Died On This Date (July 28, 2010) John Aylesworth / Co-Created “Hee Haw”
themusicsover John Aylesworth
DOB Unknown – July 28, 2010
John Aylesworth was a television writer and producer who’s biggest mark on popular music came with the hit country music infused program, Hee Haw. Aylesworth moved from Canada to the U.S. in the late ’50s and quickly found himself as a writer for the popular music program, Your Hit Parade. He went on to write for other music programs like Hullabaloo and specials for Frank Sinatra, Perry Como and Judy Garland, to name a few. During the late ’60s, Aylesworth and partner, Frank Peppiatt developed a show that married the best elements of Laugh-In to those of The Beverly Hillbillies, and Hee Haw was born. The show, hosted by Buck Owens and Roy Clark,went on to become one of the most popular programs for many years thanks to its down home humor and weekly performances by the biggest names in country music. John Aylesworth was 81 when he died from complications of pneumonia on July 28, 2010.
Jimmy Dean was a country music legend, television personality, and part-time actor who used his fame to pitch his own successful Jimmy Dean sausage products for many years. After dropping out of high school in the mid ’40s, Dean chose his path as an entertainer while serving in the United States Air Force. He eventually became host of his own local radio program where future stars like Roy Clark and 
Butch McDade is best remembered as the founding drummer and sometime vocalist for country-rock band, the Amazing Rhythm Aces. With a sound that has been compared to the Eagles, the Amazing Rhythm Aces found moderate popularity during the late ’70s after forming out of the ashes of a band lead by Jesse Winchester who moved to Canada to avoid the Vietnam draft. The band released several albums during the ’70s and ‘8os and won a Grammy for the song, “The End Is Not In Site.” Outside of the Amazing Rhythm Aces, McDade played in the touring bands of, among others, Roy Clark,