Died On This Date (September 12, 2011) Don Wayne / Wrote Numerous Country Hits

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.



Died On This Date (August 11, 2008) Don Helms / Played Steel Guitar For Hank Williams

Don Helms
February 28, 1927 – August 11, 2008

Don Helms’ signature steel guitar can be heard on over 100 Hank Williams recordings.  Throughout his career that spanned over 60 years, Helms played on such classic recordings as “Cash On The Barrelhead” (Louvin Brothers), “Walkin’ After Midnight” (Patsy Cline), and “Long Black Veil” (Lefty Frizzell).  He also played with Johnny Cash, Vince Gill and Hank Williams Jr., among many more.  Don Helms died from complications of heart surgery and diabetes.

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Died On This Date (July 19, 1975) Lefty Frizzell / Country Great

William “Lefty” Frizzell
March 31, 1928 – July 19, 1975

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.

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16 Biggest Hits - Lefty Frizzell

Died On This Date (April 28, 2009) Vern Gosdin / Country Music Star

Vern Gosdin
August 5, 1934 – April 28, 2009

vernVern 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, Lefty Frizzell and Buck Owens.   Gosdin scored several hits throughout the ’70s and ’80s, including “Set ’em Up Joe,” “Chisled In Stone,” and “If You’re Gonna Do Me Wrong (Do It Right).”   Gosdin began singing as a child in his Alabama church.  In the early ’60s he moved to Los Angeles where he became an integral part of the blossoming west coast country scene.  He soon signed to Capitol Records where he released a few marginal hits.  But it wasn’t until he moved to Atlanta, retired and then came out of retirement that he hit his stride with a series of chart toppers throughout the ’80s.  Vern Gosdin passed away in a Nashville hospital after suffering a stroke in recent weeks.

Thanks to Stephen of Stephen Brower for the assist.

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Chiseled In Stone - Vern Gosdin

Died On This Date (December 6, 1988) Roy Orbison / Rock ‘n Roll Pioneer

Roy Orbison
April 23, 1936 – December 6, 1988

orbison

Roy Orbison was one of rock ‘n roll’s true pioneers.  With his uniquely beautiful and almost operatic voice, dark and sometimes melodramatic songs, and a sound that was equal parts country and rockabilly, Orbison would directly inspire such future greats as Bruce Springsteen, Bono, John Lennon and Tom Petty.  When describing his voice, Barry Gibb once called it “the voice of God.” Orbison began learning to play the guitar his father gave him on his 6th birthday.  As he grew older, he found his biggest inspiration in the music of Jimmie Rodgers, Lefty Frizzell, and Hank Williams.  In 1956, he was offered a contract by Sun Records who released his first single, “Ooby Dooby” which sold a respectble 200,000 copies.  Over the course of the next several years, he recorded no less than 20 top 40 singles, including “Only The Lonely,” “In Dreams,” “Crying,” and of course, “Oh, Pretty Woman.”  When the British Invasion hit American soil during the early ’60s, Orbison, like many of rock’s first generation, were ironically pushed aside for the bands who found great inspiration in them.  The ’70s found Orbison’s music embraced by some of the era’s most popular musicians.  Artists like Springsteen, Linda Ronstadt, Gram Parsons and Nazereth were covering his songs either on record or in concert.  In 1987, Orbison experienced a career revival thanks to a televised tribute and live album that found him sharing the stage with Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Tom Waits, Jeff Lynne, Jackson Browne, and Bonnie Raitt.  A year later, he was back in the studio as part of the Traveling Wilburys, a supergroup that included George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, and Bob Dylan.  Their first release sold over 3 million copies in the U.S. alone.  During that time working with the Wilburys, Orbison was also busy recording what supposed to be his comeback album, Mystery Girl.  Later that year found him making a handful of promotional dates for the Wilburys, putting the finishing touches on his album, and preparing for what he hoped would be his second shot at stardom.  But on December 6, 1988, Roy Orbison, 52, died of a heart attack at his home.  During the year that followed, Mystery Girl was released and it’s first single, “You Got It,” was a smash hit that cracked the top 10 in the U.S.  The album reached #5 in the U.S. and #2 in the UK, putting him back where he was when he started his career, on top.

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The Essential Roy Orbison - Roy Orbison