Died On This Date (August 10, 2013) Jody Payne / Longtime Guitarist For Willie Nelson
themusicsover Jody Payne
January 11, 1936 – August 10, 2013
Jody Payne was a country singer and musician who spent decades as Willie Nelson‘s guitarist on album and in concert. Nelson formed his perennial back-up band, the Family in 1973, and Payne was by his side until he retired in 2008. Born in Kentucky, Payne was singing with his sister as far back as five years old. He learned to play the mandolin around that time as well. A gig at his older (yes older) sister’s 1st grade graduation was his first gig. He could be heard singing on a local radio station by the time he was 11. He hit the road with a bluegrass band in 1951, and after being discharged from the Army in 1961, he went on to tour with Merle Haggard, and later recorded with the Emmylou Harris, George Jones, Tanya Tucker, Leon Russell, and Hank Snow. Jody Payne died from cardiac problems on August 10, 2013. He was 77.
Thanks to Harold Lepidus of Bob Dylan Examiner for the assist.
What You Should Own
James Gray is perhaps best remembered as the one-time keyboardist for successful Canadian alt-country band, Blue Rodeo. Gray joined the group during the early ’90s, just in time to play on their hit album of 1993, Five Days In July. The video for the album’s “Hasn’t Hit Me Yet” quickly became a staple on MTV helping them gain a foothold in the US. Over the next decade, Gray toured and recorded with the band as they grew in popularity in both Canada and around the world. His last album with the group was 2005’s Are You Ready. Outside of Blue Rodeo, Gray played with such outfits as Hopping Penguins, Whitenoise, and Vital Signs. James Gray died unexpectedly from a heart attack on August 5, 2013. He was 52.
George Duke was a highly regarded jazz musician, singer, composer and producer who successful crossed over to R&B and pop throughout the years. Born and raised in the San Francisco area, Duke began picking up various instruments at an early age. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in trombone and composition while Minoring in the contrabass. He later went on the earn a Master’s in composition. Armed with these credentials, Duke kicked his music career into high gear upon graduating from college. It was during the mid ’60s that he started dabbling in what would become known as jazz fusion and more avant-garde styles. Over the course of his career, he released nearly 50 albums which oftentimes touched on funk, R&B, Latin jazz, and most notably, jazz fusion, the style he helped create the blueprint for. As a collaborator, the list of artists he worked with reads like a pop music encyclopedia. It includes Jean-Luc Ponty, 