Industry Veteran Ken Biddy Passes

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Ken Biddy

Industry veteran Herbert Kenneth “Ken” Biddy passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 21 after battling cancer and congestive heart failure.

Growing up the Woodstock, Georgia area, Ken worked as a bouncer, a rock-a-billy artist manager and carpet layer before landing jobs at Lockheed and Ken Stanton Music. It was his love of music that led Ken to Nashville in 1983, where he and partners Jimmy Long and Myron Cantrell formed Copperfield Music Group and signed the Chuck Wagon Gang. During their time with Copperfield, the band won the TNN/Music City News Award for Country Gospel Group of the Year on four occasions.

Ken expanded his business into the country field by securing country cuts by Montgomery Gentry, Lee Ann Womack, LeAnn Rimes, Jeff Carson, Kenny Rogers and others. Dedicated to nurturing songwriters, songs from his catalog often appeared in film and television.

In July of 1991, Ken met another music executive Shelia Shipley while having drinks at Sunset Grill. Introduced by Shelia’s best friend and personal assistant, Lori Evans, they went on their first date a week later. They married in February of 1992 and spent 32 years together as husband and wife until his passing.

Ken had five children, including Crystal Milligan, Dena Biddy Bryant, Daniel Biddy, Amanda Biddy and Michael Shipley, as well as many grandchildren.

A gathering of family and friends will be held this Sunday (Aug. 25) from 3 p.m.–6 p.m. as well as on Monday (Aug. 26) from 12:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m. at Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home & Memorial Park, followed by a Celebration of Life Service at 2:30 p.m. A graveside service will also take place on Monday at 3:30 p.m. at Woodlawn Memorial Park.

Condolences can be shared with Shelia Shipley Biddy at shelia@musichealthalliance.com.

Liza Anderson
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