1999 NACMAI Hall of Fame
KITTY WELLS
What can you say about this lady! The first female Country vocalist to obtain and sustain major stardom, a super-star in Country Music before anyone ever coined the word, she is best known as "The Queen Of Country Music" who has consistently ranked as one of country music's most respected performers from her hit "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" in 1952 to the Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1991.
JOHNNY WRIGHT
"Walkin', Talkin', Cryin', Barely Beatin' Broken Heart" and "Hello Vietnam" are a sample of his hits. This singer, songwriter, guitar and bass fiddle player has also demonstrated a through understanding of both the music and the business in a career that spans nearly six decades. Johnny's duet with Kitty, the autobiographical "We'll Stick Together" is still a long time favorite with fans.
THE JORDANAIRES
Known worldwide as one of the most versatile quartets in music, supplying background harmony for Elvis, Patsy Cline, Ricky Nelson and countless others, their unmistakable sound remains in demand today. They also originated the "Number System", perhaps the single most important thing to happen to the Nashville Sound and were the driving force behind the establishment of the American Federation of Television/Radio Artists-Screen Actors' Guild in Nashville.
LIZ ANDERSON
From "The Ballad Of The Pony Express" which is the official song for the 100 Years of the US Mail, with a copy in the Library of Congress, she has gone on to write such hits as "Be Quite Mind" for Del Reeves, "Ride, Ride, Ride" recorded by Brenda Lee, Pat Boone and daughter Lynn Anderson, and "Strangers" the first hit for Merle Haggard, for which she received a BMI Award and has served as Vice-President of the Nashville Songwriters Association International.
LYNN ANDERSON
"Rose Garden", "I've Been Everywhere" to "Rocky Top", this talented lady has the longevity of a true multi-focused country music star who sings in 8 different languages who has sung for three Presidents and Queen Elizabeth II. She is also a World Champion Quarter Horse and Cutting Horse ridder and the spokesperson for the National Handi-capped Riders Association and Lynn and her daughter Lisa have appeared on a national Christmas Seal Poster
HAROLD BRADLEY
Profilic is the word to describe this veteran guitarist. Reportedly, the most recorded guitar player in history, he was part of the original "A Team" of Nashville superpickers. Having played on such classic cuts as Red Foley's "Chattanooga Shoe Shine Boy" to the more recent Alan Jackson"s "Here In The Real World". Today he is the President of the Nashville Association of Musicians Local 257 of the American Federation of Musicians.
BOUDLEAUX AND FELICE BRYANT
One of the most successful husband and wife songwriting teams in musical history. Every tune was different from the one before, and they range from the rollicking "Rocky Top" to a soft, sweet treatment such as "All I Have To Do Is Dream". An estimated 300 million records sold, more than 3,000 songs written and about 1,200 cuts. It takes genius to write like that. Ask any of the songwriters who look for a hit on 16th Avenue.
WALTER HAYNES
Staff musician on the Grand Ole Opry for thirteen years and on the road with Jimmy Dickens for six years playing steel guitar, along with playing on most of Patsy Cline's recordings for Decca Records, Walter spent ten years at MCA as a producer with the last three years as Vice President and produced such hits as "Satin Sheets" for Jeanne Pruett and Producer of the Year for Cal Smith's "Country Bumkin".
CLIFFIE STONE
Having received the ACM Pioneer Award and having his own Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, he probably did more than anyone else to popularize Country music in California during the post WWII years. Along with guiding the careers of Tennessee Ernie Ford, Hank Thompson and many others, he co-wrote several songs, among them was "Dancing With A Memory" with Ginny Peters.
TEX WILLIAMS
For ever associated with Capital Records' first million-selling single, "Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)" written by Tex and Merle Travis, he also had a career in Western motion pictures and guest starred on TV with Dinah Shore, Tennessee Ernie Ford, and Jo Stafford. On the West Coast he was reunited with Cliffie Stone, who originally signed him with Capital, when he recorded "Those Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer" for Granite Records.
FIDDLIN JOHN CARSON
Known as the Father of Commerical Country Music, he was the first country music artist to perform live on the radio and was the first country music recording artist. Fiddlin John was crowned "55 Years King Fiddler" in 1934.
BUDDY HARMAN
One of Nashville's outstanding session drumers having played over 1,000 recording sessions. He has been recognized for creating the "Nashville Sound". He has performer for four of our Nation's Presidents, John F. Kennedy, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Regan.
LARRY SASSER
From his first record session in 1959 until his retirement, Larry played on hundreds of record sessionstour concerts, and TV programs. He played with Del Reeves on the Grand Ole Opry and was a member of the "Nashville Now Band" on TNN.
MARIJOHN WILKIN
She penned her first hit song "Waterloo" having been in Nashville only six months. In 1975, she was inducted in the Nashville Songwriter's Hall of Fame. Probably best known for her song "One Day At A Time" written with Kris Kristofferson, she won the prestigous Gospel Music's Dove Award.
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