Died On This Date (January 17, 1998) Cliffie Stone / Country Singer
Cliffie Stone (Born Clifford Snyder)
March 1, 1917 – January 17, 1998
Cliffie Stone was a country singer, musician and songwriter as well as a producer and A&R man for Capitol Records during the label’s early years. As a bassist, he played in big bands that became popular throughout Southern California thanks to appearances on local radio shows. In 1946, he was hired by Capitol where he signed Tennessee Ernie Ford and Hank Thompson, among others. He released a handful of his own albums during the 1950s. During the ’60s, Stone found more success with his own publishing company, Central Songs. On January 17, 1998, Cliffie Stone died of a heart attack at the age of 81.
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