Veteran Session Singer Sudie Callaway Passes

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Sudie Mae Callaway Baker

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.

Beloved Vocal Coach To The Stars, Renee Grant-Williams, Passes

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Vocal coach Renee Grant-Williams passed away on Friday (Nov. 12) at Southern Hills hospital in Nashville after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Grant-Williams has worked with many country greats including, Jason Aldean, Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, The Chicks, and Garth Brooks, as well as rock and pop artists such as Miley Cyrus, Scott Stapp (Creed), Christina Aguilera, Linda Ronstadt, Ben Folds, Huey Lewis, Bob Weir (Grateful Dead) and Dave Mustaine (Metallica/Megadeth).

In addition to her training offerings in Nashville, she’s conducted international seminars in countries including South America, Europe, and Australia. For 10 years Grant-Williams conducted an annual Vocal Master Class, an intense all-day seminar that attracted attendees from all over the world. In 2009 she introduced the Mini Clinic, a more intimate format that allowed each singer to receive one-on-one training.

In 2002 AMACOM Books NY published her book, Voice Power: Using Your Voice to Captivate, Persuade, and Command Attention.

As a professional speaker herself, Grant-Williams also provided coaching to business leaders, attorneys, public speakers, and politicians. A 10-year member of the National Speakers Association, she presented communication skill training programs to associations and business organizations throughout the United States.

Grant-William’s formal education took place at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where she also taught. She served as the Director of the Division of Vocal Music at the University of California, Berkeley, and worked as a Musical Director at the Actors Studio in Manhattan before eventually establishing permanent residence in Nashville.

She was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1993 after a routine visit with her doctor.

Her determination to live life to its fullest while battling the debilitating disease served as an inspiration to everyone who knew her. She shared details of her battle in 2019 admitting, “Everything from putting on my shoes to ordering a cheeseburger is an effort beyond anything others can imagine. Like a boa constrictor, Parkinson’s Disease wraps itself around your body and mind strangling your will to accomplish. You must motivate yourself 100% of the time to do even the little everyday things, let alone try to live a full and rich life.” Her motivation to keep fighting the best way she knew how set a great example for others on how to live boldly against the odds and face them head on.

In addition to her work, Grant-Williams was known for her sense of adventure, determination, and wit.

She is survived by her sisters Judie Fisher, Susan Rodiek, and Billie Custer; her nieces and nephews Lisa McAllister Nickels & Lon McAllister, Kelley Custer Whealton, Heidi Shotwell, and Casey Custer; cousins Russell Blowers, Karen Witter, and Christina Connell; and longtime companions Steve Goldinger, and Elsie the studio Cat.

In lieu of her annual birthday bash, a Celebration of Life fundraiser to benefit Parkinson’s Research is being planned for Grant-Williams on Jan. 8, 2022. More details are being finalized.

Artist Manager, Musician & Songwriter Doug Nichols Passes

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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.

Country Star Rose Lee Maphis Dies At Age 98

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Rose Lee Maphis. Photo: Courtesy Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Singer, songwriter and guitarist Rose Lee Maphis, noted for country hits and TV appearances in the 1950s, passed away on Oct. 26. She was 98.

She rose to stardom in a duo with husband Joe Maphis (1921-1986). In 1953, they wrote and recorded “Dim Lights, Thick Smoke (and Loud, Loud Music),” which is now a honky-tonk standard. Generations of Nashville tourists knew her as the elderly greeter at the door of the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum.

She was born Doris Schetrompf in Baltimore on Dec. 29, 1922. Billed as “Rose of the Mountains,” she had her own radio show at age 15 in Hagerstown, Maryland. The singer-guitarist then joined the “all-girl” country band The Saddle Sweethearts.

Using that same billing, she joined “The Old Dominion Barn Dance” in Richmond, Virginia as a duet with Mary Klick in 1948. The show aired locally on WRVA and nationally on the CBS radio network. Others in the cast included Flatt & Scruggs, Mother Maybelle & The Carter Sisters, Mac Wiseman, Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper, Reno & Smiley Clyde Moody and Grandpa Jones.

The host of the show was Sunshine Sue (Workman), whose band included hotshot guitarist Joe Maphis. Joe and Rose Lee dated and fell in love at WRVA.

Rose Lee and Joe Maphis. Photo: Courtesy Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

In 1951, he decided to relocate to California at the urging of fellow guitarist Merle Travis. She followed Joe to the West Coast, and they married in 1952.

Known as “The King of the Strings” and regarded as one of the greatest pickers in country-music history, Joe Maphis played on hundreds of recordings by both pop and country stars. In addition, he contributed to movie and TV soundtracks in Los Angeles.

With Rose as harmony singer and solid rhythm guitarist, the husband and wife duo also became top entertainers. Billed as “Mr. and Mrs. Country Music,” they rose to stardom on the Town Hall Party radio and TV series.

In addition to “Dim Lights, Thick Smoke,” the couple popularized such barroom laments as “Whiskey Is the Devil in Liquid Form” and “Where Honky-Tonk Angels Spread Their Wings.” They recorded a dozen albums together. On the West Coast, Rose Lee served as a mother figure and mentor to younger performers, notably fellow singers/instrumentalists Barbara Mandrell and Lorrie Collins.

Rose Lee Maphis issued her first, and only, solo LP on Columbia Records in 1960. But she increasingly devoted her time to raising the three Maphis children, Dale, Lorrie and Jody.

The family moved to Nashville in 1968 and resumed recording albums. Joe Maphis died of lung cancer in 1986. His guitar hero was Mother Maybelle Carter, so June Carter Cash arranged for him to be buried in the Cash family plot next to his idol. June and Johnny Cash have since joined him there.

Rose Lee was a talented seamstress, so she went to work in the costume department of the Opryland theme park following Joe’s death. In later years, she became a kindly greeter at the Hall of Fame, a volunteer job she enjoyed even into her ninth decade.

Her 90th birthday celebration in 2012 remains an available video on YouTube. Attendees included host Louise Mandrell, Bobby Bare, Barbara Mandrell, Thom Bresh, Lynn Anderson, Mark Jones, Mentor Williams, Irlene Mandrell and Casey Anderson.

Son Jody Maphis became a popular Nashville musician. He has played drums and/or guitar behind such stars as Marty Stuart, Johnny Cash, Gary Allan, Johnny Rodriguez and Earl Scruggs.

The Joe & Rose Lee Maphis co-written classic “Dim Lights, Thick Smoke (And Loud, Loud Music)” has been revived by dozens of country and bluegrass artists. Among them are Dwight Yoakam, The Flying Burrito Brothers (with Gram Parsons), Conway Twitty, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Flatt & Scruggs, Daryle Singletary, Tom T. Hall, John Prine, Larry Sparks, Frankie Miller, Barbara Mandrell, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Benny Martin & Bobby Osborne, Vern Gosdin, The Derailers, IIIrd Tyme Out, Ricky Skaggs, Jack Ingram, Porter Wagoner and Marty Stuart.

Bluegrass Superstar Sonny Osborne Dies

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Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame member Sonny Osborne died Sunday (Oct. 24) at age 83.

Regarded as one of the all-time great banjo stylists, he starred with brother Bobby on the Grand Ole Opry as well as on hit records such as “Rocky Top.” The Osborne Brothers were named the CMA Vocal Group of the Year in 1971.

Roland “Sonny” Osborne was born in the coalfields of Kentucky, but raised in Dayton, Ohio. At age 11, he became passionate about the banjo, practicing 8 to 15 hours a day. He began to appear on local radio and to make records in a duo with his sister Louise.

When he was 14, he joined Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys band. In 1952, he recorded several classics with the group, including “Memories of Mother and Dad” and “The Little Girl and the Dreadful Snake.” He also recorded as a solo artist.

He joined forces with older brother Bobby in 1953. They honed their skills working for Jimmy Martin, Charlie Bailey and Red Allen. The bluegrass classic “Once More” was recorded by Allen with the Osbornes in 1958.

The Osborne Brothers recorded on their own for RCA and MGM during this period. Sonny soon garnered industry recognition for his cutting-edge approach to banjo playing and for arranging the group’s complex harmony vocals. The act’s calling card was brother Bobby’s sky-high tenor lead singing.

Around 1963, Sonny made contact with Doyle Wilburn of Nashville’s hit-making Wilburn Brothers. Wilburn got the brothers a contract with Decca Records, arranged for them to join the Grand Ole Opry (1964) and signed them for publishing and booking.

This coincided with Sonny encouraging his band to modernize. He electrified his banjo and added drums and electric bass to The Osborne Brothers sound. As a result, the group scored hits on the country hit parade and toured with mainstream pop and country acts. Their charted favorites included “Roll Muddy River” (1967), “Rocky Top” (1968), “Tennessee Hound Dog” (1969), “Ruby Are You Mad” (1970), “Midnight Flyer” (1973), “Blue Heartache” (1973) and “I Can Hear Kentucky Calling Me” (1980).

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“Rocky Top” was named one of the state songs of Tennessee in 1984. It is performed in Knoxville every time the University of Tennessee Vols score a football touchdown.

In the 1980s, the Osbornes ditched electrified instruments and reverted to acoustic bluegrass. They recorded for niche labels such as CMH, Sugar Hill and Piencastle.

The Osbornes were also recruited to play on records by others. They have backed Conway Twitty, Carl Smith, Charley Pride, Wade Ray, Jethro Burns and Mac Wiseman. They also collaborated with jazz vibraphonist Gary Burton.

Sonny Osborne had a side career as a record producer. He worked on discs for The Pinnacle Boys, The Virginia Squires, Terry Eldredge and multiple bluegrass award winner Dale Ann Bradley.

The Osborne Brothers are believed to be the first bluegrass act to play on a college campus (1960) and to be invited to perform at The White House (1973). They were elected to the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 1994 and were presented with a National Heritage award by the National Endowment for the Arts in 1997.

Sonny Osborne was the first to popularize the electrified six-string banjo, the double banjo and instruments combining the banjo with resonator guitar. He underwent rotator-cuff surgery, which caused him to quit playing and to retire from the road in 2004. Since then, he has promoted a line of banjos branded with his nickname, “Chief.”

Brother Bobby Osborne continues to play the Opry with his band The Rocky Top X-Press.

“Sonny Osborne was ‘The Chief,’” says Kyle Young, CEO, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. “He somehow played with both ferocity and humor, and those things were essential elements of his musicality and his personality. Though he was a staunch advocate for traditional bluegrass, his banjo style moved the genre forward and allowed bluegrass music to reach new audiences. He was also an innovative harmony singer, and when his voice joined with brother Bobby a sound was created that will never be replicated. Sonny Osborne was a lovably ornery delight.”

Sonny Osborne’s death was reported last night. Funeral arrangements have not been announced.

[Updated] Beloved Engineer Joe Palmaccio Dies

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Joe Palmaccio

Grammy Award-winning mastering engineer, Joe Palmaccio, died while recovering from a motorcycle accident on Saturday (Oct. 16).

A native of rural South Carolina, Palmaccio began his formal music training at age eight after moving to a small town outside Chicago. First as a trumpet player and later as a drummer, he recorded his first demo at Hedden West Studio as a teenager. After completing a B.A. in Telecommunications with a minor in Religious Studies from Indiana University, he went on to work as a mastering engineer for Bonneville Broadcasting, PolyGram Records, Sterling Sound and Sony Music Studios.

Throughout his career, Palmaccio was nominated for six Grammy awards and won four in the Best Historical Album category for such projects as 1998’s The Complete Hank Williams, 2003’s Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues: A Musical Journey, 2004’s Night Train to Nashville: Music City Rhythm & Blues 1945-1970, and 2014’s Bill Withers: The Complete Sussex and Columbia Albums

Palmaccio also spent time as an audio hardware design consultant, musician, public speaker and musical instrument craftsman. He was extremely well versed in a large variety of musical styles, genres, and technologies as both a business professional and creative. A veteran of the New York mastering community, Palmaccio founded The Place…For Mastering in Nashville in 2006, where he was president and chief engineer. He was also an adjunct instructor at Belmont University.

Among the recent projects Palmaccio mastered were records for The Eagles, BeBe Winans, Keith Urban, Gwen Sebastian, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, David Cook, Josh Kelly and Jim Oblon. He was part of the Leadership Music Class of 2011. Palmaccio joined the Sony Music Nashville staff in April of 2019 as Specialist, A&R Administration, where he assisted with managing recording costs and trafficking and archiving all of Sony Music Nashville’s audio and video masters.

Palmaccio was known to be a loving family man. He and his wife of 28 years, Alex Rockafellar, were devoted partners in life and business.

Those wishing to express condolences may email alex@theplaceformastering.com.

There will be a celebration of life for Palmaccio on Saturday, Oct. 23 at the Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory from 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. More details here.

Ronnie Tutt, Drummer For Elvis Presley, Dies At 83

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Ronnie Tutt, Elvis‘ drummer and an original member of his TCB Band, passed away on Oct. 16, 2021. He was 83.

Tutt was born in Dallas, Texas on March 12, 1938. He was involved with music and performing arts for most of his childhood.

Tutt joined Elvis’ TCB “Taking Care of Business” band at the beginning of his Las Vegas residency in 1969, and remained through Presley’s death in 1977 at 42. He also toured with Neil Diamond, and was an in-demand session drummer and touring musician who worked with Johnny Cash, Kenny Rogers, Stevie Nicks, Elvis Costello, Billy Joel, Jerry Garcia, Roy Orbison, The Carpenters and many others.

Elvis Presley Enterprises paid tribute to Tutt on the Graceland website with this message: “All of us with Elvis Presley Enterprises were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Ronnie Tutt. In addition to being a legendary drummer, he was a good friend to many of us here at Graceland. We enjoyed each time he joined us here to celebrate Elvis Week, Elvis’ Birthday and many other special occasions. Ronnie was an amazing ambassador to Elvis’ legacy – sharing his memories of working with Elvis with fans – as well as bringing Elvis’ music to arenas around the globe through later Elvis in Concert shows and performances.”

Bluegrass Musician Phil Leadbetter Dies At 59

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Phil Leadbetter. Photo: Courtesy of Crossroads Music

Bluegrass musician and businessman Phil Leadbetter has died after contracting COVID-19. He was 59.

Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, Leadbetter’s bluegrass career started at 14 with the founding of the Knoxville Newgrass Boys. The group would eventually be invited to perform at the White House during the bicentennial celebrations in 1976.

Leadbetter was hired on with Grandpa Jones in 1988, followed by a year with country singer Vern Gosdin. Beginning in 1990, he played resophonic guitar for J.D. Crowe and eventually took over booking for the group until 2001. Leadbetter recorded two album with Crowe–Flashback (1994) and Come On Down To My World (1999).

He served as a founding member of Wildfire with Robert Hale, Curt Chapman, Darrell Webb, and Barry Crabtree, later departing to start Grasstowne with Alan Bibey and Steve Gulley. He recorded three albums with Wildfire and two with Grasstowne.

As a solo artist, Leadbetter released three albums: Filibuster (1999), Slide Effects (2005), and The Next Move (2014). He released Swing For The Fences by Phil Leadbetter & The All-Stars of Bluegrass in 2020. The group had also played a number of shows in 2018-19 with a rotating cast of pickers and singers.

Leadbetter is a three-time recipient of the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Resophonic Guitar Player of the Year award. Gibson released the Phil Leadbetter Signature Series Dobro guitar in 2003 in his honor. Two years later, he won the first of his IBMA Resophonic Guitar Player awards, while also garnering an Instrumental Recording of the Year trophy for his second solo album, Slide Effects. He was nominated for a Best Bluegrass Album Grammy in 1994 for his work with J. D. Crowe and the New South on the album Flashback.

In 2011, Leadbetter received his first of five Hodgkin’s Lymphoma diagnoses.

He is survived by his grandchildren and son, Matt Leadbetter, who also become a professional resophonic guitar, now working with Dale Ann Bradley.

Memorial arrangements have not yet been announced.

Engineer Ron “Snake” Reynolds Passes

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Ron “Snake” Reynolds. Photo: Courtesy The Musicians Hall of Fame

Renowned studio engineer Ron “Snake” Reynolds has passed away on Oct. 5. He was 76.

A Nashville native, Reynolds signed as an artist with Nugget Records in 1965 but quickly decided he preferred being behind a console instead of a mic and began his journey as an engineer and producer. He joined Columbia Records in 1972 as a staff engineer and remained there until its closing a decade later when he became a freelance studio engineer. Reynolds worked on records for George Jones, Merle Haggard, Tammy Wynette, Charlie Rich, Keith Urban, Dave Loggins, Elvis Costello, Earl Thomas Conley, Elton John, Toby Keith and many more.

As a songwriter he’s had songs recorded by John Anderson, Johnny Cash, Earl Thomas Conley, Johnny Rodriguez, Sonny James, Levon Helm, Billy Joe Royal, Neal McCoy, Toby Keith and others. His producer credits include albums for Merle Haggard, The Marcy Brothers, Tony Joe White, and more.

Reynolds most notably engineered Shania Twain’s 12-million-selling smash album The Woman In Me. He has engineered over 100 Gold, Platinum and multi-Platinum records and 60 No. 1 hits, won multiple Grammy Awards, and was named Engineer Of The Year by the ACM in 2004. He was acknowledged with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Audio Engineering Society in 2016 and was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame that same year.

Details regarding memorial services have not yet been announced.

Country-Rocker Commander Cody Passes

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George Frayne, “Commander Cody.” Photo: Garry Regester

George Frayne, known to music lovers as Commander Cody, died Sunday (Sept. 26) at age 77.

As the leader of Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen, he was noted for such 1970s hits as “Hot Rod Lincoln” and “Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette).” The country-rock mainstay released more than a dozen albums between 1972-1995.

Frayne was born in Boise, Idaho and raised in New York City. He pursued music and art as a youngster, becoming proficient on piano. His professional debut was in an all-lifeguard band at Jones Beach on Long Island. In college, he performed in the frat-house band The Fabulous Surfing Beavers.

After graduating from The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, he formed a band with Bruce Barlow, Bill Kirchen, Billy C. Farlowe and others in 1967. They dubbed themselves Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen, borrowing the name from a 1950s science-fiction movie serial.

The group specialized in retro styles such as western swing, boogie-woogie, jump blues and rockabilly. The Airmen relocated to San Francisco in 1969 and soon attracted a following among the city’s hippies.

Paramount Records signed the band and issued Lost in the Ozone as its debut LP in 1972. The collection mixed original tunes such as “Seeds and Stems (Again)” with revivals of country oldies such as Willie Nelson’s “Family Bible” (1960) and Charlie Ryan’s “Hot Rod Lincoln” (1955). The latter rose on the country charts and became a top-10 pop-music smash.

Cody followed it with a remake of the 1940-41 Glenn Miller / Andrews Sisters favorite “Beat Me Daddy Eight to the Bar.” Hot Steel, Cold Steel and Truckers Favorites appeared as the band’s second LP in 1973. Its country oldie remakes included “Truck Drivin’ Man,” “Diggy Diggy Lo” and “Looking at the World Through a Windshield.”

The group came to the 1973 CMA convention in Nashville. But the members’ long hair and flagrant marijuana smoking scandalized the mainstream country community, and they were booed off the stage.

The 1974 LP Country Casanova included versions of Bob Wills’ “My Window Faces the South” (1946), Buddy Holly’s “Rave On” (1958) and the Tex Williams/Merle Travis 1947 favorite “Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette).” The last-named again appeared on both pop and country charts.

Recorded at Armadillo World Headquarters in Austin, the 1975 LP Live From Deep in the Heart of Texas earned a four-star review in Rolling Stone. The band switched to Warner Bros. Records, which issued Tales From the Ozone. Produced by Hoyt Axton, it contained “Roll Your Own,” “Minnie the Moocher,” “I Been to Georgia on a Fast Train” and “Cajun Baby.” Two more Warner LPs ensued, as well as the 1975 single “Don’t Let Go.” This revival of Roy Hamilton’s 1958 hit became the band’s final charted pop recording.

Cody’s tenure at Warners was profiled in the 1977 book Star Making Machinery. In its pages, he resisted the label’s pressure to become a commercial country-rock band like The Eagles.

Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen appeared in the 1976 Roger Corman film Hollywood Boulevard and several times on the NBC TV series Police Woman. It also starred on The Midnight Special, Don Kirchner’s Rock Concert and other music series.

The Airmen became the opening act for everyone from Waylon Jennings and Merle Haggard to Led Zeppelin and the Doors. As headliners, they were noted for their wildly entertaining, marathon concert performances. Following a 1976 European tour, the original band broke up.

By then, Asleep at the Wheel had emerged as country’s premier western-swing revivalists. That band’s leader, Ray Benson, eulogized Frayne/Cody on Facebook by saying, “He made Asleep at the Wheel possible in so many ways, and we owe him a debt of gratitude for all the love and inspiration he gave us.”

Frayne continued his billing as Commander Cody, recording and touring with an ever-changing band lineup. Guitarist Kirchen often reunited with him. Cody signed with Arista Records for two albums in 1977-78. Later Commander Cody albums appeared on such labels as Blind Pig, Atlantic, Line, Relix and Woodstock.

As a sideman, he played piano on albums by Poco, Link Wray and New Riders of the Purple Sage. In 1980, his music video for “Two Triple Cheese (Side Order of Fries)” won an Emmy Award. Cody’s droll personality, easy-going quips, zany worldview and witty, talking-blues vocals made him a crowd-pleasing favorite on David Letterman’s TV talk show.

He also achieved notoriety as a painter. His works were exhibited in galleries worldwide and included in the 1979 book Star Art. He held a master’s degree in art and taught art at The University of Wisconsin.

George Frayne’s death was announced on Facebook by his wife, Sue Casanova. He died in Saratoga Springs, New York. No cause of death was revealed, and funeral arrangements are unknown.