Died On This Date (June 19, 2013) Chet Flippo / Respected Music Journalist

Chet Flippo
1943 – June 19, 2013

Chet Flippo was a respected author and music journalist who, over the course of his career was the Editorial Director at CMT and Billboard‘s Nashville Bureau Chief.  Born in Fort Worth, Texas, Flippo served in the US Navy during the Vietnam War before earning a degree in Journalism from University of Texas.  Although his name is practically synonymous with country music for many fans, he was also wrote about rock music as well.  As a contributor to Rolling Stone while he was earning his Master’s during the ’70s, Flippo championed many of the rock musicians of the era.  Before leaving the magazine in 1980, he served as the its New York Bureau Chief and Senior Editor.  He also contributed features to numerous periodicals like the New York Times, Q Magazine, and TV Guide. From there he went to Billboard and later CMT/cmt.com Throughout his career, Flippo penned several books on music as well.  They include Your Cheatin’ Heart: A Biography of Hank Williams, It’s Only Rock ‘N’ Roll: My On-The-Road Adventures With The Rolling Stones, “Graceland: The Living Legacy of Elvis Presley, and  Yesterday: The Unauthorized Biography of Paul McCartney.  Chet Flippo died of pneumonia on June 19, 2013.  He was 69.

Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number 1 Albums for the assist.