Obituaries for Michael Nesmith, who died Friday (Dec. 10) have understandably focused on his fame as a member of The Monkees, but he was also one of the most influential musicians of the country-rock movement.

During Nesmith’s 1965-70 tenure in The Monkees, the group starred on a national TV series and scored major pop hits with “Last Train to Clarksville,” “I’m a Believer,” “Pleasant Valley Sunday,” “Daydream Believer” and more. However, his longer lasting impact was as a video visionary who led the way to MTV, as well as a singer-songwriter who created such country-rock classics as “Joanne” (1970), “Silver Moon” (1970), “Nevada Fighter” (1971) and “Rio” (1976).

Born Dec. 30, 1942, the native Texan was raised in San Antonio. His mother invented liquid paper (marketed as White Out), which eventually made the family independently wealthy. As a teenager, he migrated to L.A. to try to forge a career as a recording artist and film actor. Sometimes billed as “Michael Blessing,” he played The Troubadour and other folk clubs. In 1961-66 he recorded a string of unsuccessful solo singles for such labels as Highness, Eden, Omnibus and Colpix.

In 1965, Nesmith auditioned for a TV role as a member of a zany, fictional pop group. This was The Monkees, an act patterned on The Beatles, as seen in their madcap movies A Hard Day’s Night and Help! of 1964-65. The other three members of The Monkees were Davy Jones (1945-2012), Mickey Dolenz and Peter Tork (1942-2019). Only Nesmith and Tork were professional songwriters who played instruments.

Michael Nesmith initially thought of the group as mainly a theatrical vehicle, and The Monkees did win the 1967 Emmy Award for Best Comedy Series. When it became clear that the producers intended to showcase lots of music, he began to lobby for a greater say-so in the creation of Monkees records. The first Monkees album in 1966 included his song “Papa Gene’s Blues.” Following this hard-won breakthrough, Nesmith placed songs on all eight of the Monkees LPs released while he was a member. In 1967, the band had a top 40 hit with his song “The Girl I Knew Somewhere.” Both he and the group became genuine pop-culture phenomena.

In all, the multi-million-selling Monkees recorded more than a dozen of his songs, including the late-career singles “Listen to the Band,” “Good Clean Fun” and “Tapioca Tundra.” His Monkees song “Mary, Mary” was popularized by the Paul Butterfield Blues Band (1966) and, later Run DMC (2002). Nesmith also wrote such hits as “Different Drum,” which launched Linda Ronstadt’s career in 1967, and “Some of Shelly’s Blues,” which The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band scored with in 1971.

Although he wrote pop hits, Nesmith never lost his fondness for the country music he’d grown up with. He began recording in Nashville in 1968, blending his Texas/California sensibilities with Music Row’s finest session professionals. In 1970, he formed The First National Band and signed with RCA Records. The group pioneered a sound that would later be dubbed country-rock. Its three LPs, Magnetic South (1970), Loose Salute (1970) and Nevada Fighter (1971) defined the melodic, smoothly produced, steel-dominated West Coast style. So did Nesmith’s Second National Band, which issued its lone LP in 1972.

In addition to reviving such country classics as “I Fall to Pieces,” “Tumbling Tumbleweeds,” “Bonaparte’s Retreat” and “She Thinks I Still Care,” Nesmith introduced his own yearning, soaring ballad “Joanne.” It became a hit on the pop charts, plus a top-10 smash on the A/C chart. The same was true of his uptempo heartache tune “Silver Moon.” These early-1970s discs were revered in the Nashville songwriting community. They also influenced Poco, The New Riders of the Purple Sage, Gram Parsons, The Byrds, The Eagles and The Flying Burrito Brothers, all of whom became far better known as California country-rock trail blazers.

Of all the West Coast country rockers, Nesmith was the most “country.” But like the others, he was ignored by the mainstream country-music industry at the time. Rolling Stone once dubbed his sound, “the best music never heard.”

For his 1976 single “Rio,” Nesmith created an accompanying promotional film, setting the stage for the industry’s widespread production of music videos in the 1980s. While touring to support the record, he noticed TV stations in Australia programming similar short music films in blocks. Back in the U.S., he put together a half-hour music show called Popclips, consisting of video-promotion items. He pitched it to Warner Amex, who bought both the show and its concept. Four years later, Popclips was reborn as MTV.

In 1981, Nesmith created a “video record” entitled Elephant Parts, which mixed comedy and music. The following year, Elephant Parts won the first-ever video Grammy Award. He also produced such cult movies as Repo Man, Timerider, Tapeheads and Square Dance, as well as the NBC TV series Television Parts. He created short films for such shows as Saturday Night Live and Fridays.

He was Grammy-nominated for a new-age record in 1994. Nesmith was also a pioneer in surround-sound recording. His Pacific Arts company was his record label as well as the distributor of PBS home videos (The Civil War, I Claudius, etc.) and other top films. In addition, Nesmith was a novelist and a scriptwriter.

His eclectic country-rock sound was eventually documented on more than 20 albums. Along the way, he collaborated with such country greats as Charlie McCoy, Chet Atkins, Harold Bradley, Felton Jarvis, Area Code 615, John Hobbs, Sonny Osborne, Larry Butler, Billy Sanford, Joe Chemay, Linda Hargrove, Weldon Myrick, Lisa Silver and Billy Joe Walker Jr.

Michael Nesmith underwent quadruple bypass heart surgery in 2018. He died at home in California at age 78.

Grand Ole Opry mainstay Stonewall Jackson, famed for his 1959 pop-crossover smash “Waterloo,” died on Saturday (Dec. 4) at age 89 following a long struggle with vascular dementia.

Between 1958 and 1973, Jackson placed 44 singles on the country charts, including 18 top 20 hits. In 2007, he was honored with a star-studded tribute album that featured contributions by Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw, Alison Krauss, Tanya Tucker, Vince Gill, Charlie Daniels and dozens more.

Born in rural North Carolina, he was named for Confederate general Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, who was his ancestor. His railroad-worker father died when Stonewall Jackson was a toddler. He joined the Armed Forces at age 16 to escape an abusive stepfather. While in the Navy on submarine duty, he polished his guitar skills and began writing songs.

Following his 1954 discharge, he worked at farming and logging in Georgia. He saved $350 to drive to Nashville in his pickup truck in 1956. He sang his songs at the Acuff-Rose publishing company, which resulted in an audition at the Opry. He made history by being signed as a Grand Ole Opry cast member without a recording contract or a hit record.

Columbia Records signed Jackson. He debuted on the label in 1958 with “Life to Go,” which he’d co-written with George Jones. A year later, Stonewall Jackson shot to the top of the charts with the thumping “Waterloo” (co-written by John D. Loudermilk & Marijohn Wilkin), which also became a massive pop hit.

Ernest Tubb took Stonewall Jackson under his wing, introducing him on the Opry, teaching him to dress, taking him on the road and signing him to his publishing company. Marty Robbins loaned him money for groceries. Jackson’s wife Juanita Wair Jackson (1937-2019) was a business-college alumnus who did his correspondence, kept the books and became his business manager.

Hits such as “Smoke Along the Track” (1959) and “Mary Don’t You Weep” (1960) led to the self-penned “Why I’m Walkin’” (1960), which was Jackson’s second major smash. It became an enduring country favorite, recorded by Tubb, Skeeter Davis, Carl Smith, Ricky Skaggs, George Hamilton IV, Loretta Lynn and Johnny Paycheck, among others.

The singer received “newcomer” awards from Billboard, Cash Box and Record World. He appeared on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand and headlined at the Hollywood Bowl. He continued to be in the country top 10 with “A Wound Time Can’t Erase,” “”Leona” and “Old Showboat” in 1962-63. In 1964, “B.J. the D.J.” rose to No. 1.

This was followed by “Don’t Be Angry” in 1964. The song was revived as a big country hit by Donna Fargo in 1977. Jackson’s next single was 1965’s “I Washed My Hands in Muddy Water,” which also proved to be perennially popular with other artists.

Stonewall Jackson was featured in the 1965 film Country Music on Broadway. Two years later, he returned to the county top 10 with “Help Stamp Out Loneliness.” His other 1967 hit was “Promises and Hearts (Were Made to Break).”

In 1971, he became the first artist to record a live album in The Ryman Auditorium, “The Mother Church of Country Music.” He was in the country top 10 that year with his version of Lobo’s pop success “Me and You and a Dog Named Boo.”

In the 1980s, Stonewall Jackson recorded for the MGM, Sunbird and MSR labels. He and Juanita invested in real estate throughout Nashville. Their son Turp (Stonewall Jackson Jr.) often joined his father at Opry appearances.

Jackson made a cameo appearance in Sweet Dreams, the 1985 film about the life of Patsy Cline. In 1991, his fan club published his autobiography, From the Bottom Up. He portrayed the disapproving “Dad” in Confederate Railroad’s 1993 video for its hit “Trashy Women.”

In 1996, Jackson’s “Jesus Is My Lifeline” spent four months at No. 1 on the Music City News Gospel Voice charts. He and gospel artist Don Richmond co-wrote the song and performed it as a duet. It earned the Opry star an award from the Country Gospel Music Association. The following year, Stonewall Jackson was honored with the Ernest Tubb Memorial Award for his lifelong contributions to the country-music industry.

In 2006, Stonewall Jackson celebrated his 50th anniversary as an Opry cast member. The commemorative, 22-track album Stonewall Jackson And Super Friends: A Tribute featured a country-music Who’s Who. Among those appearing on it were Roy Acuff, Boxcar Willie, Hal Ketchum, the Gatlins, Joe Diffie, Grandpa Jones, John Conlee, The Kentucky Headhunters, The Whites, Connie Smith, Lynn Anderson, Marty Stuart, Waylon Jennings, Mac Wiseman, Hank Snow, Jim Ed Brown, Lorrie Morgan and Porter Wagoner, in addition to the artists previously mentioned. It was issued in 2007.

That was also the year that Stonewall Jackson sued the Grand Ole Opry for $10 million, charging age discrimination. He was angry that the show didn’t feature him often enough. The Opry countered that being a cast member did not make the show his employer. Furthermore, the show regularly booked Wagoner, Jimmy Dickens, Bobby Osborne and other cast members who were Jackson’s seniors. The parties reached a settlement in 2008.

Meanwhile, Jackson’s oldies became favorites among artists in the emerging Americana format. Buddy Miller and Heather Myles both revived “Why I’m Walkin.’” Dwight Yoakam, Emmylou Harris and others brought back “Smoke Along the Track.” The Greenhorns recorded “Waterloo,” and Dale Watson sang “Don’t Be Angry.”

Saturday night’s Grand Ole Opry performance was dedicated to Stonewall Jackson. Funeral arrangements for the star have not been announced.

Durable and prolific Music Row studio singer Sudie Callaway died at age 87 on Nov. 10.

She was ubiquitous as a background vocalist in Nashville for five decades, appearing on hundreds of hit country records. During her career, she backed such superstars as George Strait, Dolly Parton, Mel Tillis, Marty Robbins and Porter Wagoner.

She was born in Twila, Kentucky in 1934 and was singing and playing guitar in churches at age 6. She began her professional career by singing with her two younger sisters at the Renfro Valley Barn Dance as a teenager.

As soon as she graduated from high school, she moved to Detroit to perform on WJR radio with Casey Clark & The Lazy Ranch Boys. While there, she married her husband, steel guitarist Jim Baker.

The couple moved to Knoxville to work on the radio and TV shows of entrepreneur Cas Walker. By the mid-1960s, the young performers were settled in Nashville and making their mark in the country music industry.

In addition to session work, Sudie Callaway played bass and sang on the road with a number of stars. She appeared on the Grand Ole Opry and recorded solo singles for such independent labels as Re-Von (1964), Musicor (1968) and Avenue South (1969-70).

She also appeared in such movies as Music City USA (1966), W.W. & The Dixie Dance Kings (1975), Smokey and the Bandit (1977) and Harper Valley P.T.A. (1978).

In later years, she returned to singing regularly at the Renfro Valley Barn Dance, which is still staged near Mt. Vernon, Kentucky.

Sudie Mae Callaway Baker is survived by sister Clara Howard, brother Ted Callaway and her children Daniel Baker, Linda Phifer and Timothy Baker, as well as by seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren. She is the aunt of Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Matraca Berg.

Her funeral and burial was held in Harlan, Kentucky. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to MusiCares via The Recording Academy.

Artist manager, musician and songwriter Doug Nichols passed away unexpectedly at his home in Austin, Texas on Sunday, Oct. 31. He was 65.

Nichols was known for working with many talented artists in his career including Johnny Paycheck, Brooks & Dunn, Rascal Flatts and Nicolette Larson. As co-founder of Turner Nichols & Associates, he and Trey Turner co-managed Rascal Flatts from 2000 to 2011. In 2013, Nichols launched Rough Hollow Entertainment, a management company with offices in Nashville and Austin.

Nichols served on numerous boards, foundations and charitable affiliations during his career, including the Academy of Country Music, Dave Thomas Adoption Foundation, Nashville Rescue Mission, Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Nashville Boys and Girls Club, and many others.

Born Jon Douglas Nichols, Jr. on Sept. 5, 1956 in Marshall, Texas, Nichols is remembered by his sense of humor and for being a prolific storyteller. He loved cheering on the Texas Longhorns and Dallas Cowboys.

Nichols is survived by his wife of 22 years, Ann Nichols (Wornick) and his son, Malachi David Nichols. He is preceded in death by his parents, Jon Douglas Nichols, Sr. and Valreye Verlon (Oliver) Nichols, as well as his younger brother, David Paul Nichols.

Private family memorial services will be held. Memorial considerations may be made to Nashville Rescue Mission, 639 Lafayette Street, Nashville, TN 37203 or online.