Fred Carter, Jr.
December 31, 1933 – July 17, 2010
Fred Carter, Jr. was a highly respected studio musician, producer and composer who has played on some of the biggest hits from legends like Roy Orbison,Muddy Waters, the Band and Waylon Jennings. The list of songs on which he played include Bob Dylan’s “Lay Lady Lay,” Marty Robbins’ “El Paso,” and Simon and Garfunkel’s “The Boxer.” As a songwriter, he’s been recorded by the likes of Chet Atkins and Dean Martin. He was also the father of country star, Deana Carter, with whom he also worked. Fred Carter, Jr. was 76 when he died from complications of a stroke.
Homer “Boots” Randolph
June 3, 1927 – July 3, 2007
Boots Randolph was an American horn player whose saxophone was a major part of what is know in country music as the “Nashville Sound.” But perhaps his biggest legacy is his tune, “Yakety Sax,” which is known the world over as the Benny Hill theme song. During a career that spanned the better part of four decades, Randolph shared the stage with countless A-List performers and played on recordings by the likes of Elvis Presley, Al Hirt, Roy Orbison, REO Speedwagon, Jerry Lee Lewis and Brenda Lee. Boots Randolph died of a brain hemmorhage at the age of 80.
Boudleaux Bryant
February 13, 1920 – June 25, 1987
Along with his wife, Felice, Boudleaux Bryant wrote such early pop hits as “Bye Bye Love,” “Rocky Top,” and “All I Have To Do Is Dream,” the last two being big hits for the Everly Brothers. The future Mr. & Mrs. Boudleaux met in 1945 and so began a successful songwriting partnership (and marriage) that would last some forty years. During that time, they wrote songs for a virtual who’s who of popular music. That list includes Tony Bennett, the Grateful Dead, Dean Martin, Ray Charles, Nazareth, Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Elvis Costello, Simon & Garfunkel, Roy Orbison, Buddy Holly and Sarah Vaughan. Together they penned over 1500 recorded songs which obviously landed them into several songwriter halls of fame. Boudleaux Bryant passed away from natural causes on June 25, 1987
Along with her husband Boudleaux, Felice Bryant, wrote such early pop hits as “Bye Bye Love,” “Rocky Top,” and “All I Have To Do Is Dream,” the last two being big hits for the Everly Brothers. The future Mr. & Mrs. Boudleaux met in 1945 and so began a successful songwriting partnership (and marriage) that would last some forty years. During that time, they wrote songs for a virtual who’s who of popular music. That list includes Tony Bennett, the Grateful Dead, Dean Martin, Ray Charles, Nazareth, Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Elvis Costello, Simon & Garfunkel, Roy Orbison, Buddy Holly and Sarah Vaughan. Together they penned over 1500 recorded songs which obviously landed them into several songwriter halls of fame. Felice Bryantpassed away from natural causes on April 22, 2003.
Chuck Willis had a relatively short career as a singer and songwriter of Blues, R&B and early Rock ‘n’ Roll. He recorded for Columbia, Okeh and Atlantic Records over a career that lasted less than ten years before he unexpectedly died. But what a career he had. His hits included “It’s Too Late (She’s Gone),” covered by no less than Otis Redding, Roy Orbison, Buddy Holly, Derek & the Dominoes and Jerry Garcia; “I Feel So Bad,” covered by Elvis Presley; “C.C. Rider,” also recorded by Elvis as well as Bruce Springsteen; and “Oh What A Dream,” later recorded by Ruth Brown and Conway Twitty. Willis suffered from stomach ulcers for many years which likely contributed to his sudden death of peritonitis at just 30.