Honky-Tonk Revolution: Exploring the Ten Most Influential Country Music Songs of the 1950s

The 1950s marked a turning point for country music, with the genre experiencing a significant transformation. It was during this time that country music began to gain popularity beyond its traditional rural audience, reaching a broader urban audience and setting the stage for its eventual mainstream success. In this article, we delve into the ten most influential country music songs released during this remarkable decade, examining both the songs and the talented artists who brought them to life.

"I Walk the Line" - Johnny Cash (1956):

Johnny Cash's "I Walk the Line" is an iconic country song that remains a timeless classic. With its distinctive, steady rhythm and Cash's deep, resonant vocals, the song explored themes of loyalty and devotion. Its crossover success appealed to a wider audience, breaking the boundaries of traditional country music.

"Crazy Arms" - Ray Price (1956):

Ray Price's "Crazy Arms" revolutionized the country music scene by introducing the "Nashville Sound." Price's smooth, velvety voice combined with lush arrangements and a prominent steel guitar created a new sound that paved the way for future artists. "Crazy Arms" was one of the first country songs to incorporate elements of pop, ultimately bridging the gap between genres.

"Blue Suede Shoes" - Carl Perkins (1956):

Although primarily associated with rock and roll, Carl Perkins' "Blue Suede Shoes" had a significant impact on the country music landscape. This infectious song showcased Perkins' exceptional guitar skills and catchy lyrics. Its energetic rhythm influenced countless country artists and became a cornerstone in the development of rockabilly.

"Your Cheatin' Heart" - Hank Williams (1952):

Hank Williams, one of country music's most enduring legends, left an indelible mark on the genre with his emotional ballad "Your Cheatin' Heart." The song captures the pain of a broken heart with Williams' distinctive vocal style and heartfelt lyrics. Its timeless quality has made it a country music standard, inspiring generations of artists to explore the depths of human emotions.

"Folsom Prison Blues" - Johnny Cash (1955):

Johnny Cash's rebellious spirit and raw storytelling ability shone through in "Folsom Prison Blues." This song not only resonated with the outlaw country movement of the 1960s but also captivated audiences in the 1950s. With its dark narrative and Cash's signature booming voice, "Folsom Prison Blues" brought a gritty realism to country music and solidified Cash's place as a trailblazer.

"The Battle of New Orleans" - Johnny Horton (1959):

Johnny Horton's "The Battle of New Orleans" combined history with a catchy melody, recounting the famous War of 1812 battle. The song's upbeat tempo, vivid storytelling, and Horton's spirited vocals made it a commercial success, demonstrating the power of narrative-driven country music.

"I'm Movin' On" - Hank Snow (1950):

Hank Snow's "I'm Movin' On" showcased the power of country music as a vehicle for storytelling. The song follows the journey of a man leaving a troubled relationship, with Snow's distinctive voice and vivid lyrics taking the listener on a musical odyssey. It became a crossover hit, reaching both country and pop charts, and cementing Snow's status as a country music pioneer.

"Sixteen Tons" - Tennessee Ernie Ford (1955):

Tennessee Ernie Ford's "Sixteen Tons" became a cultural phenomenon, tackling the plight of the working class. Ford's rich baritone and the song's iconic opening line, "You load sixteen tons, what do you get?" resonated with audiences, shining a light on the hardships faced by blue-collar workers. The song's social commentary and Ford's powerful delivery made it a significant influence on country music's storytelling tradition.

"Heartbreak Hotel" - Elvis Presley (1956):

While Elvis Presley is primarily known as a rock and roll pioneer, his early music drew heavily from country roots. "Heartbreak Hotel" introduced Presley's unique blend of country, blues, and rockabilly, creating a sound that transcended genres. Its enormous success had a profound impact on the country music landscape, inspiring countless artists to experiment with different styles and push boundaries.

"Walkin' After Midnight" - Patsy Cline (1957):

Patsy Cline's haunting voice and captivating delivery made "Walkin' After Midnight" an instant classic. The song's blend of country, pop, and R&B elements brought a unique sound to the genre, laying the foundation for Cline's legendary status and influencing generations of female country artists.

The 1950s witnessed a transformative period in country music, with artists pushing boundaries and reshaping the genre. From Johnny Cash's rebellious anthems to Hank Williams' heart-wrenching ballads, these ten influential songs from the era paved the way for future generations of country artists. They helped country music gain wider acceptance and laid the foundation for the diverse sounds and narratives that continue to define the genre today. By capturing the essence of American life and emotions, these songs and artists forever hold a significant place in the rich tapestry of country music history.

Vince Gill & Paul Franklin Team Up On Upcoming Ray Price Tribute Album

Artist: Vince Gill & Paul Franklin

Album: Sweet Memories: The Music Of Ray Price & The Cherokee Cowboys

Label: MCA Nashville

Release date: August 3, 2023

Vince Gill & Paul Franklin have teamed up for a special tribute to Ray Price & The Cherokee Cowboys on an upcoming tribute album that will be coming up on August 3rd. 

From the foreword from country icon Bill Anderson, "They have taken their admiration for Ray Price to the next level. the students honoring the teacher with one of the finest true-country tributes of all time. It's more than a tribute, though. it's Vince's and Paul's way of saying `thank you' to one of the masters who helped define the genre while influencing them greatly."

Ray Price was an American country music singer, songwriter, and guitarist, best known for his smooth vocal style and his contributions to the honky-tonk genre. He was born on January 12, 1926, in Perryville, Texas, and passed away on December 16, 2013, in Mount Pleasant, Texas.

Price began his musical career in the late 1940s, playing in various bands and honky-tonks in Texas. He gained recognition as a member of Hank Williams' Drifting Cowboys, playing the bass fiddle and singing backup vocals. Price's time with Hank Williams greatly influenced his musical style and helped shape his future sound.

In the early 1950s, Ray Price formed his own band called the Cherokee Cowboys. The Cherokee Cowboys became one of the most successful and influential backing bands in country music history. The original lineup included notable musicians such as Buddy Emmons, Roger Miller, and Willie Nelson.

With the Cherokee Cowboys, Price developed a signature sound known as the "Ray Price Shuffle" or the "Ray Price Beat." This style featured a walking bass line and a unique rhythm that blended elements of country, swing, and jazz. The Cherokee Cowboys provided the perfect accompaniment to Price's smooth vocals and helped him achieve numerous hits throughout his career.

In the 1950s and 1960s, Ray Price enjoyed a string of chart-topping singles, including "Crazy Arms," "City Lights," and "For the Good Times." His rich baritone voice, combined with the innovative sound of the Cherokee Cowboys, made him a respected and influential figure in country music.

Price's success continued through the decades, and he remained a popular performer well into the 2000s. He recorded over 100 albums, won numerous awards, and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1996. Ray Price's contributions to country music, both as a solo artist and with the Cherokee Cowboys, left an indelible mark on the genre and continue to inspire musicians to this day.

The first release/single off of the album is "Kissing Your Picture (Is So Cold)" and you can listen to it below. 

"Whiskey River" Songwriter and Texas Country Music Hall of Famer Johnny Bush Passes Away at 85

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.

The brutality of 2020 continues.  The traditional country music world has lost a giant in Johnny Bush.

Bush, known as the "Country Caruso," died Friday (10/16) of pneumonia in a hospital in San Antonio.  He had been in and out of the hospital in recent months, battling pneumonia.  

Born John Bush Shinn III in Houston in 1935, a TV gig at age 17 got him a Musicians' Union card and his stage name: the announcer messed up his name, introducing him as "Johnny Bush," and his union card was already made out in that name. 

Bush joined Ray Price's band and made friends with the fledgling songwriting drummer, Willie Nelson.  They became lifelong friends. 

Bush's powerhouse voice made him popular in Texas (where he was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in 2003), but with the changes in country music in the 60s with the "Nashville Sound" Bush found it difficult to break through on a national level. 

However, he did eventually break through, thanks to hits like "Undo the Right" and his 1972 hit "Whiskey River."  By then his pal Willie Nelson was becoming a superstar.  Nelson adopted "Whiskey River," which Bush co-wrote with Paul Stroud, as his concert theme song, opening and closing shows with it. 

In 1978 Bush's career faced a serious setback when he was diagnosed with spasmodic dysphonia, a neurological condition affecting the vocal cords.  Thanks to treatment and therapy, he regained his voice.

For most of the past five decades, his base was his home state, where he released albums on Heart of Texas Records and toured extensively.  He was given the "Founder of the Sound" award at the inaugural Ameripolitan Music Awards in 2014.

Bush was far from retired.  He had sold-out concerts scheduled well into 2021.

Farewell to the great Johnny Bush, who was 85.

That Nashville Sound Monday Newsbytes: Willie Nelson, Krystal Keith, Rory Feek, Maggie Rose & More

Lots of new projects were unveiled over the weekend- many of which are new on the radar. So consider yourself first in on the know. It's like a little club. Except we don't have meetings and there are no dues.

- A special collection of Willie Nelson's earliest demos is going to be made available through Real Gone Music with a double album called Things To Remember: The Pamper Demos. The project is scheduled for release on CD and digital platforms on July 13th. Here's the scoop on the project:

For the series of sessions that laid the foundation for Willie Nelson’s career and thus changed the course of modern country music, these recordings have been treated pretty cavalierly over the years. But first, a little history…Willie Nelson was a struggling songwriter, hungry for work and maybe even just plain hungry, when he moved to Nashville in late 1960 with his wife and kids and met Hank Cochran, who was a writer for Pamper Music. Pamper, which was owned by country star Ray Price, fiddle player Hal Smith, and a baker (!) from Pico Rivera, California named Claude Caviness, was the hottest publishing company in town, thanks to writers like Cochran and Harlan Howard and songs like “Heartaches by the Number” and “I Fall to Pieces.”

At first, Willie wasn’t going to sign with Pamper because Hal Smith wouldn’t give Willie the draw he needed, but Cochran told Smith to front Willie fifty bucks a week from his own draw. So Willie, determined to reward Cochran’s trust, got to work. “I was writing to prove I could write,” he said. “To get the money and feel like I was earning it.” He would end most work days with a new song, and then he and Cochran would call a session with A-team musicians who didn’t have major label studio work that day. The result: a body of work that just may well represent the most fertile creative period ever to issue from a country songwriter. The songs Willie recorded for Pamper during the early ‘60s remain among his most famous, and include tunes he still performs to this day: “Crazy,” “Funny (How Time Slips Away),’ “Night Life,” “Pretty Paper,” “Half a Man,” “Hello Walls,” “Healing Hands of Time,” and more.

And these, the Pamper demos, are the first recordings of those legendary songs. In other words, this is what artists and label guys back in the day heard when Hal Smith or Hank Cochran handed over a little acetate, and said, “Hey, listen here to what our guy Willie Nelson just come up with.” It simply doesn’t get much more historic than that! But, for some reason, these demos have hitherto turned up in bits and pieces, mostly on budget packages with little documentation or care. Now, finally, these incredibly important recordings are getting the respect they deserve. Things to Remember—The Pamper Demos brings together these 28 performances for the first time (several of which have hitherto eluded compilation), all remastered by Mike Milchner at SonicVision to sound much better than they ever have, and annotated by Grammy-winning writer Colin Escott, with photos courtesy of Bear Family label founder Richard Weize.

 - Sonia Leigh, former songwriter and tour-mate of Zac Brown and Eric Church, has a new live album coming out on June 15 called Live in London - Studio 3 Sessions.

- Maggie Rose has been releasing digital 45's damn-near every single month and they've been terrific. Her voice is one of the best in Nashville and each dual-track release has had her soulful style front and center. Her next one is being released on June 15 and features "Long Way To Go" and "Do Right By My Love." 

- Krystal Keith, daughter of Toby Keith, has a new EP coming out on July 13 called Boulder. The five track Show Dog label release features a duet with Lance Carpenter. Track list:

1. Boulder

2. I Got You

3. Anyone Else

4. Then It Started Raining

5. Resting Beach Face

 

- Big-voiced newcomer Dillon Carmichael has set August 17th as the release date for his debut album, Hell on an Angel. He's quietly released some fantastic independent work and according to Rolling Stone Country, "mixes some hard-nosed Outlaw country with the melodic edge of Southern rock.  The album's 10 tracks were recorded in Nashville's historic RCA Studio A by Grammy-winning producer Dave Cobb (Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson, Chris Stapleton). Seven of the songs were written or co-written by the young Kentucky native – a nephew of John Michael Montgomery and Montgomery Gentry's Eddie Montgomery – including the gritty title track and the previously released "It's Simple." Fellow singer-songwriters such as Jon Pardi and Leroy Powell also show up in the credits of Hell on an Angel, along with Carmichael's mother Becky Montgomery on "Hard on a Hangover.""

 

- Rory Feek released a final version of his film trailer for Josephine, a movie filmed with he and his cousin Aaron Carnahan based loosely on a true story that inspired a Joey+Rory song by the same name.

 

- Classic country songs are alive and well. William Michael Morgan proves such as with one of our favorite tracks of the year and an incredible track titled "The Last Monday in May."  Check out this video of him performing it with some veterans via Operation Song on the historic Grand Ole Opry stage on May 25, 2018.

 

Country Radio Loses Two Iconic Voices - Hairl Hensley & Tom Perryman Pass Away

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.

The new year has proved very painful for the Country Disc Jockey Hall of Fame, losing two members in the past two weeks.

Hairl Hensley: the "dean of Grand Ole Opry announcers" died on December 31. He was an Opry announcer for 35 years, second in tenure only to the great Grant Turner. In addition to his work on the Opry, he also was a beloved DJ on WSM, broadcasting both country and bluegrass shows. For years he hosted a 15-minute morning program called "The Early Bird Gets the Bluegrass" at 5 AM, as well as a Monday night bluegrass/interview show.

Hensley had a marvelous sense of humor. I remember hearing him play Tom T. Hall's "Ravishing Ruby" one night; and, when the trumpet part came in during the chorus of the song, Hairl slipped in a trumpet playing the "charge!" call over it. But that wasn't his best gag, and I would be remiss if I didn't tell my favorite Hairl Hensley story.

Massey-Ferguson Tractors sponsored a portion of the Opry at one time. Hensley took the script book and did a little "alteration" of the script for the Massey-Ferguson ad: he crossed out "Massey-Ferguson" and wrote, in its place, "M.F." If you think that sounds funny, you should have heard Eddie Stubbs read it that way one night: "These M.F. tractors are the best you can buy."

Aside from the jokes, he was a great DJ with a vast knowledge of country and bluegrass, and he genuinely loved the music he played.

Hairl Hensley was 81.

Tom Perryman: from humble beginnings in eastern Texas, Tom Perryman moved up to become one of the most important DJs in the 40s and 50s. He had a keen ear for good music and went out of his way to help up-and-coming acts of the day, such as Jim Reeves and Ray Price, get their music played on radio.

Perryman died January 11th after years of failing health.

In addition to his eagerness to turn a song he believed in into a hit, Perryman was also a good businessman. After Jim Reeves found success he and Perryman became business partners, buying radio stations in eastern Texas (including the one where Reeves got his start, KGRI in Henderson, Texas).

In the foreword to Perryman's biography, Keepin' It Country, Ray Price explained his long friendship with Perryman and how the DJ worked tirelessly to get country stars' songs the exposure they deserved. Price summarized Perryman's commitment simply: "He helped everybody."

Tom Perryman was 90.

Farewell to these two giants of country music broadcasting.

Opry Member Jeannie Seely To Release Written In Song In January

Artist: Jeannie Seely
Album: Written In Song
Label: Smith Music Group
Release date: January 13, 2016

GRAMMY award-winning and longtime Grand Ole Opry Member Jeannie Seely will release her next album on January 13 entitled Written In Song. The project includes 14 tracks all co-written or self-penned by Seely and includes 14 songs recorded by country legends like Merle Haggard (“Life of a Rodeo Cowboy), Dottie West (“He’s All I Need”), Ernest Tubb (“Sometimes I Do”), Ray Price (“Enough to Lie”) and more.

The project includes special guests including Kenny and Tess Sears, Connie Smith, Marty Stuart, Jan Howard and Jessi Colter.

“Written In Song is such an exciting project for me for many reasons,” states Seely. “It consists of 14 songs that I have written over the years, most of them recorded by my peers and my heroes. It’s also very rewarding to know that these songs have stood the test of time and are just as viable today. I am extremely grateful to the musicians and singers who made them sound brand new.”

A BMI-awarded songwriter, Seely’s songs have been recorded by Country Music Hall of Fame members Faron Young, Merle Haggard, Connie Smith, Ray Price, Willie Nelson, Ernest Tubb and Little Jimmy Dickens, as well as by many other artists including Doyle Lawson, Lorrie Morgan and Irma Thomas.

Written In Song Track Listing:

 1. Sometimes I Do
 2. He's All I Need
 3. I'm Never Gonna See You
 4. Senses
 5. Anyone Who Knows What Love Is
 6. You Don't Need Me
 7. My Love For You
 8. Leavin' And Sayin' Goodbye
 9. The Pain Once You're Gone
 10. He Always Got What He Wanted
 11. Life Of A Rodeo Cowboy
 12. Enough To Lie
 13. Who Needs You
 14. We're Still Hangin' In There Ain't We Jessi
 

New Music Video From Willie Nelson and The Time Jumpers - "I'll Be There (If You Ever Want Me)"

Willie Nelson Collaborates With The Time Jumpers On New Ray Price Tribute Project

Artist: Willie Nelson
Album: For the Good Times: A Tribute to Ray Price
Label: Sony Legacy
Release date: Sept 16, 2016

Willie Nelson has teamed up with Vince Gill and the rest of The Time Jumpers and put together a tribute album for his very good friend Ray Price who passed away in December 2013.

"Ray was as a close a friend as you could have," he says. "We traveled together, lived together, played music together, partied together. . . and had a lot of good times."

Upon Ray's passing, Nelson had this to say about his golden-throated friend, "Our loss is Heaven’s gain, because a band of angels just got one of the best voices ever created."

The project comes some 55 years after Price and Nelson first worked together and some 36 years after they made an album together. San Antonio Rose is a studio album by artists Nelson and Price together. It was released in 1980 via Columbia Records. The album peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. Price had recorded an album by the same title in 1961 as a tribute to Bob Wills, on which Nelson played acoustic guitar
The project follows tribute albums Nelson has done for Ray Charles, George Gershwin, Frank Sinatra, Cindy Walker and more.

Tracklisting:

1. "Heartaches by the Number" (featuring the Time Jumpers)
2. "I’ll Be There (If You Ever Want Me)" (featuring the Time Jumpers)
3. "Faded Love"
4. "It Always Will Be"
5. "City Lights" (featuring the Time Jumpers)
6. "Don’t You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me" (featuring the Time Jumpers)
7. "Make the World Go Away"
8. "I’m Still Not Over You"
9. "Night Life"
10. "Crazy Arms" (featuring the Time Jumpers)
11. "Invitation to the Blues" (featuring the Time Jumpers)
12. "For the Good Times"

The Curtain Falls On Many Country Music Voices in 2013

George Jones (1931- 2013)

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 lists some of the musicians and singers we lost along the way in country music this year. She's ever so gracious to provide a wonderful tribute each year to honor those to whom the music we treasure just wouldn't be the same without. Thank you, K.F.

Here are the performers who sang their final notes in 2013:

Charlie Acuff (November 22, natural causes, age 94):  east Tennessee fiddler and radio star who, unlike his famous second cousin Roy Acuff, stayed in his home region and entertained for decades.

Keith Adkinson (June 18, unknown cause, age 69):  Nashville music attorney who successfully proved that Jett Williams was indeed the daughter of Hank Williams.  He was also Jett's husband.

Leon Ashley (October 20, illness, age 77):  a history-making singer:  he wrote, published and released a song on his own, and it went to #1.  The song was the classic "Laura (What's He Got I Ain't Got)."

Homer Bailes (December 3, natural causes, age 91):  the final surviving member of the legendary Bailes Brothers band, inductees in the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame and the first act from West Virginia to become members of the Grand Ole Opry.

Bob Beckham (November 11, unknown cause, age 86):  singer with the 1959 hit "Just As Much As Ever" who later became a publisher and mentor of acts such as Kris Kristofferson and Ray Stevens.

Don Bowman (June 5, complications from a stroke, age 75):  the comedian behind "Wildwood Weed" (the 1974 Jim Stafford hit) and "Chit Akins, Make Me a Star" also wrote serious songs with Waylon Jennings ("Just to Satisfy You") and served as the original host of radio's American Country Countdown.

Charles Carr (July 1, brief illness, age 79):  the man who, as an 18-year-old college freshman, drove Hank Williams from Montgomery to Knoxville, then into history when the legendary singer died during the night in the back seat of the car.

Cowboy Jack Clement (August 8, liver cancer, age 82):  one of the 2013 Country Hall of Fame inductees, Cowboy Jack's career spanned seven decades as a singer, songwriter, producer, publisher, studio owner....and just being Cowboy Jack.

Tony Douglas (January 22, lymphoma, age 82):  singer best known for his 1963 hit "His and Hers."

Chet Flippo (June 19, long illness, age 69):  a journalist's journalist, Flippo penned the first extensive biography of Hank Williams (Your Cheatin' Heart in 1981) and served for years as the country music writer for Billboard and CMT.

Jim Foglesong (July 9, natural causes, age 90):  Hall of Fame music executive who helped launch the careers of the likes of Don Williams, George Strait and Garth Brooks.

Tompall Glaser (August 13, long illness, age 75):  a performer who enjoyed a long career with his brothers (as Tompall & the Glaser Brothers) and was one-fourth of the quartet (with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter) on the landmark Wanted!  The Outlaws, country's first platinum album, in 1976.

Chuck Goff (February 27, car wreck, age 54):  bassist and bandleader for singer Toby Keith.

Jack Greene (March 14, Alzheimer's disease, age 83):  from the "singing drummer" of Ernest Tubb's Texas Troubadours he rose to fame with the massive hits "Statue of a Fool" and "There Goes My Everything," the latter of which became the CMA's first "song of the year" award winner.

Sidney "Hardrock" Gunter (March 15, pneumonia, age 88):  Alabama-based pre-rockabilly singer who wrote the Red Foley smash hit "Birmingham Bounce."

Sherman Halsey (October 29, unknown cause, age 56):  son of Nashville managing legend Jim Halsey and video producer/director for several country artists including Dwight Yoakam, Brooks & Dunn and the Oak Ridge Boys.

Sammy Johns (January 4, unknown cause, age 66):  singer/songwriter who wrote songs such as Conway Twitty's "Desperado Love" and John Conlee's "Common Man," he also had a massive pop (and minor country) hit with "Chevy Van."

George Jones (April 26, hypoxic respiratory failure, age 81):  in the dictionary, next to the term "country music," it says, "See George Jones."

Claude King (March 7,  natural causes, age 90):  an original member of the Louisiana Hayride who shot to international success with his 1962 smash "Wolverton Mountain."

Nelson Larkin (November 18, unknown causes, age 70):  producer of Earl Thomas Conley's string of hits as well as a songwriter and publisher.

Johnny MacRae (July 3, heart disease, age 84):  songwriter who penned such hits as "Whiskey, If You Were a Woman" and "I'd Be Better Off in a Pine Box."

Lorene Mann (May 24, stroke, age 76):  a founding member of the Nashville Songwriters Association, the singer/songwriter wrote "Don't Go Near the Indians" (one of Rex Allen's biggest hits) and "Left to Right" (a hit for Kitty Wells), as well as recorded duets with Justin Tubb and Archie Campbell.

Mindy McCready (February 17, suicide [gunshot], age 37):  troubled modern country singer who took her own life a month after her boyfriend David Wilson killed himself.

Wayne Mills (November 25, shot to death, age 44):  a honky tonk singer who had performed dates with Jamey Johnson, he was nearing completion of a new album when he was shot by a Nashville bar owner during an argument.

Patti Page (January 1, long illness, age 85):  although primarily a pop vocalist, Pee Wee King & Redd Stewart's song "Tennessee Waltz" became her biggest hit and her signature tune -- along with one of the state songs of Tennessee.

Frank Page (January 10, pneumonia, age 87):  a DJ Hall of Fame member who spent decades on Shreveport's KWKH station, including working as an announcer on the Louisiana Hayride.

Jody Payne (August 10, heart disease, age 77):  guitarist for Willie Nelson's band.

Ray Price (December 16, pancreatic cancer, age 87):  a country singer's country singer, his career spanned eight decades and spawned countless hits including the Grammy-winning "For the Good Times."

Marvin Rainwater (September 17, heart failure, age 88):  singer with a string of hits in the 1950's, most famously, "Gonna Find Me a Bluebird."

Ramblin' Tommy Scott (September 30, injuries from an August 10 car wreck, age 96):  performer who worked with Charlie Monroe's Kentucky Partners, appeared frequently on the Grand Ole Opry in the 1940's and early 50's, and toured under the billing of "the Last Real Medicine Show."

Jim Shumate (September 30, natural causes, age 91):  Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys fiddler from 1943 until 1945.  He recommended Earl Scruggs to Monroe and later played on early Flatt & Scruggs sessions.

Johnny Sibert (December 21, long illness, age 80):  Steel Guitar Hall of Fame member who put the signature sound behind Carl Smith.

Cal Smith (October 10, unknown cause, age 81):  one of two former Texas Troubadours to die this year (with Jack Greene), Smith, like Greene, left Tubb and embarked on a CMA Award-winning career, highlighted by "Country Bumpkin," "The Lord Knows I'm Drinking," and "It's Time to Pay the Fiddler."

Gordon Stoker (March 27, long illness, age 88):  the tenor singer in the Hall of Fame vocal group the Jordanaires.

Rex Trailer (January 9, pneumonia, age 84):  a country music performer in the 50s who worked with Bill Haley, he later became well-known for his regional TV series Rex Trailer's Boomtown.

Tom Tall (ne Tommie Lee Guthrie) (June 14, unknown cause, age 75):  country and rockabilly singer best known for singing "Are You Mine" with Ginny Wright in the 1950's.

Slim Whitman (June 19, heart failure, age 90):  the southpaw guitar-playing yodeler who saved the world in Mars Attacks!, Whitman amassed nearly a dozen top ten hits and three gold singles in a career that spanned eight decades.

John Wilkinson (January 11, cancer, age 67):  guitarist for Elvis Presley's touring TCB band.

Farewell, and thank you for the music.

 

Ray Price (1926 - 2013)

Country Music Hall of Famer and Grand Ole Opry star Ray Price passed away at the age of 87 yesterday.  Janie Price, Ray's wife, sent out the following message to fans through the family spokesperson, Bill Mack:

RAY PRICE LEFT FOR HEAVEN AT 4:43 PM CENTRAL TIME. HE WENT IN PERFECT PEACE. DETAILS LATER. JANIE AND THE FAMILY SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR PRAYERS. RAY'S BODY WILL BE RECEIVED AT RESTLAND FUNERAL HOME IN DALLAS.

Ray was a legend, one of the last of his generation in country music and will be sorely missed. Several wonderful obituaries have been written across the web but the one at Engine 145 (David Cantwell) and The Tennessean (Peter Cooper) are particularly terrific.

Thank you for the good times, Mr. Price.
 

TNS Video History- Ray Price- "Heartaches By the Number"

With the news that legend Ray Price has left the hospital for home hospice care, we share a little of his best. He did leave a message for fans this week: “I love my fans and have devoted my life to reaching out to them. I appreciate their support all these years and I hope I haven’t let them down. I am at peace. I love Jesus. I’m going to be just fine. Don’t worry about me. I’ll see you again one day.”

TNS Video History- Ray Price- "For The Good Times"

Several reports have popped up across the web over the last 24 hours that Ray Price has been readmitted to a Tyler, TX hospital with complications due to his pancreatic cancer diagnosis- and that doctor's don't expect him to leave the hospital this time. We'll be sending out prayers and wishes out to Price and his family and wishing for the best for this legend and Grand Ole Opry star.