Longtime Grand Ole Opry Member Stonewall Jackson Passes Away At 89

 

Sadly, we must say goodbye to another country music legend.  This time, it's Stonewall Jackson. 

Jackson, the longest-tenured member of the Grand Ole Opry, died at 5:35 AM Nashville time this morning (12/4) after a lengthy battle with vascular dementia.  

Born in North Carolina on November 6, 1932, Jackson arrived in Nashville with a guitar and a desire to sing his country songs for people.  His backstory included lying about his age to join the Army, then joining the Navy once he was legally old enough to enlist. 

While Jackson was a songwriter, it was his version of the George Jones-penned "Life to Go" that set his feet on the path to country music superstardom.  His career and legacy was cemented with the follow-up song: "Waterloo."

The song, written by John D. Loudermilk and Marijohn Wilkin, was a #1 country and pop hit in 1959.  The banjo didn't sound too out of place on pop radio thanks to its use in the folk revival songs of the era.

From there, the hits kept coming: "B.J. the D.J.," "I Washed My Hands in Muddy  Water," "Smoke Along the Track," "A Wound Time Can't Erase," "Leona," "Why I'm Walkin'," and "Don't Be Angry" were among Jackson's many contributions to the country music soundtrack of the 1960s.

He was made a member of the Grand Ole Opry almost before his record deal was signed in 1956, and at the time of his death was the longest-tenured member of the program.  Of course, that relationship wasn't always a smooth one, as Jackson and other older singers famously sued the Opry in the 2007 for age discrimination, charging that they were being ignored because they were older members.  (The suit was settled out of court.)

While Jackson should have been a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, he will now sadly never see that happen.

Farewell to the legendary Stonewall Jackson, who was 89.

K.F. Raizor, author of the website Raizor's Edge and the book We Can't Sing and We Ain't Funny: The World of Homer and Jethro is our guest writer today on That Nashville Sound. She's ever so gracious to provide wonderful tributes to honor those to whom the music we treasure just wouldn't be the same without. Thank you, K.F.