Bradley “Slim” Williamson, of Jefferson, Ga., died Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2013. He was 86.
Williamson is the father of Starstruck executive Cliff Williamson. Williamson developed one of Country’s first major independent labels, Chart Records, which was founded in 1964. Williamson was credited with discovering Lynn Anderson, Junior Samples, and Ronnie McDowell, among others, and produced numerous Top 10 records on the charts during the ’60s and ’70s.
He also developed publishing companies including Yonah Music, which was later sold to Acuff-Rose Publishing and published songs including Merle Haggard‘s “Strangers” during the course of his career.

Producer, songwriter and music publisher Nelson Larkin, 70, died Monday (Nov. 18) in Brentwood, Tenn.
Larkin produced many of Earl Thomas Conley‘s 1980s albums, among them 1981’s Fire & Smoke, 1982’s Somewhere Between Right and Wrong, and 1984’s Treadin’ Water. Larkin also produced projects for Toby Keith, Billy Joe Royal, George Jones, Lynn Anderson, and Tracy Lawrence.
He also co-wrote Royal’s Top 5 hit, “I’ll Pin a Note on Your Pillow,” as well as “Searchin’ For Some Kind of Clue” and “Love Has No Right.” He also co-wrote Lawrence’s Top 10 song “Somebody Paints The Wall,” and Keith’s “Life’s A Play (The World A Stage)” from Keith’s Boomtown project.
Larkin’s career also included founding Sunbird Records, serving as president of GRT Records, and helping build Atlantic Records’ Nashville operations. He later directed Famous Music Publishing’s Nashville division.
A celebration of life will take place Thursday, Nov. 21 at 3 p.m. at Brentwood United Methodist Church. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m.

[Update]: Sellars Funeral Home in Mt. Juliet, Tenn. will host a visitation on Wednesday (Nov. 13) 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., with a brief graveside service following. Family asks that donations be sent to Alive Hospice in lieu of flowers.
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Legendary Nashville music publisher Bob Beckham has passed away at age 86.
Beckham discovered singer-songwriter Tony Joe White, among others. He mentored generations of songwriters during his tenure as the head of Combine Music, 1964-1989. Among the composers whose lives he touched are Kris Kristofferson, Larry Gatlin, Bob DiPiero, John Scott Sherrill, Dennis Linde (who became his son-in-law), Dolly Parton, Bob Morrison, Jerry Reed, Billy Swan, Chris Gantry and Johnny MacRae. He also launched the careers of such industry figures as Woody Bomar and Blake Chancey.
His influence was such that in 2008 he was given the very first Mentor Award by the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. The Nashville Entertainment Association presented him with its Master Award in 1988.
Born Robert Joseph Beckham in Statford, OK, he began entertaining audiences at age 8. He also appeared in several films as a juvenile actor. Following a stint in the army as a paratrooper, he worked as a pop singer.
He signed with Decca Records in Nashville and made the pop charts in 1959-60 with “Just as Much as Ever,” “Crazy Arms” and “Mais Oui.” On the road, he was an opening act for pop superstar Brenda Lee.
When his singing career waned, producer Owen Bradley suggested that Beckham try song publishing. Beckham became the Nashville song plugger for the Atlanta-based Lowery Music in 1961. He next worked for Shelby Singleton Music.
Fred Foster hired Beckham to run Combine Music in 1964. Founded in 1958, it was initially the publishing division of Monument Records. Beckham became president of Combine in 1966.
By the 1970s, Combine was one of Music Row’s major publishing houses. It was notable in that it worked in genres ranging from Arthur Alexander’s r&b songs to Thomas Cain’s gospel works, in addition to pop and country copyrights. He was also shrewd in placing Combine’s copyrights as ad jingles.
After leaving Combine, Bob Beckham founded HoriPro Entertainment in Nashville in 1990. This is a division of Japan’s Taiyo Music, which is that nation’s largest publishing business. Beckham retired in 2006.
He was a master raconteur who kept listeners spellbound during happy-hour sojourns at Maude’s Courtyard, Valentino’s Restaurant and other local watering holes.
Bob Beckham died Monday morning, Nov. 11, at Summit Hospital in Hermitage, TN. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.

Restless Heart member Dave Innis is mourning the loss of his mother, Betty Innis.
“Always the teacher, Mom taught me to play the piano at age six and instilled in me a deep appreciation for music” says Innis. “She was a faithful supporter of the band and loved to dance with Dad to ‘I’ll Still Be Loving You.’ She was a wonderful mother and a lovely person.”
Betty Eltha Innis died Oct. 9, 2013 at Swedish Medical Center in Denver after suffering a stroke and brief illness. Betty was born on May 10, 1930 in Dodge City, Kan. to Leonard and Eltha Brown of Meade, Kan. She is survived by her husband of 61 years, E. Eugene Innis of Woodland Park, Colo.; two sons, Steve of Dallas, Texas, and David of Franklin, Tenn.; her daughters-in-law, Nancy and Adrienne; two grandchildren, Isom and Isabella, of Los Angeles; brother Philip Brown and sister-in-law, Linda Kaye Brown of Meade; and a sister-in-law, Mary Archer of Houston.
On Oct. 22, Betty will be placed to rest in the Meade, Kan. Graceland Cemetery with a graveside service.