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October is Country Music Month

October 1

Herb Fame (Herbert Feemster)

b. 1942 in Washington, D.C.
soul singer
"From the Shadows to the Sun" (1966), "You're Messin' Up My Mind" (1966)
founding member of Peaches and Herb (1967-70, 1977-83, 1990- ), "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), "Let's Make a Promise" (1968), "Soothe Me With Your Love" (1970), "We're Still Together" (1977), "Shake Your Groove Thing" (#5 1978), "Reunited" (#1 1978)
see Peaches and Herb

Dave Gibson (David Lowell Gibson)

b. 1956 in Eldorado, AR (grew up in Odessa, TX)
country/rock singer
instrument: guitar
founding member and lead singer with The Gibson/Miller Band (1990-94), "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)
songwriter, wrote Alabama's "Jukebox in My Mind" (#1c 1990); Confederate Railroad's "Queen of Memphis" (#1c 1993), "Daddy Never Was the Cadillac Kind" (#9c 1994); Joe Diffie's "Ships That Don't Come in" (#5c 1992); Tanya Tucker's "If it Don't Come Easy" (#1c 1988); Montgomery Gentry's "Lonely and Gone" (#46, #5c 1999), Southern Pacific's "Honey, I Dare You" (#5c 1989); Steve Wariner's "Midnight Fire" (#5c 1983)
md. to singer/songwriter, Daisy Dern (1997- )
see The Gibson/Miller Band on WikipediA

Charles Randolph Grean

b. 1913 in NY (grew up in Mount Vernon, NY) – d. 28 Dec 2003 in NY
pop musician, instrument: string bass
with The Charles Randolph Grean Sounde, "Peter and the Wolf" (1966), "Shadows of the Night" (#13 1969, One-Hit Wonder, he wrote)
songwriter, co-wrote Betty Johnson's "I Dreamed" (#9 1956); Phil Harris' "The Thing" (#1 1950); Eddy Arnold's "Something Old, Something New" (#4c 1951), "Eddy's Song" (#1c 1953); Jeanne Black's "He'll Have to Stay" (#4, #6c 1960)
music producer
served in the Coast Guard during WWII
md. to Betty Wilmington; md. to Virginia Cronk; md. to singer, Betty Johnson

Richard Harris (Richard St. John Harris)

b. 1930 in Limerick, Ireland – d. 25 Oct 2002 in London, England (Hodgkin's Disease)
pop singer
"MacArthur Park" (#2 1968, One-Hit Wonder), "Fill the World With Love" (1969), "Ballad of a Man Called Horse" (1970), "Turn Back the Pages" (1972), "Half of Every Dream" (1972)
songwriter
music producer
actor, played Dumbledore in the first two Harry Potter movies
rugby player
md. to Elizabeth Rees-Williams (1957-69); md. 2nd to actress, Ann Turkel (1974-82)
see The Richard Harris Fan Site

Cub Koda (Michael Koda)

b. 1948 in Detroit, MI - d. 30 Jun 2000 (kidney disease)
rock/blues singer
instrument: guitar
"More Than Me" (1968), "Let's Hear a Word" (1968), "Ducktail" (1980), "Ace of Spades" (1985)
founding member of Brownsville Station (1969-79), "Rock and Roll Holiday" (1969), "Tell Me All About it" (1971), "Rock With the Music" (1972), "Smokin' in the Boy's Room" (#3 1974), "King of the Party" (#31 1974), "Mama Don't Allow No Parkin'" (1974)
with The Houserockers (1980-95)
session musician
songwriter
DJ; music critic
author

Jerry Martini

b. 1943 in Boulder, CO
R&B/rock/pop musician, instrument: sax
founding member of Sly and the Family Stone (1966-75, and reunions), "Dance to the Music" (#8 1968), "Everyday People" (#1 1969), "Hot Fun in the Summer Time" (#2 1969), "Thank You" (#1 1970), "Family Affair" (#1 1971), "Runnin' Away" (#23 1972), "If You Want Me to Stay" (#12 1973), "Thankful 'n' Thoughtful" (1973)
Sly and the Family Stone performed at Woodstock
sessionist
songwriter
see Sly and the Family Stone

Kaye McCool

b. 1946 in Hanover, PA
pop singer
founding member of The Pixies Three (1955-65, 1991- ), "Birthday Party" (#40 1963, One-Hit Wonder), "Our Love" (1963, she wrote), "442 Glenwood Avenue" (#56 1963), "Cold, Cold Winter" (#79 1963), "Gee" (#87 1964), "It's Summertine U.S.A." (#116 1965), "Your Way" (1965)
songwriter
md. Mr. Krebs
see The Pixies Three

Skeets McDonald (Enos William McDonald)

b. 1915 in Greenway, AR - d. 31 Mar 1968 in Inglewood, CA (heart attack)
honky-tonk/country/rockabilly singer
instrument: guitar
"Number One in Your Heart" (1955), "Heart-Breaking Mama" (1956), "What a Lonesome Life it's Been" (1959), "This Old Heart" (#21c 1960), "Call Me Mr. Brown" (#9c 1963), "Mabel" (#28c 1967, he co-wrote)
duet with Slim Willet, "Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes" (#1c 1952, he wrote)
with The Lonesome Cowboys (1935-43)
with Johnnie White and His Rough Riders (1951)
sessionist with Wanda Jackson, Jean Shepard and Joe Maphis
songwriter
served in the military during WWII (1943-4?)

Bonnie Owens (Bonnie Maureen Campbell)

b. 1929/32 in Blanchard, OK - d. 24 Apr 2006 in Bakersfield, CA (complications of Alzheimer's disease)
country singer, yodeler, instrument: guitar
"I Traded My Heart for His Gold" (1954), "Why Don't Daddy Live Here Anymore?" (#25c 1965), "Don't Take Advantage of Me" (#27c 1965, she co-wrote), "Someone Else You've Known" (1967), "I Know He Loves Me" (1967), "I Wish I Felt This Way at Home" (1968), "Everything That's Fastened Down is Comin' Loose" (1968), "How Can Our Cheatin' Be Wrong?" (1969), "It Don't Take Much to Make Me Cry" (1969), "If You Really Want Me To, I'll Go" (1968)
backed by The Strangers, "Lead Me on" (#68c 1969)
with Buck Owen's band (1947- )
duet with Merle Haggard, "Just Between the Two of Us" (#28c 1964)
songwriter, co-wrote Sammi Smith's "Today I Started Loving You Again" (#9c 1975)
md. to singer, Buck Owens (1948-53, she was 16); md. to Merle Haggard (1965-78); md. to Fred McMillenher; mother of singer, Buddy Alan

Barbara Parritt

b. 1944 in Wilmington, NC
R&B/soul singer
founding member of The Toys (1961-68), "The Fight's Not Over" (1963), "A Lover's Concerto" (#2 1965, based on music by Johann Sebastian Bach), "This Night" (1965), "Attack" (#18 1965), "May My Heart Be Cast into Stone" (#85 1966), "I Close My Eyes" (1967)
md. to Mr. Toomer
see The Toys

Ray Sanders (Raymon Sanders aka Curly Sanders)

b. 1935 near St. John, KY
country singer
instrument: guitar
"My Heart is Yours Alone" (1953), "Brand New Rock and Roll" (1957), "I'm So Afraid" (1958), "A World So Full of Love" (#18c 1960), "Don't Tell Nell" (1961), "When Love Forgets to Die" (1961), "Lonelyville" (#20c 1961), "If I Can Slip Away" (1962), "Two People" (1967), "I Always Do the Best With What I've Got" (1968), "Beer Drinkin' Music" (#22c 1969), "Three Tears (for the Sad, Hurt and Blue)" (1969), "Blame it on Rosey" (#36c 1970), "All I Ever Need is You" (#18c 1971), "I Don't Want to Be Alone Tonight" (#56c 1977, he co-wrote), "Walk Slow" (1961)
songwriter
DJ

Seymour Spiegelman

b. 1930 in Seneca Falls, NY - d. 13 Feb 1987 in NY
R&B singer
founding member of The Hilltoppers (1951-55, 1957-63), "Trying" (1952), "P.S. I Love You" (#4 1953), "Love Walked in" (#8 1953), "Only You (and You Alone)" (#8 1955), "Marianne" (#3 1957), "Peggy's Sister" (1958), "Lots of Luck" (1959), "No Longer Lonely" (1963)
served in the Army (1954-56)

Roger Williams (Louis Wertz aka 'Mr. Piano')

b. 1924 in Omaha, NE (grew up in Des Moines, IA)
pop musician, instrument: piano
"Autumn Leaves" (#1 1955), "Take Care" (1955), "Born Free" (#7 1956), "I'll Always Walk With You" (1956), "Almost Paradise" (#15 1957), "Till" (#22 1957), "Near You" (#10 1958), "Indiscreet" (1958), "The Key to the Kingdom" (1959), "What Lies Over the Hills" (1960), "Homesick for New England" (1960), "Song of the Rain" (1961), "Janie is Her Name" (1963), "Felicia" (1964), "Junk" (1970)
served in the Navy during WWII
md. 1st to Joy Dunsmoor; md. 2nd to Louise DiCarlo (1985- )

Kelly Willis

b. 1968/69 in Lawton, OK or Annandale, VA (grew up in NC and VA)
country/rock singer
instrument: guitar
"My Heart's in Trouble Tonight" (1990), "Baby, Take a Piece of My Heart" (#51c 1991, she co-wrote), "Whatever Way the Wind Blows" (#72c 1993), "Heaven's Just a Sin Away" (#63c 1993), "What I Deserve" (1998, she co-wrote), "Talk Like That" (1998, she wrote), "If I Left You" (2002), "Easy (as Falling Apart)" (2002, she wrote), "Not What I Had in Mind" (2002, she wrote), "Hole in My Heart" (2007), "The More I'm Around You" (2007)
songwriter
md. to drummer, Mas Palermo (1989-92); md. to singer/songwriter, Bruce Robinson (1996- )
see Kelly Willis

October 2

Carl Cunningham

b. 1949 - d. 10 Dec 1967 in Lake Monona, WI
soul/R&B musician, instrument: drums
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

Rene Herrera (Rene E. Herrera)

b. 1935 in Laredo, TX - d. 20 Dec 2005 (cancer)
pop singer
founding member of Rene and Rene, "Angelito" (1964), "I'm Not the Only One" (1965), "Lo Mucho Que Te Quiero (The More I Love You)" (#14 1968, One-Hit Wonder)

Gregg Jennings

b. 1954 in Nicoma Park, OK
country/rock singer
instrument: guitar
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" (#11c 1993), "No End to This Road" (#33c 1998), "Feel My Way to You" (#29c 2004)
with Vince Gill's band (1997)

Chris LeDoux

b. 1944/48 in Biloxi, MS (grew up in Austin, TX) – d. 9 Mar 2005 in Casper, WY (liver cancer)
country singer
instruments: guitar, harmonica
"Tight Levis and Yellow Ribbons" (1975), "There's Nobody Home on the Range Anymore" (1976), "Ten Seconds in the Saddle" (#96c 1980), "Jeans and Good Leather" (1980), "The Cowboy and the Rose" (1980), "Blue Eyes and Freckles" (1981), "It Ain't the Years it's the Miles" (1983), "Even Cowboys Like a Little Rock and Roll" (1984), "This Cowboy's Hat" (#63c 1991), "Whatcha Gonna Do with a Cowboy?" (#7c 1992), * "Tougher Than the Rest" (1993), "Under This Old Hat" (#54c 1993), "Cadillac Ranch" (#18c 1993), "For Your Love" (#50c 1994), "When I Say Forever" (#65c 1996), "Five-Dollar Fine" (1996), "Take Me to the Rodeo" (1996), "Runaway Love" (#62c 1998), "Horse Power" (#56c 2003)
songwriter
had a liver transplant in 2000
champion bareback rider; sculptor
md. to Peggy Rhodes (1972-2005, his death)
quote by Chris LeDoux: "I always was one who didn't take things for granted. But I think I do appreciate things more now. The small moments of joy that we find each day are so much more precious now than when I looked at them before."
see Chris LeDoux

Gary Lovetro

b. 1949 in Johnstown, PA
country/rock singer
instrument: bass
founding member of Strawberry Alarm Clock (1967), "Incense and Peppermints" (#1 1967), "Strawberries Mean Love" (1967)
see Strawberry Alarm Clock on Wikipedia

Don McLean

b. 1945 in New Rochelle, NY
folk/rock/country singer
instruments: guitar, banjo, piano
"Dreidel" (#21 1972), "(Bye Bye, Miss) American Pie" (#1 1972, refers to the deaths of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper), "The Wrong Thing to Do" (1977), "Crying" (#5, #6c 1981), "Since I Don't Have You" (#68c 1981), "Castles in the Air" (#36 1981), "You Can't Blame the Train" (#49c 1987), "And I Love You So" (1989), "The Touch of Her Hand" (1989), "Don't Burn the Bridge" (1989), "Infinity" (1991), "If I Hadn't Met You" (1995)
songwriter
see Don McLean
see various interpretations of "American Pie" on Wikipedia

Ron Meagher

b. 1941 in Oakland, CA
rock/pop/folk singer
instruments: bass, guitar
founding member of The Beau Brummels (1964-67, and reunions), "Laugh Laugh" (#15 1965), * "Just a Little" (#8 1965), "You Tell Me Why" (1965), "Sad Little Girl" (1965), "Two Days Till Tomorrow" (1967)
with the Black Velvet Band
photographer
served in the military (1968-70)

Robbie Neville (Robert S. Nevil)

b. 1960/61 in Los Angeles, CA
rock/pop singer
instrument: guitar
"Look Who's Alone Tonight" (1986), "C'est la Vie" (#2 1987), "Dominoes" (#14 1987), "Wot's it to Ya" (#10 1987), "Here I Go Again" (1988), "Just Like You" (#25 1991), "Goin' Through the Motions" (1991)
songwriter

Leon Rausch (Edgar Leon Rausch)

b. 1927 in Springfield, MO
country/western swing singer
instruments: guitar, bass
"Dance Towards the Door" (1965), "She's the Trip That I've Been on" (#91c 1976), "I'm Satisfied With You" (#89c 1978), "Let's Have a Heart to Heart Talk" (#95c 1978), "The Little Bluebonnet Bar" (1998), "Close to You" (1998), "Deep in the Heart of Texas" (1998), "Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind?" (1998)
with Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys (1958-66, off and on), "Heart to Heart Talk" (#5c 1960), "I'll See You to the Door" (1965), "Footsteps to Nowhere" (1966)
songwriter
served in the military
see The Texas Playboys

Dave Somerville (aka David Troy)

b. 1933 in Canada
pop singer (baritone/bass)
founding member and lead singer of The Diamonds (1954-61, and reunions), "Why Do Fools Fall in Love?" (#12 1956), "The Church Bells May Ring" (#14 1956), "Little Darlin'" (#2 1957), "Words of Love" (#13 1957), "Silhouettes" (#10 1957), "The Stroll" (#4 1958), "Kathy-O" (#16 1958), "Walking Along" (#29 1958), "One Summer Night" (#22 1961)
with The Four Preps (1967-69, and reunions)
founding member of WW Fancy (1972-74)
with Triple Gold
songwriter
actor
see The Four Preps on Wikipedia

Jo-El Sonnier (Joel Sonnier)

b. 1946 in Rayne, LA
Cajun/country singer
instruments: accordion, drums, bass
"Always Late with Your Kisses" (#99c 1976), "No More One More Time" (#7c 1988), "Tear-Stained Letter" (#9c 1988), "Rainin' in My Heart" (#35c 1989), "If Your Heart Should Ever Roll This Way Again" (#24c 1990), "The Scene of the Crime" (#65c 1990), "Diggy Diggy Lo" (1998), "Johnny B. Goode" (1998)
session musician with Alan Jackson, Edie Brickell, and others
songwriter
actor

Tammy Sullivan

b. 1964 in Wagarville, AL
bluegrass/gospel singer
duets with Jerry Sullivan, "What a Wonderful Savior is He" (1991), "Darkness and Light" (1995), "At the Feet of God" (1995), "You Never Mentioned Him to Me" (2000), "Show Me the Way Home" (2000), "Don't Let Me Fall" (2001)
daughter of Jerry Sullivan

Jimmy Torres (James Torres)

b. 1939 in Paint Rock, TX
pop/rock musician, instrument: lead guitar, French horn
"Dust on the Road" (1989, he wrote), "Uncommon Man" (1989, he wrote)
founding member of The String-a-Longs (195?-64), "Wheels" (#3 1961, he co-wrote), "Brass Buttons" (#35 1961), "Nearly Sunrise" (1961), "Should I?" (#42 1961), "Spinnin' My Wheels" (1962), "Bulldog" (1964), "Places I Remember" (1969)
songwriter, co-wrote Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs' "Sugar Shack" (#1 1963)

Gillian Welch

b. 1967 in New York, NY (grew up in CA)
folk/bluegrass/country singer
instruments: guitar, banjo
"Paper Wings" (1996), "Only One and Only" (1996), "Caleb Meyer" (1998, she co-wrote), "Winter's Come and Gone" (1998), "I Dream a Highway" (2001), "I Want to Sing That Rock and Roll" (2000), "Look at Miss Ohio" (2003, she co-wrote), "One Little Song" (2003, she wrote)
session musician with Ryan Adams, Nanci Griffith, Ralph Stanley, and others
songwriter, co-wrote Kathy Mattea's "455 Rocket" (#21c 1997); Trisha Yearwood's "You Can Sleep while I Drive" (#23c 1995)
see Gillian Welch and David Rawlings

Joy Lynn White

b. 1961 in Turrell, AR (grew up in Mishawaka, IN)
country singer
"Wishful Thinking" (1992), "Little Tears" (#68c 1992), "It's Amazing" (1992, she co-wrote), "True Confessions" (#45c 1993), "Cold Day in July" (#71c 1993), "Wild Love" (#73c 1994), "Why Can't I Stop Loving You?" (1994), "I Doubt if it Does to You" (1997), "An Exception" (2002, she co-wrote), "My Heart Breaks" (2002, she co-wrote), "Keep This Love" (2005, she co-wrote), "Just Some Girl" (2005)
duet with Dwight Yoakam, "It's Better This Way" (1997)
songwriter, wrote The Dixie Chicks' "Tonight the Heartache's on Me" (#46, #6c 1999), "Cold Day in July" (#65, #10c 2000)

Chubby Wise (Robert Russell Dees)

b. 1915 (grew up in Lake City, FL) - d. 6 Jan 1996 (heart failure)
western swing/bluegrass/folk musician, instruments: fiddle, guitar
"I Can't Stop Loving You" (1994), "Under the Double Eagle" (1994), "The Eighth of January" (1994), "Lee Highway Blues" (1995), "Durham's Bull" (1995)
with Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys (1942-48), "Orange Blossom Special" (1942), "Honky-Tonk Swing" (1942), "Kentucky Waltz" (#3c 1946), "Footprints in the Snow" (#5c 1946), "Blue Moon Over Kentucky" (1947), "My Rose of Old Kentucky" (1948), "Sweetheart, You Done Me Wrong" (#11c 1948)
with Hank Snow's Rainbow Ranch Boys (1954-70)
session musician with Clyde Moody, Flatt and Scruggs, Hank Williams, Mac Wiseman, Red Allen, and others
songwriter
his last name was changed to 'Wise' when he was adopted as a baby
see The Blue Grass Boys

October 3

Lindsey Buckingham (Lindsey Adams Buckingham)

b. 1949 in Palo Alto, CA (grew up in Atherton, CA)
rock singer
instrument: bass, guitar, keyboards
"Trouble" (#9 1981, he wrote), "Mary Lee Jones" (1981, he wrote), "Holiday Road" (#82 1983), "Go Insane" (#23 1984, he wrote), "Play in the Rain" (1984, he wrote), "Slow Dancing" (1984, he wrote), "Wrong" (1992), "Countdown" (1992)
with Fleetwood Mac (1975-87, and reunions), "Say You Love Me" (#11 1976), "You Make Loving Fun" (#9 1977), "Don't Stop" (#3 1977), "Go Your Own Way" (#10 1977), "Dreams" (#1 1977), "Sara" (#7 1980), "Hold Me" (#4 1982), "Little Lies" (#4 1987), "Big Love" (#5 1987)
songwriter
md. to photographer, Kristen Messner (2000- )
see Lindsey Buckingham

Chubby Checker (Ernest Evans)

b. 1941 in Spring Gulley, SC (grew up in Philadelphia, PA)
rock singer
"The Class" (#38 1959), "Those Private Eyes (Keep Watchin' Me)" (1960), * "The Twist" (#1, #2c 1960; #1, #4c 1962), "The Hucklebuck" (#14, #15c 1960), "The Fly" (#7 1961), * "Let's Twist Again" (#8, #26c 1961), "Pony Time" (#1, #1c 1961), "Slow Twistin'" (#3 1962), "Limbo Rock" (#2, #3c 1962), "Popeye the Hitchhiker" (#10, #13c 1962), "Dancin' Party" (#12 1962), "Birdland" (#12 1963), * "Let's Limbo Some More" (#20, #16c 1963), "Loddy Lo" (#12 1963), "Twenty Miles Limbo" (#15, #15c 1963), "Hooka Tooka" (#17 1964), "The Weekend's Here" (1964), "Let's Do the Freddie" (#40 1965), "Her Heart" (1966), "Pussy Cat" (1966), "Move it" (1976)
duet with Bobby Rydell, "Jingle Bell Rock" (#21 1961)
songwriter
dancer
md. to Catharina Lodders (1964- )
see Chubby Checker

Eddie Cochran (Raymond Edward Cochrane)

b. 1938 in Albert Lea, MN (grew up in CA) – d. 17 Apr 1960 in England (the same auto accident that injured Gene Vincent)
rockabilly singer
instruments: electric guitar, acoustic guitar
"Sittin' in the Balcony" (#18 1957), "Dark Lonely Street" (1957), "Drive-in Show" (#82 1957), "Twenty-Flight Rock" (1957, he co-wrote), "Jeannie, Jeannie, Jeannie" (#94 1958), * "Summertime Blues" (#8 1958, he co-wrote), "C'mon, Everybody" (#35 1959, he wrote), "Something Else" (#58 1959), "Three Steps to Heaven" (1960), "The Picture Behind the Picture" (1962), "Stockin's 'n' Shoes" (1966)
with Hank Cochran (no relation) as The Cochran Brothers, "Two Blue Singin' Stars" (1955), "Your Tomorrow Never Comes" (1955), "Guilty Conscience" (1955), "Tired and Sleepy" (1956)
actor

John 'JC' Curulewski

b. 1950 - d. Feb 1988 (brain aneurysm)
rock singer
instruments: acoustic guitar, electric guitar
founding member of Styx (1970-75), "Best Thing" (#82 1972), "Lady" (#6 1975), "Lorelei" (#27 1976)
songwriter
guitar teacher
see Styx

Kenny Dale (Kenneth Dale Eoff, Jr.)

b. 1951 in Artesia, NM (grew up in TX)
country singer
instruments: drums, guitar
"Bluest Heartache of the Year" (#11c 1977), "Shame, Shame on Me (I Had Planned to Be Your Man)" (#11c 1977), "Red Hot Memory" (#17c 1978), "The Loser" (#28c 1978), "Two Hearts Tangled in Love" (#18c 1978), "Down-to-Earth Woman" (#16c 1979), "Only Love Can Break a Heart" (#7c 1979), "Sharing" (#15c 1979), "Let Me in" (#23c 1980), "Two Will Be One" (#85c 1984, he wrote), "Look What Love Did to Me" (#83c 1985, he wrote), "Perfect Angel" (1987, he wrote), "I'm Getting Better at Forgetting" (1987), "When We Say Love" (2005)
songwriter

Gerry Hogan

b. 1943 in Calcutta, India
country/rock musician, instruments: lap steel guitar, dobro
founding member of Jon Derek and Country Fever (1968- ), "Too Much of Nothing" (1969), "Tears of Rage" (1969), "All I Want to Do is Love You" (1975)
founding member of Hogan's Heroes (1987- )
session musician with The Everly Brothers, Ricky Scaggs, Marty Stuart, Nanci Griffith, Sonny Curtis, and others
songwriter

Tony Martinez (Antonio Martinez)

b. 1945 in Madrid, Spain - d. in a motorcycle accident
pop/rock musician, instrument: guitar
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

Berman Patterson

b. 1938 (grew up in Queens, NY)
doo-wop/rock/jazz singer
"Summer Wind" (2003), "You Make Me Feel So Young" (2003)
founding member and second tenor of The Cleftones (1955-59, and reunions), "Little Girl of Mine" (#57 1956), "Can't We Be Sweethearts?" (1956)
songwriter
see The Cleftones on SoulWalking

Vern Stovall

b. 1928 in Altus, OK (grew up in Vian, OK)
country singer
"Long Black Limousine" (1961), "My Best Wasn't Good Enough" (1961), "Just Another Way to Get the Blues" (1962), "Dallas" (#58c 1967), "Movin' 'Round" (1967), "Brought on By the Wine" (1969)
duet with Phil Baugh, "Country Guitar" (#16c 1965, he co-wrote)
songwriter

Steve Susskind (Steven R. Susskind)

doo-wop singer
b. 1942 in Springfield, MA (grew up in Forest Hills, NY) - d. 21 Jan 2005 in Sunland, CA (auto accident)
founding member of The Roommates (1959-65), "Glory of Love" (#49 1961), "Never Knew" (1961), "Just for Tonight" (1964)
The Roommates backing Cathy Jean, "Please Love Me Forever" (#12 1961, One-Hit Wonder), "Make Me Smile Again" (1961), "Sugar Cube" (1961)
actor; voice actor

Stevie Ray Vaughan (Stephen Ray Vaughan)

b. 1954 in Dallas, TX - d. 27 Aug 1990 in East Troy, WI (helicopter crash)
blues/rock singer
instrument: electric guitar
founding member of The Vaughan Brothers, "White Boots" (1990), "Brothers" (1990, he co-wrote), "Telephone Song" (1990, he co-wrote), "Long Way From Home" (1990, he co-wrote)
founding member of Double Trouble (1979-90), "Pride and Joy" (#20 1983, he wrote), "Texas Flood" (1983), "Lenny" (1983, he wrote), "Couldn't Stand the Weather" (1984, he wrote), "Say What?" (1985, he wrote), "Life Without You" (1985, he wrote), "Tightrope" (#14 1989, he co-wrote), "Wall of Denial" (1989, he co-wrote), "Crossfire" (1989)
session musician with Jennifer Warnes, David Bowie, and others
songwriter
younger brother of musician, Jimmie Vaughan
md. to Lenora Darlene 'Lenny' Bailey (1979-88)
see Stevie Ray Vaughan

Allen Woody (Douglas Allen Woody)

b. 1955 in Nashville, TN - d. 26 Aug 2000
rock/blues/country musician, instrument: bass (also custom instruments including a bass/mandolin hybrid)
with the Allman Brothers Band (1989-97), "Good Clean Fun" (1990), "Seven Turns" (1990), "It Ain't Over Yet" (1990), "Nobody Knows" (1991)
founding member of Gov't Mule (1995-2000)
songwriter
see The Allman Brothers

October 4

Diane Adams (Diane L. Adams)

b. 1962 - d. 4 Apr 1987 (auto accident)
country singer
"I'm Little (But I'm Loud)" (1978, One-Hit Wonder)

Larry Collins (Lawrence Albert Collins)

b. 1944 in Tulsa, OK
country/rockabilly singer
instrument: double-neck guitar
"One Step Down" (1961), "More Than a Friend" (1962), "New York City, R.F.D." (1969), "The Outcast" (1970)
with The Collins Kids, "Beetle-Bug Bop" (1955), "The Rockaway Rock" (1956), "My First Love" (1956), "Young Heart" (1957), "Move a Little Closer" (1957), "Hop, Skip and Jump" (1957), * "Kinda Like Love" (1959), * "Sugar Plum" (1959), "Hot Rod" (released 1982)
songwriter, co-wrote Tanya Tucker's "Delta Dawn" (#72, #6c 1972); David Frizzell and Shelly West's "You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma" (#1c 1981)

Marlena Davis

b. 1944 - d. 27 Feb 1993 in Philadelphia, PA (lung cancer)
rock/soul/novelty singer
founding member of The Orlons (1960-63, and reunions), "The Wah Watusi" (#2 1962), "Don't Hang Up" (#4 1962), "Please Let it Be Me" (1962), "Them Terrible Boots" (1963), "South Street" (#3 1963), "Not Me" (#12 1963), "Crossfire" (#19 1963)
The Orlons sang backup on Dee Dee Sharp's "Mashed Potato Time" (#2 1962), "Gravy (for My Mashed Potatoes)" (#9 1962)
backup singer on The Tymes' "So Much in Love" (#4 1963), "Wonderful, Wonderful" (#23 1963), and others
executive secretary
md. to Mr. Easley
see The Tymes on Soul Express

Dianne Decker

b. 1944 in Dallas, TX
folk singer
with 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

Jim Fielder

b. 1947 in Denton, TX
rock/jazz musician, instrument: bass guitar
founding member of Blood Sweat and Tears (1967-73), "Meagan's Gypsy Eyes" (1968), "You've Made Me So Very Happy" (#2 1969), "More and More/Spinning Wheel" (#2 1969), "And When I Die" (#2 1969), "Hi-De-Ho" (#14 1970), "Lucretia MacEvil" (#29 1970), "Go Down Gamblin'" (#32 1971), "Lisa, Listen to Me" (#73 1971), "So Long Dixie" (#32 1972)
with Neil Sedaka's band (1977- )
session musician with The Mothers of Invention, Tim Buckley, Buffalo Springfield, and others
see Blood, Sweat and Tears

Lloyd Green (Lloyd Lamar Green)

b. 1937 in Leaf, MS (grew up in Mobile, AL)
country/rock/western swing musician, instruments: steel guitar, dobro
"Steel Blue" (1969), "Bar-Hoppin'" (1969), "I Can See Clearly Now" (#36c 1972), "Here Comes the Sun" (#73c 1973), "You and Me" (#92c 1977)
with The Texas Playboys (1967)
session musician on Warner Mack's "The Bridge Washed Out" (#1c 1965); Jeanne Pruett's "Satin Sheets" (#28, #1c 1973); Hank Snow's "Hello, Love" (#1c 1974); Ronnie Milsap's "I'd Be a Legend in My Time" (#1c 1975); Del Reeves' "The Girl on the Billboard" (#96, #1c 1965); the Oak Ridge Boys' "Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight" (#1c 1980); Charley Pride's "All I Have to Offer You is Me" (#91, #1c 1969); Shelly West's "Jose Cuervo" (#1c 1983); Mel McDaniel's "Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans on" (#1c 1985); Alan Jackson's "Remember When" (#29, #1c 2004); Lynn Anderson's "How Can I Unlove You?" (#63, #1c 1971); The Gatlin Brothers' "All the Gold in California" (#1c 1979); Crystal Gayle's "Don't it Make My Brown Eyes Blue" (#2, #1c 1977); Jerry Lee Lewis' "Chantilly Lace" (#43, #1c 1972); Faron Young's "It's Four in the Morning" (#92, #1c 1971); Don Williams' "Say it Again" (#1c 1976); and with Ferlin Husky, George Jones, Bobby Bare, Ricky Skaggs, Gene Watson Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and others
see The Texas Playboys
see Lloyd Green Tribute which lists the 105 #1 hits he played on

Hobie Hubbard (Gregg Hubbard)

b. 1960 in Orlando, FL
country singer
instrument: keyboards
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, he co-wrote), "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, he co-wrote), "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)
songwriter
see Sawyer Brown

Barbara K. MacDonald (Barbara Kooyman aka Barbara K. McKenna)

b. 1958 (grew up in Colorado Springs, CO)
pop/folk/rock singer
instruments: acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin, violin
founding member and lead singer of Timbuk 3 (1986-95), "The Future's So Bright (I Gotta Wear Shades)" (#19 1986, she co-wrote), "Hairstyles and Attitudes" (1986), "Shame on You" (1986), "Facts about Cats" (1986), "A Sinful Life" (1988), "Sample the Dog" (1988), "Too Much Sex (Not Enough Affection)" (1988), "Wheel of Fortune" (1989), "Mudflap Girl" (1991), "Border Crossing" (1991), "Looks Like Dark to Me" (1994), "Kitchen Fire" (1995)
with Ghosts and Sparrows
songwriter
md. to Pat MacDonald

Pirkle Lee Moses (Pirkle Lee Moses, Jr.)

b. 1937 in Chicago, IL - d. 17 Dec 2000 in Chicago, IL (cancer)
doo-wop singer
founding member and lead singer of The El Dorados (1952-59, and reunions), "Living with Vivian" (1954), "At My Front Door (Crazy Little Mama)" (#17 1955, One-Hit Wonder), "I'll Be Forever Loving You" (1956), "Rock 'n' Roll's for Me" (1956), "A Rose for My Darling" (1957), "Three Reasons Why" (1958)
songwriter
served in the Air Force
see The El Dorados on R&B Notebooks

Heidi Newfield

b. 1970 in Healdsburg, CA
country singer
instruments: harmonica, rhythm acoustic guitar
"Johnny and June" (#31c 2008, she co-wrote)
founding member of Trick Pony (1996-2006), "Pour Me" (#71, #12c 2000), * "On a Night Like This" (#47, #4c 2001), "Just What I Do" (#13c 2002), "On a Mission" (#20c 2002), "The Bride" (#27c 2002), "It's a Heartache" (#22c 2005)
songwriter
md. to Bill Johnson (2004- )

Leroy Van Dyke (Leroy Frank Van Dyke)

b. 1929/33 in Spring Fork, MO
country singer
instrument: guitar
* "The Auctioneer" (#19, #9c 1956, he co-wrote), "I Fell in Love with a Pony Tail" (1956), "The Pocket Book Song" (1957), "Every Time I Ask My Heart" (1957), "Leather Jacket" (1958), * "Walk on By" (#5, #1c 1961, he wrote), * "My World is Cavin' in" (1961), "Five Steps Away" (1962), "If a Woman Answers (Hang up the Phone)" (#35, #3c 1962), "Black Cloud" (#16c 1962), "Happy to Be Unhappy" (#50c 1964), "Night People" (#45c 1964), "Roses from a Stranger" (#34c 1965), "Louisville" (#23c 1968), "Your Daughter Cried All Night" (1969), "You Sure Look Good on My Pillow" (1975), "There Ain't No Roses in My Bed" (1975), "Texas Tea" (#77c 1977), "Las Vegas Girl" (1977)
songwriter
auctioneer
served in the Army in Korea
see

October 5

Brian Connolly (Brian Francis Connolly, adoptive name Brian McManus)

b. 1945 in Hamilton, Scotland – d. 10 Feb 1997 in England (liver failure brought on chronic alcoholism)
pop/rock singer
"Take Away the Music" (1980), "Phone You" (1980), "Don't You Know a Lady (When You See One)?" (1980), "Hypnotized" (1982), "Magic Circle" (1985)
founding member of Sweet (1968-78), * "Funny, Funny" (1971), "Little Willy" (#3 1973), "The Ballroom Blitz" (#5 1975), "Fox on the Run" (#5 1976, he co-wrote), "Action" (#20 1976), "Love is Like Oxygen" (#8 1978)
songwriter
see Sweet

Bill Dana (William Szathmary)

b. 1924 in Quincy, MA
novelty singer
recorded as Jose Jimenez, "The Astronaut (Parts 1 and 2)" (#19 1961, One-Hit Wonder), "Make Nice" (1965), "All You Need is You" (1965), "Welcome to Yosemite National Tree" (1991), "Jose, Can You See?" (1991)
actor; comedian; screenwriter
served in WWII
md. to Evelyn Shular
see Bill Dana

Richie Dotson

b. 1966 in Dickson, TN
bluegrass/gospel singer
instrument: banjo
founding member of New Tradition (1982-98), "The Way, the Truth, the Light" (1991), "No Part of Nothin'" (1992), "Heaven's Highway" (1997), "Daddy on His Knees" (1997), "I'll Take Your Love Anytime" (1997), "Dreams of the Past" (1997)
banjo maker

Johnny Duncan (John Richard Duncan)

b. 1938 in Dublin, TX - d. 14 Aug 2006 in Fort Worth, TX (heart attack)
country singer
instrument: guitar
"Freddy and His Go-Cart" (1960), "Who Do They Think They Are?" (1966), "When She Touches Me" (#30c 1969), "There's Something About a Lady" (#19c 1971, he wrote), "Sweet Country Woman" (#6c 1973), "Hello, Mexico (and Adios Baby to You)" (#4c 1978), "I Watched an Angel (Going Through Hell)" (1978), "She Can Put Her Shoes Under My Bed (Anytime)" (#1c 1978), "Song in the Night" (#5c 1979), "Slow Dancing" (#6c 1979), "The Lady in the Blue Mercedes" (#9c 1979), "Play Another Slow Song" (#17c 1979), "Acapulco" (#16c 1981), "It Seemed Like the Thing to Do at the Time" (2004)
duets with Janie Fricke, "Stranger" (#4c 1976), "Thinkin' of a Rendezvous" (#1c 1976), "It Couldn't Have Been Any Better" (#1c 1977), "Come a Little Bit Closer" (#4c 1978), "He's Out of My Life" (#17c 1980)
duet with June Stearns, "Jackson Ain't a Very Big Town" (#21c 1968)
songwriter, co-wrote Charlie Pride's "She's Too Good to Be True" (#1c 1972)
cousin of Dan and Jim Seals
md. 1st to Betty Deisher
see Johnny Duncan

George Jones, Jr.

b. 1936 in Youngstown, OH
doo-wop singer
founding member and lead singer of The Edsels (1957-63), "What Brought Us Together" (1960), "Three Precious Words" (1961), "My Whispering Heart" (1961), "Rama Lama Ding Dong" (#21 1961, he wrote, One-Hit Wonder)
with New Affair
songwriter
served in the Air Force

Wally Lester

b. 1941 in Pittsburgh, PA
pop singer (tenor)
founding member of The Skyliners (1958-61, 1970- ), "Since I Don't Have You" (#12 1959, he co-wrote), "This I Swear" (#26 1959, he co-wrote), "It Happened Today" (#59 1959), "Pennies from Heaven" (#24 1960), "Lorraine From Spain" (1960), "I'll Close My Eyes" (1961), "Our Day is Here" (1976), "We've Got Love on Our Side" (1978), "You're My Christmas Present" (1990), "Another New Year's Eve" (2005), "Who Knows I Love You?" (2005), "I'll Never Start to Stop Lovin' You" (2005)
see The Skyliners

Carlo Mastrangelo

b. 1938 in the Bronx, NY
pop/doo-wop singer (baritone)
founding member of Dion and the Belmonts (1958-60, and reunions), * "No One Knows" (#19 1958), * I Wonder Why" (#22 1958), * "Every Little Thing I Do" (#48 1959), * "Don't Pity Me" (#40 1959), "Teenager in Love" (#5 1959), * "Where or When" (#3 1960), * "When You Wish Upon a Star" (#30 1960)
founding member of The Belmonts (1961-62), "Such a Long Way" (1961), "Tell Me Why" (#18 1961), "Come on, Little Angel" (#28 1962)
see The Belmonts on Wikipedia

Steve Miller

b. 1943 in Milwaukee, WI (grew up in Dallas, TX)
blues/rock/pop singer
instruments: guitar, keyboards, harmonica
"Born to Be Blue" (1988), "Willow Weep for Me" (1988), "Horse and Rider" (1993, he co-wrote), "Lost in Your Eyes" (1993)
founding member of the Steve Miller Band (1968- ), "Sittin' in Circles" (1968), "Living in the U.S.A." (#49 1968, he wrote), "Quicksilver Girl" (1968), "Song for Our Ancestors" (1969), "Going to the Country" (#69 1970, he co-wrote), "Nothing Lasts" (1972, he wrote), "The Joker" (#1 1973, he wrote), "Fly Like an Eagle" (#2 1976, he wrote), "Rock 'N Me" (#1 1976, he wrote), "Sweet Maree" (1976, he wrote), "Jet Airliner" (#8 1977), "Heart Like a Wheel" (#24 1981, he wrote), "Abracadabra" (#1 1982, he wrote), "Circle of Love" (#55 1982, he wrote), "Things I Told You" (1982), "I Want to Make the World Turn Around" (#97 1986, he wrote), "Wide River" (#64 1993, he co-wrote)
songwriter
godson of Les Paul
see the Steve Miller Band on Wikipedia

Mas Palermo

b. 1964
country/rockabilly singer
instruments: drums, percussions
with Monte Warden's backup 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), "Your Heart Will Come Around" (1999), "It's Only Love" (1999), "Madeline" (1999), "I Can't Tell My Heart What to Do" (1999)
with Kelly Willis' band (1990-91), "My Heart's in Trouble Tonight" (1990, he wrote), "Baby, Take a Piece of My Heart" (#51c 1991)
session musician
songwriter, co-wrote The Wagoneers' "Sit a Little Closer" (#53c 1989)
md. to singer, Kelly Willis (1989-92)

Billy Lee Riley

b. 1933 in Pocahontas, AR
rockabilly singer
instruments: harmonica, guitar, bass
"Rock with Me, Baby" (1956), "Flying Saucers Rock 'n' Roll" (1957), "Pearly Lee" (1957), "No Name Girl" (1959), "Teenage Letter" (1961), "Midnight Hour" (1967), "Family Portrait" (1968), "Show Me Your Soul" (1969), "I Got a Thing about You, Baby" (#93 1972), "Good Old Rock and Roll" (1979)
recorded as Skip Wiley, "Fast Livin'" (1961), "Hill Country Music" (1961)
recorded as Darren Lee, "Everybody's Twisting" (1961), "I've Been Searching" (1961)
recorded as Prince Albert, "Lonely Man" (1964, he wrote)
duet with The Megatones, "Shimmy, Shimmy Walk" (#88 1962)
session musician on The Beach Boys' "Help Me, Rhonda" (#1 1965); Johnny Rivers' "Mabellene" (#12 1964), "Mountain of Love" (#9 1964); Jerry Lee Lewis' * "Breathless" (#7, #4c 1958), "What'd I Say?" (#30, #26c 1961); Janie Fricke and Charlie Rich's "On My Knees" (#1c 1978), "Lonely Weekends" (#22 1960); and others
songwriter
music producer
served in the military (1949-5?)
see Billy Lee Riley

Margie Singleton (Margaret Louise Ebey)

b. 1935 in Coushatta, LA
country singer
instrument: guitar
"My Picture of You" (1957), "It's Better to Know" (1959), "Nothing But True Love" (#25c 1959), "Our Little Secret" (1959), "Eyes of Love" (#12c 1959, she co-wrote), "My Special Dream" (1960), "Chained to a Promise" (1962), "I Don't Have to Look Pretty to Stay Home and Cry" (1963), "Old Records" (#11c 1963), "Magic Star" (1963), "Ode to Billy Joe" (#39c 1967), "Cheaters Win" (1968), "Wandering Mind" (#52c 1968, she co-wrote)
duets with George Jones, "Did I Ever Tell You?" (#15c 1961, she co-wrote), "Waltz of the Angels" (#11c 1962), "If You Don't, Somebody Else Will" (1962)
duets with Faron Young, "Keeping up with the Joneses" (#5c 1964), "No Thanks, I Just Had One" (#40c 1964), "Another Woman's Man, Another Man's Woman" (#38c 1964)
duets with Leon Ashley, "How Can We Divide These Little Hearts?" (1967), "Hangin' on" (#54c 1967), "You'll Never Be Lonely Again" (#55c 1968), "Happy Loving You" (1970)
backup singer
songwriter, co-wrote Brook Benton's "Lie to Me" (#13 1962), "My True Confession" (#22 1963)
md. to Shelby Singleton (1949- ) she md. at 13 and had her first child at 14; md. to Leon Ashley (1965- )

Arlene Smith

b. 1941 in the Bronx, NY
pop/doo-wop singer
"Love, Love, Love" (1961), "To Live My Life Again" (1963)
founding member and lead singer of The Chantels (1957-60, and reunions), "He's Gone" (#71 1957, she wrote), "Maybe" (#15 1958, she co-wrote), "Every Night (I Pray)" (#39 1958, she co-wrote), "I Love You So" (#42 1958)
songwriter
school teacher

Richard Street (Richard Allen Street)

b. 1942 in Detroit, MI
soul/R&B singer
instrument: piano
with The Distants (1955- ), "Answer Me" (1962), "Save Me From Misery" (1962)
with The Monitors, "Greetings (This is Uncle Sam)" (1966), "Step By Step (Hand in Hand)" (1968)
with The Temptations, (1972-92, replaced Paul Williams), "Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are)" (1971), "Take a Look Around" (1972), "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" (#1 1972), "Masterpiece" (#7 1973), "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)
cousin of Melvin Franklin; md. to singer, Carolyn Gill (1969-83)
see The Temptations

October 6

John Ashby (John Clinton Ashby)

b. 1915 near North Warrenton, VA - d. 11 May 1979
country/folk musician, instrument: fiddle
founding member of The Free State Ramblers (194?-1979), "Ashby Breakdown" (1970, he wrote), "Western Union" (1970), "Lost Train Blues" (1972), "Rattlesnake Bit the Baby" (1972), "Betty Ann" (1979), "Snowshoes" (1979)
brother of Marshall Ashby; cousin of Moffett Ashby

Kevin Cronin

b. 1951
rock singer
instruments: acoustic guitar, electric guitar
with REO Speedwagon (1972, 1976- ), "Take it on the Run" (#5 1981), "In Your Letter" (#20 1981), "Keep on Loving You" (#1 1981, he wrote), "Keep the Fire Burnin'" (#7 1982), "Can't Fight This Feeling" (#1 1985, he wrote), "That Ain't Love" (#16 1987), "In My Dreams" (#19 1987), "Here with Me" (#20 1988)
songwriter
see Kevin Cronin

Walt Kemp (Walter Kempinski)

b. 1946 in Chicago, IL
pop/rock/soul musician, instrument: Bass
founding member of The New Colony Six (1964-67), "I Confess" (#71 1965), "At the River's Edge" (1966), "Love You So Much" (#55 1966), "Accept My Ring" (1967), "My Dreams Depend on You" (1967)
cousin of Craig Kemp

Hal Kratzsch

b. 1925 in Warsaw, IN - d. 18 Nov 1970 (cancer)
pop/jazz singer
founding member of The Four Freshmen (1948-53), "Now You Know" (1951), "It's a Blue World" (#30 1952), "It Happened Once Before" (#29 1953), "Baltimore Oriole" (1953)
see The Four Freshmen

Thomas McClary

b. 1950 in Eustis, FL
R&B/soul singer
instrument: lead guitar
"Thin Walls" (1984, he co-wrote), "Ask Me How I Know" (2008), "It's Only Human" (2008)
founding member of The Commodores (1968-82), "Machine Gun" (#22 1974), "Slippery When Wet" (#19 1975, he co-wrote), "Sweet Love" (#5 1976), "Just to Be Close to You" (#7 1976), "Brick House" (#5 1977, he co-wrote), "Fancy Dancer" (#39 1977), "Easy" (#4 1977), * "Three Times a Lady" (#1 1978), "Still" (#1 1979), "Sail on" (#4 1979), "Heroes" (#54 1980), "Lady" (#8 1981), "Oh No" (#4 1981)
songwriter
see The Commodores
see Thomas McClary

Tim Rushlow (Timothy Ray Rushlow)

b. 1966 in Midwest City, OK (grew up in Arlington, TX)
country singer
instrument: rhythm guitar
"She Misses Him" (#8c 2001), "Crazy Life" (#43c 2001), "American Cars" (2001)
founding member and lead singer of Little Texas (1988-97), "Some Guys Have All the Love" (#8c 1991), "What Were You Thinkin'?" (#17c 1992), "You and Forever and Me" (#5c 1992), "I'd Rather Miss You" (#16c 1993), "Stop on a Dime" (#14c 1993), "God Blessed Texas" (#55, #4c 1993), "What Might Have Been" (#74, #2c 1993), "My Love" (#83, #1c 1993), "Cut-Off Jeans" (1993), "Kick a Little" (#5c 1994), "Amy's Back in Austin" (#4c 1995), "Life Goes on" (#5 1995), "You Gotta Wanna Win" (1996), "Country Crazy" (#44c 1996), "Bad for Us" (#45c 1997), "Kiss the Girl" (#52c 1997)
founding member of Rushlow Harris, "I Can't Be Your Friend" (#16c 2003), "Sweet Summer Rain" (#43c 2004), "That's So You" (#57c 2006), "Bagpipes Cryin'" (#42c 2006)
md. to Mary Jane (1993- )
cousin of Doni Harris
see Little Texas

Little Millie Small (Millicent Dolly May Smith)

b. 1946 in Jamaica
R&B/Reggae singer
"Don't You Know?" (1963), "My Boy Lollipop" (#2 1964), "Something's Gotta Be Done" (1964), "Sweet William" (#40 1964), "Tongue-Tied" (1965)
founding member of Roy and Millie, "We'll Meet" (1962)
songwriter

Johnny Wyatt

b. 1938 in Texacali, TX - d. Dec 1983
R&B/doo-wop singer (tenor, falsetto)
"To Whom it May Concern" (1966), "It's Your Love I Need" (1967)
founding member of Rochell and the Candles (1958-64), "Once Upon a Time" (#26 1961, One-Hit Wonder), "Each Night" (1962), "Let's Run Away and Get Married" (1963), "Annie's Not an Orphan Anymore" (1963)
founding member and lead of Johnny Wyatt and the Hightones, "We Met at a Dance" (1959), "Wondering Why" (1959)
songwriter

October 7

Ricky Cordo

b. 1939
doo-wop/soul singer (falsetto)
founding member of The Versitiles (1958-62), "I'll Whisper in Your Ear" (1960), "Just Words" (1962)
founding member and lead singer of The Majors (1961- ), "A Wonderful Dream" (#22 1962, One-Hit Wonder), "A Little Bit Now (and a Little Bit Later)" (1962), "She's a Troublemaker" (1962), "One Happy Ending" (1963)

Dave Hope

b. 1949 in Topeka, KS
rock/Christian singer
instrument: bass guitar
founding member of Kansas (1970-83, 1990), "Point of No Return" (#28 1977), "Carry on Wayward Son" (#11 1977), "Dust in the Wind" (#6 1978), "People of the Southwind" (#23 1979), "Play the Game Tonight" (#17 1982)
founding member of AD (1983- )
Anglican priest
see Kansas

Clifton James (Clifton A. James)

b. 1936 in Chicago, IL - d. 16 Feb 2006 in Chicago, IL
blues singer
instrument: drums
with The Chicago Blues All Stars, "Walking the Blues" (1955), "29 Ways" (1957)
backup for Bo Diddley (1954-70, off and on), "Say, Man" (#20 1959), "Crackin' Up" (#62 1959), "Road Runner" (#75 1960), "You Can't Judge a Book by it's Cover" (#48 1962), "Ooh Baby" (#88 1966), and others
sessionist with Muddy Waters, The Flamingos, Howlin' Wolf, and others

Kieran Kane

b. 1949 in Queens, NY
country/bluegrass/rockabilly singer
instruments: guitar, mandonlin, drums
"You're the Best" (#14c 1981, he co-wrote), "As Long As I'm Rocking with You" (1981), "It's Who You Love" (#16c 1982, he co-wrote), "I Feel it With You" (#26c 1982, he co-wrote), "Gonna Have a Party" (#45c 1982, he co-wrote), "Dedicate" (#28c 1984, he wrote), "Forgive and Forget" (1993), "I'm Here to Love You" (1993), "So Many Miles" (1995), "Pearl Earrings" (1997), "Foolish As That May Be" (1998), "Four Questions" (2000), "June Carter Sure Can Sing" (2002), "Hillbilly Blue" (2004), "Dark-Eyed Gal" (2004)
founding member of The O'Kanes (1986-89), "Daddies Need to Grow up, Too" (#9c 1987, she co-wrote), "Can't Stop My Heart from Lovin' You" (#1c 1987, she co-wrote), "Just Lovin' You" (#5c 1988, she co-wrote), "One True Love" (#4c 1988, she co-wrote), "Blue Love" (#10c 1988, she co-wrote), "Highway 55" (2000)
session musician
songwriter, wrote Alan Jackson's "I'll Go on Loving You" (#3c 1998)
artist

Al Martino (Alfred Cini)

b. 1927 in Philadelphia, PA - 13 Oct 2009
pop singer
"Here in My Heart" (#1 1952), "Take My Heart" (#12 1952), "This Night I'll Remember" (1953), "My Side of the Story" (1961), "I Love You Because" (#3 1963), "Painted, Tainted Rose" (#15 1963), "Living a Lie" (#22 1963), "Silver Bells" (#6 1964), * "I Love You More and More Every Day" (#9 1964), "Tears and Roses" (#20 1964), "Spanish Eyes" (#1 1965), "Think I'll Go Somewhere and Cry Myself to Sleep" (#30 1966), "Mary in the Morning" (#27 1967), "More Than the Eye Can See" (1967), "I Started Loving You Again" (#69c 1970), "To the Door of the Sun" (#33 1975), "Sing My Love Song" (#24 1976), "May I Have the Next Dream With You?" (1976)
actor
wounded while serving in the Marines in Iwo Jima during WWII

Don McGuire (Donald McGuire)

b. 1931 in Hazard, KY
R&B singer
founding member of The Hilltoppers (1951-55, 1957-63), "Trying" (1952), "P.S. I Love You" (#4 1953), "Love Walked in" (#8 1953), "Only You (and You Alone)" (#8 1955), "Marianne" (#3 1957), "Peggy's Sister" (1958), "Lots of Luck" (1959), "No Longer Lonely" (1963)
served in the Army (1954-56)
realtor

John Mellencamp (John Cougar Mellencamp aka John Cougar)

b. 1951 in Seymour, IN
country/rock singer
"Ain't Even Done with the Night" (#17 1981), "Hurts So Good" (#2 1982), "Jack and Diane" (#1 1982), "Hand to Hold on to" (#19 1982), "Crumblin' Down" (#9 1983), "Pink Houses" (#8 1983), "Authority Song" (#15 1984), "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), "Check it Out" (#14 1988), "Pop Singer" (#15 1989), "Jackie Brown" (#48, #82c 1989), "Get a Leg Up" (#14 1991), "Again Tonight" (#36 1992), "What if I Came Knocking?" (1993), "Human Wheels" (#48 1993), "Our Country" (#88, #39c 2006), "The Americans" (#55c 2007)
with Buzzin' Cousins (group created for the movie Falling From Grace), "Sweet Suzanne" (#68c 1992)
duet with Travis Tritt, "What Say You?" (#21c 2004)
duet with Me'shell Ndegeocello, "Wild Night" (#3 1994)
songwriter
actor
md. 1st to Priscilla Esterline (1970-80); md. 2nd to Victoria Granucci (1981-89); md. 3rd to model, Elaine Irwin (1992- )
he was born with a mild form of spina bifida

Vaughn Monroe (Vaughn Wilton Monroe)

b. 1911 in Akron, OH - d. 21 May 1973 in Stuart, FL
pop/swing singer
instrument: trumpet
"Redwood Smoke" (1953), "Guessing" (1953), "Always, Always in My Dreams" (1954), "Julie's Rainbow" (1954), "Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots" (#38 1955), "You Could Hear a Pin Drop" (1955), "Not for a Long Long Time" (1956), "The Ride Back" (1957), "The Best Dream of All" (1957), "Stargazer" (1957), "Ten Chaperons" (I958), "There I've Said it Again" (1963), "Ballad of Shadow Mountain" (1963), "Desert Flower" (1963), "Rose" (1968)
founding member and leader Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra (1940-52), "There I Go" (#1 1940), "Racing with the Moon" (1941, he wrote), "My Devotion" (#5 1942), "Let's Get Lost" (#1 1943), "When the Lights Go on Again (All Over the World)" (#1 1943), "There I've Said it Again" (#1 1945), "Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow" (#1 1946), "Ballerina" (#1 1947), "The Stars Will Remember" (#8 1947), "I Wish I Didn't Love You So" (#2 1947), "You Do" (#5 1947), "Cool Water" (#9, #7c 1948), "Roses for Remembrance" (1948), "Someday" (#1 1949), * "Riders in the Sky" (#1, #2c 1949), "Single Saddle" (1949), "When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again" (#1 1949), "Thanks, Mister Florist" (1950), "The Phantom Stage Coach" (1950), "Gonna Ride 'n' Ride 'n' Ride" (1950), "Gridiron King" (1950), "On Army Team" (1950), "Navy Blue and Gold" (1950), "Sound Off" (#3 1951), "Idaho State Fair" (1952), "A Man's Best Friend is His Horse" (1952)
songwriter
see Vaughn Monroe

Martin Murray

b. 1941 in London, England
pop musician, instruments: rhythm guitar, lead guitar, fiddle, mandolin
founding member of The Honeycombs (1963-64, 2004- ), * "Have I the Right?" (#5 1964, One-Hit Wonder), "Is it Because?" (1964)
founding member of The Lemmings (1965)

Tony Sylvester

b. 1941 in Panama - d. 27 Nov 2006
soul singer
founding member of Main Ingredient (1966-76, 1979-82, 1986- ), "You've Been My Inspiration" (#64 1970), "I'm So Proud" (#49 1970), "Spinning Around (I Must Be Falling in Love)" (#52 1970), "Everybody Plays the Fool" (#3 1972), "Girl Blue" (1973), "Just Don't Want to Be Lonely" (#10 1974), "Rolling Down a Mountainside" (#92 1975), "Evening of Love" (1981)
music producer

Gordon Terry (Gordon H. Terry)

b. 1931 in Decatur, AL - d. 9 Apr 2006 in Spring Hill, TN
bluegrass/western swing singer
instruments: fiddle, guitar
"Wild Honey" (1957), "Johnson's Old Grey Mule" (1957), "Service With a Smile" (1957), "If You Don't Know it" (1958), "It Ain't Right" (1958), "Lonely Road" (1959), "Almost Alone" (1960), "Trouble on the Turnpike" (1960), "Wild Desire" (1962), "I Wish I'd Said That" (1963), "Sitting Just One Car From You" (1963), "Day of the Gun" (1969), "The Ballad of J.C." (#62c 1970, he wrote as a tribute to Johnny Cash)
with Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys (1951, 1954, 1957, 1958, 1970), "Christmas Time's a Comin'" (1951), "Wishing Waltz" (1954), "Brand New Shoes" (1958), "Sally Jo" (1958)
with The Texas Playboys (1967)
session musician with Faron Young, and others
songwriter
actor
served in the Army (1952-53)
see The Blue Grass Boys
see The Texas Playboys

Tico Torres (Hector Samuel Juan Torres)

b. 1953 in NY (grew up in Colona, NJ)
rock/country musician, instruments: drums, percussions
founding member of Bon Jovi (1983- ), "Runaway" (#39 1983), "You Give Love a Bad Name" (#1 1986), "Livin' on a Prayer" (#1 1987), "Never Say Goodbye" (1987), "Bad Medicine" (#1 1988), "Born to Be My Baby" (#3 1988), "I'll Be There for You" (#1 1989), "Keep the Faith" (#29 1992), "Always" (#4 1994), "This Ain't a Love Song" (#14 1995), "Who Says You Can't Go Home?" (#23, #1c 2006), "(You Want to) Make a Memory" (#27, #35c 2007)
Bon Jovi and LeeAnn Rimes, "Til We Ain't Strangers Anymore" (#123, #47c 2007)
session musician
artist
md. 2nd to model, Eva Herzigova (1996-98); md. 3rd to Maria Alejandra (2001- )
see Bon Jovi

Dino Valenti (Chester Powers)

b. 1943 (maybe Nov 7) in Danburry, CT – d. 16 Nov 1994 in Santa Rosa, CA
rock singer
instrument: 12-string guitar
"Time" (1968, he wrote), "My Friend" (1968, he wrote), "Tomorrow" (1968, he wrote)
founding member of Quicksilver Messenger Service (he helped organize the band but didn't record with them until 1970), "Three or Four Feet from Home" (1970), "Words Can't Say" (1970)
songwriter, wrote Youngbloods's "Get Together" (#62 1967, re-release #5 1969)
poet
see Quicksilver Messenger Service on Wikipedia

Dale Watson

b. 1962/63 in Birmingham, AL (grew up near Houston, TX)
honky-tonk/country singer
instrument: guitar
"You Pour it on (and I Pour it Down)" (1990), "List of Reasons" (1995), "South of Round Rock, Texas" (1995), "Everyone Knew But Me" (1996), "Sweet Jessie Brown" (1996), "That's Pride" (1997), "Flat Tire" (1997), "Heaven in Baltimore" (1998), "Exit 109" (1998, he wrote), "Every Song I Write is for You" (2001), "These Things We'll Never Do" (2001), "A Couple of Beers Ago" (2002), "Danced All Night" (2003), "Never Ever" (2004), "Tequila and Teardrops" (2006), "I Wish I Was Crazy Again" (2006)
founding member of The Classic Country Band, "Moments Passed Me By" (1984)
songwriter
see Dale Watson

Bob Webber (Robert Webber)

b. 1945 in Ogden, UT
rock singer
instrument: guitar
founding member of Sugarloaf (1969-75), "Green-Eyed Lady" (#3 1970), "West of Tomorrow" (1970), "Mother Nature's Wine" (1971), "Tongue in Cheek" (1971), "Myra, Myra" (1973), "Texas Two-Lane" (1975), "Don't Call Us, We'll Call You" (#9 1975), "Stars in Her Eyes" (#87 1975)
Sugarloaf was named after a mountain in Colorado
songwriter

October 8

Joshie Armstead (Josephine Armstead)

b. 1944 in Yazoo City, MS
soul singer
"Sitting Here Thinking" (1963), "I Feel an Urge Coming on" (1967), "I've Been Turned on" (1968), "Lover's Lane" (1970), "Ride Out the Storm" (1973), "Give a Little Loving" (1974), "Stumblin' Blocks, Steppin' Stones" (1974)
recorded as Deena Johnson, "The Breaking Point" (1965), "I'm a Sad Girl" (1967)
duet with Ricky Davis, "Who Me? Yeah You!" (1966)
The Ikettes (1961-63), "I'm Blue (The Gong-Gong Song)" (#19 1962)
The Ikettes were backup for Ike and Tina Turner
backup singer with Bob Dylan, Quincy Jones, B.B. King, and others
songwriter, co-wrote Garland Green's "Jealous Kind of Fella" (#20 1969)
md. to Mel Collins

Russ Barenberg

b. 1950
bluegrass musician, instruments: acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin
"Cowboy Calypso" (1980, he wrote), "Another Prairie" (1983), "Many Years Ago" (1983, he wrote), "Walking with You" (1987, he wrote), "You Say You Care" (1987), "Our Time" (1988, he wrote)
founding member of Country Cooking (1970-75)
with Fiddle Fever (1982-83)
session musician with Mel Tillis, Randy Travis, and others
see Russ Barenberg

George Bellamy

b. 1941 in England
rock musician, instrument: rhythm guitar
"Where I'm Bound" (1965), "How Could I Ever?" (1965, he wrote)
with The Tornadoes, "Ridin' the Wind" (1962, he wrote), "Telstar" (#1 1962, One-Hit Wonder), "Globetrotter" (1963), "Phantom Surfer" (1963), "Lightnin'" (1964), "Next Stop, Kansas City" (1966)
with Rough Terrain
songwriter
father of Matthew Bellamy of Muse

Fred Cash

b. 1940 in Chattanooga, TN
soul singer
with The Impressions (1960-83, and reunions, replaced Jerry Butler), "Gypsy Woman" (#20 1961), "Sad, Sad Girl and Boy" (1963), "It's All Right" (#4 1963), "Keep on Pushing" (#10 1964), "I Made a Mistake" (1964), "Amen" (#7 1964), "Talking about My Baby" (#12 1964), "You Must Believe Me" (#15 1964), "Long, Long Winter" (1964), "Woman's Got Soul" (#29 1965), "People Get Ready" (#14 1965), "We're a Winner" (#14 1968), "Choice of Colors" (#21 1969), "Just Before Sunrise" (1969), "Check Out Your Mind" (#28 1970), "This Love's for Real" (1972), "Thin Line" (1973), "Finally Got Myself Together (I'm a Changed Man)" (1974), "First Impressions" (1976), "Maybe I'm Mistaken" (1979), "Fan the Fire" (1981), "Can't Wait Til Tomorrow" (1987)

Buzz Clifford (Reese Francis Clifford III)

b. 1942 in Berwyn, IL
country/pop/rock singer
instrument: guitar
"Golly Gosh, Oh Gee" (1958), "Baby-Sittin' Boogie" (#6, #28c 1961, One-Hit Wonder), "No One Loves Me Like You" (1962), "More Dead Than Alive" (1962)
songwriter, wrote Keith Barbour's "Echo Park" (#40 1969)
served in the National Guard

Pete Drake (Roddis Franklin Drake)

b. 1932 in Atlanta, GA - d. 29 Jul 1988 in Nashville, TN (lung disease)
western swing/rock musician, instruments: pedal steel guitar, guitar, dobro
"Talking Steel" (1964), "Midnight in Amarillo" (1964), "Forever" (#25, #5c 1964, One-Hit Wonder), "Mystic Dream" (1966)
with The Texas Playboys (1967-68), "Born to Love You" (1968)
session musician on Roy Drusky's "I Don't Believe You Love Me Anymore" (#1c 1960); Tammy Wynette's "Stand by Your Man" (#19, #1c 1968); Charlie Rich's "Behind Closed Doors" (#15, #1c 1973); Lynn Anderson's "I Never Promised you a Rose Garden" (#3 #1c 1970); George Hamilton IV's "Before This Day Ends" (#4c 1960); Bob Dylan's "Lay Lady Lay" (#7 1969); and with Marty Robbins, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, and others
music producer, founder of two independent record labels
On May 1, 2022 he became the first steel guitar player to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
brother of Jack Drake
his gravestone is inscribed 'For Pete's Sake'
see The Texas Playboys

Sheila Ferguson

b. 1947 in Philadelphia, PA
soul singer
"How Did That Happen?" (1965), "And in Return" (1965), "Heartbroken Memories" (1965)
lead singer with The Three Degrees (1966-86), "Warm Weather Music" (1969), "I Do Take You" (#48 1970), "The Grass Will Sing for You" (1970), "Maybe" (#29 1971), "You're the One" (#77 1971), "Trade Winds" (1972), "When Will I See You Again?" (#2 1974), "Free Ride" (1976), "The Runner" (1979)
The Three Degrees and MFSB, "Love is the Message" (#85 1974), "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)" (#1 1974)
actress
see Sheila Ferguson
see The Three Degrees

Jackie Frantz

b. 1950 in Sidney, OH
country singer
founding member of Dave and Sugar (1975-77), "Queen of the Silver Dollar" (#25c 1975), "The Door is Always Open" (#1c 1976), "I'm Gonna Love You" (#3c 1976), "That's the Way Love Should Be" (#7c 1977), "I'm Knee-Deep in Loving You" (#2c 1977), "Don't Throw it All Away" (#5c 1977)

Jeremy Furstenfeld (Jeremy Daniel Furstenfeld)

b. 1974 in Houston, TX
rock musician, instruments: drums, percussions
founding member of Blue October (1995- ), "Black Orchid" (1998), "Tomorrow" (1998), "The 21st" (1998), "Independently Happy" (2000), "The Answer" (2000), "Amnesia" (2000), "Balance Beam" (2000), "Razorblade" (2003), "A Quiet Mind" (2003), * "Into the Ocean" (#53 2006), "Hate Me" (#31 2006), "She's My Ride Home" (2006), "What if We Could?" (2006), "Everlasting Friend" (2006), "X Amount of Words" (2006)
brother of singer, Justin Furstenfeld

Doc Green

b. 1934 in New York, NY – d. 10 Mar 1989 in Fresh Meadows, NY (cancer)
doo-wop/R&B singer (baritone)
with The Drifters (1959-62), "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)

C.B. Hudson (Charles Britton Hudson III)

b. 1974 in Oklahoma City, OK (grew up in Houston, TX)
rock/jazz singer
instrument: guitar
with Blue October (2001- ), "Razorblade" (2003), "A Quiet Mind" (2003), * "Into the Ocean" (#53 2006), "Hate Me" (#31 2006), "She's My Ride Home" (2006), "What if We Could?" (2006), "Everlasting Friend" (2006), "X Amount of Words" (2006)
songwriter

Darryl Lewis (aka Cappy Lewis)

b. 19??
R&B/doo-wop singer
founding member of The Six Teens, "A Casual Look" (#25 1956, One-Hit Wonder, he wrote), "Only Jim" (1956, he wrote), "Was it a Dream of Mine?" (1957), "Love's Funny That Way" (1958), "Stop Playing Ping-Pong" (1958)
with The Elgins, "Casey Cop" (1961), "Heartache, Heartbreak" (1962), "Tell Gina" (1963), "Your Lovely Ways" (1964), "Ritha Mae" (1964), "Street Scene" (1965)
cousin of Louise and Trudy Williams
see The Six Teens on R&B Notebooks

Mitch Marine

b. 1961
country/rock musician, instruments: drums, bass guitar
with Jack Ingram's Beat up Ford Band (1996-97), "Flutter" (#51c 1997), "Don't You Remember?" (1997)
with Tripping Daisy, "I Got a Girl" (1995)
with Brave Combo (1985-92)
session musician with Dwight Yoakam, Andy Timmons, and others

Lynn Morris

b. 1948 in San Antonio, TX (grew up in Lamesa, TX)
bluegrass singer
instrument: guitar, banjo
founding member and leader of The Lynn Morris Band (1988- ), * "My Heart Skips a Beat" (1990), "If Lonely Was the Wind" (1990), "Mama's Hand" (1996), "The Likes of You" (1999), "Love Beyond" (1999), "Road Rage" (2003), "Don't Neglect the Rose" (2003)
md. to Marshall Wilborn (also a band member)
songwriter

Ricky Lee Phelps (Richard Lee Phelps)

b. 1953 in Edmonton, KY or Paragould, AR
country/rock singer
instrument: guitar
"John Deere Letter" (2003), "Two-Way Traffic" (2003), "Heavy Load" (2005, he co-wrote), "His Love" (2005, he wrote)
founding member and lead singer of Kentucky Headhunters (1985-93), "Walk Softly on This Heart of Mine" (#25c 1989), "Oh, Lonesome Me" (#8c 1990), "Rock 'n' Roll Angel" (#23c 1990), "With Body and Soul" (#56c 1991), "Honky-Tonk Walkin'" (#54c 1992)
founding member of Brother Phelps (1993- ), "Let Go" (#6c 1993), "Were You Really Livin'?" (#28c 1994, he co-wrote), "Not So Different after All" (#65c 1995)
songwriter
brother of Doug Phelps
see The Kentucky Headhunters

Susan Raye

b. 1944 in Eugene, OR
country/pop singer
"Put a Little Love in Your Heart" (#30c 1969), "Willy Jones" (#10c 1970), "L.A. International Airport" (#54, #9c 1971), "Pitty Pitty Patter" (#6c 1971), "(I've Got a) Happy Heart" (#3c 1971), "My Heart Has a Mind of its Own" (#10c 1972), "Cheating Game" (#18c 1973), "Plastic Trains, Paper Planes" (#23c 1973), "Stop the World and Let Me Off" (#18c 1974), "Whatcha Gonna Do with a Dog Like That?" (#9c 1975), "I Just Can't Take the Leaving Anymore" (1985)
duets with Buck Owens, "We're Gonna Get Together" (#13c 1969), "Togetherness" (#12c 1970), "The Great White Horse" (#8c 1970), "Then Maybe I Can Get Some Sleep" (1970), "Looking Back to See" (#13c 1972), "Love is Strange" (#20c 1975)
actress
marriage and family counselor
md. to drummer, Jerry Wiggins (1971- )

Ray Royer

b. 1945 in Essex, England
rock musician, instrument: guitar
founding member of Procol Harum (1967) "A Whiter Shade of Pale" (1967)
Procol Harum was named for a Latin phrase that the founding members thought meant 'beyond these things'; an asteroid and and orchid have both been named after the band
founding member of Freedom (1970-72)
founding member of Snafu (1973-74)
session musician

Gary Lee Vincent

b. 1974 in Clarksburg, WV
country/rock/blues/Christian singer
instrument: guitar
"Darkness" (1992, he wrote), "Unsolid Ground" (1992, he wrote), "West Virginia Girl" (1993, he wrote), "Tell My Why" (1993, he wrote), "I'll Never Stop (Loving You)" (1993, he wrote), "New York City Woman" (1997, he wrote), "Clues" (1997, he wrote), "Jump-Start My Heart" (1997, he wrote)
songwriter
music producer
author
md. to Carla Caterina (2001- )

October 9

Bashful Barney Barnard (Julian Wilson Bernard, Jr.)

b. 1925 in Norristown, PA - d. 1990 in Shelby, OH
country/rock singer
instruments: bass, guitar
founding member and bass player for The Four Aces of Western Swing (1947-49), "Four-Leaf Clover Blues" (1948), "Candy Kisses" (1949), "Gotta Have My Baby Back" (1950)
wounded in Germany in WWII
md. to Louise 'Dolly' Eckert

Don Baskin

b. 1946 in Honolulu, HI
rock/country singer
instruments: guitar, sax
founding member and lead singer of Syndicate of Sound (1964-70, and reunions), "Little Girl" (#8 1966, One-Hit Wonder, he co-wrote), "So Alone" (1966), "That Kind of Man" (1967), "Brown Paper Bag" (1969)
founding member of Wichita (1973-80)
founding member of Gypsy (1981-86)
session musician
songwriter
see Syndicate of Sound

Gary Bennett

b. 1964 in Las Vegas, NV (grew up in Cougar, WA)
country singer
instrument: guitar
"Better Than This" (2006, he co-wrote), "That's What I'm Here For" (2006)
founding member and lead singer with BR5-49 (1995-2001), "Cherokee Boogie" (#44c 1996), "Even if it's Wrong" (#68c 1996, he wrote), "Uneasy Rider" (2000)
songwriter

Jackson Browne (Clyde Jackson Browne)

b. 1948 in Heidelberg, Germany (grew up in Los Angeles, CA)
rock/folk/country singer
instruments: guitar, piano
"Doctor, My Eyes" (#8 1972), "Ready or Not" (1974), "Walking Slow" (1974), "Here Come Those Tears Again" (#23 1977), "Running on Empty" (#11 1978), "Boulevard" (#19 1980), "Somebody's Baby" (#7 1982), "Lawyers in Love" (#13 1983), "Tender is the Night" (#25 1983), "In the Shape of a Heart" (#70 1986)
with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (1966), "Buy for Me the Rain" (#45 1967)
duet with Clarence Clemons, "You're a Friend of Mine" (#18 1985)
session musician with Tim Buckley, and others
songwriter
environmental activist; political activist
md. 1st to actress/model, Phyllis Major (1975-76, her death); md. 2nd to model, Lynne Sweeney (1981-83)
see The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
see Jackson Browne

Pat Burke

b. 1937 in Jamaica
soul/pop musician, instruments: tenor sax, flute
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)
see The Foundations on Wikipedia

John Entwistle (John Alec Entwistle aka 'The Ox')

b. 1944 in London, Eng – d. 27 Jun 2002 in Las Vegas, NV (cocaine induced heart attack)
rock musician, instruments: bass, piano, French horn
"What Are We Doing Here?" (1971, he wrote), "I Believe in Everything" (1971, he wrote), "I Feel Better" (1972, he wrote), "Thinkin' it Over" (1972, he wrote), "Too Late the Hero" (1981), "Bridges Under the Water" (1996, he wrote), "I'll Try Again Today" (1999, he co-wrote)
founding member and bass player with The Who (1964-83, reunions), "My Generation" (#74 1965), "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" (1965), "The Ox" (1965), "Boris the Spider" (1966), "La-La-La-Lies" (1966), "Happy Jack" (#24 1967), "Pictures of Lily" (1967), "I Can See for Miles" (#9 1967), "Magic Bus" (#25 1968), "I'm Free" (#37 1969), "Pinball Wizard" (#19 1969), "See Me, Feel Me" (#12 1970), "Won't Get Fooled Again" (#15 1971), "Join Together" (#17 1972), "Squeeze Box" (#16 1975), "Who Are You?" (#14 1978), "You Better You Bet" (#18 1981), "Athena" (#28 1982)
The Who performed at Woodstock
songwriter

Bob Haworth

b. 1946 in Spokane, WA
folk/pop singer (baritone, tenor)
instruments: 6 and 12-string guitar, electric guitar, bass, upright bass, banjo, mandolin, harmonica, tuba
"After All These Years" (2003), "Right Smack Dab in the Middle of Love" (2003), "Songs That Never Die" (2003)
with The Brothers Four (1971-88, replaced Mark Pearson)
with The Kingston Trio (1986-88, 1999-2005)
songwriter
see The Brothers Four
see The Kingston Trio
see Bob Haworth

Doug Heath

b. 1948 in Sioux City, IA (grew up in Seattle, WA)
rock musician, instrument: guitar
with Paul Revere and the Raiders (1974- ), "Ain't Nothin' Wrong" (1976)
session musician with Leon Russell, Merrilee Rush, and others
see Paul Revere and the Raiders'

Nona Hendryx

b. 1944/45 in Trenton, NJ
R&B/rock/soul singer
instrument: piano
"You're the Only One That I Ever Needed" (1979), "Do What You Wanna Do" (1982), "Keep it Confidential" (#91 1983), "Why Should I Cry?" (#58 1987), "Women Who Fly" (1989)
with The Del-Capris, "Theresa" (1963), "Speak to Me of Love" (1963)
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 backing Wilson Pickett, "634-5789 (Soulsville, USA)" (#13 1966)
the group name changed to LaBelle (1970-76, and reunions), "Lady Marmalade" (#1 1975)
duet with Keith Richards, "Rock This House" (1985, she wrote)
duet with Billy Vera, "Didn't You Know You'd Have to Cry Sometime?" (1992)
backup singer
songwriter
music producer; actress; author
see Patti LaBelle and the Blue Belles

Sean Lennon (Sean Taro Ono Lennon)

b. 1975 in New York, NY
rock/pop singer
instruments: guitar, bass, piano, drums
"Into the Sun" (1998), "Home" (1998), "Photosynthesis" (1998), "Friendly Fire" (2006, he wrote), "Headlights" (2006, he wrote)
songwriter
actor
son of John Lennon and Yoko Ono
see Sean Ono Lennon

John Lennon (John Winston Lennon, changed to John Ono Lennon in 1979)

b. 1940 in Liverpool, England – d. 8 Dec 1980 in New York, NY (shot by a deranged 'fan')
rock singer
instrument: guitar
"Instant Karma (We All Shine On)" (#3 1970), "Power to the People" (#11 1971), "Dream" (#9 1975), "Stand by Me" (#20 1975), "(Just Like) Starting Over" (#1 1980), "Woman" (#2 1981), "Watching the Wheels" (#10 1981), "Nobody Told Me" (#5 1984)
duet with the Plastic Ono Band, "Imagine" (#3 1971, he wrote)
duet with Elton John, "Whatever Gets You Through the Night" (#1 1974)
with The Quarrymen
with Moondogs
with the Plastic Ono Band, "Give Peace a Chance" (#14 1969, he co-wrote), "Cold Turkey" (#30 1969)
founding member and co-lead of The Beatles, "You'll Be Mine" (1960), "Cayenne" (1960), * "P.S. I Love You" (1962), * "Anna (Go to Him)" (1963), "She Loves You" (#1 1963), "Can't Buy Me Love" (#1 1964), * "Love Me Do" (#1 1964, he co-wrote), * "Please Please Me" (#3 1964), * "Twist and Shout" (#4 1964), "A Hard Day's Night" (#1 1964), "I Saw Her Standing There" (#14 1964, he co-wrote), "Do You Want to Know a Secret?" (#9 1964, he co-wrote), "I Want to Hold Your Hand" (#1 1964, he co-wrote), "I Feel Fine" (#1 1965), "Eight Days a Week" (#1 1965), "Ticket to Ride" (#1 1965), "Help!" (#1 1965, he wrote when he was depressed), "Yesterday" (#1 1965), "Yellow Submarine" (#2 1966), "We Can Work it Out" (#1 1966), "Paperback Writer" (#1 1966), "When I'm Sixty-Four" (1967), "Penny Lane" (#1 1967), "All You Need is Love" (#1 1967), "I Am the Walrus" (1967, John Lennon), "Rocky Raccoon" (1968), "Hello, Goodbye" (#1 1968), "Hey Jude" (#1 1968), "Come Together" (#1 1969), "Let it Be" (#1 1970), "The Long and Winding Road" (#1 1970)
The Beatles with Tony Sheridan, "Ain't She Sweet?" (1962), "Sweet Georgia Brown" (1962), "Nobody's Child" (1962), "My Bonnie (Lies Over the Ocean)" (#26 1964)
on 4 Apr 1964 The Beatles had the top five singles on the Billboard charts
The Beatles with Billy Preston, "Get Back" (#1 1969)
songwriter, wrote Terri Hollowell's "Strawberry Fields Forever" (#76c 1978)
music producer
artist; actor
political activist
md. 1st to Cynthia Powell (1962-68); md. to Yoko Ono (1969-80, his death)
stopped his music career from 1975-80 to care for his son, Sean; his first son, Julian, was born in 1963
quote by John Lennon: "I believe in everything until it's disproved. So I believe in fairies, the myths, dragons. it all exists, even if it's in your mind. Who's to say that dreams and nightmares aren't as real as the here and now?"
see The Beatles
see John Lennon
see How to Play Rhythm Guitar like John Lennon

Tommy Shane Steiner

b. 1973 in Austin, TX
country singer
"What if She's an Angel?" (#2c 2002), "Tell Me Where it Hurts" (#43c 2002), "Then Came the Night" (2002), "The Mind of John J. Blanchard" (2002)
duet with Randy Travis, "I Don't Need Another Reason" (2002)
duet with Randy Travis and Bridgette Wilson, "What We're Gonna Do About it" (#43c 2002)
rodeo performer

Charles Thomas

b. 1925 in Clarksdale, MS
R&B/blues singer
founding member of The Jelly Beans, * "I Wanna Love Him So Bad" (#9 1964, One-Hit Wonder), "So Long" (1964), "Baby, Be Mine" (#51 1964), "You Don't Mean Me No Good" (1965, he wrote)
songwriter
music producer

Boots Woodall (Dennis Woodall)

b. 1921 in Paulding County, GA (grew up in Buckhead, GA) - d. 1988 in Atlanta, GA (auto accident)
country musician, instruments: steel guitar, guitar, Hawaiian guitar
founding member of The Radio Wranglers, "I Cry Each Night for You" (1950), "It is No Secret" (1950), "Two-Timin' Baby" (1951), "Only Three Days" (1953), "Betcha I'm in Love" (1954), "I'm Gonna Start at the Top" (1954)
songwriter, co-wrote Hawkshaw Hawkins' "Doghouse Boogie" (#6c 1948)
music producer
salesman
served in the Air Force during WWII

October 10

Tony Arata (Anthony Michael Arata)

b. 1957 in Savannah, GA
country singer
instrument: guitar
"Come on Home" (#76c 1984), "Sure Thing" (#65c 1985), "Already Over" (2000, he wrote), "Way Back When" (2000, he wrote), "Things That Matter More" (2000, he wrote), "Don't it Make the Beer Taste Better" (2005, he wrote), "Nothing Lasts Like the Past Does" (2005, he wrote), "Such is Life" (2005, he wrote)
songwriter, wrote Garth Brooks' "The Dance" (#1c 1990); Lee Roy Parnell's "You Can't Get There from Here" (#39c 1997), "I'm Holding My Own" (#3c 1994); Jim Glaser's "The Man in the Mirror" (#17c 1983); Clay Walker's "Dreaming with My Eyes Open" (#1c 1994); Patty Loveless' "Here I Am" (#4c 1994)
see Tony Arata

Mike Brovsky (Michael Brovsky)

b. 1942 in Colorado Springs, CO
folk singer
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)
music producer
see The Serendipity Singers

Frank Busseri

b. 1932 in Toronto, Canada
pop singer (baritone)
founding member of The Four Lads (1950-77), "Moments to Remember" (#2 1955), "Standing on the Corner" (#3 1956), "No, Not Much" (#2 1956), * "The Bus Stop Song (Paper of Pins)" (#17 1956), "Who Needs You?" (#9 1957), "Winter Snow" (1962), "Not That I Care" (1962), "Cornflower Blue" (1963)
with Johnnie Ray and the Four Lads, "Cry" (#1 1951), "The Little White Cloud That Cried" (#2 1952)

Alan Cartwright (Alan George Cartwright)

b. 1945 in North London, England
rock musician, instrument: bass
with Procol Harum (1972-76), "Conquistador" (#16 1972), "Fires (Which Burnt Brightly)" (1973), "Pandora's Box" (1975)
Procol Harum was named for a Latin phrase that the founding members thought meant 'beyond these things'; an asteroid and and orchid have both been named after the band
session musician with Brian Davison, and others
bar owner

Austin Clark

b. 1983 in VA
country singer
instruments: lap slide guitar, pedal steel guitar, dobro, keyboards
founding member of The Clark Family Experience (1993- ), "Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch" (#80, #18c 2001), "To Quote Shakespeare" (#51c 2001), "Just Emily" (2001), "Standin' Still" (#36c 2001), "Going Away" (#44c 2002), "It'll Always Be You" (2002)
session musician with SHeDaisy
brother of Alan, Aaron, Adam, Ashley, and Andrew Clark
see The Clark Family Experience on Wikipedia

Pat Daisy (Patricia Deasy)

b. 1944 in Gallatin, TN
country singer
"I Come Running to You" (1971), "Everybody's Reaching Out for Someone" (#20c 1972), "The Lonesomest Lonesome" (#49c 1973), "I Was Meant for You and You Were Meant for Me" (1973), * "My Love is Deep, My Love is Wide" (#53c 1973)
backup singer with Floyd Cramer

Dennis D'Ell (Denis James Dalziel)

b. 1943 in East London, England - d. 6 Jul 2005 (cancer)
pop/rock/soul singer
instruments: harmonica, piano, guitar
"Better Use Your Head" (1967), "It Breaks My Heart in Two" (1967), "A Woman Called Sorrow" (1967)
founding member and lead singer of The Honeycombs (1963-67, and reunions), * "Have I the Right?" (#5 1964, One-Hit Wonder), "Is it Because?" (1964), "Leslie Anne" (1964), "I Can't Stop" (1965), "Who is Sylvia?" (1966)

Harry 'Sweets' Edison

b. 1915 in Columbus, OH (grew up in KY) - d. 27 Jul 1999 in Columbus, OH (cancer)
jazz/swing musician, instrument: trumpet
"I Wish You Love" (1964)
with Count Basie's orchestra (1934-50)
with The Ray Bryant Combo (1960), "The Madison Time" (#30 1960, One-Hit Wonder), "Little Susie" (1960, he wrote)
founding member and lead of The Harry Edison Quartet, "September in the Rain" (1953)
founding member and lead of The Harry Edison Quintet
duets with Ben Webster, "Did You Call Her Today?" (1962), "Kitty" (1962)
session musician with Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Red Norvo, Woody Herman, Dick Hyman, and others
songwriter
arranger

Louis Gottlieb

b. 1923/24 – d. 11 Jul 1996 in Sebastopol, CA (internal bleeding)
folk singer
instrument: bass
founding member of The Limeliters (1959-65, and reunions), "A Dollar Down" (1961), "When Twice the Moon Has Come and Gone" (1961), "Red Roses and White Wine" (1961), "Just an Honest Mistake" (1961), "Western Wind" (1961, he co-wrote), "Consider it Done" (1963)
songwriter
arranger
comedian
has a Ph.D. in Musicology
see The Limeliters

Ivory Joe Hunter

b. 1914 in Kirbyville, TX - d. 8 Nov 1974 in Memphis, TN (lung cancer)
pop/R&B/country singer
instrument: piano
"High Cost, Low Pay Blues" (1947), "Boogie in the Rain" (1951), "I Must Be Talking to Myself" (1953), "Since I Met You, Baby" (#12 1956, One-Hit Wonder, he wrote), "Every Time I Hear That Song" (1957), "Yes, I Want You" (1958), "Old-Fashion Love" (1959), "Did You Mean it?" (1959), "From the First Time We Met" (1967), "I'll Give You All Night to Stop" (1968), "I Built a Wall Around Me" (1969), "San Antonio Rose" (1973)
songwriter, wrote Pat Boone's "I Almost Lost My Mind" (#1 1956); co-wrote Elvis Presley's "Ain't That Lovin' You, Baby?" (#15 1964)

Jerry LaCroix

b. 1943 in Alexandria, LA (grew up in Jena, LA)
rock/jazz/soul singer
instruments: tenor sax, keyboards, harmonica, guitar
"Sexy Linda Lee" (1972), "You'll Always Be Mine" (1974), "Mean Ole World" (1974)
with Rare Earth (1975- ), "Keepin' Me Out of the Storm" (1975), "Midnight Lady" (1976), "Warm Ride" (1978)
with Edgar Winter's White Trash Band
with Blood Sweat and Tears (1974- ), "Tell Me That I'm Wrong" (#83 1974)
see Blood, Sweat and Tears
see Rare Earth on Wikipedia

Minnie Ledford (aka Black-Eyed Susie)

b. 1923 in Pilot, KY - d. 22 Jun 1987
bluegrass/folk singer
instruments: guitar, mandolin
with The Coon Creek Girls (1940-57),
poet
sister of Rosie and Lily May Ledford

Zeke Manners (Leo Ezekiel Mannes/Manners)

b. 1911 in San Francisco, CA (grew up in Los Angeles, CA) - d. 14 Oct in Los Angeles, CA
country/western swing/novelty musician, instruments: piano, organ, accordion, banjo, fiddle
founding member of The Beverly Hill Billies, "Leave it Up to Uncle Jake" (1937), "I Betcha My Heart I Love You" (1942), "That's Why I Waited So Long" (1942), "Sioux City Sue" (#2c 1946), "Inflation" (#5c 1946, he co-wrote), "The Piano Players" (1952)
songwriter, co-wrote The Andrews Sisters' "Pennsylvania Polka" (#17 1942)
music producer; arranger
DJ; comedian; actor
served in the Air Force during WWII

Cyril Neville

b. 1948 in New Orleans, LA
soul/R&B/jazz singer
instrument: drums
"Gossip" (1970), "Tell Me What's on Your Mind" (1970), "Can't Stop a Dreamer" (1998), "Be My Lady" (1998), "Fortune Teller" (2000), "No Buts, No Maybes" (2000), "Foxy Lady" (2003), "Urban Rainforest" (2003), "I Want You" (2003)
with The Meters (1975-77), "Out in the Country" (1975), "You're a Friend of Mine" (1975), "Mister Moon" (1976), "Find Yourself" (1976)
The Meters played backup for Paul McCartney, Labelle, and others
founding member of The Neville Brothers (1976- ), "Louisiana Woman" (1978), "Dance Your Blues Away" (1979), "Fire on the Bayou" (1981), "Fever" (1984), "Forever for Tonight" (1987), "Wildflower" (1987), "Yellow Moon" (1989), "Fire and Brimstone" (1989), "Fallin' Rain" (1990), "River of Life" (1990), "In the Still of the Night" (1990), "Fly Like an Eagle" (1992), "I Can See it in Your Eyes" (1992), "Midnight Rider" (1992), "Let the Good Times Roll" (1994), "Whatever You Do" (1996), "Saved by the Grace of Your Love" (1996), "Utterly Beloved" (1999), "A Little Piece of Heaven" (1999), "Give Me a Reason" (1999), "Walkin' in the Shadow of Life" (2004), "Your Life (Fallen Soldiers)" (2004), "Brothers" (2005), "Warhorse" (2007)
The Neville Brothers and Jimmy Buffett, "Middle of the Night" (1983), "Money Back Guarantee" (1983), "Homemade Music" (1988), "Love and Luck" (1988)
session musician with Bob Dylan, Robbie Robertson, Edie Brickell, Willie Nelson, and others
brother of Art and Aaron Neville

John Prine

b. 1946 in Maywood, IL
country/folk/rockabilly singer
instrument: guitar
"Illegal Smile" (1971, he wrote), "Hello in There" (1971, he wrote), "Paradise" (1971, he wrote, "Angel from Montgomery" (1971, he wrote), "Diamonds in the Rough" (1972), "Dear Abby" (1973, he wrote), "That Close to You" (1975), "He Was in Heaven Before He Died" (1975, he wrote), "Automobile" (1979, he wrote), "All Night Blue" (1980), "One Red Rose" (1980, he wrote), "Be My Friend Tonight" (1986)
with Buzzin' Cousins (group created for the movie Falling From Grace), "Sweet Suzanne" (#68c 1992)
duets with Iris Dement, "(We're Not) the Jet Set" (1999), "Let's Invite Them Over" (1999), "In Spite of Ourselves" (1999, he wrote), "We Could" (1999)
duet with Dolores Keane, "In a Town This Size" (1999)
duet with Connie Smith, "So Sad (to Watch Good Love Go Bad)" (1999)
duet with Trisha Yearwood, "When Two Worlds Collide" (1999)
duet with Emmylou Harris, "I Know One" (1999)
duet with Patty Loveless, "Back-Street Affair" (1999)
duets with Melba Montgomery, "We Must Have Been Out of Our Minds" (1999), "Milwaukee, Here I Come" (1999)
songwriter
actor
postman
served in the Army
see the John Prine Shrine

Robert Lee Reiner

b. 1946 in Hartford, CT
folk/rock/gospel/bluegrass musician, instrument: rhythm guitar
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)
songwriter

Tanya Tucker (Tanya Denise Tucker)

b. 1958 in Seminole, TX (grew up in Wilcox, AZ)
country/pop/rock singer
instrument: guitar
* "Delta Dawn" (#72, #6c 1972), * "The Jamestown Ferry" (#5c 1972), "Blood Red and Goin' Down" (#74, #1c 1973), * "What's Your Mama's Name?" (#86, #1c 1973), "Would You Lay with Me (in a Field of Stone)?" (#46, #1c 1974), "The Man That Turned My Mama on" (#4c 1974), "San Antonio Stroll" (#1c 1975), "Lizzie and the Rainman" (#37, #1c 1975), "Here's Some Love" (#82, #1c 1976), "Dancing the Night Away" (#16c 1977), "Can I See You Tonight?" (#4c 1981), "Just Another Love" (#1c 1986), "One Love at a Time" (#3c 1986), "It's Only Over for You" (#8c 1987), "If it Don't Come Easy" (#1c 1988), "Strong Enough to Bend" (#1c 1988), "Highway Robbery" (#2c 1989), "(Without You) What Do I Do with Me" (#2c 1991), "Two Sparrows in a Hurricane" (#2c 1992), "It's a Little Too Late" (#2c 1992), "Soon" (#2c 1993), "Ridin' Out the Heartache" (#45c 1997)
duet with Paul Overstreet and Paul Davis, "I Won't Take Less Than Your Love" (#1 1988)
duet with T. Graham Brown, "Don't Go Out" (#6c 1990)
duet with Delbert McClinton, "Tell Me About it" (#4c 1993)
songwriter
actress

Woody Wright

b. 1957 in TN
country singer
instrument: bass
with Memphis, "We've Got to Start Meeting Like This" (#85c 1984)
founding member of Matthews, Wright and King (1991- ), "The Power of Love" (#41c 1992), "Mother's Eyes" (#55c 1992), "Leavin' Reasons" (1992), "For a Moment There" (1992), "Every Time She Says Yes" (1992), "I Gotta Love" (#45c 1993), "Dream Seeker" (1993), "Every Step of the Way" (1993)
with Prime Time Country, the group sang backup for B.J. Thomas, Amy Grant, Gary Chapman, Willie Nelson, Michael Martin Murphy, Sara Evan, Crystal Gayle, Sawyer Brown, John Michael Montgomery, Mel Tillis, Paul Overstreet, Eddie Rabbitt, Arlo Guthrie, Steve Wariner, "Chely Wright, Jerry Reed, Trace Adkins, and others
see Woody Wright

October 11

Lester Bowie

b. 1941 in Frederick, MD (grew up in St. Louis, MO) - d. 8 Nov 1999
jazz/blues musician, instruments: trumpet, flugelhorn
"Amina" (1978), "The 5th Power" (1978), "Fraudulent Fanfare" (1980), "The Great Pretender" (1981), "Ghosts" (1982), "I Am With You" (1987), "My Way" (1990), "Afterthought" (1990)
founding member of The Art Ensemble of Chicago (1968-99)
founding member of Brass Fantasy (1984- ), "The Beautiful People" (1999), "Two Become One" (2002)
songwriter
md. to singer, Fontella Bass

Paulette Carlson

b. 1952/53 in Northfield, MN
country/rock singer
instrument: guitar
"I'd Say Yes" (#67c 1983), "Can You Fool" (#72c 1984), "I'll Start with You" (#21c 1992, she co-wrote), "Not with My Heart You Don't" (#68c 1992, she co-wrote), "Thank You, Vets" (2005)
founding member and lead singer with Highway 101 (1986-90, 1996-97), "The Bed You Made for Me" (#4c 1987, she wrote), "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, she co-wrote), "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), "She Don't Have the Heart to Love You" (1996)
songwriter
md. to Randy Smith (1989- )
see Highway 101

Daryl Hall (Daryl Franklin Hohl)

b. 1949 in Pottstown, PA
soul/rock/pop singer (falsetto)
instruments: keyboards, piano
"The Princess and the Soldier" (1969), "Foolish Pride" (#33 1986), "Dreamtime" (#5 1986), "Written in Stone" (1993), "Can't Stop Dreaming" (2003), "Holding Out for Love" (2003)
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, he wrote), "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), "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)
duet with Dusty Springfield, "Wherever Would I Be?" (1994)
played vibraharp with The Electric Indian (not a real group, just session musicians), "Keem-O-Sabe" (#15 1969, One-Hit Wonder), "Broad Street" (1969)
session musician
songwriter
he was diagnosed with Lyme Disease in 2005
see Hall and Oates

Hugh Jarrett

b. 1929
country/rockabilly/gospel singer (bass)
with The Jordanaires (1954-58), "Shaking Bridges" (1955), "Rock 'n' Roll Religion" (1956), "Ridin' for a Fall" (1957)
The Jordanaires sang backup on Ferlin Husky's "Gone" (#1c 1957), Don Gibson's "Oh, Lonesome Me" (#7, #1c 1958), and others
see the Jordanaires

George McCorkle

b. 1946 in Chester, SC (grew up in Spartanburg, SC)
country/rock musician, instrument: rhythm guitar
"Drowning on Dry Land" (1999), "Somebody New" (1999), "The Journey Home" (1999, tribute to Toy Caldwell)
founding member of The Marshall Tucker Band (1973-83), "Take the Highway" (1973), "Southern Woman" (1973), "Blue Ridge Mountain Sky" (1974), "Where a Country Boy Belongs" (1974), "Fire on the Mountain" (#38 1975, he wrote), "Holdin' on to You" (1976, he wrote), "Searchin' for a Rainbow" (#82c 1976), "Long Hard Ride" (#63c 1976), "Heard it in a Love Song" (#14, #51c 1977), "Desert Skies" (1977), "Never Trust a Stranger" (1977), "Asking Too Much of You" (1978), "Last of the Singing Cowboys" (#42 1979, he wrote), "Melody Ann" (1979), "Running Like the Wind" (1979), I'll Be Alright Without You" (1980), "It Takes Time" (#79 1980), "Silverado" (#60 1981, he wrote), "Any Way the Wind Blows Rider" (1982), "Even a Fool Would Let Go" (1982), "Reachin' for a Little Bit More" (1982), "A Place I've Never Been" (#52c 1983), "When the Love Begins to Fade" (1983), "Good Ole Hurtin' Song" (1983)
songwriter
served in the Navy (1964- )
race car driver
see The Marshall Tucker Band

Jimmy Murphy

b. 1925 in Republic, AL - d. 1981
country/rockabilly/bluegrass singer
instrument: guitar
"Electricity" (1951, he wrote), "That First Guitar of Mine" (1952), "Here Kitty Kitty" (1956), "Sixteen Tons of Rock and Roll" (1956), "My Gal Dottie" (1956), "Granpaw's a Cat" (1956), "I Long to Hear Hank Sing the Blues" (1962), "My Feet's on Solid Ground" (1963), "There's No Use in Me Loving You" (1964), "Half a Loaf of Bread" (1965)
songwriter

Todd Snider

b. 1966 in Portland, OR (grew up in TX)
folk/country singer
instruments: acoustic guitar, harmonica
"Forty-Five Miles" (2000), "Long Year" (2000), "Back to the Crossroads" (2000), "Lonely Girl" (2003), "Beer Run" (2003), "Waco Moon" (2003), "Broke" (2003, he wrote), "Age Like Wine" (2004), "Sunshine" (2004), "All That Matters' (2006), "If Tomorrow Never Comes" (2006), "Just Like Old Times" (2006)
with Jack Ingram's Beat up Ford Band (1999), "I Would" (1999), "Work This Out" (1999), "How Many?" (#64c 1999)
songwriter
see Todd Snider

Gene Watson (Gary Gene Watson)

b. 1943 in Palestine, TX (grew up in Paris, TX)
country singer
instrument: guitar
"Love in the Hot Afternoon" (#3c 1975), "Where Love Begins" (#5c 1975), "Because You Believed in Me" (#20c 1976), "You Could Know as Much About a Stranger" (#10c 1976), "Paper Rosie" (#3c 1977), "I Don't Need a Thing at All" (#8c 1977), "One-Sided Conversation" (#8c 1978), "Farewell Party" (#5c 1978), "Should I Go Home (or Should I Go Crazy)?" (#3c 1979), "Nothing Sure Looked Good on You" (#4c 1979), "No One Will Ever Know" (#13c 1980), "Between This Time and the Next Time" (#17c 1981), "Speak Softly (You're Talking to My Heart)" (#9c 1981), "The Look in Baby's Eyes" (1981), "Fourteen Carat Mind" (#1c 1982), "This Dream's on Me" (#8c 1982), "What She Don't Know Won't Hurt Her" (#5c 1982), "I Guess You Had to Be There" (1984), "Got No Reason Now for Goin' Home" (#7c 1985), "Memories to Burn" (#5c 1985), "Texas Saturday Night" (1985), "One Hell of a Heartache" (1985), "Starting New Memories Today" (1986), "I Always Get it Right With You" (1987), "Don't Waste it on the Blues" (#5c 1989), "Back in the Fire" (#20c 1989), "The Jukebox Played Along" (#24c 1989), "This Could Go on Forever" (1991), "Class Reunion" (1992), "He's Back in Texas Again" (1993), "Simple-Minded Heart" (1993), "Somewhere Beyond Nowhere" (1996), "All Hat, No Cattle" (1997)
backed by his Farewell Party Band, "You're Out Doing What I'm Here Doing Without" (#2c 1983), "Sometimes I Get Lucky and Forget" (#9c 1983), "You Waltzed Yourself Right Into My Life" (1983), "Forever Again" (#10c 1983), "She Sure Makes Leaving Look Easy" (1983)
songwriter
see Gene Watson

Dottie West (Dorothy Marie Marsh)

b. 1932 near McMinnville, TN – d. 4 Sep 1991 in Nashville, TN (injured in an auto accident on the way to a performance and died 5 days later)
country/pop singer
instrument: guitar
"Let Me Off at the Corner" (#29c 1953), "Angel on Paper" (1960), "I Lost, You Win, I'm Leavin'" (1961), "Men With Evil Hearts" (1961), "I Should Start Runnin'" (1961), "I'll Pick Up My Heart (and Go Home)" (1962), "More Than I Meant to" (1963), "You're Just the Only World I Know" (1965), "Here Comes My Baby Back Again" (#10c 1965, she co-wrote), "Walking in the Dark" (1965), "I'd Be Lying" (1965), "Would You Hold it Against Me?" (#5c 1966, she co-wrote), "How Many Lifetimes Will it Take?" (1966), "Paper Mansions" (#8c 1967), "Childhood Places" (#24c 1968), * "(I'm Your) Country Girl" (#15c 1968, she co-wrote), "I Heard Our Song" (1969), "Makin' Memories" (1969), "Forever Yours" (#21c 1970), "Jack Daniels, Old Grand-Dad, Johnnie Walker, and You" (1970), "You're the Other Half of Me" (1971), "Cancel Tomorrow" (1971), * "Country Sunshine" (#49, #2c 1973), "The Last Time I Saw Him" (#8c 1974), "When it's Just You and Me" (#19c 1977), "Every Word I Write" (#28c 1977), "Tonight You Belong to Me" (#30c 1977), "Come See Me and Come Lonely" (#17 1978), "You Pick Me up (and Put Me Down)" (#12c 1979), "A Lesson in Leavin'" (#73, #1c 1980), "Are You Happy, Baby?" (#1c 1981), "You're Not Easy to Forget" (#26c 1982), * "Sometimes When We Touch" (1992)
founding member of The Kay-Dots
duets with Kenny Rogers, * "Every Time Two Fools Collide" (#1c 1978), * "Anyone Who isn't Me Tonight" (#2c 1978), * "All I Ever Need is You" (#1c 1979), * "Till I Can Make it on My Own" (#3c 1979), "What Are We Doin' in Love?" (#14, #1c 1981), * "Together Again" (#19c 1984), * "That's the Way it Could Have Been" (1984), "We Know Better Now" (#53c 1985)
duet with Jimmy Dean, "Slowly" (#29c 1971)
duets with Don Gibson, "Rings of Gold" (#2c 1969), "There's a Story (Goin' Round)" (#7c 1970)
duet with Jim Reeves, "Love is No Excuse" (#7c 1964)
songwriter, wrote Jim Reeves' "Is This Me?" (#3c 1963)
actress
md. 1st to steel guitarist, Bill West (1953-71); md. 2nd to drummer, Bryan Metcalf (12 years younger than her) (1972- ); md. 3rd to Al Winters (23 years younger than her) (1983-90)
mother of singer, Shelly West

October 12

Susan Anton (Susan Ellen Anton)

b. 1950 in Oak Glen, CA
country/pop/soul singer
"Already Home" (2000), "All the Time in the World" (2000), "Things We've Handed Down" (2000)
duet with Fred Knoblock, "Killin' Time" (#10c 1980)
actress
md. to actor, Jeff Lester (1992- )
she is 5'11" tall

Nappy Brown (Napoleon Brown Goodson Culp)

b. 1929 in Charlotte, NC
blues/soul/gospel singer
with The Heavenly Lights
songwriter

Steve Martin Caro (Carmelo Esteban Martin Caro aka Steve Martin)

b. 1948 in Manhattan, NY
pop/rock singer
"Love Songs in the Night" (1971), "Two By Two" (1971)
founding member of The Left Banke (1965-69, 1978), "Walk Away, Renee" (#5 1966), "Pretty Ballerina" (#15 1967), "Desiree" (#98 1967), "She May Call You Up Tonight" (1967), "My Friend Today" (1968), "Goodbye, Holly" (1968), "There's Gonna Be a Storm" (1969), "Myrah" (1969), "Pedestal" (1969)
backup singer with The Rolling Stones, and others

James Dewar

b. 1942 in Glasgow, Scotland - d. 16 May 2002 in Glasgow, Scotland
rock/soul/blues singer
instruments: bass, electric guitar, acoustic guitar
"What's Happening?" (1975), "Stumbledown Romancer" (1998, he co-wrote), "Out of Time" (1998)
with the Robin Trower Band (1973-83), "Twice Removed from Yesterday" (1973, he co-wrote), "Day of the Eagle" (1974), "Bridge of Sighs" (1974), "A Tale Untold" (1975), "Long Misty Days" (1976, he co-wrote), "Farther up the Road" (1977), "Victims of the Fury" (1980), "Benny Dancer" (1983, he co-wrote)
with Stone the Crows (1969-71)
with Lulu and the Luvvers (1963-65)
songwriter
was forced to retire in 1987 after suffering a stroke

Martie Erwin (Martha Eleanor Erwin aka Martie Seidel, Martie Maguire)

b. 1969 in York, PA (grew up in Dallas, TX)
country/pop singer
instruments: fiddle, mandolin, viola
founding member and lead of The Dixie Chicks (1989- ), "West Texas Wind" (1990), "Little Ol' Cowgirl" (1992), "She'll Find Better Things to Do" (1992), "I Can Love You Better" (#77, #7c 1997), * "Once You've Loved Somebody" (1997), "There's Your Trouble" (#36, #1c 1998), "Wide Open Spaces" (#41, #1c 1998, CMA single of the year 1999), "You Were Mine" (#34, #1c 1999), * "Ready to Run" (#39, #2c 1999), * "Cowboy, Take Me Away" (#27, #1c 1999), * "Without You" (#31, #1c 2000), Goodbye, Earl" (#19, #13c 2000), "Some Days You Gotta Dance" (#55, #7c 2001), "Long Time Gone" (#2c, #7 2002), * "Landslide" (#7, #2c 2002), "Travelin' Soldier" (#25 #1c 2002), "Godspeed (Sweet Dreams)" (#48c 2002), "Not Ready to Make Nice" (#4, #36c 2005), "So Hard" (2006), "Voice Inside My Head" (2006), "Lubbock or Leave it" (2006), "The Long Way Around" (2006)
songwriter
sister of Emily Erwin; md. to Ted Seidel (1995-99), md. to Gareth Maguire (2001- )
see The Dixie Chicks

Melvin Franklin (David Melvin English aka 'Blue')

b. 1942 in Montgomery, AL (grew up in Detroit, MI) – d. 23 Feb 1995 in Los Angeles, CA (complications from a seizure)
R&B/soul singer (bass)
with The Distants, "Answer Me" (1962), "Save Me From Misery" (1962)
founding member of The Temptations (1961-95), "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), "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), "Hurry Tomorrow" (1973), "Shaky Ground" (1975), "Glasshouse" (1975), "Let Me Count the Ways (I Love You)" (1976), "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)
The Temptations and The Supremes, "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" (#2 1968)
long time use of cortisone to treat his rheumatoid arthritis contributed to other health problems
see The Temptations

Guitar Gabriel (Robert Lewis Jones ala 'Nyles Jones')

b. 1925 in Atlanta, GA (grew up in NC) - d. 2 Apr 1996
blues/folk singer
instrument: guitar
"Welfare Blues" (1968), "Down on the Farm" (1970), "Sweet Little Angel" (1970), "Your Poodle Dog" (1970), "Landlord Blues" (1991), "Old-Fashioned Love" (1994), "Let's Talk it Over" (1994)

Jean King (Jean Louise King)

b. 1938 in Chicago, IL – d. 28 Mar 1983 in Las Vegas, NV (heart attack)
R&B singer
with The Blossoms (1964-83), "That's When the Tears Start" (1965), "Good, Good Lovin'" (1967), "Soul and Inspiration" (1969), "Walking on Air" (1977), "Lonely Friday Night" (1989)
The Blossoms recording as The Wildcats, "What Are You Gonna Do?" (1964)
see The Blossoms

Shane McAnally

b. 1974 in Mineral Wells, TX
country/pop singer
"Are Your Eyes Still Blue?" (#31c 1999, he co-wrote), "Say Anything" (#41c 1999, he co-wrote), "Just One Touch" (2000, he co-wrote), "I Could Have Told You That" (2000, he co-wrote), "Run Away" (#50c 2000, he co-wrote)
songwriter

Sam Moore (Samuel David Moore)

b. 1935 in Miami, FL
soul/pop singer
"Pretty Good Lovin'" (2002), "It's Only Make Believe" (2006)
founding member of Sam and Dave (1964-70, and reunions), "Never, Never" (1964), "A Place Nobody Can Find" (1965), "Hold On! I'm a-Comin'" (#21 1966), "Soul Man" (#2 1967), "I Thank You" (#9 1968), "You Don't Know What You Mean to Me" (1968), "A Little Bit of Good" (1974)
duet with Wynonna Judd, "I Can't Stand the Rain" (2006)
actor
md. to Joyce Greenberg (1982- )
see Sam and Dave

Rick Parfitt (Richard Parfitt or Richard Harrison)

b. 1948 in Surrey, England
rock singer
instruments: rhythm guitar, keyboards
founding member of Status Quo (1967-2000), "Pictures of Matchstick Men" (1967, One-Hit Wonder), "Ice in the Sun" (1968), "Technicolor Dreams" (1969), "Paper Plane" (1972), "Down Down" (1975), "Rockin' All Over the World" (1977), "Again and Again" (1978, he co-wrote), "Whatever You Want" (1979, he co-wrote)
songwriter
md. 2nd to Marietta Boeker, md. to Lyndsay Whitburn
had quadruple bypass surgery in 1997

Jimmie Peters

b. 1938 in Whiteface, TX
country singer
instrument: bass
"Somebody Took Her Love (and Never Gave it Back)" (#59c 1977, he co-wrote), "634-5789" (#75c 1978), "Just Because it Feels Good" (1979)
duets with Linda K. Lance, "I Hate the Way Our Love is" (#78c 1979), "First-Class Fool" (#75c 1980)

October 13

Rhett Akins (Thomas Rhett Akins)

b. 1969 in Valdosta, GA
country singer
instrument: guitar
"What They're Talkin' About" (#35c 1994, he co-wrote), "I Brake for Brunettes" (#36c 1995, he co-wrote), "That Ain't My Truck" (#3c 1995, he co-wrote), "She Said Yes" (#17c 1996, he co-wrote), "Don't Get Me Started" (#1c 1996, he co-wrote), "Love You Back" (#38c 1996), "Every Cowboy's Dream" (#51c 1997, he co-wrote), "More Than Everything" (#41c 1997), "Drivin' My Life Away" (#56c 1998), "Better Than it Used to Be" (#47c 1998), "Highway Sunrise" (#55c 2002)
songwriter
md. to Paige (1989- )
see Rhett Akins

John Ford Coley (John Edward Colley)

b. 1951 in Dallas, TX
country/rock/folk/pop singer
instruments: guitar, piano, keyboards
with England Dan and John Ford Coley (1969-80), "I'd Really Love to See You Tonight" (#2 1976), "Nights are Forever Without You" (#10 1976), "Gone Too Far" (#23 1977, he co-wrote), "It's Sad to Belong to Someone Else" (#21 1977), "Soldier in the Rain" (1977, he co-wrote), "We'll Never Have to Say Goodbye Again" (#9 1978), "Love is the Answer" (#10 1979)
duets with Leslie and Kelly Bulkin, "Long Distance Telephone" (1981), "Don't Wake Me Now (I'm Dreaming)" (1981, he co-wrote)
songwriter
actor; author; rancher
see John Ford Coley

Lacy J. Dalton (Jill Lynne Byrem)

b. 1946/48 in Bloomsburg, PA
country/folk/rock/blues singer
instrument: guitar
"Crazy Blue Eyes" (#17c 1980, she co-wrote), "Losing Kind of Love" (#14c 1980, she co-wrote), "Hard Times" (#7c 1980), "Hillbilly Girl with the Blues" (#8c 1980, she wrote), "Whisper" (#10c 1980, she co-wrote), "Takin' it Easy" (#2c 1981, she co-wrote), "Everybody Makes Mistakes" (#5c 1981, she co-wrote), "16th Avenue" (#7c 1982), "Too Many Miles" (1983), "You Can't Run Away from Your Heart" (#20c 1985), "Too Late to Stop Lovin' You Now" (1985), "If This Ain't Love" (#15c 1985), "Blue-Eyed Blues" (1987), "The Heart" (#13c 1989), "I'm a Survivor" (#57c 1989), "Black Coffee" (#15c 1990), "Lonesome As the Night is Long" (1990)
founding member of Office (1968- )
duet with George Jones, "Size Seven Round (Made of Gold)" (#19c 1985)
songwriter
md. to John Croston, md. to Aaron Anderson (1989- )

Mundo Earwood (Raymond Earwood)

b. 1952 in Del Rio, TX
country singer
instrument: guitar
"Behind Blue Eyes" (#57c 1972, #32c 1977, he wrote), "When I Get You Alone" (#36c 1978), "Things I'd Do for You" (#18c 1978, he wrote), "Fooled Around and Fell in Love" (#25c 1979, he wrote), "You're in Love With the Wrong Man" (#27c 1980, he wrote), "Can't Keep My Mind Off of Her" (#26c 1980), "Angela" (#32c 1981, he wrote)
songwriter, wrote Doug Supernaw's "Reno" (#4c 1993)

David Krock (David Alan Krock)

b. 1953
pop singer
instruments: bass, trumpet
with Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods, "My Days Are Numbered" (1968), "I'm on the Outside Looking in" (1970), "Special Someone" (#64 1972), "Billy, Don't Be a Hero" (#1 1974), "Who Do You Think You Are?" (#15 1974), "The Heartbreak Kid" (#39 1974), "House on Telegraph Hill" (1975), "Our Last Song Together" (#95 1975), "Give Me Some Time" (1977)

Raymond Matthews

b. 1956 in Centre, AL
country singer
instrument: guitar
founding member of Matthews, Wright and King (1991- ), "The Power of Love" (#41c 1992), "Mother's Eyes" (#55c 1992), "Leavin' Reasons" (1992), "For a Moment There" (1992), "Every Time She Says Yes" (1992), "I Gotta Love" (#45c 1993), "Dream Seeker" (1993), "Every Step of the Way" (1993)
songwriter

John Noreen (aka Bruce Bowdin)

b. 1950 in Los Angeles, CA
folk/rock/pop singer
instruments: 12-string guitar, lead guitar, steel guitar
founding member of The Rose Garden (1963-68), "Next Plane to London" (#17 1967, One-Hit Wonder), "Flower Town" (1967), "If My World Falls Through" (1968), "February Sunshine" (1968)
with Highway 101 (1990- ), "This Side of Goodbye" (#11c 1990)
backup for John Davidson (1973-75)
with The Delevantes
with Boomerang
session musician
songwriter
computer tech
see Rose Garden
see Highway 101

Marie Osmond (Olive Marie Osmond)

b. 1959 in Ogden, UT
country/pop singer
"Paper Roses" (#5, #1c 1973), "In My Little Corner of the World" (#33c 1974), "Who's Sorry Now?" (#40 1975), "A-My Name is Alice" (#85c 1976), "Back to Believing Again" (#58c 1981), "Until I Fall in Love Again" (1985), "There's No Stopping Your Heart" (#1c 1986), "Read My Lips" (#4c 1986), "I Only Wanted You" (#14c 1986), "I'm in Love and He's in Dallas" (#59c 1989), "Like a Hurricane" (#57c 1990)
duets with Donny Osmond as Donny and Marie, "I'm Leaving it up to You" (#17c, #4 1974), "The Morning Side of the Mountain" (#8 1974), "Take Me Back Again" (1974), "Deep Purple" (#14 1975), "When Somebody Cares" (1975), "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" (#21 1976)
duet with Dan Seals "Meet Me in Montana" (#1c 1985)
duets with Paul Davis, "You're Still New to Me" (#1c 1986), "Sweet Life" (#47c 1988)
actress
md. to Stephen Craig (19??-85); md. 2nd to Brian Blosil (1986-2007)
sister of Donny Osmond

Victor Sanz

b. 1973 in Wasco, CA
country singer
instrument: guitar
"I'm Gonna Be There" (#68c 2000), "Destination: Unknown" (#68c 2000), "One Forever" (2000), "Only You" (2000, he wrote), "Remembering the Future" (2000), "More Than I Wanted to Know" (2000), "Tell Me What You Wanna Do" (#60c 2004), "Nobody is to Blame" (2005)
songwriter

Paul Simon (Paul Frederick Simon)

b. 1941 in Newark, NJ
pop/folk/rock singer
instrument: guitar
"Motorcycle" (#99 1961), "Mother and Child Reunion" (#4 1972), "Kodachrome" (#2 1973), "Loves Me Like a Rock" (#2 1973), "Take Me to the Mardi Gras" (1973), "American Tune" (#35 1974), "Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover" (#1 1975), "Still Crazy after All These Years" (#40 1976), * "Slip Slidin' Away" (#5 1978), "Late in the Evening" (#6 1980), "You Can Call Me Al" (#23 1986), "Father and Daughter" (#31 2002)
founding member of Simon and Garfunkel (1964-70, 1982-83, 2003-04), "The Sun is Burning" (1964), "Kathy's Song" (1966), * "Homeward Bound" (#5 1966), * "I Am a Rock" (#3 1966, he wrote), * "The Sound of Silence" (#1 1966, he wrote), "Mrs. Robinson" (#1 1968), "A Hazy Shade of Winter" (#13 1968), "Fakin' it" (#3 1968), "At the Zoo" (#16 1968), "Scarborough Fair" (#11 1968), "The Boxer" (#7 1968), * "Bridge Over Troubled Water" (#1 1970), * "El Condor Pasa (If I Could)" (1970), "Cecilia" (#4 1970), "My Little Town" (#9 1975), * "Feelin' Groovy" (1982)
founding member of Tom and Jerry (1957-63), "Hey, Schoolgirl" (#49 1957), "Dancin' Wild" (1957)
duet with Linda Ronstadt, "Under African Skies" (1986)
songwriter, wrote as Jerry Landis The Cyrkle's "Red Rubber Ball" (#2 1966)
music producer; actor
md. to singer, Edie Brickell
quote by Paul Simon: "I'm more interested in what I discover than what I invent."
see Paul Simon
see Simon and Garfunkel

Olan Sylvers (Olympia-Ann Sylvers)

b. 1951
R&B/soul singer
founding member of The Sylvers (1971-77), "Fool's Paradise" (1972), "Wish That I Could Talk to You" (#77 1972), "Stay Away from Me" (1973), "Through the Love in My Heart" (1973), "Boogie Fever" (#1 1976), "Cotton Candy" (#57 1976), "Hot Line" (#5 1976), "High School Dance" (#17 1977), "Any Way You Want Me" (1977)
see The Sylvers on soulwalking

Ricky Sylvers (Joseph Richard Sylvers)

b. 1958
R&B/soul singer
instrument: guitar
founding member of The Sylvers (1971- ), "Fool's Paradise" (1972), "Wish That I Could Talk to You" (#77 1972), "Stay Away from Me" (1973), "Through the Love in My Heart" (1973), "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)
session musician
producer
see The Sylvers on soulwalking

John Wiggins (John Wayne Wiggins)

b. 1962 in Nashville, TN or Waynesville, NC
country singer
instrument: guitar
duets with Audrey Wiggins, "Their Hearts are Dancing" (1994), "Falling Out of Love" (#47c 1994), "Has Anybody Seen Amy?" (#22c 1994), "She's in the Bedroom Cryin'" (#58c 1994), "Somewhere in Love" (#49c 1997), "Going with My Heart" (1997), "Crazy Love" (1997), "The Dream" (1997), "If a Train Left for Memphis" (1997)
songwriter
brother of Audrey Wiggns

October 14

Norman Harris

b. 1947 in Philadelphia, PA - d. 20 Mar 1987 (cardiovascular disease)
soul/R&B musician, instrument: guitar
founding member of The Trammps, "Disco Inferno" (#11 1977)
founding member of MFSB
The Three Degrees and MFSB, "Love is the Message" (#85 1974), "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)" (#1 1974)
session musician on Cliff Nobles and Co.'s "The Horse" (#2 1968), and with The Intruders, The O'Jays, Teddy Pendergrass, Village People, and others
songwriter
music producer; arranger

Billy Harrison (William Harrison)

b. 1942 in Belfast, Northern Ireland
rock singer
instrument: guitar
founding member of Them (1964-65, 1979), "Baby, Please Don't Go" (1965), * "Here Comes the Night" (#24 1965), "Mystic Eyes" (#33 1965)
see Them

H. Brooks Hatch

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)
songwriter
see The Serendipity Singers

Justin Hayward (David Justin Hayward)

b. 1946 in Swindon, England
rock singer
instruments: guitar, bass, piano, sitar
"Day Must Come" (1966), "Songwriter" (1970), "One Lonely Room" (1977, he wrote), "Nearer to You" (1980, he wrote), "Suitcase" (1980, he wrote), "Moving Mountains" (1985, he wrote), "It's Not Too Late" (1996), "The Story in Your Eyes" (1998), "Forever Autumn" (1998)
with The Moody Blues (replaced Denny Laine, 1967-74, 1977- ), "Ride My See-Saw" (#61 1968), "Tuesday Afternoon (Forever Afternoon)" (#24 1968), "Another Morning" (1968), "Never Comes the Day" (1969), "The Story in Your Eyes" (#23 1971), "Nights in White Satin" (#2 1972, he wrote), "I'm Just a Singer (in a Rock 'n' Roll Band)" (#12 1972), "Isn't Life Strange?" (1972), "Steppin' in a Slide Zone" (#38 1979), "Gemini Dream" (#12 1981, he co-wrote), "Sitting at the Wheel" (#27 1983), "Your Wildest Dreams" (#9 1986, he wrote), "I Know You're Out There Somewhere" (#30 1988)
duets with John Lodge, "I Dreamed Last Night" (1975), "Nights, Winters, Years" (1975)
songwriter
see The Moody Blues
see The Moody Blues on Wikipedia
see Justin Hayward

Colin Hodgkinson

b. 1945 in England
blues/jazz/rock singer
instruments: electric bass, bass, guitar
"Southpaw Rag" (1999), "San Francisco Bay Blues" (1999), "32-20 Blues" (1999), "Are You Sure?" (1999)
founding member of Back Door
with The British Blues Quintet
with Whitesnake (1982-84), "Standing in the Shadows" (1984)
session bass player with Mick Jagger, Cozy Powell, and others
he was left-handed
see Whitesnake

Bill Justis (William E. Justis, Jr.)

b. 1926 in Birmingham, AL (grew up in Memphis, TN) - d. Jul 15 1982 in Nashville, TN (cancer)
rock musician, instruments: trumpet, sax
"Raunchy" (#2, #6c 1957, One-Hit Wonder, he co-wrote), "College Man" (#42 1958), "Cattywampus" (1958), "I'm Gonna Learn to Dance" (1963), "Sunday in Madrid" (1963), "Last Farewell" (1965)
founding member and lead of The Bill Justis Orchestra
session musician with The Unknowns, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, and others
songwriter, co-wrote Johnny Cash's "The Ways of a Woman in Love" (#24, #2c 1958)
arranger; music producer

Natalie Maines (Natalie Louise Maines);

b. 1974 in Lubbock, TX
country singer
instrument: guitar
lead singer of The Dixie Chicks (1995- , replaced Laura Lynch), "I Can Love You Better" (#77, #7c 1997), * "Once You've Loved Somebody" (1997), "There's Your Trouble" (#36, #1c 1998), "Wide Open Spaces" (#41, #1c 1998, CMA single of the year 1999), "You Were Mine" (#34, #1c 1999), * "Ready to Run" (#39, #2c 1999), * "Cowboy, Take Me Away" (#27, #1c 1999), * "Without You" (#31, #1c 2000, she co-wrote), Goodbye, Earl" (#19, #13c 2000), "Some Days You Gotta Dance" (#55, #7c 2001), "Long Time Gone" (#2c, #7 2002), * "Landslide" (#7, #2c 2002), "Travelin' Soldier" (#25 #1c 2002), "Godspeed (Sweet Dreams)" (#48c 2002), "Not Ready to Make Nice" (#4, #36c 2005, she wrote), "So Hard" (2006), "Voice Inside My Head" (2006), "Lubbock or Leave it" (2006), "The Long Way Around" (2006)
md. 1st to bass player, Michael Tarabay (1997-99); md. to actor, Adrian Pasdar (2000- ); daughter of steel guitarist Lloyd Maines
see The Dixie Chicks

Dan McCafferty (William Daniel McCafferty)

b. 1946 in Edinburgh, Scotland
rock singer
"Cinnamon Girl" (1975), "Starry Eyes" (1986), "Backstage Pass" (1986), "Sally Mary" (1986), "For a Car" (1986)
founding member and lead singer with Nazareth (1968- ), "Broken-Down Angel" (1973), "Rose in the Heather" (1975), "My White Bicycle" (1975), "Love Hurts" (#8 1975), "Place in Your Heart" (1977), "Holiday" (#87 1980), "Moonlight Eyes" (1981), "Love Leads to Madness" (1982), "Ruby Tuesday" (1984)
songwriter

Ruth McLain

b. 1958 in Hindman, KY
bluegrass/folk/country singer
instrument: mandolin, bass
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), "Yesterdays Waltz" (1986)
md. to Mr. Smith; md. Michael Riopel

Melba Montgomery (Melba Joyce Montgomery)

b. 1938 in Iron City, TN (grew up in Florence, AL)
country singer
instruments: guitar, fiddle
"Hall of Shame" (#26c 1964), "My Tiny Music Box" (1966), "He Stayed Away (as Long as He Could)" (1966), "The Right Time to Lose My Mind" (1967), "Twilight Years" (1967), "He Wrote to Forgive Me" (1968), "What's Become of What's Left of Me" (1969), "Wrap Your Love Around Me" (#38c 1973, she co-wrote), "No Charge" (#39, #1c 1974), "It Sure Gets Lonely" (1975), "Don't Let the Good Times Fool You" (#15c 1975), "Hiding in the Darkness of My Mind" (1975), "Searchin' (for Someone Like You)" (#45c 1975), "Angel of the Morning" (#22c 1978)
backup for Roy Acuff (1958-62), "Once More" (#8c 1958), "So Many Times" (#16c 1959), "Come and Knock (on the Door of My Heart)" (#20c 1959), and others
duets with George Jones, "We Must Have Been Out of Our Minds" (#3c 1963, she wrote), "What's in Our Hearts" (#20c 1963), "Let's Invite Them Over" (#17c 1963)
duet with Charlie Louvin, "Something to Brag About" (#18c 1970)
duet with Gene Pitney, "Baby, Ain't That Fine?" (#15c 1966)
songwriter
see Melba Montgomery on Wikipedia

Peter Moules (Peter Charles Moules)

b. 1944 in England
folk/pop/rock singer
instruments: autoharp, guitar, banjo
founding member and lead singer of Unit 4 + 2 (1963- ), * "Concrete and Clay" (#28 1965, One-Hit Wonder), "You've Never Been in Love Like This Before" (#95 1965), "Baby, Never Say Goodbye" (1966)
see Unit 4 + 2 on Wikipedia

Robert Parker

b. 1930 in New Orleans, LA
R&B singer
instruments: sax, alto sax
"Barefootin'" (#7 1965, One-Hit Wonder, he wrote), "Let's Go Baby (Where the Action is)" (1965, he wrote), "Tip Toe" (1966), "Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley" (1974), "Hey, Julia" (1974, he wrote), "Through it All There's You" (1974, he wrote)
bandleader
session musician on Professor Longhair's "Mardi Gras in New Orleans" (1949), and with Fats Domino, Ernie K-Doe, and others

Cliff Richard (Harry Rodger Webb)

b. 1940 in India (grew up in England)
rock/pop/Christian singer
instrument: guitar
"Living Doll" (#30 1959), "A Voice in the Wilderness" (1960), "Theme for a Dream" (1961), "The Next Time" (#99 1962), "Lucky Lips" (#62 1963), "It's All in the Game" (#25 1963), "I'm the Lonely One" (#92 1964), "Congratulations" (#99 1968), "Morning Comes Too Soon" (1970), "Goodbye Sam, Hello Samantha" (1970), "Devil Woman" (#6 1976), "I Can't Ask for Any More Than You" (#80 1976), "Don't Turn the Light Out" (#57 1977), "We Don't Talk Anymore" (#7 1979), "Dreamin'" (#10 1980), "Carrie" (#34 1980), "A Little in Love" (#17 1981), "Give a Little Bit More" (#41 1981), "Wired for Sound" (#71 1981), "Daddy's Home" (#23 1981), "The Only Way Out" (#64 1982), "Shooting from the Heart" (1984), "My Pretty One" (1987), "Some People" (1987), "What Car?" (2005)
duet with Olivia Newton-John, "Suddenly" (#20 1980)
actor

Kenny Roberts (George Samuel Kingsbury aka 'The Jumping Cowboy')

b. 1926/27 in Lenoir City, TN (grew up near Greenfield, MA)
country singer, yodeler
instruments: guitar, bass, harmonica
"I Never See Maggie Alone" (#4c 1949), "Wedding Bells" (#15c 1949), "Jealous Heart" (#14c 1949), "Choc'late Ice Cream Cone" (#8c 1950), "Billy and Nanny Goat" (1950), "I Finally Got Maggie Alone" (1950), "Kiwi Bird" (1952), "F.O.B. Tennessee" (1952), "I'd Like to Kiss Susie Again" (1952), "Hush Puppies" (1953), "Love Makes a New Fool Every Day" (1953), "Wicked Little Cricket" (1954), "Tennessee Spelling Bee" (1955), "Two Steps Forward" (1961), "Sing Me a Hurtin' Song" (1962)
served in the Navy during WWII (1945- )

Doug Virden

b. 1970
country singer
instruments: bass, autoharp
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)
songwriter

October 15

Mickey Baker (McHouston Baker aka 'Guitar Baker')

b. 1925 in Louisville, KY
pop/R&B/rock/jazz musician, instruments: guitar, bass
"Love Me, Baby" (1952), "Greasy Spoon" (1955), "Baker's Dozen" (1959)
founding member of Mickey and Sylvia, "Seems Just Like Yesterday" (1956), "Let's Have a Picnic" (1957), "Love is Strange" (#11 1957, One-Hit Wonder), "Sweeter as the Days Go By" (1960), "Baby, You're So Fine" (#52 1961)
Mickey and Sylvia sang backup on Ike and Tina Turner's "It's Gonna Work Out Fine" (#14 1961)
session musician on The Dubs' "Could This Be Magic?" (#23 1957); Big Joe Turner's "Shake, Rattle and Roll" (#7 1954); Ruth Brown's "(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean" (#23 1953); and others
songwriter

Dick Burns (Richard Warren Burns)

b. 1943 in Woodbine, IA (grew up in Oxnard, CA)- d. 5 Nov 2007 in Camarillo, CA (heart attack)
R&B musician, instrument: guitar
founding member of The Dartells (1959- ), "Dartell Stomp" (1962), "Hot Pastrami" (#11 1963, One-Hit Wonder), "Dance Everybody Dance" (#99 1963), "Clap Your Hands" (1965)
songwriter

Richard Carpenter

b. 1946 in New Haven, CT
pop singer
instrument: keyboards
"That's What I Believe" (1987), "Calling Your Name Again" (1987)
founding member of The Carpenters, "(They Long to Be) Close to You" (#1 1970), "We've Only Just Begun" (#2 1970), "For All We Know" (#3 1971), "Rainy Days and Mondays" (#2 1971), "Superstar" (#2 1971), "Hurting Each Other" (#2 1972), "I Won't Last a Day Without You" (#11 1972), "Yesterday Once More" (#2 1973), "Top of the World" (#1 1973), "Only Yesterday" (#4 1975), "Please, Mister Postman" (#1 1975), "There's a Kind of Hush (All Over the World)" (#12 1976), "Sweet, Sweet Smile" (#44, #8c 1978), "Touch Me When We're Dancing" (#16 1981), "Those Good Old Dreams" (1981), * "When I Fall in Love" (released 1989)
duet with Dusty Springfield, "Something in Your Eyes" (1987)
md. to Mary Rudolph (2984- ); brother of singer, Karen Carpenter
see The Carpenters

David Carroll (Nook Schreier)

b. 1913 in Chicago, IL
pop orchestra leader
conductor of David Carroll and His Orchestra, "Tambourine Chinois" (1954), "Melody of Love" (#8 1955), "It's Almost Tomorrow" (#20 1955), "Let's Dance Again" (1959)
David Carroll and His Orchestra played backup on Rusty Draper's "The Shifting Whispering Sands" (#3 1955); The Crew-Cuts' "Sh-Boom (Life Could Be a Dream)" (#1 1954); and others
songwriter
arranger; music producer

Keyshia Cole (Keyshia Miesha Cole)

b. 1981 in Oakland, CA
R&B/pop/soul singer
* "I Should Have Cheated" (#30 2005), "Love" (#19 2006), "Last Night" (#10 2007), "Let it Go" (#7 2007), "I Remember" (#24 2007)
songwriter
music producer
see Keyshia Cole

Chris de Burgh (Christopher John de Burgh Davidson)

b. 1948 in Buenos Aires, Argentina (grew up in Ireland)
rock singer
instruments: guitar, piano
"Spanish Train" (1976), "Don't Pay the Ferryman" (#43 1982), "For Rosanna" (1986, he wrote), "The Lady in Red" (#3 1987, he wrote), "Blond Hair, Blue Jeans" (1994, he wrote), "Borderline" (1997)
songwriter
his daughter Rosanna was 'Miss World' in 2003

Lance Dickerson

b. 1948 in Livonia, MI - d. 10 Nov 2003 in Fairfax, CA (suicide)
country/rockabilly/rock/western swing singer
instrument: drums
with Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen (1970- ), "Hot Rod Lincoln" (#9, #51c 1972, One-Hit Wonder), "Truck-Stop Rock" (1972), "It Should've Been Me" (1972), "That's What I Like about the South" (1975)
session musician with John Lee Hooker, Billy C. Farlow, and others

Joe 'Yo Yo' Jaramillo

b. 1948 in in Colusa, CA - d. 24 May 2000
rock singer
founding member 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)

Marv Johnson (Marvin Earl Johnson)

b. 1938 in Detroit, MI – d. 16 May 1993 in Columbia, SC (stroke after a concert)
soul/R&B singer (baritone)
instrument: piano
"You've Got What it Takes" (#10 1959), "I Love the Way You Love Me" (#9 1960), "(You've Got to) Move Two Mountains" (#20 1960), "How Can We Tell Him?" (1961), "Keep Telling Yourself" (1963), "Hard Forgetting Memories" (1963), "Unbreakable Love" (1964), "I'll Pick a Rose for My Rose" (1968)
created the Motown sound with Berry Gordy Jr.
songwriter

Texas Jim Lewis (James Lewis, Jr.)

b. 1909 in Meigs, GA (grew up in Fort Myers, FL) - d. 23 Jan 1990
country/western swing singer
instrument: guitar
founding member of Texas Jim Lewis and the Lone Star Cowboys (1937- ), "Crawdad Song" (1937), "There's a Love Knot in My Lariat" (1937), "Mary, the Prairie and I" (1940), "If it Hadn't Been for You" (1941), "Bearcat Mountain Gal" (1941), "My Little Prairie Flower" (1942), "Too Late to Worry, Too Blue to Cry" (#3c 1944), "Eleven Miles From Leavenworth" (1944, about the Woman's Air Corps), "You Call Everybody Darlin'" (1948)
actor
served in the Army during WWII (1942- )

Larrie Londin (Ralph Gallant)

b. 1943 in Norfolk, VA - d. 24 Aug 1992 in Nashville, TN (heart attack)
country/rock/R&B/jazz musician, instrument: drums
with The Cherry Bombs (Rodney Crowell's road band) (1980-92)
session musician on Journey's "Be Good to Yourself" (#9 1986), "I'll Be Alright Without You" (#14 1987); and with Chet Atkins, Elvis Presley, Dan Seals, Vince Gill, B.B. King, Jerry Lee Lewis, Randy Travis, Dan Fogelberg, Lionel Ritchie, Bobby Bare, and others

Barry McGuire

b. 1935 in Oklahoma City, OK (grew up in CA)
folk/rock/Christian singer
instrument: guitar
* "Eve of Destruction" (#1 1965, One-Hit Wonder), "Sins of the Family" (1965), "Child of Our Times" (1965)
with The New Christy Minstrels (1962-65), "Everybody Loves Saturday Night" (1963), "Green Green" (1963, he wrote), "Saturday Night" (#29 1963), "Today" (#17 1964)
founding member of Talbot McCuire
songwriter
actor
joined the Navy at age sixteen but was discharged when his true age was discovered ten months later
see The New Christy Minstrels
see Barry McGuire

Louis Nunley

b. 1931 in Sikeston, MO (grew up in Anderson, IN)
country singer (baritone/bass)
with Anita Kerr Singers (1952- ), "A Promise and a Prayer" (1952), "For you, For Me, Forevermore" (1960), "Too Little Time" (1965), "They Always Ask Me" (1968), "Lalena" (1969), "Early Autumn" (1972), "So Far Away from L.A." (1977), "Angel in the Faded Blue Jeans" (1977), "Happy Cat" (1979), "Friends Are Enough" (1988)
The Anita Kerr Singers were backup on The Owen Bradley Quintet's "White Silver Sands" (#18 1957); Red Foley's "Hearts of Stone" (#4c 1955); Bobby Helm's "My Special Angel" (#7, #1c 1957); and with Wilf Carter, Jim Reeves, Roy Orbison, Dotty West, Brook Benton, and others
with The Jordanaires (1999- , he also filled in for various members in earlier years)
backup singer on Jim Glaser's "The Man in the Mirror" (#17c 1983)
see the Jordanaires

Kimberly Roads

b. 1969
country singer
founding member and Little Big Town (1999- ), "Don't Waste My Time" (#33c 2002, she co-wrote), "Everything Changes" (#42c 2002, she co-wrote), "Boondocks" (#46, #9c 2005, she co-wrote), "Bring it on Home" (#58, #4c 2006), "Good as Gone" (#18c 2006), "A Little More You" (#101, #20c 2007), "Pontoon" (#1c 2012, CMA single of the year 2012)
md. to Stephen Schlapman (2006- )

Don Stevenson

b. 1942 in Seattle, WA
rock singer
instrument: drums
founding member of Moby Grape (1966- ), "Omaha" (#88 1967), "Hey, Grandma" (1967, he co-wrote), "Sitting by the Window" (1967), "Mister Blues" (1967), "8:05" (1967, he co-wrote), "Motorcycle Irene" (1968), "The Place and the Time" (1968), "Rose-Colored Eyes" (1968), "Boysenberry Jam" (1968), "What's to Choose?" (1969), "Going Nowhere" (1969, he co-wrote), "Changes, Circles Spinning" (1969)
songwriter
see Moby Grape on Wikipedia

Robert Ward

b. 1938 in Luthersville, GA
blues/soul musician, instrument: guitar
"She's My Heart's Desire" (1964), "(My Love is) Strictly Reserved for You" (1967), "I Will Fear No Evil" (1967), "Your Love is Amazing" (1990), "White Fox" (1993), "Toe Hold" (1995), "Lonely Man" (1995)
founding member of The Ohio Untouchables (1960-65), "Nobody Does Something for Nothing" (1962), "Forgive Me, Darling" (1963)
The Ohio Untouchables backing The Falcons, "I Found a Love" (#75 1962)
session musician
served in the Army (1957-59)

October 16

Michael 'Flea' Balzary (Michael Peter Balzary)

b. 1962 in Melbourne, Australia (grew up in NY and CA)
rock musician, instruments: bass, trumpet
founding member of Red Hot Chili Peppers (1983- ), "Under the Bridge" (#2 1991), "Scar Tissue" (#9 1998), "Other Side" (#14 1999), * "Dani California" (#6 2006)
session musician on Alanis Morissette's "You Oughta Know" (#6 1995); and with others
actor
md. 1st to Loesha Zeivar (1985-90)
see Red Hot Chili Peppers

Big John Bradley

b. 194? (grew up in PA)
pop/rock singer
instrument: guitar
founding member and lead singer of The Kit Kats (1962-72), "Good Luck Charlie" (1963), "You're No Angel" (1964), "Breezy" (1967), "You've Got to Know" (1967), "Distance" (1967), "I Want to Be" (1968), "Hey, Saturday Noon" (1968), "Taking My Time" (1971)
The Kit Kats recording as New Hope, "Won't Find Better Than Me" (#57 1969), "They Call it Love" (1969), "The Money Game" (1970)
The Kit Kats recording as the Tik Taks, "Let's Get Lost on a Country Road" (#119 1967), "The Nut Rocker" (1967)
served in the Army
farmer
see The Kit Kats

Stoney Cooper (Dale Troy Cooper)

b. 1918 in Harmon, WV - d. 22 Mar 1977 (heart attack)
country/bluegrass singer
instruments: fiddle, guitar, dobro
"I'm Surprised at Me" (1968)
duets with Wilma Lee Cooper, "The Legend of the Dogwood Tree" (1950), "All on Account of You" (1952), "Don't Play That Song (on the Jukebox Tonight)" (1953), "Can You Forget?" (1954), "How it Hurts to Cry Alone" (1955), "I've Been Cheated Too" (#14c 1956), "I Tell My Heart" (1957), "Come Walk with Me" (#4c 1958), "Big Midnight Special" (#4c 1959), "There's a Big Wheel" (#3c 1959), "Rachel's Guitar" (1959), "This Ole House" (#16c 1960), "Wreck on the Highway" (#8c 1961), "Singing Waterfall" (1962), "I Couldn't Care Less" (1964), "Never Very Far From My Mind" (1967)
md. to Wilma Lee Leary (1941-77, his death); father of singer, Carolee Cooper

Emile Ford (Emile Sweetman)

b. 1937 in the West Indies (grew up in England)
pop singer
instruments: guitar, bass guitar, piano, violin, drums
"Them There Eyes" (1960), "Half of My Heart" (1961), "I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now" (1962)
founding member of Emile Ford and the Checkmates, "What Do You Want to Make Those Eyes at Me For?" (1959), "Move Along" (1959, he wrote), "On a Slow Boat to China" (1960), "You'll Never Know What You're Missing (Til You Try)" (1960)
songwriter
sound engineer
see Emile Ford and the Checkmates

Bud Hobbs (Henry Roland Hobbs)

b. 1919 in San Francisco, CA - d. 18 Jul 1958 in Bakersfield, CA (heart attack)
country/western swing singer
founding member of Bud Hobbs and the Trail Herders, "For the Sake of an Old Memory" (1947), "Honey, There Ain't No Pleasin' You" (1947), "Lazy Mary" (#13c 1948), "Candy Kisses" (#12c 1949), "Broken Fences and Broken Dreams" (1949), "I Heard About You" (#12c 1949), "Rightfully Mine" (1953), "Louisiana Swing" (1954), "Last Dance Tonight" (1956)
DJ
older brother of musician, Jack Hobbs

Bert Kaempfert (Berthold Kampfert)

b. 1923 in Hamburg, Germany – d. 21 Jun 1980 (stroke)
pop/jazz musician, instruments: accordion, clarinet, piano, sax
leader of his own orchestra, "Petticoats of Portugal" (1959), "Happiness Never Comes Too Late" (1960), "Louisa" (1960), "Wonderland by Night" (#1 1961), "Holiday for Bells" (1963), "L-O-V-E" (1964, he co-wrote), "Red Roses for a Blue Lady" (#11 1965), "Melina" (1965), "Pussy Footin'" (1967), "Petula" (1969), "She Lets Her Hair Down" (1970), "Gray Eyes Make Me Blue" (1971), "Bell Bottoms" (1971)
songwriter, wrote The Billy Vaughn Orchestra's "A Swingin' Safari" (#13 1962); co-wrote Joe Dowell's "Wooden Heart" (#1, #1c 1961); Wayne Newton's "Danke Schoen" (#13 1963)
arranger; producer
quote by Bert Kaempfert: "If people know my tunes, that's enough. My music says everything I have to say."
see The Bert Kaempfert Orchestra

Dave Lovelady (David Lovelady)

b. 1942 in Liverpool, England
rock singer
instrument: drums
founding member of The Fourmost (1961-69), "Hello, Little Girl" (1963), "A Little Lovin'" (1964), "Here, There and Everywhere" (1966)
see The Fourmost

John Mayer (John Clayton Mayer)

b. 1977 in Bridgeport, CT (grew up in Fairfield, CT)
pop/rock/blues singer
instruments: guitar, keyboards
"3 x 5" (2001), "Not Myself" (2001), "St. Patrick's Day" (2001), "No Such Thing" (#15 2002), "Your Body is a Wonderland" (#18 2002), "Bigger Than My Body" (#33 2003), * "Daughters" (#19 2004), * "Waiting on the World to Change" (#14 2006), "Dreaming With a Broken Heart" (#99 2007)
founding member of The John Mayer Trio (2005- ), "Who Did You Think I Was?" (2005), "Something's Missing" (2005), "Out of My Mind" (2005)
songwriter
humanitarian
he suffers from panic attacks
see John Mayer

Idella Morris

b. 1943
doo-wop/soul singer
founding member of The Versitiles (1958-62), "I'll Whisper in Your Ear" (1960), "Just Words" (1962)
founding member of The Majors (1961- ), "A Wonderful Dream" (#22 1962, One-Hit Wonder), "A Little Bit Now (and a Little Bit Later)" (1962), "She's a Troublemaker" (1962), "One Happy Ending" (1963)

Bob McNett (Hubert Robert McNett)

b. 1925 in Roaring Branch, PA - d. 21 Jun 1995 in Montgomery, PA (prostate cancer)
country singer
instrument: guitar
with Patsy Montana's band
founding member and lead guitarist of The Drifting Cowboys (1948-50, 1977-84)
The Drifting Cowboys backing Hank Williams, "Honky-Tonkin'" (#14c 1948), "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), "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" (1949), "Never Again" (#6c 1949, he wrote), * "Long Gone Lonesome Blues" (#1c 1950), "Why Don't Ya Love Me?" (#1c 1950), "Moanin' the Blues" (#1c 1950)
see The Drifting Cowboys

Craig Morris

b. 19?? in Piggott, AR
country singer
founding member and lead singer of 4Runner (1994-96, 2002- ), "Cain's Blood" (#26c 1995), "A Heart with a 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)
session musician
songwriter
see 4Runner on WikipediA

Bland Simpson

b. 1948 in Durham, NC
country/folk singer
instrument: piano
"You May Not Believe it" (2003), "Wind in the Trees" (2003), "Follow You All Over the World" (2003), "Silent Highway" (2003)
with The Red Clay Ramblers (1986- ), "Fourth of July (at a Country Fair)" (1979), "Baby Grand" (1979), "The Face in the Mirror" (1981), "When the Goldenrod is Blooming Once Again" (1981), "The Willow Garden" (1986), "Way Long Gone" (1986), "Red Rocking Chair" (1986), "I Love You a Thousand Ways" (1986), "Old-Fashioned Girl" (1986), "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)
songwriter
author; playwright
see the Red Clay Ramblers

Dexter Tisby

b. 1936
doo-wop/rock/pop singer (tenor)
founding member of The Penguins (1954-55, 1957- ), "Hey Senorita" (1954), "Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)" (#8 1955, One-Hit Wonder), "Kiss a Fool Goodbye" (1955), "It Only Happens with You" (1955), "I Knew I'd Fall in Love" (1957), "Do Not Pretend" (1958), "If You're Mine" (1958)
possibly with The Coasters

Fred Turner (Charles Frederick Turner aka C.F. Turner)

b. 1943 in Winnipeg, Canada
rock/country singer
instrument: bass, rhythm guitar, electric guitar, acoustic guitar
founding member of Bachman-Turner Overdrive (1973-84, 1988-2004), "Blue Collar" (1973, he wrote), "Stayed Awake All Night" (1973), "Takin' Care of Business" (#12 1974), "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" (#1 1974), "Roll on Down the Highway" (#14 1974, he co-wrote), "Freeways" (1977), "Heartaches" (#60 1979, he wrote), "Lost in a Fantasy" (1984)
songwriter
see Bachman-Turner Overdrive on Wikipedia

Wanda Vick

b. 1960/61 in AL
country/bluegrass musician, instruments: guitar, steel guitar, lap steel guitar, mandolin, dobro, fiddle
founding member of Wild Rose (1987-91), Breakin' New Ground" (#15c 1989), "I Can't Lose What I Never Had" (1989), "Go Down Swingin'" (#38c 1990), "Hit the Highway" (1990), "Straight and Narrow" (#73c 1991), "Listen to Your Heart" (1991)
with Porter Wagoner's band, Right Combination
with Lynn Anderson's band
session musician with Bill Gaither, Trisha Yearwood, Eddy Arnold, and others

Bob Weir (Robert Hall Weir aka 'Ace')

b. 1947 in San Francisco, CA (grew up in Atherton, CA)
rock/folk singer
instruments: rhythm guitar, electric guitar, acoustic guitar
"Walk in the Sunshine" (1972, he co-wrote), "Cassidy" (1972, he co-wrote), "Heaven Help the Fool" (1977, he co-wrote), "This Time Forever" (1977, he co-wrote)
founding member and rhythm guitarist of The Grateful Dead (1965-95, and reunions), "You Don't Have to Ask" (1966), "Dark Star" (1967), "The Golden Road" (1967), "Caution (Do Not Stop on Tracks) (1968), "China Cat Sunflower" (1969), "Truckin'" (#68 1970), "Friend of the Devil" (1970), "Bird Song" (1971), "Ramble on Rose" (1972), "One More Saturday Night" (1972, he co-wrote), "Sugar Magnolia" (#91 1973), "The Music Never Stopped" (#81 1975, he co-wrote), "Dancin' in the Streets" (1977), "Alabama Getaway" (#68 1980), "Dire Wolf (#37 1981), "Touch of Grey" (#9 1987), "Hell in a Bucket" (#3 1987), "Throwing Stones" (#15 1987), "West L.A. Fadeaway" (#40 1987), "Foolish Heart" (#8 1989), "The Eyes of the World" (1990), "Looks Like Rain" (1990, he co-wrote)
founding member of Ratdog (1995- ), "Lucky Enough" (2000, he co-wrote), "Mission in the Rain" (2001)
with Kingfish (1975-76), "Lazy Lightnin'" (1976, he co-wrote), "Home to Dixie" (1976, he co-wrote)
songwriter
md. to Natascha Muenter (1999- ); brother-in-law of race car driver, Leilani Munter
see The Grateful Dead
see Bob Weir on Wikipedia

October 17

George Atwood (George Manley Atwood aka 'Big George')

b. 1920 in Tuscaloosa, AL - 27 Mar 2005 in Twin Falls, ID
rock/pop/jazz musician, instrument: bass
session musician on Buddy Holly's "Heartbeat" (#82 1958); and with Waylon Jennings, Roy Orbison, The Norman Petty Trio, Buddy Knox, Eddy Arnold, Gene Krupa, and others
received a Purple Heart for service in the Navy during WWII
professional clown

Chester Buchanan

b. 1920 in Canton, OH (grew up near Trenton, GA) - d. 15 May 1992/99 in GA
country musician, instruments: accordion, bass, electric guitar
founding member of The Buchanan Brothers, "Don't Dog Me 'Round" (1944), "Troubles in My Heart" (1945), "Would You Cry?" (1945), "Atomic Power" (#6c 1946), "You'll Never Take Away My Dreams" (1946), "The Silver Meteor" (1947)
twin brother of Lester Buchanan
see The Buchanan Brothers on Wikipedia

Lester Buchanan

b. 1920 in Canton, OH (grew up near Trenton, GA) - d. 6 Aug 2005
country musician, instruments: guitar, mandolin
founding member of The Buchanan Brothers, "Don't Dog Me 'Round" (1944), "Troubles in My Heart" (1945), "Would You Cry?" (1945), "Atomic Power" (#6c 1946), "You'll Never Take Away My Dreams" (1946), "The Silver Meteor" (1947)
twin brother of Chester Buchanan
see The Buchanan Brothers on Wikipedia

Earl Thomas Conley

b. 1941 in West Portsmouth, OH
country singer
instrument: guitar
"Dreamin's All I Do" (#32c 1979, he wrote), "Stranded on a Dead-End Street" (#26c 1979, he wrote), "Silent Treatment" (#7c 1980, he wrote), "Fire and Smoke" (#1c 1981, he wrote), "Tell Me Why" (#10c 1981, he co-wrote), "Somewhere between Right and Wrong" (#1c 1982, he wrote), "I Have Loved You Girl (But Not Like This Before)" (#2c 1982, he wrote), "Your Love's on the Line" (#1c 1983, he co-wrote), "Holdin' Her and Lovin' You" (#1c 1983), "Don't Make it Easy for Me" (#1c 1984, he co-wrote), "Angel in Disguise" (#1c 1984, he co-wrote), "Chance of Lovin' You" (#1c 1984, he co-wrote), "Honor Bound" (#1c 1985), "Love Don't Care (Whose Heart it Breaks)" (#1c 1985, he co-wrote), "Nobody Falls Like a Fool" (#1c 1985), "Once in a Blue Moon" (#1c 1986), "I Can't Win for Losin' You" (#1c 1987), "That Was a Close One" (#1c 1987), "Right from the Start" (#1c 1987), "What She is (is a Woman in Love)" (#1c 1988), "What I'd Say" (#1c 1989), "Love Out Loud" (#1c 1989), "Shadow of a Doubt" (#8c 1991), "If Only Your Eyes Could Lie" (#74c 1992)
duet with Keith Whitley, "Brotherly Love" (#2c 1991)
duet with Anita Pointer, "Too Many Times" (#2c 1986)
duet with Emmylou Harris, "We Believe in Happy Endings" (#1c 1988)
the first recording artist with four #1 singles from the same album
songwriter, wrote Mel Street's "Smoky Mountain Memories" (#13c 1975); "Conway Twitty's "This Time I've Hurt Her (More Than She Loves Me)" (#1c 1976)
served in the Army (1960-62)

Steve Gibson

b. 1914 in Lynchburg, VA - d. 1995 (stroke)
R&B singer (bass)
instrument: guitar
"Danny Boy" (1948)
founding member of The 5 Red Caps (1943-62), "Words Can't Explain" (1944), "I Learned a Lesson I'll Never Forget" (#2c 1944), "In the Quiet of the Dawn" (1945), "Boogie Woogie on a Saturday Night" (1945), "Wedding Bells Are Breaking Up That Old Gang of Mine" (#21 1948), "Petunia" (1949), "I'll Never Love Anyone Else" (1950), "When You Come Back to Me" (1951), "Three Dollars and Ninety-Eight Cents" (1951), "I Went to Your Wedding" (#20 1952), "I Do, I Do, I Do" (1953), "Ouch!" (1954), "Cheryl Lee" (1960)
actor
md. to singer, Damita Jo (1954-58)
see The 5 Red Caps on R&B Notebooks

Chris Golden (Christopher Normand Golden)

b. 1962 in Brewton, AL
country singer
instruments: drums, piano, keyboards, mandolin, acoustic guitar
with Cedar Creek, "Looks Like a Set-Up to Me" (#80c 1981), "Took it Like a Man, Cried Like a Baby" (#42c 1982)
founding member and lead singer of The Goldens (1987-91), "Put Us Together Again" (#55c 1988), "Sorry, Girls" (#63c 1988), "Rhythm of the River" (1990), "Take Me Back (to the Country)" (1990, he co-wrote), "Keep the Faith" (#67c 1991)
drummer with The Oak Ridge Boys (1998- )
session musician
songwriter
son of William Lee Golden of The Oak Ridge Boys
see The Oak Ridge Boys

Michael Hossack (aka 'Big Mike')

b. 1946 in Paterson, NJ
country/rock musician, instruments: drums, percussions
with The Doobie Brothers (1971-74, 1987- ), "Listen to the Music" (#11 1972), "Long Train Runnin'" (#8 1973), "China Grove" (#15 1973), "The Doctor" (#9 1989), "Divided Highway" (1991), "Dangerous" (1991), "Rockin' Down the Highway" (1996), "Wild Ride" (1996), "Angels of Madness" (2000, he co-wrote)
with Mourning Reign
songwriter
rancher
served in the Navy during the Vietnam War
he spent most of 2000 recuperating from a motorcycle accident

Alan Jackson (Alan Eugene Jackson)

b. 1958 in Newnan, GA
country singer
instrument: guitar
"Wanted" (#3c 1989, he co-wrote), * "Here in the Real World" (#3c 1990, he co-wrote), "Chasin' That Neon Rainbow" (#2c 1990, he co-wrote), "I'd Love You All Over Again" (#1c 1990, he wrote), * "Don't Rock the Jukebox" (#1c 1991, he wrote), * "Someday" (#17c 1991, he co-wrote), * "Walkin' the Floor Over Me" (1991), * "From a Distance (1991), "Dallas" (#1c 1992, he co-wrote), * "Midnight in Montgomery" (#3c 1992, he co-wrote), * "Love's Got a Hold on You" (#1c 1992), "She's Got the Rhythm (and I Got the Blues)" (#1c 1992, he co-wrote), "Tonight I Climbed the Wall" (#4c 1992, he wrote), * "That's All I Need to Know" (1992), * "Chattahoochee" (#46, #1c 1993, he co-wrote, CMA single of the year 1993), "Mercury Blues" (#2c 1993), "Summertime Blues" (#1c 1994), * "Livin' on Love" (#1c 1994), "Holly Jolly Christmas" (#51c 1994), "Gone Country" (#1c 1994), "I Don't Even Know Your Name" (#1c 1995, he co-wrote), "Tall, Tall Trees" (#1c 1995), "I'll Try" (#1c 1996, he wrote), "Little Bitty" (#58, #1c 1996), "Everything I Love" (#9c 1996), "Who's Cheatin' Who?" (#2c 1997), "There Goes" (#1c 1997, he wrote), "Between the Devil and Me" (#2c 1997), "I'll Go on Loving You" (#3c 1998), "Right on the Money" (#1c 1998), "A Woman's Love" (#43, #6c 1998, he wrote), "Gone Crazy" (#43, #4c 1999, he wrote), "Little Man" (#39, #3c 1999, he wrote), "Dancin' All Around it" (1999), "It Must Be Love" (#37, #1c 2000), "When Somebody Loves You" (#52, #5c 2000, he wrote), * "www.Memory" (#45, #6c 2000, he wrote), * "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)?" (#1c 2001, CMA single of the year 2002), "Where I Come From" (#32, #1c 2001, he wrote), * "Drive (for Daddy Gene)" (#28, #1c 2001), "Work in Progress" (#35, #3c 2002), * "A Little Bluer Than That" (2002), "That'd Be Alright" (#29, #2c 2003), * "Remember When" (#29, #1c 2004, he wrote), "Too Much of a Good Thing" (#46, #5c 2004), "Like Red on a Rose" (#80, #15c 2006), "A Woman's Love" (#73, #5c 2007), "Small-Town Southern Man" (#42, #1c 2007), "Good Time" (#12c 2008)
duet with Jimmy Buffett, "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" (#14, #1c 2003)
backup singer on Jimmy Buffett's "Hey, Good Lookin'" (#8c 2004)
duet with Brad Paisley, "Out in the Parkin' Lot" (2005)
songwriter, wrote Faith Hill's "I Can't Do That Anymore" (#8c 1995); co-wrote Randy Travis' "Forever Together" (#1c 1991)
md. to Denise (1979- )

Loose Bruce Kerr

b. 1947 in Wauksesha, WI
novelty/folk singer
instrument: guitar
"The Leader of Iraq" (1990, parody of "The Leader of the Pack"), "The Ballad of Woody and Mia" (1992), "Y2K" (1999, he wrote, parody of "YMCA"), "The Battle of Florida" (2000, he wrote about the Florida vote count problem, parody of "The Battle of New Orleans"), "The Day the Data Died" (2000, he wrote, parody of Don McLean's "American Pie")
comedian
attorney

Lattie Moore (Lattie Harrison Moore)

b. 1924 in Scottsville, KY
country/rockabilly singer
instrument: guitar
"Hideaway Heart" (1951), "I'm Not Broke, But I'm Badly Bent" (1953), "Juke Box Johnnie" (1957, he wrote), "Why Did You Lie to Me?" (1958), "Mine Again" (1960), "Driving Nails" (1960), "Too Hot to Handle" (1960), "(Here I Am) Drunk Again" (#25c 1961), "If the Good Lord's Willing and the Creek Don't Rise" (1961), "Just About Then" (1961), "Out of Control" (1961, he co-wrote), "Skinny Minnie Shimmy" (1962)
songwriter
md. to Maxine Frost (1944- )
he survived throat cancer in 1986

Gary Puckett

b. 1942 in Hibbing, MN (grew up in Yakima, WA)
pop/rock singer
"I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" (#61 1970), "Keep the Customers Satisfied" (#71 1971)
founding member and lead singer of Gary Puckett and the Union Gap (1967-71, and reunions), * "Woman, Woman" (#4 1968), * "Young Girl" (#2 1968), * "Lady Willpower" (#2 1968), * "Over You" (#7 1968), "Don't Give in to Him" (#15 1969), * "This Girl is a Woman Now" (#9 1969), * "Little Green Apples" (1969), "Let's Give Adam and Eve Another Chance" (#41 1970)
Union Gap is a suburb of Yakima, WA
see Gary Puckett and the Union Gap

Jim Seals (James Seals)

b. 1941 in Sidney, TX
pop singer
instruments: guitar, fiddle, sax
founding member of Seals and Crofts (1969-80, and reunions), "Summer Breeze" (#6 1972), "Hummingbird" (#20 1972), "Diamond Girl" (#6 1973), "Unborn Child" (#66 1974), "I'll Play for You" (#18 1975), "My Fair Share" (#28 1977), "You're the Love" (#18 1978)
Seals and Crofts with Carolyn Willis, "Get Closer" (#6 1976)
with The Champs (1959-64), "Double Eagle Rock" (1959), "Too Much Tequila" (#30 1960), "Panic Button" (1961), "Limbo Rock" (#40 1962), "Shades" (1963)
songwriter
brother of Dan Seals; cousin of Troy Seals
see The Champs
see Seals and Crofts

The Singing Nun (Jeanne-Paule Marie Deckers aka Jeanine Deckers aka 'Sister Smile')

b. 1933 in Belgium – d. 31 Mar 1985 in Belgium (suicide by barbiturates and alcohol)
pop singer
* "Dominique" (#1 1963, One-Hit Wonder, she wrote)
recorded as Luc Dominique, "Glory Be to God for the Golden Pill" (1967, about her support for birth control)
songwriter
was Sister Luc Gabriel in the Fichermont convent in Waterloo, Belgium
ran a school for autistic children in Belgium, her suicide was after it closed for financial reasons
see The Singing Nun on Wikipedia

Jim Tucker (James Ray Tucker)

b. 1946 in Los Angeles, CA
rock musician, instrument: guitar
founding member of The Turtles (1964-67), "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)

October 18

Chuck Berry (Charles Edward Anderson)

b. 1929-32 in San Jose, CA or St. Louis, MO
rock singer
instrument: guitar
"Maybelline" (#5 1955), "Thirty Days" (1955), "Roll Over Beethoven" (#29 1956, he wrote), "You Can't Catch Me" (1956), * "Rock and Roll Music" (#8 1957, he wrote), * "School Days" (#3 1957, he wrote), * "Johnny B. Goode" (#8 1958, he wrote), "Carol" (#18 1958), * "Reelin' and Rockin'" (#2 1958, #27 1972), * "Sweet Little Sixteen" (#2 1958, he wrote), "Almost Grown" (#32 1959), "Back in the U.S.A." (#37 1959), "Little Queenie" (#80 1959, he wrote), "Our Little Rendezvous" (1960), "The Jaguar and the Thunderbird" (#109 1960), "Let it Rock" (#64 1960), * "No Particular Place to Go" (#10 1964), "Nadine (is it You)?" (#23 1964), "Go, Bobby Soxer" (1964), "You Never Can Tell (C'est La Vie)" (#14 1964), * "My Ding-a-Ling" (#1 1972)
songwriter
see Chuck Berry

Ronnie Bright (Ronald David Bright)

b. 1933/38 in NY
doo-wop/novelty/rock singer (bass)
founding member of The Valentines (1954-58), "Tonight Kathleen" (1954), "Lily Maybelle" (1955), "Twenty Minutes (Before the Hour)" (1956), "Don't Say Goodnight" (1957)
with The Cadillacs (1960-61)
with The Coasters (1968- , replaced 'Dub' Jones)
backup singer on Barry Mann's "Who Put the Bomp?" (#7 1961); and with Jackie Wilson, Johnny Cymbal, and others
see The Coasters
see The Cadillacs on Wikipedia
see The Valentines on Wikipedia

Russ Giguere

b. 1943 in Portsmouth, NH
pop/folk/rock singer
instruments: rhythm guitar, percussions
"Now We Begin" (1971), "Ridge Rider" (1971)
founding member and lead singer of The Association (1964-70, 1979-88, and reunions), "Along Comes Mary" (#7 1966), * "Cherish" (#1 1966), "Pandora's Golden Heebie Jeebies" (#35 1966), "No Fair at All" (#51 1966), "Looking Glass" (1966), * "Windy" (#1 1967), * "Never, My Love" (#2 1967), "Everything That Touches You" (#10 1968), "Time for Livin'" (#39 1968), "Birthday Morning" (1968), "Under Branches" (1969), "Yes, I Will" (1969), "Just about the Same" (1969), "Dreamer" (#66 1981)
songwriter
see The Association on Wikipedia

Josh Gracin (Joshua Mario Gracin)

b. 1980 in Westland, MI
country singer
"I Want to Live" (#45, #4c 2004), "Nothin' to Lose" (#39, #1c 2005), "Stay with Me (Brass Bed)" (#47, #5c 2005), "Favorite State of Mind" (#19c 2006), "I Keep Coming Back" (#28c 2007), "We Weren't Crazy" (#82, #20c 2007)
served in the Marines (2000-04)
see Josh Gracin

Jon Lindstrom (Jon Robert Lindstrom)

b. 1957 in Medford, OR
country/bluegrass singer
instrument: drums
with The High Lonesome, "True Believer" (1995, he co-wrote), "Mustang Thang (1995, he co-wrote), "Something Wild" (1995, he co-wrote), "World Fall Apart" (1995, he co-wrote), "Lone Star" (1995, he co-wrote)
songwriter
actor
md. to actress, Eileen Davison (1997-2000)

Jesse Littleton (aka Gran Bel Fisher)

b. 1981 in Sabina, OH
country/Christian singer
instruments: piano, guitar
founding member of Marshall Dyllon (2000-01), "Closer to Heaven" (2000), "Live it Up" (#37c 2000), "You" (#47c 2001), "She Ain't Gonna Cry" (#44c 2001)
recorded as Gran Bel Fisher, "Far Cry" (2006, he wrote), "Bound by Love" (2006)
songwriter
see Marshall Dyllon on Wikipedia

Laura Nyro (Laura Nigro)

b. 1947 in the Bronx, NY - 8 Apr 1997 in Danbury, CT (ovarian cancer)
pop/jazz/rock/doo-wop singer
instrument: piano
"I Never Meant to Hurt You" (1967), "Lonely Women" (1968), "You Don't Love Me When I Cry" (1969), "Cat Song" (1976), "Melody in the Sky" (1984)
songwriter, wrote Blood, Sweat and Tears' "And When I Die" (#2 1969); The Fifth Dimension's "Stoned Soul Picnic" (#3 1968), "Wedding Bell Blues" (#1 1969), "Sweet Blindness" (#13 1968); Three Dog Night's "Eli's Coming" (#10 1969)
see Laura Nyro

Gary Richrath

b. 1949 in Peoria, IL (grew up in East Peoria, IL)
rock musician, instrument: lead guitar
"Only the Strong Survive" (1992, he wrote), "In Your Letter" (1992, he wrote)
founding member of REO Speedwagon (1968-88), "157 Riverside Avenue" (1971), "Take it on the Run" (#5 1981), "In Your Letter" (#20 1981, he wrote), "Keep on Loving You" (#1 1981), "Keep the Fire Burnin'" (#7 1982), "Can't Fight This Feeling" (#1 1985), "That Ain't Love" (#16 1987), "In My Dreams" (#19 1987), "Here with Me" (#20 1988)
songwriter

William Van Dyke

b. 1946
rock singer
instrument: acoustic guitar
"I Didn't See the Motorcycle" (1998), "Hog Ridin' Fool" (1998), "Chrome Don't Get You Home" (1998), "It Always Takes Me Back" (2002), "My Own Little World" (2002, he wrote)
songwriter
served in the military in Vietnam
Harley Davidson enthusiast

October 19

George Cates

b. 1911 in New York, NY - d. 12 May 2002 in Santa Monica, CA (heart failure)
pop musician, instrument: sax
"Baseball Polka" (1950), "Tubby the Tuba Song" (1950), "Remember Me in Your Dreams" (1950), "River in the Moonlight" (1952), "If I Had Three Wishes" (1955), "I'm Dancing With Empty Arms" (1955), "A New-Fangled Tango" (1956), "Moonglow and Theme from Picnic" (#4 1956, One-Hit Wonder), "The Poodle Walk" (1957), "I'll See You in Oklahoma" (1957), "You Can Say That Again" (1957), "Take Five" (1961), "Ghost Guitar" (1964)
duet with Steve Allen, "Autumn Leaves" (#35 1955)
with Lawrence Welk for many years
songwriter
arranger
served in the Navy during WWII
brother-in-law of Alvino Rey

Larry Chance (Larry Figueiredo)

b. 1940 in South Philadelphia, PA
doo-wop singer
"Promise Her Anything" (1964), "Let Them Talk" (1964)
founding member and lead singer of The Earls (1957-70, 1975- ), "Spinnin'" (1957), "Believe Me, My Love" (1957), "Life is But a Dream" (1961), "Remember Then" (#24 1963, One-Hit Wonder), "Eyes" (1963), "Moonlight Kiss" (2005), "Memories of You" (2005)
songwriter
see Larry Chance and the Earls on Wikipedia

Brian Collins

b. 1950 in Baltimore, MD (grew up in Texas City, TX)
country/pop singer
instruments: guitar, fiddle, piano, drums
"All I Want to Do is Say I Love You" (#67c 1971), "Before I Let Go" (1972), "Hand in Hand with Love" (1973), "I Wish (You Had Stayed)" (#24c 1973), "Statue of a Fool" (#10c 1974), "I'd Still Be in Love with You" (#84c 1975), "That's the Way Love Should Be" (#23c 1975), "My Heart Would Know" (1976), "If You Love Me (Let Me Know)" (#83c 1977), "Hello, Texas" (#94c 1979, he co-wrote), "Before I Got to Know Her" (#80c 1982, he wrote), "A Nickel's Worth of Heaven" (#80c 1983, he co-wrote)
songwriter

Johnny Cuviello

b. 1915
western swing musician, instrument: drums
with The Texas Playboys (1945-47), "Smoke on the Water" (#1c 1945), "Stars and Stripes on Iwo Jima" (#1c 1945), "Roly Poly" (1945), "Nobody's Darling But Mine" (1945), "Texas Two-Step" (1945), "Stay a Little Longer" (#2c 1946), "New Spanish Two-Step" (#1c 1946), "Can't Get Enough of Texas" (1947), "Sugar Moon" (#1c 1947)
see The Texas Playboys

Wilbert Hart

b. 1947 in Philadelphia, PA
R&B/pop singer
founding member of The Delfonics (1965-75), "He Don't Really Love You" (1966), "La La Means I Love You" (#4 1968), "I'm Sorry" (#42 1968), "Break Your Promise" (#35 1968), "Ready or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide from Love)" (#35 1969, he wrote), "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)?" (#10 1970), "Trying to Make a Fool of Me" (#40 1970), "Over and Over" (#58 1971), "Walk Right up to the Sun" (#81 1971), "I Don't Want to Make You Wait" (#91 1973), "Lying to Myself" (1974)
brother of William Hart
see The Delfonics on Wikipedia

Les Harvey (Leslie Harvey)

b. 1947 in Glasgow, Scotland - d. 3 May 1972 in Wales (electrocuted by touching an ungrounded microphone when his feet were wet)
rock musician, instrument: guitar
with Stone the Crows (196?-72)
with The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
brother of Alex Harvey
see The Sensational Alex Harvey Band

Jerry Jaye (Gerald Jaye Hatley)

b. 1937 in Manila, AR
country/rockabilly singer
instrument: guitar
"How Could You Lose Your Trust in Me?" (1958), "Sugar Dumplin'" (1958), "Going to the River" (1959), "My Girl, Josephine" (#29 1967, One-Hit Wonder), "In the Middle of Nowhere" (1968), "It's All in the Game" (#51, #53c 1975), "Honky-Tonk Women Love Redneck Men" (#32c 1976), "When Morning Comes to Memphis" (1977, he wrote)
with Jerry Jaye and the Jaywalkers, "Hello, Josephine" (1967), "Five Miles from Home" (1967)
with The Bill Black Combo (1974)
songwriter
served in the Navy (1954-57)
md. to singer, Darlene Battles

Keith McCormack (Bryan O'Keith McCormack)

b. 1940
pop/rock singer
instrument: guitar
founding member of the Rock and Rollers (1956-60), "Boy, I Think it's Really Love" (1958)
founding member of The String-a-Longs (1960- ), "Wheels" (#3 1961), "Brass Buttons" (#35 1961), "Nearly Sunrise" (1961), "Should I?" (#42 1961), "Spinnin' My Wheels" (1962), "Bulldog" (1964), "Places I Remember" (1969)
with The Fireballs (1968- ), "Bottle of Wine" (#9 1968), "Three Minutes' Time" (1968), "Light in the Window" (1969), "Watch Her Walk" (1969)
songwriter, co-wrote Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs' "Sugar Shack" (#1 1963), "Daisy Petal Pickin'" (1963)
see The Fireballs

George McCrae

b. 1944 in West Palm Beach, FL
soul/disco singer
"Rock Your Baby" (#1 1974), "I Get Lifted" (#37 1974), "I Can't Leave You Alone" (1974), "Love in Motion" (1976), "Kiss Me (the Way I Like it)" (1978), "Let's Dance (People All Over the World)" (1978), "Don't You Feel My Love?" (1979), "Do Something" (1994)
duets with Gwen McCrae, "Three Hearts in a Tangle" (1969), "Let's Dance, Dance, Dance" (1976), "Winners Together, Losers Apart" (1976)
served in the Navy (1963-67)
md. to Gwen Mosley (1963-76)
see George McCrae

John Mills, Jr. (John Charles Mills, Jr.)

b. 1910/11 in Piqua, OH – d. 24 Jan 1936 (tuberculosis)
pop/jazz singer
instrument: guitar
founding member of The Mills Brothers (1931-35), "Sleepy Head" (#2 1934)
see The Mills Brothers

Mayf Nutter (Mayfred Nutter Adamson)

b. 1941 in Jane Lew, WV
country singer
instrument: guitar
"Never Ending Love" (1967), "Party Doll" (1967), "Simpson Creek (Won't Never Run Clean Again)" (1967, he wrote), "The Litterbug Song" (1967), "Hey There, Johnny" (1970), "Never Ending Song of Love" (#57c 1971), "Never Had a Doubt" (#58c 1972, he wrote), "Green Door" (1973), "Jamboree in the Hills" (1978, he wrote), "Rock-a-Billy Money" (1986), "Goin' Skinny Dippin'" (#99c 1997, he wrote)
with The New Christy Minstrels
session musician on Del Shannon's "Runaway" (#1 1961); and others
songwriter
music producer
actor
md. to actress and former Miss USA, Lindsay Bloom
see The New Christy Minstrels

Jeannie C. Riley (Jeannie Carolyn Stephenson)

b. 1945 in Anson, TX
country/pop singer
instrument: guitar
"How Can Anything So Right Be So Wrong?" (1968), "Harper Valley PTA" (#1, #1c 1968, Pop One-Hit Wonder), "My Scrapbook" (1968), "The Girl Most Likely" (#55, #6c 1969), "Yearbooks and Yesterdays" (1969), "Teardrops on Page 43" (1969), "There Never Was a Time" (#77, #5c 1969), * "The Wedding Cake" (1969), "The Price I Pay to Stay" (#35c 1969), "Country Girl" (#7c 1970), "Duty, Not Desire" (#21c 1970), "Good Enough to Be Your Wife" (#97, #7c 1971), "Oh, Singer" (#74, #4c 1971), "Roses and Thorns" (#15c 1971), "Good Morning, Country Rain" (#30c 1972), "Give Myself a Party" (#12c 1972)
actress
md. to Mickey Riley (1962- )
see reportedly suffers from bipolar disorder

Pat Simmons (Patrick Simmons)

b. 1948 in Aberdeen, WA
country/rock singer
instruments: acoustic guitar, electric guitar
"So Wrong" (#30 1983), "Don't Make Me Do it" (#75 1983)
founding member of The Doobie Brothers (1970-81, 1983- ), "Listen to the Music" (#11 1972), "Long Train Runnin'" (#8 1973), "China Grove" (#15 1973), "Black Water" (#1 1975, he wrote), "Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me)" (#11 1975), "Sweet Maxine" (#40 1975), "Takin' it to the Streets" (#13 1976), "Don't Stop to Watch the Wheels" (1978), "What a Fool Believes" (#1 1979), "Minute by Minute" (#14 1979), "Real Love" (#5 1980), "The Doctor" (#9 1989), "Divided Highway" (1991), "Dangerous" (1991), "Rockin' Down the Highway" (1996), "Wild Ride" (1996), "Angels of Madness" (2000)
songwriter
Harley-Davidson motorcycle enthusiast

Sunshine Ruby (Ruby Jewell Bateman)

b. 1939/40 in Myrtle Springs, TX
country singer
"Too Young to Tango" (#4c 1953), "Hearts Weren't Meant to Be Broken" (1953), "Nobody Asked Me to Dance" (1953), "Too Old for Toys (Too Young for Boys)" (1953), "I Think He Winked at Me" (1954), "That Ain't in Any Catalog" (1954)

Cyndi Thomson

b. 1976 in Tifton, GA
country singer
* "What I Really Meant to Say" (#1c 2001, she co-wrote), * "I Always Liked That Best" (#21c 2001, she co-wrote), * "If You Could Only See" (2001), * "If You Were Mine" (2001), * "There Goes the Boy" (2001), * "I'll Be Seeing You (2001), * "Things I Would Do" (2001), "I'm Gone" (#31c 2002)
songwriter, co-wrote Gary Allan's "Life Ain't Always Beautiful" (#61, #4c 2006)
md. to Daniel Goodman

Ebo Walker (Harry Lee Shelor, Jr.)

b. 1941 in Louisville, KY
country/bluegrass singer
instruments: bass, mandolin
founding member of The Bluegrass Alliance (1968-71)
founding member of New Grass Revival (1971-72), "I Wish I Said" (1972), "With Care from Someone" (1972)
see New Grass Revival on Wikipedia

October 20

Johnny Best (John McClanian Best)

b. 1913 in Shelby, NC - d. 20 Sep 2003 in La Jolla, CA
jazz/swing musician, instrument: trumpet
with the Benny Goodman Orchestra (1945-46), "Symphony" (#2 1946), "Give Me the Simple Life" (1946), "I Don't Know Enough about You" (#12 1946)
with Artie Shaw Band (1937-39), "Any Old Time" (1938), "Back Bay Shuffle" (1938)
session musician with Bob Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, The Bob Cats, Glenn Miller, Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, and others
served in the military during WWII
see Johnny Best

John Carter (John Shakespeare)

b. 1942 in Birmingham, England
pop singer
instrument: acoustic guitar
founding member of The Flower Pot Men (1967- ), "Let's Go to San Francisco" (1967), "A Walk in the Sky" (1968), "In a Moment of Madness" (1969)
founding member of The Carter Lewis Southerners, "Your Mama's Out of Town" (1963)
backup singer on The New Vaudeville Band's "Winchester Cathedral" (#1 1966); "Tom Jones' "It's Not Unusual" (#10 1965); Brenda Lee's "Is it True?" (#17 1964); Music Explosion's "Little Bit O' Soul" (#2 1967); and others
songwriter, co-wrote Herman's Hermits' "Can't You Hear My Heartbeat?" (#2 1965); The Parade's "Sunshine Girl" (#20 1967)
music producer

Carolina Cotton (Helen Hagstrom aka 'The Yodeling Blond Bombshell')

b. 1920/25 near Cash, AR - d. 10 Jun 1997 in Bakersfield, CA (ovarian cancer)
country/rockabilly/western swing singer, yodeler
instrument: bass fiddle
"Three Miles South of Cash (in Arkansas)" (1946, she wrote), "I Love to Yodel" (1946, she wrote), "You've Got Me Wrapped Around Your Finger" (1947), "Put Your Shoes on, Lucy" (1949), "Mockingbird Yodel" (1949), "I Betcha I Getcha" (1950), "Cause I'm in Love" (1951)
with Spade Cooley's Orchestra (1944-45)
with Deuce Spriggin's Orchestra (1945-46), "What's the Matter with You?" (1945), "I Been Down in Texas" (1945)
one of the first female DJs (1948); actress
she toured with the USO
special education teacher; humanitarian
md. to Deuce Spriggins (1945-46); md. to Bill Ates (1956-59)
see Carolina Cotton

Johnny Dee (John Degiuli)

b. 1961 in Canada
pop/rock singer
instrument: guitar
"Out Here" (2004, he co-wrote), "Everybody Falls" (2004, he co-wrote)
founding member and lead singer of Honeymoon Suite (1982- ), "New Girl Now" (#57 1984), "Feel it Again" (#34 1986), "What Does it Take?" (#52 1986), "Love Changes Everything" (#91 1988)
songwriter

Tony Feller (Antonio A. Maligmat)

b. 1944 in Manila - d. 4 Mar 2007
rock singer
founding member of The Rocky Fellers (1959-65), "Killer Joe" (#16 1963, One-Hit Wonder), "Great Big World" (1963, he co-wrote), "Nina" (1964)
songwriter
son of Mindanao Feller; brother of of Albert, Eddie, and Junior Feller

Charlie Fuqua (Charles Fuqua)

b. 1910 - d. 21 Dec 1971/79 in New Haven, CT
R&B singer (baritone)
instrument: guitar
founding member of The Ink Spots (1932-43, 1945-52), "Swingin' on the Strings" (1935), "Address Unknown" (#1 1939), "If I Didn't Care" (#2 1939, re-release #1 1946), "Do I Worry?" (1940), "We Three (My Echo, My Shadow, and Me)" (#1 1941), "Shout, Brother, Shout" (1942), "The Gypsy" (#1 1946), "To Each His Own" (#1 1946)
The Ink Spots with Ella Fitzgerald, "I'm Beginning to See the Light" (#5 1945)
after leaving the original group he headed his own version of The Ink Spots, "If I'd Known You Then" (1957)
served in the Army 1944-45

Stuart Hamblen (Carl Stuart Hamblen)

b. 1908 in Kellyville, TX – d. 8 Mar 1989 in Santa Monica, CA (brain tumor)
country/gospel singer
"Sailor's Farewell" (1930), "My Brown-Eyed Mary" (1932, he co-wrote), "Lola Lee" (1935), "My Brown-Eyed Texas Rose" (1942), "Bluebonnets in Her Hair" (1947), "I Won't Go Huntin' with You Jake (But I'll Go Chasin' Women)" (#3c 1949, he wrote), "Remember Me, I'm the One Who Loves You" (#2c 1950, he wrote), "It is No Secret (What God Can Do)" (#8c 1951, he wrote), "Friends I Know" (1953, he wrote), "A Million Wild Horses" (1953), "This Ole House" (#26, #2c 1954, he wrote), "Handful of Sunshine" (1955), "A Few Things to Remember" (1956), "Desert Sunrise" (1956), "Don't Mess Around With Calico" (1957), "Little Old Rag Doll" (1960, he wrote), "Bluebonnets in Her Golden Hair" (1963)
with The Cowboy Church Sunday School, "Open up Your Heart (and Let the Sun Shine in)" (#8 1955, One-Hit Wonder, he wrote), "The Little Black Sheep" (1955)
songwriter
cowboy actor
rancher; raised and trained Peruvian Paso race horses
ran for president in 1952 on the Prohibition Party ticket
md. to Suzy Daniels (193?-89, his death)

Eddie Harris

b. 1934/36 in Chicago, IL - d. 5 Nov 1996 in Los Angeles, CA (bone cancer and kidney failure)
jazz/soul/bop singer
instrument: tenor sax, vibraphone, piano, electric piano, electric varitone sax
"Exodus" (#36 1961, One-Hit Wonder), "Lolita Marie" (1963), "Theme in Search of a Movie" (1968), "Listen Here" (1968)
songwriter
comedian
served in the Army
md. to to Sarah Elizabeth Turner (1960- )
see Eddie Harris

Wanda Jackson (Wanda Jean Jackson aka 'First Lady of Rockabilly')

b. 1937 in Maud, OK (grew up in Oklahoma City, OK and Bakersfield, CA)
country/rockabilly singer
instruments: guitar, piano
"I'm Gonna Walk Out of Your Life" (1954), "I Gotta Know" (#15c 1956), "Every Time They Play Our Song" (1958), "Mean Mean Man" (1960), "Let's Have a Party" (#37 1960), "Right or Wrong (I'll Be with You)" (#29, #9c 1961, she wrote), "In the Middle of a Heartache" (#27, #6c 1961, she co-wrote), "I Talk a Pretty Story" (1961), "If I Cried Every Time You Hurt Me" (#58, #28c 1962), "Because it's You" (#28c 1966), "The Box it Came in" (#18c 1966), "Along Came you" (1966), "This Gun Don't Care" (#46c 1966), "Tears Will Be the Chaser for Your Wine" (#33, #11c 1967), "A Girl Don't Have to Drink to Have Fun" (#22c 1967), "Little Boy Soldier" (#46c 1968), "I Wish I Was Your Friend" (#51c 1969), "My Big Iron Skillet" (#20c 1969), "A Woman Lives for Love" (#17c 1970), "Back Then" (#25c 1971), "Fancy Satin Pillows" (#13c 1971), * "You're the Reason I'm Living" (1972), "I Can't Stand to Hear You Say Goodbye" (1975)
duet with Billy Gray, "You Can't Have My Love" (#8c 1954)
songwriter
md. to computer programmer, Wendell Goodman (1961- )

Grandpa Jones (Louis Marshall Jones)

b. 1913 in Niagara, KY (grew up in Akron, OH) - d. 19 Feb 1998 (stroke)
country/gospel singer, yodeler
instrument: banjo
"It's Raining Here This Morning" (1946, he wrote), "I'll Never Lose That Loneliness For You" (1946), "Are There Tears Behind Your Smile?" (1947), "I Guess You Don't Remember Me" (1948), "Old Rattler" (1948), "Kitty Clyde" (1949), "Daisy Dean" (1949), "I Don't Know Gee From Haw" (1950), "Send in Your Name and Address" (1951), "Happy Little Home in Arkansas" (1951), "I'm Hog-Wild Crazy Over You" (1951), "The Rain is Still Falling" (1951), "What'll I Do With the Baby-O?" (1951), "Fifteen Cents is All I Got" (1952), "Come Be My Rainbow" (1954), "The All-American Boy" (#21c 1959), "T for Texas" (#5c 1963), "My Carolina Sunshine" (1963), "Falling Leaves" (1964), "Everything I Had Going for Me is Gone" (1967), "I've Learned to Leave That to the Lord" (1970)
founding member of The Shepherd Brothers
with The Munich Mountaineers
with The Brown's Ferry Four, "Hallelujah Morning" (1949), "I Am a Weary Pilgrim" (1952), "Through the Pearly Gates" (1952)
duets with Minnie Pearl, "Kissin' Games" (1956), "I'm Gettin' Grey Hair" (1956)
songwriter
comedian
md. to musician, Ramona Riggins
he was the one who discovered the bodies of his neighbors, Stringbean Akeman and his wife after they were murdered

Ric Lee

b. 1945 in Staffordshire, England
rock/R&B musician, instruments: drums, percussions, piano
founding member of Ten Years After (1967-74, and reunions), "I Can't Keep from Crying" (1967), "Losing the Dogs" (1967), "Good Morning, Little Schoolgirl" (1969), "I'd Love to Change the World" (#40 1970, One-Hit Wonder)
Ten Years After performed at Woodstock
founding member of The Breakers (1994- )
see Ten Years After

Jeff Loberg

b. 1976 in Alberta, Canada
country singer
instruments: bass guitar, acoustic guitar
with 12 Gauge
founding member and bass guitar player with Emerson Drive (1995-2002), * "I Should Be Sleeping" (#35, #4c 2002), "Fall into Me" (#34, #3c 2002)
songwriter
see Emerson Drive

Tom Petty (Thomas Earl Petty)

b. 1950 in Gainesville, FL
rock singer
instruments: guitar, bass guitar, drums, harmonica, piano
"I Won't Back Down" (#12 1989), "Runnin' Down a Dream" (#23 1989), "Free Fallin'" (#7 1989)
founding member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (1976-87, 1991- ), "Breakdown" (#40 1977), "Don't Do Me Like That" (#10 1979), "Refugee" (#15 1980), "The Waiting" (#19 1981), "You Got Lucky" (#20 1982), "Mary Jane's Last Dance" (#14 1993), "You Don't Know How it Feels" (#13 1994), "Free Girl Now" (1999)
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Stevie Nicks, "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" (#3 1981), "Change of Heart" (#21 1983), "Don't Come Around Here No More" (#13 1985), "Jammin' Me" (#18 1987), "Learning to Fly" (#28 1991)
founding member of The Traveling Wilburys (1988-91), "Handle With Care" (#45 1988), "End of the Line" (#63 1989), "She's My Baby" (1990)
duet with Hank Williams, Jr., Willie Nelson and Reba McEntire, "Mind Your Own Business" (#1c 1986)
actor
songwriter
md. 1st to Jane Benyo; md. 2nd to Dana York
see Tom Petty on Wikipedia

Jay Siegel

b. 1939
doo-wop singer
instrument: drums, guitar
founding member of Darrell and the Oxfords, "Pictures in My Wallet" (1957), "Can't You Tell?" (1960), "You're Mother Said So" (1960)
founding member and lead singer of The Tokens (1960-73), "When I Go to Sleep at Night" (1961), "(Hey Hey) Juanita" (1961), "Tonight I Fell in Love" (#15 1961), * "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), "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)
founding member of Jay Siegel and the Tokens
see The Tokens on Wikipedia

Jimi Westbrook

b. 1971
country singer
founding member and Little Big Town (1999- ), "Don't Waste My Time" (#33c 2002, she co-wrote), "Everything Changes" (#42c 2002, she co-wrote), "Boondocks" (#46, #9c 2005, she co-wrote), "Bring it on Home" (#58, #4c 2006), "Good as Gone" (#18c 2006), "A Little More You" (#101, #20c 2007), "Pontoon" (#1c 2012, CMA single of the year 2012)
md. to singer, Karen Fairchild (2006)

October 21

Jimmy Beaumont

b. 1940 in Pittsburgh, PA
pop/doo-wop singer
"Camera" (1961), "I Should Have Listened to Mama" (1962), "Give Her My Best" (1963), "I'll Always Be in Love With You" (1963), "I Feel Like I'm Falling in Love" (1965), "I Never Loved Her Anyway" (1966)
founding member and lead singer of The Skyliners (1958-63, 1970- ), "Since I Don't Have You" (#12 1959, he co-wrote), "This I Swear" (#26 1959, he co-wrote), "It Happened Today" (#59 1959), "Pennies from Heaven" (#24 1960), "Lorraine From Spain" (1960), "I'll Close My Eyes" (1961), "Our Day is Here" (1976), "We've Got Love on Our Side" (1978), "You're My Christmas Present" (1990), "Another New Year's Eve" (2005), "Who Knows I Love You?" (2005), "I'll Never Start to Stop Lovin' You" (2005)
songwriter
see The Skyliners

Elvin Bishop

b. 1942 in Glendale, CA (grew up in IA and OK)
blues/rock/country singer
instrument: slide guitar
lead of The Elvin Bishop Group, "Sunshine Special" (1974), "Fooled Around and Fell in Love" (#3 1976), "Keep it Cool" (1976)
founding member and lead of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band (1963-68), "Born in Chicago" (1965), "Thank You, Mr. Poobah" (1965), "Our Love is Drifting" (1965, he co-wrote), "East-West" (1966), "Mary, Mary" (1966), "Droppin' Out" (1967), "Run Out of Time" (1967), "In My Own Dream" (1968)
sessionist with Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Johnny Lee Hooker, and others
see The Paul Butterfield Blues Band on Wikipedia
see Elvin Bishop

Owen Bradley (William Owen Bradley)

b. 1915 in Westmorland, TN (grew up in Nashville, TN) – d. 7 Jan 1998 in Nashville, TN (heart disease)
pop musician, instruments: piano, harmonica, organ, trombone, guitar
founding member of Brad Brady and His Tennesseans, "Blues, Stay Away from Me" (#7 1949), "The Third Man Theme" (#23 1950)
founding member of The Owen Bradley Quintet, "There's a Little White House" (1949), "Pickin' 'em Up" (1949), "Close Your Pretty Eyes" (1950), "Written Guarantee" (1950), "Voices of Spring" (1951), "Satins and Lace" (1951), "The Wedding of the Painted Doll" (1951), "Lights of Vienna" (1956), "Midnight Blues" (1957), "Big Guitar" (1958), "Sentimental Dream" (1958)
his band and the Anita Kerr Quartet, "White Silver Sands" (#18 1957, One-Hit Wonder)
songwriter
music producer

Charlotte Caffey (Charlotte Irene Caffey)

b. 1953 in Santa Monica, CA
pop/rock singer
instruments: lead guitar, keyboards
founding member of The Go-Gos (1978-85, 1990, 1994- ), "Our Lips Are Sealed" (#20 1981, she co-wrote), "We Got the Beat" (#2 1981, she wrote), "Vacation" (#8 1982, she co-wrote), "The Way You Dance" (1982, she co-wrote), "Head Over Heels" (#11 1984, she co-wrote)
founding member and lead of The Graces (1988-92), "Time Waits for No One" (1989), "We Never Met" (1989)
with Ze Malibu Kids
songwriter
md. to Jeff McDonald

Al Casey (Alvin Wayne Casey)

b. 1936 in Long Beach, CA (grew up in Phoenix, AZ) - d. 17 Sep 2006 in Phoenix, AZ
rockabilly/rock musician, instruments: piano, guitar
"If I Told You" (1956), "A Fool's Blues" (1956), "Willa Mae" (1957), "Keep Talking" (1959), "Hot Foot" (1962), "Chicken Feathers" (1962), "Monte Carlo" (1963)
founding member and leader of The Al Casey Combo, "Cookin'" (#92 1962), "Surfin' Hootenanny" (#48 1963), "Full House" (1963), "Guitars, Guitars, Guitars" (1963)
with Duane Eddy's backup band The Rebels, "Ramrod" (#27 1957), "Rebel Rouser" (#6, #17c 1958), "Cannonball" (#15 1958), "Forty Miles of Bad Road" (#9 1959), "Some Kind-a Earthquake" (#37 1959), "Peter Gunn" (#27 1960), "Because They're Young" (#4 1960), "Theme from Dixie" (#39 1961), "Ballad of Paladin" (#33 1962), "(Dance with the) Guitar Man" (#12 1962)
duet with Lee Hazlewood, "Lost on the Wrong Road" (2002)
session musician on Sanford Clark's "The Fool" (#7 1956); Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" (#1 1965); The Associations's "Never, My Love" (#2 1967); and with The Beach Boys, Eddy Arnold, Gene Vincent, Elvis Presley, Bill Justis, and others

Beau Charles (Robert Cecchino)

b. 1944 in Bergenfield, NJ
pop/rock singer
instrument: guitar
recorded as Columbus Jones, "Sharon, Stay in Birmingham" (1969)
founding member of The Knickerbockers (1964-70, and reunions), "All I Need is You" (1965), "Lies" (#20 1966, One-Hit Wonder), "One-Track Mind" (#45 1966), "Please Don't Love Him" (1966), "What Does That Make You?" (1967), "A Matter of Fact" (1968)
brother of John Charles
songwriter
see The Knickerbockers on Wikipedia

Steve Cropper (Stephen Lee Cropper aka 'The Colonel')

b. 1941 near Dora, MO (grew up in Memphis, TN)
rock/soul/blues musician, instruments: guitar, drums
founding member and guitarist with Booker T. and the MGs (1962-69, and reunions), "Green Onions" (#3 1962), "Behave Yourself" (1962), "Jellybread" (1963), "Chinese Checkers" (1963), "Burnt Biscuits" (1963), "Red Beans and Rice" (1965), "Hip Hug-Her" (#37 1967), "Groovin'" (#21 1967), "Hang 'Em High" (#9 1968), "Heads or Tails" (1968), "Time is Tight" (#6 1969)
Booker T. and the MGs were backup on Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" (#1 1972); Rufus Thomas' "Walkin' the Dog" (#10 1963); Wilson Pickett's "In the Midnight Hour" (#21 1965); most of Otis Redding's recordings; and with others
founding member of The Mar-Keys (1958-62), "Last Night" (#3 1961, One-Hit Wonder), "About Noon" (1961), "Foxy" (1961), "One Degree North" (1961)
founding member of The Blues Brothers (1978- ), "Soul Man" (#14 1979)
sessionist
songwriter, co-wrote Eddie Floyd's "Knock on Wood" (#28 1966); Otis Redding's "(Sittin' On) the Dock of the Bay" (#1 1968); Wilson Pickett's "In the Midnight Hour" (#21 1965)
music producer
see Play It, Steve

Ron Elliott

b. 1943 in Healdsburg, CA (grew up in North Beach, CA)
rock/pop/folk/country singer
instrument: guitar
"Molly in the Middle" (1970, he co-wrote), "To the City, to the Sea" (1970, he wrote)
founding member of The Beau Brummels (1964-68, and reunions), "Laugh Laugh" (#15 1965, he wrote), * "Just a Little" (#8 1965), "You Tell Me Why" (1965), "Sad Little Girl" (1965), "Two Days Till Tomorrow" (1967), "Cherokee Girl" (1968)
session musician with Van Dyke Parks, and others
songwriter
his diabetes held his career back because of difficulties touring

Mike Esposito

b. 1943
pop/rock musician, instrument: lead guitar
"A Nickel is a Nickel Blues" (2001), "Wild Turkey Woods" (2001), "Goin' Down the Delta" (2005), "Old-Time Used-to-Be Blues" (2005)
with The Blues Magoos (1965-68), "(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)

Dizzy Gillespie (John Birks Gillespie)

b. 1917 in Cheraw, SC - d. 6 Jan 1993 in Englewood, NJ (pancreatic cancer)
jazz/bebop singer
instrument: trumpet
"Groovin' High" (1945, he wrote), "Salt Peanuts" (1945, he wrote), "Things to Come" (1946), "Two Base Hit" (1947), "Dizzy Atmosphere" (1947, he wrote), "A Night in Tunisia" (1948, he wrote), "Anthropology" (1948), "Swing Low, Sweet Cadillac" (1951), "I Waited for You" (1952), "Embraceable You" (1953), "Cool Eyes" (1954), "Pile Driver" (1954), "Hob Nail Special" (1954), "Can You Recall?" (1954), "Stablemates" (1957), "Doodlin'" (1957), "Left-Hand Corner" (1957), "Constantinople" (1959), "Come Sunday" (1960), "Chelsea Bridge" (1960), "Blue Mist" (1961), "Coney Island" (1964), "Sandpiper" (1965), "Something in Your Smile" (1967), "Don't Throw Your Back Outa Whack" (1967)
he was usually accompanied by the Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra or various session musicians
with the Teddy Hill Orchestra (1935-36)
with the Roy Eldridge Orchestra (1937-38)
with the Cab Calloway Orchestra (1939-41), "Pickin' the Cabbage" (1940, he wrote), "Paradiddle" (1940, he co-wrote)
with the Earl Hines Orchestra (1943- ), "Hot Soup" (1953)
session musician with Charlie Parker, Ella Fitzgerald, John Coltrane, "Stan Getz, Red Norvo, and others
songwriter
md. to Lorraine Willis (1940-93, his death)
see Dizzy Gillespie on Wikipedia

Manfred Mann (Manfred Sepse Lubowitz)

b. 1940 in South Africa
rock/jazz singer
instruments: keyboards, piano
founding member and leader of Manfred Mann (1962-69), * "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" (#1 1964), "Sha La La" (#12 1964), "Come Tomorrow" (#50 1965), "Pretty Flamingo" (#29 1966), "The Mighty Quinn (Quinn the Eskimo)" (#10 1968), "Fox on the Run" (#97 1968)
founding member of Manfred Mann Chapter Three (1970-71)
founding member of Manfred Mann's Earth Band (1971- ), "Blinded by the Light" (#1 1977)
he was not part of the reunion group called Manfreds
see Manfred Mann on www.classicbands.com

Rich Mullins (Richard Wayne Mullins)

b. 21 Oct 1955 in Richmond, IN - d. 19 Sep 1997 (auto accident)
Christian singer
instruments: piano, guitar, hammered dulcimer
"Verge of a Miracle" (1987, he wrote), "Screen Door" (1987, he wrote), "Pictures in the Sky" (1987, he wrote), "Our God is an Awesome God" (1988, he wrote), "My One Thing" (1990), "While the Nations Rage" (1990, he wrote), "Somewhere" (1991, he wrote), "Where You Are" (1992, he co-wrote), "Creed" (1994, he co-wrote)
songwriter
see Rich Mullins on Wikipedia

Brent Mydland

b. 1952 in Munich, West Germany (grew up in CA) – d. 26 Jul 1990 in Lafayette, CA (drug overdose)
rock musician, instruments: keyboards, drums
with The Grateful Dead (1979-90), "Alabama Getaway" (#68 1980), "Dire Wolf (#37 1981), "Touch of Grey" (#9 1987), "Hell in a Bucket" (#3 1987), "Throwing Stones" (#15 1987), "West L.A. Fadeaway" (#40 1987), "Foolish Heart" (#8 1989), "The Eyes of the World" (1990), "Looks Like Rain" (1990)
see The Grateful Dead

Roy Nichols

b. 1931/32 in Chandler, AZ - d. 3 Jul 2001 (bacterial infection)
country musician, instrument: lead guitar
with Merle Haggard's band The Strangers (1966-87), "I'm a Lonesome Fugitive" (#1c 1966), "The Bottle Let Me Down" (#3c 1966), "I Threw Away the Rose" (#2c 1967), "Branded Man" (#1c 1967), "Sing Me Back Home" (#1c 1967), "The Legend of Bonnie and Clyde" (#1c 1968), "Mama Tried" (#1c 1968), "I Take a Lot of Pride in What I Am" (#3c 1968), "Hungry Eyes" (#1c 1969), "Workin' Man Blues" (#1c 1969), "Okie from Muskogee" (#41, #1c 1969, CMA single of the year 1970), "The Fightin' Side of Me" (#92, #1c 1970), "I Can't Be Myself" (#1c 1970), "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), "Ramblin' Fever" (#2c 1977), "If We're Not Back in Love by Monday" (#2c 1977), "I'm Always on a Mountain When I Fall" (#2c 1978), "I Think I'll Just Stay Here and Drink" (#1c 1980), "My Favorite Memory" (#1c 1981), "Big City" (#1c 1982), "Going Where the Lonely Go" (#1c 1982), "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), "Natural High" (#1c 1985), and others
lead guitar with The Maddox Brothers and Rose (1948-50), "Gosh, I Miss You All the Time" (1948), "At the First Fall of Snow" (1949), "I'm Sending You Daffydills" (1949), "Sally Let Your Bangs Hang Down" (1950), "Just One Little Kiss" (1950), "Dark as a Dungeon" (1950), "Chocolate Ice Cream" (1950)
session guitarist with Wynn Stewart, Tommy Collins, Lefty Frizzell, and others
songwriter
see Roy Nichols on WikipediA

Mel Street (King Malachi Street)

b. 1933/35 near Grundy, VA – d. 21 Oct 1978 in Hendersonville, TN (shot himself after problems with depression and alcoholism)
country/honky-tonk singer
instrument: guitar
"Borrowed Angel" (#7c 1972, he wrote), "Who'll Turn Out the Lights (in Your World Tonight)?" (1972), "Lovin' on the Back Streets" (#5c 1973), "Walk Softly on the Bridges" (#11c 1973), "The Town Where You Live" (#38c 1973, he wrote), "Lovin' on Borrowed Time" (#11c 1974, he co-wrote), "You Make Me Feel More Like a Man" (1974), "Forbidden Angel" (#16c 1974, he co-wrote), "Smoky Mountain Memories" (#13c 1975), "Even if I Have to Steal" (1975), "I Met a Friend of Yours Today" (#10c 1976), "The Devil in Your Kisses (and the Angel in Your Eyes)" (#32c 1976), "Rodeo Bum" (#56c 1976), "Looking Out My Window Through the Pain" (1976), "Close Enough for Lonesome" (#15c 1977), "Barbara, Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know" (#19c 1977), "My Friend, the Jukebox" (1977), "If I Had a Cheating Heart" (#9c 1978), "Just Hangin' on" (#68c 1978), "One Thing My Lady Never Puts Into Words" (#17c 1980), "Don't Be Angry" (1980)
songwriter

Norman Wright

b. 1937 in Philadelphia, PA
doo-wop/country/bluegrass singer
instrument: mandolin
with The Del-Vikings (1957- , replaced Samuel Patterson), "Come Go with Me" (#4 1957), "Whispering Bells" (#9 1957), "Cool Shake" (#12 1957), "Bring Back Your Heart" (1961)
with The Country Gentlemen
with The Bluegrass Cardinals
with The Travelers, "She Did it for the Love" (1999), "A Little Left Over" (1999), "Lonely Lady" (1999)
see Charlie Waller

Kathy Young

b. 1945 in Santa Ana, CA
pop/rock singer
backed by The Innocents, "A Thousand Stars" (#3 1960), "Happy Birthday Blues" (#30 1961), "Magic is the Night" (1961), "Just as Though You Were Here" (1961), "I'll Hang My Letters Out to Dry" (1961), "Send Her Away" (1962), "Dream Awhile" (1962)
md. to guitar player, John Maus (1965-69)
see Kathy Young

October 22

Annette (Annette Funicello)

b. 1942 in Utica, NY (grew up in CA)
pop singer
"Tall Paul" (#7 1959), * "I Love You, Baby" (1960), "First Name Initial" (#20 1960), "O Dio Mio" (#10 1960), "Train of Love" (#36 1960), "Pineapple Princess" (#11 1960), "Don't Stop Now" (1963), "Rebel Rider" (1964), "What's a Girl to Do?" (1967), * "Blame it on the Bossa Nova" (1993)
actress; an original Mouseketeer
md. to Jack Gilardi (1965-81); md. to Glen Holt (1986- )
she has multiple sclerosis

Butch Baker

b. 1958/60 in Sweetwater, TN
country singer
instrument: guitar
"Thinking 'Bout Leaving" (#56c 1984), "That's What Her Memory is For" (#41c 1986), "Your Loving Side" (#53c 1986), "Don't it Make You Wanna Go Home?" (#51c 1987), "I'll Fall in Love Again" (#60c 1987), "Wonderful Tonight" (#66c 1989)
with Tomorrow's World, "Tomorrow's World" (#74c 1990)
duet with Daniele Alexander, "It Wasn't You, it Wasn't Me" (#56c 1991)
session musician on Hank Williams, Jr.'s "Young Country" (#2c 1988); and others
songwriter

Liz Boardo

b. 1962 in Dorchester, MA
country/pop singer
"There's Still Enough of Us" (#58c 1987), "I Need to Be Loved Again" (#65c 1987), "Feels Like Love" (2006), "First Time I Saw You" (2006), "I Forgot to Remember" (2006), "You're Making it Easy" (2006), "This Country Girl"

Eddie Brigati (Edward Brigati, Jr.)

b. 1946 in Garfield, NJ
soul/rock singer
instrument: percussions
with Joey Dee and the Starlighters (replaced David Brigati), "Peppermint Twist" (#1 1962), "Shout" (#6 1962), "Dancing on the Beach" (1966), "She's So Exceptional" (1966)
with The (Young) Rascals (1965-70), "Good Lovin'" (#1 1966), "Groovin'" (#1 1967, he co-wrote), "How Can I Be Sure?" (#4 1967, he co-wrote), "I've Been Lonely Too Long" (#16 1967, he co-wrote), "A Girl Like You" (#10 1967), "Any Dance'll Do" (1968), "A Ray of Hope" (#24 1968), "People Got to Be Free" (#1 1968, he co-wrote), "A Beautiful Morning" (#3 1968, he co-wrote), "See" (#27 1969), "Heaven" (#39 1969), "Carry Me Back" (#26 1969)
the group dropped 'Young' from their name in 1968
duets with David Brigati as Brigati, "100 Percent Absent" (1976), "Lost in the Wilderness" (1976)
sessionist
songwriter
brother of David Brigati
see The Young Rascals

Bobby Fuller (Robert Gaston Fuller)

b. 1942 in Baytown, TX (grew up in Salt Lake City, UT and El Paso, TX) – d. 18 Jul 1966 in Los Angeles, CA (carbon monoxide poisoning)
rockabilly/pop singer
instrument: Stratocaster guitar, drums
"I Guess We'll Fall in Love" (1962), "Nervous Breakdown" (1962)
founding member of The Bobby Fuller Four (196?-66), * "I Fought the Law" (#9 1965), "Little Annie Lou" (1965), "Never to Be Forgotten" (1965, he co-wrote), * "Love's Made a Fool of You" (#26 1966), "Don't Ever Let Me Know" (1966)
songwriter
his death was ruled a suicide but friends and family believe he was murdered
brother of Randy Fuller
see Bobby Fuller on Wikipedia

Greg Hawkes

b. 1952 in Baltimore, MD
rock/pop/folk singer
instruments: keyboards, guitar, synthesizer, sax
"Jet Lag" (1983), "Backseat Waltz" (1983)
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)
with The New Cars (2005- ), "Open My Eyes" (2006), "Not Tonight" (2006)
session musician
songwriter

Zac Hanson (Zachary Walker Hanson)

b. 1985 in Tulsa, OK or Arlington, VA
pop/rock/soul singer
instrument: drums
founding member of Hanson (1992- ), "MMM-Bop" (#1 1997), "Where's the Love?" (1997), "I Will Come to You" (#9 1997), "This Time Around" (#17 2000), "Penny and Me" (#2 2004)
songwriter
he is the second youngest artist to have a #1 single
md. to Kathryn Rebecca Tucker (2006- )
see Hanson

Carol Johnson (Carolyn Johnson)

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

Ray Jones (Raymond Jones)

b. 1939 in England - d. 20 Jan 2000
rock musician, instrument: bass
with The Dakotas (1962-64), "The Cruel Surf" (1963), "Magic Carpet" (1963)
Billy J. Kramer with The Dakotas * "Do You Want to Know a Secret?" (1963), * "Little Children" (#7 1964), "Bad to Me" (#9 1964), "I'll Keep You Satisfied" (#30 1964), "From a Window" (#23 1964), "It's Gonna Last Forever" (1965), "You Make Me Feel Like Someone" (1966)

Shelby Lynne (Shelby Lynn Moorer)

b. 1968 in Quantico, VA (grew up in Jackson, AL)
country singer
instrument: guitar
"Little Bits and Pieces" (#62c 1989), "The Hurtin' Side" (#38c 1989), "I'll Lie Myself to Sleep" (#26c 1990), "Till a Better Memory Comes Along" (1990), "Things Are Tough All Over" (#23c 1990), "Feelin' Kind of Lonely Tonight" (#69c 1993), "Tell Me I'm Crazy" (1993), "Another Chance at Love" (1994), "Slow Me Down" (#59c 1995, she co-wrote), "Leavin'" (2000), "The Killin' Kind" (#30c 2001), "Wall in Your Heart" (2002), "Telephone" (2003), "Buttons and Beaus" (2003), "Old Times Sake" (2005), "Anyone Who Had a Heart" (2007)
duet with George Jones, "If I Could Bottle This Up" (#43c 1988)
songwriter
actress
older sister of singer, Allison Moorer
when she was 17 her alcoholic father shot and killed her mother and himself
see Shelby Lynne

Jerry McGeorge

b. 1945 in Cincinnati, OH
rock/jazz/country/blues musician, instruments: guitar, bass
founding member of The Shadows of Knight (1964-67), "Gloria" (#10 1966), "Dark Side" (1966), "Oh Yeah" (#39 1966), "Bad Little Woman" (#91 1966), "I'm Gonna Make You Mine" (#90 1966), "Someone Like Me" (1967)
with H.P. Lovecraft (1967-68), "Any Way That You Want Me" (1967), "It's All Over for You" (1967), "Blue Jack of Diamonds" (1968)
session musician with Waylon Jennings, Johnny Bush, Lawanda Lindsey, and others
auto industry executive
hearing loss is part of what prompted him to leave the music business

Dory Previn (Dorothy Veronica Langdon aka Dory Langdon)

b. 1925/29 in Rahway, NJ
pop singer
instrument: guitar
"Sea Shells" (1958, she co-wrote), "Warm Winter Day" (1958, she co-wrote), "Michael Michael" (1970, she wrote), "I Ain't His Child" (1970, she wrote), "Mister Whisper" (1970, she wrote), "Mythical Kings and Iguanas" (1971, she wrote), "The Lady with the Braid" (1971, she wrote), "Angels and Devils the Following Day" (1971, she wrote), "Aftershock" (1971, she wrote), "When a Man Wants a Woman" (1972), "Cold Water Canyon" (1974), "New Rooms" (1974), "The Owl and the Pussycat" (1976), "Children of Coincidence" (1976)
songwriter, co-wrote The Sandpipers' "Come Saturday Morning" (#17 1970)
poet; author
md. 1st to Andre Previn (1959-70); md. to Joby Baker (1984- )
she has suffered emotional problems as a result of an abusive childhood
see Dory Previn on Wikipedia

Claudette Rogers (Claudette Marie Rogers aka 'First Lady of Motown')

b. 1942
rock/soul/doo-wop singer
with Smokey Robinson and the Miracles (1957-71, 2005- ), "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)
she didn't tour with the group after 1964 but was on the recordings
md. to singer, Smokey Robinson (1959-86)
see The Miracles on Wikipedia

Leslie West (Leslie Weinstein)

b. 1945 in New York, NY (grew up in Forest Hills, NY)
rock/blues singer
instruments: guitar, dobro, acoustic guitar, slide guitar
"Look to the Wind" (1969, he co-wrote), "Because You Are My Friend" (1969, he wrote), "I'm Gonna Love You Through the Night" (1975, he co-wrote), "If I Still Had You" (1975, he wrote), "Theme for an Imaginary Western" (1988), "Love is Forever" (1988, he co-wrote), "Allergic" (2004, he co-wrote), "Third Degree" (2005), "I Can't Quit You" (2005), "Blues Before Sunrise" (2006)
founding member of The Vagrants, "I Can't Make a Friend" (1966), "Respect" (1967), "Sunny Summer Rain" (1967), "And When it's Over" (1968)
founding member of Mountain (1970-72, 1974, 1985, 1994-95), "Mississippi Queen" (#21 1970), "Nantucket Sleigh Ride" (1971)
Mountain performed at Woodstock
founding member of West, Bruce and Laing (1972-74), "Why Dontcha?" (1972, he co-wrote), "While You Sleep" (1972, he co-wrote), "Backfire" (1973, he co-wrote), "Shifting Sand" (1973, he co-wrote), "November Song" (1973, he co-wrote)
founding member of The Leslie West Band (1975-76), "The Setting Sun" (1976, he co-wrote), "We'll Find a Way" (1976, he co-wrote)
songwriter

October 23

Junior Bryant (Duane Mack Bryant, Jr.)

b. 1968 in Pecos, TX
country singer (tenor)
instruments: fiddle, guitar, mandolin
founding member of Ricochet (1993-2002), "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)
md. to Patricia Golloway (1998- ); brother of Jeff Bryant
see Ricochet

Eric Budd

b. 1938 in Raton, NM
rock musician, instrument: drums
founding member of The Fireballs (1958-61, and reunions)
served in the military
see The Fireballs

Johnny Carroll

b. 1937 Cleburne, TX - d. 18 Feb 1995 (liver failure)
rockabilly/rock singer
instruments: piano, keyboards, guitar
"Crazy, Crazy Lovin'" (1956), "Wild, Wild Women" (1956), "I'll Wait" (1957), "Lost Without You" (1959), "Trudy" (1960), "Gene Vincent Rock (aka Black Leather Rebel)" (1974, he wrote), "People in Texas Love to Dance" (1977), "Who's to Say?" (1977)

Charlie Foxx (Charles Johnston aka Chuck Johnson)

b. 1939 in Greensboro, NC – d. 18 Sep 1998 in Mobile, AL (leukemia)
R&B/soul/gospel singer
instrument: guitar
"Here We Go 'Round the Mulberry Bush" (1963), "Competition" (1963)
duets with Inez Foxx, "Mockingbird" (#7 1963, One-Hit Wonder, he co-wrote), "La De Dah, I Love You" (#124 1964), "I Fancy You" (1964), "(1-2-3-4-5-6-7) Count the Days" (#76 1968), "Speeding Ticket" (1969)
songwriter
brother of Inez Foxx

Ellie Greenwich (Eleanor Louise Greenwich)

b. 1940 in Brooklyn, NY - 26 Aug 2009
pop/R&B singer
instruments: piano, accordion
"You Don't Know" (1965, she co-wrote), "I Don't Want to Be Left Outside" (1970), "That Certain Someone" (1970), "If You Loved Me Once" (1973, she co-wrote), "The Sunshine after the Rain" (1977, she co-wrote)
recorded as Ellie Gaye, "Silly, isn't it?" (1957, she wrote), "Cha Cha Charming" (1958)
recorded as Ellie Gee, "Red Corvette" (1961)
founding member of The Raindrops (1963- ), "What a Guy" (#41 1963, she wrote), "The Kind of Boy You Can't Forget" (#17 1963, One-Hit Wonder), "That Boy John" (1963, she co-wrote), "Even Though You Can't Dance" (1964, she co-wrote), "One More Tear" (1964), "My Mama Don't Like Him" (1965)
backup singer with Dusty Springfield, Bobby Darin, Lou Christie, and others
songwriter, co-wrote The Shangri-Las' "Leader of the Pack" (#1 1964); 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 Till 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); the Shangri-Las' "Leader of the Pack" (#1 1964), "Give Us Your Blessing" (#29 1965); The Jelly Beans' "I Wanna Love Him So Bad" (#9 1964); Lesley Gore's "The Look of Love" (#27 1965)
music producer
md. to songwriter, Jeff Barry (1963-65)

Barbara Ann Hawkins

b. 1943 in LA
pop singer
founding member of The Dixie Cups (1964-66, and reunions), * "Chapel of Love" (#1 1964), * "You Should Have Seen the Way He Looked at Me" (#39 1964), * "People Say" (#12 1964), "Iko Iko" (#20 1965), "Little Bell" (#51 1965)
model
sister of Rosa Hawkins, cousin of Joan Johnson

Freddie Marsden (Frederick John Marsden)

b. 1940 in England - d. 9 Dec 2006 in England
rock musician, instrument: drums
founding member of Gerry and the Pacemakers (1959-66), "You'll Never Walk Alone" (#48 1963), * "How Do You Do it?" (#6 1964), "I Like it" (#17 1964), "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying" (#4 1964), * "She's the Only Girl for Me" (1965), * "I'll Be There" (#14 1965), "It's Gonna Be Alright" (#23 1965), "Ferry Cross the Mersey" (#6 1965), "Girl on a Swing" (#28 1966)
brother of Gerry Marsden

Luther Nallie (Luther Anthony Nallie)

b. 1934 in Beaumont, TX
country singer
instruments: bass, rhythm guitar, lead guitar
lead singer with Sons of the Pioneers (1968-74, 1980-2004), "San Antonio Rose" (1968), "I'll Hold You in My Heart" (1968)
founding member of the Nallie Brothers Band
md. to Carolyn Thigpen

Marvin Phillips

b. 1931 in Guthrie, OK
doo-wop/rock singer
instrument: sax
"Anne Marie" (1954), "Yes I Do" (1957), "The Big Dance" (1960)
duets with Carl Green as Marvin and Johnny, "Baby Doll" (#9 1953), "Boy Loves Girl" (1954)
duets with Jesse Belvin as Marvin and Johnny, "Sometimes I Wonder" (1955), "Baby, Won't You Marry Me?" (1955)
duets with Jesse Belvin as Jesse and Marvin, "Dream Girl" (1953)
duets with Emory Perry as Marvin and Johnny, "I'm Not a Fool" (1953), "How Long Has She Been Gone?" (1954), "Tick Tock" (#9 1954), "Ain't That Right" (1956), "Tired of Being Alone" (1962), "Hot Biscuits and Gravy" (1963), "Second Helping of Cherry Pie" (1963), "Baby, You're the One" (1965)

Greg Ridley (Alf Ridley or Gregory Ridley)

b. 1947 in England - d. 19 Nov 2003 in Spain (pneumonia following a stroke)
rock/blues musician, instrument: bass guitar, guitar
"Trouble" (2005, he wrote), "L.O.V.E. Love" (2005, he wrote), "Live to Learn" (2005, he co-wrote)
founding member of Spooky Tooth (1968), "Society's Child" (1968), "Bubbles" (1968), "It Hurts You" (1968)
founding member of Humble Pie (1969-77, and reunions), "Natural Born Boogie" (1969), "I'll Go Alone" (1969)
with The Ramrods (1964- )
with The Dakotas
with The VIPs
songwriter

Clarence Rigsby

b. 1947 - d. 1978 (auto accident)
doo-wop singer (lead tenor)
with The Velvets (1959-61), * "Tonight (Could Be the Night)" (#26 1961, One-Hit Wonder), "Laugh" (#90 1961), "Lana" (1961), "Who Has the Right?" (1961)
songwriter

Yvonne Staples

b. 1936/38 (maybe Nov 10) in Chicago, IL
gospel/soul/blues/pop singer
with The Staple Singers (1958-60, 1970-73), "This May Be the Last Time" (1960), "Too Close" (1960), "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)
see The Staple Singers on Wikipedia

Jimmy Wayne (Jimmy Wayne)

b. 1972 in Kings Mountain, NC
country singer
instrument: guitar
"Stay Gone" (#32, #3c 2003), "I Love You This Much" (#53, #6c 2004), "You Are" (#19c 2004), "Paper Angels" (#40c 2004, re-release #18c 2005), "That's All I Ever Wanted" (#50c 2006), "I'll Never Leave You" (2007), "Do You Believe Me Now?" (#30c 2008)
songwriter, wrote Tracy Byrd's "Put Your Hand in Mine" (#76, #11c 2000)
he was abused as a child and an outspoken advocate for children

David Wills

b. 1951 in Pulaski, TN
country/pop singer
instrument: guitar
"There's a Song on the Jukebox" (#10c 1975), "From Barrooms to Bedrooms" (#10c 1975, he wrote), "I Can't Even Drink it Away" (1975), "The Barmaid" (#31c 1975), "Endless" (#82c 1979), "The Eyes of a Stranger" (#19c 1983), "Miss Understanding" (#26c 1984, he co-wrote), "Lady in Waiting" (#31c 1984, he co-wrote)
songwriter, co-wrote George Strait's "If You're Thinking You Want a Stranger (There's One Coming Home)" (#3c 1982)

Dwight Yoakam (Dwight David Yoakam aka 'The California Cowboy')

b. 1956 in Pikesville, KY (grew up in Columbus, OH)
country/honky-tonk/rock singer
instrument: guitar
"Honky-Tonk Man" (#3 1986), "Guitars, Cadillacs" (#4c 1986, he wrote), "Little Sister" (#7c 1987), "Little Ways" (#8c 1987, he wrote), "Please Please, Baby" (#6 1987, he wrote), "Always Late with Your Kisses" (#9c 1988), "Buenas Noches From a Lonely Room (She Wore Red Dresses)" (#46c 1989), "I Sang Dixie" (#1c 1989, he wrote), "I Got You" (#5c 1989, he wrote), "Just Lookin' for a Hit" (1989), "Long White Cadillac" (1989), * "Turn it On, Turn it Up, Turn Me Loose" (#11c 1990), "You're the One" (#4c 1991, he wrote), "It Only Hurts Me When I Cry" (#7c 1992, he co-wrote), "The Heart That You Own" (#19c 1992, he wrote), "Ain't That Lonely Yet" (#2c 1993), "Fast As You" (#70, #2c 1993, he wrote), "Nothing" (#20c 1995, he co-wrote), "Things Change" (#17c 1998, he wrote), "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" (#64, #12c 1999), "What Do You Know about Love?" (#26c 2000), "She'll Remember" (2005, he wrote)
with Buzzin' Cousins (group created for the movie Falling From Grace), "Sweet Suzanne" (#68c 1992)
duets with Buck Owens, "Streets of Bakersfield" (#1c 1988), "A Thousand Miles from Nowhere" (#2c 1993)
duet with Joy Lynn White, "It's Better This Way" (1997)
songwriter
actor; truck driver
see Dwight Yoakam

October 24

The Big Bopper (Jiles Perry 'JP' Richardson, Jr. aka Jape Richardson)

b. 1930 in Sabine Pass, TX (grew up in Beaumont, TX) – d. 3 Feb 1959 (plane crash)
rock/rockabilly/novelty singer
instrument: guitar
* "Chantilly Lace" (#6 1958, he wrote), "Big Bopper's Wedding" (#38 1958, he wrote), "Little Red Riding Hood" (#72 1958, he wrote), "Walking Through My Dreams" (1958), "Pink Petticoats" (1958)
backup singer on Johnny Preston's "Running Bear" (#1 1959, he wrote)
songwriter, wrote George Jones' "White Lightning" (#73, #1c 1959)
music producer; DJ
He died in a plane crash with Ritchie Valens and Buddy Holly. Waylon Jennings was supposed to Be on the plane but gave up his seat to Richardson who had the flu and didn't want to ride the bus.
md. to Adrianne Joy Fryon (1952-59, his death)
served in the Army (1953-55)

Sanford Clark

b. 1935 in Tulsa, OK (grew up in Phoenix, AZ)
country/pop singer
instrument: guitar
"The Fool" (#7, #14c 1956, One-Hit Wonder), "Lonesome for a Letter" (1956), "The Cheat" (1957), "The Man Who Made an Angel Cry" (1957), "A New Kind of Fool" (1959), "Son-of-a-Gun" (1959)
songwriter
served in the Air Force (1960-6?)
construction worker

Jerry Edmonton (Jerry McCrohan)

b. 1946 in Ontario, Canada - d. 28 Nov 1993 in Santa Barbara, CA (auto accident)
rock singer
instrument: drums
founding member of Steppenwolf (1967-72, 1974-76), "Born to Be Wild" (#2 1968), "Magic Carpet Ride" (#3 1968), "Rock Me" (#10 1969), "It's Never Too Late" (#51 1969), "Move Over" (#31 1969), "Monster" (#39 1969, he wo-wrote), "From Here to There Eventually" (1969), "Hey Lawdy Mama" (#35 1970, he co-wrote), "Snow-Blind Friend" (#60 1971), "Ride With Me" (#52 1971), "For Ladies Only" (#64 1971, he co-wrote), "Sparkle Eyes" (1971), "Straight-Shootin' Woman" (#29 1974, he wrote), "Another Lifetime" (1975), "Someone Told a Lie" (1975), "Annie, Annie Over" (1975), "Skullduggery" (1976)
founding member of Seven (1973)
songwriter
see Steppenwolf

Santo Farina

b. 1937 in Brooklyn, NY
rock/rockabilly singer
instrument: lap steel 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
older brother of Johnny Farina
see Santo and Johnny

Mark Gray (Mark Eugene Gray)

b. 1952/53 in Vicksburg, MS (grew up in Lookout Mountain, GA)
country/Christian singer
instruments: piano, keyboards
"It Ain't Real (if it Ain't You)" (#25c 1983, he co-wrote), "Wounded Hearts" (#18c 1984, he co-wrote), "Diamond in the Dust" (#9c 1984, he co-wrote), "Left Side of the Bed" (#10c 1984, he co-wrote), "If All the Magic is Gone" (#9c 1984), "Back When Love Was Enough" (#14c 1986), "Dance with Me" (1986), "Please Be Love" (#7c 1986)
with Exile (1979-81), "You Thrill Me" (#40 1979)
duet with Tammy Wynette, "Sometimes When We Touch" (#6c 1984)
songwriter, co-wrote Alabama's "Take Me Down" (#18, #1c 1982), "The Closer You Get" (#38, #1c 1983); Gary Morris' "Second-Hand Heart" (#7c 1984); Melissa Manchester's "Nice Girls" (#42 1983)

Don Gant (Frederick Tupper Saussy, III)

b. 1942 - d. 15 Mar 1987
pop/jazz/rock singer
"Daydream (of You)" (1962), "Everyone But You" (1963), "Only on Weekends" (1963), "Little Dutch Village" (1964)
founding member of The Neon Philharmonic (1967-75), "Morning Girl" (#17 1969, One-Hit Wonder), "Midsummer Night" (1969), "The Last Time I Saw Jacqueline" (1969), "Heighdy-Ho Princess" (1970)
backup singer with Conway Twitty, Kris Kristofferson, Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson, and others
songwriter
music producer

Whitey Shafer (Sanger D. Shafer)

b. 1934 in Whitney, TX
country/honky-tonk singer
"Honey Bees and Tulips" (1968), "Life of a Loser" (1968), "Your Tears Are Telling on You" (1968), "The Outskirts of Somewhere" (1968), "Violet Mae" (1970), "I Gave Up Getting Over You Today" (1970), "You Are a Liar" (#48c 1981, he wrote), "If I Say I Love You (Consider Me Drunk)" (#67c 1981, he wrote)
songwriter, wrote Moe Bandy's "I Just Started Hatin' Cheatin' Songs Today" (#17c 1974)
co-wrote Moe Bandy's "Bandy the Rodeo Clown" (#7c 1975); Johnny Russell's "The Baptism of Jesse Taylor" (#14c 1974); Merle Haggard's "That's the Way Love Goes" (#1c 1984 also #1c 1972 by Johnny Rodriguez); Lefty Frizzell's "I Never Go Around Mirrors" (#25c 1974); Keith Whitley's "(I Wonder) Do You Think of Me" (#1c 1989); George Strait's "Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind?" (#1c 1984), "All My Ex's Live in Texas" (#1c 1987)

Johnny Simmons

b. 1943
doo-wop/rock/pop singer (tenor)
founding member of Little Caesar and the Romans (1961-62, 1975- ), * "Those Oldies But Goodies (Remind Me of You)" (#9 1961, One-Hit Wonder), "She Don't Wanna Dance" (1961), "Hully Gully Again" (1961), "Memories of Those Oldies But Goodies" (#101 1961)
with The Cufflinx (1959-60)
with The Cuff Links (1963- )
served in the military

Bettye Swann (Betty Jean Champion)

b. 1944 in Shreveport, LA
soul singer
"Don't Wait Too Long" (1964), "The Heartache is Gone" (1965), "Fall in Love With Me" (#67 1967), "Make Me Yours" (#21 1967), "Don't Touch Me" (#38 1969), "Victim of a Foolish Heart" (#63 1971), "I'm Just Living a Lie" (1971), "Today I Started Loving You Again" (#46 1973), "Yours Until Tomorrow" (1973)

Ted Templeman

b. 1944 in Santa Cruz, CA
rock/pop singer
instruments: guitar, drums, trumpet
founding member of Harpers Bizarre (1963-69), "The 59th Street Bridge Song" (#13 1967, he co-wrote), "Come to the Sunshine" (1967), "Anything Goes" (#43 1968)
songwriter
arranger; music producer
see Harpers Bizarre on Wikipedia

Billy Thomas

b. 1953 in Fort Myers, FL
country/rock singer
instrument: drums
with McBride and the Ride, (1989-93, 2001- ), "Can I Count on You?" (#15c 1991), "Same Old Star" (#28c 1991), "Sacred Ground" (#2c 1992), "Going Out of My Mind" (#5c 1992), "Just One Night" (#5c 1992), "Love on the Loose, Heart on the Run" (#3c 1993), "No More Cryin'" (#26c 1993), "Hurry Sundown" (#17c 1993), "Anything That Touches You" (#50c 2002)
with Little River Band (200?- )
session drummer with Rick Nelson, Mac Davis, Vince Gill, Dan Seals, and others
backup singer on Vince Gill's "When Love Finds You" (#3c 1994)
songwriter
see Little River Band
see McBride and the Ride on Wikipedia

Bill Wyman (William George Perks)

b. 1936 in Kent, England
rock/blues singer
instruments: piano, bass, organ, cello, guitar, autoharp, percussions
"A New Fashion" (1982), "Baby, Please Don't go" (1985)
founding member and bass player with the Rolling Stones (1962-90), "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" (#1 1965), "She Said Yeah" (1965), "As Tears Go By" (1965), "Get Off My Cloud" (#1 1965), "Oh Baby (We've Got a Good Thing Goin')" (1965), "Paint it Black" (#1 1966), "19th Nervous Breakdown" (1966), "Ruby Tuesday" (#1 1967), "Stray Cat Blues" (1968), "Honky-Tonk Woman" (#1 1969), "Moonlight Mile" (1971), "Can't You Hear Me Knocking?" (1971), "Brown Sugar" (#1 1971), "Tumbling Dice" (#7 1972), "Angie" (#1 1973), "Miss You" (#1 1978), "Start Me Up" (#2 1981), "Under Cover of the Night" (#9 1983), "+ed Emotions" (#5 1989)
with The Rhythm Kings
session musician with Howlin' Wolf, Leon Russell, and others
restaurant owner
md. to Mandy Smith (1983-84)
see The Rolling Stones on Wikipedia
see Billy Wyman

October 25

Katherine Anderson

b. 1944 in Inkster, MI
R&B/pop singer
founding member of The Marvelettes (1961-70), "Please, Mister Postman" (#1 1961), "Twistin' Postman" (#34 1962), "Beechwood 4-5789" (#17 1962), "Playboy" (#7 1962), "Locking up My Heart" (#25 1963), "Tie a String Around My Finger" (1963), "Too Many Fish in the Sea" (#25 1964), "I'll Keep Holding on" (#34 1965), "Paper Boy" (1966), "Don't Mess with Bill" (#7 1966), "The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game" (#13 1967), "When You're Young and in Love" (#23 1967), "Destination: Anywhere" (1968), "My Baby Must Be a Magician" (#17 1968), "That's How Heartaches Are Made" (#97 1969)
md. to Mr. Schaffner

Jeanne Black (Gloria Jeanne Black)

b. 1937 in Pomona, CA
country/pop singer
* "He'll Have to Stay" (#4, #6c 1960, answer to Jim Reeves' "He'll Have to Go"), "A Letter to Anya" (1962), "Crying Away My Time" (1962)
duets with Janie Black, "You'll Find Out" (1960), "Journey of Love" (1960), "Sleep Walkin'" (1960)
sister of Janie Black

Frank Collins

b. 1947
rock/jazz/soul singer
with Kokomo, "Kitty Sittin' Pretty" (1975), "Use Your Imagination" (1976), "Keep on Dancin'" (1982), "Nowhere to Go on Tuesday Night" (1982)
with Arrival, "I Will Survive" (1970, he wrote), "Not Right Now" (1970)
backup singer with Marc Bolan, Bob Dylan, Marianne Faithfull, Bryan Ferry, and others
songwriter
see Kokomo

Pat Connolly

b. 1947
rock musician, instrument: bass guitar
founding member of The Surfaris (1962-66, and reunions), * "Wipe Out" (#2 1963, #16 1966, One-Hit Wonder, he co-wrote), "Surfer Joe" (#62 1963, he co-wrote), "Point Panic" (#49 1963), "Scatter Shield" (1964), "Karen" (1964), "Hot Rod High" (1964), "Dune Buggy" (1964), "Black Denim" (1965), "My Little Bike" (1965), "My Buddy Seat" (1965)
songwriter
see The Surfaris

Dick Dodd

b. 1943
rock singer
instrument: drums
"Little Star" (1968), "Fanny" (1969), "Don't Be Ashamed to Call My Name" (1969)
lead singer with The Standells (1964-68, and reunions, replaced Gary Leeds), "Linda Lou" (1964), "Girl in My Heart" (1964), "Don't Say Goodbye" (1965), "The Boy Next Door" (1965), "Dirty Water" (#11 1966, One-Hit Wonder), "Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White" (#43 1966), "Why Pick on Me?" (#54 1966), "Try it" (1967, banned from many radio stations for its 'suggestive lyrics')
"Dirty Water" is played after every home victory of the Boston Red Sox and Boston Bruins
he was a Mouseketeer
see the

John Hall

b. 1946/48 in London, England
pop/rock musician, instrument: drums
"Plutonium is Forever" (1979, he co-wrote)
founding member of The Equals (1965- ), "Baby, Come Back" (#32 1966, One-Hit Wonder), "Another Sad and Lonely Night" (1967), "Hold Me Closer" (1967), "I Can't Let You Go" (1969), "After the Lights Go Down Low" (1969), "Diversion" (1973), "Put Some Rock and Roll in Your Soul" (1973)
taxi driver

Jack Hannah

b. 1933 in Marshfield, MO
country singer
instrument: guitar
founding members of The Sons of the San Joaquin (1987- ), "Prairie Girl" (1995), "Where the Very Same Cottonwoods Grow" (1996, he wrote), "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)
songwriter
brother of Joe Hannah
high school councilor; coach; rancher

Walter Hyatt

b. 1949/50 in Spartanburg, SC – d. 11 May 1996 (plane crash)
country/western swing/folk/rock singer
"Are We There yet, Momma?" (1993), "Teach Me about Love" (1993)
founding member of Uncle Walt's Band (1969-75, 1978-87)
founding member of The Contenders (1976-78), "Lean on Your Mind" (1977, he wrote), "Whatever Reason" (1977), "Snowing Me Under" (1978), "Light from Carolina" (1978)
songwriter
died in the crash of ValuJet flight 592 in the Everglades swamp in FL
see Walter Hyatt

Barry Landeman

b. 1947 in England
pop musician, instrument: keyboards
with Vanity Fare (1970- ), * "Hitchin' a Ride" (#5 1970), "Summer Morning" (#97 1970), "I'm in Love with the World" (1973), "Fast Running Out of World" (1974), "Dreamer" (1986), "Rain" (1993)
songwriter
see Vanity Fare

Mickey McGee (William Michael McGee)

b. 1947 in New Orleans, LA (grew up in Phoenix, AZ)
country/rock musician, instrument: drums
with the Flying Burrito Brothers (1975-81, off and on), "Building Fires" (1975), "Sweet Desert Childhood" (1975), "Big Bayou" (1976), "Another Shade of Grey" (1979), "White Line Fever" (#95c 1980), "She's a Friend of a Friend" (#67c 1980), "Does She Wish She Was Single Again?" (#20c 1981), "She Belongs to Everyone But Me" (#16c 1981), "Damned if I'll Be Lonely Tonight" (1981), "That's When You Know it's Over" (1981)
session drummer with Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, Juice Newton, Rick Nelson, and others
songwriter, co-wrote Juice Newton's "I'll Never Love Again" (1979)

Mark Miller

b. 1958 in Dayton, OH
country/Christian singer
instrument: guitar
founding member and lead singer of Sawyer Brown (1981- ), "Leona" (#16c 1984), "Step That Step" (#1c 1985, he wrote), "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, he wrote), "The Race is on" (#5c 1989), "The Walk" (#2c 1991, he wrote), "Burning Bridges on a Rocky Road" (1991), "The Dirt Road" (#3c 1992, he co-wrote), "Some Girls Do" (#1c 1992, he wrote), "Café on the Corner" (#5c 1992), "All These Years" (#3c 1993), "Thank God for You" (#1c 1993, he co-wrote), "Drive Away" (1993), "The Boys and Me" (#4c 1994, he co-wrote), "Hard to Say" (#5c 1994, he wrote), "This Time" (#2c 1995, he co-wrote), "I Don't Believe in Goodbye" (#4c 1995, he co-wrote), "Treat Her Right" (#3c 1996), "This Night Won't Last Forever" (#6c 1997), "Drive Me Wild" (#44, #6c 1998, he co-wrote), "Circle of Your Arms" (#45c 2002), "Can You Hear Me Now?" (#57c 2002, he co-wrote), "They Don't Understand" (#37c 2005)
Sawyer Brown and Joe Bonsall, "Out Goin' Cattin'" (#11c 1986, he co-wrote)
songwriter
md. to Lisa (1990- )
see Sawyer Brown

Earl Palmer (Earl C. Palmer

b. 1924 in New Orleans, LA
rock/R&B musician, instrument: drums
"Johnny's House Party" (1957)
duet with John Ashley, "Let Yourself Go-Go-Go" (1957)
drummer with The Routers (actually a group of session musicians), * "Let's Go (Pony)" (#19 1962, One-Hit Wonder)
with Billy Joe and the Checkmates, "Percolator (Twist)" (#10 1962, One-Hit Wonder)
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)
session drummer on Fats Domino's "Walking to New Orleans" (#6 1960); Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti" (#17 1956); B. Bumble and the Stingers' "B. Bumble Boogie" (#21 1961); Ritchie Valens' "La Bamba" (#22 1959), "Donna" (#2 1959); Jan and Dean's "Little Old Lady from Pasadena" (#3 1964), "Dead Man's Curve" (#8 1964); and with Marvin Gaye, Rick Nelson, Ray Charles, and others
md. 2nd to Susan Joy Weidenpesch; md. 3rd to Yumiko Makino; md. 4th to Jeline (2004- )

Minnie Pearl (Sarah Ophelia Colley)

b. 1912 in Centerville, TN – d. 4 Mar 1996 (spent five years in a nursing home after a stroke)
country singer
instrument: piano
"I'm Lookin' for a Feller" (1949), "You Can't Live with 'Em" (1952), "And That's Good Enough for Me" (1954), "Huntin' Season" (1955), "Giddyup Go – Answer" (#10c 1966, reply to Red Sovine's "Giddyup Go")
duets with Grandpa Jones, "Kissin' Games" (1956), "I'm Gettin' Grey Hair" (1956)
comedienne; actress
md. to Henry Cannon (1947- )
philanthropist
see Minnie Pearl on Wikipedia

Helen Reddy

b. 1941 in Melbourne, Australia
pop singer
"I Don't Know How to Love Him" (#12 1971), "I am Woman" (#1 1972, she co-wrote), "Delta Dawn" (#1 1973), "Peaceful" (#12 1973), "Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)" (#3 1973), "Angie Baby" (#1 1974), "Keep on Singing" (#15 1974), "You and Me Against the World" (#9 1974), "Ain't No Way to Treat a Lady" (#8 1975), "You're My World" (#18 1977)
songwriter
actress
hypnotherapist
suffers from Addison's disease
see Helen Reddy

Chad Smith (Chadwick Gaylord Smith)

b. 1961 in St. Paul, MN (grew up in Bloomfield Hills, MI)
rock musician, instrument: drums
with Red Hot Chili Peppers (1988- ), "Under the Bridge" (#2 1991), "Scar Tissue" (#9 1998), "Other Side" (#14 1999), * "Dani California" (#6 2006)
session musician with The Dixie Chicks, Glenn Hughes, Johnny Cash, John Fogerty, and others
Harley Davidson enthusiast
md. to Maria St. John (1994-98); md. to Nancy Mack (2004- )
see Red Hot Chili Peppers

Phil 'Fang' Volk (Philip Volk)

b. 1945 in Nampa, ID
rock singer
instrument: bass
with Paul Revere and the Raiders (1965-67, and reunions), "Just Like Me" (#11 1965), "Kicks" (#4 1966), "Hungry" (#5 1966), "Good Thing" (#5 1966), "Ups and Downs" (#22 1967), "I Had a Dream" (#20 1967), "Him or Me, What's it Gonna Be" (#7 1967), "I'm Not Your Steppin' Stone" (#20 1967)
founding member of Brotherhood (1968-69), "Doin' the Right Thing" (1968, he co-wrote), "Joyride" (1969, he co-wrote), "Mari" (1969)
with Ricky Nelson's Stone Canyon Band
songwriter
see Paul Revere and the Raiders'
see Phil 'Fang' Volk

Chely Wright (Richelle Renee Wright)

b. 1970 in Kansas City, MO (grew up in Wellsville, KS)
country singer
instruments: guitar, piano, trumpet
"Till I Was Loved by You" (#48c 1994), "Sea of Cowboy Hats" (#56c 1995, she co-wrote), "The Love That We Lost" (#41c 1996), "Shut up and Drive" (#14c 1997), "I Already Do" (#36c 1998, she co-wrote), "Single White Female" (#36, #1c 1999), "It Was" (#64, #11c 2000), "Why Do I Still Want You?" (1999), "Never Love You Enough" (#26c 2001), "Love Didn't Listen" (2001), "Jezebel" (#23c 2002), "Your Shirt" (2005), "What if I Can't Say No Again?" (2005)
duet with Brad Paisley, "Hard to Be a Husband, Hard to Be a Wife" (#68c 2000, she co-wrote)
songwriter
quote by Chely Wright: "I guess we guess our way through life. How many times do we really know for sure?"

October 26

Charlie Barnet (Charles Daly Barnet)

b. 1913 in New York, NY - d. 4 Sep 1991
jazz/swing/bop musician, instruments: tenor sax, alto sax, soprano sax
founding member and leader of Charlie Barnet and His Orchestra, "Between 18th and 19th on Chestnut Street" (1939), "The Girl With the Pigtails in Her Hair" (1940), "It's a Wonderful World" (1940), "Pompton Turnpike" (1940), "Southern Fried" (1940), "Consider Yourself Kissed" (1941), "Xango" (1942), "Wichita Windstorm" (1942), "The Jeep is Jumpin'" (1943), "Skyliner" (1944), "Power Steering" (1947), "Rhubarb" (1947), "Moods" (1955)
session musician with Red Norvo, and others

Bruce Belland

b. 1936 in Chicago, IL
pop singer
founding member and lead tenor of The Four Preps (1956-68, and reunions), "26 Miles (Santa Catalina)" (#2 1958, he co-wrote), "Big Man" (#3 1958, he co-wrote), "Down by the Station" (#13 1960), "More Money for You and Me" (#17 1961), "A Letter to the Beatles" (#85 1964)
with The Three Tenors of Pop
songwriter
screen/scriptwriter; actor
father of singers, Tracey Bryn Belland and Melissa Brooke Belland
see The Four Preps on Wikipedia

Kristen Hall

b. 1962 in Grosse Pointe, MI
folk/country singer
instruments: guitar, mandolin, bass, harmonica, piano, autoharp
"I Don't Need You Anyway" (1990), "Stranger in My Bed" (1990), "Just So You Know" (1990, she wrote), "I Have My Reasons" (1992, she wrote), "Empty Promises" (1992, she wrote), "I Should Know" (1992, she wrote), "Don't Tell Me" (1994, she wrote), "Truth Takes Time" (1996), "Memory Number One" (1996), "Nothing Matters" (1999), "Last Dance" (1999), "The Truth Inside" (1999), "Picture This" (2000), "Still Not Over You" (2001), "All or Nothing" (2001)
founding member and lead singer with Sugarland (2002-06), "Baby Girl" (#38, #2c 2004, she co-wrote), "Something More" (#35, #2c 2005), "Just Might (Make Me Believe)" (#60, #7c 2005), "Want to" (#32, #1c 2006)
songwriter

Detroit Junior (Emery Williams, Jr.)

b. 1931 in Haynes, AR (grew up in IL) - d. 9 Aug 2005 in Chicago, IL (heart failure and complications of diabetes)
blues singer
instrument: piano
"Money Tree" (1960, he wrote), "So Unhappy" (1960), "Too Poor" (1960), "You Mean Everything" (1960), "Call My Job" (1965, he wrote), "The Way I Feel" (1965, he wrote), "Come Back to Me" (1995), "Last Call" (1995), "Anybody Can Have the Blues" (1995)
founding member of The Blues Chaps
with Howlin' Wolf's band (1968-76), "Mary Sue" (1969), "Hard Luck" (1970), and others
session musician with Eddie Shaw, and others
songwriter

Neal Matthews (Neal Matthews, Jr.)

b. 1929 in Nashville, TN – d. 21 Apr 2000 in Brentwood, TN (heart attack)
country/rockabilly/gospel singer
instrument: electric guitar
with The Oak Ridge Quartet, "The Mockin' Bird" (1959), "The House of the Lord" (1959)
The Oak Ridge Quartet later became The Oak Ridge Boys
second tenor with The Jordanaires (1953-2000), "On the Jericho Road" (1953), "Shaking Bridges" (1955), "Rock 'n' Roll Religion" (1956), "Ridin' for a Fall" (1957), "Who Does He Think He is?" (1965), "A Hundred Yards of Real Estate" (1969), "Break My Mind" (1969), "One of These Mornings" (1985), "Crying in the Chapel" (1989), "Turn Your Radio on" (1992)
The Jordanaires sang backup on Ferlin Husky's "Gone" (#1c 1957); Don Gibson's "Oh, Lonesome Me" (#7, #1c 1958); Johnny Horton's "The Battle of New Orleans" (#1, #1c 1959); Elvis Presley's "It's Now or Never" (#1 1960); Jim Reeves' "He'll Have to Go" (#2, #1c 1960); Patsy Cline's "Crazy" (#9, #2c 1961); Tammy Wynette's "Stand by Your Man" (#19, #1c 1968); Conway Twitty's "Hello, Darlin'" (#1, #1c 1970); George Jones' "He Stopped Loving Her Today" (#1, #1c 1980); and others
arranger; he developed the chord numbering system still widely used today
served in the Army (1951-53), earned a Bronze Star for service in the Korean War
md. to Charlsie Stewart (1957-2000, his death)
see the Jordanaires

Wes McGhee

b. 1948 in Leicestershire, England
country singer
instrument: guitar
"Play Another Slow One" (1978), "Feel Like Drivin' Tonight" (1980), "How Do We Get There from Here?" (1980), "The Boys in the Band (Taught the Girls How to Boogie)" (1982), "Heat of the Highway" (1985), "Half-Forgotten Tunes" (1987), "Wherever Your Heart is" (1994), "Bury Me Under the Honky-Tonk Floor" (1994), "It's No Use Being a Fast Draw if You Can't Shoot Straight" (1997), "Justine" (1997), "Hey Hey (White Western Boots)" (2003), "Endless Road" (2003)
sessionist with Jerry Jeff Walker, Heather Myles, Terry Clarke, and others
songwriter

Jimmy Myers (James E. Myers, aka Jimmy DeKnight)

b. 1919 in Philadelphia, PA - d. 9 May 2001 in Tampa, FL (leukemia)
rock/country musician, instrument: drums
founding member of Jimmy DeKnight and His Knights of Rhythm
some sources say he played drums on Bill Haley and His Saddlemen's "Why Do I Cry Over You?" (1950) and "I'm Gonna Dry Every Tear with a Kiss" (1950), but other sources indicate he had given up playing by then
songwriter, co-wrote Bill Haley and His Comets' "(We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock" (#1 1955, #39 1974)
music producer
actor; film director
author, wrote Hell is a Foxhole
served in the Army in the South Pacific during WWII (1942-46)

Mike Piano (Micheal Piano)

b. 1944 in Rochester, NY
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)

Keith Urban (Keith Lionel Urban)

b. 1967 in Whangarei, New Zealand (grew up in Queensland, Australia)
country singer
instrument: guitar
"It's a Love Thing" (#18c 1999, he co-wrote), "Your Everything" (#51, #4c 1999), "But for the Grace of God" (#37, #1c 2001, he co-wrote), * "Where the Blacktop Ends" (#35, #3c 2001), "Somebody Like You" (#22, #1c 2002, he co-wrote), * "Raining on Sunday" (#38, #3c 2003), "Who Wouldn't Wanna Be Me?" (#30, #1c 2003, he co-wrote), * "You'll Think of Me" (#24, #1c 2004), "Days go By" (#31 #1c 2004, he co-wrote), "You're My Better Half" (#33, #2c 2005, he co-wrote), * "Making Memories of Us" (#34, #1c 2005), "Better Life" (#44, #1c 2005), * "Tonight I Wanna Cry" (#36, #2c 2006), "Once in a Lifetime" (#31, #6c 2006), "Stupid Boy" (#43, #3c 2007)
founding member of The Ranch, "Walkin' the Country" (#50c 1997, he co-wrote), "Just Some Love" (#61c 1998)
songwriter
md. to actress, Nicole Kidman (2006- )
see Keith Urban

October 27

Gary Chester (Cesario Gurciullo)

b. 1924 in NY - d. 17 Aug 1987
rock/R&B/folk/jazz musician, instrument: drums
session musician on Van Morrison's "Brown-Eyed Girl" (#10 1967); Lesley Gore's "It's My Party" (#1 1963); Dionne Warwick's "Walk on By" (#6 1964); Petula Clark's "Downtown" (#1 1965); Jim Croce's "Time in a Bottle" (#1 1973), "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" (#1 1973); The Drifters' "Save the Last Dance for Me" (#1 1960), "Please Stay" (#14 1961), "Up on the Roof" (#5 1963), "Under the Boardwalk" (#4 1964); The Angels' "My Boyfriend's Back" (#1 1963); Paul Anka's "Eso Beso (That Kiss)" (#19 1962); The Archies' "Sugar Sugar" (#1 1969); The Chiffons' "He's So Fine" (#1 1963); Johnny Cymbal's "Mr. Bass Man" (#16 1963); Bobby Darin's "Dream Lover" (#2 1959); John Denver's "Rocky Mountain High" (#9 1973); Jackie DeShannon's "What the World Needs Now is Love" (#7 1965); The Everly Brothers' "Crying in the Rain" (#6 1962); Connie Francis' "I'm Gonna Be Warm This Winter" (#18 1963); Brian Hyland's "Sealed with a Kiss" (#3 1962); Jay and the Americans' "Come a Little Bit Closer" (#3 1964), "Cara Mia" (#4 1965); Bobby Vinton's "Roses Are Red (My Love)" (#1 1962), "Blue Velvet" (#1 1963), "Blue on Blue" (#3 1963), "Mr. Lonely" (#1 1964); The Shirelles' "Will You Love Me Tomorrow?" (#1 1961); Neil Sedaka's "Calendar Girl" (#4 1960), "Little Devil" (#11 1961), "Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen" (#6 1961), "Breaking up is Hard to Do" (#1 1962, #8 1976); The Monkees' "I'm a Believer" (#1 1966); and others
author

Floyd Cramer (Floyd Cramer, Jr.)

b. 1933 in Campti, LA (grew up in Huttig, AR) – d. 31 Dec 1997 in Nashville, TN (lung cancer)
country musician, instruments: piano, organ, synthesizer
"Dancin' Diane" (1953), "Fancy Pants" (1953), "Aunt Dinah's Quiltin' Party" (1955), "Pretty Blue Jeans" (1956), "Flip, Flop and Bop" (#87 1958), "The Big Chihuahua" (1958), "Last Date" (#2, #11c 1960, he wrote), "Mumble Jumble" (1960), "On the Rebound" (#4 1961, he wrote), "San Antonio Rose" (#8, #8c 1961), "Chattanooga Choo Choo" (#36 1962), "Naomi" (1964), "Town Square" (1966), "Stood Up" (#53c 1967), "Is This Tomorrow?" (1970), "Rhythm of the Rain" (#67c 1977), "Dallas" (#32c 1980)
session pianist on Brenda Lee's "I'm Sorry" (#1 1960); Hank Locklin's "Please Help Me, I'm Falling" (#8, #1c 1960); Elvis Presley's "Are You Lonesome Tonight?"(#1, #22c 1960), "Heartbreak Hotel" (#1, #1c 1956); Patsy Cline's "Crazy" (#9, #1c 1961); and with Don Gibson, and others
created the pickax sound in Jimmy Dean's "Big Bad John" with an iron doorstop and a hammer
songwriter
see Floyd Cramer on Space Age Pop

Jack Daniels

b. 1949 in Choctaw, OK
country musician, instrument: guitar
founding member of Highway 101 (1986-93, 1996), "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)
see Highway 101

Dallas Frazier (Dallas June Frazier)

b. 1939 in Spiro, OK (grew up in Bakersfield, CA)
country singer
instruments: guitar, trumpet
"When You Got Love" (1959), "Elvira" (#72 1966, he wrote), "Been Rained on" (1966), "Everybody Oughta Sing a Song" (#28c 1968), "The Sunshine of My World" (#43c 1968), "My Woman Upt and Gone" (1969), "The Birthmark Henry Thompson Talks About" (1970), "North Carolina" (#42c 1972)
songwriter, wrote Jack Greene's "Until My Dreams Come True" (#1c 1969), "There Goes My Everything" (#65, #1c 1966); Ferlin Husky's "Timber, I'm Falling" (#13c 1964); The Hollywood Argyles' "Alley-oop" (#1 1960); Emmylou Harris' "Beneath Still Waters" (#1c 1980); George Jones' "I'm a People" (#6c 1966), "If My Heart Had Windows" (#7c 1967); Tanya Tucker's "What's Your Mama's Name?" (#86, #1c 1973)
co-wrote Charley Pride's "All I Have to Offer You is Me" (#91, #1c 1969), "(I'm So) Afraid of Losing You Again" (#1c 1970), "I Can't Believe That You Stopped Loving Me" (#71, #1c 1971); Gene Watson's "Fourteen Carat Mind" (#1c 1981); Johnny Russell's "The Baptism of Jesse Taylor" (#14c 1974)
see Dallas Frazier on WikipediA

John Greek

b. 1940 - d. 6 Oct 2006 in San Diego, CA
rock musician, instruments: guitar, bass, trumpet, cornet
founding member of The Wailers (1958-60), "Tall Cool One" (#36 1959, #38 1964, One-Hit Wonder), "Mau Mau" (#68 1959), "Wailin'" (1960)
session musician with Gary Paxton, The Fifth Dimension, and others
songwriter

Lee Greenwood (Melvin Lee Greenwood)

b. 1942 in Southgate, CA
country/pop singer
instruments: keyboards, guitar, banjo, bass, sax, keyboards
"It Turns Me Inside Out" (#17c 1981), "Ring on Her Finger, Time on Her Hands" (#5c 1982), * "I.O.U." (#53, #6c 1983), * "Somebody's Gonna Love You" (#96, #1c 1983), "Fool's Gold" (#3c 1984), "Going, Going, Gone" (#1c 1984), * "God Bless the USA" (#7c 1984, #16c 2001, he wrote), * "Dixie Road" (#1c 1985), * "I Don't Mind the Thorns (If You're the Rose)" (#1c 1985), "Same Old Song" (1985), * "Don't Underestimate My Love" (#1c 1986), * "Hearts Aren't Made to Break (They're Made to Love)" (#1c 1986), * "Mornin' Ride" (#1c 1987), "Someone" (#5c 1987), "I Still Believe" (#12c 1988), "Holdin' a Good Hand" (#2c 1990), "We've Got it Made" (#14c 1990)
duets with Barbara Mandrell, "We Were Meant for Each Other" (1984), "To Me" (#24, #3c 1984), "It Should Have Been Love By Now" (#19c 1985)
duet with Suzy Bogguss, "Hopelessly Yours" (#12c 1991)
songwriter
blackjack dealer
md. to former Miss TN, Kimberley Payne (1992- )
see Lee Greenwood

Mike Hartgrove

b. 1955 in MO
bluegrass/country singer
instrument: fiddle
with The Bluegrass Cardinals, "Lester's Gone" (1979), "Thirty-Two Acres" (1979), "Don't Come Running" (1980), "Where Rainbows Touch Down" (1980), "Warm Kentucky Sunshine" (1983), "Rebel's Last Request" (1984)
with Billy Thundercloud and the Chieftones (1975- ), "What Time of Day?" (#16c 1975), "Indian Nation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)" (#74c 1976), "Try a Little Tenderness" (#47c 1976), "It's Alright" (#77c 1976)
with Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, "We Were Made for Each Other" (1990), "Look for Me and I'll Be There" (1990), "Sadie's Got Her New Dress on" (2007), "The Phone Call" (2007)
founding member of IIIrd Tyme Out (1991-2001), "Woman Dressed in Scarlet" (1991), "Erase the Miles" (1991), "A Phone Call Away" (1991), "Your Love for Me" (1992), "Silence and Pain" (1994), "Walkin', Runnin', Flyin'" (1994), "Can't Say Goodbye" (1995), "Letter to Home" (1995), "Across the Miles" (1996), "It's a Lonesome Road" (1998), "What Was I Supposed to Do?" (1998), "Rose of My Heart" (1999), "Another Evening Alone" (1999), "Snow Angel" (1999), "A Little Unfair" (2001), "Please Search Your Heart" (2001)
with The Lonesome River Band, "Missed it by a Mile" (2002), "Stray Dogs and Alley Cats" (2002), "Coming Home to You" (2005)
session musician with George Jones, Rhonda Vincent, and others
see Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver
see IIIrd Tyme Out

Bonnie Lou (Mary Jo Kath aka Sally Carson)

b. 1924 in Talawanda, IL
country/rockabilly/rock singer, yodeler
instrument: guitar
"Seven Lonely Days" (#7c 1953), "Dancin' With Someone" (1953), "Tennessee Wig Walk" (#6c 1953), "Huckleberry Pie" (1954), "Two-Step Side Step" (1954), "Daddy-O" (#14 1955, Pop One-Hit Wonder), "Tweedle Dee" (1955), "Dancing in My Socks" (1955), "Little Miss Bobby Sox" (1956), "Chaperon" (1956), "One-Track Love" (1956), "Beyond the Shadow of a Doubt" (1956), "Kit 'n Kaboodle" (1957), "Friction Heat" (1958), "Twenty-Four Hours of Loneliness" (1962)
duet with Rusty York, "Lah Dee Dah" (1958)
md. to Milt Okum

Joe Mullins

b. 1956 in Middletown, OH
country/bluegrass singer
instruments: banjo, 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)
with Longview (1997- )
founding member of The Radio Ramblers (2006- )

Craig Allan Pettigrew

b. 1964
country/rockabilly/rock/pop singer
instruments: bass guitar, string bass
founding member of The Wagoneers (1985- ), "I Wanna Know Her Again" (#43c 1988), "Every Step of the Way" (#52c 1988), "Lie and Say You Love Me" (1988), "Help Me Get Over You" (#66 1989), "Sit a Little Closer" (#53c 1989)
session musician with Dale Watson, and others
songwriter

J.T. Theiste (Jason Theiste)

b. 1976 in Bakersfield, CA
country musician, instrument: fiddle
founding member of Smokin' Armadillos (1992-2005), "My Girlfriend Might" (1995), "Red Rock" (1995), "Let Your Heart Lead Your Mind" (#53c 1996), "Love of a Lifetime" (1996), "I Don't Want No Part of it" (#64c 1998), "You Were a Mountain" (2003), "Is That Askin' Too Much?" (2003)

Johnny Williams (John Lee Williams)

b. 1940 - d. 19 Dec 2004 in Mobile, AL
doo-wop/R&B singer
"Nona Baby" (1962), "Don't Ever Forget it" (1964), "I Got a Feeling" (1968), "I'd Like to Be With You" (1968), "Lock the Door Between Us" (1968)
with The Drifters (1959-60), he mostly sang on tour but sang lead on "(If You Cry) True Love, True Love" (#33 1959)
lead singer with The Embraceables, "From Someone Who Loves You" (1959), "My Foolish Pride" (1962), "Don't Call for Me" (1962)

Ruby Wells (Ruby Wright)

b. 1939 in Nashville, TN
country/pop singer
"Thanks for the Buggy Ride" (1950), "I've Got a Feelin' You're Foolin'" (1950), "Pigtails on Parade" (1951), "Why Fall So Slowly?" (1953), "Boy, You Got Yourself a Girl" (1954), "I'm Not Ashamed to Cry" (1954), "A Kiss and a Promise" (1954), "Rollin' Stone" (1955), "Fighting the Blues" (1955), "I Fall in Love With You Every Day" (1956), "Let's Light the Christmas Tree" (1958)
recorded as Ruby Wright, "Dern Ya" (#13c 1964), "Billy Broke My Heart at Walgreens" (1964), "Such a Silly Notion" (1964), "A New Place to Hang Your Hat" (#72c 1966, she co-wrote), "(I Can't Find) a Better Deal Than That" (#69c 1967)
founding member of Nita, Rita and Ruby, "Whose Baby Are You?" (1955), "But I Love You Just the Same" (1955), "Last Night in My Dreams" (1956), "You Came to the Prom Alone" (1957)
duet with Johnnie and Jack, "I Want to Be Loved" (#13c 1956)
duet with Hawkshaw Hawkins, "Over the Hill" (1952)
songwriter
daughter of Johnny Wright and Kitty Wells

October 28

Caitlin Cary (aka Tres Chicas)

b. 1968 in Seville, OH
alt-country/rock/folk singer
instrument: fiddle
"Hold on to Me" (2002), "Fireworks" (2002), "I Want to Learn to Waltz" (2003), "In a While" (2003)
with Whiskeytown (1994-99, and reunions), "Matrimony" (1995, she co-wrote), "Midway Park" (1995), "Pawnshops Ain't No Place for a Wedding Ring" (1997, she co-wrote), "Waiting to Derail" (1997), "Yesterday's News" (1998), "Turn Around" (1998, she co-wrote), "Somebody Remembers the Rose" (1998), "Don't Wanna Know Why" (2001, she co-wrote), "Reasons to Lie" (2001, she co-wrote), "Sit and Listen to the Rain" (2001)
founding member of Tres Chicas
session musician
songwriter
md. to drummer, Eric 'Skillet' Gilmore
see Caitlin Cary

Charlie Daniels (Charles Edward Daniels)

b. 1936 in Wilmington, NC
country/rock singer
instruments: fiddle, lead guitar, mandolin, banjo
"Little Folks" (#47c 1991, he wrote), "Honky-Tonk Life" (#65c 1991, he wrote), "America, I Believe in You" (#73c 1993, he co-wrote), "This Ain't No Rag, it's a Flag" (#33c 2001, he wrote)
founding member of the Charlie Daniels Band (1971- ), "Uneasy Rider" (#9, #67c 1973, he wrote), "The South's Gonna Do it Again" (#29 1974), "Texas" (#91, #36c 1976, he wrote), "Wichita Jail" (#22c 1976, he wrote), "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" (#3, #1c 1979, #60c 1998, he co-wrote, CMA single of the year 1979), "Behind Your Eyes" (#87c 1979), Mississippi" (#10c 1979, he wrote), "In America" (#11, #13c 1980, he co-wrote), "Long-Haired Country Boy" (#56 1974, #27c 1980, he wrote), "Carolina I Remember You" (#44c 1980, he co-wrote), "Sweet Home Alabama" (#52, #94c 1981), "Still in Saigon" (#22 1982), "We Had it All One Time" (#59c 1982, he wrote), "American Farmer" (#54c 1985, he co-wrote), "Still Hurtin' Me" (#33c 1985), "Drinkin' My Baby Goodbye" (#8c 1986, he wrote), "Boogie Woogie Fiddle Country Blues" (#10c 1988, he co-wrote), "Cowboy Hat in Dallas" (#36c 1989, he co-wrote), "Simple Man" (#12c 1989, he co-wrote)
duet with Montgomery Gentry, "All Night Long" (#31c 2000)
session musician on Hank Williams, Jr.'s "Family Tradition" (#4c 1979); and with Bob Dylan, Marty Robbins, and others
songwriter
md. to Hazel (1963- )
see The Charlie Daniels Band

Mike Fincher

b. 1950 in LaGrange, GA - d. 5 Dec 2002 in Lillian, AL (shot himself)
country/novelty singer
instrument: guitar
duets with Rusty McHugh, "Walmart II - the Return" (2001), "A Bus Back to Birmingham" (2001), "My Truck" (2002), "Hang up and Drive" (2002), "Daddy Was a Working Girl" (2002), "Tequila Makes My Clothes Fall Off" (2002), "How Long is Forever in Dog Years?" (2005), "Take Care of Your Car" (2005)
session musician
comedian

Wayne Fontana (Glyn Geoffrey Ellis)

b. 1945 in Manchester, England
rock/pop singer
"It Was Easier to Hurt Her" (1965), "Pamela, Pamela" (1966), "Gina" (1967), "Waiting for a Break in the Clouds" (1968)
founding member and lead singer of Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders (1963-65), "Come Dance With Me" (1964), "The Game of Love" (#1 1965), "Just a Little Bit Too Late" (#45 1965)
songwriter
in recent years he has been troubled with financial, legal and emotional problems

Ted Hawkins

b. 1936 in Lakeshore, MS – d. 1 Jan 1995 (stroke)
folk/soul/country singer
instrument: guitar
"Stay Close to Me" (1982, he wrote), "Watch Your Step" (1982, he wrote), "I Gave it All I Had" (1982, he wrote), "California Song" (1985, he wrote), "Bad Dog" (1985, he wrote), "My Last Goodbye" (1985, he wrote), "Baby" (1989, he wrote), "Green-Eyed Girl" (1994, he wrote), "Strange Conversation" (1994, he wrote)
songwriter

Thelma Hopkins (Thelma Louise Hopkins)

b. 1948 in Louisville, KY
pop singer
founding member 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)
actress
md. to Donald B. Allen

Curtis Lee

b. 1941 in Yuma, AZ
doo-wop/rock singer
"I Never Knew What Love Could Do" (1959), "Gotta Have You" (1959), "Then I'll Know" (1960), "Under the Moon of Love" (#50 1961), "Beverly Jean" (1961), "Gee, How I Wish You Were Here" (1961), "Does He Mean That Much to You?" (1962), "Pickin' up the Pieces of My Heart" (1963), "Sweet Baby" (1967)
backed by The Halos, * "Pretty Little Angel Eyes" (#7 1961, One-Hit Wonder, he co-wrote)
songwriter

Butch Mattice (Lionel F. Mattice)

b. 1941 - d. 16 Oct 2006
rock musician, instrument: bass
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)

Brad Paisley (Brad Douglas Paisley)

b. 1972 in Glen Dale, WV
country singer
instruments: guitar, bass
"Who Needs Pictures?" (#65, #12c 1999, he co-wrote), "I've Been Better" (1999), "He Didn't Have to Be" (#25, #1c 1999, he co-wrote), * "Me Neither" (#85, #18c 2000, he co-wrote), * "We Danced" (#29, #1c 2000, he co-wrote), "Two People Fell in Love" (#51, #4c 2001, he co-wrote), * "Wrapped Around" (#23, #2c 2001, he co-wrote), "I'm Gonna Miss Her" (#29, #1c 2002, he co-wrote), "Hold Me in Your Arms and Let Me Fall" (2003), "Celebrity" (#3c 2003, he wrote), "Little Moments" (#35, #2c 2004, he co-wrote), "Mud on the Tires" (#30, #1c 2004), "The World" (#45, #1c 2006), "She's Everything" (#35, #1c 2006), "Ticks" (#40, #1c 2007), "Online" (#39, #1c 2007), "Letter to Me" (#40, #1c 2007), "I'm Still a Guy" (#33, #1c 2008)
duet with Chely Wright, "Hard to Be a Husband, Hard to Be a Wife" (#68c 2000)
duet with Alison Krauss, "Whiskey Lullaby" (#41, #3c 2004)
duet with Dolly Parton, * "When I Get Where I'm Going" (#39, #1c 2005)
duet with Alan Jackson, "Out in the Parkin' Lot" (2005)
songwriter
md. to actress, Kimberly Williams (2003- )
see Brad Paisley on Wikipedia

Jim Post

b. 1939 in Houston, TX
folk/rock singer (tenor)
"Sunday Morning in the Mountains" (1973), "Santana Winds" (1973), "Colorado Exile" (1974, he wrote), "Dancing in the Wind" (1974, he wrote), "Hot Summer Night" (1978), "My Dreams Never Came True" (1978)
founding member of Friend and Lover, "If Tomorrow" (1967), "Reach Out of the Darkness" (#10 1968, One-Hit Wonder, he wrote), "Love is in Your Heart" (1968), "Ode to a Dandelion" (1968), "Zig-Zag" (1968)
songwriter
author; playwright
md. to Cathy Conn
see Jim Post

Joey Powers

b. 1939 in Canonsburg, PA
pop/rock singer
"Midnight Mary" (#10 1963, One-Hit Wonder, he co-wrote), "Where Do You Want the World Delivered?" (1963), "Tears Keep Falling" (1964), "The Love I'll Never Know" (1964)
recorded as Joey Rogers, "Who Can Explain it Then?" (1958), "They Didn't Believe Me" (1958), "Two Tickets and a Candy Heart" (1960)
founding member of Joey Powers' Flowers, "Hard to Be Without You" (1969), "Land of the Midnight Sun" (1970)
songwriter

Jay Proctor

b. 1940 in Allentown, PA
pop/soul singer
"Fifty-Fifty Deal" (2006), "Make This Promise to You" (2006), "Got You on My Mind" (2006)
founding member and lead singer of Jay and the Techniques, "Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie" (#6 1967), "Keep the Ball Rollin'" (#14 1967), "Strawberry Shortcake" (#39 1968), "Baby, Make Your Own Sweet Music" (1968), "Dancin' Mood" (1969), "This World of Mine" (1974), "Number Onderful" (1976)

Mitchell Torok

b. 1929 in Houston, TX
country/novelty singer
instrument: guitar
"Nacogoches County Line" (1952), "Caribbean" (#1c 1953, he wrote), "Judaline" (1953), "Hootchy Kootchy Henry (from Hawaii)" (#9c 1954, he wrote), "Haunting Waterfall" (1954, he wrote), "Red Light, Green Light" (1956), "I Wish I Was a Little Bit Younger (and Knew What I Know Now)" (1956), "Two Words (True Love)" (1957), "Too Late Now" (1957), "I Want to Know Everything" (1960), "Pink Chiffon" (1960), "Little Boy in Love" (1960), "A Rose-Covered Garden" (1960), "Hidin' the Hurt" (1996)
recorded as 'The Great Pretender', "All Over Again, Again" (1959)
songwriter, wrote Jim Reeves' "Mexican Joe" (#23, #1c 1953)

Johnny Western

b. 1934 in Two Harbors, MN
country singer
instrument: guitar
"Gunfighter" (1962), "Kathy, Come Home" (1962), "Light the Fuse" (1964), "The Violet and the Rose" (1967), "The Streets of Dodge City" (1970)
with Johnny Cash's band (1958-63), "The Ways of a Woman in Love" (#24, #2c 1958), "Ballad of a Teenage Queen" (#14, #1c 1958), "Guess Things Happen That Way" (#11, #1c 1958), "I Got Stripes" (#43, #4c 1959), "Don't Take Your Guns to Town" (#32, #1c 1959), "Get Rhythm" (#1c 1959), "Katy Too" (#66, #11c 1959), "Thanks a Lot" (#8c 1959), "Come in, Stranger" (#66, #6c 1960), "Seasons of My Heart" (#10c 1960), "The Rebel (Johnny Yuma)" (#24c 1961), "In the Jailhouse Now" (#8c 1962), "What Do I Care?" (#52, #7c 1963), "Ring of Fire" (#17, #1c 1963), and others
songwriter, wrote Duane Eddy's "The Ballad of Paladin" (#33 1962)
DJ (in Wichita, KS 1986- )
cowboy actor

October 29

David Brigati

b. 1940 in Garfield, NJ
rock singer
with The Hi-Fives (1958), "Dorothy" (1958)
with Joey Dee and the Starliters (1959-64, and reunions), "Face of an Angel" (1958), "Peppermint Twist" (#1 1962, he co-wrote), "Hey, Let's Twist" (#20 1962), "Shout" (#6 1962), "What Kind of Love is This?" (#18 1962), "Help Me Pick Up the Pieces" (1963)
songwriter
see Joey Dee and the Starliters on Wikipedia

Lee Clayton (Lee T. Clayton)

b. 1942 in Russellville, AL (grew up in Oak Ridge, TN)
country/rock singer
instrument: steel guitar, harmonica
"Red Dancing Dress" (1973, he wrote), "Bottles of Booze" (1973, he wrote), "Back Home in Tennessee" (1978), "If You Can Touch Her at All" (1978, he wrote), "I Ride Alone" (1979), "Won't You Give Me One More Chance?" (1981)
songwriter, wrote Waylon Jennings' "Ladies Love Outlaws" (#11c 1972), The Highwaymen's "Silver Stallion" (#25c 1990), Conway Twitty's "Saturday Night Special" (#9c 1988)
served in the Air Force
author

Eugene 'Bird' Daughtry

b. 1939 in Kinston, NC or Philadelphia, PA - d. 25 Dec 1994 (cancer)
soul/pop singer
founding member of The Intruders (1960-75, 1984-94), "But You Belong to Me" (1964), "A Book for the Broken-Hearted" (1966), "Together" (#48 1966), "Up and Down the Ladder" (1966), "Devil With an Angel's Smile" (1966), "Friends No More" (1968), "Cowboys to Girls" (#6 1968), "Turn the Hands of Time" (1968), "(Love is Like a) Baseball Game" (#26 1968), "Sad Girl" (1969), "When We Get Married" (#45 1970), "(Win, Place or Show) She's a Winner" (1971), "Do You Remember Yesterday?" (1971), "Memories Are Here to Stay" (1972), "I'll Always Love My Mama" (#36 1973), "I Wanna Know Your Name" (#60 1973), "Rainy Days and Mondays" (1975), "Who Do You Love?" (1984)
see The Intruders on soulwalking

Ramblin' Jimmie Dolan (Lee Roy Petit)

b. 1916 in Gardena, CA - d. 31 Jul 1997
country/western swing/rockabilly singer
instrument: guitar
"Who's Kiddin' Who"? (1949), "You Ought to See My Sunshine" (1950), "I'll Hate Myself Tomorrow" (1950), "R.F.D. Blues" (1950), "Walkin' With the Blues" (1950), "Hot Rod Race" (#7c 1951), "I Always Play a Losing Hand" (1951), "Juke Box Boogie" (1951), "That Last Love Letter" (1951), "Lost Love Blues" (1951), "Wine, Women and Pink Elephants" (1951), "Hot Rod Mama" (1952), "The Wheel That Does the Squeakin'" (1953), "Playin' Dominoes and Shootin' Dice" (1953), "Memories and Heartaches" (1953), "Tool-Pusher on a Rotary Rig" (1954), "A Sailor's Letter" (1955)
served in the Navy

Peter Green (Peter Allen Greenbaum)

b. 1946 in London, England
rock/blues singer
instrument: guitar
"A Fool No More" (1979, he co-wrote), "Proud Pinto" (1979, he wrote), "Seven Stars" (1979, he co-wrote), "Dark End of the Street" (1997), "Hitch-Hiking Woman" (1997), "Time for Me to Go" (2003, he wrote), "Little Dreamer" (2003, he wrote)
with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers (1966-67), "Key to Love" (1966)
founding member of Fleetwood Mac (1967-70), "Jigsaw Puzzle Blues" (1968), "No Place to Go" (1969), "Oh Well" (#55 1969), "Rattlesnake Shake" (1969)
founding member of The Peter Green Splinter Group (1997-2003)
session musician with Peter Gabriel, Country Joe McDonald, Duster Bennett, and others
songwriter
drug use and paranoia have interfered with his career; he has been diagnosed with schizophrenia
see John Mayall
see Peter Green on Wikipedia

Neal Hefti

b. 1922 in Hastings, NE
jazz/bebop musician, instrument: trumpet
leader of Neal Hefti and His Orchestra, "Coral Reef" (1951, he wrote), "If You Hadn't Gone Away" (1951), "Lake Placid" (1953), "Two for a Nickel, Three for a Dime" (1953), "Cecelia" (1953), "Waltzing on a Cloud" (1953), "Uncle Jim" (1953), "Little Pony" (1955, he wrote), "Batman Theme" (#17 1965, One-Hit Wonder, he wrote), "Barefoot in the Park" (1967), "The Odd Couple" (1968)
with Woody Herman's First Herd Band (1944-46), "Goosey Gander" (1945), "Blowin' up a Storm" (1945), "Wild Root" (1945, he wrote), "Saturday Night is the Loneliest Night of the Week" (#15 1945)
songwriter
arranger
md. to singer, Frances Wayne (1945- )

Steve Kellough (Mark Stephen Kellough)

b. 1957 in Evansville, TN
country singer
instrument: bass
with Wild Horses, "I Will Survive" (#46c 2001), "Am I Going too Fast?" (2003), "Listen to My Heart" (2003), "Wild Horses" (2003), "Ride, Cowboy Ride" (2003), "Safely Home" (2003), "How Love Should Be" (2007), "You and Me and San Antone" (2007), "Touch Me There Again" (2007)
an injury at his job in 2005 resulted in his foot being amputated but he went back to performing

Denny Laine (Brian Frederick Arthur Hines)

b. 1944 in the Channel Islands
rock singer
instruments: harmonica, rhythm guitar, lead guitar, bass, piano
"Havin' Heaven" (1973, he wrote), "Destiny Unknown" (1973, he wrote), "Nothing to Go By" (1984, he wrote), "Misty Mountain" (1996), "Nightwalker" (1996)
founding member and lead singer of The Moody Blues (1964-66), "Go Now" (#10 1965), "From the Bottom of My Heart" (#93 1965), "Thank You, Baby" (1966)
founding member of Wings (1971-80), "My Love" (#1 1973), "Live and Let Die" (#2 1973), "Band on the Run" (#1 1974), "Listen to What the Man Said" (#1 1975), "Silly Love Songs" (#1 1976), "Maybe I'm Amazed" (#10 1977), "With a Little Luck" (#1 1978), "Goodnight Tonight" (#5 1979)
songwriter
see The Moody Blues
see The Moody Blues on Wikipedia
see Denny Laine

Joni Lee (Joni Lee Jenkins)

b. 1957
country singer
"I'm Sorry, Charlie" (#16c 1976), "And a Little Girl Cried" (1976), "Angel on My Shoulder" (#42c 1976), "Baby Love" (#62c 1976)
duet with Conway Twitty, "Don't Cry, Joni" (#4c 1975)
daughter of Conway Twitty

Sonny Osborne (Sonny Roland Osborne)

b. 1937 in Hyden, KY (grew up in Dayton, OH)
bluegrass singer (baritone)
instruments: mandolin, fiddle, guitar, 5-string banjo
founding member of The Osborne Brothers (1956-2005), "I Love You Only" (1962), "Kentucky" (1965, official state song of Kentucky), "Up This Hill and Down" (#41c 1966), "The Kind of Woman I Got" (#33c 1967), "Rocky Top" (#33 1968, re-recorded #2c 1997, official state song of Tennessee), "Tennessee Hound Dog" (#28c 1969), "Georgia Piney Woods" (#37c 1971), "Lizzie Lou" (#66 1973), "Blue Heartache" (#64c 1974), "Don't Let the Smokey Mountain Smoke Get in Your Eyes" (1975), "Lorena" (1994), "The Waltz You Saved for Me" (1994)
The Osborne Brothers and Red Allen, "Once More" (#13c 1958)
with Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys (1952-53), "In the Pines" (1952), "Mighty Pretty Waltz" (1952), "Letter from My Darlin'" (1952), "Country Waltz" (1953)
songwriter
see The Blue Grass Boys

Ray 'Razor' Steinberg (Raymond Steinberg)

b. 1942
doo-wop singer
founding member 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)

Robbie Van Leeuwen

b. 1944
rock musician, instruments: guitar, sitar
founding member of Shocking Blue (1967-74), "Send Me a Postcard" (1968), "Harley Davidson" (1968), "Long and Lonesome Road" (1969), "Venus" (#1 1970), "Hello, Darkness" (1971), "Out of Sight, Out of Mind" (1972), "Everything That's Mine" (1974)
see Shocking Blue on Wikipedia

Donnie Weaver

b. 1946 in Rocky Mount, NC
pop/soul singer
instruments: keyboards, organ
"Welcome to My Heart" (2008), "If the Truth Were Known" (2008)
founding member of The O'Kaysions (1961-68), "Hey, Girl" (1964), "Shout" (1964), "(I'm a) Girl Watcher" (#5 1968, One-Hit Wonder, he co-wrote), "Deal Me in" (1968), "Dedicated to the One I Love" (1968)
session musician
songwriter
computer consultant

October 30

Billy Bowman

b. 1928 – d. 7 Aug 1989
country/western swing musician, instrument: steel guitar
"Midnight in Old Amarillo" (1957, he wrote)
with The Texas Playboys (1950, 1953-56), "Ida Red (Likes the Boogie)" (#10c 1950), "Faded Love" (#8c 1950), "Waltzing in Old San Antone" (1954), "Cadillac in Model 'A'" (1954), "So Let's Rock" (1956)
songwriter
see The Texas Playboys

T. Graham Brown (Anthony Graham Brown)

b. 1954 in Atlanta, GA (grew up in Arabi, GA)
country/blues/soul singer
"Drowning in Memories" (#39c 1985), "I Tell it Like it Used to Be" (#7c 1986), "I Wish I Could Hurt That Way Again" (#3c 1986), "Hell and High Water" (#1c 1986, he co-wrote), "Don't Go to Strangers" (#1c 1987), "She Couldn't Love Me Anymore" (#4c 1987), "Brilliant Conversationalist" (#9c 1987), "The Last Resort" (#4c 1988), "Darlene" (#1c 1988), "Come As You Were" (#7c 1989), "If You Could Only See Me Now" (#6c 1990), "Moonshadow Road" (#18c 1990, he co-wrote), "With This Ring" (#31c 1990), "Dedicated NASCAR Fans" (1995, he co-wrote), "Never in a Million Tears" (#63c 1999), "Wine into Water" (#44c 1999, he co-wrote)
duet with Tanya Tucker, "Don't Go Out" (#6c 1990)
songwriter
actor

Hamilton Camp (aka Bob Camp)

b. 1934 in London, England (grew up in the U.S.) - d. 2 Oct 2005 in Los Angeles, CA (heart attack)
folk/novelty singer
instruments: guitar
"Pride of Man" (1964, he wrote), "Here's to You" (1967), "Lisa" (1967), "A Lot Can Happen in a Day" (1968), "Didn't I Turn Out Nice?" (1970), "Secret Places" (1999), "Earth Tones" (1999), "Windsong" (2005, he wrote), "New Beginnings" (2005, he wrote)
duets with Bob Gibson as Gibson and Camp, "Old Blue" (1961), "Two in the Middle" (1961), "Betty and Dupree" (1961, he co-wrote), "Chicago Cops" (1961, he co-wrote), "Homemade Music" (1978), "Lookin' for Trouble" (1978), "You Can Tell the World" (1986, he co-wrote), "Well, Well, Well" (1986, he co-wrote)
songwriter
actor; voice-over artist
see Hamilton Camp

Eddie Holland (Edward Holland, Jr.

b. 1939 in Detroit, MI
R&B singer
"Little Miss Ruby" (1958), "Jamie" (#30 1962, One-Hit Wonder), "Leaving Here" (#76 1963), "Brenda" (1963), "On the Outside Looking in" (1963), "Just a Few Memories" (1963), "Just Ain't Enough Love" (#54 1964), "Candy to Me" (#58 1964)
duets with Lamont Dozier (as Holland - Dozier), "What Goes up Must Go Down" (1963), "Don't Leave Me" (1972), "Slipping Away" (1973), "If You Don't Want to Be in My Life" (1973)
songwriter, co-wrote Martha and the Vandellas' "(Love is Like a) Heat Wave" (#4 1963), "Quicksand" (#8 1964), "Nowhere to Run" (#8 1965); Marvin Gaye's "How Sweet it is (to Be Loved by You)" (#6 1965); The Temptations' "(I Know) I'm Losing You" (#8 1967); The Four Tops' "I Can't Help Myself" (#1 1965), "It's the Same Old Song" (#5 1965), "Reach Out, I'll Be There" (#1 1966), "Standing in the Shadows of Love" (#6 1967); The Supremes' "Where Did Our Love Go?" (#1 1964), "Baby Love" (#1 1964), "Come See about Me" (#1 1964), "Stop! in the Name of Love" (#1 1965), "I Hear a Symphony" (#1 1965), "My World is Empty Without You" (#5 1966), "You Can't Hurry Love" (#1 1966), "You Keep Me Hangin' on" (#1 1966), "Love is Here and Now You're Gone" (#1 1967)
music producer
he preferred writing to performing because of his severe stage fright
brother of Brian Holland

Patsy Montana (Ruby Rose Blevins aka Rubye Blevins)

b. 1908/1914 in Beaudry, AR (grew up near Hope, AR) – d. 3 May 1996 in San Jacinto, CA
country singer, yodeler
instruments: guitar, organ, violin
backed by The Prairie Ramblers (1933-41), * "I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart" (1935, she wrote, first record by a female country singer to sell a million copies), "Give Me a Home in Wyoming" (1936), "Rodeo Sweetheart" (1938), "Shine on Rocky Mountain Moonlight" (1938), "Little Rose on the Prairie" (1938), "Someone to Go Home to" (1938), "Give Me a Straight-Shootin' Cowboy" (1938), "That's Where the West Begins" (1938), "My Pinto Pony" (1939), "Shy Anne from Old Cheyenne" (1940), "Swing-Time Cowgirl" (1940)
founding member of Patsy Montana and Her Buckaroos, "Mama Never Said a Word about Love" (2001)
founding member of Patsy Montana and Her Pardners, "I'll Keep on Wishing for You" (1941), "Sunny San Antone" (1941), "Goodnight, Soldier" (1941)
songwriter
actress
md. to Paul Edward Rose (1934-96, he death); she had 10 older brothers but no sister

Kassidy Osborn (Kassidy Lorraine Osborn)

b. 1976 in Magna, UT
country singer
instruments: guitar, piano
founding member of SHeDaisy (1999- ), "Little Goodbyes" (#43, #3c 1999), "This Woman Needs" (#57, #9c 2000), "I Will...But" (#43, #2c 2000), "Lucky 4 You (Tonight I'm Just Me)" (#79, #11c 2000), "Brand New Year (My Revolution)" (2000), "Passenger Seat" (#66, #12c 2004), "Come Home Soon" (#75, #14c 2004), "Don't Worry 'Bout a Thing" (#59, #7c 2005), "I'm Taking the Wheel" (#22c 2006)
the group name came from a Navajo word meaning 'my little sister'
sister of Kristyn and Kelsi Osborn
see SHeDaisy

Donnie Owens

b. 1938 - d. 27 Oct 1994
pop singer
"If I'm Wrong" (1958), "Need You" (#25 1958, One-Hit Wonder), "Out of My Heart" (1958), "Between Midnight and Dawn" (1959), "Ask Me Anything" (1959), "Stormy (Came to Town)" (1961), "Useless" (1966)
duet with Lee Hazlewood, "After Six" (1968)

Johnny Park (Johnny Earl Park)

b. 1957 in Borger, TX
country/rock singer
founding member of Archer Park (1993-94), "Where There's Smoke" (#29c 1994), "We've Got a Lot in Common" (#63c 1994, he co-wrote), "You Don't Know Where This Heart's Been" (1994, he co-wrote)
songwriter

Lewis Pruitt

b. 1923 in Atlanta, GA
country singer
instrument: guitar
"I'll Never Forget You" (1958), "Timbrook" (#10c 1960), "Softly and Tenderly (I'll Hold You in My Arms)" (#4c 1960), "Crazy Bullfrog" (#11c 1961, he wrote), "The Hand That Held the Hand" (1961)
in Carl Smith's band
songwriter

Timothy B. Schmit (Timothy Bruce Schmit)

b. 1947 in Oakland, CA (grew up in Sacramento, CA)
country/rock/pop singer
instruments: bass, drums, percussions, electric guitar, rhythm guitar
"Tell Me What You Dream" (1984, he co-wrote), "Wrong Number" (1984, he co-wrote), "Down Here People Dance Forever" (1987, he co-wrote), "Boys Night Out" (#25 1987, he co-wrote), "Tell Me the Truth" (1990, he co-wrote), "Was it Just the Moonlight?" (1990, he co-wrote), "In Roxy's Eyes" (1990, he wrote)
with The Eagles (1977-82, 1994-95, replaced Randy Meisner), "Life in the Fast Lane" (#11 1977), "Hotel California" (#1 1977), "Heartache Tonight" (#1 1979), "The Long Run" (#8 1980), "I Can't Tell You Why" (#8 1980), "Seven Bridges Road" (#21, #55c 1981), "Get Over it" (#31 1994), "The Girl From Yesterday" (#58c 1994)
with Poco (1971-77, and reunions, replaced Randy Meisner), "A Good Feelin' to Know" (1972), "Keep on Tryin'" (1975), "Rose of Cimarron" (1976)
songwriter
see Timothy B. Schmit

Chris Slade (Christopher Rees)

b. 1946 in Wales
rock musician, instrument: drums
with Manfred Mann's Earth Band (1972-78), "Blinded by the Light" (#1 1977)
with The Firm, "Someone to Love" (1985), "Dreaming" (1986)
with Tomorrow, "Going Back" (1970), "Toomorrow" (1970)
with AC/DC (1989-92), "Thunderstruck" (1990), "Are You Ready?" (1990), "Rock Your Heart Out" (1990), "Money Talks" (#23 1991), "T.N.T." (1992)
with Asia (2000-05)
session musician
see Asia on Wikipedia

Grace Slick (Grace Victoria Wing or Grace Barnett Wing)

b. 1939 in Evanston, IL
rock/pop singer (contralto)
instruments: keyboards, flute, recorder
"Face to the Wind" (1980), "No More Heroes" (1981), "Shooting Star" (1981), "It Just Won't Stop" (1984), "Call it Right, Call it Wrong" (1984)
with Jefferson Airplane (1967-74, and reunions, replaced Signe Toly), "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)
founding member of Jefferson Starship (1974-77, 1981-84), "Miracles" (#3 1975), "With Your Love" (#12 1976), "Don't Let it Rain" (1976), "Find Your Way Back" (#29 1981), "Be My Lady" (#28 1982), "No Way Out" (#23 1984)
founding member of Starship (1984-88), "We Built This City" (#1 1985), "Sara" (#1 1985), "Tomorrow Doesn't Matter Tonight" (#26 1986), "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" (#1 1987)
songwriter
md. to Gerald 'Jerry' Slick; md. to Skip Johnson
mother of China Wing Kantner

Grace Slick

Ray Smith (Raymond Eugene Smith)

b. 1938 in Melber, KY (grew up in Paducah, KY) – d. 29 Nov 1979 (shot himself)
rockabilly singer
instruments: guitar, piano
"Whoa, Boy" (1954), "So Young" (1958), "Rockin' Bandit" (1959), "Rockin' Little Angel" (#22 1960, One-Hit Wonder), "Blonde Hair, Blue Eyes" (1960), "I Won't Miss You ('til You Go)" (1961), "Turn on the Moonlight" (1961), "Room 503" (1962), "Those Four Precious Years" (1962), "Robbin' the Cradle" (1964), "Shake Around" (1978, he wrote), "Willing and Ready" (1978, he wrote), "How's His Memory Doing Today?" (1979)
served in the Air Force

Otis Williams (Otis Miles, Jr.)

b. 1941 in Texarkana, TX
R&B/soul/pop singer (tenor/baritone)
founding member of The Temptations (1961- ), "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), "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), "Hurry Tomorrow" (1973), "Shaky Ground" (1975), "Glasshouse" (1975), "Let Me Count the Ways (I Love You)" (1976), "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)
see The Temptations

Sal Zero

b. 1942 in Brooklyn, NY
doo-wop singer (second tenor)
founding member of Randy and the Rainbows (1962- ), "Denise" (#10 1963), "Why Do Kids Grow Up?" (#97 1963), "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 Mike Zero

October 31

Russ Ballard (Russell Ballard)

b. 1947 in Hertfordshire, England
rock singer
instruments: guitar, piano, harmonica
"She's a Hurricane" (1975), "Look at Her Dance" (1979), "On the Rebound" (#58 1980), "Voices" (1984), "In the Night" (1984, he wrote), "Playing With Fire" (1984)
founding member of Argent (1968-74), "Lonely Hard Road" (1970, he wrote), "Sleep Won't Help Me" (1971), "Hold Your Head Up" (#5 1972), "Be My Lover, Be My Friend" (1972), "God Gave Rock and Roll to You" (1973, he wrote)
session musician on Roger Daltrey's "Giving it All Away" (#83 1973), "Come and Get Your Love" (#68 1975, he wrote); and with Colin Blunstone, and others
songwriter, wrote America's "You Can Do Magic" (#8 1982); Hot Chocolate's "So You Win Again" (#31 1977); Three Dog Night's "Liar" (#7 1971); co-wrote America's "The Border" (#33 1983)
music producer
see Argent

Dale Evans (Lucille Wood Smith then Francis Octavia Smith aka 'Queen of the West')

b. 1912 in Uvalde, TX – d. 7 Feb 2001 (congestive heart failure)
country/gospel singer
"A Two-Seated Saddle and a One-Gaited Horse" (1944), "If You Ever Come to Texas" (1946), "Under a Texas Moon" (1947), "His Hat Cost More Than Mine" (1947), "When the White Roses Bloom" (1947), "Love at the County Fair" (1950), "Fuzzy Wuzzy" (1951), "I'm Gonna Lock You Out of My Heart" (1951), "Put All Your Kisses in an Envelope" (1951)
duets with Roy Rogers, "New Moon Over Nevada" (1944), "The Bible Tells Me So" (1955, she wrote), "Smiles Are Made of Sunshine" (1950), "Yellow Bonnets and Polka Dot Shoes" (1950), "May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You" (1950), "Happy Trails to You" (1952, she co-wrote), "California Rose" (1952), "Hazy Mountains" (1952, she wrote), "You've Got a Rope Around My Heart" (1952)
songwriter
author; actress
md. 1st to Thomas F. Fox (1927-29); md. 2nd. to August Wayne Johns (1929-33); md. 3rd to Robert Dale Butts (1935-45); md. 4th to Roy Rogers (1946-98, his death)
see Roy Rogers and Dale Evans

Noel Fox (Douglas Noel Fox)

b. 1939 in Columbia, TX/TN – d. 10 Apr 2003 in Nashville, TN (stroke)
country/gospel singer (bass)
with the Oak Ridge Boys (1969-72), "I'm Almost Home" (1969), "I'm on the Right Road Now" (1969), "Talk about the Good Times" (1970)
see The Oak Ridge Boys

Kinky Friedman (Richard S. Friedman)

b. 1944 in Chicago, IL (grew up in Palestine, TX)
country/rock/folk singer
instrument: guitar
"Nashville Casualty and Life" (1983, he wrote), "Skatin' on Thin Ice" (1983, he wrote)
founding member and leader of Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys (1971-79), "Sold American" (#69c 1973, he wrote), "Flyin' Down the Freeway" (1973, he wrote), "Rapid City, South Dakota" (1974, he wrote), "Miss Nickelodeon" (1974), "Autograph" (1975), "Lady Yesterday" (1976, he wrote), "Amelia Earhart's Last Flight" (1995), "Ride 'em Jewboy" (1995, tribute to Holocaust victims)
songwriter
mystery novelist; humorist
served in the Peace Corps; ran for governor of Texas in 2006
his nickname is from his hair
is concerned with rescuing stray and abused dogs
see Kinky Friedman on Wikipedia

John Guerin (John Payne Guerin)

b. 1939 in Hawaii (grew up in San Diego, CA) – d. 5 Jan 2004 in West Hills, CA (heart failure and complications of the flu)
jazz/rock singer
instruments: drums, percussions, keyboards, guitar, bass
"By the Dark of Light" (2002), "Run to Fall" (2002), "Monsters in My Room" (2003), "The Edge of Earth" (2003)
session drummer with The Byrds, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Zappa, Joni Mitchell, Lou Rawls, Linda Ronstadt, Seals and Croft, Elton John, Waylong Jennings, Joan Baez, The Everly Brothers, George Harrison, and others
songwriter
music producer; arranger
he was an avid horseman
md. to Michelle Palombi

Anita Kerr (Anita Jean Grilli or Anita Jean Kerr)

b. 1927 in Memphis, TN
country/pop singer
instrument: piano
founding member and lead of Anita Kerr Singers (1949- ), "A Promise and a Prayer" (1952), "For you, For Me, Forevermore" (1960), "Summer Green and Winter White" (1964), "Too Little Time" (1965), "They Always Ask Me" (1968), "A House is Not a Home" (1969), "Lalena" (1969), "Early Autumn" (1972), "So Far Away from L.A." (1977), "Angel in the Faded Blue Jeans" (1977), "Happy Cat" (1979), "Friends Are Enough" (1988)
The Anita Kerr Singers were backup on The Owen Bradley Quintet's "White Silver Sands" (#18 1957); Red Foley's "Stranded in Deep Water" (1953), "Hearts of Stone" (#4c 1955); Bobby Helm's "My Special Angel" (#7, #1c 1957); and with Wilf Carter, Jim Reeves, Roy Orbison, Dotty West, Brook Benton, and others
with Little Dippers, "Forever" (#9 1960, One-Hit Wonder), "For Just a Little while Tonight" (1964)
songwriter
music producer
see Anita Kerr

Bill Laymon

b. 1955 in Urbana, IL
country/rock/blues musician, instrument: bass
with New Riders of the Purple Sage (1983- )
founding member of the David Nelson Band (1994- ), "Kerouac" (1999, he wrote), "Way of the Wind" (1999, he wrote)
founding member of the Gypsy Country Band
session musician
songwriter
music producer
see New Riders of the Purple Sage
see Bill Laymon

James Maddox

b. 1936 in Chicago, IL
doo-wop singer (baritone/bass)
founding member of The El Dorados (1952-57), "Living with Vivian" (1954), "At My Front Door (Crazy Little Mama)" (#17 1955, One-Hit Wonder), "I'll Be Forever Loving You" (1956), "Rock 'n' Roll's for Me" (1956), "A Rose for My Darling" (1957)
songwriter
see The El Dorados on R&B Notebooks

Tom Paxton (Thomas Richard Paxton)

b. 1937 in Chicago, IL (grew up in Bristow, OK)
folk singer
instrument: guitar
"My Son John" (1966), "Things I Notice Now" (1969), "I Had to Shoot That Rabbit" (1971), "And Then You Smiled" (1975), "Born on the Fourth of July" (1977), "My Favorite Spring" (1979), "She Sits on the Table" (1980), "All Clear in Harrisburg" (1980), "One Million Lawyers" (1985), "And Lovin' You" (1986), "Are We There Yet?" (1999), "The Bravest" (2002, he wrote as a tribute to firefighters who died 9/11/01)
songwriter, wrote Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner's "The Last Thing on My Mind" (#7c 1967)
served in the Army Reserve
children's book author
see Tom Paxton

Darryl Worley

b. 1964 in Pyburn, TN or Memphis, TN (grew up in Savannah, TN)
country singer
instrument: guitar
"A Good Day to Run" (#76, #12c 2000, he co-wrote), "Second Wind" (#20c 2000, he co-wrote), * "I Miss My Friend" (#28, #1c 2002), "Family Tree" (#26c 2002), "Back Where I Belong" (2002), * "Have You Forgotten?" (#21, #1c 2003, he co-wrote), "Awful Beautiful Life" (#30, #1c 2004, he co-wrote), "Better Than I Deserve" (2004), "If Something Should Happen" (#75, #9c 2005), "I Just Came Back from a War" (#18c 2006)
songwriter
chemist; school teacher; humanitarian
md. to Beverly Dean Irvin (2001-06)
he is 6'6" tall
see Darryl Worley

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