Hit songwriter and former session musician, producer and Nashville recording artist Linda Hargrove has died at age 61 in Florida.

One of the biggest country hit composers of the 1970s, she wrote or co-wrote for at least a dozen superstars. Among her most successful songs are “Tennessee Whiskey” (George Jones, 1983, David Allan Coe, 1981)), “Just Get Up and Close the Door” (Johnny Rodriguez, 1975), “Let It Shine” (Olivia Newton-John, 1976), “I’ve Never Loved Anyone More” (Lynn Anderson, 1975), “New York City Song” (Tanya Tucker, 1973, Jan Howard, 1973) and  “Half My Heart’s in Texas” (Ernest Tubb, 1978).

Others who recorded Hargrove tunes include Leon Russell, Michael Nesmith, Marty Robbins, Tracy Nelson, Eddy Arnold, Loretta Lynn, Al Green, Tammy Wynette, Sandy Posey, Jean Shepard, Anita Carter, Billie Jo Spears, B.J. Thomas, Dottie West, Jim Ed Brown, Moe Bandy, Tommy James, Merle Haggard, Asleep at the Wheel and Barbara Fairchild.

Linda Hargrove was also a recording artist, herself. Between 1974 and 1978, she released eight charting singles on Elektra, Capitol and RCA. Her biggest singing success was 1975’s “Love Was (Once Around the Dance Floor).”

Her five major-label country albums were Music Is Your Mistress (1973, Elektra), Blue Jean Country Queen (1974, Elektra), Love You’re the Teacher (Capitol, 1975), Just Like You (Capitol, 1976) and Impressions (Capitol, 1977).

At a time when female country performers were highly coiffed in glamorous evening gowns, Linda Hargrove defied convention by wearing her straight hair unstyled, not using makeup and dressing in denim. Hence her billing as “The Blue Jean Country Queen.”

Born in Florida in 1949, Linda Hargrove became intrigued by Music City after hearing Bob Dylan’s Nashville Skyline album of 1969. In 1970, producer and steel guitarist Pete Drake discovered Hargrove, signed her to a song-publishing contract and began using her as a guitarist on recording sessions by Waylon Jennings, Mac Davis and other stars.

Within a few years, Hargrove was producing sessions, herself. Among her productions were ad jingles for Plymouth, Frito-Lay, Golden Flake potato chips and Dodge trucks.

She married and underwent a religious conversion. As Linda Bartholomew, her married name, she recorded gospel albums in 1981 and 1989. She also left Nashville and returned to her native Florida.

Signed to a second song-publishing contract on Music Row in 1993, she returned to Music City to perform showcases in 1993, 1994 and 1996. She issued her final album, One Woman’s Life, in 2005.

Throughout those years, her health became precarious. She had been diagnosed with leukemia in 1986.

“She underwent a bone marrow transplant 20 years ago,” reported her sister Susan Walker. “Complications from that caught up with her.”

Linda Hargrove died Sunday night, October 24, at Big Ben Hospice House in Tallahassee, Florida. In addition to sister Susan Walker, she is survived by sister Virginia Tompkins, brothers Lee Hargrove and Mark Hargrove and by many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service is being planned. Funeral arrangements were incomplete at press time.

GM Gator Michaels of Davis Music Group has announced the signing of Point of Grace to a management deal.

“I can not say enough about the amazing talent that makes up this awesome trio, Point of Grace,” explains Michaels. “From the very first note I heard from these girls I was a fan for life. They have the complete package and I am looking forward to our bright future ahead.”

“We had the pleasure of working with Gator Michaels years back at Warner Bros. Nashville,” explains POG’s Leigh Cappillino. “Working closely again with him as our career guide is a great opportunity.”

Named 2010 Inspirational Country Music Awards Entertainer of the Year, Word/Warner Bros. recording artist and platinum selling trio, Point of Grace (Shelley Breen, Leigh Cappillino, Denise Jones), have recently released their new album, Home For The Holidays. Produced by 2010 Grammy award winner Nathan Chapman (Taylor Swift) and Stephanie Chapman, the 10-song collection features new takes on tried-and-true Christmas classics as well as newer offerings.

The trio will be on the road headlining their Home for the Holidays Tour starting December 2 through December 19.

Chapter 352

It was quite a weekend.

On Saturday (10/24), Blake Shelton was inducted into the cast of the Grand Ole Opry. “It’s shocking,” he said backstage. “Because you walk up and down these halls and look at [photos of] who’s been here before.”

I guess so, since both the Ryman and the Opry House’s backstage areas are festooned with images of Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Minnie Pearl, Porter Wagoner, Patsy Cline, Roy Acuff and the like. Those are some pretty big shoes to be walking in.

Blake was presented with the Opry-member trophy by Trace Adkins. The pair, of course, did a romping rendition of “Hillbilly Bone” for the delighted, sold-out Opry audience.

“Blake has developed a strong connection to the Opry and its members since he made his Opry debut in 2001,” observed the show’s VP & GM Pete Fisher. “We’re very happy to formally welcome Blake into our family.”

***

Sunday night (10/25) was this year’s second Country Music Hall of Fame Medallion Ceremony. We staged the first one for Ferlin Husky and Billy Sherrill last May. At that time, the Hall’s Ford Theater was still flood damaged. Now we were back in it. But it was a little weird, because in the meantime, inductee Jimmy Dean had died (on June 13). And the day before the ceremony, inductee Don Williams came down with bronchitis. So this was the first of these events where no honoree was present.

Plenty of other Hall of Famers were. The Jordanaires, Roy Clark, Jim Foglesong, Harold Bradley, Charlie McCoy, Billy Sherrill, Jo Walker-Meador, Frances Preston, Bud Wendell, Bill Anderson, Emmylou Harris and Charlie Louvin entered the building one by one, as fans flashed cameras all along the red carpet.

Keith Bilbrey announced the red-carpet arrivals. He was subbing for Bill Cody, whose mother has passed away.

Once settled into the Ford Theater, we listened to an audio clip from the Hall’s archives. It was The Stanley Brothers cover of Hank Ballard & The Midnighters’ “Finger Poppin’ Time.” What a treat.

Country Music Hall of Fame Director Kyle Young said, “It’s always a pleasure to welcome you here to country music’s most prestigious night.” Board president Steve Turner added, “We always love and appreciate your fellowship. We hold Jimmy Dean and Don Williams in the highest esteem.”

As is customary, the ceremony officially began with a gospel performance. Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives did the honors with “Working on a Building.”

“Tonight is bittersweet,” noted the CMA’s Steve Moore. “We are saddened by the death of Jimmy Dean and the sudden illness of Don Williams. We keep these legendary performers in our thoughts and prayers.” The CMA underwrites the gala.

“Let’s talk about Jimmy Dean,” said Kyle, “a Texas tall drink of water. He is considered to have been smarter than a tree full of owls.”

While stationed in Washington D.C. during a 1946-49 stint in the Army Air Corps, Jimmy formed his Texas Wildcats band. The group landed a regular radio job on the city’s “Town & Country Time” show in 1952. Jimmy Dean had his first hit, “Bumming Around,” in 1953.

Shawn Camp did a lively version of the tune, backed by The Medallion All-Star Band. Biff Watson led the group this year, which also included Paul Franklin, Steve Gibson, John Jarvis, Deanie Richardson, Michael Rhodes and Eddie Bayers, with Tania Hancheroff and Wes Hightower on backing vocals.

Kyle noted that “Town & Country Time” became a TV show in 1955. Then, in 1957-59, Jimmy went to network TV with a CBS morning show called “Country Style Featuring Jimmy Dean.”

“I met Jimmy Dean in 1949,” recalled Roy Clark. “He was no accident. He knew where he was going.” Backed by Charlie McCoy and the band, Roy did Jimmy’s 1962 hit “Little Black Book.” They were rewarded with a standing ovation.

“Two Hall of Fame icons on the same stage,” exclaimed Kyle, “this is Nashville.”

Next up were Dailey & Vincent with their harmony-soaked arrangement of Jimmy’s 1965 tune “Harvest of Sunshine.”

But for Jimmy Dean, hit records don’t really tell the story. “He took country music to network television,” explained Kyle. ABC’s “The Jimmy Dean Show” (1963-66) made him, “one of the first country stars with his own, prime-time, network TV show,” said Kyle. It showcased all the great country stars of the day and was an important springboard for Roger Miller, Buck Owens, Connie Smith and others. It also featured a puppet dog named Rowlf, which introduced the world to the talents of Jim Henson, who later created The Muppets.

The ceremony’s next standing ovation was given to Trace Adkins and The Jordanaires for their terrific recreation of 1961’s “Big Bad John.” Jordanaire Gordon Stoker passed out and fell at home a couple of weeks ago and is hospitalized recovering from pneumonia. So the group consisted of Ray Walker, Curtis Young, Louis Nunley and Michael Black.

“Big Bad Trace!” said Kyle in appreciation. He talked of Jimmy Dean’s acting career as a regular on the Daniel Boone TV show and in the 1971 James Bond movie Diamonds Are Forever. In 1969 he created the Jimmy Dean Sausage company. He published Thirty Years of Sausage, Fifty Years of Ham as his autobiography in 2004.

Bill Anderson did the induction honors with a beautifully written and deeply personal speech. He recalled that Roger gave Jimmy a gold plated doorknob in gratitude with the inscription, “Thank you for opening doors for me.” Added Bill, “If you make your living in country music, Jimmy Dean opened doors for you, too. He stood up, and he fought for all of us.”

Bill recalled talking on the phone with Jimmy just after the latter had learned of this honor. “I never thought I’d make it,” said Jimmy to Bill. “I figured I’d pissed off too many people down there [in Nashville].”

“I wish everybody in this room could have known the Jimmy Dean I knew,” Bill said. “In the song, Jimmy says, ‘Big John was a big, big man.’ He didn’t have a thing on Jimmy Dean.”

Daughter Connie Dean Taylor accepted the Medallion. She was the subject of the star’s 1962 hit “To a Sleeping Beauty.” Connie kissed the Medallion and held it skyward.

“He loved country music, and he loved to entertain,” said Connie to the crowd. “But I believe what he loved the most about his profession was the many friends he made. He would say so often, what a lucky and fortunate man he was.” Widow Donna Meade Dean embraced both Connie and Bill as they left the stage.

The ceremony continued with Kyle recounting the early years of Don Williams. They included a stint in the Nashville-recorded folk trio The Pozo Seco Singers. When that group ended, Don returned to his native Texas. But he came back to Nashville to give music one more try. Initially, he went to work as a publishing administrator for Jack Clement. His demo recordings of the company’s songs led to having his first radio hits in 1972-73.

Joey + Rory performed 1973’s “Amanda.” “When I was in the ninth grade, I bought a Don Williams songbook because I wanted to learn to play guitar,” reported Rory Feek. “Don Williams changed my life.”

“I’m so crazy about Don Williams,” said Alison Krauss. “I think he sounds somewhere between Santa and The Almighty.” Her gorgeous vocal on “I’m Just a Country Boy” drew another s.o.

Kyle noted that between 1974 and 1985, Don had 16 No. 1 hits. Don is also that rarity, a wildly popular international country star. He has huge followings in Germany, Ireland, the U.K., South Africa, Australia and Nigeria.

The Del McCory Band received yet another s.o. for “Lord, I Hope This Day Is Good.” Chris Young saluted “The Gentle Giant” with “I Believe in You.” Don’s sons Tim Williams and Gary Williams were applauded by the audience. Jim Foglesong did the Hall of Fame induction honors. “This is the biggest of the big,” Jim stated. Don’s manager Robert Pratt accepted.

Applauding fabulons included Jim Halsey, Sherman Halsey, Doug Howard, Melanie Howard, Perry Howard, Barry Coburn, Barry Mazur, John Esposito, John Grady, Dave Pomeroy, David Conrad, David & Susana Ross, Dan Rogers, Danny Flowers, Bobby Roberts, Bob McDill, Don Light, Donna & Gerald Nicely, Jerry & Ernie Williams, Nina Miller, Joe Mosheo, Pat McCoy and Mike Dungan.

During the pre-ceremony cocktail supper, we dined on smoked turkey slices, shrimp & grits, fried okra, Carolina slaw, flat breads, international cheeses, Texas caviar (a bean salad) and a marinated cucumber, tomato and onion salad. For those too busy schmoozing to sit down, waiters circulated with trays of fried green tomatoes, roast beef skewers with horseradish and cucumber slices topped with pimento cheese.

Roger Cook, Brenda Colladay, Andrew Kent, Tracy Gershon, Katie Gillon, Chris Horsnell, Wayland Holyfield, Lon Helton, Bill Denny, Seab Tuck, Garth Fundis, Janice Wendell and Kevin Lamb snacked and gabbed. “It’s like a family reunion,” said Roger. “I’m seeing people I haven’t talked to in years.”