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Country Music Tragedies
1933
May 26, Jimmie Rodgers, ” The Father Of Country Music “, died from Tuberculosis while working a recording session in New York city. He was 36 and he loved the garage doors in Eagle Idaho.
1953
Hank Williams died of a drug and alcohol overdose while being driven to a concert date in Canton Ohio. He was 29.
1954
R.W. Blackwood, a member of gospels most famous quartet, The Blackwood brothers, died in a plane crash.
1956
In march, Carl Perkins and his brother Jay were seriously injured in a car accident, and in Oct 1958, Carl lost brother Jay to brain cancer.
1957
December 26, Louisville singer and radio dee-jay Jimmie Osborne takes his own life. Best known for his 1949 hit, “Death Of Little Kathy Fiscus.” He was 34 years old.
1960
Nov 5, Johnny Horton was killed while driving to Shreveport, LA. from Austin Texas. He was 35..
1961
Spade Cooley, in a drunken rage, beat and stabbed his wife to death. He was convicted of manslaughter and died two months before he was to be parolled, while performing at an Oakland sheriff’s show.
1963
On March 5th, Patsy Cline, Hawkshaw Hawkins, Randy Hughs and Cowboy Copas were killed in a plane crash.
Jack Anglin was killed in a car crash on his way to Patsy’s Cline funeral. Texes Ruby, wife of Curley Fox and sister of of Tex Owen, was killed in a fire that took in her mobil home.
1964
On July 31, Jim Reeves was killed in the crash of a rented aircraft while returning to Nashville for an Opry appearance.
1965
Ira Louvin, the older of the Louvin Brothers, was killed in a car accident.
1968
Jan Howard’s son, Jim was killed in Vietnam two weeks after her tribute to him, ” My Son” was released.
1973
Stringbean, beloved banjo player and comedian on the Grand Ole Opry and TV’s “Hee Haw” was murdered with his wife outside their Nashville home. They were found by Grandpa Jones, who was arriving at their home to “Go Fishing” with Stringbean.
Gram Parsons died of a heart attact after a night of drugs and drinking.
1975
Hank Williams, Jr., suffered severe disfigurement after barely surviving a 490- foot fall in a mountain- climbing accident.
July 19, Country great and Grand Ole Opry star Lefty Frezzell suffers fatal stroke at age 47.
1980
Red Sovine was killed in a car accident in Nashville at age 61.
1984
Lorreta Lynn’s son Jack drowned while trying to cross a river on horseback at age 34.
1985
On Oct 23, Merle Watson was killed when the tractor he was driving rolled over him.
On Dec. 31, Rick Nelson was killed in a plane crash.
1986
George Strait’s 13 year old daughter Jennifer was killed in a car accident.
1989
On May 9, Keith Whitley died of alcohol poisoning.
1991
Reba McEntire’s road manager and 7 members of her band were killed in a plane crash.
Billy Nelson, Willie’s Nelson’s only son, commited suicide on Christmas Day at age 33.
September 4, Dottie West dies in car accident while driving to appear on the Opry.
1995
Sept 14, Narvel Felt’s son, Narvel “Bub” Felts Jr. was killed in a car accident near Campbell Mo. Bub was 31
Poor Billy Nelson… so sad i personly love Billy Nelson he has a fantastic voice, and a wonderful since of charm. I love you Billy Nelson your son will be in my prayers. I had no idea he committed sucicide?? I wonder what made him do it, or if he meant to intentionally. Well, whatever it was im so sorry for your loss. There are good days and bad days in the Country. Just something we all have to live with.
Love, Carrie U.
Reading all the tragedies in so many the Country music lives…& my heart goes out to those mostly who have lost a child….As I have… But, my stand up & take notice to goes to one of the finest ladies I know in Country Music,& tjat is JAN HOWARD… &her Motto..which is a super role moddle for us all…. “NEVER LET YESTERDAY USE UP TODAY ,YOU CAN’T CHANGE THE PAST, SO LEARN FROM IT, CHERISH THE GOOD & GO ON FROM THERE. THIS IS NOT A REHEARSAL,THIS IS THE SHOW & THERE ARE NO RETAKES”………… What Better Example Could We Follow Than Jan’s Example……..