Died On This Date (April 22, 2008) Bob Childers / Americana Singer-Songwriter
themusicsover Bob Childers
November 20, 1946 – April 22, 2008
Oklahoma singer-songwriter Bob Childers passed away on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 of emphysema and related lung disease. Childers was a the so-called godfather or Red Dirt Music, a hard to define sub-genre of country/Americana that includes elements of country, rock and folk. After touring much of the country’s dive bars and honky tonks through the ’70s, Childers released his debut album at the dawn of the ’80s. Over his career, he wrote over 1500 songs and earned accolades from no less than fellow Oklahoman, Garth Brooks who wrote a song with him. He was even invited to perform at the White House in 1982. 2004 saw the release of Restless Wind – A Tribute To The Songs of Bob Childers, a 3-CD set that included Jimmy Lafave, Cross Canadian Ragweed and The Red Dirt Rangers.
Duane Jarvis was one of those great talents that should have been more famous than they were. Although Jarvis was born in Oregon, both Los Angeles and Nashville like to claim him as their own as well. Much more than a superb singer and songwriter, Jarvis was also a master of the guitar, mandolin and bass. Over the years he has worked with the Divinyls, Rosie Flores, Dave Alvin, John Prine, Victoria Williams, Dwight Yoakam, M. Ward, and Peter Noone of Herman’s Hermits. Duane Jarvis died of cancer on April 1, 2009.
Although he’s not a household name, Townes Van Zandt has earned a place alongside Willie Nelson, 
Eddy Shaver was an electric guitarist, songwriter and son of legendary country-outlaw, Billy Joe Shaver with whom he performed as Shaver. As a youngster, Shaver was given his first guitar and given lessons by Dickey Betts of the Allman Brothers. After growing into a fiery electric guitarist, Shaver played alongside such greats as Willie Nelson, 
