[Updated]: LifeNotes: Charlie Dick, Patsy Cline’s Widower, Dies

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candle lifenotes11[Updated, Nov. 10, 5:21 p.m.]: Funeral and visitation arrangements have been made for Charlie Dick.

Visitation will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 11 from 4 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., at Anderson & Garrett Funeral Home, and again on Thursday, Nov. 12 from 10 a.m. until the time of service at 11 o’clock, at First Baptist Church Joelton.

Additional visitation and services are being planned in his hometown of Winchester, VA., and those arrangements will be handled by Jones Funeral Home. 
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to R.O.P.E.

[Original, Nov. 9, 2015 at 11:13 a.m.]:

Charlie Dick, widower of country legend Patsy Cline, died Sunday, Nov. 8. He was 81.

The two wed in 1957, and were together until Cline’s death in an airplane crash in 1963. After Cline’s death, Dick worked at labels including Starday Records and MCA Records throughout the 1960s and 1970s. He was often involved in handling reissues and compilations of Cline’s music.

HBO Pictures produced Sweet Dreams in 1985, with Jessica Lange in the role of Patsy Cline and Ed Harris in the role of Charlie Dick. Charlie Dick disagreed with how the couple’s marriage was portrayed in Sweet Dreams, and began a campaign to set the record straight. He partnered with Hallway Productions to produce a pair of documentaries on Cline’s life: The Real Patsy Cline and Remembering Patsy. He became more involved with Hallway Productions during the 1990s, helping create similar documentaries about Willie Nelson and Ernest Tubb. In 1997, he aided in the release of Patsy Cline: Live at the Cimarron Ballroom, recorded at a concert from July 1961 in Tulsa, Okla.

Most recently, Dick helped approve the deal for a partnership between the Estate of Patsy Cline and Hologram USA to develop a hologram of Patsy Cline, using HUSA’s technology. The Patsy Cline hologram will be the center of a full concert experience, set to launch in 2016.

LifeNotes: North Carolina Broadcaster Doug Mayes Passes

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mayesportrait2Country Radio Hall of Fame member Doug Mayes passed away on Sunday, Oct. 18, at his home in North Carolina at age 93.

The longtime broadcaster was the host of “Carolina Country Style” on WBT in Charlotte during the 1950s and 1960s. He emceed country concerts at the Charlotte Coliseum for decades.

Mayes started his career as a fiddler and guitarist. He backed Arthur “Guitar Boogie” Smith for about a year and once performed on the Grand Ole Opry. He began his broadcasting career in Kingsport, Tenn., and became a radio newsman. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

He joined the staff of WSIX in Nashville in 1947. In 1949, he began his long career at WBT. In addition to being a radio reporter and country-show host, he was the first TV news anchor in Charlotte, working at WBTV beginning in 1952.

After that, he was at WSOC-TV between 1982 and 1988. He was inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame in 2002. He is also in the North Carolina Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

He is survived by son Joe Mayes, granddaughter Heather Leslie Rahn and great-grandson Theo.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 21 at Denver United Methodist Church in Denver, N.C. Burial will follow at 2 p.m. in Evergreen Cemetery, Charlotte. Condolences to the family may be made at www.cavin-cook.com.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children (604 Doug Mayes Place, Charlotte, NC 28262) or to the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center (P.O. Box 56669, Charlotte, NC 28299).

LifeNotes: Producer/Guitarist John Jennings Passes

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John Jennings. Photo: Clark Thomas

John Jennings. Photo: Clark Thomas

Producer, guitarist and recording artist John Jennings, best known for his work with Mary Chapin Carpenter, died on Saturday, Oct. 17 at age 62. A native of the Washington, D.C. area, Jennings was diagnosed with metastatic kidney cancer in March 2014. He wrote a song about his health struggle at the time titled “I Believe Love Will Save My Life.”

As a young musician in the D.C. clubs, Jennings was introduced to the then-unknown Mary Chapin Carpenter by The Starland Vocal Band’s Bill Danoff (the writer of its hit “Afternoon Delight” and co-writer of “Take Me Home Country Roads”).

Jennings and Carpenter began performing shows together. They recorded an album to sell at their shows in 1986. It was picked up by Columbia Records in Nashville and released as Hometown Girl in 1987.

He co-produced all of Carpenter’s subsequent Nashville efforts, including nearly a dozen Top 10 country hits. These records garnered five CMA Awards and five Grammy Awards. Jennings and Carpenter co-wrote her singles “Never Had It So Good” (1989) and “Going Out Tonight” (1991).

John Jennings has also produced albums for Janis Ian, John Gorka, Robin & Linda Williams, Bill Morrissey, The Rankin Family and Beausoleil. He lived in Nashville for several years, beginning in 1993. As a guitarist, he has played on albums by The Indigo Girls, Iris DeMent, Kathy Mattea, Cheryl Wheeler, George Jones, Joe Diffie, Ricky Skaggs, Darol Anger and Tony Rice. In addition, he has recorded the solo albums Buddy (1997), I Belong to You (1998), More Noise From Nowhere (2001), Four (2005), It’s All Good (2007) and Everybody Sing in 2010.

Born in Luray, Va., in 1953, John Jennings was a self-taught guitarist who began forming bands when he was in the sixth grade. At high school in Falls Church, Va., he played in a number of teen rock bands. Following his graduation in 1973, he played in folk, rock and pop groups. He also did some ad-jingle writing. He was an early member of the hard-rock group Pentagram.

As a result of his success with Mary Chapin Carpenter, he won more than 20 Wammie Awards (Washington Area Music Association). In 1998, he was elected president of the D.C. chapter of The Recording Academy.

Because of his illness, he withdrew from touring with Carpenter last year.

Funeral arrangements have not been announced.

LifeNotes: Boy Howdy Co-Founder, Drummer Hugh Wright Passes

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GFT017501-1_20151001Drummer Hugh Wright, who co-founded the hit country band Boy Howdy, has died at age 63.

He died of natural causes at his home in Great Falls, Montana, on Friday, Sept. 25.

A native of Des Moines, he studied percussion at the University of Iowa and graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in 1975. Wright was the drum major of the school’s marching band.

He moved to Los Angeles and became a studio musician for a number of nationally known artists, including blues legend John Lee Hooker. He was named the California Music Association’s Drummer of the Year in 1992.

He next became a founding member of Boy Howdy, fronted by singer-songwriter Jeffrey Steele. Signed to Curb Records, the group scored four Top 40 country hits in 1993-94, including “A Cowboy’s Born With a Broken Heart” and the Top 10 successes “She’d Give Anything” and “They Don’t Make ‘Em Like That Anymore.”

Wright moved to Great Falls in 1995 and continued his music career by performing in a number of regional rock, pop, blues and country bands.

A memorial service is planned in Montana. For more information contact Rod’s Music at 406-771-1314.

Hugh Wright (on left) was the drummer in Boy Howdy. Photo submitted by Jeffrey Steele.

Hugh Wright (L) was the drummer in Boy Howdy. Photo submitted by Jeffrey Steele.

LifeNotes: Country, Pop Hitmaker Billy Joe Royal Passes

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Billy Joe Royal

Billy Joe Royal

Country and pop song stylist Billy Joe Royal has died at age 73.

The Georgia native became a pop star with his version of songwriter Joe South’s “Down in the Boondocks” in 1965. The song was recorded for the country market by both Penny DeHaven and Freddy Weller, predicting Royal’s later career.

Billy Joe Royal followed his breakthrough hit with South’s “I Knew You When.” Linda Ronstadt made the country charts with this song in 1983. Royal introduced South’s “These Are Not My People” in 1967. Weller made it a big country hit in 1969.

“Hush,” also written by South, charted on the pop charts for Royal in 1967. Deep Purple made it a major rock hit in 1970.

Billy Joe Royal’s last big pop hit was 1969’s “Cherry Hill Park.”

He resurfaced in Nashville in 1985 as a country act singing Gary Burr’s “Burned Like a Rocket.” The song was a top-10 hit and rising when the Challenger rocket exploded with its astronauts inside. This is said to have stalled its progress.

Royal rebounded with 1987’s country hits “Old Bridges Burn Slow,” “Members Only” (a duet with Donna Fargo) and “I’ll Pin a Note on Your Pillow,” one of his biggest country radio hits. Its video was No. 1 on CMT. His 1987 LP The Royal Treatment became a Gold Record.

Billy Joe Royal lived in Music City for 20 years. During this time, he sang such country hits as “Out of Sight and on My Mind” (1988),  “Tell It Like It Is” (1989), “Love Has No Right” (1989), “Till I Can’t Take It Anymore” (1989) and “Searchin’ For Some Kind of Clue” (1989).

He last made the country charts with 1992’s “I’m Okay.” Royal was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 1988. In later years, he toured on the “oldies” circuit.

Billy Joe Royal died suddenly on Tuesday, Oct. 6. He is survived by daughter Savannah Royal and by stepsons Trey and Joey Rivabank. He also remained close to ex-wife Michelle Royal.

Funeral arrangements were incomplete at press time.

[Updated]: Fan Clubhouse CEO Sharon Eaves Passes

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Sharon Eaves

Sharon Eaves

Sharon Eaves, CEO of Fan Clubhouse, died unexpectedly on Sept. 25, in Nashville. She worked with the fan clubs of numerous artists including Gary Allan, Brad Paisley, Scotty McCreery, Jerrod Niemann, Phil Vassar, Montgomery Gentry, Clay Walker, Lonestar, Bryan White, and many others.

Members of the industry are mourning the loss as they remember her kind and generous spirit, her infectious smile, and her selfless charitable endeavors.

She was a very active supporter of Country Cares for St. Jude for more than 15 years. In 2001, she co-founded the Country Fans Care for St. Jude Kids program with Keith Urban.

Eaves founded her company in 1990 to bridge the gap between the artist and the fans. Fan Clubhouse offers a wide variety of services such as website development/management, online ticketing and pre-sale campaigns, individual online marketing promotions & social media management, merchandise management and fulfillment, online fan clubs and more. Eaves was also President of R&J Records.

She is survived by husband Tom Harding and son Cameron Harding.

Arrangements are pending.

Scotty McCreery released this statement about his friend and fan club president:

“I am stunned and saddened at the sudden passing of my friend and fan club president, Sharon Eaves. It has been a true pleasure to have worked with her for more than three years, and she was a vital part of my team. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and all those who knew and loved her. In recent weeks, Sharon organized a team of ‘Southern Belles’ to participate in tomorrow’s St. Jude Walk/Run to End Childhood Cancer in Nashville. The team has raised more than $3,500 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital thus far. I know every single person on that team will be dedicating their walk to Sharon tomorrow. She was a tireless supporter of St. Jude, as well as all the artists she has worked with through the years. Thank you Sharon for your belief in me. You will be deeply missed by the McCreery family and team.”

Brad Paisley expressed condolences about his team member via twitter:

Brad and the entire Paisley family, friends, fans and team are devastated by the loss of our friend and team member Sharon Eaves who passed away this morning. Sharon was at her beloved St Jude Childrens Hospital for a board meeting when she had a heart attack. Efforts to revive her were unsuccessful. Our hearts are heavy. Please pray for her family and friends. Further details will be forthcoming. -TeamBP

Bryan White posted his remarks via Facebook regarding her passing:

I’ve been trying to process the weekend with a heavy heart and much perplexity so forgive me for my delay. It’s been difficult… My dear friend and manager Sharon Eaves passed away unexpectedly Friday morning. I am still in shock. It doesn’t seem possible.

Sharon has been one of my closest friends for over 20 years. Sharon has manned my fan club ship since day one. She has been my manager for at least a decade. Sharon was my biggest supporter within the music industry. I always told people she was my “music biz” mom and the “Angel in my corner.” Sharon believed in me always. She was a mama bear when it came to looking out for me. We spent almost everyday on the phone and we always told each other “I love you” before we hung up. We spent countless hours together in rental cars. Now those were some of my favorite memories. We always laughed. I loved making her laugh because she was always so serious. It was always secretly my plan; What can I say to break her out biz mode?

She was the ‘Idiom Queen.’ I knew in every meeting we had together she would work one in. Like this one, which was my favorite: She’d say, “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.” I’d always laugh and make her break that one down because I never quite understood it. I have to be spoon fed. The other one I loved, and this one I had no trouble with was, “It beats a sharp stick in the eye!” I especially loved that one. She was an amazing soul. Always out for everybody else’s best interest. She gave of herself to no end. I think she took care of everyone else but herself. Her wings always got in the way.

All week we had been in conversation through conference calls and emails putting together my first tour in the Philippines. She was so excited at what is happening there and how we are finally going. We had a great conversation Thursday night. Once again, we went in and out of laughing and being serious. She was so excited that they have fallen in love with one of my songs (God Gave Me You). We hung up. That was the last time I would speak to my sweet friend. It’s still not reality. Life is a little like riding a roller coaster backwards. You feel it but you can’t see what’s up ahead. I will honor her in everything I do. I’ll never forget Sharon. I know she’s riding on the clouds and now God is taking care of Her and she’s not worrying about everybody down here. But heaven will be a little more in order because Sharon’s taking care of everybody up there. Until I see you again. I will painfully miss you. My thoughts and prayers are with your family. Your son, Bryan

Richard C. Shadyac Jr., CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising organization of St. Jude, released the following statement:

Sharon was a passionate and dedicated long-time volunteer for St. Jude. She served as a Country Cares for St. Jude Kids advisory board member and made innumerable contributions that benefited the lives of children and families impacted by childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. We send our deepest condolences to her loved ones. – Rick Shadyac

A celebration of life for Fan Clubhouse CEO Sharon Eaves has been set for Oct. 14 at City Winery in Nashville, from 5 p.m.-7 p.m.

LifeNotes: Eddie Montgomery Loses Son

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Eddie Montgomery

Eddie Montgomery

MusicRow extends its condolences to Montgomery Gentry member Eddie Montgomery and his family. Montgomery lost his son Hunter today (Sept. 27) after an accident that left the 19-year-old on life support in a Kentucky hospital.

“My son Hunter went to heaven today,” said Montgomery. “I appreciate all your prayers and love and thank you for giving us privacy as we grieve and say goodbye.”
 
Funeral arrangements are pending.

LifeNotes: MMA Creative’s Veronica Greene Passes

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Americana musician Shakey Graves and Veronica Greene back stage at the 2015 Americana Honors & Awards Show on September 16, 2015.

Americana musician Shakey Graves and Veronica Greene backstage at the 2015 Americana Honors & Awards Show on Sept. 16, 2015.

MMA Creative Nashville’s National Accounts Manager, Veronica Greene, died Thursday, Sept. 17. She was 37.

Greene led the sponsorship acquisition and management team for the Americana Music Association since 2013. She previously served on the board of the Nashville Junior Chamber of Commerce and received the Board Member of the Year Award in 2005.

“It’s been a struggle these last few days and words on paper cannot possibly convey how truly magnificent Veronica was. Those who knew her would testify, there was no happier soul on the planet,” said Americana Music Association’s Jed Hilly. “We are torn by our loss, but march forward knowing her spirit is with all of us. She was a dear, dear friend.”

Veronica is survived by her parents, Ronnie and Judith Barger, of Spring City; her sister, Krissy (David Tallent), of Spring City; her nieces, Davinity, Alexandra and Alyssa Tallent; her nephew, Garrett Tallent; her dog, Bogey and; “the best boyfriend on the planet,” Brooks Beauchap. She lived her life surrounded by her Rhea County family, Nashville family and tons of friends.

Funeral services were held in her hometown of Spring City, Tenn. on Sunday, Sept. 20. Memorials may be made to the Trustee Renovation Fund at Spring City United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 158, Spring City, TN, 37381.

LifeNotes: Local Rock ‘n’ Roll Pioneer Richard Williams Passes

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Richard Williams

Richard Williams

Pianist-singer Richard Williams, who co-founded Nashville’s first rock ‘n’ roll band, has died at age 75 in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

Williams was a high-school student in Music City when he formed The Casuals with singer-songwriter Buzz Cason in 1956. Nashville’s pioneering rock group toured for many years with Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame member Brenda Lee.

Born in Nashville in 1939, Richard Williams was raised by his grandparents and graduated from East High. He formed The Richard Williams Trio in 1955. When Cason joined the group, the name was changed to The Casuals and the repertoire shifted to rockabilly and rock ‘n’ roll.

The group’s debut performance was at Lebanon High School in March 1956. Its high-energy stage act made it a popular attraction at Vanderbilt frat parties, local TV teen shows, skating rinks, drive-in movie theaters and high-school dances.

Williams and Cason co-wrote “My Love Song for You,” which became a regional hit for The Casuals in 1957 on Dot Records. It put the group on the road with such early rockers as Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Eddie Cochran as well as country stars such as Mel Tillis, Minnie Pearl and Kitty Wells.

In 1958, The Casuals were hired to join Brenda Lee’s road show. The largest selling female recording artist of the 1960s, Lee sang both rockabilly tunes and torchy ballads. The Casuals backed her in both styles and hit the road with her and such other teen stars as Fabian, Duane Eddy, Fats Domino, Roy Orbison, The Big Bopper, Buddy Knox, Jimmy Bowen, Bobby Darin and Chubby Checker.
They starred at The Brooklyn Paramount Theater at a legendary 1960 Christmas extravaganza with The Drifters, The Shirelles, The Coasters, Dion, Little Anthony & The Imperials, Bo Diddley, Neil Sedaka, Freddy Cannon and Bobby Vee.

Richard Williams and Buzz Cason joined Hugh Jarrett to form a studio-only vocal trio called The Statues, who made the charts with “Blue Velvet” in 1960 on Liberty Records. But they continued to be Casuals members as well.

In 1961 at Alan Freed’s Spectacular at The Hollywood Bowl, they headlined with The Ventures, B.B. King, Gene McDaniels, The Fleetwoods, Etta James and more. Cason left the group in 1962 and eventually became a successful Nashville producer, songwriter, publisher and recording artist. Williams assumed leadership of The Casuals. As Brenda Lee graduated from teen stardom to headlining supper clubs and Las Vegas showrooms, the band evolved with her.

The Casuals continued to record, as well, notably “Mustang 2+2” in 1964 on Sound Stage 7 Records and several songs for the Monument label in 1966. They also toured as a top “show band” when not on the road with Brenda Lee.

When Richard Williams departed the group in 1975, the Casuals name was retired. He subsequently moved to Ft. Lauderdale and became one of that city’s most popular solo nightclub entertainers.
Richard Williams died on Sept. 8. He is survived by his wife Vanessa, daughter Angela McCoy of Louisville, four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren of Louisville and by aunt Jean Carroll of Madison, TN.

There will be a celebration of Richard Williams’ life on Sunday, Oct. 11 at Chef’s Market in Goodlettsville, TN, 4-7 p.m.

LifeNotes: Star Drummer Martin Parker Passes

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Martin Parker

Martin Parker

Widely beloved Nashville drummer Martin Parker died on Sept. 10 in his home community in North Carolina at age 63.

He was a member of the 1989 Reprise Records group Billy Hill (“Too Much Month at the End of the Money”), alongside John Scott Sherrill, Bob DiPiero, Dennis Robbins and Reno Kling.

Parker also worked extensively in the bands of Vince Gill and Ricky Skaggs. His widow, Ira Byrum Parker, is a stylist who became a personal assistant to Dolly Parton.

During his Nashville career, Martin Parker backed Patty Loveless, Alison Krauss, Vestal Goodman, Earl Scruggs, Bonnie Raitt, Crystal Gayle, Don Schlitz, Gail Davies and The O’Kanes.

His recording-studio credits include Willie Nelson, Jerry Douglas and Steve Earle. He was mentored by the late Nashville session musician Larrie Londin (1943-1992), who was one of the most recorded drummers in history.

Born Martin Newbury Parker, he was a native of the Yeopim community of Chowan County, NC. He died in Greenville’s Vidant Medical Center. His celebration of life event was on Sunday, Sept. 13, in Tyner, N.C.

He is survived by wife Ira, as well as sons Quinton, Chris and Jamie and several granddaughters.

Contributions in his memory may be made to The Edenton-Chowan Educational Foundation, P.O. Box 206, Edenton, NC 27932 with a notation on the check reading “The Martin Parker Music Fund.” Online condolences may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com.