Died On This Date (February 11, 2012) Whitney Houston / Pop Music Icon

Whitney Houston
August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012

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Whitney Houston was an R&B singer who, by most accounts was one of the biggest female pop stars of all time.  Born in Newark, New Jersey to a musical family that also included mother, Cissy Houston and cousins Dionne Warwick and Dee Dee Warwick.   Her godmother was none other than Aretha Franklin.  Following an early career that included fashion modeling and back-up singing for the likes of Chaka Khan, Jermaine Jackson, and Lou Rawls, Houston found herself taken in by legendary hit maker, Clive Davis, who signed her to his Arista Records and released her self-titled debut in February, 1985.  The album, which spawned several hit singles, went on to sell an astonishing 25 million albums worldwide.  Her follow-up album, Whitney, became the first album by a female artist in history to debut at #1 on the Billboard album charts.  Over the next several years, Houston released hit after hit.  In 1992, she starred opposite Kevin Costner in The Bodyguard. The romantic-thriller was the 2nd highest grossing film worldwide that year, while Houston’s soundtrack went on to sell over 45 million copies thanks to such hits as “I’m Every Woman, “Run To You,” and of course, her cover of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You,” which sold over 12 million copies itself.  The soundtrack reached #1 in virtually every country that does such tracking.  On January 7, 1991, while the United States was locked in the Persian Gulf War, Houston performed what many consider the greatest version of the “Star Spangled Banner” that the Super Bowl has ever known.  It was quickly released as a single and became the first and only time the national anthem was a massive pop hit.  Houston donated her share to the American Red Cross.  The following year, Houston married former New Edition member and rap star, Bobby Brown.  The two had a daughter together but divorced in 2006.  After several years of personal set-backs, Houston returned with a new album, I Look To You, in 2009.  The album hit #1 in the US and went on to sell over 3.5 million copies worldwide.  It was her first #1 album since The Bodyguard.  In September of 2011, Houston announced that she was going to produce and star in a remake of the 1976 film, Sparkle.  On February 11, 2012, while in Los Angeles for the Grammys, Whitney Houston was found dead in her Beverly Hilton Hotel room bathtub.  Officials later ruled that she accidentally drowned as a result of a heart condition and chronic drug use.   She was 48.

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Died On This Date (January 9, 2009) Jon Hager / One Half Of “Hee Haw’s” The Hager Twins

Jon Hager
August 30, 1941 – January 9, 2009

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Jon Hager and his twin brother, Jim Hager, were known collectively as the Hager Twins, a popular singing and comedic duo who  popularized their act on TV’s Hee Haw program from 1968 to 1986.  The twins were still children when they began performing together, and by the time they were teens, they were singing weekly on a local television program.  Since their early days, they opened for such acts as Dolly Parton, Steve Martin and Buck Owens.  They released six albums over the course of their career, accounting for a few moderately successful country singles along the way.  Jon Hager was 67 when he died in his sleep on January 9, 2009.


Died On This Date (November 21, 2011) Paul Yandell / Band Leader For Chet Atkins

Paul Yandell
September 6, 1935 – November 21, 2011

Paul Yandell was a Nashville guitar wiz who is perhaps best remembered for the 25 years he served as Chet Atkins’ band leader and guitar duo partner.  Having become proficient on the guitar at an early age, Yandell moved to Nashville during the mid ’50s and launched his Music City career playing with the Louvin Brothers.  From there he joined up with Kitty Wells on whose show he performed from 1961 until 1970.  After a brief run with Jerry Reed, Yandell was hired by Atkins.  The year was 1975, and he went on to play alongside the guitar legend for the next quarter century.   Throughout his career, Yandell released a handful of albums, including a tribute to Atkins, Forever Chet after he passed away in 2001. As an in-demand session player, Yandell can also be heard on records by the likes of Dolly Parton, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Perry Como, George Strait, and more.  Paul Yandell died of cancer on November 21, 2011.  He was 76.



Died On This Date (September 4, 2012) Hilde Heltberg / Norwegian Singer-Songwriter

Hilde Heltberg
September 30, 1959 – September 4, 2011

Hilde Heltberg was a popular singer-songwriter from Oslo, Norway.  She launched her career during the late ’70s, finding inspiration from the likes of Linda Ronstadt and Dolly Parton.  By the early ’80s,  Heltberg had played in such local groups as Uncle John’s Band and X-tra.  She released her first solo album in 1982, and went on to release a total of 12.  She competed in the esteemed Eurovision Song Contest on four separate occasions.  Hilde Heltberg was 51 when she died of cancer on September 4, 2011.

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Died On This Date (July 1, 2011) Charlie Craig / Celebrated Nashville Songwriter

Charlie Craig
September 30, 1938 – July 1, 2011

Charlie Craig was a respected Nashville songwriter whose Grammy nominated catalog includes hits he penned for the likes of Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, George Strait, Alan Jackson, and Travis Tritt.  A gifted musician as well, Craig began performing in clubs when he was barely out of high school. By the time he hit his early 30s, he was living in Nashville and forging a name for himself as a songwriter to reckon with.  He remained in demand for the next 40 years.  In 2009, he released his autobiography, Old Memories and Me.    Charlie Craig was 73 when he died of cancer on July 1, 2011.

Thanks to Ken Morton, Jr. at The Nashville Sound for the assist