THE TIME I GOT TO MEEET THE GREAT DODGER CAPTAIN

Not many people will even know who these two guys are, and even fewer will understand the phrase “Time to go out and get an Ice Cold Falstaff, Podnah!” 

I make no bones about it, Pee Wee Reese is my all-time favorite baseball player. The strange thing is that the only memory I have of seeing him play is from old news reels and old black and white TV Footage. I do have some vivid memories of his second career.

After Pee Wee’s major career ended, He was paired with Dizzy Dean in the TV Booth to broadcast the Major League Game of the Week. One of the Sponsors on the Game of the Week was Ice Cold Falstaff Beer.

When his TV Stint ended, Pee Wee returned to his hometown of Louisville Kentucky where he took a promotional job for Hillerich & Bradsby, the makers of Louisville Slugger. 

For more than 50 years I have chased autographs. This Hobby has allowed me to meet some wonderful people and a couple of not so nice people. Back in 1990, I spent close to a month driving from California back to Virginia. Toward the end of the trip, I stopped in Louisville and took the Louisville Slugger Factory Tour. 

At the end of the tour I waited until everyone left and asked my Tour Guide if I left a baseball card could some one asked Pee Wee to sign it and mail it back to me. She told me that she would have to ask her boss and asked me to wait. 

I waited, and waited, and was getting ready to leave when I got the shock of a lifetime. Walking into the lobby was the man himself, the Great Dodger Captain, Harold Henry “Pee Wee” Reese.  He walked over and shook my hand and said he understood that I had something that I wanted him to sign.

From a self-addressed stamped envelope I pull a 1955 Pee Wee Reese  baseball card. 1955 was the year I was born and the Year that Dem Bums from Brooklyn finally won the World Series. 

We walked into a little room off the main lobby and sat down at a table where he not only signed my card by also a miniature Louisville Slugger Bat. But that was not all, for the next 45 minutes, the Great Pee Wee Reese sat there and we talked about Baseball in Brooklyn and that Little Ballpark on Bedford Avenue, Ebbets Field. Actually, he did most of the talking and believe it or not I sat there quietly soaking up every word.

I listened to stories about the Duke, Preacher, Jackie and Campy. I listened to stories about Hilda Chester and her Cowbell, the Dodger Sym-Phony Band, and living with the Fan in Brooklyn.

For 45 minutes, he answered my questions and shared stories about his life in baseball and his road to the Hall of Fame. As I was finishing my visit, I shook his hand and thanked him for his time, He said “No thank you for taking the time and making the effort to come by and visit with and letting me remember those wonderful times in Brooklyn.” 

One of the things that I ask him during our visit was, “What was it like working with Dizzy Dean.”  He simply replied, “What you saw was what you got, It wasn’t an act. Ole Diz was as genuine as they come.” 

So, If you could still buy one, I would go out and buy me an Ice Cold Falstaff and raise a glass to Pee Wee and Ole Diz. 

NASHVILLE CEMETERY TOUR - VISITING THE MAN IN BLACK

This week I’m going to continue my Nashville Cemetery Tour by concluding my visit to the Hendersonville Memorial Park. I started my visit to this star studded cemetery in the Mausoleum, where I visited the final resting place of Johnny Russell, Charlie Walker and Sheb Wooley.

This week I am moving outside to visit the graves of several more country music stars who are resting here.  Probably, the most notable and most visited grave in this cemetery is just a short walk up a concrete path from the Mausoleum.

I was told that before the cemetery management installed this concrete walkway, the number of visitors had worn a dirt path to the graves of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash. When it rained the dirt path turned into a muddy mess.

Johnny Cash was one of country music’s most beloved stars. He was known for his deep, calm, voice,  and the distinctive sound of his back band, the Tennessee Three. He was known as “The Man in Black,” because he dressed all in black when he appeared on stage.  

He traditionally began his concerts by introducing himself by simply saying, "Hello, I'm Johnny Cash". He had a number of hits including his signature songs, “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Ring of Fire,” and “I Walk the Line.”

On March 1, 1968, Johnny married June Carter of the famous Carter Family. He often credited June with saving him from a life of drugs and alcohol and was the love of his life.

Johnny and June remained married until her death at the age of 73, on May 15, 2003. Less than four months later on September 12, 2003, Johnny Cash passed away at the age of 71 from the complications of diabetes. Johnny and June are resting together along with a number of other family members and close friends.

Among those resting here near Johnny and June, Mother Maybelle Carter who along with her cousin Sarah and brother-in-law A. P. Carter formed the Original Carter Family. Maybelle was so respected by the Grand Ole Opry Family that she was known as “Mother Maybelle.”

After Sarah and A. P. retired, Mother Maybelle toured and performed on the Grand Ole Opry with her daughters, Helen, June and Anita.

Later in life Mother Maybelle suffered a number of health Issues which force here into retirement. Mother Maybelle Carter died on October 23, 1978, at the age of 69. She is resting next to her husband, Ezra, and near her three daughters.

Also resting nearby is Johnny’s long-time friend, singer/songwriter Merle Kilgore. At 18, Merle wrote his first Number 1 hit “More and More,” which was recorded by Webb Pierce. The song went on to sell over a million copies and launched Merle’s career as one of country music’s best songwriters. He went on to co-write with June Carter the song "Ring of Fire", first recorded by June’s sister Anita Carter. The song was later recorded by June's future husband, Johnny Cash. Claude King’s Biggest Hit, “Wolverton Mountain,” was also written by Merle.

In addition to being a talented singer/songwriter, Merle was also a respected businessman. On April 7, 1986, he was named Executive Vice President and head of management for  Hank Williams Jr. Enterprises. In addition to managing Hank Williams Jr's career. Merle was also heavily involved in a number of other country music-related businesses.

Throughout his life, Merle was a heavy smoker and developed Lung Cancer.  In early 2005, Merle traveled to Mexico to seek treatment for his cancer.  On February 6, 2005, Merle Kilgore died from heart failure while in a Mexican hospital undergoing experimental treatments for lung cancer.

Just a short walk from the graves of Johnny and June Carter Cash, we find the grave of one of the Grand Ladies of the Grand Ole Opry, Jean Shepard.

Ollie Imogene Shepard grew up singing in the church and was drawn to the music of Jimmie Rodgers and Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys. As a teenager, she played bass in the Melody Ranch Girls, an all-female band formed in 1948.

Hank Thompson discovered her a few years later and with his help, she signed a recording contract with Capitol Records in 1952. In 1953 she recorded her first hit, “A Dear John Letter” with Ferlin Husky.  

From 1956 until 1981, Jean would release a total of 70 singles and 24 studio albums. She became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1955 and remained a member for the next 61 years.

Her first marriage was to fellow singer Hawkshaw Hawkins, but it ended when he, along with Patsy Cline and Cowboy Copas, was killed in a plane crash in 1963.

In 1981 she released her final album "Dear John.”  And 30 years later Jean received Country Music’s Highest honor when she was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2011

 Jean continued to perform on the Opry until her health forced her to retire in 2015. Jean Shepard passed away at the age of 81 on September 25, 2016, from the complications of Parkinsons Disease.

I love traditional Country and Bluegrass Music. In fact I very seldom ever listen to anything else. What is being passed off today as country and bluegrass is basically trash and I have no interest in it.

One of my all-time favorite Bluegrass Group is Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys. Just a short walk from the grave of Jean Shepard is the grave Burkett Graves. Better known to Bluegrass fans a “Uncle Josh,” who played dobro for the Foggy Mountain Boys from 1955 to 1969. 

After the Foggy Mountain Boys disbanded, he joined Lester’s new band, the Nashville Grass. He also performed with the Earl Scruggs Revies in the 1970’s and later was a popular solo act at country music and bluegrass festivals.

Uncle Josh was inducted into the International Bluegrass Hall of Fame in 1991. Uncle Josh passed away at the age of 79 on September 30, 2006.

One the westside of the Cemetery, and just down the hill from the Grave of Johnny Cash is the grave of Luther Perkins, who was a member of Johnny’s band, “The Tennessee Three.”

A native of Cumo, Mississippi, Luther Perkins was an iconic figure in what would become known as rockabilly music and is credited for creating Cash's signature "boom-chicka-boom" style.

Luther Perkins passed away on August 5, 1968, after being found unconscious on the floor of his home by his niece at his home a couple of days earlier. .

My last stop here at the Hendersonville Memorial Park was at the grave of Country Music Hall of Famer, Ferlin Husky.

Ferlin Husky was born in the small community of Gumbo, Missouri on December 3, 1925. Ferlin was multi-talented, achieving success as a traditional country music singer as well as a honky tonk and ballad singer.

He was also quite the comedian and created a hayseed character that he named Simon Crum which he incorporated into his stage shows and sometimes on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry.

Ferlin had several hits on both the country and pop charts including “Gone” and his signature song, “Wings of a Dove.” Both reach #1 on the Country Charts. Between 1953 and 1975, he had 11 top 10 hits, two dozen top 20 hits and a total of 50 songs in Billboard magazine's top 100 country songs.

Ferlin was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2010 and was one of the first country singers to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

On March 8, 2011, Ferlin was hospitalized after not feeling well for several days, but he improved and was discharged to the care of his daughter. On March 17, he died of congestive heart failure at his daughter's home in Westmoreland, Tennessee.

It’s been a few years since I last visited the Hendersonville Memorial Gardens. Since that last visit we have lost bluegrass great Bobby Osborne who is resting here. Hopefully, the nest time I am in Nashville, I can stop and pay my respects to one of the men who made dear ole Rocky Top the state song of Tennessee.

NASHVILLE CEMETERY TOUR - "CAN EVERYBODY SEE ME ALL RIGHT"

 

I am continuing my Nashville Cemetery tour with a visit to the Hendersonville Memorial Gardens in Hendersonville, Tennessee. This is another cemetery that is the final resting place of a number of notable Country Music personalities.

It is a large cemetery that has all flat markers. I know where some of the graves that I am looking for are located but for the others I am going to be relying on the Find-A-Grave GPS Coordinates and hope that they are close to being correct.

I am going to start at the Mausoleum. There are 5 people resting here that I want to find.  And right after I walk through the front doors, I take a quick look around and spot all 5 crypts.

HOWARD JENKINS: Howard is the brother of Harold Jenkins who is better known as Conway Twitty. In the 1940’s the brothers formed a band named “The Phillips County Ramblers” and had their own show every Saturday Morning on radio station KFFA in Helena, Arkansas.  When Harold became Conway, Howard continued to perform as a member of Conway’s Band known as “The Twitty Birds.” He also performed with his brother every Saturday Night on the Grand Ole Opry.

MAE BOREN AXTON: Most people don’t know her name but they do know her songs. Mae Axton was known as the 'Queen Mother of Nashville.'  She wrote more than 200 songs, 14 of which made the charts. Her most notable song was the Elvis Presley hit "Heartbreak Hotel," which was number one on the pop charts for 8 weeks, the country chart for 17 weeks. Her influence contributed to the success of many musical careers including Mel Tillis, Reba McEntire, Willie Nelson, Eddy Arnold, and Tanya Tucker She was also the mother of country singer Hoyt Axton.

SHEB WOOLEY: Just above the crypt of Mae Axton is the crypt of Singer, Songwriter and Actor Sheb Wooley. Sheb was born in Erick, Oklahoma the same town as another notable country Music Star, Roger Miller. Sheb worked as a rodeo rider and then formed his own band and performed on radio stations WLAC and WSM in Nashville, Tennessee. Sheb enjoy a long career as an actor, appearing with Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly in the Classic Western, “High Noon” and with James Dean in “Giant.” He also joined Gene Hackman in the popular Basketball Movie, “Hoosiers.” On television, he played the role of 'Pete Nolan' in the popular "Rawhide" series from 1959 to 1966. In 1958, he released his most famous hit the novelty tune, "The Purple People Eater." The song went No. 1 on the pop charts and stayed there for six weeks.

JOHNNY RUSSELL: Right next to the crypt of Sheb Wooley is the crypt of Singer, Songewriter and Star of the Grand Ole Opry, Johnny Russell. As a songwriter, he is most famous for co-writing "Act Naturally," a song that was recorded by both Buck Owens and The Beatles. As a singer/songwriter it is known for such songs as “They Baptized Jesse Taylor,” “Catfish John,” and my favorite “Rednecks, White Socks, and Blue Ribbon Beer.” You would be hard pressed to find anyone in Nashville that would say anything bad about Johnny. He was known by many as "the big man with an even bigger heart" for both for being over 300 pounds and his pleasant, unselfish demeanor both on and off stage. He would start many of his performances by quipping, "Can everybody see me all right?" Johnny joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1985 and remained a member until his death in 2001.

CHARLIE WALKER: Just to the right of the crypts of Johnny Russell and Sheb Wooley is the crypt of Grand Ole Opry Star, Charlie Walker.  Charlie began is music career in the 1940’s performing with Bill Boyd’s Cowboy Ramblers in Dallas, Texas. Charlie’s first hit, "Only You, Only You" was co-written with Jack Newman and reached No. 9 on the country chart in January 1956. Charlie is perhaps best known for his hit, “Pick Me Up on Your Way Down,” which was written by Harlan Howard.  His other hits include "Who Will Buy the Wine", "Wild as a Wildcat", "Don't Squeeze My Sharmon", and "I Wouldn't Take Her to A Dogfight." Charlie Passed away from the complications of Cancer on September 12, 2008.

That’s about it for those resting in the Mausoleum here at the Hendersonville Memorial Gardens. This is a good place to end this post. Next time I am going to leave the mausoleum and move outside to the actual cemetery. There are about 10 graves that I would really like to find, Including Johnny and June Carter Cash, The Carter Family and Merle Kilgore. I know where to find them but some of the others were a little more difficult.

NASHVILLE CEMETERY TOUR - HERMITAGE MEMORIAL GARDENS

 

In my last post I started off my cemetery tour of Nashville with a visit to Spring Hill Cemetery where I visited the graves of a number of Grand Ole Opry Stars including the King and Queen of Country Music, The great Roy Acuff and Miss Kitty Wells.

In this post, I am going to continue my Nashville Cemetery Tour by traveling east of Nashville to the Hermitage Memorial Gardens. This 43-acre cemetery is located just stone’s throw from “The Hermitage,” which was the home of President Andrew Jackson.

This is a true memorial garden because it has all flat markers. That makes for a lot of walking. Most of the time before I visit any cemetery I search the Find-A-Grave Website for the graves that I want to try and find. A lot of the time the Find-A-Grave site will have GPS Coordinates that really helps me in locating the Graves.

But one thing you must keep in mind is that Find-A-Grave is supported by individuals who create and update individual memorials. Sometime this information including the GPS Coordinates is incorrect.

If the GPS Coordinates are correct, it can save me a lot of time. If they are not correct, I just hope that they can get me in the General Area where I don’t have to do too much walking. Most of the coordinates for this visit were correct.

Probably the most notable grave here at the Hermitage Memorial Gardens is that of the Ole Texas Troubadour himself, Ermest Tubb, who was born on February 9, 1914, in Crisp, Texas. In 1941 he recorded his biggest hit, “I’m Walking the Floor over You,” which led him to joining the Grand Ole Opry in February 1943.

He remained an Opry Member almost 40 years. Ernest was a heavy smoker for most of his life and in his later years he suffered from Emphysema. By early 1982 he was in such poor health that he was forced to retire. He passed away just a couple of years later on September 6, 1984.

Resting next to Ernest is his son, Justin Tubb who was also a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Justin was just 20 years old when he Joined the Opry on September 10, 1955. At the time he was the youngest member of the famed radio and stage show.

His biggest hit was “I was looking Back to See,” which he performed with Goldie Hill. In 1978 he recorded a song entitled, “What’s wrong with the Way we’re doing it Now.” The song defended Traditional Country Music and questioned the trend some people called “Urban Country.”  Some of the upcoming country music stars were offended by the song which led to Justin having a dispute with the Opry Management. As a result of the dispute Justin didn’t appear on the Opry for several weeks.

The dispute was eventually resolved and Justin not only returned to the Opry but his first night back actually sang the song.

Justin was not only a successful performer, he was also a successful songwriter, penning such hits as “Keeping up with the Jones,” and “Lonesome 7-7203.” Justin Tubb passed away on January 24, 1998, and was resting beside his parents.

Another Grand Ole Opry Performer resting in this cemetery is a long-time member of the Opry Staff Band, Hal Rugg who was a legendary steel guitar player.

Hal began his musical career working clubs and dance halls in Arizona, Illinois and Minnesota. In 1961 he moved to Nashville where his music is featured on hits sung by many country music stars including Loretta Lynn, Ronnie Milsap and George Jones.

In 1963 he began a sixteen-year career as a member of the Grand Ole Opry staff band. Later, he became a band leader for the many of the televised awards shows originating from Nashville. For seven years he was the music director for the Statler Brothers' TV Show and in 1989 he was inducted into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame.

Hal Rugg Passed away on August 9, 2005 at the age of 69 following a two-year battle with cancer.

NASCAR Driver Bobby Hamilton is entombed in one of the outdoor mausoleums here at the Hermitage Memorial Gardens. Bobby Hamilton was born here in Nashville on May 29, 1957. He began his racing career at the Nashville Speedway, racing weekly at the track. He went on to win the track championship in 1987.

Bobby joined the NASCAR Busch Series in 1988 and made his debut in the Winston Cup Series in 1990. That same year, he was asked to drive a stunt car for the motion picture "Days of Thunder."

 In 1991, he was Winston Cup rookie of the year, but his biggest success came as a driver and owner in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series where he won the 2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Championship.

Just three years after winning the Truck Series Championship Bobby Hamilton passed away on January 7, 2007, from complications of cancer.

It’s always interesting when I run into another “graver” when visiting a cemetery. You can usually teel the difference between us and family visitors because we almost always have, cameras and a notebook.

Just as I was getting ready to leave, I was approached by an older gentleman who was accompanied by a young boy who I later learned was his grandson.

As we compared notes about the graves with had found, he pointed me to a name that I didn’t have on my list. Thanks to his kindness and great directions, I was able to find the grave of Rudolf Walter Wanderon Jr. who is better known by his nickname “Minnesota Fats.”

 

Rudolf Wanderone was born in New York in 1913. He started playing pool as a child and eventually dropped out of school and became a traveling pool hustler. Using the name 'Minnesota Fats,' he gained enough attention to star in a TV show where he would play one of the best pool players in the country, Willie Mosconi. Mosconi beat 'Minnesota Fats' soundly. For a few years, there were rematches on TV between 'Fats' and Mosconi. Each time Mosconi would beat 'Fats' without much trouble. These proved to be popular with television audiences and contributed greatly to his fame.

Minnesota Fats, for the lack of a better word, “a Pool Hustler”, and a master of self-promotion” He was perhaps the best-known pool player in the United States, despite of the fact that he never won a single major pool tournament.

Minnesota Fats died at the age of 82 on January 15, 1996. He continues his shameless self-promotion with the inscription on his grave marker. “Beat every living creature on earth, St. Peter, Rack’em Up. – Fats”

There are still a couple of other graves in this cemetery that I would like to Visit. So, next time I will try an find the graves of Professional Wrestler Steven Doll and Country Music star Joe Diffie who passed away during the COVID Epidemic.

Next post, I will continue my Nashville Cemetery Tour.  

NASHVILLE CEMETERY TOUR - VISITING THE KING & QUEEN OF COUNTRY MUSIC

One of the questions that I am asked most often is of all the cemeteries that I have visited which are the ones that I have enjoyed the most. Without a doubt, Arlington National Cemetery is at the top of the list.

Over the years I have visited Arlington more than a dozen times and visiting our nations most hallowed ground is always an emotional experience. Every single person who is buried in Arlington or any of our National Cemeteries are true heroes who paid the price for the freedom that we enjoy.

Outside of any of our National Cemeteries, there are several cemeteries that I have visited more than once and if given the opportunity I will visit again. So, what are some of my favorite cemeteries.

Nashville Tennessee is probably my favorite city for Cemeteries. Nashville is known as Music City and has a tremendous number of Country Music Stars buried throughout the Nashville Area.

There are several cemeteries in the Nashville Area that I visit every time I am in the area. One of the First cemetery that I almost always visit when In Nashville is Spring Hill Cemetery located a few miles north of Opryland and downtown Nashville.

Spring Hill is one of the most star-studded cemeteries in the Nashville Area and as you enter the cemetery you are greeted by the King of Country Music. The Grave of Roy Acuff, his wife Mildred and his parents are located just inside the entrance. 

From 1938 until his death in 1992, Mr. Acuff was not only a member of the Grand Ole Opry, but also the shows most popular ambassadors. Each week Roy Acuff and his Smokey Mountain Boys would thrill Opry fans with his signature song, “The Wabash Cannonball,” along with the first song he ever performed on the Opry, “The Great Speckled Bird.”

Roy Acuff was so beloved that when the Opry Moved from the Ryman Auditorium to a new building at Opryland in 1974, they also built him a home just outside the stage door of the New Opry House.

Just across the road from Mr. Acuff’s is the grave of Bluegrass star Jimmy Martin who is a member of both the Bluegrass and Country Music Hall of Fames. While Jimmy Martin performed several times on the Grand Ole Opry, strangely he was never invited to become an Opry Member.

Jimmy was known for his temper and his love of alcohol which fueled his volatile personality. He often found himself involved in confrontations with the Opry Management and other influential members of the Opry.

Located just to the left of the Grave of Roy Acuff are the graves of husband-and-wife duo, Kitty Wells and Johnnie Wright.  While Roy Acuff is known as the “King of Country Music,” Kitty Well was known as the “Queen of Country Music.”  Kitty’s Husband, Johnnie Wright performed with Jack Anglin to form popular duo known as Johnnie and Jack.  After Jack Anglin died in a car crash on the way to the Funeral of Patsy Cline, Johnnie joined Kitty and continued to perform on the Grand Ole Opry.

How fitting is it that both the King and Queen of Country Music are buried so close to each other at the entrance to Spring Hill Cemetery.

Just a short walk from the graves of Kitty Wells and Roy Acuff are the graves of two more Country Music Hall of Famers, Hank Snow and Earl Scruggs.

Hank Snow was a native of Canada where he made a name for himself as a country music performer. Hank was Invited to Join the Opry on January 7, 1950, on the recommendation of Ernest Tubb. During his 46-years on the Grand Ole Opry, “The Singing Ranger,” was known for such hit songs as “I’m Movin’ On,” “I Don’t Hurt Anymore,” and “I’ve Been Everywhere.”

On a side note, Hank and his wife lived here in Nashville, and today visitors can spend the night in their home as it is utilized as an Ari B and B.

Almost directly behind the Graves of Roy Acuff and Kitty Wells is the grave of banjo picker Earl Scruggs. Earl got his start as a member of Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass boys where he met Guitar player Lester Flatt.  The two would leave the Blue Grass Boys and form their own group, Foggy Mountain Boys.

Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys were one of the most popular groups on the Grand Ole Opry and performed the popular Theme song for one of the Opry Sponsors, Marth White Flour.

Later, the Duo performed the theme songs for the “Beverly Hillbillies” and “Petticoat Junction,” TV Shows.

Earl Scruggs revolutionized the sound of the 5-string banjo by developing his unique three finger picking style. His style of picking made famous such tunes as “Earl’s Breakdown,”  “The Foggy Mountain Breakdown,” and the “Flint Hill Special.”

In my past visits I have made my way through this rather large cemetery and visited the graves of several other Country Music Stars who are buried in this cemetery. People Like:

Speck Rhodes, a Country Comedian who gained fame appearing with Porter Wagoner on both his TV Show and on the Grand Ole Opry.

George Morgan, who was one of the Grand Ole Opry’s most popular Stars. His signature sone was “Candy Kisses,” and his is the father of country Music Star Lorrie Morgan and the Father-in-Law of Keith Whitley who is also buried nearby.

Floyd Cramer was a self-taught pianist renowned as one of the architects of the "Nashville Sound." In 1955, he moved to Nashville and became one of the most sought-after session musicians in the city. He played on sessions for Roy Orbison, the Everly Brothers, Patsy Cline, Perry Como, Chet Atkins, Boots Randolph, and Elvis Presley. 

Pete Drake was one of country music’s best peddle steel guitar players. When he was 18 years old, he visited Nashville and became fascinated by the steel guitar sounds of musician Jerry Byrd. He returned home and built his own steel guitar and taught himself to play it. He formed his own band, "The Sons of the South" which included future country star musicians Joe South, Roger Miller, Doug Kershaw, Jerry Reed, and Jack Greene. In 1959 he moved to Nashville and started touring with Marty Robbins, and Don Gibson. But he soon gave up touring to focus on becoming a studio musician and working as a member of the Grand Ole Opry Staff Band.

Howard Forrester was a longtime member of Roy Acuff’s Smokey Mountain Boys, He is regarded as one of the best and most accomplished fiddle players in country music. In 1951, he joined Roy Acuff's "Smoky Mountain Boys," which became one of the most popular groups ever to appear on the Grand Ole Opry, and he remained with the group until his death.

Billy Walker was one of several Texas Honky Tonk singer that left Texas and eventually found success in Nashville. His career took off when he joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1960 and in 1962 recorded his first number one hit "Charlie's Shoes." Other number one hits included, "Cross the Brazos at Waco," "Word Games" and "When a Man Loves a Woman." He had over thirty top ten hits and was recognized by Billboard Magazine as one of the "Top Twenty" most played artists of all time. Known as "The Traveling Texan, he was killed, along with his wife and two band members, on an Alabama highway when their vehicle wrecked while returning from a concert.

There are several notable personalities resting in Spring Hill Cemetery that I haven’t visited. I hope to return for another visit in the Near future to visit the graves of such stars as:

Jimmy Capps, a noted guitarist who was a member of the Grand Ole Opry Staff Band for over 50 years.

Charlie Collins, a long-time member of Roy Acuff’s Smokey Mountain Boys.

Bunny Biggs, who was known as “Jamup” from the Grand Ole Opry Comedy Team, “Jamup & Honey.”

John Hartford, a Country, and Bluegrass musician who was also a noted song writer who is best known s probably best known for composing the popular song "Gentle on My Mind,"

Jan Howard, One of the Grand Ladies of the Grand Ole Opry. She was an Opry Member for over 50-years.

Jeannie Seely, another of the Grand Ladies of the Grand Ole Opry. She was an Opry Member for almost 60 years and was the first female member to regularly host and Opry Segment.

Keith Whitley, a popular country music star who was married to Lorrie Morgan, the daughter of Country Music icon George Morgan.

That will wrap up this visit to Spring Hill Cemetery in Nashville, Tennessee. Next time I will visit another one of my favorite Nashville Cemetery’s