In 1953, Hank Williams was found dead in the back seat of his Cadillac at a small gas station in Oak Hill, West Virginia. In 1993, we visited to see if the station was still there. It was. It was a spine-tingling experience to think of the country music history that was played out at the small business in small town America, which loved Hank Williams so much.
In 1967, one of Hank William's partners in rhyme, Moon Mullican, who is believed to have co-written "Jambalaya" passed away in Beaumont, Texas from a heart attack. He was a singer, songwriter, and musician who is remembered most for his big hit, "I'll Sail My Ship Alone", though by no means was it his only hit, as he was a major star during his time.
In 1997, singer, songwriter, musician, producer, and arranger Townes Van Zant passed away in Smyrna, Tennessee. He is most famously remembered for the Number One hit recorded by Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard, "Pancho And Lefty".
In 2001, songwriting great John Jarrard passed away in Nashville, Tennessee after a long and hard fought battle with diabetes. Among the songs with which he is associated are "Blue Clear Sky", "You've Got The Touch", "We Can't Love Like This Anymore", :There's No Way", "What's A Memory Like You (Doin' In A Love Like This)" and "Is That A Tear".
In 2007, Del Reeves passed away in Nashville, Tennessee after a long battle with emphysema. He charted fifty five records in his long recording career, and was one of the greatest entertainers of his time. His biggest hit was "Girl On The Billboard", but we all remember most his imitations of Uncle Roy Acuff, with Acuff sneaking up behind him on the Opry stage.
