Died On This Date (September 12, 2011) Don Wayne / Wrote Numerous Country Hits
themusicsover Don Wayne (Born Donald Choate)
May 30, 1933 – September 12, 2011
Don Wayne was a respected Nashville songwriter whose songs have been recorded by a who’s who of country music legends. Born in Nashville, Wayne took a shine to country music at an early age, often catching his favorite singers on the Grand Ole Opry program on his radio. In 1953, George Morgan recorded his “Lonesome Waltz” for Columbia Records, making it Wayne’s first major label recording. In later years, his songs were made into hits by the likes of Lefty Frizzell (“Saginaw, Michigan”), Cal Smith (“Country Bumpkin”), Del Reeves (“The Belles Of Southern Bell”), and Faron Young (“Walk Tall,” which was later recorded by punk band, Stiff Little Fingers). Wayne’s songs have also been put onto vinyl by Hank Williams Jr., Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty, George Jones, and Jerry Garcia, to name a few. Wayne also recorded a handful of his own albums, and over the years, he was either recognized or given awards to by virtually every country music organization. Don Wayne was 78 when he passed away on September 12, 2011. Although cause of death was not immediately released, he was reportedly in hospice care just prior to his death.
Don Helms’ signature steel guitar can be heard on over 100 
Lefty Frizzell was a country singer and songwriter, popular in the 1950s and one of the leaders of the honky tonk movement. His singing and playing style were a major influence on the likes of George Jones, Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson. Frizzell kept very busy throughout most of the ’50s, either recording or touring the honky tonk circuit, and even as rock ‘n roll was dominating the Ameican phsyche by 1959, Frizzell was still scoring hits with his traditional country sound, including the Grammy nominated “Long Black Veil.” By the ’70s, Frizzell had moved to Bakersfield, California and became the first Country artist to perform at the Hollywood Bowl. But unfortunately, Frizzell’s battle with alcohol was starting to catch up with him, both physically and by damaging his business and personal relationships due to his heavy mood swings and angry tirades. Lefty Frizzell died on July 19, 1975 after suffering a stroke.
Vern Gosdin was nicknamed “The Voice” for a reason. He had one of the most beautifully soulful singing voices in all of country music, and if honky-tonk had a Mount Rushmore, Vern Gosdin would likely sit alongside George Jones, Merle Haggard, 
