I always enjoyed Billy's guitar playing and singing.  He was a true pioneer:

http://www.billboard.com/news/grand-ole-opry-s-billy-grammer-dies-at-85-1005315262.story#/news/grand-ole-opry-s-billy-grammer-dies-at-85-1005315262.story

Happy 72nd Birthday to Phil Balsley,   aka " the quiet one".   Hope you have a great day!!

Other folks celebrating with Phil are:   

Today's Birthdays: Actress Esther Williams is 90. Actor Richard Anderson is 85. Joan Mondale, wife of former Vice President Walter F. Mondale, is 81. Actress Nita Talbot is 81. Singer Mel Tillis is 79. Actor Dustin Hoffman is 74. Actress Connie Stevens is 73. Country singer Phil Balsley (The Statler Brothers) is 72. Actor Larry Wilcox is 64. Actor Keith Carradine is 62. Rhythm-and-blues singer Airrion Love (The Stylistics) is 62. Country singer Jamie O'Hara is 61. Movie director Martin Brest is 60. Radio-TV personality Robin Quivers is 59. Actor Donny Most is 58. Rock musician Dennis Drew (10,000 Maniacs) is 54. TV personality Deborah Norville is 53. Actor-singer Harry Crosby is 53. Rock musician The Edge (U2) is 50. Rock musician Rikki Rockett (Poison) is 50. Rapper Kool Moe Dee is 49. Rock musician Ralph Rieckermann is 49. Middle distance runner Suzy Favor-Hamilton is 43. Rock singer Scott Stapp is 38. Country singer Mark Wills is 38. Actor Kohl Sudduth is 37. Rock musician Tom Linton (Jimmy Eat World) is 36. Singer JC Chasez ('N Sync) is 35. Actress Tawny Cypress is 35. Rhythm-and-blues singer Drew Lachey (lah-SHAY') (98 Degrees) is 35. Rhythm-and-blues singer Marsha Ambrosius is 34. Actress Lindsay Sloane is 34. Actress Countess Vaughn is 33. Actor Michael Urie is 31. Tennis player Roger Federer is 30. Actress Meagan Good is 30. Britain's Princess Beatrice of York is 23. Actor Ken Baumann (TV: "The Secret Life of the American Teenager") is 22.

Hi Steve,
I saw those articles too and had to laugh at the headlines.  Very tragic story but you can imagine I had to do a double take with those headlines....

Greg

A very happy 66th birthday to Don!!

Other folks sharing a birthday with our favorite Gemini include:

Celebrity Birthdays For June 5

Country singer Don Reid of the Statler Brothers is 66. Guitarist Fred Stone of Sly and the Family Stone is 65. Singer Laurie Anderson is 64. Country singer Gail Davies is 63. Saxophonist Kenny G is 55. Actor Ron Livingston is 44. Singer Brian McKnight is 42. Actor-singer Mark Wahlberg is 40. Bassist Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy is 32.

Just found this on Youtube---wanted to share:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BR97LOQzQk

Enjoy!

Mel McDaniel, singer of 'Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On,' dies at 68
Posted Friday, Apr. 01, 2011 0 Comments  Print  Share Reprints ArticleCommentsA View / sign a guest book for Mr. McDaniel 
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NASHVILLE -- Mel McDaniel, a husky-voiced country music singer-songwriter with hits like Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On and Louisiana Saturday Night has died.

He was 68.

A publicist for the Grand Ole Opry confirmed Friday that Mr. McDaniel had died.

Mr. McDaniel's other hits, most in the early and mid-1980s, included Stand Up, Big Ole Brew and Let It Roll (Let It Rock).

The native of Checotah, Okla., sang for oil field workers in Alaska in the 1970s before becoming successful in Nashville. He was a regular on the Grand Ole Opry beginning in 1986.

Mr. McDaniel said Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On related to average Americans: "The main thing everybody says to me is, 'I can picture that in my mind.'"


C

Just read the news about Ferlin.  Very saddened over that.  I love "Wings of a Dove" and "Gone".  2 great classic songs that will live forever.
Hate to hear about Mel McDaniel too.  Hopefully his final days will be peaceful and painfree and surrounded by his family.

And one more final thought: "Oh Elizabeth, I'm sure missing you!!!"

Greg