Died On This Date (December 31, 1997) Floyd Cramer / Country Great
themusicsover Floyd Cramer
October 27, 1933 – December 31, 1997
Floyd Cramer was a legendary country pianist who is considered one of the foundations of the “Nashville Sound.” Cramer got his start in music in 1953 when he recorded his first record, “Dancin’ Diane” which lead to a tour with a then unknown Elvis Presley. In 1955, Cramer moved to Nashville and became one of the city’s busiest session players. He soon found himself playing on records by Presley, Brenda Lee, Patsy Cline, Jim Reeves and Roy Orbison, to name a few. Cramer released several albums on his own as well. From those came such hits as “Last Date,” “San Antonio Rose,” and “On The Rebound.” Floyd Cramer was 67 when he died of lung cancer on December 31, 1997.
What You Should Own
Dave Dudley was a popular country singer who is best remembered for his truck-driving themed records. Beginning with his 1961 charting record, “Maybe I Do,” Dudley released a string of hits throughout the next two decades. His best known songs were “Truck Drivin’ Son-of-a-Gun,” “Six Days On The Road,” and “The Pool Shark.” Dudley’s record sales waned during the ’80s, but he continued to be a popular concert draw. He also accepted an invitation to join the Nashville Teamsters Truck Drivers Union around that time. On December 22, 2003, Dave Dudley died of a heart attack at the age of 75.
Hank Snow was a prolific country star who, during a 30-year stretch of his career, logged in more than 70 country-charting singles, including at least seven that reached number one. Over the course of a career that spanned six decades, he sold more than 80 million albums. His songs have been covered by such greats as 
Rex Allen was a popular singer, cowboy actor and narrator of countless Disney adventure programs of the ’60s and ’70s. Starting his career as a vaudeville singer after high school, Allen signed his first record deal in 1948. Over the next few decades, he released numerous hit country records, including 1962’s politically incorrect “Don’t Go Near the Indians” which made it into the top 5 of the country singles chart. On December 17, 1999, Rex Allen, age 78, suffered a massive coronary and collapsed on his driveway. His caretaker accidentally ran over him while he was laying there. Allen died later that day.