Died On This Date (July 17, 1974) Don Rich / Played With Buck Owens
themusicsover Don Rich (Born Donald Ulrich)
August 15, 1941 – July 17, 1974
Not many can say they opened for Elvis Presley, but then not many were as gifted as Don Rich. Just 17 and playing the clubs in and around Tacoma, Washington when Elvis came to town for a show. Young Rich, who had been playing the guitar and fiddle since he was a child, landed the gig and within a year he was one of the hottest draws in town. One of those admirers to catch a show was Buck Owens who hired Rich to play fiddle for him when he came to town. Rich put his music career on hold to go to college, but was soon reunited with Owens down in Central California where he became one of the architects of the “Bakersfield Sound.” For the better part of the next fifteen years, Rich recorded and toured with Owens, playing both fiddle or lead guitar. Rich even wrote some of Owens’ biggest hits and regularly performed on television with the Buckaroos. On July 17, 1974, hopped on his motorcycle after a Bakersfield recording session to meet his family for vacation along California’s central coast. Rich was killed when he lost control of his bike and crashed into highway guard rail. He was 32 at the time of his death.
What You Should Own
Bob Willis was a preacher and respected country singer and songwriter, so much so that he has been called “Mr. Country Gospel.” Willis began writing straight country songs when he was just twelve years old but switched to country gospel when he turned his focus to the ministry at age 26. Over his career, Willis published over 140 songs and had songs recorded by over 100 artists including Jimmie Davis. Bob Willis passed away at the age of 75.
Born where Riverfront Stadium now stands in Cincinnati, Ohio, Roy Rogers moved to California at eighteen to become a singer. He formed the Sons of the Pioneers and released such early country hits as “Tumbling Tumbleweeds,” “Cool Water” and “Don’t Fence Me In,” a later hit by the Talking Heads. By the mid-40s, Rogers was making westerns and becoming a matinee idol. Rogers married film actress, Dale Evans in 1947, beginning a life long partnership both on and off screen. The two starred together in films and on their weekly variety show, which was famous for it’s Evans penned sign-off tune, “Happy Trails To You.” Rogers died of congestive heart failure at the age of 86.
