Carl Dean, longtime husband of Dolly Parton, has passed away. He was 82.
Parton shared the news on her social media on Monday (March 3) in a statement. The two married in 1966 and Dean remained out of the public eye for most of their union. They met when she was 18 after passing each other at a Wishy Washy Laundromat, and married two years later. Dean shied away from the limelight during their marriage, preferring to cheer her on from behind the scenes of Parton’s high-watt career throughout their life together. The two never had children.
In her statement Parton said: “Carl Dean, husband of Dolly Parton, passed away March 3rd in Nashville at the age of 82. He will be laid to rest in a private ceremony with immediate family attending. He is survived by his siblings Sandra and Donnie.
“Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy.”
https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/carl-dean-obit.png8331480Lorie Hollabaughhttps://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngLorie Hollabaugh2025-03-04 15:56:012025-03-04 15:56:01Dolly Parton’s Husband Carl Dean Passes
The publicist for the Grand Ole Opry for three decades, Jerry Strobel has died at age 84. Born Martin Jerome Strobel, the Nashville native died with his family by his side on Feb. 24.
Strobel was born and raised in Germantown. He grew up a few doors down from Assumption Catholic Church, and was the longtime choir director there. He was a classically trained tenor vocalist.
In 1970, he became the promotions manager for WSM radio and its Grand Ole Opry. He worked with local and national media and shepherded visits by national celebrities who came to perform on the Opry. His duties gradually expanded, and he was later named Opry House Manager.
At the time, Nashville had few venues for concerts by nationally touring artists. So Strobel became the liaison for the dozens of acts who booked shows at the Opry House, everyone from Linda Ronstadt, Patti Labelle, Bruce Springsteen and Elvis Costello to Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Bob Hope and Robin Williams. He retired from the Opry job in 2000.
Jerry Strobel was one of the founders of Fan Fair, now known as the CMA Music Festival. He was also the creator of Oktoberfest. Founded in 1980, it benefits Assumption Catholic Church plus the neighboring and equally historic Monroe Street United Methodist Church.
Strobel sang at Catholic parishes throughout Middle Tennessee, often at funerals, weddings and other church-held events. His brother was Father Charles Strobel (1943-2023), the priest who founded Room in the Inn and was a tireless champion for the homeless.
Jerry Strobel is survived by six children, 17 grandchildren and a sister. Visitation will be Thursday (March 6) from 4-6:30 p.m. at Assumption Catholic Church, 1226 7th Ave. N. His funeral mass will be celebrated on Friday (March 7) at Christ the King Catholic Church, 3001 Belmont Blvd. He will then be interred at Calvary Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Room in the Inn, Assumption Catholic Church or The Pat Holzapfel Strobel Legacy Grant at Christ the King School. Arrangements are being handled by Marshall-Donnelly-Combs Funeral Home c/o Dignity Memorial.
https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Jerry-Strobel.png10801920Robert K Oermannhttps://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngRobert K Oermann2025-03-03 10:38:592025-03-03 10:38:59Former Opry Exec Jerry Strobel Passes
Steve Turner. Photo: Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Steve Turner, chairman emeritus and longtime board chair for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, passed away today (Feb. 11) at age 77.
“Steve Turner’s leadership and vision changed Nashville in many ways. But nowhere was his influence more transformative than with our museum. As a longtime board chairman, he saw what our museum should be, what it aspired to be — and made it so,” shares Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Musuem, in a statement.
“He found new opportunities for us, forged crucial deals, and spearheaded a museum expansion in 2014 that more than doubled our size and multiplied our reach exponentially. He was a businessman with the soul of a creative artist and the heart of a champion. Simply put, he inspired us and made our museum the success it is today.”
Turner was born in Scottsville, Kentucky and was raised working in the family business, the Dollar General Corporation, founded by his father, Cal Turner Sr. He served as an executive for the company for 20 years before leaving at age 40 to go his own way.
The Vanderbilt University graduate settled in Nashville in 1986 with his wife Judy, and became focused on investing and real estate development, particularly in Nashville’s urban core. He spearheaded several developments south of Broadway, including the Gulch, the Schermerhorn Symphony Center and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
The Turners generously supported many philanthropic causes in Nashville, but his focus on the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum was transformative for the institution. He joined museum’s board in 1997, serving as Chairman from 2008 through 2021.
His tenure with the organization included negotiating a complicated public-private partnership involving the museum, Metro Nashville government and the Omni Hotels & Resorts. The result more than doubled the museum’s size, connected the Omni Hotel Nashville with the museum through a stylish shopping corridor, and helped the city anchor the new Music City Center convention hall, which opened in 2013.
Turner also demonstrated crucial leadership in the museum’s capital campaign that enabled the expansion. Thanks to successful fundraising and careful financial stewardship, the museum erased its building debts and markedly expanded its programming, allowing Turner to further push the organization to offer Middle Tennessee youth free admission under a new program, Community Counts.
He and wife Judy also conceived and funded an innovative partnership between the museum and the Nashville Public Library resulting in “String City: Nashville’s Tradition of Music and Puppetry,” an acclaimed puppet show that tells the story of country music and has played to thousands of families, children and adults in Middle Tennessee.
Ben Vaughn, President & CEO of Warner Chappell Music Nashville, passed away this morning (Jan. 30). He was 49.
Vaughn spent over a decade at the helm of the company, overseeing all creative and commercial activities across A&R, administration, business development, finance and human resources. Vaughn also worked with staff songwriters, while actively engaging in songwriter advocacy and rights protection initiatives.
The news was sent to the Warner Music Group staff by Warner Chappell leaders Guy Moot and Carianne Marshall.
“Ben has led our Nashville team since 2012, and we know that many of you around the world got to know him over the years. Anyone who had the pleasure of working with him will be as shocked and saddened as we are,” they write. “First and foremost, Ben was an extraordinary human being. He met everyone with enthusiasm, warmth and generosity. His smile was huge, and his sense of humor was infectious.”
The full memo, obtained by MusicRow, is below.
Vaughn grew up in the small Kentucky town of Sullivan, home to just 500 people. A lifelong country music fan, he landed a job at his local radio station, WMSK, where he became obsessed with the liner notes in the CDs that arrived at the station’s office.
Determined to chase his country music dreams, he enrolled at Nashville’s Belmont University. While in school, he reconnected with his former middle school computer teacher, who had become a staff songwriter at Warner Chappell. She introduced him to Kurt Denny, who brought Vaughn on as an intern—marking the start of his publishing career.
Soon, Vaughn earned an internship at Warner Chappell’s partner company, Big Tractor Music. When the company’s leader unexpectedly left, 21-year-old Vaughn found himself in charge.
Scott Hendricks, Big Tractor’s owner at the time, was balancing his role as head of Capitol Records and producing major artists. He gave Vaughn six months to prove that he could lead the company, but warned that if he quit school, he would fire him. Vaughn not only succeeded in growing the small publishing company but also graduated from college.
After six years at Big Tractor, EMI approached Vaughn about a leadership position. He thrived at EMI, eventually running the creative department for seven years. At 34, he became the youngest executive to lead a major publisher in Nashville when he was named EVP and GM of EMI Music Publishing.
During a major acquisition of EMI companies, Vaughn was unable to stay on. After a six-month sabbatical, Warner Chappell tapped him to lead its Nashville office. Returning to the company where he had once been an intern, he reunited with colleagues who had witnessed his earliest days in publishing.
Under Vaughn’s leadership, Warner Chappell Nashville earned multiple Country Publisher of the Year honors from ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC, achieving the prestigious Triple Crown in 2019 by sweeping all three PRO awards. His songwriters amassed 19 CMA, ACM, Grammy, or PRO Songwriter of the Year honors, 35 Song of the Year titles, and eight inductions into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Vaughn was a fierce advocate for songwriters in and outside of Nashville, whether they were affiliated with Warner Chappell or not. He often spoke of the plight of the craft and lended his expertise to those in the community.
Vaughn is preceded in death by his wife, Carlee Ann Vaughn. He is survived by three children: Ruby, Griffin and Zeke. Services have not yet been announced.
To everyone at WMG,
It is with broken hearts that we share the unthinkable news that Ben Vaughn, President & CEO of Warner Chappell Nashville, passed away this morning. Our deepest condolences are with his family and many friends.
Ben has led our Nashville team since 2012, and we know that many of you around the world got to know him over the years. Anyone who had the pleasure of working with him will be as shocked and saddened as we are.
First and foremost, Ben was an extraordinary human being. He met everyone with enthusiasm, warmth, and generosity. His smile was huge, and his sense of humor was infectious.
He was always a passionate advocate of songwriters and a topflight music publisher. The Nashville community has lost one of its greatest champions, and he will be profoundly missed by so many across our company and the entire industry.
We are planning to visit the Nashville team very soon and thank you all for helping support them through this awful tragedy.
With love,
Guy & Carianne
https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Ben-Vaughn.png27712974LB Cantrellhttps://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngLB Cantrell2025-01-30 13:35:032025-01-30 15:21:14BREAKING: Warner Chappell Nashville President & CEO, Ben Vaughn, Passes Away
Award-winning country songwriter Buddy Brock died at home in Mt. Juliet on Friday, Jan. 24, at age 72.
Among his hits are “Watermelon Crawl,” sung by Tracy Byrd (1994), “Fall in Love” and “Whatever It Takes” by Kenny Chesney (1994-95), “Haunted Heart” by Sammy Kershaw (1993), “Honky Tonk Christmas” by Alan Jackson (1992) and “I Wanna Fall in Love” by Lila McCann (1998).
Brock is perhaps best known for his 1990-95 hit collaborations with Aaron Tippin, “You’ve Got to Stand for Something,” “There Ain’t Nothing Wrong with the Radio,” “The Call of the Wild,” “Honky Tonk Superman” and “I Wonder How Far It Is Over You.”
The songwriter was born William Calhoun Brock Jr. in Greenwood, South Carolina. He moved to Nashville in 1990 to pursue his songwriting dream. Brock spent 17 years as a staff writer for Acuff-Rose/Sony Publishing.
Among the other artists who recorded his songs were George Jones, Ty Herndon, Doug Stone, Gary Allan, Woody Lee, George Strait, Charley Pride and Daryle Singletary. Brock won BMI Awards for “Fall in Love,” “You’re Got to Stand for Something,” “Watermelon Crawl,” “There Ain’t Nothing Wrong with the Radio,” “Haunted Heart” and “I Wanna Fall in Love.”
He signed with Music Central Publishing in 2007 and ended his career with Ray Batson Music.
He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Robyn Alexander Brock, by daughter, Rebecca Dawn McKinney, son Caleb Reid Brock, four grandchildren and brother, Roger “Rody” Brock, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.
A service will be held on Saturday, Feb. 1, at Mt Juliet First Baptist Church, 735 N Mt Juliet Rd, Mt Juliet, TN with visitation from 1:00 – 3:00 prior to the service at 3:00. An additional Celebration of Life event will be planned at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the charity of your choice.
https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Untitled-8-copy-1.png10801920Robert K Oermannhttps://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngRobert K Oermann2025-01-28 16:36:322025-01-28 16:36:32Veteran Nashville Songwriter Buddy Brock Passes
Daryl Schiff, musician and father of country music icon Martina McBride, passed away on Jan. 14 at his home in Sharon, Kansas. He was 86.
The Salutatorian of his 1956 high school class, Daryl went on to attend K-State and Southwestern College before joining the National Guard. A third-generation farmer, he operated a dairy farm before focusing on cattle and crops.
Daryl’s love of music was central to his life. He led the country rock band The Schiffters, where Martina and her brother Marty honed their skills. The band performed every Saturday night for 17 years, entertaining crowds at Elks Clubs, VFW halls, the Isabel Gymnasium and countless weddings. Daryl’s wife Jeanne managed the sound board during their performances.
After Martina moved to Nashville, Daryl continued performing, gracing stages like the Wilmore Opry and Concerts in the Barn. He recorded two albums in Nashville and performed twice at the Grand Ole Opry. His final public performance, drawing over 5,000 attendees, was at the Pratt County Fair on July 23, 2022.
In addition to his musical talents, Daryl was known for his love of cooking and gardening.
“I really don’t have the right words. My dad passed away Tuesday night. Our hearts are broken,” Martina shared in a social media post. “He was 86 and had an amazing life. He was a third-generation family farmer. He was also the leader of our family band, The Schiffters. He taught me so much about music, about life, about how to treat others.”
He is survived by four children: Stephen Alan Clark (Jean), Gina Lynn Leiker (Steve), Martina Mariea McBride (John) and Daryl Martin Schiff II (Janelle); 15 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren and sister, Morea Marlene Bradley (Phil).
Daryl was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Maxine Schiff, and his wife, Verla Jean Schiff.
A visitation was held on Monday (Jan. 20) at Larrison Funeral Home in Medicine Lodge, Kansas. Funeral services were held today (Jan. 21) at First Christian Church.
https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Untitled-7-1.png8821340LB Cantrellhttps://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngLB Cantrell2025-01-21 14:42:292025-01-21 14:42:29Daryl Schiff, Musician & Father Of Martina McBride, Passes
Melba Montgomery. Photo: Courtesy of Robert K. Oermann collection
Regarded as one of the greatest female stylists of country music’s “golden age,” Melba Montgomery passed away on Wednesday (Jan. 15). She made her mark in Music City as a matchless vocalist as well as an enduring songwriting talent.
As a singer, Montgomery immortalized country’s all-time motherhood classic “No Charge.” She also became the hit duet partner of the legendary George Jones. Montgomery originated the delightful hillbilly romp “Something to Brag About” as a duet with Charlie Louvin. It was memorably revived by Willie Nelson and Mary Kay Place, among others. As a studio singer, she contributed harmony background vocals to recordings by Leon Russell, Randy Travis, B.J. Thomas, Emmylou Harris and other stars.
As a songwriter, she had more than 100 compositions recorded. Melba Montgomery wrote “We Must Have Been Out of Our Minds.” That 1963 hit duet with George Jones has since been recorded by more than two dozen other stars. She also co-wrote “What Do You Say to That,” which was a smash hit for George Strait in 1999. Her 1970 song “Don’t Keep Me Lonely Too Long” has been recorded by Connie Smith, Skeeter Davis, Eddy Arnold, Dottie West, George Jones and others. More than 50 different artists have recorded Melba Montgomery songs.
Melba Joyce Montgomery was a native of Iron City, Tennessee (b. 1938). She was raised near Florence, Alabama, as the daughter of a farmer fiddler and guitarist who taught singing in the local Methodist Church. Her dad gave her a guitar when she was 10 years old. When they weren’t working in the fields, the seven children all grew up singing harmonies and playing banjo, fiddle or guitar. Like Melba, her brothers Carl and Earl “Peanut” Montgomery also became successful country songwriters.
When she was 19, she travelled to Nashville to be in a 1958 talent contest staged by WSM radio, the home of the Grand Ole Opry. She won the contest. The Opry’s Roy Acuff was so impressed with her talent that he invited her to become the “girl singer” in his touring troupe. She remained with the superstar’s show for the next four years. Her first recording sessions were as a harmony vocalist on Acuff’s records for the Hickory label.
In 1962, Melba Montgomery was signed by United Artists Records and teamed with Jones for a series of landmark duets. The honky-tonk king had previously recorded duets with Virginia Spurlock, Jeanette Hicks, Brenda Carter and Margie Singleton. But Montgomery’s drawling, soulful, Southern-accented phrasing was the perfect foil for his distinctive, bent-note vocals. After the team hit the top-10 in 1963 with her song “We Must Have Been Out of Our Minds,” she debuted on the country charts as a solo artist with “Hall of Shame” later that year.
The Jones/Montgomery team charted five more times in 1964-67. She wrote or co-wrote a dozen songs for their six duet albums during that same time period, including “Simply Divine,” “Until Then” and “Lovin’ on Easy Street.” The first Montgomery solo LP appeared in 1964. Melba Montgomery was succeeded by Down Home, I Can’t Get Used to Being Lonely and Country Girl in 1964-66. She had top 40 solo country hits with “The Greatest One of All” and “Please Be My Love” in 1964.
She switched to the Musicor Records label, which is when she teamed with her second duet partner, pop star Gene Pitney. They issued their Being Together album in 1965 and scored a hit with “Baby Ain’t That Fine” the following year. Her next stop was Capitol Records, where she was teamed with Charlie Louvin. Their 1970-71 hits included the wildly witty Bobby Braddock song “Something to Brag About” and a country version of the Brook Benton/Dinah Washington R&B smash “Baby, You’ve Got What It Takes.” Her solo efforts for Capitol were not as successful.
But her songwriting remained much admired by her peers. During the next few years, Bobby Bare, Hank Williams Jr., Conway Twitty, Kris Krisofferson & Rita Coolidge, Bill Anderson, Roy Drusky, Del Reeves and others recorded her works.
Elektra Records signed Montgomery in 1973. She debuted on the label with the top 40 success “Wrap Your Love Around Me,” which she co-wrote. The following year, she performed Harlan Howard’s emotional “No Charge.” By the time she finished recording the motherhood anthem, she was weeping. So were the session musicians. The song hit No. 1 on the charts on Mother’s Day in 1974. Black gospel queen Shirley Caesar picked up the song to give it another hit version. Tammy Wynette and Johnny Cash are among the others who recorded “No Charge.”
“Don’t Let the Good Times Fool You” (1975), “Searchin’” (1975) and her version of the pop hit “Angel of the Morning” (1977) were her other top 40 successes of the 1970s. In 1977, Mary Kay Place and Willie Nelson brought back “Something to Brag About” and scored an even bigger hit with it than Montgomery did with Louvin 10 years earlier.
By 1986, Melba Montgomery had placed 30 songs on country’s popularity charts and released 26 albums — 17 solo efforts and nine duet collections with Jones, Pitney and Louvin. Her recording career was winding down, but she blossomed as a songwriter as she aged into her 50s and 60s. A host of country stars of the 1990s lined up to record her works — Patty Loveless & Travis Tritt, Tracy Byrd, Ricochet, Sara Evans, Emmylou Harris & Carl Jackson, John Prine, David Ball, Terri Clark, Randy Travis, The Derailers, Reba McEntire and Vern Gosdin, among them.
During that decade and for the next 20 years, she co-wrote with Music Row’s “young guns” — Jim Lauderdale, Kostas, Leslie Satcher, Billy Yates, Larry Cordle, Jerry Salley and their peers. In 1999, superstar George Strait hit it big with the Lauderdale/Montgomery song “What Do You Say to That.” Her songs also found favor with bluegrass music’s elite — The Lonesome River Band, Rhonda Vincent, Lost Highway, Grasstowne and more.
Montgomery published a cookbook in 1988 and issued additional solo albums in 1992, 1997, 2008 and 2010. She also appeared on Ralph Stanley’s award-winning, all-star 2001 CD Clinch Mountain Sweethearts. Following the death of her husband, guitarist/songwriter Jack Solomon, Melba Montgomery retired in 2015.
She was the mother-in-law of hit country producer Blake Chancey and is also survived by daughters Melba Jacqueline Chancey, Tara Denise Solomon, Diana Lynn Cirigliano and Melissa Solomon Barrett (and son-in-law and industry veteran Shane Barrett), by five grandchildren and by two great-grandchildren.
Arrangements are being handled by Harpeth Hills Memory Gardens Funeral Home. Visitation will be held there on Wednesday, Jan. 22 at 11:30 a.m. with services to follow at 1:30 p.m.
https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Melba-Montgomery-FT.jpeg19232138Robert K Oermannhttps://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngRobert K Oermann2025-01-16 16:31:362025-01-17 12:02:28Country Star Melba Montgomery Dies At Age 86
Buck White, patriarch of country music group The Whites and Grand Ole Opry member, passed away today (Jan. 13). He was 94.
The news was shared by his family, daughters Sharon, Cheryl, Rosie and Melissa.
“The Lord answered our prayers and took our daddy home peacefully this morning at 8 a.m. We are so thankful for his 94 years on this earth,” they shared in a joint statement. “He was a great Dad who taught us by example to put Jesus first always. His great loves were the Lord, our mother, his family and music. Most people will remember him not only for being a great musician and entertainer, but also for being fun-loving and full of mischief. He lived a full life and finished well.”
Buck’s skills on the piano first opened the door for music, landing him gigs with Hank Snow, Ernest Tubb and others. In 1962, he relocated his family from Texas to Arkansas, where he and his wife, Pat Goza, began performing with another couple as The Down Home Folks. Their daughters, Sharon and Cheryl, were billed as The Down Home Kids.
The group quickly gained recognition in bluegrass circles, and by 1971, the family had moved to Nashville to solidify their careers as professional singers. Still performing as The Down Home Folks, they released several bluegrass albums before Pat retired from the group in 1973. Their first album as The Whites was 1983’s Old Familiar Feeling, according to Discogs.
In 1981, Sharon married country and bluegrass legend Ricky Skaggs, who produced some of their records. The Whites earned CMA Award nominations for The Horizon Award and Instrumental Group of the Year in 1983 as well as ACM Award nominations for Top Vocal Group in 1982 and 1983.
In 1984, the family was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry.
Over their career, The Whites captivated audiences with hits like “You Put The Blue In Me,” “Hangin’ Around,” “Give Me Back That Old Familiar Feeling,” “Pins And Needles,” “If It Ain’t Love (Let’s Leave It Alone),” “Hometown Gossip” and more. Their signature blend of bluegrass, country, folk, gospel and Texas swing, paired with their musical mastery and family harmony, became their hallmark.
Their involvement in the movie and soundtrack O Brother, Where Art Thou? brought them significant industry recognition, earning a Grammy Award for Album of the Year along with ACM and CMA Award nominations. They can be heard on the film’s “Keep on the Sunny Side,” a beloved classic originally popularized by the Carter Family.
In 2007, The Whites won another Grammy for their collaboration with Skaggs on his Salt of the Earth album. The following year, they were inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Buck-White.png10801080LB Cantrellhttps://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngLB Cantrell2025-01-13 17:31:062025-01-13 17:31:06Grand Ole Opry Member Buck White Of The Whites Passes
Legendary soul man Sam Moore passed away on Friday (Jan. 10) in Coral Gables, Florida from complications following a surgery. He was 89.
Moore was half of the Grammy-winning duo Sam & Dave of the 1960s. The duo recorded classic hits including “Soul Man,” “Hold On I’m Coming,” “I Thank You” and many more, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll of Fame in 1992.
Born in 1935, Moore grew up in Miami and began singing in church. Sam Cooke heard him and thought Moore would be a perfect replacement for him as the lead in the gospel group The Soul Stirrers, but when Moore saw Jackie Wilson perform at the Nightbeat, he realized he wanted to sing pop instead and struck out on his own. He became the singing emcee and talent show host at the King O’ Hearts Club, which is where he met Dave Prater, who tried out for the club’s talent show. Stage magic led to the formation of the duo.
Ahmet Ertegun, Tom Dowd and Jerry Wexler from Atlantic Records saw Sam & Dave in late 1964 at the King O’ Hearts where they had become locally famous. In 1965 they were signed to Atlantic Records and Wexler loaned the duo to Atlantic’s southern production arm, Stax Records where they were introduced to Isaac Hayes and David Porter. They released a string of hits and became internationally famous, and were so revered that they were among the few stars who were asked to perform at Martin Luther King, Jr.’s memorial concert at Madison Square Garden in 1968.
The duo broke up in 1970 and shortly after Moore re-signed to Atlantic and recorded his solo album, produced by King Curtis. Curtis was murdered on August 13, 1971, and the album was completed but Wexler chose to shelve it, depriving Moore of his solo launch. He reunited with Dave for a few years in the late 1970’s but broke up for good New Years Eve 1982 in San Francisco. Moore struggled with heroin addiction after being introduced to the drug in the early 1960’s. He married Joyce McRae in 1982, who became his manager and advocate and ultimately got Sam into a program, ultimately saving his life.
Moore enjoyed success in country music in 1994 with his duet of “Rainy Night In Georgia” with Conway Twitty, which earned them a Platinum record as well as two CMA Award nominations.
He began a celebrated solo career at that point and over the years became a mainstay performer at the Kennedy Center. He has performed for six presidents, including Jimmy Carter, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump. At Dan Aykroyd’s 50th birthday, Sam performed with Clinton, who played the saxophone to accompany him.
More than once, Bruce Springsteen introduced Moore as “The greatest living soul singer on the planet!” Springsteen invited him to sing on his Human Touch album, and again in 2023 on his collection of R&B covers Only the Strong Survive. When the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame celebrated its 25th birthday at Madison Square Garden, Springsteen featured Moore. Moore’s legacy as a solo artist was cemented when he was finally able to recover and release the King Curtis album, Plenty Good Loving, in 2002. In 2006, he released his first album in thirty years, Overnight Sensational, which featured Springsteen, Sting, Bon Jovi and other stars. He was nominated for a Grammy Award with Billy Preston on their duet of “You Are So Beautiful.”
Moore was also a vocal advocate for the rights of performers. With his wife, he testified often in Washington for a performer’s royalty on songs played on radio. He earned a star in Nashville’s Walk of Fame Park in 2016 alongside Alabama. In recent years, he received a Special Merit Lifetime Achievement Award from the Grammys. His voice was also featured in a Starbucks commercial featuring the Sam & Dave version of “Hold On I’m Coming.” Eddie Murphy requested Moore perform at his Kennedy Center Mark Twain award.
Moore is survived by his wife Joyce, daughter Michelle, and grandchildren Tash and Misha. Services have not yet been announced.
https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Sam-Moore-FT.png10801080Lorie Hollabaughhttps://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngLorie Hollabaugh2025-01-13 11:02:182025-01-13 11:02:18Soul Man Sam Moore Passes
Thomas “Lynn” Baker. Photo: Kevin Schlatt Photography
Art director, image consultant and jewelry designer Thomas “Lynn” Baker passed away peacefully at his home in Tijeras, New Mexico on Dec. 3 of Huntington’s Disease. He was 71.
Baker exhibited a talent and passion for art at an early age. A Frankfurt, Kentucky native, he studied at Western Kentucky University where he received Bachelor and Master of Arts Degrees with emphasis in weaving and art education. He continued with postgraduate study in Mexico and Venezuela, where he was greatly influenced by indigenous design.
During his two decades in the entertainment industry in Nashville, Baker wore many hats including in wardrobe design, video production, event planning, image consulting, interior design, set design and art direction. He was also an award-winning jewelry and costume designer who specialized in unique creations for entertainers and celebrities. Baker’s jewelry was featured on the red carpet at countless award shows, in music videos, on album covers and in magazines. His clients included Rosanne Cash, Clint Black, Billy Ray Cyrus, Dixie Chicks, The Judds, Loretta Lynn, Lee Roy Parnell, Doug Stone, Shania Twain, Lee Ann Womack, Tammy Wynette, Trace Adkins, Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn and Diamond Rio.
Baker won nine Country Music Association/Grand Ole Opry awards for art direction and his costumes are in the Country Music Hall of Fame collection. He designed glamorous country parties, including the CMA’s post-award party. He worked as a video art director, styled and made wardrobe for various artists, and built custom artist booths for CMA Music Fest. In addition, Baker designed exhibitions for the Tennessee State Museum and the T. J. Martell Foundation. He was also an avid balloonist who served as event coordinator for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.
Baker is survived by his stepmother Mary Baker of Harrodsburg, Kentucky.
https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Lynn-Baker.png10801920Lorie Hollabaughhttps://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngLorie Hollabaugh2025-01-06 10:19:182025-01-06 10:19:18Art Director & Jewelry Designer Thomas ‘Lynn’ Baker Passes
