Anita Kerr

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.