The Academy Remembers

Canadian folk singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot died on May 1, 2023 at the age of 84.  Lightfoot had success in success in folk, folk-rock and Country Music, and will be remembered as one of Canada’s greatest songwriters. Lightfoot’s career got its start when he recorded two singles at RCA in Nashville, both produced by Chet Atkins. The resulting songs,”(Remember Me) I’m the One” and “Negotiations / It’s Too Late, He Wins” went on to be huge hits in Toronto. In 1963, Lightfoot travelled in Europe and hosted BBC TV’s Country and Western Show, returning to Canada in 1964. 

As a writer, Lightfoot went on to get cuts with Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Chad & Jeremy, George Hamilton IV, the Clancy Brothers and the Johnny Mann Singers. Established recording artists such as Marty Robbins, Leroy Van Dyke, and Judy Collins all achieved chart success with Lightfoot’s material.Throughout his career, Lightfoot was able to have success from his home in Canada without moving to any music mecca, though he often recorded in Nashville at Owen and Jerry Bradley’s Bradley’s Barn during the ’60s.

Claude Gray, known as “The Tall Texan” and the “Family Bible” singer, died April 28, 2023. He was 91. Originally from Henderson, Texas, Gray began his early adulthood serving in the U.S. Navy. It wasn’t until his late 20s, after landing a job as a radio announcer, that he began to pursue music. Signed by D Records, his Country Music career took off after he recorded hit “Family Bible.” The song, originally written by Willie Nelson, was sold to Paul Buskirk so Nelson could keep food on the table, but ironically Nelson credits its success as the impetus for him continuing to write songs and move to Nashville. Two years later, Gray was signed to Mercury Records and released his album Songs of Broken Love Affairs, which included hits “I’ll Just Have a Cup of Coffee (Then I’ll Go)” and “My Ears Should Burn (When Fools Are Talked About).” Gray continued releasing songs into the late 1960s, and into his older age, he remained active in the Country space, touring in the “Claude Gray Roadshow.”  

Barbara Ellen (Leuallen) Clarkson, 83, formerly of Nashville, TN and more recently of Stuarts Draft passed away on Thursday, April 27, 2023. Barbara was an award winning song writer and play writer. Her most notable cuts were “I Am the Dreamer”, and “She Only Meant To Use You” by Conway Twitty along with “God Bless the Children” sung by Loretta Lynn, which all reached number one on the charts. Along with being musically gifted, she was a wonderful mother who enjoyed painting and singing.

Keith Gattis, a beloved singer, songwriter and producer passed away on April 23, 2023. He was 52 years old. The Texas-born songwriter began his musical journey playing in Austin before moving to Nashville. After signing with RCA in 1996, he released “Little Drops Of My Heart” off his debut self-titled album. In 2002 he became Dwight Yoakam’s band leader and played both electric guitar and bass on Yoakam’s album Blame the Vain. Gattis would go on to become an in-demand session guitarist, playing for Bruce Robinson, Sunny Sweeney, Jon Pardi, Brandy Clark, and many more. He would also find success in songwriting. His song “El Cerrito Place,” off his album Big City Blues was rerecorded by Charlie Robinson, and eventually would become a hit for Kenny Chesney. Gattis would go on to have songs cut by George Strait, Randy Travis, Randy Houser, Gary Allan, Jack Ingram and more. At his studio, Pioneertown Recording Studio, he produced for Jon Pardi, Jake Owen, and Waylon Payne, among others and was a co-producer of Randy Houser’s 2019 acclaimed album Magnolia.  

Ray Pillow, a longtime Grand Ole Opry member, died on March 26, 2023. He was 85. Born in Lynchburg, Virginia, Pillow earned a business degree and served in the Navy before launching his music career. When a strong showing in a talent contest earned him a guest slot on the Opry, Pillow set his sights on Country Music. Signing with Capitol Records, Pillow enjoyed a banner year in 1966 with a Top 10 duet with Jean Shepard (“I’ll Take the Dog”), an invitation to join the Opry cast, and new artist accolades from Billboard and Cashbox. Between 1965 and 1981, Pillow charted 18 singles. With Lee Greenwood’s manager Larry McFaden, Pillow co-founded Sycamore Valley Music Company, which published the 1984 classic, “God Bless the USA.

Bob “Norton” Thompson, the entrepreneur who opened the Nashville rehearsal studio Soundcheck died on March 24, 2023. He was 80. Following gigs as a roadie in the 1970s, Thompson signed on with the Eagles as a guitar tech for Glenn Frey, who became a lifelong friend and business partner. Thompson also worked on tours with the Bellamy Brothers, Jimmy Buffett, and others. In 1989, he and his wife co-founded Third Encore rehearsal studios near Los Angeles. After selling that company, Thompson and his family moved to Nashville and opened the Soundcheck facility in 1993, with Frey as co-owner. They sold Soundcheck in 2004 when Thompson retired. In 2020, Thompson published a memoir, Last Encore: My Time With Glenn Frey, The Eagles, And Other Hit Artists.  

Liz Thiels, a pioneering public relations executive who represented the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, as well as numerous Country artists in the 1980s and 1990s, died on March 19, 2023. She was 78. The Louisiana native worked as a newspaper reporter and press secretary before moving to Nashville in 1969. Within two years, she’d become a partner and co-founder in the Nashville venue Exit/In. In 1979, Thiels co-founded Network Ink, considered Nashville’s first publicity firm to focus on music. She became sole owner in 1985 and mentored a generation of Country Music publicists. In 2001, Thiels closed the company to join the executive team of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, her longtime client. She retired as Senior Vice President in 2015.  

Michael Rhodes, a first-call studio musician who won 10 ACM Awards as a bassist, died on March 4, 2023. He was 69. Rhodes was born in Monroe, Louisiana, and taught himself to play guitar around age 11. After a period of time living in Memphis, Austin, and Los Angeles, he moved to Nashville, where his funky style and adaptability led to a job as a demo session player for Tree Publishing in the late 1970s.Producers soon sought him out for major label projects and he received his first of 17 ACM nominations as a bassist in 1987.Rhodes was named a Nashville Cat by the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in 2015; he was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame in 2019  

Kyle Jacobs, a talented Nashville songwriter and producer and the husband of Kellie Pickler passed away on February 17, 2023. In 2014 Jacobs won an ACM Award as producer of Lee Brice's "I Drive Your Truck." In addition, he was a co-writer on Garth Brooks' single "More Than a Memory," the first song to debut at Number One on Billboard's Country Singles chart in its history.

"These past few days have truly been some of the hardest of my life," Lee Brice, longtime friend of Kyle, said. "At times, I feel lost and buried under this deep sadness. Other times, I sit and remember all the times with Kyle that bring me comfort and make me smile. He was, without a doubt, one of the best people anyone could ever hope to have in their corner…I am eternally grateful for having him in mine. I’ll keep Kellie, his family and everyone who was touched by him close to my heart. I’ll miss you til we meet again..I love you, brother."

Burt Bacharach, a legendary pop songwriter who also composed two chart-topping Country hits, died on February 8, 2023. He was 94. Growing up in Queens, New York, Bacharach developed an ear for music through piano lessons, and later, by sneaking into jazz clubs. After serving in the Army, Bacharach placed “The Story of My Life” with Marty Robbins, who carried the Country single (co-written with Hal David) to No.1 for four weeks in 1958. In addition to writing classics for The Carpenters, B.J. Thomas, and Dionne Warwick, he returned to No. 1 on the Country chart in 1982 with Ronnie Milsap’s remake of “Any Day Now.” Other Bacharach classics include “I Say a Little Prayer,” “On My Own,” and “That’s What Friends Are For.”  

Pat Bunch, who co-wrote No. 1 hits for Ty Herndon, Faith Hill, and Restless Heart, died on January 30, 2023. She was 83. 

Peter McCann, an advocate and songwriter best remembered for “Right Time of the Night,” died on January 26, 2023. He was 74. McCann got his start in Los Angeles in the 1970s as a founder of folk-rock band The Repairs. After shifting his focus to songwriting, he secured a publishing deal with ABC and made an impact with “Right Time of the Night,” a 1977 pop hit recorded by Jennifer Warnes and produced by Jim Ed Brown. He charted his own pop hit in 1977 with “Do You Wanna Make Love.” McCann moved to Nashville in 1985 and placed cuts with Earl Thomas Conley, Janie Fricke, Kathy Mattea, Reba McEntire, and many others. Often working with NSAI, he spent decades lobbying for songwriters in Washington.  

David Crosby, whose love of harmony and talent for songwriting helped usher in the folk-rock sound, died on January 18, 2023. He was 81. Crosby grew up in Southern California and became a cornerstone of the Laurel Canyon sound of the 1970s. Fascinated by the Everly Brothers’ vocal blend, Crosby brought a gift for singing harmony as a founding member of The Byrds; he also co-wrote one of their most beloved songs, “Eight Miles High.” After leaving the group, he co-founded Crosby, Stills & Nash, and their lush vocals and exquisite songs such as “Guinnevere” (another Crosby original) led to a Grammy win in 1970 for Best New Artist. In 2019, Crosby shared his life story in the Cameron Crowe documentary film, David Crosby: Remember My Name.  

Bruce Gowers, an award-winning director who worked with superstar artists in pop, rock, and Country Music, died on January 15, 2023. He was 82. Born and raised in England, Gowers may be best remembered for directing Queen’s 1975 landmark music video, “Bohemian Rhapsody,” although his career flourished for decades afterwards. Among his hundreds of credits, Gowers directed John Mellencamp’s iconic 1982 video, “Jack & Diane,” and won a Grammy in 1985 for Huey Lewis & The News’ longform video, “The Heart of Rock & Roll.” For multiple years, Gowers directed the Academy of Country Music Awards (2002-2004), the American Music Awards (2001, 2003) and the Billboard Music Awards (1996-2006). Starting in 2002, he directed the first nine seasons of American Idol, winning an Emmy in 2009.  

Stan Hitchcock, a television executive who guided the early years of CMT while balancing a career as a host and recording artist, died on January 4, 2023. He was 86. Hitchcock was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and started performing at 12 years old. While in the Navy, he formed a Country band; upon his discharge in 1958, he settled in Springfield, Missouri. Discovered by Red Foley, Hitchcock secured a contract with Epic Records. Although his singing career yielded modest results, he found a national audience through hosting two syndicated television shows. Hitchcock joined CMT in 1983, just as music videos were becoming prevalent. In addition to his interview series, Heart to Heart With Stan Hitchcock, he founded the Americana Television Network and BlueHighways TV.   

Stephen Allen Davis, whose extensive songwriting credits include Jo Dee Messina’s “Stand Beside Me,” died on December 26, 2022. He was 73. A native of Hendersonville, Tennessee, Davis found his first songwriting success with Percy Sledge’s 1968 pop and R&B hit, “Take Time to Know Her.” In the late 1970s, Tammy Wynette reached the Top 10 with his compositions “One of a Kind” and “No One Else in the World.” Throughout his long career, he landed Top10 singles with Little Texas, Barbara Mandrell, Charly McClain (including her No. 1 hit, “Radio Heart”), Reba McEntire, and others. “Stand Beside Me” spent three weeks at No. 1 in 1999, while Messina earned ACM nominations for Top Female Vocalist and Album of the Year with I’m Alright.  

Charlie Monk, fondly known as the Mayor of MusicRow, died on December 19, 2022. He was 84. Monk grew up in Geneva, Alabama, equally fascinated with celebrities and radio. After serving in the Army and working as a disc jockey throughout Alabama, he moved to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, in 1968 to program one of the earliest full-time country music stations. The following year he co-founded Country Radio Seminar, where he hosted and produced its annual New Faces Show for 40 years. Following seven years at ASCAP, he led CBS Songs, launched a publishing company, and helped revive the fortunes of legacy publisher Acuff-Rose Music. Monk joined SiriusXM as an on-air personality in 2004 and was inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame in 2019.   

Peter Cooper, one of Nashville’s most admired music journalists and historians, died on December 6, 2022. He was 52. A South Carolina native, Cooper moved to Nashville in 2000 as a music reporter for The Tennessean. His knowledge, wit, and enthusiasm quickly endeared him to the country music community. He accepted a position at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in 2014, channeling his storytelling talent as a speechwriter, panel moderator, and frequent commentator for TV specials and documentaries. In addition to releasing albums of his own songwriting, Cooper co-produced the Grammy-nominated children’s album I Love: Tom T. Hall’s Songs of Fox Hollow. He published the autobiographical book Johnny’s Cash and Charley’s Pride: Lasting Legends and Untold Adventures in Country Music in 2017.  

Jeff Cook, a founding member of the groundbreaking country band Alabama, died on November 7, 2022. He was 73. Born on August 27, 1949, in Fort Payne, Alabama, Cook spent his teen years playing guitar and keyboards in bands and hosting a local radio show. Alabama evolved out of a band named Wildcountry, which Cook formed with Fort Payne musicians Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry while they were still teenagers. By 1980, two of Alabama’s independent singles reached the Top 40 at country radio, prompting an invitation to perform at the CRS New Faces Show and a contract with RCA Records.

Alabama immediately set itself apart in country music as a self-contained band, in contrast to popular vocal groups who used a backing band. With immediate momentum, Alabama claimed five ACM Entertainer of the Year trophies (1981-1985), six ACM Top Vocal Group awards (1980-1985), and three ACM Album of the Year honors. Alabama was named ACM Artist of the Decade for the 1980s. By 1999, the band had charted 50 Top 10 singles for RCA. In addition to vocal support and playing fiddle and guitar in Alabama, Cook co-wrote their enduring holiday classic, “Christmas in Dixie.”

Alabama’s numerous honors include the 2002 ACM Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award and a 2005 induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame. After initially retiring from the road in 2003, the group returned to No. 1 at country radio in 2011 as guests on Brad Paisley’s “Old Alabama.”

Jerry Whitehurst, the ACM Award-winning musical director of TNN’s Nashville Now, died on October 30, 2022. He was 84. Born in Nashville, Whitehurst was working for a trucking firm when he landed a part-time job as a pianist in the Grand Ole Opry house band. That gig led to occasional session work and playing piano on TV shows such as Hee-Haw and Pop Goes the Country. When Nashville Now debuted on the fledgling cable network TNN in 1983, Whitehurst’s musical versatility became vital to the daily talk show’s enduring success. Known for his pleasant personality and familiar baseball cap, Whitehurst also composed the show’s theme song. The Nashville Now house band won five consecutive ACM Awards (1985–1989) in the Non-Touring Band of the Year category. 

The legendary Jerry Lee Lewis was born on September 29, 1935, in Louisiana and would grow up to be a pioneer of rock and roll music. Lewis began his recording career in 1956 at Sun Records in Memphis and soon released what would turn into iconic songs such as “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” “Great Balls of Fire” and “Crazy Arms.” He would also record with musical giants such as Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley as part of the famed “Million Dollar Quartet.”

In the late 1960’s, Lewis expanded his musical repertoire into the Country Music genre via songs such as “Another Place, Another Time,” “To Make Love Sweeter for You” and “Once More with Feeling” while still making some major noise on the pop charts with “Me and Bobby McGee” in 1971 and “Chantilly Lace” in 1972.

Eventually, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member’s life story would be told in the motion picture Great Balls of Fire starring Dennis Quaid, Winona Ryder and Alec Baldwin.

On top of his already impressive career stats is the fact that Lewis won an ACM Award in 1975 as Piano Player of the Year, alongside many other nominations throughout the 1970s, highlighted by the ACM Career Achievement Award nomination back in 1977.

Anita Kerr, the vocal and instrumental arranger whose musical touch became a cornerstone of the Nashville Sound, died on October 10, 2022. She was 94. As a child in Memphis, she played pipe organ in church and sang on local radio shows. After moving to Nashville in 1948, her visibility grew with performances on the Grand Ole Opry’s Prince Albert Show, national exposure on Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts, and recording sessions with Owen Bradley for Decca Records. From 1961 to 1963, she worked with Chet Atkins on hundreds of RCA sessions before pursuing other genres. Her lush arrangements, together with the beautiful blend of the Anita Kerr Singers, brought sophisticated textures and a fresh sound to country music at the dawn of rock ‘n’ roll.  

Jody Miller, one of the most versatile singers of her era, died on October 6, 2022. She was 80. As a teenager, she nurtured her singing talent in coffee houses in Oklahoma before moving to Los Angeles. Capitol Records signed her as a folk artist in 1962. She charted a pop single, “He Walks Like a Man,” in 1964 and appeared on American Bandstand. The following year, she placed a Top 5 Country crossover hit with the Grammy-winning “Queen of the House.” Miller received1965 and 1968 nominations for ACM Top New Female Vocalist. With Billy Sherrill producing, an Epic Records contract yielded five more Top 10 hits in the early 1970s. She retired from touring in the 1980s but continued to record gospel albums.  

Known best as the undisputed Queen of Country Music via number one songs such as “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” “Fist City” and “Don’t Come Home a ‘Drinkin’ (with Lovin’ on Your Mind),” Loretta Lynn has been Country Music’s ultimate storyteller for over fifty years. She blazingly captured some of the pains and tribulations of being a wife and mother in her music and broke down countless barriers for women everywhere, continuing to inspire innumerable artists today. 

A member of both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Lynn’s impact cannot be understated. Alongside worldwide record sales of more than 45 million worldwide and a staggering 51 Top 10 hits, Lynn received a total of 14 ACM Awards throughout her career and is currently the only female to be named ACM Artist of the Decade, as well as the first woman to win the ACM Award for Entertainer of the Year. Most recently, she was honored with the ACM Poet’s Award in 2021. 
 

Joe Chambers, founder of the Musicians Hall of Fame in Nashville, died on September 28, 2022. He was 68. Although he played in a rock band as a teenager, he learned about Country Music through a friendship with producer Billy Sherrill, who headed CBS Records. In addition to an A&R role at the label, Chambers observed Sherrill as he worked in the studio, thus sparking a lifelong interest in session musicians. As a songwriter, he placed cuts with Ricky Van Shelton, Randy Travis and more. In 1985, he opened Chambers Guitars, which evolved into a small retail chain. Chambers opened the museum in 2006 to honor notable session players, engineers and producers in Nashville, Los Angeles, Detroit, Muscle Shoals, Philadelphia and other music capitals.  

Ray Edenton, a rhythm guitarist who played on more than 10,000 recording sessions, died on September 21, 2022. He was 95. Edenton was born and raised in Mineral, Va. After serving in the Army during World War II, Edenton performed at barn dances and on radio shows before moving to Nashville in 1952. His steady playing style elevated signature hits by Webb Pierce, The Everly Brothers, Patsy Cline, Roger Miller, Kenny Rogers, Loretta Lynn and more. Although he rarely played lead in the studio, his vibrant guitar solo on Marty Robbins’ “Singing the Blues” confirmed his spot among Nashville’s A-team of session players. Edenton retired in 1991. Recognizing his studio achievements, the Country Music Hall of Fame honored Edenton in its “Nashville Cats” series in 2007.  

Olivia Newton-John, an internationally recognized entertainer who charted 15 Country singles in the 1970s, died on August 8, 2022. She was 73. Born in Cambridge, England, and raised in Melbourne, Australia, Newton-John first gained attention with a British hit version of Bob Dylan’s “If Not For You” in 1971. She entered the American Country chart in 1973 with “Let Me Be There,” which won a Grammy for Country Female Vocal Performance. Newton-John also received the 1973 ACM Award for Most Promising Female Vocalist and earned a 1974 nod for Top Female Vocalist. In addition to her iconic music hits like “Physical,” “I Honestly Love You” and her iconic Grease duet with John Travolta, “You’re the One That I Want,” she was also an inspiration to millions, thanks to her public and brave battle with breast cancer.  

Ed Hardy, the media executive who expanded the reach of Great American Country (GAC) as its president, died on July 31, 2022. He was 73. Hardy worked at WJW Radio in Cleveland, Ohio, at the start of his career, then broadened his broadcasting footprint across the Pacific Northwest. After selling his radio group to Citadel Radio, he served as president and CEO of Measure Cast and consulted for MediaBlue/Nox. Joining GAC in 2004 after its acquisition by the Scripps Network, Hardy immediately fueled the cable channel’s growth nationally and negotiated a multi-year deal to broadcast the Grand Ole Opry. Following his retirement in 2012, he was recognized with the CMA Chairman’s Award in 2013 and the President’s Award from the Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc., in 2014.  

Bil VornDick, a producer and champion for Americana, bluegrass and folk artists, died on July 5, 2022. He was 72. A Virginia native, VornDick signed as a staff songwriter to Cedarwood Publishing at age 19. He then moved to Nashville with the encouragement of Chet Atkins, who helped VornDick enroll in the music business program at Belmont College. After graduating in 1979, VornDick accepted a position as chief engineer at Marty Robbins’ studio. He soon aligned himself with an auspicious class of acoustic artists who emerged in Nashville in the 1980s,

Eddie Edwards, a 1985 ACM Award recipient for DiscJockey of the Year, died on June 19, 2022. He was 75. Born in San Diego as Ernest Edward Drennan, he spent more than 50 years in the radio industry. His on-air career began in a broadcasting class at San Diego State University, and later, a small station in Barstow, Calif. Under his guidance as program manager at WNOE, the station helped establish New Orleans as a strong market for Country Music. He also hosted a long-running morning show, billed as Crazy Eddie and the Breakfast Flakes. Edwards was inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame in 2013. He continued to stay active in the radio industry, most recently working mornings at WUUU in Covington, La.  

Al Cooley, a multifaceted music industry figure whose career spanned across decades, died on June 9, 2022. He was 76. Cooley grew up in the Bronx and moved to Nashville in the early 1970s. After working as editor of a biweekly publication called Zoo World: The Music Megapaper, Cooley joined Combine Music in 1976 as a song plugger. In that role, he hired a then-unknown Kathy Mattea to sing demos and wrote a column for David Ross’ fledgling publication MusicRow. After Combine’s sale in 1986, Cooley continued in publishing until landing an A&R job in 1991 at Atlantic Nashville, the label that launched the careers of Tracy Lawrence, Neal McCoy and John Michael Montgomery. Departing after a label merger, Cooley accepted a position at Koch Nashville in 2004.  

Glenn Meadows, one of Nashville’s most prolific recording engineers, died on July 7, 2022. He was 73. Meadows grew up on Long Island, N.Y., and studied at Georgia Tech. After launching an engineering career at the Sound Pit in Atlanta, he moved to Nashville in 1975. Taking a position at Masterfonics, he positioned himself as a leading mastering engineer. He acquired the company in 1989 and worked with innumerable pop and Country artists, ranging from Merle Haggard, The Judds and George Strait, to Jimmy Buffett, Amy Grant and Steely Dan. In 1995, he opened the Tracking Room, a multimillion dollar recording studio near Music Row. With engineering credits on more than 1,600 albums, Meadows accepted the Audio Engineering Society’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019.  

Hal Bynum, who co-wrote Kenny Rogers’ classic hit “Lucille,” died on June 2, 2022. He was 87. Born in Texas, the Navy veteran moved to Nashville in 1968 after landing cuts like George Jones’ “The Old, Old House” and Jim Reeves’ “Nobody’s Fool.” Written by Bynum and Roger Bowling, “Lucille” vividly captures a moment between the title character in a Toledo bar and the heartbroken husband who confronts her. Among its accolades, “Lucille” collected the 1977 ACM Single and Song of the Year awards. Bynum’s other writing credits include Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings’1978 single, “There Ain’t No Good Chain Gang,” as well as Patty Loveless’ 1990 No. 1 hit, “Chains.” He also had songs recorded by Suzy Bogguss, Lee Greenwood, and Ray Price.  

Mickey Gilley, acclaimed singer/songwriter died on May 7, 2022. He was 86. Gilley, cousin of Jerry Lee Lewis and Jimmy Swaggart, got his start playing the club circuit in Texas, eventually opening his first nightclub in Pasadena, Texas called the Gilley’s Club. And with songs such as “Chains of Love,” “Honky Tonk Memories” and “She’s Pulling Me Back Again” along with some well-known covers he quickly established himself in the Country Music genre. However, in the 1980’s, Gilley found himself implanted in the pop landscape thanks to his cover of Ben E. King’s “Stand by Me,” a song featured in the 1980 film Urban Cowboy. Throughout his career, Gilley was recognized many times by the ACM, bringing home awards for everything from ACM Most Promising Male Vocalist in 1974 to ACM Entertainer of the Year just two short years later. And in 2005, he was presented with the ACM Triple Crown.  

Naomi Judd, a former nurse whose talent and tenacity carried her to legendary status in Country Music, died on April 30, 2022. She was 76. With her daughter Wynonna, The Judds won the ACM Award for Top Vocal Duet for seven consecutive years (1984 to 1990). Starting in 1984 with “Mama He’s Crazy,” they secured 14 No. 1 hits at Country radio. One of their many signature hits, “Why Not Me,” collected a 1984 trophy for ACM Song of the Year. Also, the duo cohosted the awards show twice, including the 25th anniversary show in 1990. While working at a hospital in Franklin, Tennessee, Naomi was taking care of producer Brent Maher’s daughter, Dianna, who had been in a car accident. Dianna attended the same high school as Wynonna and recognized Naomi from the duo’s performances on a local morning television show. After Dianna’s discharge, Naomi delivered a homemade demo tape to Maher’s office. Upon finally listening to it, Maher arranged for a live audition at RCA Records, which led to a recording contract. The dynamic between mother and daughter, which could be charming as well as challenging, made the Judds feel intimately familiar to Country fans. Their effortless harmony and acoustic arrangements appealed to traditionalists as well. Following a Hepatitis C diagnosis, Naomi announced her imminent departure from the group in 1990, adding a poignancy to the ballad “Love Can Build a Bridge” (which she co-wrote). In the decades to come, the Judds remained beloved, earning an ACM Pioneer Award in 2012 and an induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2022. 

Thom Bresh, a celebrated guitarist and enduring entertainer, died on May 23, 2022. He was 74. Born and raised in Southern California, Bresh entered show business early, working as a movie stuntman as a child. He began appearing on local TV shows at age 11 and performed in Hank Penny’s band in Las Vegas at 16. Although he recorded multiple singles in his early 20s, he earned his first hit in 1976. Released on Farr Records, “Home Made Love” reached No. 6. He earned an ACM nomination for Top New Male Vocalist and charted nine Country singles through 1982. The son of Country Music Hall of Fame member Merle Travis, Bresh carried on his father’s famous “Travis-picking” style on records, television, and instructional videos.  

Bill Walker, known for his graceful touch as a composer and arranger, died on May 26, 2022. He was 85. Born and raised in Australia and employed by RCA Victor in South Africa, Walker relocated to Nashville in 1964 to work with Jim Reeves. However, the Country legend was killed in a plane crash on the same weekend Walker arrived. Eddy Arnold then helped establish Walker as a notable arranger and composer on lush recordings like 1965’s “Make the World Go Away.” After serving as music director of The Johnny Cash Show, Walker produced Donna Fargo’s “The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A.,” the 1972 ACM Single of the Year. In the 1990s, Walker lent his orchestral composition talent to TNN’s top-rated The Statler Brothers Show.  

Don Howard, a former ACM Board Member who launched his music industry career in Hollywood, died on April 16, 2022. He was 83. Howard was born in Floyd, Texas, but moved to Los Angeles in the 1960s. His mother, Bea Terry, had already established herself in Country Music circles as a magazine columnist, publicist and radio promoter, among other roles. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Howard developed his own career as a booking agent, manager, and music publisher. He met his wife of 54 years, Marti, at the famed Palomino Club. In 1978, Howard and his family relocated to Sanger, Texas, where he worked in construction and real estate. At the time of his death, he was preparing to publish a memoir entitled Bea and Me.  

Francis La Maina, the former COO of Dick Clark Productions, died on April 8, 2022. He was 82. La Maina also served on the Academy of Country Music Board of Directors. He joined Dick Clark Productions in 1966 as head of the accounting department. By 1972, he became a director of the company and rose to Vice President of Business Affairs in 1973. He was appointed Executive Vice President in 1977 and COO in 1986. For over 25 years, La Maina represented Clark as his business advisor. In addition, La Maina handled business matters related to the company’s programming, including the ACM Awards, American Bandstand, the American Music Awards, the Golden Globe Awards, TV’s Bloopers & Practical Jokes and New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. 

C.W. McCall, credited with co-writing and recording the 1976 truck-driving classic “Convoy,” died on April 1, 2022. He was 93. “Convoy” arrived at the height of a CB radio craze, spending six weeks atop the Country radio chart and even topping the pop parade. C.W. McCall was actually the alter ego of advertising executive William Fries, who created the trucker character of C.W. McCall for a campaign for Old Home Bread. Fries co-wrote “Convoy” with Chip Davis, who later founded the group Mannheim Steamroller. McCall’s corresponding album on MGM Records, Black Bear Road, reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart. He showed his sentimental side with the melodramatic 1977 ballad, “Roses for Mama,” then stepped away from the music business the following year.  

Jeff Carson, a ‘90s Country star who won an ACM Award for his music video of “The Car” died on March 26, 2022. He was 58. Born in Oklahoma, Carson gigged around Rogers, Arkansas, and Branson, Missouri, before moving to Nashville. After working as a demo singer, he landed a recording contract with MCG/Curb Records. Carson reached No. 1 with the romantic “Not On Your Love” in 1995. He returned to the Top 10 with “The Car” and “Holdin’ Onto Somethin’.” Carson staged a surprising comeback in 2001 with “Real Life (I Never Was The Same Again).” His 2003 rendition of “I Can Only Imagine” became his 14th charting single. In 2009, he retired from music to work as a police officer in Franklin, Tennessee.

Mary Jane Thomas, the wife of Hank Williams Jr., died on March 22, 2022. She was 58. A Daytona Beach, Florida, native, Thomas met Williams in 1985 while she was a model for Hawaiian Tropic suntan lotion. They married in Missoula, Montana, in 1990, and lived in Paris, Tennessee. Williams filed for divorce in 2007, with a press release citing Thomas’ addiction issues. However, they reconciled in 2011 and appeared together at Williams’ 2021 induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame. The couple’s son, Sam Williams, is a recording artist for Mercury Nashville. Their daughter, Katie Williams-Dunning, was killed in a 2020 car accident. Hank Williams Jr. is a three-time ACM Entertainer of the Year and received the 2008 ACM Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award.  

Bruce Burch, a songwriter whose credits include Reba McEntire’s “Rumor Has It” and “It’s Your Call,” died on March 12, 2022. He was 69. A native of Gainesville, Georgia, Burch scored Top 10 hits for T. Graham Brown and Billy Joe Royal in the 1980s. His song “Nobody Calls From Vegas Just to Say Hello” appeared on Vern Gosdin’s ACM-nominated landmark album, 1988’s Chiseled in Stone. Throughout the 1990s, Burch placed album cuts with John Anderson, Faith Hill, George Jones, Collin Raye, and Aaron Tippin. In 1996, he published a book titled Songs That Changed Our Lives. He also worked with multiple universities in Georgia to create music industry courses. Loretta Lynn recorded one of his most-admired songs, “Wine Into Water,” for 2016’s Full Circle. 

Bobbie Nelson, pianist, singer, edler sister of Willie Nelson and member of his band, Willie Nelson and Family, died on March 10, 2022. She was 91.  

Bobbie and Willie were raised by their grandparents in Abbot, Texas. Growing up playing music in the church and starting on the honky-tonk scene together as teenagers, the siblings would go on to share stages for decades to come. After her husband was killed in a 1961 car accident, Bobbie took a job demonstrating organs and playing piano in restaurants, lounges and supper clubs. When Willie signed with Atlantic Records, he invited Bobbie to play on a 1973 recording session and join his touring band. In 2021, the siblings issued a children’s book and released a Country gospel album, The Willie Nelson Family. 

Carolyn Tate, a key staff member at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum for more than 25 years, died on March 3, 2022. She was 64. A Nashville native, Tate first worked at the Hall from 1986 to 1994 as production and advertising manager, with duties ranging from creative direction to the production of books, magazines, and historical albums. She returned to the Hall in 2002 and served as project manager for the $87.5 million expansion completed in 2014. In the role of Senior Vice President of Museum Services, Tate administered the museum’s collection and supervised the planning, design, and installation of exhibitions. She stepped away from the Hall in 2018 to launch her own company for private celebrity and family archival collections.