Died On This Date (August 28, 2012) George Green / Longtime John Mellencamp Writing Partner
themusicsover 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.
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.
Marshall Grant is perhaps best remembered as the bassist and back-up singer for 
Trudy Stamper was a country music pioneer who is perhaps best remembered for her tireless work on building the Grand Ole Opry brand. Born and raised in Nashville, Stamper moved to New York City after college in order to pursue a career on the stage. It was while back home visiting and talking up the theater scene, that she was overheard by an executive at the powerful WSM radio station and offered the chance to be one of the first female radio personalities in the United States. While at WSM, Stamper hosted a shopping program and acted in several of the station’s soap operas until eventually moving off microphone to a position in artist relations for the Grand Ole Opry. Through her New York connections, Stamper was able to bring the Opry to Carnegie Hall for two nights in 1947. The performances which included Minnie Pearl and