wrote Andy Williams "The Days of Wine and Roses" (#26 1963); Jerry Butler's "Moon River" (#11 1961)
arranger
served in the Army (1943-45)

Jimmy Osmond (James Arthur Osmond)

b. 1963 in Canoga Park, CA
country/pop singer
"Long-Haired Lover from Liverpool" (#38 1972, One-Hit Wonder), "My Girl" (1972), "Little Arrows" (1975), "Uncertain" (1981), "This Much I Know is True" (2000), "How Did You Know?" (2000), "Keep the Fire Burnin'" (2000)
with The Osmond Brothers (once in a while)
actor
md. to Michele Larson (1992- ); brother of Donnie and Marie Osmond
see Jimmy Osmond
see The Osmond Family

Rudy Pompilli (Rudolph Clement Pompilii)

b. 1924 in Chester, PA – d. 5 Feb 1976 (lung cancer)
rock/rockabilly singer
instruments: tenor sax, bass sax, clarinet, flute
with Bill Haley and the Comets (1955-76), "Rock the Joint" (1952, 1957), "Crazy, Man, Crazy" (#12 1953, first rock 'n' roll record to place on the pop charts), "Dim, Dim the Lights" (#11 1954), * "(We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock" (#1 1955, #39 1974), "Shake, Rattle and Roll" (#7 1954), "Razzle Dazzle" (#15 1955), "Rock-a-Beatin' Boogie" (#23 1955), "See You Later, Alligator" (#6 1956), "Rudy's Rock" (#34 1956), "The Saints' Rock 'n' Roll" (#18 1956), "Rockin' Rita" (1957), "Mary, Mary Lou" (1957), "B-B-Betty" (1958), "Skinny Minnie" (#22 1958), "My Kind of Woman" (1961), "What Can I Say after I Say I'm Sorry?" (1963)
several Comets recording as The Lifeguards, "Everybody Out of the Pool" (1959)
several Comets recording as The Kingsmen, "Weekend" (#35 1958, One-Hit Wonder), "The Cat Walk" (1958)
with The Merri-Men, "Big Daddy" (1961), "St. Louis Blues" (1961) (this was a group of Comets using a different name)
session musician with Sally Starr, and others
Bill Haley suggested the change in spelling Rudy's last name because people would always think it was incorrect
he never smoked but spent much of his time in places where others were smoking
see The Rockabilly Hall of Fame
see The Comets

Dusty Springfield (Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O'Brien)

b. 1939 in London, England – d. 2 Mar 1999 in England (breast cancer)
folk/pop singer
instrument: guitar
"I Only Want to Be with You" (#12 1964), * "Wishin' and Hopin'" (#6 1964), "In the Middle of Nowhere" (1965), * "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" (#4 1966), "All I See is You" (#20 1966), "I'll Try Anything" (#40 1967), "Broken Blossoms" (1967), "The Look of Love" (#22 1967), "Sweet Ride" (1968), "The Color of Your Eyes" (1968), "Son of a Preacher Man" (#10 1969), "A Brand New Me" (#24 1969), "The Windmills of Your Mind" (#31 1969), "Earthbound Gypsy" (1969), "Morning, Please Don't Come" (1970)
duet with The Pet Shop Boys, "Actually" (#2 1987)
duet with Richard Carpenter, "Something in Your Eyes" (1987)
founding member of The Springfields (1960-63), "Dear John" (1961), "Breakaway" (1961), "Silver Threads and Golden Needles" (#20, #16c 1962, One-Hit Wonder), "Island of Dreams" (1962), "Say I Won't Be There" (1963), "Little Boat" (1963)
advocate for various humane societies
brother of Dion O'Brien (aka Tom Springfield)
see The Springfields on Wikipedia

Ed Townsend

b. 1929 in Fayetteville, TN (grew up in Memphis, TN) - d. 13 Aug 2003 in San Bernardino, CA (heart attack)
pop/rock/soul singer
"Come on, Walk with Me" (1956), "Tall Grows the Sycamore" (1957), "For Your Love" (#13 1958, One-Hit Wonder, he wrote), "Border-Town Cathedral" (1958), "I Might Like it" (1964, he wrote)
songwriter, wrote Theola Kilgore's "The Love of My Man" (#21 1963); co-wrote Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get it on" (#1 1973)
music producer
attorney
served in the Marines in the Korean War

Bobby Vinton (Stanley Robert Vintula, Jr.)

b. 1935 in Canonsburg, PA
pop/country singer
instruments: trumpet, sax, clarinet, oboe, piano
* "My Heart Belongs to Only You" (#5 1955), "First Impression" (1959), "Roses Are Red (My Love)" (#1 1962), "I Love You the Way You Are" (1962), * "Rain, Rain, Go Away" (#12 1962), "Blue Velvet" (#1 1963), "Trouble is My Middle Name" (#33 1963), "Blue on Blue" (#3 1963), * "Those Little Things" (1963), * "There, I've Said it Again" (#1 1963), "Mr. Lonely" (#1 1964), "My Heart Belongs to Only You" (#9 1964), "Dearest Santa" (#8 1964), "Clinging Vine" (#17 1964), * "Tell Me Why" (#13 1964), "L-O-N-E-L-Y" (#22 1965), "Long Lonely Nights" (#17 1965), "Satin Pillow" (#23 1965), * "Coming Home Soldier" (#11 1966), "Just As Much As Ever" (#24 1967), * "Please Love Me Forever" (#6 1967), * "I Love How You Love Me" (#9 1968), "Halfway to Paradise" (#23 1968), * "Little Barefoot Boy" (1968), "The Days of Sand and Shovels" (#34 1969), * "To Know You is to Love You" (#34 1969), * "My Elusive Dreams" (#46, #27c 1970), "Sealed with a Kiss" (#19 1972), "Every Day of My Life" (#24 1972), * "Make You My Baby" (1972), "My Melody of Love" (#3 1974), "Midnight Show" (1975), "Love is the Reason" (1976), "Her Name is Love" (1977), "The Last Rose" (#63c 1989), "It's Been One of Those Days" (#63c 1989)
bandleader
songwriter
quote by Bobby Vinton: "All around as a person, on right decisions, on holding your money, on doing your trade, a good education is a must. I don't think I would've done as good without an education."
see Bobby Vinton

April 17

Craig Anderson

b. 19??
country/rock singer
instrument: rhythm guitar
founding member of Heartland, "I Loved Her First" (#34, #1c 2006), "Boys Like Us" (2006), "Freebird in a Firebird" (2006), "Built to Last" (#58c 2007), "Once a Woman Gets a Hold of Your Heart" (#52c 2007)

Chris Barber (Donald Christopher Barber)

b. 1930 in Hertfordshire, England
Dixieland jazz/blues/swing musician, instrument: trombone
founding member of the Chris Barber Jazz Band (1953- ), "Wild Cat Blues" (1953), "We Shall Walk Through the Streets of the City" (1954), "Petite Fleur (Little Flower)" (#5 1959, One-Hit Wonder), "You Don't Understand" (1959), "Some of These Days" (1962), "Ice Cream" (1962), "Nobody's Sweetheart" (1963), "Strange Things" (1963)
md. to singer, Ottilie Patterson
see Chris Barber

Chris Bartley

b. 1947/49 in New York, NY
soul singer
"The Sweetest Thing This Side of Heaven" (#32 1967, One-Hit Wonder), "That's How Much I Love You" (1967), "I Know We Can Work it Out" (1969)
with Soulful Inspirations

Tony Bellus (Anthony J. Bellusci)

b. 1936 in Chicago, IL
pop/rock singer
instrument: accordion
"Lovely Little Lady" (1958), * "Robbin' the Cradle" (#25 1959, One-Hit Wonder, he wrote), "Only Your Heart" (1959), "Valentine Girl" (1959), "Hey, Little Darlin'" (1959), "The Echo of an Old Song" (1960), "Mustang" (1964), "Goodbye, Baby, Goodbye" (1964)
songwriter
served in the Army

Paul Burnett (Jesse Paul Burnett, Jr.)

b. 1942 - d. 23 Mar 2001 in Richmond, VA
doo-wop/rock singer
founding member of The Jarmels (1959- ), "She Loves to Dance" (1961), "Little Lonely One" (1961), "A Little Bit of Soap" (#12 1961, One-Hit Wonder), "Come On, Girl" (1963)
Jarmel is a street in Harlem

Jim Chapman

b. 19?? in Springfield, OH
country singer (bass)
founding member of 4Runner (1994-96, 2002-03), "Cain's Blood" (#26c 1995), "A Heart with Four-Wheel Drive" (#51c 1995), "You Make the Moonlight" (1995), "Ripples" (#57c 1996), "That Was Him (This is Now)" (#54c 1996), "Ragged Angel" (2003), "Forrest County Line" (#59c 2003)
see 4Runner on WikipediA

Roy Estrada (Roy Ralph Estrada)

b. 1943
rock musician
founding member of Little Feat, "Six Feet of Snow" (1979), "Wake Up Dreaming" (1979), "Front Page News" (1979), "Texas Twister" (1990)
founding member of Mothers of Invention (1964-69), "Trouble Every Day" (1965), "Who are the Brain Police?" (1966), "You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here" (1966), "Brown Shoes Don't Make it" (1967), "Plastic People" (1967), "Telephone Conversation" (1968), "The Chrome-Plated Megaphone of Destiny" (1968), "Dog Breath" (1969), "Nine Types of Industrial Pollution" (1969), "Legend of the Golden Arches" (1969)
see The Mothers of Invention on Wikipedia

Billy Fury (Ronald William Wycherley)

b. 1940 in Liverpool, England - d. 28 Jan 1983 in England
rock/rockabilly/pop singer
instrument: guitar
"Margo" (1959), "Colette" (1959, he wrote), "Letter Full of Tears" (1962), "Like I've Never Been Gone" (1963), "I'll Never Quite Get Over You" (1966), "Suzanne in the Mirror" (1968)
songwriter
md. to Judith Hall (1969- )
having rheumatic fever as a child weakened his heart
see Billy Fury

Pete Graves (Alexander Graves)

b. 1930 in Cleveland, OH (or Bessemer, AL) - d. 15 Oct 2006 in NY
R&B/doo-wop singer (bass)
founding member of The Moonglows (1951-58, 1972), "I Just Can't Tell You No Lie" (1952), "I Knew from the Start" (1957), "Soda Pop" (1958), "You've Chosen Me" (1972)
founding member of Pete Graves' Moonglows (1964-68)
songwriter
see The Moonglows on Wikipedia

Harry Green

b. 1936/li>
doo-wop singer (baritone)
founding member of The Edsels (1957-63), "What Brought Us Together" (1960), "Three Precious Words" (1961), "My Whispering Heart" (1961), "Rama Lama Ding Dong" (#21 1961, One-Hit Wonder)

Ray Patterson

b. 1926 in Roswell, NM
bluegrass/folk singer
instruments: mandolin, guitar
founding member of Ray and Ina Patterson (1947- ), "One Little Word" (1966), "Old True Love" (1966), "I'll Come Back to You" (1969), "Who Wouldn't Be Lonely?" (1969), "It's Sinful to Flirt" (1969), "Silver-Haired Daddy of Mine" (1973), "Memory's Door" (1973), "Amber Tresses (Tied with Blue)" (1973)
session musician
songwriter
served in the military during WWII
md. to Ina Patterson

Don Winters (Donald L. Winters aka the 'Yodeling King')

b. 1929 in Tampa, FL (grew up in GA) - d. 17 Aug 2002 in Nolensville, TN (liver cancer)
country singer, yodeler
"Pretty Moon" (1956), "That's All I Need" (1960), "It's All My Fault" (1960), "Too Many Times" (#10c 1961, he wrote), "Shake Hands with a Loser" (#27c 1961, he wrote), "Move Away a Little Closer" (1963), "You're Right" (1966)
with Pop Winters and the Southern Strollers
duets with Rita Robbins, "Two Hearts, Two Kisses (Make One Love)" (1955), "The Flower of My Heart" (1955)
with Marty Robbins' band (1960-82), "Is There Any Chance?" (#31 1960), * "Big Iron" (#26, #5c 1960), "Don't Worry (Bout Me)" (#3, #1c 1961), "Devil Woman" (#16, #1c 1962), "Ruby Ann" (#18, #1c 1962), "Begging to You" (#74, #1c 1963), * "Cowboy in the Continental Suit" (#3c 1964), "Ribbon of Darkness" (#1c 1965), "While You Were Dancing" (#21c 1965), "The Shoe Goes on the Other Foot Tonight" (#3c 1966), "Tonight Carmen" (#1c 1967), "The Girl with Gardenias in Her Hair" (#9c 1967), "I Walk Alone" (#65, #1c 1968), "It's a Sin" (#5c 1969), "My Woman, My Woman, My Wife" (#42, #1c 1970), "Twentieth Century Drifter" (#10c 1973), "El Paso City" (#1c 1976), "Among My Souvenirs" (#1c 1976), "Don't Let Me Touch You" (#6c 1977), "Please Don't Play a Love Song" (#17c 1978), "She's Made of Faith" (#37c 1980), * "Some Memories Just Won't Die" (#10c 1982), and others
songwriter
brother of Rita Robbins

April 18

Lennie Baker

b. 1946 in Whitman, MA
pop/rock singer
instrument: sax
? with Danny and the Juniors
founding member of Sha Na Na (1968- ), "Remember Then" (1969), "Rock and Roll is Here to Stay" (1971), "Top Forty" (1971), "At the Hop" (1971), "Don't Want to Say Goodbye" (1975), "Shot Down in Denver" (1975), "Only One Song" (1978)
Sha Na Na performed at Woodstock
see Sha Na Na

Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown

b. 1924 in Vinton, LA (grew up in Orange, TX) – d. 10 Sep 2005 in Orange, TX (lung cancer)
blues/country/Cajun/jazz singer
instrument: guitar, piano, fiddle, drums, mandolin, viola, harmonica
"It Can Never Be That Way" (1950), "Two O'Clock in the Morning" (1950), "She Winked Her Eye" (1951), "Happy New Year, Darling" (1951), "Depression Blues" (1954), "Song for Renee" (1977), "Give Me Time to Explain" (1982), "One More Mile" (1983), "Please Send Me Someone to Love" (1985), "Slow Down" (1985), "Deep, Deep Water" (1985), "We're Outta Here" (1993), "I Will Be Your Friend" (1993), "Solid Gold-Plated Fool" (1995), "Early in the Morning" (1995), "Midnite Hour" (1997), "Bits and Pieces" (1997), "Rock My Blues Away" (1999), "Half-Steppin'" (1999), "Okie-Dokie Stomp" (1999), "The Drifter" (1999)
sessionist for Roy Clark, Eric Clapton, and others
songwriter
his nickname was from his deep voice

Dick Foley (Richard Foley)

b. 1939 in Seattle, WA
folk/pop singer (baritone)
instruments: 6-string guitar, tenor banjo, piano, keyboards, harmonica, cymbals
founding member of The Brothers Four (1957-90), * "Greenfields" (#2 1960), "The Green Leaves of Summer" (1960), Frogg" (#32 1961), "Blue Water Line" (1962), * "Try to Remember" (1965), "If I Fell" (1966)
Flick, Foley, Kirkland and Paine were fraternity brothers
see The Brothers Four

Glen D. Hardin

b. 1939 in Hollis, OK or Ropesville, TN or Wellington, TX
country/rock musician, instruments: piano, keyboards, guitar
with The Crickets (1961- ), "April Avenue" (1963), "Teardrops Fell Like Rain" (1963, he co-wrote), "(They Call Her) La Bamba" (1964), "From Me to You" (1964), "California Sun" (1964), "My Rockin' Days" (1971), "Hayride" (1972), "True Love Ways" (1972)
founding member and keyboardist with Southern Pacific (1983-1985), "Luanne" (1985), "Perfect Stranger" (#18c 1985), "Reno Bound" (#9c 1986)
Southern Pacific and Emmylou Harris, "Thing about You" (#14c 1985)
with Elvis Presley's band (1970-76), "The Wonder of You" (#9 1970), "Kentucky Rain" (#16, #31c 1970), "Burning Love" (#2 1972), and others
with Emmylou Harris' band (1977-8?)
session pianist for John Denver, Merle Haggard, Gram Parson, and others
songwriter, co-wrote Gary Lewis and the Playboys' "Count Me in" (#2 1965)
arranger
see Southern Pacific on Wikipedia

Billy Liebert (William Edward Liebert)

b. 1925 in Detroit, MI
country/western swing musician, instruments: bass, accordion
"Sunrise Serenade" (1953), "I'll See You in My Dreams" (1953)
with Sons of the Pioneers (1974-80), "Pretty Painted Ladies" (1976)
The Sons of the Pioneers and Rex Allen, Jr., "Can You Hear Those Pioneers?" (#17c 1976)
session musician
arranger
md. to Bettie DeVere
see The Sons of the Pioneers on CMT.com

Pigmeat Markham (Dewey Markham)

b. 1904 in Durham, NC - d. 13 Dec 1981 in NY (stroke)
novelty singer
"Hold That Ladder" (1962), "The Trial" (1968), "Here Comes the Judge" (#19 1968, One-Hit Wonder)
comedian; dancer; actor

Raymond K. McLain (Raymond Kane McLain)

b. 1928 in Alliance, OH - d. 14 Feb 2003 in Lexington, KY (cancer)
bluegrass/folk/country singer
instrument: piano, accordion, guitar
founding member of The McLain Family Band (1968-88 and reunions), "Please, Mister Sunshine" (1973), "Silver Creek" (1973), "Sweet Tomorrow" (1973), "I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart" (1985), "Kentucky Wind" (1985), "You're Why I Try" (1985), "Big Hill" (1986), "Fair Jenny" (1986), "Going to Boston" (1986), "Yesterday's Waltz" (1986)
librarian
served in the Army
md. to Betty Winslow (1952- )

Hayley Mills (Hayley Catherine Rose Vivian Mills)

b. 1946 in England
pop singer
"Let's Get Together (#8 1962), "Johnny Jingo" (#21 1962), "Jeepers Creepers" (1962)
actress
md. to Roy Boulting (1971-77, he was 33 years older than her)
mother of singer, Crispian Mills; sister of actress, Juliet Mills

Tony Mottola (Anthony Mottola aka Mr. Big)

b. 1918 in Kearney, NJ - d. 9 Aug 2004 in Denville, NJ (complications of a stroke and pneumonia)
jazz/rock musician, instrument: guitar
with The Tony Mottola Group, "Guilty" (1950), "Trigger Fantasy" (1950)
with the Tony Mottola Orchestra, "It All Depends on You" (1950)
with the George Hall Orchestra
duets with Bucky Pizzarelli, "Till There Was You" (1972), "For Two in Love" (1972)
session lead guitarist with The Jodimars, Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Johnny Mathis, and others
songwriter
see Tony Mottola on Space Age Pop

Tony Reeves

b. 1943 in London, England - d. 21 Dec 1984
pop/jazz/rock musician, instrument: bass, electric bass
with the Johnny Dankworth Orchestra, "If Music Be the Food of Love" (1964), "The Frost Report" (1966), "Empty Arms and Empty Heart" (1966), "Just Like a Woman" (1967)
founding member of Sounds Orchestral (1964- ), "To Wendy With Love" (1964), "Cast Your Fate to the Wind" (#10 1965, One-Hit Wonder)
founding member of Colosseum (1968- , on the first two albums), "The Valentyne Suite" (1969)
founding member of Greenslade (1973-74)
with Curved Air (1976-77)
with the Clarke-Boland Big Band
session musician with Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, Chris De Burgh, John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, and others
music producer

Walt Richmond

b. 1947 in Tulsa, OK
country/rock singer (bass)
instruments: keyboards, accordion, drums, horns
founding member of The Tractors, "Baby Likes to Rock it" (#11c 1994), "Tryin' to Get to New Orleans" (#50c 1994), "Santa Claus Boogie" (#91, #41c 1994), "The Last Time" (#75c 1997), "I Wouldn't Tell You No Lie" (#72c 1999)
session musician with Bob Seger, Bonnie Raitt, and others
songwriter
see The Tractors

Jim Scholten

b. 1952
country singer
instruments: bass, percussions
founding member of Sawyer Brown (1981- ), "Leona" (#16c 1984), "Step That Step" (#1c 1985), "Used to Be Blue" (#3c 1985), "Betty's Bein' Bad" (#5c 1986), "Heart, Don't Fall Now" (#14c 1986), "Still Life in Blue" (1987), "Old Photographs" (#27c 1987), "This Missin' You Heart of Mine" (#2c 1988), "My Baby's Gone" (#11c 1988), "Blue Denim Soul" (1988), "Old Pair of Shoes" (#50c 1989), "The Race is on" (#5c 1989), "The Walk" (#2c 1991), "Burning Bridges on a Rocky Road" (1991), "The Dirt Road" (#3c 1992), "Some Girls Do" (#1c 1992), "Café on the Corner" (#5c 1992), "All These Years" (#3c 1993), "Thank God for You" (#1c 1993), "Drive Away" (1993), "The Boys and Me" (#4c 1994), "Hard to Say" (#5c 1994), "This Time" (#2c 1995), "I Don't Believe in Goodbye" (#4c 1995), "Treat Her Right" (#3c 1996), "This Night Won't Last Forever" (#6c 1997), "Drive Me Wild" (#44, #6c 1998), "Circle of Your Arms" (#45c 2002), "Can You Hear Me Now?" (#57c 2002), "They Don't Understand" (#37c 2005)
Sawyer Brown and Joe Bonsall, "Out Goin' Cattin'" (#11c 1986)
see Sawyer Brown

Skip Spence (Alexander Lee Spence, Jr.)

b. 1946 in Ontario, Canada – d. 16 Apr 1999 in Santa Cruz, CA (pneumonia and lung cancer)
rock singer
instruments: guitar, drums
"War in Peace" (1969, he wrote), "Broken Heart" (1969, he wrote), "Lawrence of Euphoria" (1969, he wrote)
founding member of Moby Grape (1966-71), "Omaha" (#88 1967, he wrote), "Hey, Grandma" (1967), "Sitting by the Window" (1967), "Mister Blues" (1967), "8:05" (1967, he co-wrote), "Boysenberry Jam" (1968), "Motorcycle Irene" (1968, he wrote), "The Place and the Time" (1968), "Rose-Colored Eyes" (1968), "What's to Choose?" (1969), "Going Nowhere" (1969), "Changes, Circles Spinning" (1969)
founding member and drummer with Jefferson Airplane (1965-66), "It's No Secret" (1966), "Bringing Me Down" (1966)
founding member of Quicksilver Messenger Service (1965, left before any recordings)
songwriter
he suffered periods of mental illness worsened (or brought on) by frequent used of LSD, he was homeless for several years before his death; possibly he suffered from schizophrenia
see Jefferson Airplane
see Moby Grape on Wikipedia

Mike Vickers

b. 1940 in England
rock/jazz musician, instrument: clarinet, guitar, sax, flute, alto-sax
"Proper Charles" (1968, he wrote), "Pit Stop" (1976), "The First Laps" (1976)
founding member of Manfred Mann (1962-65), * "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" (#1 1964), "Sha La La" (#12 1964), "Come Tomorrow" (#50 1965)
session musician
songwriter
see Manfred Mann on www.classicbands.com

April 19

Don Barbour

b. 1927 in Greencastle, IN (grew up in Columbus, IN) – d. 5 Oct 1961 in Los Angeles, CA (auto accident)
pop/jazz singer
instrument: guitar
founding member of The Four Freshmen (1948-60), "Now You Know" (1951), "It's a Blue World" (#30 1952), "It Happened Once Before" (#29 1953), "Baltimore Oriole" (1953), "Mood Indigo" (#24 1954), "Graduation Day" (#27 1956), "Nights are Longer" (1958)
older brother of Ross Barbour; cousin of Bob Flannigan
see The Four Freshmen

Alan Bartram (James Alan Bartram)

b. 1977 in Huntington, WV (grew up in New London, PA)
bluegrass singer
instrument: bass
bass player with The Del McCoury Band (2005- ), "Eyes That Won't Meet Mine" (2005), "If Here is Where You Are" (2005), "Don't Put Off Until Tomorrow" (2006)
songwriter
see The Del McCoury Band

Gary 'Stretch' Brewer

b. 1965 in Louisville, KY
bluegrass singer
instruments: acoustic guitar, mandolin, banjo
"Dust in the Wind" (1999), "Bringing Mary Home" (1999), "White Horse Breakdown" (1999)
founding member of The Kentucky Ramblers, "Nearing Jordan Crossing" (1996), "Molly and Mildred" (2002), "I Haven't Seen Mary in Years" (2002)
Tai-Kwon-Do champion

Clarence B. Cagle

b. 1920 in Oklahoma City, OK - d. 5 Oct 2003 in Tulsa, OK (auto accident)
country/western swing/jazz musician, instruments: piano, fiddle, banjo
with Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys (1943-46), "Home in San Antone" (1943), "You're From Texas" (#2c 1944), "We Might as Well Forget it" (#2c 1944), "New San Antonio Rose" (#3c 1944), "Smoke on the Water" (#1c 1945), "Stars and Stripes on Iwo Jima" (#1c 1945), "Hang Your Head in Shame" (#3c 1945), "Texas Playboy Rag" (#2c 1945), "You Don't Care What Happens to Me" (#5c 1945), "Nobody's Darling But Mine" (1945), "Silver Dew on the Bluegrass Tonight" (#1c 1945), "Texas Two-Step" (1945), "White Cross in Okinawa" (#1c 1946), "New Spanish Two-Step" (#1c 1946), "Stay a Little Longer" (#2c 1946)
with Johnnie Lee Wills and His Boys (1947-64, and reunions), "Rag Mop" (#9, #2c 1950), "Peter Cottontail" (#7c 1950), "I'm That Way About You" (1950), "Coyote Blues" (1950), "This Room is So Crowded" (1950), "I Like You Best of All" (1950), "I Needed You" (1951), "I'm Not Sorry I Cried Over You" (1951)
with Herb Goddard's Oklahoma Wanderers (1938-42)
with Leon McAuliffe's band (196?-8?)
session musician
he had a heart attack while driving home from a performance
see The Texas Playboys

Dustin Evans

b. 197? (grew up in Wessington Springs, SD)
country singer
instruments: guitar, bass, piano, drums
"What's Going on With You?" (2002), "That Ol' Blacktop" (2002), "Sorry 'Bout the Mess" (2002), "Horses and Hearts" (2002), "Just the Way She Goes" (2002), "The Man Behind the Mask" (2003), "A Little Sentimental" (2003), "The Good Ol' Days to Come" (2004), "What if?" (2004)
with Good Times (1995- )
songwriter
son of Kyle Evans
see Dustin Evans and Good Times

Dickie Goodman (Richard Dorian Goodman)

b. 1934 in Hewlett, NY - d. 6 Nov 1989 in Fayetteville, NC (shot himself)
pop/novelty singer
"The Touchables in Brooklyn" (#42 1961), "Little Tiger" (1961), "Ben Crazy" (#44 1962), "On Campus" (#45 1969), "Energy Crisis '74" (#33 1974), "Mr. Jaws" (#4 1975)
founding member of Buchanan and Goodman (1956-59), "The Flying Saucer" (#10 1956, he co-wrote), "Flying Saucer, the 2nd" (#18 1957), "Santa and the Satellite" (#32 1957)

Eve Graham (Evelyn May Beatson)

b. 1943 in Scotland
folk/pop singer
with The New Seekers (1969-74, 1976-78), "Look What They've Done to My Song, Ma" (1970), "When There's No Love Left" (1970), * "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing" (#7 1971), "The Nickel Song" (1971), "Cincinnati" (1971), "The World I Wish for You" (1972), "Unwithered Rose" (1972), "I'll Be Your Song" (1972), "Ride a Horse" (1973), "It's So Nice" (1976), "Anthem (One Day in Every Week)" (1978)
md. to Danny Finn (1979- )

Wendy Holcombe (Wendy Lou Holcombe)

b. 1963 in Alabaster, AL - d. 14 Feb 1987 in Alabaster, AL
country/bluegrass/gospel singer
instruments: banjo, fiddle, guitar, bass, dobro, mandolin, ukulele, drums, trumpet
"Foggy Mountain Breakdown" (1979), "Cripple Creek" (1979)
session musician
md. to Thomas Yoshiro Blosser
she had to retire from music in 1981 because of an enlarged heart

Mike Kelly (Michael Kelly)

b. 1943
doo-wop singer
with The Duprees (1965-78, replaced Joey Vann), "Let Them Talk" (1966), "Check Yourself" (#97 1970)

Robert Maxwell

b. 1921 in New York City, NY
pop musician, instrument: harp
founding member of Robert Maxwell and His Orchestra, "Shangri-La" (#15 1964, he co-wrote), "That Old Black Magic" (1964), "Little Dipper" (1964), "Peg O' My Heart" (1964), "Rosebud" (1964)
founding member of The Mickey Mozart Quintet, "Little Dipper" (#30 1959, One-Hit Wonder), "Mexican Hop" (1959), "Pink Parfait" (1959)
songwriter, co-wrote Righteous Brothers' "Ebb Tide" (#5 1965)
arranger
served in the Coast Guard
father of dancer, Carla Maxwell

Alan Price

b. 1941/42 in England
rock singer
instruments: keyboards, organ, piano
"When I Was a Cowboy" (1968), "Falling in Love Again" (1969), "Sly Sadie" (1969), "Sunshine and Rain (the Name of the Game)" (1970), "It's Not Easy" (1975), "Kissed Away the Night" (1976), "I Love You, Too" (1977)
founding member of The Animals (1962-May65, and reunions), "House of the Rising Sun" (#1 1964), "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" (#15 1965), "The Night" (#48 1983)
founding member of The Alan Price Set (1965- ), "The House That Jack Built" (1967), "Don't Stop the Carnival" (1968)
duets with Georgie Fame, "Rosetta" (1971), "Street Lights" (1973)
songwriter
arranger; actor
see Alan Price

Bill Rice (Wilburn Steven Rice)

b. 1939 in Datto, AR or Gallo, AR
country musician, instruments: guitar, piano
"City of Dreams" (1961), "Red Hair and Green Eyes" (1961), "Travelin' Minstrel Man" (#33c 1971, he co-wrote), "Honky-Tonk Stardust Cowboy" (#51c 1971), "Something to Call Mine" (#63c 1972, he co-wrote)
duet with Lois Johnson, "All the Love We Threw Away" (#97c 1977, he co-wrote)
session musician with Matt Lucas, and others
songwriter, wrote Charley Pride's "I Wonder Could I Live There Anymore" (#87, #1c 1970)
co-wrote Johnny Paycheck's "Someone to Give My Love to" (#4c 1972); Nat Stuckey's "Take Time to Love Her" (#10c 1973); Patty Loveless' "Lonely Too Long" (#1c 1996), Reba McEntire's "I'm Not That Lonely Yet" (#3c 1982); Keith Whitley and Lorrie Morgan's "Till a Tear Becomes a Rose" (#13c 1990)
music producer
md. to songwriter, Sharon Vaughn

Bobby Russell

b. 1941 in Nashville, TN – d. 19 Nov 1992 (coronary artery disease)
country/pop singer
* "Little Band of Gold" (1963), "For a while We Helped Each Other Out" (1965), "Friends and Mirrors" (1966), "1432 Franklin Pike Circle Hero" (#36 1968), "Better Homes and Gardens" (1969), "Saturday Morning Confusion" (#30, #25c 1971), "Mid-American Manufacturing Tycoon" (1973)
backup singer on Ronny and the Daytonas' "Sandy" (#27 1965)
songwriter, wrote Brian Hyland's "The Joker Went Wild" (#20 1966); Vicki Lawrence's "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia" (#1c 1973); Bobby Goldsboro's "Honey" (#1c 1968); O.C. Smith's "Little Green Apples" (#2 1968); Gary Lewis and the Playboys' "Sure Gonna Miss Her" (#9 1966), Jan and Dean's "Popsicle" (#21 1966)
md. to Vicki Lawrence

Dominick 'Randy' Safuto

b. 1947 in NY
doo-wop singer
founding member and lead singer of Randy and the Rainbows (1962- ), "Denise" (#10 1963), "Why Do Kids Grow Up?" (#97 1963), "Dry Your Eyes" (1964), "Little Hot Rod Suzie" (1964), "Lovely Lies" (1966), "I'll Forget Her Tomorrow" (1966), "Hey, Look Who's Dancin'" (1970), "A Simple Love Song" (1978)
founding member of The Dialtones (1959-60), "Till I Heard it From You" (1960)
brother of Frank Safuto

Bob Spickard

b. 1946
rock musician, instrument: lead guitar
founding member of The Chantays (1962- ), "Pipeline" (#4 1963, he co-wrote, One-Hit Wonder), "Only if You Care" (1964), "I'll Be Back Someday" (1965)
songwriter

Mike Stewart (Michael Gassen Stewart)

b. 1945 in Riverside, CA (grew up in Claremont, CA) - d. 13 Nov 2002 in Sacramento, CA
folk/rock singer
instruments: guitar, banjo
founding member of We Five (1965-66, and reunions), "You Were on My Mind" (#3 1965), "Small World" (1965), "Let's Get Together" (#31 1965), "Inch Worm" (1967), "Five Will Get You Ten" (1967)
songwriter
music producer
computer programmer
younger brother of The Kingston Trio's John Stewart; father of Jamie Stewart
see We Five

Mark Volman

b. 1944 in Los Angeles, CA
rock singer
instruments: sax
founding member of The Turtles (1964-70, and reunions), "It Ain't Me, Babe" (#8 1965), "Let the Cold Winds Blow" (1965), "Wanderin' Kind" (1966), "Outside Chance" (1966), "You, Baby" (#20 1966), "Rugs of Woods and Flowers" (1967), "Happy Together" (#1 1967), "She'd Rather Be with Me" (#3 1967), "You Know What I Mean" (#12 1967), "She's My Girl" (#14 1967), "Elenore" (#6 1968), "You Showed Me" (#6 1969)
with The Mothers of Invention (1970-72, and reunions), "Eric Dolphy Memorial Barbecue" (1970), "Tuna Fish Promenade" (1971), "Dental Hygeine Dilemma" (1971), "Magdalena" (1972, about abuse)
with T-Rex, "Get it on" (#10 1972)
with The Nightriders
founding member of Flo and Eddie, "Illegal, Immoral, and Fattening" (1974, he co-wrote), "Cheap" (1974, he co-wrote), "Moving Targets" (1976, he co-wrote), "Best Possible Me" (1976, he co-wrote)
songwriter
see The Mothers of Invention on Wikipedia
see The Turtles

Bernie Worrell

b. 1944 in Long Beach, NJ (grew up in Plainfield, NJ) - d. June 24, 2016
R&B/rock singer
instrument: piano
"Beware of Dog" (1991, he co-wrote), "Real Life Dreams" (1991, he co-wrote), "Disappearance (Life after Life)" (1993, he wrote)
with P-Funk (1970- )
session musician
songwriter
see Bernie Worrell

April 20

Red Anglin (Van Buren Anglin)

b. 1910 in Franklin, TN (grew up in Athens, AL) – d. 1975
country/gospel singer
founding member of The Anglin Brothers (1933- ), "They Are All Going Home But One" (1937), "You Give Me Your Love (and I'll Give You Mine)" (1937)
served in the military during WWII, injured in the Allied invasion of France

Bob Braun (Robert Earl)

b. 1929 in Ludlow, KY - 2001 (Parkinson's Disease and cancer)
pop singer
"Our Anniversary of Love" (1962), "Till Death Do Us Part" (#26 1962, One-Hit Wonder), "So it Goes" (1962), "Cattle Drive" (1964), "Wasn't the Summer Short?" (1965), "I'm Sittin' Here Rememberin'" (1965), "Give Me This Moment" (1969)
TV show host; actor

Hylo Brown (Frank Brown)

b. 1922 in River, KY - d. 17 Jan 2003 in Urbana, OH (cancer)
country/bluegrass singer
instrument: guitar
"Lost to a Stranger" (1954, he wrote), "Gathering Flowers From the Hillside" (1959), "Hills of Georgia" (1962), "Take a Look at That Rain" (1963), "Walk Slowly, Darling" (1964), "Trickle Down Teardrops" (1965), "Wednesday Night Waltz" (1967), "Mary, Don't Go" (1968), "The Wrong Kind of Life" (1973)
with The Foggy Mountain Boys
with The Timberliners, "You Can't Relive the Past" (1959), "Treasures from the Past" (1962), "Picture in the Wallet" (1962), "Don't That Road Look Rough and Rocky" (1962), "The Prisoners Song" (1962), "Girl in the Blue Velvet Band" (1962), "Handsome Molly" (1963), "Little Blossom" (1963), "Lovesick and Sorrow" (1963), "Five Strings" (1963)
session musician with Bill Monroe, Bradley Kincaid, and others
songwriter
his nickname came from his wide vocal range

Lionel HamptonLionel Leo Hampton

b. 1908 in Louisville, KY or Birmingham, AL (grew up in Kenosha, WI and Chicago, IL) - d. 31 Aug 2002 in New York City, NY (congestive heart failure)
jazz/swing/blues singer
instruments: vibraphone, drums, percussions, piano
founding member of the Lionel Hampton Band (1939-2001), "Twelfth Street Rag" (1939), "Central Avenue Breakdown" (1940, he wrote), "Blue Because of You" (1940), "Flying Home" (1942, he co-wrote), "Hey, Baba Rebop" (1946), "For You, My Love" (1950)
with The Benny Goodman Quartet (1936-38)
session musician with Louis Armstrong, and others
songwriter
actor

Wade Hayes (Tony Wade Hayes)

b. 1969 in Bethel Acres, OK
country singer
instrument: guitar
"Old Enough to Know Better" (#1c 1995, he co-wrote), "I'm Still Dancin' with You" (#4c 1995, he co-wrote), "What I Meant to Say" (#5c 1996), "On a Good Night" (#2c 1996), "The Day That She Left Tulsa (in a Chevy)" (#87, #5c 1998), "How Do You Sleep at Night?" (#67, #13c 1998), "When the Wrong One Loves You Right" (#50c 1998), "Up North (Down South, Back East, Out West)" (#48c 2000), "Goodbye is the Wrong Way to Go" (#45c 2000)
duet with Mark McClurg as McHayes, "That Doesn't Mean I Don't Love You" (#41c 2003)
songwriter
see Wade Hayes

Jeanette Hicks

b. 1933/34 in Dothan, AL
country singer
"Sippin' Cider" (1953), "Such a Wonderful Feeling" (1955), "Just Like in the Movies" (1955), "Searching" (1956), "I Think of You and Me" (2006), "He Knows Why" (2006)
duets with George Jones, "Yearning" (#10c 1957), "I Take a Chance" (1956)
duet with Billy Walker, "Let's Make Memories Tonight" (1955)

Steve Kaufman

b. 1957 in New York, NY
country/bluegrass/western swing musician, instrument: guitar
"I Miss You Waltz" (1990), "Whiskey Before Breakfast" (1990), "Farewell to the Lady" (1993), "Drowsy Maggie" (2002), "Red-Haired Boy" (2006), "Cherokee Shuffle" (2007), "Katie Hill" (2007), "Kinfolks in California" (2007), "Denver Belle" (2007)
duet with Roy Curry, "Big Sandy River" (2003, he co-wrote)
songwriter
guitar instructor
see Steve Kaufman

Doyle Lawson (Doyle Wayne Lawson)

b. 1944 in Ford Town, TN
bluegrass/country/gospel singer
instruments: mandolin, guitar, 5-string banjo
with The Country Gentlemen (1971-79), "Yesterday" (1971), "The Girl Behind the Bar" (1972), "Secret of the Waterfall" (1972), "Silence or Tears" (1974), "In My Younger Days" (1976), "The Great Beyond" (1978)
founding member of Quicksilver (1979- )
founding member of The Bluegrass Album Band (1980-89)
with J.D. Crowe and the New South (1987), "Bear Tracks" (1987), "Born to Be with You" (1987), "Blackjack" (1987)
songwriter
see Charlie Waller
see Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver

Victor Tejada

b.1955 in San Fernando, CA
jazz/R&B/rock backup singer
instruments: drums, percussions
with Boulevard Knights (1990- )
backup singer with Spiral Starecase, * "More Today Than Yesterday" (#12 1969, One-Hit Wonder)
session musician with Mary Wells, The Crests, Brenton Wood, and others

Johnny Tillotson

b. 1939 in Jacksonville, FL (grew up in Palatka, FL)
country/rock/pop singer
"Dreamy Eyes" (#63 1958, #35 1962), "Love is Blind" (1959), "Poetry in Motion" (#2 1961), "Without You" (#7 1961), "Jimmy's Girl" (#25 1961), "I Can't Help it (if I'm Still in Love with You)" (#24 1962), * "Send Me the Pillow You Dream on" (#17, #11c 1962), "It Keeps Right on a-Hurtin'" (#3, #4c 1962, he co-wrote), * "Talk Back Trembling Lips" (#7 1963), "Out of My Mind" (#24 1963), "You Can Never Stop Me Loving You" (#18 1963), "She Understands Me" (#31 1964), "Heartaches by the Number" (#35 1965), * "Cling to Me" (1967), * "Come Back When You Grow Up" (1967), "You're the Reason" (#48c 1968), "Kansas City, Kansas" (1970)
songwriter
see Johnny Tillotson

April 21

Carl Belew (Carl Robert Belew)

b. 1931 near Salina, OK – d. 31 Oct 1990 in Salina, OK (cancer)
country/rockabilly singer
instrument: guitar
"Twenty-Four Hour Night" (1958), "Cool Gator Shoes" (1959), "Am I That Easy to Forget?" (#9c 1959, he co-wrote), "Too Much to Lose" (#19c 1960, he co-wrote), "I Can't Lose Something (That I've Never Had)" (1961), "Do I Have to Have a Reason?" (1962), "Hello Out There" (#8c 1962), "Masquerade Party" (1963), "Anna Louise" (1964), "In the Middle of a Memory" (#23c 1964, he co-wrote), "She Reads Me Like a Book" (1965), "Lonely Hearts Do Foolish Things" (1965), "I Spent a Week There One Day" (1965), "Crystal Chandeliers" (#12c 1965), "Walking Shadow, Talking Memory" (#64c 1966), "I Dream Too Big" (1967), "Play Our Song Again" (1973)
songwriter, wrote Eddy Arnold's "What's He Doing in My World?" (#60, #1c 1965); Johnnie and Jack's "Stop the World and Let Me Off" (#7c 1958); Jim Reeves' "That's When I See the Blue (in Your Pretty Brown Eyes)" (#9c 1969); co-wrote Vince Gill's "Look at Us" (#4c 1991); Rex Allen, Jr.'s "Lonely Street" (#8c 1978)

Bew Butrum (Hillous Buel Butrum

b. 1928 near Lafayette, TN - d. 27 Apr 2002 in Nashville, TN
country singer
instrument: string bass
with Hank Williams' Drifting Cowboys (1949-50), "I'm a Long Gone Daddy" (#6c 1949), "Lovesick Blues" (#1c 1949), "Mind Your Own Business" (#5c 1949), "You're Gonna Change (Or I'm Gonna Leave)" (#4c 1949), "Lost Highway" (#12c 1949), "Wedding Bells" (#2c 1949), "Never Again" (#6c 1949), "My Bucket's Got a Hole in it" (#2c 1949), "Long Gone Lonesome Blues" (#1c 1950), "I Just Don't Like This Kind of Livin'" (#5c 1950), "Why Don't Ya Love Me?" (#1c 1950, re-release #61c 1976), "Moanin' the Blues" (#1c 1950)
with Hank Snow's Rainbow Ranch Boys (1950-54, 1977-84)
with Marty Robbins' Band (1956-60), "Singing the Blues" (#17, #1c 1956), "Knee-Deep in the Blues" (#3c 1956), "A White Sport Coat and a Pink Carnation" (#2, #1c 1957), "The Story of My Life" (#15, #1c 1957), "Just Married" (#26, #1c 1958), "El Paso" (#1, #1c 1959), "Is There Any Chance?" (#31 1960), "Big Iron" (#26, #5c 1960), and others
see The Drifting Cowboys

Don Cornell (Luigi Francisco Varlaro)

b. 1919 in New York, NY - d. 23 Feb 2004 in Aventura, FL (emphysema and diabetes)
pop/swing singer
instrument: guitar
"Sue Me" (1950), "Let a Smile Be Your Umbrella (on a Rainy Rainy Day)" (1951), "When I Take My Sugar to Tea" (1951), "You Can't Tell a Lie to Your Heart" (1951), "I'm Yours" (#5 1952), "I'll Walk Alone" (#5 1952), "My Mother's Pearls" (1952), "Hold My Hand" (#2 1954), "The Bible Tells Me So" (#7 1955), "Make a Wish" (1956), "Fort Knox" (1956), "Heart of My Heart" (1959), "Size 12" (1960), "Wish I Was" (1961), "Please Lie to Me" (1965), "Lost Dreams and Lonely Tears" (1964)
with the Sammy Kaye Orchestra, "It isn't Fair" (#2 1950), "Harbor Lights" (#1 1950)
served in the Army Air Force during WWII
see The Sammy Kaye Orchestra

Paul Davis (Paul Lavon Davis

b. 1948 in Meridian, MS - d. 22 Apr 2008 in Meridian, MS
country/pop/soul singer
"A Little Bit of Soap" (#52 1970), "Pollyanna" (1970), "Ride 'Em Cowboy" (#23, #47c 1975, he wrote), "I Go Crazy" (#7 1978), "Sweet Life" (#17, #85c 1979, he co-wrote), "Do Right" (#23 1980), "'65 Love Affair" (#6 1982), "Cool Night" (#11 1981, he co-wrote)
duets with Marie Osmond, "You're Still New to Me" (#1c 1986, he co-wrote), "Sweet Life" (#47c 1988, he co-wrote)
duet with Tanya Tucker and Paul Overstreet, "I Won't Take Less Than Your Love" (#1c 1986, he co-wrote)
songwriter, co-wrote Lorrie Morgan's "Back in Your Arms Again" (#4c 1995); Ronnie Milsap's "Turn That Radio on" (#4c 1992); Tanya Tucker's "Just Another Love" (#1c 1986), "One Love at a Time" (#3c 1986); Dan Seals' "Bop" (#42, #1c 1986); Marie Osmond and Dan Seals' "Meet Me in Montana" (#1c 1985)
music producer
see Paul Davis on Wikipedia

Robert Knight

b. 1945 in Franklin, TN
soul/pop singer
"Dance Only with Me" (1961), "Everlasting Love" (#13 1967, One-Hit Wonder), "Blessed Are the Lonely" (1967), "Isn't it Lonely Together?" (1968), "Dynamite" (1974)
with The Paramounts, "Thunderbird Baby" (1959), "Judy" (1960), "Free Me" (1961), "Why Do You Have to Go?" (1961), "Where's Carolyn Tonight?" (1963), "A Certain Girl" (1964), "Cuttin' in" (1965)
research chemist

Ira Louvin (Ira Lonnie Loudermilk)

b. 1924 in Rainsville, AL – d. 20 Jun 1965 in Williamsburg, MO (auto accident)
country/gospel singer
instruments: mandolin, banjo
"Yodel, Sweet Molly" (1965)
founding member of The Louvin Brothers (1949-63), "Seven-Year Blues" (1949), "When I Stop Dreaming" (#8c 1955, he co-wrote), "I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby" (#1c 1956), "Hoping That You're Hoping" (#7c 1956), "Cash on the Barrel Head" (#7c 1956, he co-wrote), "You're Running Wild" (#7c 1956), "Plenty of Everything But You" (#14c 1957, he co-wrote), "My Baby's Gone" (#9c 1958), "Knoxville Girl" (#19c 1959), "Nellie Moved to Town" (1960), "I Love You Best of All" (#12c 1961, he co-wrote)
songwriter, co-wrote The Browns' "Just As Long As You Love Me" (#11c 1956), "I Take the Chance" (#2c 1956); Emmylou Harris's "If I Could Only Win Your Love" (#4c 1975); Carl Smith's "Are You Teasing Me?" (#1c 1952)
postal clerk
md. 3rd to Faye (she shot him during an argument in 1963); md. 4th to singer, Anne Young
his wife Anne died in the same accident he did

Silvano Mangano

b. 1930 in Italy – d. 16 Dec 1989
pop singer
"Anna" (#6 1953, One-Hit Wonder)
model; dancer; actress

Ernie Maresca (Ernest Maresca)

b. 1939 in the Bronx, NY
R&B/rock singer
* "Shout! Shout! (Knock Yourself Out)" (#6 1962, One-Hit Wonder), "Can't Forget About You" (1962), "It's Their World" (1965), "My Shadow and Me" (1967), "What is a Marine?" (1968), "Blind Date" (1969), "The Spirit of Woodstock" (1969)
songwriter, co-wrote Dion's "No One Knows" (#19 1958), "Runaround Sue" (#1 1961), "The Wanderer"(#2 1961), "Lovers Who Wander" (#3 1962), "Donna, the Prima Donna" (#6 1963); Jimmie Rodgers' "Child of Clay" (#31 1967)
music producer

Bobby McClure

b. 1942 in Chicago, IL (grew up in St. Louis, MO) - d. 13 Nov 1992 in Los Angeles, CA (brain aneurysm followed by a stroke)
soul/doo-wop singer(tenor)
"Don't Get Your Signals Crossed" (1967), "Was it Something I Said?" (1976), "High Heel Shoes" (1978), "I Can't Get Enough" (1989), "Today You Started Leaving Him (and Loving Me)" (1989), "I Write Another Love Song" (1994)
duet with Fontella Bass, "Don't Mess up a Good Thing" (#33 1965, One-Hit Wonder), "You'll Miss Me (When I'm Gone)" (#91 1965)
sessionist with Little Milton, and others
corrections officer

Elizabeth McQueen

b. 1977 in Little Rock, AR (grew up in Columbia, MD)
western swing/rock singer
instrument: rhythm guitar
with Asleep at the Wheel
founding member of The Firebrands, "When I Write the Book" (1995), "Almost Blue" (1995), "Seven Nights to Rock" (1995)
md. to David Sanger
see Asleep at the Wheel

Mark Rader

b. 1956 in Middletown, OH
bluegrass singer
instrument: guitar
founding member of Traditional Grass (1983-95), "Be True to Yourself" (1994), "You Are My Flower" (1994), "Rough Edges" (1994), "Country Girl Blues" (1994), "Two Lonely Hearts" (1995), "Together in Our Hearts" (1995), "No Return" (1995), "I Can't Go on This Way" (1995)
brother of Joe Rader

Robert James Smith

b. 1959 in England
rock singer
instruments: guitar, organ
founding member of The Cure (1976- ), "The Love Cats" (1983, he co-wrote), "In Between Days" (#99 1985, he wrote), "Just Like Heaven" (#40 1987), "Like Cockatoos" (1987), "Fascination Street" (#46 1988), "Lovesong" (#2 1989, he wrote), "Pictures of You" (#71 1990), "The 13th" (#44 1996), "High" (#42 1992), "Friday I'm in Love" (#18 1992), "Mint Car" (#58 1996)
songwriter
md. to Mary Poole (1988)
see The Cure

Alan Warner

b. 1947 in London, England
soul/pop singer
instrument: guitar
founding member of The Foundations (1967-70), * "Baby, Now That I've Found You" (#11 1968), "Back on My Feet Again" (#59 1968), "Any Old Time (You're Lonely and Sad)" (1968), "Build Me up, Buttercup" (#3 1969), "A Walk Through the Trees" (1969)
the name, The Foundations, was selected because their early rehearsals were in the basement of a coffee bar
see The Foundations on Wikipedia

John Weider

b. 1947 in West London, England
rock musician, instrument: guitar, bass, violin
with Family (1969-71)
founding member of Eric Burdon and the New Animals (1966-69), "See See Rider" (#10 1966), "When I Was Young" (#15 1967), "San Franciscan Nights" (#9 1967), "Monterrey" (#15 1967), "Sky Pilot" (#14 1968)
with Stonehenge (1969- )
session musician with Steve Marriott, and others
songwriter

April 22

Eddie Albert (Edward Albert Heimberger)

b. 1906 in Rock Island, IL (grew up in Minneapolis, MN) - d. 26 May 2005 in Los Angeles, CA (pneumonia)
pop singer
"Let's Take an Old-Fashioned Walk" (1949), "I'm in Favor of Friendship" (1955), "Jenny Kissed Me" (1956), "Fall Away" (1964), "Just Waitin'" (1964), "Green Acres Theme" (1965), "Men with Broken Hearts" (1965), "On Being Average" (1969)
with The Threesome
duet with Sondra Lee, "Little Child (Daddy Dear)" (#56 1956)
actor
humanitarian
environmentalist; he helped organize the first Earth Day in 1970
was awarded the Bronze Star for his service in the Navy during WWII
md. to actress, Margo (1945-85, her death)
quote by Eddie Arnold: "By the time I leave this Earth, I hope to have improved our relationships here and now, so that in the next generation my son, daughter and friends have my shoulders on which to stand, so it's easier to make their contribution."

Glen Campbell (Glen Travis Campbell)

b. 1936 in Delight, AR
country/rock/pop singer
instrument: guitar, mandolin, banjo, bagpipes
"Turn Around, Look at Me" (#62 1961), "Kentucky Means Paradise" (#20c 1962), "Burning Bridges" (#18c 1966), "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" (#26, #2c 1967), "I Wanna Live" (#36, #1c 1968), "Dreams of the Everyday Housewife" (#32, #3c 1968), "Smokey Blue Eyes" (1968), "Gentle on My Mind" (#39, #30c 1968), "Wichita Lineman" (#3, #1c 1969), "Galveston" (#4, #1c 1969), "Delight, Arkansas" (1969), "Honey, Come Back" (#19, #2c 1970), "It's Only Make Believe" (#10, #3c 1970), "Try a Little Kindness" (1970), "Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream)" (#31, #7c 1971), "Oklahoma Sunday Morning" (#15c 1971), "Manhattan, Kansas" (#6c 1972), "Rhinestone Cowboy" (#1, #1c 1975), "Country Boy (You've Got Your Feet in L.A.)" (#11, #3c 1975), "Sunflower" (#39, #4c 1977), "Southern Nights" (#1, #1c 1977), "I Love My Truck" (#15c 1981), "A Lady Like You" (#4c 1984), "Still Within the Sound of My Voice" (#5c 1987), "I Have You" (#7c 1988), "She's Gone, Gone, Gone" (#6c 1989)
with The Champs (1960-64, replaced Dave Burgess), "Too Much Tequila" (#30 1960), "Panic Button" (1961), "Limbo Rock" (#40 1962), "Shades" (1963)
withThe Beach Boys for a short time in 1964
duet with Steve Wariner, "Hand That Rocks the Cradle" (#6c 1987)
duets with Bobbie Gentry, "Mornin' Glory" (#74 1968), "Less of Me" (#44c 1968), "Let it Be Me" (#36, #14c 1969), "Ace Insurance Man" (1969), "Seasons Come, Seasons Go" (1970), "All I Have to Do is Dream" (#27, #6c 1970), "Apartment 21" (1970)
duet with Terry Bradshaw, "You Never Know How Good You Got it 'til You Ain't Got it No More" (1996)
session guitarist on The Hondells' "Little Honda" (#9 1964), The Monkees' "I'm a Believer" (#1 1966), and others
songwriter
actor
md. to Billy Jean (19??-75)
see Glen Campbell
see The Champs

Pete Carr

b. 1950 in Daytona Beach, FL
rock musician, instruments: acoustic guitar, electric guitar
"Foxfire" (1976), "Race of the Computers" (1976), "Journey with the Breeze" (1976), "Someday We Will" (1978), "Take Away the Wheels" (1978)
founding member of LeBlanc and Carr, "Falling" (#1 1978), "Midnight Light" (1978)
session guitarist on Bob Seger's "Main Street" (#24 1977); Sailcat's "Motorcycle Mama" (#12 1972); and with Rod Stewart, Paul Simon, Hank Williams, Jr., Joe Cocker, Cat Stevens, Willie Nelson, and others
songwriter
recording engineer; music producer

Mel Carter

b. 1943 in Cincinnati, OH
pop/gospel singer
"What Will I Tell My Heart?" (1962), "When a Boy Falls in Love" (1963), "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me" (#8 1965), "(All of a Sudden) My Heart Sings" (#38 1965), "When I Hold the Hand of the One I Love" (1965), "Love is All We Need" (1965), "Band of Gold" (#32 1966), "Be My Love" (1967), "I Look into Your Eyes" (1967), "I Pretend" (1968), "This is My Life" (1970), "Dancing for Dimes" (1975), "My Coloring Book" (1976), "You Changed My Life Again" (1980), "Who's Right, Who's Wrong?" (1981)
actor
see Mel Carter

Kellie Coffey

b. 1971 in Moore, OK
country singer
"When You Lie Next to Me" (#50, #8c 2002, she co-wrote), "Whatever it Takes" (#44c 2002, she co-wrote), "Why Wyoming?" (2002, she co-wrote), "At the End of the Day" (#19c 2003, she co-wrote), "Texas Plates" (#24c 2003, she co-wrote), "Dance With My Father" (#41c 2004)
songwriter

Rich Dehr (Richard Dehr)

b. 1913 in Chicago, IL – d. 15 Oct 1999 in Austin, TX (cancer)
folk/pop singer
founding member of The Easy Riders (1953-59), "Marianne" (#5 1957, One-Hit Wonder, he co-wrote), "So True Blues" (1959)
The Easy Riders backing Dean Martin, "Memories Are Made of This" (#1 1956, he co-wrote)
session musician on Frankie Laine's "Love is a Golden Ring" (#10 1957), and others
songwriter, co-wrote The Brothers Four's "Greenfields" (#2 1960)

Pat Enright

b. 1945 in Huntington, IN
bluegrass singer
instrument: guitar
founding member of the Nashville Bluegrass Band (1984- ), "Baby-Blue Eyes" (1985), "All I Want is You" (1987), "Weary Blues from Waitin'" (1990), "I'll Just Keep on Lovin' You" (1991), "Train of Yesterday" (1993), "Dark Shadows of Night" (1995), "Almost" (1995), "Blue Cadillac" (1998), "Down a Winding Road" (1998), "There's a Better Way" (2004), "Garfield's Blackberry Blossom" (2004), "The Luckiest Man Alive" (2004)

Joe Ferguson (Joe Frank Ferguson III)

b. 1914 in Fort Worth, TX - d. 14 Feb 2001 in Fort Worth, TX (complications of surgery)
country/western swing singer
instrument: bass
with The Texas Playboys (1936-1940, 1951- ), "San Antonio Rose" (1938), "Maiden's Prayer" (1938), "Time Changes Everything" (1940), "Ida Red" (1940), "Sittin' on Top of the World" (1951), "Waltzing in Old San Antone" (1954), "Cadillac in Model 'A'" (1954), "So Let's Rock" (1956), "Heart to Heart Talk" (#5c 1960), "I'll See You to the Door" (1965), "Footsteps to Nowhere" (1966), "Born to Love You" (1968), "It's a Good World" (1969)
with The Light Crust Doughboys
see The Texas Playboys

Cleve Francis (Cleveland Francis, Jr.)

b. 1945/46 near Jennings, LA
country singer
instrument: guitar
"Love Light" (#52c 1992), "You Do My Heart Good" (#47c 1992), "Walkin'" (#63c 1993), "I'll Stop Loving You" (2006), "Rainy Night in Georgia" (2006)
songwriter
cardiologist
see Cleve Francis

Bob Gallion

b. 1924/31 in Ashland, KY - d. 20 Aug 1999 in Wood, WV
country/rockabilly singer
instrument: guitar
"My Square-Dancin' Mama (She Done Learned to Rock 'n' Roll)" (1956), "You've Gotta Have a Heartbreak (to Know How to Love)" (1957), "That's What I Tell My Heart" (#28c 1958), "Loving You (Was Worth This Broken Heart)" (#7c 1960), "One-Way Street" (#20c 1961), "Six Pallbearers" (1961), "Sweethearts Again" (#20c 1961), "Wall-to-Wall Love" (#5c 1962), "I Don't Have the Heart (to Disagree)" (1965), "I've Got Better at Home" (1966)
songwriter
DJ
see Bob Gallion on Rockabilly Hall of Fame

Frankie 'Cannibal' Garcia (Francisco M. Garcia)

b. 1946 - d. 21 Jan 1996
rock singer
founding member and lead singer of Cannibal and the Headhunters (1965-67), "Land of a 1000 Dances" (#30 1965, One-Hit Wonder), "Nau Ninny Nau" (#133 1965), "Follow the Music" (1965), "Here Comes Love" (1965), "Out of Sight" (1966)

Ray Griff (Raymond Griff)

b. 1940 in Vancouver, Canada
country singer
"Racing King" (1961), "I Would if I Could" (1961), "Don't Lead Me on" (1965), "A Lean Horse" (1968), "Caution to the Wind" (1969), "Patches" (#26c 1970), "The Mornin' After Baby Let Me Down" (#14c 1972, he wrote), "It Rains Just the Same in Missouri" (#62 1972, he wrote), "You Ring My Bell" (#16c 1975, he wrote), "If I Let Her Come in" (#11c 1976, he wrote), "That's What I Get (for Doin' My Own Thinkin')" (#27c 1976, he wrote), "A Passing Thing" (#28c 1977, he wrote)
songwriter, wrote Wilma Burgess' "Baby" (#7c 1966); Faron Young's "Step Aside" (#6c 1971); Gene Watson's "Between This Time and the Next Time" (#17c 1981), "Where Love Begins" (#5c 1975); Conway Twitty's "Hello, Darlin'" (#1, #1c 1970)
music producer
see Ray Griff

Larry Groce

b. 1948 in Dallas, TX
country/folk/novelty singer
"Junk Food Junkie" (#9 1976, he wrote), "Please Take Me Back" (1977), "Sweet, Sweet Love" (1977), "Big White House in Indiana" (1977), "Mountain Lullaby" (1991)
songwriter

Jack Nitzsche (Bernard Alfred Nitzsche)

b. 1937 in Chicago, IL (grew up near Newaygo, MI) - 25 Aug 2000 in Hollywood, CA (respiratory problems)
pop/jazz singer
instruments: sax, piano
"The Lonely Surfer" (#39 1963, One-Hit Wonder, he wrote), "Song for a Summer Night" (1963), "The Last Race" (1964)
arranger, conductor
songwriter, co wrote Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes' "Up Where We Belong" (#1 1982), Jackie DeShannon's "Needles and Pins" (#84 1963)
music producer
actor
md. 1st to singer, Gracia Ann May (19??-74); md. to Buffy Sainte-Marie (1983-)

Lucky Oceans (Reuben Gosfield)

b. 1951 in Philadelphia, PA
western swing singer
instrument: guitar, steel guitar, drums
founding member of Asleep at the Wheel (1970-80), "I'm the Fool (Who Told You to Go)" (1973), "Choo Choo Ch'Boogie" (#69c 1975), "The Letter That Johnny Walker Read" (#10c 1975), "Bump Bounce Boogie" (#31c 1976), "Nothin' Takes the Place of You" (#35c 1976), "Route 66" (#48c 1976), "Miles and Miles of Texas" (#38c 1977), "One O'Clock Jump" (1978)
see Asleep at the Wheel
songwriter

Jimmy Rosica (James Rosica)

b. 1945
R&B/rock singer
instrument: bass
founding member of The Brooklyn Bridge (1968- ), "From My Window" (1968), "The Worst That Could Happen" (#3 1969, One-Hit Wonder), "You'll Never Walk Alone" (1969), "Blessed is the Rain" (1969), "Opposites" (1970)
see Johnny Maestro and the Brooklyn Bridge

Lou Stein

b. 1922 in Philadelphia, PA
Dixieland jazz/bop/swing musician, instrument: piano
"Almost Paradise" (#31 1957, One-Hit Wonder), "The Man I Love" (1976), "Here's That Rainy Day" (1994), "Lullaby of the Leaves" (1994), "East of Suez" (1994, he wrote)
founding member of The Lou Stein Trio
with Charlie Ventura's band (1946-47)
with Joe Venuti's band (1969-72)
session musician with Glen Miller, Benny Goodman, Sarah Vaughan, and other
songwriter

Tommy Turrentine (Thomas Walter Turrentine, Jr.)

b. 1928 in Pittsburgh, PA - d. 15 May 1997
swing/jazz/bop musician, instrument: trumpet
"Webb City" (1960), "Time's Up" (1960, he wrote), "Long as You're Living" (1960, he co-wrote), "Blues for J.P." (1960)
session musician with Dizzy Gillespie, Count Basie, Sonny Clark, and others
songwriter
older brother of sax player, Stanley Turrentine

Heath Wright

b. 1967 in Vian, OK
country singer
instrument: lead guitar
founding member and lead singer of Ricochet (1993- ), "What Do I Know?" (#5c 1996), "Daddy's Money" (#1c 1996), "Love is Stronger Than Pride" (#9c 1996), "The Truth is, I Lied" (1996), "Don't Forget to Feed the Jukebox (While I'm Gone)" (1997), "The Girl Formerly Known As Mine" (1997), "Ease My Troubled Mind" (#20c 1997), "He Left a Lot to Be Desired" (#18c 1997), "Blink of an Eye" (#39c 1997), "Connected at the Heart" (#44c 1998), "Seven Bridges Road" (#48c 2000), "Do I Love You Enough?" (#45c 2000), "She's Gone" (#48c 2000)
songwriter
see Ricochet

April 23

John Allen (John Samuel Allen)

b. 1945 in Herfordshire, England
rock musician, instrument: guitar
with The Nashville Teens (1963-73), "Tobacco Road" (#14 1964, One-Hit Wonder), "Find My Way Home" (1965), "This Little Bird" (1965), "The Biggest Night of Her Life" (1970), "Ella James" (1971)
The Nashville Teens backed Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bo Diddley, and others
see The Nashville Teens

Barbara Alston

b. 1945 - d. 15 May 1992
pop/R&B singer
with The Crystals, "Dreams and Wishes" (1961), "There's No Other Like My Baby" (#20 1962), "Da Doo Ron Ron (When He Walked Me Home)" (#3 1963), * "Then He Kissed Me" (#6 1963), "All Grown Up" (1964)
"He's a Rebel" and "He's Sure the Boy I Love" were credited to The Crystals' but were by Darlene Love backed by The Blossoms
see The Crystals

Jon Arbenz

b. 1942 in Los Angeles, CA
folk singer
instrument: guitar
founding member of The Serendipity Singers (1963- ), "Don't Let the Rain Come Down (Crooked Little Man)" (#6 1964), "Beans in My Ears" (#30 1964), "Take Your Shoes Off" (1964), "Autumn Wind" (1964), "Down Where the Wind Blows" (1964), "Cloudy Summer Afternoon" (1965), "Boots and Stetsons" (1965), "When Peaches Grow on Lilac Trees" (1965), "My Heart Keeps Following You" (1965)
see The Serendipity Singers

Billy Davenport

b. 1931 in Chicago, IL - d. 24 Dec 1999
blues/rock musician, instrument: drums
with the Otis Rush Blues Band (1961)
session drummer with Freddie King, Muddy Waters, and others
with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band (1966-67, replaced Sam Lay), "East-West" (1966), "Mary, Mary" (1966)
served in the Navy (1951-55)
see The Paul Butterfield Blues Band on Wikipedia

Dale Houston (Robert Dale Houston)

b. 1940 in Seminary, MS (grew up in Baton Rouge, LA) - d. 27 Sep 2007 in Seminary, MS (congestive heart failure)
swamp-pop/R&B singer
instrument: piano
"Lonely Man" (#75 1958), "Won't You Believe Me?" (1958)
founding member of Dale and Grace (1963-65), "I'm Leaving it up to You" (#1 1963), "Stop and Think it Over" (#8 1964), "That's What I Like About You" (1964, he wrote)
songwriter
see Dale and Grace
there is currently a different duo using the name Dale and Grace

Albert King (Albert Nelson)

b. 1923 in Indianola, MS – d. 21 Dec 1992 in Memphis, TN (heart attack)
blues/soul singer
instrument: electric guitar, drums
"Bad Luck Blues" (1954), "I'm a Lonely Man" (1959), "Blues at Sunrise" (1960), "Don't Throw Your Love on Me So Strong" (1961), "I Walked All Night Long" (1961), "Travelin' to California" (1961), "I'll Do Anything for You" (1963), "Old Blue Ribbon" (1963), "This Funny Feeling" (1963), "Crosscut Saw" (1966), "Cold Feet" (1968), "Cockroach" (1969), "Cold Sweat" (1970), "Cadillac Assembly Line" (1976), "Don't Let Me Be Lonely" (1991)
songwriter
he named his guitar 'Lucy'; he was left-handed but usually played right-handed guitars flipped upside down with the low E string on the bottom

Nancy Norman (Florence Berman)

b. 1925 in Los Angeles, CA
pop singer
singer with the Sammy Kaye Orchestra (1942-45), "Chickery Chick" (#1 1945), "Saturday Night is the Loneliest Night of the Week" (#6 1945), "I'm a Big Girl Now" (#1 1946)
md. to Robert Jacobs (1948- )
see The Sammy Kaye Orchestra

Roy Orbison (Roy Kelton Orbison)

b. 1936 in Vernon, TX (grew up in Wink, TX) – d. 6 Dec 1988 in Hendersonville, TN (heart attack two days after a concert)
country/rock/pop singer
instrument: guitar
"Seems to Me" (1958), "Up Town" (#72 1959), * "Only the Lonely (Know How I Feel)" (#2 1960), "Blue Angel" (#9 1960), "Crying" (#2 1961), "Running Scared" (#1 1961, he co-wrote), "Candy Man" (#25 1961), "The Crowd" (#26 1962), "Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream)" (#4 1962), "Leah" (#25 1962), "Workin' for the Man" (#33 1962), "Falling" (#22 1963), "Blue Bayou" (#29 1963), "In Dreams" (#7 1963), "Mean Woman Blues" (#5 1963), "Pretty Paper" (#15 1964), "It's Over" (#9 1964), "Oh, Pretty Woman" (#1 1964, #89c 1990, he wrote), "Goodnight" (#21 1965), "Ride Away" (#25 1965), "Breakin' up is Breakin' My Heart" (#31 1966), "Twinkle Toes" (#39 1966), "Sleepy Head" (1969), "Danny Boy" (1972), "In Dreams" (#75c 1987), "(All I Can Do is) Dream You" (1987), "You Got it" (#9, #7c 1989, he co-wrote), "California Blue" (#51c 1989, he co-wrote), "I Drove All Night" (#74 1992)
duet with Emmylou Harris, "That Lovin' You Feelin' Again" (#55, #6c 1981, he co-wrote)
duet with k.d. lang, "Crying" (#42c 1987, he co-wrote)
founding member and lead of The Teen Kings, "Ooby Dooby" (#59 1956)
founding member of The Traveling Wilburys (1988), "Handle With Care" (#45 1988), "End of the Line" (#63 1989)
songwriter
actor; he was Elvis Presley's favorite singer
md. 1st to Claudette Frady (1957-66), they married when she was 16, she was killed in a motorcycle accident 1966; two of their three sons were killed in a house fire in 1968
md. 2nd to Barbara Anne Marie Wilhonnen Jacobs (1969- )
quote by Roy Orbison: "I may Be a living legend, but that sure don't help when I've got to change a flat tire."
see Roy Orbison

Ray Peterson (aka The Golden Voice of Rock 'n' Roll)

b. 1939 in Denton, TX - d. 25 Jan 2005 in Smyrna, TN (cancer)
pop/rockabilly singer/country (had a four-octave range)
"We're Old Enough to Cry" (1957), "The Wonder of You" (#25 1959, re-release #70 1964), "Goodnight, My Love" (1959), "Answer Me, My Love" (1960), "Till Then" (1960), "Tell Laura I Love Her" (#7 1960), "Corina, Corina" (#9 1961), "Why Don't You Write Me?" (1961), "Missing You" (#29 1961), "Sweet Little Kathy" (1961), "I Could Have Loved You So Well" (#57 1961), "You Know Me Much Too Well" (1962), "Deep Are the Roots" (1963), "I Forgot What it Was Like" (1963)
had polio as a child
Baptist minister
see Ray Peterson on the Rockabilly Hall of Fame

Bobby Rosengarden (Robert Marshall Rosengarden)

b. 1924 in Elgin, IL - d. 27 Feb 2007 in Sarasota, FL (kidney failure)
jazz/pop musician, instruments: drums, percussions
founding member of The Trio, "I'll Remember April" (1977), "Right Here, Right Now" (1977), "Sweet Lorraine" (1994), "Cute" (1994), "Shiny Stockings" (1994)
session musician on The Walter Wanderley Trio's "Summer Samba (So Nice)" (#26 1966, One-Hit Wonder); Ben E. King's "Stand by Me" (#4 1961, #9 1986), Jay and the Americans' "She Cried" (#5 1962); and with Benny Goodman, Astrud Gilberto, Billie Holiday, Jimi Hendrix, and others
served in the Army Air Corps
see a Tribute to Bobby Rosengarden

Mark Schatz

b. 1955 in Philadelphia, PA
bluegrass singer
instruments: clawhammer banjo, bass
"Last Old Dollar" (2006), "Lennie's Misfortune" (2006), "Season of Joy" (2006), "Eileen's Waltz" (2006)
session musician with Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Bela Fleck, Tony Rice, Nickel Creek, and others
songwriter
music producer

Roland White

b. 1938/53 in Madawaska, ME
bluegrass/country/rock singer
instrument: mandolin, guitar
"Texas Gales" (1976), "Trying to Get to You" (1994), "The Wall Around My Heart" (1994)
founding member of The Roland White Band, "Hoping That You're Hoping" (2002), "Someone You Have Forgotten" (2002), "Cabin on the Hill" (2002)
with the Nashville Bluegrass Band (1989-98), "Weary Blues from Waitin'" (1990), "I'll Just Keep on Lovin' You" (1991), "Train of Yesterday" (1993), "Dark Shadows of Night" (1995), "Almost" (1995), "Blue Cadillac" (1998), "Down a Winding Road" (1998), "There's a Better Way" (2004), "Garfield's Blackberry Blossom" (2004), "The Luckiest Man Alive" (2004)
founding member of The Kentucky Colonels
with Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys (1967-69), "When My Blue Moon Turns to Gold Again" (1967), "Easy Way Out" (1967), "That's What Tears Me Up" (1968), "I Haven't Seen Mary in Years" (1969), "Walk Softly on My Heart" (1969), "Sweet Mary and the Miles in Between" (1969)
founding member of Lester Flatt's Nashville Grass (1969-73)
with Country Gazette (1976-88), "In Despair" (1977), "Another Rain Song" (1978), "Hello, Operator" (1981), "Love, Lost and Found" (1981), "Sweet Allis Chalmers" (1982), "Money in the Mail" (1982), "Cabin on a Mountain" (1986), "Right Before My Eyes" (1986), "Tallahassee" (1987)
session musician with Alan Munde, Dave Ferguson, and with others
songwriter
see The Blue Grass Boys
see Roland White
see Country Gazette on CMT.com

Tim Womack

b. 1968
country musician, instrument: lead guitar
founding member of Sons of the Desert (1989- ), "Hand of Fate" (#33c 1997), "Whatever Comes First" (#10c 1997), "Leaving October" (#31c 1998), "What about You?" (#45c 1999), "Everybody's Gotta Grow up Sometime" (#42c 2000), "What I Did Right" (#22c 2001)
Sons of the Desert were backup on Ty Herdon's "It Must Be Love" (#1c 1998); Lee Ann Womack's "I Hope You Dance" (#1c 2000)

April 24

Kelly Clarkson (Kelly Brianne Clarkson)

b. 1982 in Fort Worth, TX (grew up in Burleson, TX)
pop/rock singer
"A Moment Like This" (#1, #58c 2002), "Miss Independent" (#9 2003), "Since U Been Gone" (#2 2004), "Behind These Hazel Eyes" (#6 2005), "Because of You" (#7 2005)
songwriter
actress
see Kelly Clarkson

Cosmo Clifford (Doug Clifford)

b. 1945 in Palo Alto, CA
country/rock singer
instruments: drums, percussions, bass
"Daydream" (1972), "I Just Want to Cry" (1972)
founding member Creedence Clearwater Revival (1967-72), "Suzie-Q" (#11 1968), "Bad Moon Rising" (#2 1969), "Proud Mary" (#2 1969), "Down on the Corner" (#3 1969), "Green River" (#2 1969), "Fortunate Son" (#14 1969), "Lookin' Out My Back Door" (#2 1970), "Up Around the Bend" (#4 1970), "Who'll Stop the Rain?" (#2 1970), "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?" (#8 1971), "Sweet Hitch-Hiker" (#6 1971)
with the Steve Miller Band
with the Don Harrison Band
founding member of Creedence Clearwater Revisited (1995- )
see Creedence Clearwater Revival
see Creedence Clearwater Revisited

Joe Henderson (Joe A. Henderson aka 'Mr. Piano')

b. 1938 in Como, MS (grew up in Gary, IN) - d. 7 Nov 1964/66 in Nashville, TN (heart failure)
soul/blues/gospel singer
instrument: guitar, piano
"Trudie" (1958), "Baby, Don't Leave Me" (1961), "Snap Your Fingers" (#8 1962, One-Hit Wonder), "The Searching is Over" (1962), "All Day Every Day" (1963), "Cause We're in Love" (1963), "Blues for a Four-String Guitar" (1963), "If We Could Start All Over Again" (1964)
not sure about his birthday as it is also listed as the birthday of sax player, Joe Henderson

Rebecca Lynn Howard

b. 1979 in Salyerville, KY
country/pop singer
"When My Dreams Come True" (#65c 1999), "Out Here in the Water" (#54c 2000, she co-wrote), "Forgive" (#12c 2002, she co-wrote), "What a Shame" (#43c 2003), "That's Why I Hate Pontiacs" (2005)
duet with Ronnie Dunn, "If I Could Only Win Your Love" (2003)
songwriter

Ricky Owens (Richard Owens)

b. 1939 in St. Louis, MO - d. 6 Dec 1995 in CA
R&B/soul singer
founding member and first tenor with The Vibrations (1959-71, 1972-76), "So Blue" (1960), "The Watusi" (#25 1961), "Let's Pony Again" (1961), "Hamburgers on a Bun" (1962), "Cause You're Mine" (1963), "My Girl, Sloopy" (#26 1964), "Keep on Keeping on" (1965), "Finding Out the Hard Way" (1965), "You Better Beware" (1967), "A Shot of Love" (1968), "Expressway to Your Heart" (1969), "Man Overboard" (1972)
The Vibrations recording as The Marathons, "Peanut Butter" (#20 1961), "Talkin' Trash" (1961)
with The Temptations (1971, replaced Eddie Kendricks), "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)" (#1 1971)
see The Temptations
see The Vibrations on SoulWalking

Larry Rice

b. 1949 - d. 13 May 2006 (cancer)
bluegrass singer (baritone)
instrument: mandolin, guitar
"Clouds Over Carolina" (2005), "Don't Be Careful What You Wish For" (2005), "If You Only Knew" (2005)
founding member of The Rice Brothers, "Don't Think Twice" (1989), "All That You Ask" (1994), "That's When I'll Stop Loving You" (1994)
founding member of J.D. Crowe and the New South (1972-76, 1987), "Ten Degrees and Getting Colder" (1973), "You Can Share My Blanket" (1973), "I'm Walkin'" (1975), "Bear Tracks" (1987), "Born to Be with You" (1987), "Blackjack" (1987)
brother of Wyatt, Ronnie and Tony Rice

Ed Roberts (Edward L. Roberts)

b. 1936 - d. 15 Aug 1993 (cancer)
pop/doo-wop singer (tenor)
founding member and first tenor with Ruby and the Romantics, * "Our Day Will Come" (#1 1963), "My Summer Love" (#16 1963), "Hey There, Lonely Boy" (#27 1963), "Moonlight and Magic" (1963), "Our Everlasting Love" (#64 1964), "Does He Really Care for Me?" (1965), "When You're Young and in Love" (#48 1965), "Black Sheep" (#68 1967)
see Ruby and the Romantics

Freddie Scott

b. 1933 in Providence, RI - d. 4 Jun 2007
soul singer
instrument: drums
"Tell Them for Me" (1957), "Please Call" (1958), "A Letter Came This Morning" (1958), "A Faded Memory" (1958), "Lost the Right" (1961), "When the Wind Changes" (1961), "Hey, Girl (#10 1963), "I Got a Woman" (#48 1963), "Are You Lonely for Me?" (#39 1967, he co-wrote), "Never You Mind" (1967), "(You) Got What I Need" (1968), "Girl, I Love You" (1970), "Please Listen" (1971), "You Are So Hard to Forget" (1974)
songwriter
served in the military during the Korean War

Eldon Shamblin

b. 1916 in Weatherford, OK - d. 5 Aug 1998 in Tulsa, OK (heart failure)
western swing/country/rock musician, instruments: pedal steel guitar, electric guitar
with The Texas Playboys (1937-42, 1947-54, and reunions), "San Antonio Rose" (1938), "Maiden's Prayer" (1938), "Time Changes Everything" (1940), "Ida Red" (1940), "Take Me Back to Tulsa" (1941), "Cherokee Maiden" (1942), "You're from Texas" (1942), "Can't Get Enough of Texas" (1947), "Sugar Moon" (#1c 1947), "Bubbles in My Beer" (#4c 1948), "Keeper of My Heart" (#8c 1948), "Thorn in My Heart" (#10c 1949), "Ida Red (Likes the Boogie)" (#10c 1950), "Faded Love" (#8c 1950), "Sittin' on Top of the World" (1951), "Waltzing in Old San Antone" (1954), "Cadillac in Model 'A'" (1954)
with Merle Haggard's backup band The Strangers (1971- ), "Someday We'll Look Back" (#2c 1971), "Daddy Frank (the Guitar Man)" (#1c 1971), "Carolyn" (#58, #1c 1972), "Grandma Harp" (#1c 1972), "It's Not Love (But it's Not Bad)" (#1c 1972), "I Wonder if They Ever Think of Me" (#1c 1973), "Everybody's Had the Blues" (#62, #1c 1973), "If We Make it Through December" (#28, #1c 1974), "Things Aren't Funny Anymore" (#1c 1974), "Old Man from the Mountains" (#1c 1974), "Kentucky Gambler" (#1c 1974), "Always Wanting You" (#1c 1975), "Movin' on" (#1c 1975), "The Roots of My Raising" (#1c 1976), "Cherokee Maiden" (#1c 1976), "What Have You Got Planned Tonight, Diana?" (1976)
session musician
arranger
served in WWII (1942-44)
see The Texas Playboys

Richard Sterban (Richard Anthony Sterban aka Richard Sturbeon)

b. 1943 in Camden, NJ
country/gospel singer (bass)
instruments: trumpet, tuba, French horn, sousaphone
with The Oak Ridge Boys (1972- , replaced Noel Fox), "Family Reunion" (#83c 1976), "Ya'll Come Back Saloon" (#3c 1977), "Emmylou" (1977), "You're the One" (#2c 1977), "I'll Be True to You" (#1 1978), "Cryin' Again" (#3c 1978), "Come on in" (#3c 1978), "Sail Away" (#2c 1979), "Tryin' to Love Two Women" (#1c 1980), "Heart of Mine" (#105, #3c 1980), "Beautiful You" (#3c 1980), "Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight" (#1c 1980), "Elvira" (#5, #1c 1981, CMA single of the year 1981), "Fancy Free" (#1c 1981), "I Wish You Could Have Turned My Head (and Left My Heart Alone)" (#2c 1982), "Bobbie Sue" (#12, #1c 1982), "Thank God for Kids" (#3c 1982), "American Made" (#72, #1c 1983), "Love Song" (#1c 1983), "I Guess it Never Hurts to Hurt Sometime" (#1c 1983), "Every Day" (#1c 1984), "Make My Life with You" (#1c 1984), "Little Things" (#1c 1985), "Touch a Hand (Make a Friend)" (#1c 1985), "You Made a Rock Out of a Rolling Stone" (#24c 1986), "It Takes a Little Rain (To Make Love Grow) (#1C 1987), "This Crazy Love" (#1c 1987), "Whatever it Takes" (#1c 1987), "Bridges and Walls" (#10c 1988), "Gonna Take a Lot of River" (#1c 1988), "No Matter How High" (#1c 1989), * "Baby on Board" (#44c 1991), "Lucky Moon" (#6c 1991), "Love This Cat" (1991)
The Carter Family and the Oak Ridge Boys, "Praise the Lord and Pass the Soup" (#57c 1973)
the Oak Ridge Boys sang backup on Paul Simon's "Slip Slidin' Away" (#5 1978)
he is an avid bicyclist
see The Oak Ridge Boys

Barbara Streisand (Barbara Joan Streisand)

b. 1942 in Brooklyn, NY
pop singer
"People" (#5 1964), "Second-Hand Rose" (#32 1965), "Stoney End" (#6 1970), "The Way We Were" (#1 1974), "Evergreen" (#1 1977), "My Heart Belongs to Me" (#4 1977), "The Main Event" (#3 1979), "Kiss Me in the Rain" (1979), "Woman in Love" (#1 1980), "Comin' in and Out of Your Life" (#11 1981)
duet with Neil Diamond, "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" (#1, #70c 1978)
duet with Donna Summer, "No More Tears (Enough is Enough)" (#1 1979)
duets with Barry Gibb, "Guilty" (#3 1981), "What Kind of Fool?" (#10 1981)
duet with Celine Dion, "Tell Him" (1998)
duet with Vince Gill, "If You Ever Leave Me" (#62c 1999)
songwriter
music producer; actress
she is one of only a few people to win a Grammy, an Oscar, a Tony and an Emmy
md. to actor, Elliott Gould (1963-71); md. to actor, James Brolin (1998- )
see Barbara Streisand

George Tomsco

b. 1940 in Raton, NM
pop singer
instruments: rhythm guitar, lead guitar
founding member of The Fireballs (1958- ), "Fireball" (1958), "Torquay" (#39 1959), "Bulldog" (#24 1959), "Long Long Ponytail" (1959), "Sweet Talk" (1960), "Quite a Party" (#27 1961), "Gunshot" (1961), "Callin' the Sheriff" (1961), "My Heart is Free" (1963), "Sugar Shack" (#1 1963), "Daisy Petal Pickin'" (#15 1964), "Daytona Drag" (1964), "Thunder 'n' Lighting" (1964), "Cinnamon Cindy" (1965), "Wild Roses" (1966), "Ain't That Rain?" (1966), "Shy Girl" (1967), "Bottle of Wine" (#9 1968), "Three Minutes' Time" (1968), "Light in the Window" (1969), "Watch Her Walk" (1969)
see The Fireballs

Lillian Walker

b. 1945
pop/soul singer
founding member of The Exciters (1961- ), * "Tell Him" (#4 1963, One-Hit Wonder), "He's Got the Power" (#57 1963), "Get Him" (#76 1963), "I Knew You Would" (1965), "I Want You to Be My Boy" (#98 1965), "A Little Bit of Soap" (#58 1966), "Weddings Make Me Cry" (1966), "Take One Step (I'll Take Two)" (1968), "Learning How to Fly" (1971)
see The Exciters

Steve York

b. 1948
blues/rock/pop musician, instruments: bass, harmonica
founding member of Celebrators "Every Day I Have the Blues" (1996), "I Thought About You" (1996)
session musician with Marianne Faithfull, Manfred Mann, Laura Branigan, Bo Diddley, Tracy Nelson, Chuck Berry, The Drifters, The Shangri Las, and others
see Steve York

April 25

Terry Bailey

b. 1947 in Tacoma, WA - d. 20 Apr 2002 in Kennewick, WA (cancer)
rock singer
instruments: rhythm guitar, lead guitar, 12-string guitar, bass
with The Intruders (1963-65)
with The Regents (1965-67), "Turn and Run" (1966), "Bad Trip" (1966)
founding member of Christian (1972-73)
he was in a member of several local bands in the Tacoma, WA area

Prentiss Barnes

b. 1925 in Magnolia, MS - d. 30 Sep 2006 near Magnolia, MS (auto accident)
R&B/doo-wop singer (bass)
founding member of The Moonglows (1951-58), "I Just Can't Tell You No Lie" (1952), "I Knew from the Start" (1957), "Soda Pop" (1958)
see The Moonglows on Wikipedia

Michael Brown (Michael Lookofsky)

b. 1949 in New York, NY
pop/rock singer
instruments: piano, harpsichord
founding member of The Left Banke (1965-67), "Walk Away, Renee" (#5 1966, he wrote), "Pretty Ballerina" (#15 1967, he wrote), "Desiree" (#98 1967), "She May Call You Up Tonight" (1967)
recorded as The Left Banke but mostly session musicians instead of the group, "And Suddenly" (1967), "Ivy Ivy" (1967)
with Montage "I Shall Call Her Mary" (1968, he wrote as a tribute to Mary Weiss), "Tinsel and Ivy" (1968, he co-wrote), "An Audience With Miss Priscilla Gray" (1968, he co-wrote)
with Stories
session musician
songwriter
md. to Joyce Norden

Cliff Bruner (Clifton Lafayette Bruner)

b. 1915 in Texas City, TX (grew up near Houston, TX) - d. 25 Aug 2000 (cancer)
country/western swing singer
instrument: fiddle
with The Musical Brownies (1935-36), "One of Us Was Wrong" (1935), "Beautiful Texas" (1935), "Little Betty Brown" (1935), "Mexicali Rose" (1936), "The Eyes of Texas" (1936), "My Galveston Gal" (1936), "If You Can't Get Five, Take Two" (1936)
founding member of The Texas Wanderers (1936-195?), "Sunbonnet Sue" (1938), "Truck Drivers Blues" (1939), "Peggy Lou" (1940), "Jessie" (1940), "Draft Board Blues" (1941), "Snowflakes" (1947), "When You're Smiling" (1947), "Is it Wrong to Love You?" (1950)
session musician with Willie Nelson, Moon Mullican, and others
see Cliff Bruner and the Texas Wanderers on Wikipedia
see Milton Brown and His Musical Brownies

Vassar Clements (Vassar Carlton Clements)

b. 1928 in Kinard, SC (grew up in Kissimee, FL) - d. 16 Aug 2005 in Goodlettsville, TN (lung cancer)
bluegrass/western swing/country/rock musician, instruments: fiddle, guitar, bass, mandolin, dobro, cello, viola, tenor banjo
"There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight" (#70c 1980), "Hear the South" (#83c 1988)
with The Texas Playboys (1968), "Born to Love You" (1968)
with Jim and Jesse (1957-62), "Border Ride" (1958), "The Flame of Love" (1960)
founding member of Old and in the Way, "Goin' to the Races" (1973), "Lonesome L.A. Cowboy" (1973), "Panama Red" (1975), "Old and in the Way" (1975)
with Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys (1949-50, 1955, 1961-62, 1967), "When You Are Lonely" (#12c 1949), "Heavy Traffic Ahead" (1949, he wrote), "Along about Daybreak" (1949, he wrote), "Uncle Pen" (1950, he wrote about his uncle Pendleton), "Cheyenne" (1955), "When My Blue Moon Turns to Gold Again" (1967), "Easy Way Out" (1967)
session musician with Paul McCartney, Johnny Cash, The Byrds, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, John Hartford, and others
songwriter
see The Blue Grass Boys
see The Texas Playboys
see Vassar Clements

Stu Cook

b. 1945 in Oakland, CA
country/rock singer
instruments: bass, drums
founding member of Creedence Clearwater Revival (1967-72), "Suzie-Q" (#11 1968), "Bad Moon Rising" (#2 1969), "Proud Mary" (#2 1969), "Down on the Corner" (#3 1969), "Green River" (#2 1969), "Fortunate Son" (#14 1969), "Lookin' Out My Back Door" (#2 1970), "Up Around the Bend" (#4 1970), "Who'll Stop the Rain?" (#2 1970), "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?" (#8 1971), "Sweet Hitchhiker" (#6 1971)
with Southern Pacific (1986-91, replaced Jerry Scheff), "A Girl Like Emmylou" (#17c 1986, he co-wrote), "Don't Let Go of My Heart" (#26c 1987), "Midnight Highway" (#14c 1988), "New Shade of Blue" (#2c 1988), "Bail Out" (1988), "Wheels on the Line" (1988), "Honey, I Dare You" (#5c 1989, he co-wrote), "Any Way the Wind Blows" (#4c 1990), "Side Saddle" (1990), "Reckless Heart" (#32c 1990), "I Go to Pieces" (#31c 1990)
Southern Pacific and Carlene Carter, "Time's Up" (#26c 1989)
with the Don Harrison Band
with Cosmo's Factory
founding member of Creedence Clearwater Revisited (1995- )
see Southern Pacific on Wikipedia
see Creedence Clearwater Revival
see Creedence Clearwater Revisited

Rob Crosby (Robert Crosby Hoar)

b. 1954 in Sumpter, SC
country/folk singer
instrument: guitar, acoustic guitar
"Love Will Bring Her Around" (#12c 1991, he co-wrote), "She's a Natural" (#15c 1991, he wrote), "Still Burnin' for You" (#20c 1991), "When Hearts Agree" (1992, he co-wrote), "Working Woman" (#28c 1992, he co-wrote), "We'll Cross That Bridge" (1992, he co-wrote), "Another Time and Place" (1992, he wrote)
songwriter, wrote Chance's "She Told Me Yes" (1985)
see Rob Crosby

Karl Farr (Karl Marx Farr)

b. 1909 in Rochelle, TX – d. 20 Sep 1961 in West Springfield, MA (heart attack)
country singer
instrument: lead guitar
with Len Nash and His Country Boys (1929-33), "On the Road to California" (1929), "Kelley Waltz" (1930)
founding member of The Haywire Trio (1933)
lead guitarist with the Sons of the Pioneers (1935-61), "Let Me Keep My Memories" (1943), "No One to Cry to" (#6c 1946), "Home in Oklahoma" (1946), "Teardrops in My Heart" (#4c 1947, #7c 1948), "Cool Water" (#4c 1947), "The Everlasting Hills of Oklahoma" (1947), "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" (#11c 1948), "Room Full of Roses" (#26, #10c 1949), "The Timber Trail" (1949), "Santa Fe, New Mexico" (1949), "Wagons West" (1950), "Little White Cross" (1950), "Echoes from the Hills" (1951), "If You Would Only Be Mine" (1954), "The Tennessee Rock and Roll" (1955), "The Three of Us" (1955), "A Fiddle, a Rifle, an Axe and a Bible" (1958), "Blue Shadows on the Trail" (1959), "Riders in the Sky" (1959)
the Sons of the Pioneers backing Roy Rogers, "Blue Shadows on the Trail" (#6c 1948), "That Palomino Pal of Mine" (1949), "Stampede" (#8c 1950)
md. to May Barksdale; brother of Hugh Farr
his fatal heart attack came when he was on stage during a concert changing a broken guitar string
see The Sons of the Pioneers on CMT.com

Ella Fitzgerald (Ella Jane Fitzgerald)

b. 1917 in Newport News, VA (grew up in NY) - d. 15 Jun 1996 in Beverly Hills, CA (complications of diabetes)
jazz/pop singer (three-octave range)
"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" (#1 1938, she co-wrote), "Once Too Often" (#20 1944), "When My Sugar Walks Down the Street" (#2c 1944), "Lady Be Good" (1947), "In the Evening (When the Sun Goes Down)" (1950), "Walkin' by the River" (#29 1952), "Airmail Special (Good Enough to Keep)" (1952), "Mack the Knife" (#27 1960)
duets with The Ink Spots, "I'm Making Believe" (#1 1944), "I'm Beginning to See the Light" (#5 1945)
duet with Louis Jordan, "Stone Cold Dead in the Market (He Had it Coming)" (#7 1946)
songwriter
bandleader; actress
md. 1st to Benny Kornegay (1971-43); md. 2nd to bass player, Ray Brown (1947-53)

Ronnie Gilbert

b. 1946
pop/rock singer
instrument: bass guitar
founding member of The Blues Magoos (1964-69), "(We Ain't Got) Nothin' Yet" (#5 1967, One-Hit Wonder), "There's a Chance We Can Make it" (1967), "Pipe Dream" (1967), "One by One" (1967)

Jimmy Hughes

b. 1935/38 in Leighton, AL or Florence, AL - d. 1 Apr 1997
soul/blues/gospel singer
"Cheating Words" (1960), "Steal Away" (#17 1964, One-Hit Wonder, he wrote), "Lollipops, Lace and Lipstick" (1964), "When it Comes to Dancing" (1965), "Midnight Affair" (1965), "Everybody Let's Dance" (1966), "Neighbor, Neighbor" (1966), "You Can't Believe Everything You Hear" (1967), "Time Will Bring You Back" (1967), "Why Not Tonight?" (1967), "What Side of the Door?" (1968), "Sweet Things You Do" (1968), "Lay it on the Line" (1970), "Did You Forget?" (1971)
with The Singing Clouds
songwriter

Mike Kogel (Michael Volker Kogel)

b. 1945 in Berlin, Germany
pop rock singer
instrument: guitar
recorded as Mike Kennedy, "Golden Memories" (1970)
founding member of Los Bravos (1965-69), "Black is Black" (#4 1966, One-Hit Wonder), "I Don't Care" (1966), "Bring a Little Lovin'" (#51 1968)
see Los Bravos on Wikipedia

O.B. McClinton (Obie Burnett McClinton)

b. 1940/42 in Senatobia, MS – d. 23 Sep 1987 (stomach cancer)
country singer
instrument: guitar
"Six-Pack of Trouble" (#70c 1972), "Don't Let the Green Grass Fool You" (#37c 1973), "My Whole World is Falling Down" (#36c 1973), "Yours and Mine" (#77c 1975), "It's So Good Lovin' You" (#100c 1976, he wrote), "Country Roots" (1977), "Natural Love" (#82c 1978), "Soap" (#58c 1979, he wrote), "Not Exactly Free" (#62c 1980), "Honky-Tonk Tan" (#69c 1984, he co-wrote), "Turn the Music on" (#61c 1987, he wrote)
duet with Peggy Jo Adams, "Hello, This is Anna" (1978)
songwriter
served in the Air Force (1966- )

Jinny Osborn (Virgina Ann Cole aka Jinny Lockard)

b. 1927 in Seattle, WA – d. 19 May 2003 in Palm Springs, CA
pop/rock singer (tenor)
founding member of The Chordettes (1946-52, 1955-61), "Born to Be with You" (#5 1956), "Eddie, My Love" (#14 1956), "(Fifi's) Walking the Poodle" (1957), "Just between You and Me" (#8 1957), "Photographs" (1957), "Love is a Two-Way Street" (1958), "Lollipop" (#2 1958), "No Other Arms, No Other Lips" (#27 1959), "Never on Sunday" (#13 1961), "A Faraway Star" (1961)
md. to Mr. Janis
see The Chordettes on Wikipedia

Larry Robbins

b. 1945 in Dickerson, MD
country/bluegrass musician, instruments: bass, banjo
founding member of The Johnson Mountain Boys (1978-86), "I'm Still to Blame" (1983), "Say You'll Take Me Back" (1983), "Making up Stories" (1984), "I'll Never See You Anymore" (1984)

John Van Horn (aka Jack Van Horn)

b. 1942 - d. 29 Nov 2002
rock singer
instruments: guitar, dobro
"Sunday Crossroads" (1972), "Tossing Stones" (1972), "Mountain Mama" (1972)
founding member of The Fenderbenders, "Drag Strip" (1964), "XKE" (1964)
with Face Value, "These Times" (1964)
with Link Wray and the Raymen (1965), "Ace of Spades" (1965)
with The Spiders, "Baby Doll" (1964), "Run, Boy, Run" (1964), "You're My Baby" (1965)
session musician
see Link Wray

April 26

Joe Caverlee

b. 1968 in Dayton, OH
country/rock singer
instrument: fiddle
with Yankee Grey (1998- ), "All Things Considered" (#54, #8c 1999), "I Should Have Listened to Me" (1999), "That Would Be Me" (1999), "This Time Around" (#43c 2000), "Another Nine Minutes" (#74, #15c 2000), "Not That Way for Everyone" (2002), "Friends" (2002)

Claudine Clark

b. 1941 in Macon, GA (grew up in Philadelphia, PA)
pop singer
"Angel of Happiness" (1958), "The Get Set Song" (1960, she wrote), * "Party Lights" (#5 1962, One-Hit Wonder, she wrote), "Telephone Game" (1962), "Walkin' Through a Cemetery" (1962), "Walk Me Home" (1963), "Buttered Popcorn" (1964), "Standing on Tip Toes" (1964)
recorded as Sherry Pye, "Ask the Girl Who Knows" (1974, she wrote)
recorded as Joy Dawn, "First Time for Tears" (1963), "Hang it Up" (1963)
songwriter

Jay DeMarcus (Stanley Wayne DeMarcus, Jr.)

b. 1971 in Columbus, OH
country/Christian singer
instruments: bass, keyboards, piano, guitar, mandolin, drums
founding member of Rascal Flatts (2000- ), "Prayin' for Daylight" (#38, #3c 2000), "This Everyday Love" (#9c 2001), "Long Slow Beautiful Dance" (#73c 2001), "While You Loved Me" (#60, #7c 2001), * "I'm Moving on" (#37, #4c 2001), * "These Days" (#23, #1c 2002), "Love You Out Loud" (#30, #2c 2003), "I Melt" (#33, #2c 2003), "Mayberry" (#21, #1c 2004), * "Bless the Broken Road" (#29, #1c 2005), "Fast Cars and Freedom" (#38, #1c 2005), "Skin (Sarabeth)" (#42, #2c 2005), * "What Hurts the Most" (#6, #1c 2006), "Pieces" (#57c 2006), "Life is a Highway" (#7, #18c 2006), "My Wish" (#28, #1c 2006), "Me and My Gang" (#50, #6c 2006), "Stand" (#46, #1c 2007), "Take Me There" (#1c 2007)
with New Harvest
arranger
md. to Allison Alderson (2004- ), Vince Gill sang at their wedding
cousin of Gary LeVox
see Rascal Flatts

Duane Eddy

b. 1938 in Corning, NY
rock musician, instrument: guitar
backed by his band The Rebels, "Ramrod" (#27 1958), "Rebel Rouser" (#6, #17c 1958, he co-wrote), "Cannonball" (#15 1958, he co-wrote), "Forty Miles of Bad Road" (#9 1959), "Some Kind-a Earthquake" (#37 1959, shortest ever top-forty song), "Peter Gunn" (#27 1960), "Bonnie, Came Back" (#26 1960), "Because They're Young" (#4 1960), "Theme from Dixie" (#39 1961), "Ballad of Paladin" (#33 1962), "Dance with the Guitar Man" (#12 1962, he co-wrote), "Runaway Pony" (1962), "Boss Guitar" (#28 1963, he co-wrote), "Your Baby's Gone Surfin'" (1964, he co-wrote), "Jerky Jalopy" (1964), "Water Skiing" (1964), "Roughneck" (1965), "Monsoon" (1967)
duet with Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, "You Are My Sunshine" (#69c 1977)
session musician on B.J. Thomas' "Rock and Roll Lullaby" (#15 1972), Emmylou Harris' "I Had My Heart Set on You" (#60c 1986); and others
songwriter
md. to Jessi Colter (1966-69)
see the Duane Eddy Tribute Page

Jeff Huskins (Jeffrey Howard Huskins)

b. 1966 (maybe Apr 25) in Arlington, TX
country singer
instruments: keyboards, fiddle, guitar
with Clint Black's band (1990-92), "Loving Blind" (#1c 1991), "Where Are You Now?" (#1c 1991), "We Tell Ourselves" (#2c 1992), "When My Ship Comes in" (#1c 1993)
with Little Texas (1995-97, replaced Brady Seals), "Life Goes on" (#5 1995), "Country Crazy" (#44c 1996), "Bad for Us" (#45c 1997), "Kiss the Girl" (#52c 1997)
music producer
md. to Leslie Buchanan (1995- )
see Little Texas

Jorgen Ingmann (Jorgen Ingmann-Pedersen)

b. 1925 in Copenhagen, Denmark
pop musician, instruments: guitar, violin
as Jorgen Ingmann and His Guitar (he played different guitars and overdubbed them to create the songs), "Echo Boogie" (1960), "Apache" (#2 1961, One-Hit Wonder), "Pinetop's Boogie Woogie" (1962), "Violetta" (1962), "Drina" (1963), "Desert March" (1964), "Seven Roses" (1966)
songwriter
md. to Grethe (1956-75)

Michael Jeffers

b. 1972
country/bluegrass/rock singer
instrument: bass
founding member of Pinmonkey (2001- ), "Barbed Wire and Roses" (#25c 2002), "I Drove All Night" (#36c 2003), "The Longest Road" (2002), "Fallin' All the Time" (2006), "Big Shiny Cars" (2006), "Mountain Song" (2006)
brother of Chad Jeffers

Johnny Mosby (Janice Irene Shields)

b. 1933 in Fort Smith, AR
country singer
founding member of Johnny and Joni Mosby, "Still Going Steady" (1958), "Don't Call Me from a Honky-Tonk" (#13c 1963), "Trouble in My Arms" (#13c 1963), "Who's Cheatin' Who?" (#27c 1963), "Keep Those Cards and Letters Coming in" (#16c 1964), "Make a Left and Then a Right" (#36c 1967, he co-wrote), "Hello There, Stranger" (1968, he co-wrote), "Just Hold My Hand" (#12c 1969), "Walkin' Papers" (1969), "I'm Leavin' it Up to You" (#18c 1970)
bandleader
songwriter
md. to singer, Joni Shields (1958-73)

Tony Murray

b. 1945 in England
rock musician, instrument: bass
with The Troggs, "Lost Girl" (1966), * "With a Girl Like You" (#29 1966), "Wild Thing" (#1 1966), "Hi Hi Hazel" (1967), "As I Ride By" (1967), "Girl in Black" (1967), "Cousin Jane" (1968), * "Love is All Around" (#7 1968), "Sweet Madelaine" (1970)

Cecil Null (Cecil Allen Null)

b. 1927 in East War, WV - d. 26 Aug 2001 in Bristol, VA (cancer)
country/gospel singer
instrument: autoharp
"Mother Maybelle" (1964, he wrote as a tribute to Maybelle Carter), "Plastic Soldier" (1971), "She's Hungry Again" (1971)
songwriter, wrote The Davis Sisters' "I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know" (#1 1953)
designed autoharps
served in the Navy during WWII

C. Carson Parks (Clarence Carson Parks, II)

b. 1936 in Philadelphia, PA - d. 22 Jun 2005 in St. Marys, GA (kidney failure)
folk singer
with The Easy Riders (1960-63), "The Cry of the Wild Goose" (1963)
founding member of The Steeltown Two, "The Wolves" (1959, he co-wrote), "The Potter's Wheel" (1959), "Julena" (196?, he co-wrote)
founding member of The Steeltown Three, "The Girl With Sad Eyes" (1962)
founding member of The Southcoasters, "San Francisco Bay" (1962)
with The Greenwood County Singers, "Ballad of Cat Ballou" (1961), "Pennsylvania Home" (1961, he co-wrote), "Blue is the Wind" (1961), "Climb Up Sunshine Mountain" (#75 1964), "Friends I Used to Know" (1966)
songwriter, wrote The Mills Brothers' "Cab Driver (Drive by Mary's Place)" (#23 1968); Frank and Nancy Sinatra's, "Something Stupid" (#1 1967)
older brother of musician, Van Dyke Parks
md. to singer, Gaile Foote
see C. Carson Parks

Dave Pomeroy

b. 1956 in Naples, Italy (grew up in Alexandria, VA)
country/jazz/folk musician, instruments: upright bass, electric bass
"Basses Loaded" (1996), "Workin' Against Resistance" (1996), "Buckle Up" (1996), "Tomorrow Never Knows" (2002), "Stargazing" (2002), "Old Friends" (2002), "Future Past" (2002)
lead guitarist with The Scratch Band (1980- )
The Scratch Band backed Don Williams
founding member of Tone Patrol
session musician with Guy Clark, Billy Joe Shaver, Elton John, Keith Whitley, Trisha Yearwood, Willie Nelson, Kathy Mattea, Emmylou Harris, Alan Jackson, The Cheiftans, and others
see Dave Pomroy

Bobby Rydell (Robert Ridarelli)

b. 1942 in Philadelphia, PA
pop singer
instrument: drums
"We Got Love" (#6 1959), "Kissin' Time" (1959), "Little Bitty Girl" (#19 1960), "Sway" (#14 1960), "Swingin' School" (#5 1960), "Wild One" (#2 1960), "Volare" (#4 1960), "The Fish" (#25 1961), "Good-Time Baby" (#11 1961), "I Wanna Thank You" (#21 1961), "I'll Never Dance Again" (#14 1962), "(I've Got) Bonnie" (#18 1962), "The Cha-Cha-Cha" (#10 1962), "Butterfly Baby" (#23 1963), "Wildwood Days" (#17 1963), "Childhood Sweetheart" (1963), "Forget Him" (#4 1963), "Little Girl, You've Had a Busy Day" (1964)
duets with Chubby Checker, "Jingle Bell Rock" (#21 1961), "Teach Me the Twist" (1962)
actor
see Bobby Rydell

Monte Warden

b. 1967 in Houston, TX
country/rockabilly/rock/pop singer
instrument: rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar
backed by his band The Lonesharks, "Give My Heart a Break" (1993), "Just to Hear Your Voice" (1993), "Car Seat" (1993), "Feel Better" (1993), "Here I Am" (1995, he co-wrote), "Wicked Lies" (1995, he co-wrote), "Do You Remember?" (1995, he wrote), "Your Heart Will Come Around" (1999), "It's Only Love" (1999), "Madeline" (1999), "I Can't Tell My Heart What to Do" (1999)
founding member of The Wagoneers (1985- ), "I Wanna Know Her Again" (#43c 1988, he wrote), "Every Step of the Way" (#52c 1988, he wrote), "Lie and Say You Love Me" (1988), "Help Me Get Over You" (#66 1989, he wrote), "Sit a Little Closer" (#53c 1989, he co-wrote)
duet with Kelly Willis, "The Only One" (1993)
songwriter, co-wrote George Strait's "Desperately" (#44, #6c 2004)

John 'Bucky' Wilkins (aka Ronny Wilkins aka Ronny Dayton)

b. 1946 in Tulsa, OK
rock singer
instrument: guitar
"Delta Day" (1968)
founding member and lead of Ronny and the Daytonas (1964-69), "G.T.O." (#4 1964, he wrote), "Hot-Rod Baby" (1964), "Little Scrambler" (1965), "No Wheels" (1965), "Sandy" (#27 1965), "Dianne, Dianne" (1966), "Antique '32 Studebaker Dictator Coupe" (1966), "Then the Rains Came" (1966), "Winter Weather" (1966)
songwriter

Maurice Williams

b. 1938 in Lancaster, SC
R&B/pop singer
instrument: piano
founding member and lead singer of The Gladiolas (1955-59), "Little Darlin'" (#41 1957, he wrote), "Sweetheart, Please Don't Go" (1957), "Comin' Home to You" (1957)
founding member of Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs (1959- ), "Stay (Just a Little Bit Longer)" (#1 1960, One-Hit Wonder, he wrote), "I Remember" (#86 1961), "Come Along" (#83 1961)
songwriter

Gary Wright

b. 1943 in Creskill, NJ
rock singer
instruments: piano, keyboards, organ
"Get on the Right Road" (1971), "The Wrong Time" (1971), "Blind Feeling" (1975), "Made to Love You" (1975), * "Dream Weaver" (#2 1976), "Love is Alive" (#2 1976), "Child of Light" (1977), "Night Ride" (1977), "Starry-Eyed" (1977), "The Light of Smiles" (1977), "Moonbeams" (1979), "Love is Why" (1979), "Really Wanna Know You" (#16 1981), "Heartbeat" (1981)
founding member of Spooky Tooth (1967-74, 2004), "Society's Child" (1968), "Bubbles" (1968, he co-wrote), "It Hurts You" (1968, he co-wrote), "Better By You, Better Than Me" (1969)
with Steelers Wheel, "Stuck in the Middle with You" (#6 1973)
songwriter
actor
quote by Gary Wright: "The Internet is both great and terrible. As a source of information, a tool for delivering music and art, it's great. But spamming ads and piracy of music is terrible. it's stealing."

April 27

Maxine Brown

b. 1931 in Campti, LA (grew up in Pine Bluff, AR)
country/pop singer
instrument: guitar
"My Biggest Mistake" (1968), "Sugar Cane County" (#64c 1969, she wrote), "We'll Cry Together" (1969)
founding member of The Browns (1955-66), "Here Today and Gone Tomorrow" (#7c 1955, she co-wrote), "Draggin' Main Street" (1956), "I Take the Chance" (#2c 1956), "I Heard the Bluebirds Sing" (#4c 1957), "The Three Bells (The Jimmy Brown Story)" (#1c, #1 1959), "Scarlet Ribbons (for Her Hair)" (#13, #7c 1959), "The Old Lamplighter" (#5, #20c 1960), "Margo (the Ninth of May)" (1960), "Alpha and Omega" (1961), "Dear Teresa" (1963), "Then I'll Stop Loving You" (#12c 1964), "Oh No, Not My Baby" (#24 1965), "Meadowgreen" (1965), "I'd Just Be Fool Enough" (#16c 1966), "Coming Back to You" (#19c 1966)
duet with Jim Ed Brown, "Looking Back to See" (#8c 1954, she co-wrote)
songwriter
author
md. to Tom Russell; sister of Jim Ed and Bonnie Brown

Sheena Easton (Sheena Shirley Orr)

b. 1959 in Bellshill, Scotland
pop/R&B singer
"9 to 5 (Morning Train)" (#1 1981), "For Your Eyes Only" (#4 1981), "You Could Have Been With Me" (#15 1982), "Telefone (Long Distance Love Affair)" (#9 1983), "Almost Over You" (#25, #86c 1984), "Strut" (#7 1984), "The Lover in Me" (#2 1988), "What Comes Naturally" (#19 1991)
duet with Kenny Rogers, "We've Got Tonight" (#6, #1c 1983)
songwriter
actress
md. to Sandy Easton (1979)
see Sheena Easton

Sonny Geraci (Fred Gerace)

b. 1947 in Cleveland, OH
rock/soul singer
founding member and lead singer with The Outsiders (1964-68), "Was it Really Real?" (1966), "Time Won't Let Me" (#5 1966), "Girl in Love" (#21 1966), "Respectable" (#15 1966), "Help Me, Girl" (#37 1967), "Oh, How it Hurts" (1968)
founding member and lead singer of Climax, "Friendship" (1970), "Precious and Few" (#1 1972, One-Hit Wonder)
see The Outsiders

Cornelius Grant

b. 1943
R&B/soul musician, instrument: guitar
with The Temptations, "The Further You Look, the Less You See" (1963), "May I Have This Dance?" (1963), "The Way You Do the Things You Do" (#11 1964), "It's Growing" (1965), "Since I Lost My Baby" (#17 1965), "My Girl" (#1 1965, reply to Mary Wells' "My Guy"), "What Love Has Joined Together" (1965), "Beauty is Only Skin Deep" (#3 1966), "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" (#13 1966), "(I Know) I'm Losing You" (#8 1967, he co-wrote), "All I Need" (#8 1967), "You're My Everything" (#6 1967), "I Wish it Would Rain" (#4 1968), "I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)" (#13 1968), "Please Return Your Love to Me" (#26 1968), "Cloud Nine" (#6 1969), "I Can't Get Next to You" (#1 1969), "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World is Today)" (#3 1970), "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)" (#1 1971), "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" (#1 1972), "Masterpiece" (#7 1973), "Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are)" (1971), "Take a Look Around" (1972), "Hey Girl (I Like Your Style)" (1973), "Glasshouse" (1975), "Struck By Lightning Twice" (1980), "There's More Where That Came From" (1980), "Treat Her Like a Lady" (1984), "She Got Tired of Loving Me" (1985), "Someone" (1986)
sessionist on Gladys Knight and the Pips' "I Heard it Through the Grapevine" (#2 1967); and with Mary Wells, Marvin Gaye, and others
songwriter
arranger
see The Temptations

Pete Ham (William Peter Ham)

b. 1947 in Wales - d. 24 Apr 1975 in London, England (suicide)
rock singer
instruments: guitar, piano
founding member of The Iveys (1965-69), "Maybe Tomorrow" (#67 1968)
founding member of Badfinger (1970-75), "Come and Get it" (#7 1970), "No Matter What" (#8 1970, he wrote), "It Had to Be" (1970), "Baby Blue" (#14 1971, he wrote), "Day after Day" (#4 1972, he wrote)
session musician on Ringo Starr's "It Don't Come Easy" (#4 1971); and with George Harrison, and others
songwriter
environmentalist
hung himself in his garage
see Badfinger

Tommy Hill

b. 1929 near Coy City, TX - d. 21 Mar 2002
rockabilly/country singer
instruments: drums, guitar, fiddle
"I Ain't Settin' Where I Was" (1952, he wrote), "The More I Give, the More You Take" (1952), "Collision With Love" (1955), "Six Foot of Earth" (1955), "I Wanna Show My Baby Off" (1956), "Although I'm Second-Hand" (1956), "Mister Jukebox" (1956), "Ain't Nothing Like Lovin'" (1958), "Can't Help it" (1958), "Love Words" (1958) (the songs recorded in 1958 were released years later)
with The Texas Hillbillies
session musician on Webb Pierce's "Slowly" (#1c 1954, he co-wrote); Ronnie Self's "Bop-a-Lena" (#68 1958); and with George Jones, Charlie Musselwhite, Ernest Tubb, Smiley Burnette, and others
songwriter, wrote Goldie Hill's "I Let the Stars Get in My Eyes" (#1c 1953, reply to "Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes")
music producer
brother of singer, Goldie Hill
see Tommy Hill on the Rockabilly Hall of Fame

Adolph Jacobs (Herman Adolph Jacobsen)

b. 1931 in Oakland, CA
R&B/novelty/rock musician, instrument: guitar
"Move Around Easy" (1959), "Walkin' and Whistlin'" (1959)
with The Medallions (1955), "Buick 59" (1954), "The Telegram" (1955), "Coupe De Ville Baby" (1955), "Edna" (1955), "Speedin'" (1955), "Don't Shoot, Baby" (1955)
with The Coasters (1956-58), "Searchin'" (#3 1957), "Three Cool Cats" (1958)
session musician with Larry Williams, Little Richard, and others
songwriter
see The Coasters

Herb Pedersen

b. 1944 in Berkeley, CA
country/rock/bluegrass/folk singer
instrument: acoustic guitar, 5-string banjo
"Younger Days" (1976, he wrote), "Wait a Minute" (1976, he wrote), "About Love Again" (1977, he wrote), "Our Baby's Gone" (#56c 1977, he wrote)
with The Dillards (1968-70, replaced Doug Dillard), "Biggest Whatever" (1968)
founding member, guitarist and banjo player with the Desert Rose Band (1985-93), "Once More" (1987), "Ashes of Love" (#26c 1987), "He's Back and I'm Blue" (#1c 1987), "Love Reunited" (#6c 1987), "One Step Forward" (#2c 1987), "I Still Believe in You" (#1c 1988), "Summer Wind" (#2c 1988), "She Don't Love Nobody" (#3c 1989), "Hello, Trouble" (#11c 1989), "Start All Over Again" (#6c 1990), "In Another Lifetime" (#13c 1990), "Story of Love" (#10c 1990), "Will This Be the Day?" (#37c 1991), "You Can Go Home" (#53 1991)
founding member of Country Gazette (1971)
with John Denver's band (1977-80)
founding member of The Laurel Canyon Ramblers (1994- )
session musician for Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris, and others
songwriter
music producer
see The Dillards
see Herb Pedersen
see Country Gazette on CMT.com

Dave Peel (David Peel)

b. 1945 in Nashville, TN
country/rock singer
"My Baby" (1969), "I'm Walkin'" (#66c 1969), "(You've Got to) Move Two Mountains" (#56c 1971), "I Thought of You Today" (1971), "(You're Walking Through the) Rooms of My Mind" (1971), "An Ordinary Day (in the Life of a Fool)" (1972)
duets with Connie Eaton, "Hit the Road, Jack" (#44c 1970), "The Question" (1970), "It Takes Two" (#56c 1970), "In the Shadows of the Night" (1971)
actor

Ann Peebles

b. 1947 in East St. Louis, MO
soul singer
"Give Me Some Credit" (1969), "Generation Gap Between Us" (1970), "Part-Time Love" (#45 1970), "I Pity the Fool" (#85 1971), "I've Been There Before" (1972), "I Can't Stand the Rain" (#38 1973), "Until You Came into My Life" (1975), "I'm Leaving You" (1975), "When I'm in Your Arms" (1977), "Being Here with You" (1978), "I Didn't Take Your Man" (1978)
songwriter
md. to Don Bryant (1974- )

James Prosser

b. 19?? in Mound Valley, KS
country singer
"Life Goes on" (#59c 1999), "Sea of Heartbreak" (1999), "Angels Don't Fly" (#66c 1999), "The Girl Next Door" (1999)
songwriter

Kirby Stone

b. 1918 in New York, NY
pop/rock/jazz/swing singer
founding member of The Kirby Stone Four, "Can I Kiss You Goodnight?" (1949), "Juke Box Dream" (1957, he co-wrote), "Raven" (1957), "Baubles, Bangles and Beads" (#25 1958, One-Hit Wonder), "Red Shoes" (1959)
songwriter

Clive Taylor

b. 1947 in Cardiff
blues/pop musician, instrument: bass
founding member of Amen Corner (1966-69), "World of Broken Hearts" (1967), "(If Paradise is) Half As Nice" (1969), "Hello, Suzie" (1969)
founding member of Fair Weather (1970-71), "Natural Sinner" (1970), "Haven't I Tried?" (1970)

April 28

Peter Anders (Peter Andreoli)

b. 1941
pop singer
"Sunrise Highway" (1967)
founding member of The Videls, "I'll Keep on Waiting" (1960), "A Letter From Ann" (1961)
founding member of The Trade Winds, "New York's a Lonely Town" (#32 1965, One-Hit Wonder), "The Girl From Greenwich Village" (1965), "Mind Excursion" (1966)
founding member of The Innocence, "There's Got to Be a Word" (#34 1967, One-Hit Wonder), "A Lifetime Loving You" (1967), "All I Do is Think About You" (1967), "Whence I Make Thee Mine" (1967), "Someone Got Caught in My Eye" (1967)
(on the above three groups he was accompanied by session musicians)
songwriter, co-wrote The Ronettes' "(The Best Part of) Breakin' Up" (#39 1964)

Ann-Margret (Ann-Margret Olsson)

b. 1941 in Sweden (grew up in Winnetka, IL)
pop singer
"I Just Don't Understand" (#17 1961, One-Hit Wonder), "What Am I Supposed to Do?" (1962), "Let's Stop Kidding Each Other" (1962), "What Did I Have That I Don't Have Now?" (1965), "Love Rush" (1970)
actress
see Ann-Margaret

Beverly Bivens (Beverly Ann Bivens)

b. 1946 in Santa Ana, CA
folk/rock singer
founding member and lead singer of We Five (1965-66), "You Were on My Mind" (#3 1965), "Small World" (1965), "Let's Get Together" (#31 1965), "Inch Worm" (1967), "Five Will Get You Ten" (1967)
md. to bass player, Fred Marshall (1966- )
see We Five

The Fantastic Johnny C (Johnny Corley)

b. 1943 in Greenwood, SC
soul singer
"Boogaloo Down Broadway" (#7 1967), "Got What You Need" (1967), "Hitch it to the Horse" (#34 1968), "The Bounce" (1968), "Let's Do it Together" (1970), "Don't Depend on Me" (1973)
served in the military

Billy Johnson (William McDowell Johnson)

b. 1928 in Hartford, CT - d. 28 Apr 1987 in Los Angeles, CA
R&B/doo-wop singer
instrument: guitar
founding member of The Moonglows (1951-58), "I Just Can't Tell You No Lie" (1952), "I Knew from the Start" (1957), "Soda Pop" (1958)
see The Moonglows on Wikipedia

Fred Knobloch (J. Fred Knobloch)

b. 1953 in Jackson, MS
country/folk/pop singer
instrument: guitar
"Why Not Me?" (#30c 1980, he wrote), "Memphis" (#10c 1981), "I Had it All" (#33c 1982)
duet with Susan Anton, "Killin' Time" (#26, #10c 1980)
founding member of Schuyler, Knobloch and Overstreet (1986-87), "Baby's Got a New Baby" (#1c 1986, he wrote), "You Can't Stop Love" (#9c 1986)
with Schuyler, Knobloch and Bickhardt (1987- ), "No Easy Horses" (#19c 1987), "This Old House" (#24c 1987), "Givers and Takers" (#8c 1988)
songwriter, co-wrote Faith Hill's "If My Heart Had Wings" (#39, #3c 2001); Lori Morgan's "Back in Your Arms Again" (#4c 1995); B.J. Thomas' "The Whole World's in Love When You're Lonely" (#10c 1984)

Chuck Leavell

b. 1952 in Birmingham, AL
rock/blues/country musician, instrument: keyboards, piano, guitar
with the Allman Brothers Band (1972-76), "Melissa" (1972), "Ramblin' Man" (#2 1973), "Jessica" (1973)
session keyboardist on Sailcat's "Motorcycle Mama" (#12 1972); and with Eric Clapton, George Harrison, The Rolling Stones, Charlie Daniels, and others
songwriter
environmental activist
author of a children's book, The Tree Farmer, and other books about forestry
md. to Rose Lane White
see The Allman Brothers
see Chuck Leavell

Peaches (Francine Edna Hurd)

b. 1947 in Washington, D.C. - d. 13 Aug 2005
soul singer
"Baby, Think it Over" (1966), "Music to My Ears" (1966)
founding member of Peaches and Herb (1967-67), "Let's Fall in Love" (#21 1966), "Close Your Eyes" (#8 1967), "For Your Love" (#20 1967), "Love is Strange" (#13 1967), "Two Little Kids" (#31 1967)
with The Keynotes
founding member of The Darlettes (1965), "Lost" (1965)
founding member of The Sweet Things (1966- ), "You're My Lovin' Baby" (1966), "Don't Come Looking for Me" (1966), "I'm in a World of Trouble" (1966)
see Peaches and Herb

Emma Pought

b. 1942 in NY
R&B/pop singer
founding member and lead singer of The Bobbettes (1956- ), "Mr. Lee (#6 1957, One-Hit Wonder, she co-wrote), "I Shot Mr. Lee" (#52 1960, she co-wrote), "Have Mercy, Baby" (1960), "I Don't Like it Like That" (#72 1962, reply to Chris Kenner's "I Like it Like That")
The Bobbettes sang backup on Johnny Thunder's "Loop De Loop" (#4 1963), and others
songwriter
sister of Jannie Pought; md. to Mr. Patron
see The Bobbettes

John Wolters (John Christian Wolters)

b. 1945 in NJ - d. 16 Jun 1997 (liver cancer)
country/rock singer
instrument: drums
with Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show (1974- , replaced Jay David), "Only Sixteen" (#6 1976), "A Little Bit More" (#11 1976), "If Not You" (#55 1976), "Sharing the Night Together" (#6, #50c 1978), "When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman" (#6 1979), "All the Time in the World" (#54 1979), "Better Love Next Time" (#12 1980), "Sexy Eyes" (#5 1980), "Years from Now" (#51 1980), "Baby Makes Her Blue Jeans Talk" (#25 1982), "Chained to Your Memory" (1982)
founding member of Tennessee Pulleybone (1972-79), "I Ain't in a Long Long Time" (1972), "The Door's Always Open" (#75c 1973), "Head Over Heels in Love" (1976)
music producer

Patsy Wright (Patricia Wright)

b. 1945 in Brooklyn, NY
pop singer
with The Crystals, "Dreams and Wishes" (1961), "There's No Other Like My Baby" (#20 1962), "Da Doo Ron Ron (When He Walked Me Home)" (#3 1963), * "Then He Kissed Me" (#6 1963), "All Grown Up" (1964)
"He's a Rebel" and "He's Sure the Boy I Love" were credited to The Crystals' but were by Darlene Love backed by The Blossoms
see The Crystals

April 29

Hasil Adkins (aka 'The Haze')

b. 1937 in Boone Co., WV - d. 26 Apr 2005 in Madison, WV
rockabilly singer
instruments: guitar, drums, harmonica
"The Chicken Walk" (1962), "She Said" (1964), "Get Out of My Car" (1966), "She's Still Gone" (1966), "Kathy" (1975), "Big Red Satellite" (1987), "Ellen Marie" (1987), "Boo Boo, the Cat" (1993), "Seasick Cruise" (1997)

Duane 'Ace' Allen (Duane David Allen)

b. 1943 in Taylortown, TX
country/gospel singer (tenor)
instruments: guitar, piano
lead singer with The Oak Ridge Boys (1966- , replaced Smitty Gatlin), "I'm Almost Home" (1969), "I'm on the Right Road Now" (1969), "Talk about the Good Times" (1970), "Family Reunion" (#83c 1976), "Ya'll Come Back Saloon" (#3c 1977), "Emmylou" (1977), "You're the One" (#2c 1977), "I'll Be True to You" (#1 1978), "Cryin' Again" (#3c 1978), "Come on in" (#3c 1978), "Sail Away" (#2c 1979), "Tryin' to Love Two Women" (#1c 1980), "Heart of Mine" (#105, #3c 1980), "Beautiful You" (#3c 1980), "Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight" (#1c 1980), "Elvira" (#5, #1c 1981, CMA single of the year 1981), "Fancy Free" (#1c 1981), "I Wish You Could Have Turned My Head (and Left My Heart Alone)" (#2c 1982), "Bobbie Sue" (#12, #1c 1982), "Thank God for Kids" (#3c 1982), "American Made" (#72, #1c 1983), "Love Song" (#1c 1983), "I Guess it Never Hurts to Hurt Sometime" (#1c 1983), "Every Day" (#1c 1984), "Make My Life with You" (#1c 1984), "Little Things" (#1c 1985), "Touch a Hand (Make a Friend)" (#1c 1985), "You Made a Rock Out of a Rolling Stone" (#24c 1986), "It Takes a Little Rain (to Make Love Grow) (#1C 1987), "This Crazy Love" (#1c 1987), "Whatever it Takes" (#1c 1987), "Bridges and Walls" (#10c 1988), "Gonna Take a Lot of River" (#1c 1988), "Beyond These Years" (#7c 1989), "No Matter How High" (#1c 1989), * "Baby on Board" (#44c 1991), "Lucky Moon" (#6c 1991), "Change My Mind" (#70c 1991), "Love This Cat" (1991), "Someplace Green" (2005), "Ordinary Days" (2005)
The Carter Family and the Oak Ridge Boys, "Praise the Lord and Pass the Soup" (#57c 1973)
the Oak Ridge Boys sang backup on Paul Simon's "Slip Slidin' Away" (#5 1978)
restores and collects antique cars
see The Oak Ridge Boys

Ray Barretto

b. 1929 in Brooklyn, NY – 17 Feb 2006 in Hackensack, NJ (complications of heart bypass surgery)
jazz musician, instrument: percussions
"El Camino" (1962), "El Watusi" (#17 1963, One-Hit Wonder), "What Have They Done to the Sun?" (1966), "Wild Rice" (1967), "Deep Shade of Soul" (1968), "Right on" (1972)
served in the Army (1946-49)

Stephanie Bentley (Stephanie Kay Bentley)

b. 1963 in Thomasville, GA
country singer
instrument: guitar
"Who's That Girl?" (#32c 1996, she co-wrote), "Once I Was the Light of Your Life" (#60c 1996), "The Hope-Chest Song" (#47c 1997), "Dead Ringer" (1997)
duet with Ty Herndon "Heart Half-Empty" (#21c 1996)
songwriter, co-wrote Faith Hill's "Breathe" (#2, #1c 1999); Martina McBride's "Concrete Angel" (#47, #5c 2002)
md. to Brian Prout of Diamond Rio (2001- )

James Bonamy

b. 1972 in Winter Park, FL (grew up in Daytona Beach, FL)
country singer
instrument: rhythm guitar
"Dog on a Toolbox" (#64c 1995), "She's Got a Mind of Her Own" (#26c 1996), "I Don't Think I Will" (#2c 1996), "All I Do is Love Her" (#27c 1997), "The Swing" (#31c 1997), "Naked to the Pain" (#65c 1997), "Daddy Never Had a Chance" (1997)
songwriter

Karen Brooks

b. 1954 in Dallas, TX
country singer
"New Way Out" (#17c 1982), "If That's What You're Thinking" (#21c 1983), "Walk on" (#30c 1983, she wrote), "Tonight I'm Here with Someone Else" (#19c 1984), "Baby, I'm the One" (1992)
duet with T.G. Sheppard, "Faking Love" (#1c 1982)
duet with Johnny Cash, "I Will Dance With You" (#45c 1985)
duets with Randy Sharp, "If You Don't Really Love Her" (1992), "It's Not All Over" (1992)
in Rodney Crowell's backup band
backup singer with Jerry Jeff Walker, David Allan Coe, Townes Van Zandt, and others
songwriter

John Cascella

b. 1947 - d. 14 Nov 1992 in Indianapolis, IN (heart attack)
rock musician, instruments: keyboards, sax, accordion, organ
with John Mellencamp's band (1983-92), "Small Town" (#6 1985), "Lonely Ol' Night" (#6 1985), "R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A." (#2 1986), "Cherry Bomb" (#8 1987), "Paper in Fire" (#9 1987), "Pop Singer" (#15 1989), "Get a Leg Up" (#14 1991), "Again Tonight" (#36 1992), "What if I Came Knocking?" (1993), "Human Wheels" (#48 1993)
session musician with Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Ronna Reeves, and others

Danny Davis (George Nowland)

b. 1925 in Dorchester, MA
pop/country singer
instrument: trumpet
with Gene Krupa and His Orchestra
founding member and lead of Danny Davis and the Nashville Brass (1968- ), "Wabash Cannonball" (#63c 1970), "Columbus Stockade Blues" (#70c 1970), * "Do You Hear What I Hear?" (1970)
the Nashville Brass and Willie Nelson, "Funny How Time Slips Away" (#41c 1980), "Night Life" (#20c 1980)
the Nashville Brass and Dona Mason, "Green Eyes (Cryin' Those Blue Tears)" (#62c 1987)
music producer
see Gene Krupa

Lonnie Donegan (Anthony James Donegan)

b. 1931 in Glasgow, Scotland (grew up in London) – d. 3 Nov 2002 in England
novelty/folk/ singer, jazz/skiffle musician, instruments: guitar, banjo, drums
"The Grand Coulee Dam" (1958), "Ham 'n' Eggs" (1958), "Fort Worth Jail" (1959), "Black Cat (Cross My Path Today)" (1960), "Ramblin' Round" (1961), * "Does Your Chewing Gum Lose its Flavor (On the Bedpost Overnight)?" (#5 1961), "Light From the Lighthouse" (1961), "Losing By a Hair" (1963), "It's a Long Road to Travel" (1964), "Fisherman's Luck" (1964), "Who Knows Where the Time Goes" (1969), "My Lovely Juanita" (1969)
with Ken Colyer's band, "Rock Island Line" (#8 1956)
songwriter, wrote Tom Jones' "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" (#6 1969)

Duke Ellington (Edward Kennedy Ellington)

b. 1899 in in Washington, DC - d. 24 Apr 1974 in New York, NY
jazz musician, instrument: piano
founding member of the Duke Ellington Orchestra, "Three Little Words" (#1 1930), "It Don't Mean a Thing (if it Ain't Got That Swing)" (1932), "Sophisticated Lady" (#3 1933, he wrote), "Cocktails for Two" (#1 1934), "Oh Babe, Maybe Someday" (1936, he wrote), "If You Were in My Place (What Would You Do)" (#1 1938), "I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart" (#1 1938), "I Got it Bad (and That Ain't Good)" (1941), "Blue Cellophane" (1943), "Lady of the Lavender Mist" (1943), "Air-Conditioned Jungle" (1945, he wrote),"I'm Beginning to See the Light" (#1 1945), "Moon Mist" (1946), "Crosstown" (1946), "Just You, Just Me" (1946), "Park at 106th" (1946), "Stomp, Look and Listen" (1947), "Maybe I Should Change My Ways" (1947), "On a Turquoise Cloud" (1947), "The Sidewalks of New York" (1949), "Yellow Dog Blues" (1949), "Do Nothin' til You Hear from Me" (1951, he wrote), "Satin Doll" (#27 1953), "I Don't Know about You" (1957), "Take the A-Train" (1957), "I'm Just a Lucky So and So" (1960), "Lost in Loveliness" (1960), "The Lonely Ones" (1962), "Passion Flower" (1965)
leader of Duke Ellington and His Cotton Club Orchestra
duet with Coleman Hawkins, "You Dirty Dog" (1962, he wrote)
sessionist with Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, Billie Holiday, and others
songwriter
arranger

Carl Gardner (Carl Edward Gardner)

b. 1928 in Tyler, TX
R&B/novelty/rock singer (tenor)
with The Robins (1954-55), "Framed" (1954), "If Teardrops Were Kisses" (1955), "Smokey Joe's Café" (1955)
founding member and lead singer of The Coasters (1955- ), "Young Blood" (1957), "Searchin'" (#3 1957), * "Yakety Yak" (#1 1958), "Three Cool Cats" (1958), * "Charlie Brown" (#2 1959), "Along Came Jones" (#9 1959), "Poison Ivy" (#7 1959), "Wake Me, Shake Me" (#51 1960), "(Ain't That) Just Like Me?" (1961), "Little Egypt (Ying-Yang)" (#23 1961), "Ladylike" (1965), "Down Home Girl" (1967), "She Can" (1968), "Love Potion Number Nine" (1971)
his mother was Comanche, his father was black
md. 1st to Ladessa, md. to Veta

John 'Willard' Henke

b. 1951 in PA
country/rock singer
instrument: guitar
with Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show (1977-81), "Sharing the Night Together" (#6, #50c 1978), "When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman" (#6 1979), "All the Time in the World" (#54 1979), "Better Love Next Time" (#12 1980), "Sexy Eyes" (#5 1980), "Years from Now" (#51 1980)

Tommy James (Thomas Gregory Jackson)

b. 1947 in Dayton, OH (grew up in Niles, MI)
rock singer, guitar
"Draggin' the Line" (#4 1971), "Three Times in Love" (#19 1980)
founding member and lead of Tommy James and the Shondells, "Hanky Panky" (#1 1966), "Say I Am (What I Am)" (#21 1966), * "I Think We're Alone Now" (#4 1967), "Gettin' Together" (#18 1967), "I Like it That Way" (#25 1967), "Mirage" (#10 1967), "Mony, Mony" (#3 1968), "Crimson and Clover (Over and Over)" (#1 1969), "Crystal Blue Persuasion" (#2 1969), "Sweet Cherry Wine" (#7 1969), "Kelly Told Anne" (1970, he co-wrote)
songwriter
music producer
see Tommy James and the Shondells

Joel Larson

b. 1947 in San Francisco, CA
folk/rock backup singer
instruments: drums
founding member of the first group known as The Grass Roots (1965-66), * "Where Were You When I Needed You?" (#28 1966), "Only When You're Lonely" (1966), "Here's Where You Belong" (1966)
with The Grass Roots (1972-75), "Two Divided by Love" (#16 1972), "Glory Bound" (#34 1972), "Love is What You Make it" (#55 1973), "We Can't Dance to Your Music" (1973), "The Last Time Around" (1975)
founding member of The Merry-Go-Round, "Time Will Show the Wiser" (1967)
see The Grass Roots

Rod McKuen (Rodney Marvin McKuen aka Dor)

b. 1933 in Oakland, CA
pop singer
"The Ever Constant Sea" (1967), "A Cat Named Sloopy" (1967), "The Importance of the Rose" (1968), "Soldiers Who Want to Be Heroes" (1971), "Without a Worry in the World" (1971), "Don't Drink the Orange Juice" (1978)
duets with Bob McFadden, "The Beat Generation" (1959), "The Mummy" (#39 1959, One-Hit Wonder), "The Beverly Hills Telephone Directory Cha-Cha-Cha" (1959)
songwriter, wrote Oliver's "Jean" (#2 1969)
poet
civil rights activist; humanitarian

Donald Mills (Donald Friedrich Mills)

b. 1915 in Piqua, OH – d. 13 Nov 1999 (complications of pneumonia)
pop/swing/R&B singer
founding member of The Mills Brothers (1931-82), "Sleepy Head" (#2 1934), "Sweet Adeline" (#10 1939), "Paper Doll" (#1 1943), "You Always Hurt the One You Love" (#1 1944), "Daddy's Little Girl" (#5 1950), "Be My Life's Companion" (1951), "The Window-Washer Man" (1952), "The Glow-Worm" (#1 1952), "(Who-Who-Who) Who Put the Devil in Evelyn's Eyes?" (1953), "Paper Doll" (1960), "I Found the Only Girl for Me" (1962), "You're Making the Wrong Guy Happy" (1965), "Honeysuckle Rose Blues Bossa Nova" (1967), "Cab Driver" (#23 1968), "My Shy Violet" (1968), "The Flower Road" (1968), "The Ol' Race Track" (1968), "It Ain't No Big Thing" (#64c 1970), "Smile Away Every Rainy Day" (1970), "A Donut and a Dream" (1972)
after 1982 the group was a duo with Donald and his son John Mills III
see The Mills Brothers

Billy Mize (William Robert Mize)

b. 1929/35 in Arkansas City, KS (grew up in CA)
country/western swing singer
instruments: guitar, steel guitar
"It Could Happen" (1957), "You Can't Stop Me" (#57c 1966), "Walking Through the Memories of My Mind" (#58c 1968), "Absence of You" (1969), "Make it Rain" (#40c 1969, he wrote), "If it Were the Last Song" (1970), "It Hurts to Know the Feeling's Gone" (#31c 1976), "It's Gonna Get Lonely" (1966)
with The Texas Playboys (1963)
songwriter, wrote Johnny Sea's "My Baby Walks All Over Me" (#27c 1964)
DJ
author
see The Texas Playboys

Eddie Noack (De Armand Noack, Jr.)

b. 1930 in Houston, TX - d. 5 Feb 1978 in Houston, TX (cirrhosis of the liver or cerebral hemorrhage)
country/rockabilly singer
"It Ain't Much But it's Home" (1956), "Scarecrow" (1957), "Have Blues, Will Travel" (#14c 1958, he co-wrote), "A Thinking Man's Woman (a Loving Man's Girl)" (1959), "Sunflower Song" (1960), "Chaperoned by a Memory" (1962), "The Fall-Out (Keeps Hurtin')" (1963, he wrote), "Think of Me Now" (1963, he wrote), "When the Bright Lights Go Dim" (1964, he wrote), "Psycho" (1968), "Delores" (1968)
recorded as Tommy Wood, "Can't Play Hookey" (1958), "My Steady Dream" (1958)
songwriter, wrote Jack Jones' "A Day in the Life of a Fool" (#62 1966); Hank Snow's "These Hands" (#5c 1956)
served in the Army

Vini Poncia (Vincent Poncia, Jr.)

b. 1942
pop/rock singer, musician
founding member of The Videls, "I'll Keep on Waiting" (1960), "A Letter From Ann" (1961)
founding member of The Trade Winds, "New York's a Lonely Town" (#32 1965, One-Hit Wonder), "The Girl From Greenwich Village" (1965), "Mind Excursion" (1966)
founding member of The Innocence, "There's Got to Be a Word" (#34 1967, One-Hit Wonder), "A Lifetime Loving You" (1967), "All I Do is Think About You" (1967), "Whence I Make Thee Mine" (1967), "Someone Got Caught in My Eye" (1967)
(the above three groups were mostly session musicians)
songwriter, co-wrote The Ronettes' "(The Best Part of) Breakin' Up" (#39 1964)
music producer; arranger

Richard Raines

b. 1965 in Bryan, TX
country singer
instrument: electric guitar
founding member of Perfect Stranger (1986- ), "Ridin' the Rodeo" (1994), "You Have the Right to Remain Silent" (#61, #4c 1995), "I'm a Stranger Here Myself" (#52c 1995), "Even the Jukebox Can't Forget" (1995), "Remember the Ride" (#56c 1996), "Fire When Ready" (#62c 1997), "A Little Bit More of Your Love" (#66c 1999)

Otis Rush

b. 1934 in Philadelphia, MS
blues singer
instrument: guitar
"I Can't Quit You, Baby" (1956), "Love That Woman" (1957), "Three Times a Fool" (1958), "Keep on Loving Me, Baby" (1958), "All Your Love (I Miss Loving)" (1958), "So Many Roads, So Many Trains" (1960), "Feel So Bad" (1969), "Cold Day in Hell" (1976), "You're Breaking My Heart" (1976), "Motoring Along" (1976), "I Miss You So" (1977), "You Don't Have to Go" (1977)
he is left-handed but plays a right-handed guitar upside-down
he stopped performing after suffering a stroke in 2004
see Otis Rush

Wayne Secrest

b. 1950 in Alton, IL
country/rock/honky-tonk musician, instrument: bass
founding member of Confederate Railroad (1987- ), "She Took it Like a Man" (#37c 1992), "Jesus and Mama" (#4c 1992), "Queen of Memphis" (#2c 1993), "Trashy Women" (#10c 1993), "When You Leave That Way You Can Never Go Back" (#14c 1993), "She Never Cried (When Ol' Yeller Died)" (#27c 1994), "Daddy Never Was the Cadillac Kind" (#9c 1994), "Redneck Romeo" (1994), "When and Where" (#24c 1995), "See Ya" (#51c 1996), "Keep on Rockin'" (1998), "Cowboy Cadillac" (#70c 1999), "That's What Brothers Do" (#39c 2001)

Jimmie Skinner

b. 1909 near Berea, KY - d. 27 Oct 1979 (heart attack)
country/bluegrass singer
instrument: guitar
"(Send Me) a Penny Postcard" (1935), "Fallin' Rain Blues" (1951, he wrote), "No Maybe in My Baby's Eyes" (1958), "I Found My Girl in the USA" (#5c 1958, he wrote as a reply to Bobby Helm's "Fraulein" and Hank Locklin's "Geisha Girl"), "What Makes a Man Wander?" (#8c 1958, he co-wrote), "Dark Hollow" (#7c 1959), "Riverboat Gambler" (#14c 1960, he co-wrote), "Reasons to Live" (#13c 1960, he co-wrote), "Yesterday's Wrongs" (1963), "Old Dollar Bill" (1963), "Trouble Walked in" (1963)
duet with Connie Hall, "We've Got Things in Common" (1958)
songwriter

April Stevens (Carol Lo Tempio)

b. 1936 in Niagara Falls, NY
pop singer
"I'm in Love Again" (#6 1951), "Gimme a Little Kiss, Will Ya Huh?" (#10 1951), "That Warm Afternoon" (1959), "Treat Me Nice" (1959), "In Other Words" (1960), "That's My Name" (1963), "Morning Till Midnight" (1965), "Lovin' Valentine" (1965)
duets with Nino Tempo, "Deep Purple" (#1 1963), "I've Been Carrying a Torch for You So Long That I Burned a Great Big Hole in My Heart" (1963), "Whispering" (#11 1963), "Honeysuckle Rose" (1964), "I-45" (1964), "Tomorrow is Soon a Memory" (1965), "All Strung Out" (#26 1966), "Yesterday I Heard the Rain" (1969)
sister of Nino Tempo
see Nino and April

Tammi Terrell (Thomasina Montgomery)

b. 1945 in Philadelphia, PA – d. 16 Mar 1970 in Philadelphia, PA (collapsed on stage while performing with Marvin Gaye in 1967, eventually died of a brain tumor)
soul singer
"If You See Bill" (1961), "If I Would Marry You" (1964), "Just Too Much to Hope For" (1968)
duets with Marvin Gaye, "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (#19 1967), "Your Precious Love" (#5 1967), "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" (#8 1968), "If I Could Build My Whole World Around You" (#10 1968), "You're All I Need to Get By" (#7 1968)
founding member of Patti LaBelle and the Blue Belles (1961-70), "Down the Aisle" (#37 1963), "You'll Never Walk Alone" (#34 1964), "One Phone Call" (1964)
"I Sold My Heart to the Junkman" was by a completely unrelated group
Patti LaBelle and the Blue Belles sang backup on Wilson Pickett's "634-5789 (Soulsville, USA)" (#13 1966)
the group name changed to LaBelle (1970-76), "Lady Marmalade" (#1 1975)
see Patti LaBelle and the Blue Belles

Klaus Voorman

b. 1942 in Berlin, Germany
rock musician, instrument: bass
with Manfred Mann (1966-69), "Pretty Flamingo" (#29 1966), "The Mighty Quinn (Quinn the Eskimo)" (#10 1968), "Fox on the Run" (#97 1968)
with Plastic Ono Band, "Give Peace a Chance" (#14 1969), "Whatever Gets You Through the Night" (#1 1974)
sessionist with Gary Wright, B. B. King, Jerry Lee Lewis, Art Garfunkel, Donovan, and others
designed the "Revolver" cover for The Beatles
see Manfred Mann on www.classicbands.com

April 30

Bill Buchanan (William V. Buchannan)

b. 1930 - d. 1 Aug 1996 in Los Angeles, CA (cancer)
pop/novelty singer
"The Thing" (1958), "Beware" (1962), "The Night Before Halloween" (1962)
founding member of Buchanan and Goodman (1956-59), "The Flying Saucer" (#10 1956, he co-wrote), "Flying Saucer, the 2nd" (#18 1957), "Santa and the Satellite" (#32 1957)
songwriter, wrote Bobby Vee's "Please Don't Ask about Barbara" (#15 1962)
jeweler

Johnny Farina

b. 1941 in Brooklyn, NY
rock/rockabilly singer
instrument: electric guitar
founding member of Santo and Johnny (1959-76), "Sleepwalk" (#1 1959, he co-wrote), "All-Night Diner" (1959), "The Long Walk Home" (1960), "Anne" (1960), "Twistin' Bells" (#49 1960), "Tear Drop" (#23 1960), "Stage to Cimarron" (1962), "Tokyo Twilight" (1962), "On Your Mark" (1963), "Road Block" (1964), "Rattler" (1964), "Offshore" (1966)
songwriter
younger brother of Santo Farina
see Santo and Johnny

Mimi Farina (Margarita Mimi Baez)

b. 1945 in Palo Alto, CA – d. 18 Jul 2001 in Mill Valley, CA (lung cancer)
folk singer
instrument: guitar
"Best of Friends" (1985, she wrote), "How Can We Hang on to a Dream?" (1985), "Disappointed Again" (1985, she wrote)
duets with Richard Farina, "Reno, Nevada" (1965), "Pack up Your Sorrows" (1965), "Celebration for a Grey Day" (1965), "Reflections in a Crystal Wind" (1965)
backup singer with Joan Baez, and others
songwriter
political activist; founding member of Bread and Roses Foundation (a charitable organization)
md. to Richard Farina (1963- ); sister of Joan Baez
see Richard and Mimi Farina

Johnny Horton (John Gale Horton)

b. 1925 in Los Angeles, CA (grew up in Tyler, TX) – d. 5 Nov 1960 in Milano, TX (his car was hit head-on by a drunk driver)
honky-tonk/rockabilly singer
instrument: guitar
"Candy Jones" (1951), "Mean Son of a Gun" (1951), "Plaid and Calico" (1951), "Rhythm in My Baby's Walk" (1952), * "The First Train Headin' South" (1952), "The Mansion You Stole" (1953), "No True Love" (1954), * "Honky-Tonk Man" (#96, #9c 1956, #11c 1962, he co-wrote), "I'm a One-Woman Man" (#7c 1956), * "I'm Ready, if You're Willing" (1956), "She Knows Why" (1957), "The Woman I Need (Honky-Tonk Mind)" (#9c 1957), "All Grown Up" (#8c 1958, #26c 1963), "Honky-Tonk Hardwood Floor" (1958), * "The Wild One" (1958), "Seven Come Eleven" (1958), * "Battle of New Orleans" (#1, #1c 1959), "Take Me Like I Am" (1959), "When it's Springtime in Alaska (it's Forty Below)" (#4, #1c 1959), * "Johnny Reb" (#54, #10c 1959), * "Got the Bull by the Horns" (1959), * "Sink the Bismarck" (#3, #6c 1960, he co-wrote), "North to Alaska" (#4, #1c 1960), * "The Battle of Bull Run" (1960), * "The Sinking of the Reuben James" (1960)
songwriter
md. 2nd to Hank Williams widow, Billie Jean Eshliman (1953-60, his death)
see Johnny Horton on the Rockabilly Hall of Fame

Carolyn Dawn Johnson

b. 1971 in Alberta, Canada
country singer
instruments: piano, guitar, mandolin, clarinet, flute, sax
* "Complicated" (#59, #5c 2001, she co-wrote), "I Don't Want You to Go" (#54, #7c 2002, she co-wrote), "One Day Closer to You" (#24c 2002, she co-wrote), "Simple Life" (#73, #13c 2004)
songwriter, co-wrote Cheyl Wright's "Single White Female" (#36, #1c 1999); Jo Dee Messina's "Downtime" (#46, #5c 2000)
music producer
md. to Matt Fisher (2003- )
see Carolyn Dawn Johnson

Bobby Marchan (Oscar James Gibson)

b. 1930 in Youngstown, OH - d. 5 Dec 1999 (liver cancer)
R&B/rock singer
"Just a Little Walk" (1953), "Give Me a Helping Hand" (1955), "It Hurts Me to My Heart" (1960), "There's Something on Your Mind" (#31 1960, One-Hit Wonder), "Yes, it's Written All Over Your Face" (1962), "Hello, Happiness" (1965), "Shake Your Tambourine" (1966), "Just Be Yourself" (1966), "Push the Button" (1974), "God Bless Our Love" (1975)
with Huey Smith and the Clowns (1957-58), "Don't You Just Know it?" (#9 1958)
bandleader; female impersonator

Darrell McCall

b. 1940 in New Jasper, OH
honky-tonk/country singer
instruments: bass, guitar, fiddle, harmonica
"Beyond Imagination" (1961), "A Man Can Change" (1962), "A Stranger Was Here" (#17c 1963), "I'd Love to Live with You Again" (#67c 1968), "Wall of Pictures" (#60c 1968, he co-wrote), "In the Arms of My Weakness" (#62c 1970), "There's Still a Lot of Love Left in San Antone" (#48c 1974), "Dreams of a Dreamer" (#35c 1977), "The Weeds Outlived the Roses" (#91c 1978), "Long Line of Empties" (#43c 1980), "Memphis in May" (#79c 1984), "Texas Honky-Tonk" (1996)
with The Little Dippers (1960-61), "Forever" (#9 1960, One-Hit Wonder)
duet with Willie Nelson, "Lily Dale" (#32c 1977)
with Ray Price's Cherokee Cowboys
backup singer with Faron Young, Hank Williams, Jr., George Jones, and others
songwriter, co-wrote Hank William Jr.'s "Eleven Roses" (#1c 1972)
actor; rodeo rider
does volunteer work for the Muscular Dystrophy Association
served in the Army
md. to musician, Mona Vary
see Darrell McCall

Rob McCoury (Robin Floyd McCoury)

b. 1971 in York, PA
bluegrass singer
instrument: banjo, bass
banjoist with The Del McCoury Band (1987- ), "How Lonely Can You Get?" (1988), "With You in My Dreams" (1991), "The Beauty of My Dreams" (1992), "High on the Mountain" (1992, he wrote), "More Often Than Once in a While" (1993), "The First Time She Left" (1996), "The Talk of the Town" (1998), "I Wonder Where You Are Tonight" (1998), "The Look of a Perfect Diamond" (1999), "1952 Vincent Black Lightning" (2001), "Zero to Love" (2003), "The Same Kind of Crazy" (2003), "Queen Anne's Lace" (2004), "Lonesome Wind" (2004), "Eyes That Won't Meet Mine" (2005), "If Here is Where You Are" (2005), "Don't Put Off Until Tomorrow" (2006)
songwriter
son of Del McCoury
see The Del McCoury Band

Willie Nelson (Willie Hugh Nelson aka 'The Red-Headed Stranger')

b. 1933 in Abbott, TX (or b. in Fort Worth, grew up in Abbott)
country singer
instrument: guitar
"The Part Where I Cry" (1961), "Touch Me" (#7c 1962, he wrote), "You Left Me" (1964), "The Storm Has Just Begun" (1964), "Permanently Lonely" (1965), "Healing Hands of Time" (1965), "One in a Row" (#19c 1966, he wrote), "Blackjack County Chain" (#21 1967), "Bring Me Sunshine" (#13c 1969), "Truth Number One" (1970), "Stay All Night (Stay a Little Longer)" (#22c 1973), "Sad Songs and Waltzes" (1973, he wrote), "Local Memory" (1973, he wrote), "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" (#21, #1c 1975), "Remember Me, I'm the One Who Loves You" (#67, #2c 1976), "I'd Have to Be Crazy" (1976), "If You've Got the Money I've Got the Time" (#1c 1976), "Georgia on My Mind" (#84, #1c 1978), "Blue Skies" (#1c 1978), "Whiskey River" (#12c 1979), "Sweet Memories" (#4c 1979), "On the Road Again" (#20, #1c 1980, he wrote), "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys" (#44, #1c 1980), "Funny How Time Slips Away" (#41c 1980, he wrote), "Night Life" (#20c 1980, he co-wrote), "Help Me Make it Through the Night" (#4c 1980), * "Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground" (#1c 1981, he wrote), "Always on My Mind" (#5, #1c 1982, CMA single of the year 1982), "Let it Be Me" (#40, #2c 1982), "Last Thing I Needed First Thing This Morning" (#2c 1983), "Why Do I Have to Choose?" (#3c 1983, he wrote), "City of New Orleans" (#1c 1985), "Texas on a Saturday Night" (1985), "Forgiving You Was Easy" (#1c 1985, he wrote), "Living in the Promised Land" (#1c 1986), "Nothing I Can Do about it Now" (#1c 1989), "There You Are" (#8c 1990)
with Honeysuckle Rose
with The Highwaymen, * "The Highwayman" (#1c 1985), "Desperadoes Waiting for a Train" (#15c 1985), "Silver Stallion" (#25c 1990)
duets with Waylon Jennings, "Just to Satisfy You" (#1 1982, he co-wrote), "Good-Hearted Woman" (#25, #1c 1976, he co-wrote, CMA single of the year 1976), "Mamas, Don't Let You're Babies Grow up to Be Cowboys" (#42, #1c 1978), "(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay" (#13c 1982), "Take it to the Limit" (#8c 1983), "If I Can Find a Clean Shirt" (#51c 1991, he co-wrote), "Tryin' to Outrun the Wind" (1991)
duet with Ray Charles, * "Seven Spanish Angels" (#1 1985)
duet with Hank Williams, Jr., Reba McEntire and Tom Petty, "Mind Your Own Business" (#1c 1986)
duet with Ray Price, "Faded Love" (#3c 1980)
duet with Toby Keith "Beer for My Horses" (#1c 2003)
duet with Lee Ann Womack, "Mendocino County Line" (#22c 2002)
duets with Merle Haggard, "Pancho and Lefty" (#1c 1983), "Reasons to Quit" (#6c 1983)
duet with Julio Iglesias, "To All the Girls I've Loved Before" (#5, #1c 1984), "Spanish Eyes" (#8c 1988)
duet with Ernest Tubb, "Waltz Across Texas" (#56c 1965)
duets with Shirley Collie, "Touch Me" (#7c 1962), "Willingly" (#10c 1962)
duets with Leon Russell, "Heartbreak Hotel" (#1c 1979), "Detour" (1979)
duet with Mary Kay Place, "Something to Brag About" (#9c 1977)
duet with Dolly Parton, "Everything is Beautiful (in its Own Way)" (#102, #7c 1982)
duet with Aaron Neville, "Stardust" (2001)
duet with Boxcar Willie, "Boxcar's My Home" (1986)
songwriter, wrote Patsy Cline's "Crazy" (#9, #2c 1961); Roy Orbison's "Pretty Paper" (#15 1964); Faron Young's "Hello, Walls" (#12, #1c 1961)
actor
served in the Air Force during the Korean War
had carpal tunnel surgery 2002
md. 1st to Jewel Matthews (1952- ), md. 2nd to Shirley Collie (19??-71), md. 3rd to Connie Koepke (1971- ), md. to Ann-Marie D'Angelo (1991- )
Nelson's reply when asked when he was planning to retire: "All I do is play music and golf. Which one do you want me to give up?"
quote by Willie Nelson: "Ninety-nine percent of the world's lovers are not with their first choice. That's what makes the jukebox play."
see Willie Nelson

Merrill Osmond (Merill Davis Osmond)

b. 1953 in Ogden, UT
country/pop singer
founding member of The Osmond Brothers, "One Bad Apple" (#1 1971), "Double Lovin'" (#14 1971), "Chilly Winds" (1971), "Yo-Yo" (#3 1971), "Down by the Lazy River" (#4 1972), "Crazy Horses" (1972), "Love Me for a Reason" (1974), "I'm Still Gonna Need You" (1975), "I Can't Live a Dream" (1976), "Never Ending Song of Love" (1982), "I Think About Your Lovin'" (#17c 1982), "She's Ready for Someone to Love Her" (#67c 1983), "Where Does an Angel Go When She Cries?" (#43c 1984), "If Every Man Had a Woman Like You" (#39c 1984)
duet with Jessica Boucher as Merrill and Jessica, "You're Here to Remember, I'm Here to Forget" (#62c 1987)
see The Osmond Family

Robert Reynolds (Robert Earl Reynolds)

b. 1962 in Kansas City, MO
country/rock musician, instruments: guitar, bass
founding member of The Mavericks (1990- ), "Hey, Good Lookin'" (#74c 1992), "What a Crying Shame" (#25c 1994), "Oh, What a Thrill" (#18c 1994), "There Goes My Heart" (#20c 1994), "Here Comes the Rain" (#22c 1995), "All You Ever Do is Bring Me Down" (#13c 1996), "Dance the Night Away" (#63c 1998), "Air That I Breathe" (#59c 2003)
md. to Trisha Yearwood (1994-99) the were married on stage at the Ryman Auditorium; md. to Angie (2003- )

Richard Shoff

b. 1944
folk/rock/pop singer
with The Mitchell Boys Choir
founding member of The Sandpipers (1965-75), "Guantanamera" (#9 1966), "Louie, Louie" (#30 1966), "I'll Remember You" (1967), "Rain, Rain Go Away" (1967), "That Night" (1969), "Come Saturday Morning" (#17 1970)

Jeff Timmons

b. 1973
pop/soul singer
"Whisper That Way" (#23 2004, he wrote), "Better Days" (2004, he wrote), "That Day" (2004, he wrote)
founding member of 98 Degrees (1997- ), "Invisible Man" (#12 1997), "Because of You" (#3 1998), "I Do (Cherish You)" (#13 1999), * "The Hardest Thing" (#5 1999), "My Everything" (#34 2000), "Can You Imagine?" (2000)
98 Degrees duet with Mariah Carey, "Thank God I Found You" (#1 2000)
songwriter
arranger; music producer

Bobby Vee (Robert Thomas Velline)

b. 1943 in Fargo, ND
pop singer
"Suzy Baby" (1959), "Devil or Angel" (#6 1960), "Rubber Ball" (#6 1960), "Walkin' With My Angel" (1961), * "Take Good Care of My Baby" (#1 1961), "Run to Him" (#2 1961), "Please Don't Ask about Barbara" (#15 1962), "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes" (#3 1962), "Anonymous Phone Call" (1962), "Punish Her" (#20 1962), "Sharing You" (#15 1962), "Be True to Yourself" (#34 1963), "Charms" (#13 1963), "A Letter From Betty" (1963), "Run Like the Devil" (1965), "A Girl I Used to Know" (1965), "Maybe Just Today" (1968)
with The Strangers, "Beautiful People" (#37 1967), "Come Back When You Grow Up" (#3 1967)
songwriter
actor

Tyler Wilkinson

b. 1984 in Ontario, Canada
country singer
instrument: guitar
"Dying to Start Living" (2007)
founding member of The Wilkinsons, "26 Cents" (#3c 1998), "Fly (the Angel Song)" (#15c 1998), "Then There's You" (1998), "Boy, Oh Boy" (#50c 1999), "Jimmy's Got a Girlfriend" (#34c 2000), "The Only Rose" (#50c 2000), "I Wanna Be That Girl" (#51c 2001), "Tough Luck" (2001), "Occasionally Crazy" (2005), "Inside the Lines" (2005)
duet with Amanda Wilkinson, "Home" (2007, he co-wrote)
songwriter
brother of Amanda Wilkinson, son of Steve Wilkinson

Bill Yates

b. 1936 in Big Rock, VA
country/bluegrass singer
instruments: guitar, string banjo, bass
with The Country Gentlemen (1970-90), "Yesterday" (1971), "The Girl Behind the Bar" (1972), "Secret of the Waterfall" (1972), "Silence or Tears" (1974), "In My Younger Days" (1976), "The Great Beyond" (1978), "This Morning at Nine" (1980), "Two Little Boys" (1980), "I've Gone Back to Being Me" (1981), "Night Ridin'" (1981), "Lonely Dancer" (1988), "Honey, Don't" (1989), "Cold Wind Blowing" (1990), "Nashville Jail" (1990)
with Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys (1969), "I Haven't Seen Mary in Years" (1969), "Walk Softly on My Heart" (1969), "Sweet Mary and the Miles in Between" (1969)
served in the Air Force 1952-56
see The Blue Grass Boys
see Charlie Waller

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