Country

Died On This Date (December 14, 2011) Billie Jo Spears / Country Music Great

Billie Jo Spears
January 14, 1937 – December 14, 2011

Billie Joe Spears was a popular American country singer who made her biggest mark during the 1970s.  With hits like “Mr. Walker It’s All Over,” “Blanket On The Ground” and “What I’ve Got In Mind,” Spears hit the Top 10 of the country charts five times between 1969 and 1977.  Her bluesy voice and slick pop-leaning production helped define the popular “countrypolitan” of the era.  As country tastes changed in America during the 1980s, Spears popularity dwindled at home, but she did however, continue to sell records and perform in front of sell-out crowds in the UK, where she was dubbed “The Queen Mother Of Country Music.”  In 1993, Spears survived triple bypass surgery but continued to tour and record well into the 2000s.  Her most recent album was 2005’s I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.  Billie Jo Spears died of cancer on December 14, 2011.  She was 74.

Thanks Craig Rosen at Number 1 Albums for the assist.

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Billie Jo Spears

Died On This Date (December 8, 2011) Dan “Bee” Spears / Longtime Bassist For Willie Nelson

Dan “Bee” Spears
August 11, 1949 – December 8, 2011

Bee Spears was a Nashville bassist who is perhaps best remembered for his long tenure in Willie Nelson’s band.  Born into and raised by a musical family, Spears was just 19 when he began playing, and occasionally singing, with Nelson.  The year was 1968, and Spears went on to stand by Nelson’s side for more than 40 years.   Even when Nelson transitioned from “Nashville” to “Outlaw,” it was Spears that remained the constant.   Besides playing on such Nelson landmark  albums as Stardust and Red Headed Stranger, Spears can be heard on tracks by the likes of Waylon Jennings, Jerry Jeff Walker, and Guy Clark.  Bee Spears died on December 9, 2011 from exposure to the elements after slipping and falling near his property.  He was 62.

Thanks to Ken McCullagh for the assist.

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Red Headed Stranger - Willie Nelson

Died On This DAte (December 6, 2011) Dobie Gray / Soul & Country Singer-Songwriter

Dobie Gray
July 26, 1940 – December 6, 2011

Dobie Gray was an American soul (and later, country) singer and songwriter who, over a career that started in 1960, released hits like “The In Crowd” and “Drift Away,” which sold over a million copies and remains a staple on radio.  Born into a family of Texas sharecroppers, Gray was exposed to gospel music at an early age thanks to an uncle who was a Baptist minister.  By the early ’60s, he was living in Los Angeles where he met Sonny Bono who connected him with his first label, Stripe Records.  It wasn’t long until Gray was putting out a string of hits like “Look At Me,” “See You At The Go-Go,” and of course, “The In Crowd” and “Drift Away.”  The latter has been also recorded by such luminaries as Rod Stewart, Roy Orbison, the Neville Brothers, and Humble Pie. When he wasn’t making records, Gray worked as an actor – he spent over two years as part of the Los Angeles cast of Hair.  During the mid ’70s, Gray moved to Nashville where he wrote songs that were recorded by the likes of Charley Pride, George Jones, Ray Charles and Don Williams.  He also released a handful of moderately successful records at that time.  During the mid ’80s, Gray signed with Capitol Records and released a few country records that performed fairly well on the country charts.  Dobie Gray was 71 when he passed away in his sleep on December 6, 2011.  Cause of death was not immediately released, though he had been ill.

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Best of Dobie Gray (Re-Recorded Versions) - Dobie Gray



Died On This Date (November 28, 2011) Tom Roady / Drummer For Ricky Skaggs

Tom Roady
DOB Unknown – November 28, 2011

Tom Roady was a much respected drummer and percussionist who is perhaps best remembered for his recent work with Ricky Skaggs.  Roady can be heard playing on Skaggs’ latest offering, A Skaggs Family Christmas, Volume 2, and was gearing up to go out on tour with Skaggs.  Throughout his long career, Roady played with the likes of Vince Gill, Martina McBride, Dixie Chicks, Joan Baez, Bob Seger, and Kenny Chesney.  Earlier in his career, Roady was a session player at the storied Muscle Shoals studio, working for Jerry Wexler, and playing on tracks by Lynyrd Skynrd, James Brown, Etta James, Wilson Pickett, and many more.  As reported by CMT, Tom Roady was 62 when he passed away in his sleep on November 28, 2011.  Cause of death was reportedly attributed to heart problems, although he had been battling cancer.



Died On This Date (November 21, 2011) Paul Yandell / Band Leader For Chet Atkins

Paul Yandell
September 6, 1935 – November 21, 2011

Paul Yandell was a Nashville guitar wiz who is perhaps best remembered for the 25 years he served as Chet Atkins’ band leader and guitar duo partner.  Having become proficient on the guitar at an early age, Yandell moved to Nashville during the mid ’50s and launched his Music City career playing with the Louvin Brothers.  From there he joined up with Kitty Wells on whose show he performed from 1961 until 1970.  After a brief run with Jerry Reed, Yandell was hired by Atkins.  The year was 1975, and he went on to play alongside the guitar legend for the next quarter century.   Throughout his career, Yandell released a handful of albums, including a tribute to Atkins, Forever Chet after he passed away in 2001. As an in-demand session player, Yandell can also be heard on records by the likes of Dolly Parton, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Perry Como, George Strait, and more.  Paul Yandell died of cancer on November 21, 2011.  He was 76.