Died On This Date (January 20, 2012) Larry Butler / Successful Country Musician & Producer

Larry Butler
March 26, 1942 – January 20, 2012

Larry Butler was a respected Nashville producer who, over the course of his career, helped create hits for the likes of Dottie West, Kenny Rogers, Waylon Jennings, John Denver, and Kim Carnes.  A gifted pianist and singer as well, Butler was just 6 years old when he launched his career with a performance  with the Harry James Orchestra.  Born in Florida, Butler moved to Nashville in 1963 to find work as a session player.  Before he knew it, his stellar piano playing was being featured on records by such country luminaries as Johnny Cash, Conway Twitty, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, and Tammy Wynette, to name just a few. By the early ’70s, Butler was the head of United Artists’ Nashville division and producing some of the era’s greatest records.   In fact, it was Butler who partnered Kenny Rogers with Dottie West to record some of the greatest country duets in history.  But it was Rogers alone who he had the most success with.  Hits like “Coward Of The County,” “The Gambler,” “She Believes In Me,” and “Lucille” all had Butler at the helm.  To this day, Butler remains the only Nashville producer to be awarded the Grammy for Producer of the Year.  Larry Butler died of natural causes on January 20, 2012.  He was 69.



Died On This Date (January 20, 2011) Jim Williamson / Legendary Nashville Recording Engineer

Jim Williamson
DOB Unknown – January 20, 2011

Jim Williamson was a respected Nashville recording engineer who worked on several of the most iconic recordings in pop music history.  His behind-the-board talent can be heard on such records as Tammy Wynette’s “Stand By Your Man,” Loretta Lynn’s “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” Lynn Anderson‘s “Rose Garden,” and Bob Dylan’s “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35.”  He also worked on recordings by Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, and Kris Kristofferson, to name a few.  Jim Williamson passed away from pulmonary disease on January 11, 2011.  He was 75.

Thanks to Jon Grimson for the assist.



Died On This Date (July 29, 1988) Pete Drake / Pedal Steel Legend & Successful Producer

Roddis “Pete” Drake
October 8, 1932 – July 29, 1988

L-R: Pete Drake, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Peter Frampton, Billy Preston

Pete Drake was an in-demand Nashville producer and pedal steel guitarist during the ’60s and ’70s.  In 1950, Drake formed an Atlanta-based  band that included Joe South, Doug Kershaw, Jerry Reed and Roger Miller.  He later moved to Nashville where he played on hits by the likes of Bob Dylan, Lynn AndersonTammy Wynette, Joan Baez, George Harrison and Ringo Starr.  While in Nashville he developed a unique device to play his guitar through – it was called a “talk box” and it would reach the masses in later recordings  by Peter Frampton and Joe Walsh.  Drake died of lung cancer on July 29, 1988.

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For Pete's Sake - Pete Drake

Died On This Date (April 6, 1998) Tammy Wynette / The First Lady Of Country Music

Tammy Wynette
May 5, 1942 – April 6, 1998

Tammy Wynette was rightfully known as the “First Lady of Country Music” due in part to her domination of the country music charts during the late ’60s and early ’70s. With hits like “Stand By Your Man,” and “D-I-V-O-R-C-E” she personified female country singers of the era. Her songs reached the top of the country music charts 17 times and earned her two Grammys. In 1969, Wynette married George Jones, with whom she had several more hits as his duet partner. A couple little know facts about Wynette were that she was a stand-out basketball player in high school, and that she renewed her cosmetology license every year so she’d have something to fall back on. She was also the voice of Hank Hill’s mother on King Of The Hill. As is generally the case with country stars of the ’60s and ’70s, Wynette’s popularity waned in the ’80s, but she found a new popularity in 1991 when she teamed up with British electronic band the KLF on “Justified And Ancient (Stand By The JAMs)”,  a number one hit throughout much of the world. A couple of years later, she joined forces with Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn for the great Honky Tonk Angels album. Wynette suffered from numerous health problems throughout her life resulting in over two dozen major surgeries. Her body finally gave in on April 6, 1998, when she died in her sleep from a pulmonary blood clot.

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Tammy Wynette

Died On This Date (November 22, 2008) Alan Gordon / Co-Wrote “Happy Together”

Alan Gordon
April 22, 1944 – November 22, 2008

alan_gordon

Alan Gordon was a songwriter many popular songs during the ’60s and ’70s.  The list of those who have recorded his songs or co-written with him is staggering.  It includes, Three Dog Night, the Turtles, Tammy Wynette, Alice Cooper, Bobby Darin, Freddy Fender, the Ojays, Frank Zappa, and the Lovin’ Spoonful.  Two of the biggest hits co-written by Gordon and writing partner, Garry Bonner, were “Happy Together” (the Turtles) and “Celebrate” (Three Dog Night).  Alan Gordon was 64 when he died of cancer on November 22, 2009.