October 22, 2012 Tim Johnson is behind the lyrics to some of the most powerful country music songs written over the last two decades. The songwriter had over 100 of his songs cut on major label records, and was a cherished father, husband and friend to many in the Nashville community. Johnson died Sunday morning (Oct. 21) after a long battle with cancer.
B.B. Cunningham, one-time bassist for country rocker Jerry Lee Lewis, was shot and killed in Memphis, Tennessee on Sunday (Oct. 14).
It's been a long and understandably difficult week for Eli Young Band bassist Jon Jones, whose father died last week. Allen Edwin Jones passed away in Ft. Worth, Texas last Monday, Oct. 8, after losing a long battle with lung cancer.
September 26, 2012 Music and television icon Andy Williams died Tuesday evening (Sept. 25) at his home in Branson, Mo., his family confirmed. The star, who had battled bladder cancer since 2011, was 84 years old.
September 5, 2012 Grammy Award-winning songwriter Joe South has died. The popular singer, songwriter and studio musician wrote for hitmakers like Lynn Anderson, Elvis Presley and Billy Joe Royal after charting his own hit with 'Games People Play' in 1969. He had been in failing health, according to MusicRow.com.
August 7, 2012 The longest standing member of the Marshall Tucker Band died on Saturday. Stuart Swanlund, guitarist for the group since 1985, passed away in his sleep. He had been taking a hiatus from the band to deal with health issues.
July 17, 2012 Kitty Wells did almost as much for country music as the guitar and fiddle. The Queen of Country died on Monday at the age of 92 after complications from a recent stroke. Wells was not only a major hitmaker in the '50s and '60s, but she was the first female country singer with a voice that the mostly male-dominated industry stepped aside and respected.
July 16, 2012 Kitty Wells, a woman who paved a trail for legends like Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn, has died. Nashville's WTVF television reports that the 'It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels' singer passed away in her home on Monday morning (July 16).
July 3, 2012 Andy Griffith never had a No. 1 hit or a gold record, but he was a voice generations of country music artists and fans revered and respected. The actor, best know as the star of 'Matlock' and 'The Andy Griffith Show,' died Tuesday morning at his home in eastern North Carolina.
