Country

Died On This Date (October 12, 2011) Taz DiGregorio / Charlie Daniels Band

Joel “Taz” DiGregorio
1944 – October 12, 2011

Taz DiGregorio is perhaps best remembered as the keyboardist for the iconic country southern rock outfit, the Charlie Daniels Band.  A member of the internationally famous group for over 40 years, DiGregorio also handled backing vocals and co-wrote many of the band’s hits, including “Simple Man,” “The Legend Of Wooley Swamp,” and their signature song, “The Devil Went Down To Georgia.”  As reported by A Taste of Country, Taz DiGregorio died of injuries sustained in a single car accident on October 12, 2011.  He was 67.  The group’s Tommy Crain passed away in 2011 as well.

Thanks to Joel at New Releases Now for the assist.

What You Should Own

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The Essential Charlie Daniels Band - The Charlie Daniels Band

Died On This Date (September 27, 2011) Johnnie Wright / Popular Country Singer; Husband of Kitty Wells

Johnnie Wright
May 13, 1914 – September 27, 2011

Johnnie Wright was an influential country music singer and songwriter who, along with Jack Anglin, made up the popular singing duo, Johnnie & Jack. Anglin tragically died in a car accident on his way to Patsy Cline’s funeral.  Wright and Anglin began performing together back in 1936, and during the next years, Wright married the future Queen of Country Music, Kitty Wells.  They would stay married for the next 73+ years.  In 1952, Johnnie & Jack had their first hit, “Poison Love,” and joined the Grand Ole Opry.   After Anglin died in 1963, Wright forged on with his Tennessee Mountain Boys who had a handful of hits over the next couple of years.  They included “Hello Vietnam” which went all the way to #1 .  In 1968, he and Wells began recording and touring together, which they continue to do through the early ’80s.  In 1983, the couple opened the Family Country Junction Museum and Recording Studio near their home, and operated it until the museum’s closing in 2000.  Their grandson continued to operate the recording studio.  Wright and Wells went on the record and perform for special occasions until their farewell concert in 2000.  According to The Tennessean, Johnnie Wright passed away in his home on September 27, 2011.  He was 97.  Kitty Wells died nine months later.

Thanks to Henk de Bruin at 2+ Printing for the assist.




Died On This Date (September 13, 2011) Wilma Lee Cooper / Grand Ole Opry Member

Wilma Lee Cooper (Born Wilma Lee Leary)
February 7, 1921 – September 13, 2011

Wilma Lee Cooper was an accomplished bluegrass and country performer who joined the ranks of the Grand Ole Opry in 1957.  Born and raised on West Virginia, Cooper was just a child when she began singing in her family gospel group, the Leary Family.  In 1939, she married fellow musician, Stoney Cooper with whom she went on to perform and record with as Wilma Lee & Stoney Copper and the Clinch Mountain Clan.  Throughout the late ’50s and early ’60s, the duo released a series of charting records that included “Big Midnight Special” and “The Tramp On The Street.”  After her husband passed away in 1977, Cooper continued on as a solo artist until a stroke in 2001 forced her retirement.  She did however, return to the Opry stage in 2010 as part of a group sing-along to celebrate the venue’s grand re-opening.  As reported in Music Row, Wilma Lee Cooper died of natural causes on September 13, 2011.  She was 90.

What You Should Own

Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper - Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper

Died On This Date (August 28, 2012) George Green / Longtime John Mellencamp Writing Partner

George Green
January 28, 1952 – August 28, 2011

George Green was a successful songwriter who is most often associated with John Mellencamp for whom he wrote the lyrics for such pop hits “Hurts So Good,” and “Crumblin’ Down.”  A boyhood friend of Mellencamp, Green’s collaborations also include “Thundering Hearts,” “Rain On The Scarecrow,” and “Minutes To Memories.”  Throughout the years, Mellencamp has recorded over a dozen songs co-written with him.  Green also has had his songs recorded by Barbra Streisand, Kenny Chesney, Ricky Skaggs, Hall & Oates, Vanessa Williams, the Oak Ridge Boys, and Dwight Yoakam, to name a few.   George Green was 59 when he died of lung cancer on August 28, 2011.



Died On This Date (August 10, 2011) Billy Grammer / Had Several Country Hits In The ’60s

Billy Grammer
August 28, 1925 – August 10, 2011

Billy Grammer (born Billie) was a country music singer and guitarist who scored several hits during the 1960s, including the million-selling “Gotta Travel On,” which ultimately reached the top 5 on both the country and pop charts.  After serving in the Army during WWII, Grammer settled in the Nashville area where he was signed to Monument Records. He went on to record such hits as “Gotta Travel On,” “The Real Thing,” and “I Wanna Go Home,” which became a hit again for Mel Tillis, but as “Detroit City.”  In 1965, Grammer co-founded RG&G Guitar Company where he launched his Grammer Guitar.  The company was later named Grammer Guitar, Inc. and continued to sell the popular model until 1970.  An original Grammer resides at the Country Music Hall of Fame.  On May 15, 1972, Grammer became an American politics footnote when he and his band performed at the political rally at which then Alabama Governor and Presidential candidate George Wallace was shot and paralyzed by an assailant.  Two years later, Grammer delivered the invocation at the opening of the Grand Ole Opry.  Billy Grammer was two weeks shy of his 86th birthday when he passed away on August 10, 2011.

To view an interview and performance by Billy Grammer, please visit his profile at the National Association of Music Merchants site.

Thanks to Dan Del Fiorentino at NAMM for the assist

What You Should Own

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Gotta Travel On - The Very Best of Billy Grammer - Billy Grammer