10-15-2016, 04:23 PM
I would like to mention the recent passing of three legends of the music world.
John D. Loudermilk, 82, passed on Sept. 21. Composer of many pop and country hits including "Tobacco Road", "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye", "Sad Movies", "Break My Mind", "Abilene" and "It's My Time". Although his biggest success was as a writer of songs that were hits for other artists, he did do some recording himself. In early 1967 he had a minor hit with his own version of "It's My Time", which also was recorded by Dolly Parton, George Hamilton IV and Jody Miller.
Stanley Dural Jr., better known as Buckwheat Zydeco, passed on Sept. 24. He almost singlehandedly was responsible for taking this accordion based music out of the Louisiana Bayou and around the world. A goodwill ambassador for this brand of music.
Jean Shepherd, one of the original honky-tonk queens and one of the first female members of the Grand Ole Opry, passed Sept. 25 at age 82. She was the wife of Hawkashaw Hawkins, who was killed in the 1963 plane crash which also claimed the now legendary Patsy Cline, who was one of the first country stars to cross over into pop. Ms. Shepherd resisted the pressure to do the same and chose instead to stick to her pure country roots, paving the was for later female honky-tonkers such as Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette.
John D. Loudermilk, 82, passed on Sept. 21. Composer of many pop and country hits including "Tobacco Road", "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye", "Sad Movies", "Break My Mind", "Abilene" and "It's My Time". Although his biggest success was as a writer of songs that were hits for other artists, he did do some recording himself. In early 1967 he had a minor hit with his own version of "It's My Time", which also was recorded by Dolly Parton, George Hamilton IV and Jody Miller.
Stanley Dural Jr., better known as Buckwheat Zydeco, passed on Sept. 24. He almost singlehandedly was responsible for taking this accordion based music out of the Louisiana Bayou and around the world. A goodwill ambassador for this brand of music.
Jean Shepherd, one of the original honky-tonk queens and one of the first female members of the Grand Ole Opry, passed Sept. 25 at age 82. She was the wife of Hawkashaw Hawkins, who was killed in the 1963 plane crash which also claimed the now legendary Patsy Cline, who was one of the first country stars to cross over into pop. Ms. Shepherd resisted the pressure to do the same and chose instead to stick to her pure country roots, paving the was for later female honky-tonkers such as Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette.