Died On This Date (August 26, 2003) Wilma Burgess / Country Music Singer

Wilma Burgess
June 11, 1939 – August 26, 2003

Wilma Burgess was a popular country singer during the late ’60s and early ’70s.  While attending college, Burgess thought a career in physical education was in her future, that is, until she heard the great Eddy Arnold sing live.  She new she could hold her own as a singer, so in 1960, she packed up and headed to Nashville on the advice of a friend to record some demos.  Within a couple of years, she had released her first record and found a believer in the highly regarded producer, Owen Bradley, who was looking for the next Patsy Cline who had recently died.  With Bradley’s help, Burgess landing a significant deal with Decca Records, and proceeded to release a series of singles that included 15 that landed on the Country charts over the next decade.  She continued to make records until she retired from recording in 1982.  A short time late, Burgess opened the Hitching Post, Nashville’s first lesbian bar.   And contrary to recent claims that Chely Wright was the first country star to come out as a lesbian, Burgess was openly gay throughout her entire career.  On August 26, 2003, Wilma Burgess died following a massive heart attack.  She was 64.

What You Should Own

Misty Blue - Wilma Burgess

Died On This Date (June 30, 2001) Chet Atkins / Country Music Icon

Chet Atkins
June 20, 1924 – June 30, 2001

Chet Atkins was one of the most influential musicians to come out of Nashville. And yet, he was much more than that. Atkins worked on the business side as well, spending some time as an artist manager as well as Vice President of RCA Records‘ country division where he remarkably signed Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Dolly Parton, Bobby Bare, Connie Smith and Jerry Reed to name just a few. As a producer, Atkins made hits for Elvis Presley, Perry Como, Eddy Arnold, Waylon Jennings and many more. The sounds he created on record are credited as being one of the foundations of what would become known as the Nashville Sound. Atkins’ style of playing was itself influenced by the great Merle Travis and is one of the most difficult sounds to imitate, earning him the nickname, “Mister Guitar.” Over the course of his career, Atkins won fourteen Grammys, nine Country Music Association awards, and the Billboard Century award. He was also inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, invited to the White House to play for every president from Kennedy to Bush Sr., and had a stretch of highway in Georgia named after him. Atkins died of cancer on June 30, 2001.

What You Should Own

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The Essential: Chet Atkins - Chet Atkins

 

Died On This Date (May 8, 2008) Eddy Arnold / Country Icon

Richard “Eddy” Arnold
May 15, 1918 – May 8, 2008

Eddy Arnold was one of the original architects of what would become known as the “Nashville Sound.”  Extremely popular, Arnold sold over 85 million records and had almost 150 songs on the charts.  Of those, 28 reached the top.  He is part of an elite group of country artists that stayed relevant for over 50 years.  Arnold launched his career at the age of 18 and made his first radio appearance in 1936.  In those early days, he was managed by Col. Tom Parker who later managed Elvis Presley.  By the ’50s, Arnold was hosting his own television show.  Remarkably, it aired on all three networks.   Arnold “retired” in 1999 at the age of 81, but released a new album in 2005.  He passed away on May 8, 2008 at the age of 89.

What You Should Own

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Died On This Date (December 24, 1940) Billy Hill / American Songwriter

Billy Hill
July 14, 1899 – December 24, 1940

Billy Hill was a Songwriter Hall of Fame tunesmith who penned several hits throughout the ’30s.  Born in the Boston, Hill studied music and played the violin and piano, eventually earning a living at it as part of dance bands.  His first hit as a songwriter came with 1933’s “The Last Roundup,” which made that year’s The Hit Parade and lead to him becoming one of Tin Pan Alley’s most successful writers.  His most well-known first came to prominence in 1936.  “The Glory Of Love” was made into a hit that year by Benny Goodman, and later recorded by Dean Martin, Peggy Lee, Otis Redding, Eddy Arnold, and Bette Midler for the Beaches soundtrack.  More recently, the Jimmy Durante version of the song was prominently featured in the 2009 thriller, Orphan.  Billy Hill was 40 when he passed away on December 24, 1940.

Thanks to Ginger Lee Hill for the assist.



Died On This Date (September 3, 2007) Janis Martin / Rockabilly’s “Female Elvis Presley”

Janis Martin
March 23, 1940 – September 3, 2007

Janis Martin was a popular rockabilly performer who came to prominence during the 1950s. Because of her on-stage moves, she was often referred to as the Female Elvis Presley.   An entertainer from a very early age, Martin began appearing on local radio programs while still in her mid teens, sometimes sharing the stage with the likes of Eddy Arnold, Hank Snow and Jim Reeves.  Martin signed to RCA Records, who had recently signed Presley, when she was just 15.  Her first record, “Will You Willyum,” quickly became a pop and country hit, leading to her getting booked on American Bandstand, The Today Show, The Tonight Show and The Grand Ol’ Opry.  She released a string of hits including “My Boy Elvis” and “Let’s Elope Baby.”  In 1958, RCA dropped Martin when they learned she had secretly married her boyfriend and gotten pregnant.  In the early ’60s, Martin’s second husband forced her to leave the music business.  She resurfaced during the rockabilly revival of the late ’70s, touring for adoring fans throughout Europe.  Martin was introduced to a whole new generation of fans when she guested on Rosie Flores’ Rockabilly Philly album.  Janis Martin died of cancer at a Durham, NC hospital.  She was 67 years old.

What You Should Own

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The Female Elvis - Complete Recordings 1956-60 - Janis Martin