Ray Edenton

Nov. 3, 1926 – Sept. 21, 2022

Legendary A-Team guitarist Ray Quarles Edenton, 95, died Sept. 21, 2022. He played on a multitude of sessions for artists spanning the musical gamut — including artists from Neil Young to Patsy Cline. He was a

69-year life member of Local 257 who joined Jan. 3, 1953.

He was born Nov. 3, 1926, in Mineral, Virginia, to the late Tom and Laura Edenton, and was the youngest of four children. He first learned to play banjo ukulele, and by the age of six was joining his brothers, who played guitar and fiddle, at square dance gigs. After serving in the army during WWII, he joined a local band called the Rodeo Rangers that played dances in the area, and also performed on the radio. Two years later he became the bassist for the Korn Krackers, led by guitarist Joe Maphis. In 1949 he went to work for WNOX in Knoxville, Tennessee, but tuberculosis sidelined him, and he spent 28 months in a VA hospital recovering. After his health returned, he moved to Nashville in 1952.

In addition to his work with the Crickets, Allison had a solo hit with a novelty song called “Real Wild Child.” Holly played guitar on the 1958 release. The Crickets parted ways with Holly that year, and for a time worked with other lead singers. In 1959 Allison and Crickets guitarist Sonny Curtis moved to Los Angeles where they worked as session players. The Crickets worked unbilled as backing musicians for an Everly Brothers tour in 1960, and appeared under their own name in 1964. In 1987 Allison appeared in The Real Buddy Holly Story, which was produced by Paul McCartney. In 1974, Allison played on the Waylon Jennings record This Time. He also played on Johnny Rivers’ L.A. Reggae in 1972, and added percussion to J.J. Cale’s 1976 album Troubadour. The Crickets performed for the final time in 2016, at the Surf Ballroom in Clearlake, Iowa, where Holly last performed the night of his death.

Allison was a 2007 inductee into the Musicians Hall of Fame, and was also honored at the Music City Walk of Fame. In 2012 the Crickets were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. “That’ll Be the Day” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998 and placed in the U.S. government’s National Recording Registry in 2005.

In addition to his parents, Allison was preceded in death by one brother, James D. Allison. Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Joanie; and numerous friends and fans. A celebration of life is planned for the future.

Edenton found work as an acoustic guitarist on the Grand Ole Opry, and began to cultivate his session work. Although he played several instruments, he generally provided rhythm guitar in the studio, but had notable lead guitar work on plenty of recordings as well. He had already played on Red Kirk’s Mercury recording of “Love Sick Blues” in 1949, but his first work on a hit record came in 1953 on the Webb Pierce single “There Stands the Glass.” He went on to play on 26 of Pierce’s 27 charttopping records, along with work on “Wake Up Little Susie” and “Bye, Bye, Love,” for the Everly Brothers, Roger Miller’s classic “King of the Road,” and lead guitar on “Singing the Blues” for Marty Robbins.

Edenton was known for his alternate guitar tunings. His “high third” tuning, where only the third string (G) is tuned one octave higher, and the other strings remain in standard tuning; and the “high string” tuning in which only the first and second strings (E and B) remain in standard tuning and strings three to six (G, D, A, E) are tuned one octave higher.

Over his monumental career he played on a staggering 15,000-plus sessions. The list of records he played on is practically endless, and includes work for luminaries like Julie Andrews, Sammy Davis Jr., Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and the Beach Boys. Edenton once said “Everybody in the world came here [Nashville] and we recorded with all of them. You might do a pop session in the morning, and bluegrass in the afternoon, and rock & roll at night. People often ask me about session musicians and why, back in those days, only a few people made all the records. It was several things. You had to learn real quick. You had to adapt real quick. And if you couldn’t do that, you couldn’t do sessions!”

In 2007 Edenton was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame as a member of the storied A-Team.

Edenton was preceded in death by his parents and siblings. Survivors include his wife, Polly; one son, Ray Q. Edenton, Jr.; one daughter, Ronda Hardcastle; his dog, LeRoy; and many friends.

Interment was in his hometown church cemetery in Mineral, Virginia. Donations in his memory may be made to Trinity Baptist Church, Care of Secretary Alice Knight, 518 Daniel Road, Louisa, VA 23093.

Ronald Eugene Keller

Dec. 29, 1938 – Aug. 10, 2022 golfer, he and his family moved to Nashville in the ‘70s where his music career continued. He played a multitude of sessions for artists including Kenny Rogers, Jerry Lee Lewis, Dolly Parton, Percy Sledge, Boots Randolph, B.J. Thomas, and many others. He continued playing jazz, and became a charter member of the Nashville Jazz Machine.

In midlife Keller decided to change course in his career, and became a certified financial planner for the next 30 years. After retirement from the financial planning field, he traveled the world with his wife, Ann, and continued to enjoy life to the fullest. Keller played an important role as a member of his union local, acting as a trustee, parliamentarian, and respected adviser for over 30 years.

“Ron Keller was an outstanding musician and a great human being. At a time of great internal turmoil within the AFM, in his role as Local 257 parliamentarian, he never took sides, and never lost sight of the big picture. His passion and joy were a great inspiration to many of us,” Dave Pomeroy said.

Trumpet player and longtime Local 257 parliamentarian and trustee Ronald Eugene Keller died Aug. 10, 2022. He joined the Nashville Musicians Association July 6, 1977.

He was born Dec. 29, 1938, in Indiana, and was given a saxophone by his parents when he was 10 years old, but he switched to trumpet at 13, saving his money and buying the instrument himself. Three years later he was leading his own jazz band, and he performed with the Indianapolis Symphony a year later. After high school he studied music at Indiana University, and launched his professional career on tour and in the studio with the Stan Kenton Orchestra.

The next stop for Keller was New York City, where he pursued a career as a freelance musician. Over the next decade he performed and recorded with artists like Frank Sinatra, Buddy Rich, and Liza Minelli. He also played New Year’s Eve concerts with the legendary Guy Lombardo Band.

Following a stint in North Carolina as a pro

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one daughter, Ann Terry Keller Swartz. Survivors include his loving wife of 62 years, Ann E. Keller; one daughter, Lisa D. Castro; one son, Dallas F. Keller; one brother, Frederick J. Keller; and five grandchildren.

A celebration of life service was held Aug. 15 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church. Interment followed at Hermitage Memorial Gardens. Donations may be made to trinityhope.org continued on page 30 continued from page 29

Jerry Paul Arnold

May 31, 1936 – July 31, 2022

Drummer and educator Jerry Paul Arnold, 86, died July 31, 2022. He was a veteran of the legendary WSM Morning Show, and also played on Pop Goes the Country and Nashville Now He was a life member of the Nashville Musicians Association who joined Local 257 May 10, 1963.

He was born May 31, 1936, in Chester County, Tennessee, to W.D. and Margie Arnold, and raised in Jackson, Tennessee, where his career path was influenced by his band director. After high school Arnold graduated from Murray State University, then spent two years in the U.S. Army before moving to Nashville, where he received a master’s degree in education from Tennessee State University.

Along with his regular performances on air, Arnold served in the Metro School System as a band director, advisor, teacher, and school administrator. He was noted for being an “old school” no-nonsense teacher. Friends remembered his willingness to help anyone in need, and his love of jazz, especially “straight ahead jazz.” He owned an extensive jazz music collection, and his travels with his wife, Pat, to jazz festivals and cruises were said to be the highlight of his life. Arnold also enjoyed home construction projects, and entertaining friends and family. He was a member of St. David Episcopal Church in Nashville and after moving to Columbia, South Carolina, became a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church.

Survivors include his loving wife, Pat; two daughters, Ronnie Dimig and Paula Cherry; one brother, Frank Arnold; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Aug. 6 at St. John’s Episcopal Church. Memorials may be made in Arnold’s name to an Alzheimer’s research center or a children’s music program.

George Phillip Puckett

April 29, 1945 – Aug. 6, 2022

Bassist George Phillip Puckett, 77, died Aug. 6, 2022. He was a life member of the Nashville Musicians Association who joined Local 257 in

1999, and first joined the AFM in Springfield, Missouri, in 1959.

He was born April 29, 1945, in Cabool, Missouri, to Lee Phillip and Elaine Gladys Puckett. Pucket had two brothers, David and Mike Puckett. After high school he studied music education at the Kansas University in Lawrence. While there, he met and married his wife, Barbara Joan Rundle. After graduation he worked at Central Junior High, and later became a real estate agent. Later in his career he went on to become the director of education for the Kansas Association of Realtors. In 1985 he became the executive vice president of the Kansas Restaurant and Hospitality Association in Wichita, Kansas. After retirement Puckett worked parttime as a substitute teacher, and fully retired in 2017.

Survivors include one daughter, Michelle Christ; one son, Sean Puckett; and three grandchildren. Services were in the care of Downing & Lahey East Mortuary.

Terry Dean Choate

July 7, 1954 – Sept. 13, 2022 Steel guitarist, producer, and music business executive Terry Dean Choate, 68, died Sept. 13, 2022. He was a life member of the Nashville Musicians Association who joined Local 257 May 17, 1984.

Choate was born in Alleghany County, North Carolina, July 7, 1954, to Marie C. Thompson and the late Charles Dean Choate. He started his career as an announcer at WCOK in Sparta, North Carolina, during which time he became friends with Del Reeves. After graduation from Appalachian State University, he moved to Nashville and went to work for publishing company Tree International. He quickly moved from songplugger to music manager and demo producer. During his tenure at Tree, he also performed audio engineering duties for records by Bobby Braddock and other Tree writers.

In 1984 he became A&R manager for Capitol Records. Choate also did occasional session work — he played steel on records for Marie Osmond and John Conlee. In 1987 he was promoted to director of A&R for Capitol and EMI America, where he grew the roster to include New Grass Revival, Tanya Tucker, Dobie Gray, Dan Seals, Barbara Mandrell, Kix Brooks, Don Williams, Suzy Bogguss, and others. He presided over the label’s move into rock music with the addition of acts like The Questionaires, Walk the West, and Jason and The Scorchers. In 1990 Choate left Capitol and became an independent record producer; he would go on to produce records for The Time Jumpers, Teea Goans, and multiple albums for the Gatlin Brothers.

Choate also served as vice president of the Nashville chapter of the Recording Academy, NSAI board member, and chair of the Nashville Songwriters Foundation. In addition to his membership in AFM Local 257, he was a member of the ACM and the Nashville Entertainment Association.

Survivors include his wife, Cheri Choate; two stepsons, Ceran Maples and Nathaniel Maynard; his mother, Marie C. Thompson; one brother, Sam Choate; two nieces; and a host of friends in North Carolina and Nashville. A celebration of life was held Sept. 17 at Grandview Memorial Funeral Home in Sparta. Memorials may be made to American Diabetes Association, PO Box 7023, Merrifield, VA 22116-7023.

Levi Clayton Head

Sept. 6, 1934 – June 24, 2022

Songwriter and musician Levi Clayton Head, 87, died June 24, 2022. He was a life member of the Nashville Musicians Association and played guitar and bass. He joined AFM Local 257 Feb. 22, 1988.

Head was born Sept. 6, 1934, in Atlanta, Georgia, to Doyal and Grace Head, and grew up with four siblings. He served in the U.S. Army from 1957-59 and then worked 25 years for General Motors. After his retirement he began a new career driving as a heavy-load escort until 2016.

He was an active church member, and played music throughout his life with various bands. He played on the Grand Ole Opry stage as a member of the Stella Parton Singers, and had his own recording studio. He was inducted into the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Honor in 1998 and the Hall of Fame in 2009. He also worked at the organization as a staff member and for many years led a jam session that took place prior to the awards ceremo - nies. Over his career Head recorded his own sacred and secular music, and in 2017 released Every Now and Then, produced by fellow Local 257 member Jim Lusk.

In addition to his parents, Head was preceded in death by two daughters, Darlene Harber and Patty Connell; two brothers, Doyal and Gene Head; and one sister, Elizabeth Wheeless. Survivors include three daughters, Rhonda Medlin, Susie DeShields, and Jamie Head; one son, Levi Cameron Head; one sister, LaTrelle Wallace; seven grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life service was held July 30 at Calvary Baptist Church in Greenbrier, Tennessee. Donations may be made in his name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

CHARLES “BUSTER” FRANKLIN KENDRICK

March 9, 1939 – Sept. 21, 2022

Guitarist Charles “Buster” Franklin Kendrick, 83, died Sept. 21, 2022. He was a life member of the Nashville Musicians Association who joined Local 257 April 11, 1975.

Born March 9, 1939, in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, he was the son of the late John Burl and Reola Wall Kendrick. After a chance encounter with Red Foley following the artist’s performance in Shelby, North Carolina, Kendrick became drawn to the idea of playing music. His mother and father were both musicians — his father was a guitarist and his mother played the accordion — and Kendrick began to play at an early age. By the time he was in high school he had been in several local bands. After graduation he attended Gardner Webb University in Boiling Springs, North Carolina.

Kendrick moved to Nashville after college, where he worked for Grey Line tours and began to make connections in the music business. Kendrick got a job driving for Dottie West, and played acoustic guitar during her Grand Ole Opry appearances. He would go on to drive for Shelly West, Don

Williams, and others. He continued driving for Phil Toney Tours after moving back to Shelby. Kendrick was a 32nd degree Mason, Past Master of the Cleveland Lodge 202, a Shriner, and a member of the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. He was the receipient of the 2013 Heritage Bridge Award presented to accomplished artists in the Shelby area.

Survivors include his loving wife of 63 years, Priscilla Panther Kendrick; two daughters, Karla Johnson and Angie Clark; one son, Phil Kendrick; one sister, Carolyn Putnam; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Funeral services were held Oct. 2 at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church with the Rev. Andrew Corley and Dr. Cal Robertson officiating. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or The Shriners Children’s Hospital.

HENRY EZEKIEL “ZEKE” KING III

Aug. 14, 1941 – May 25, 2022

Steel guitarist Henry Ezekiel “Zeke” King III, 80, died May 25, 2022. He was a 50-year life member of the Nashville Musicians Association who joined Local 257 Sept. 29, 1970.

He was born Aug. 14, 1941, in Christian County, Kentucky, to the late Herman Henry King and Julia King Pryor. He was a lifelong farmer, who also toured with Johnny Paycheck in 1970 and ’71. After the singer’s death in 2003, King reminisced about him in an interview. “He was a great singer, one of the greatest in the business. He was a boss, but also a good friend. We were just good buddies.” King said he favored Paycheck, who called him “little brother.” This led to a prank the two pulled onstage one night.

“I could do a pretty good impersonation of Johnny. So, I put on his suit and he put on mine and went out onto the stage. I started singing. Johnny played steel guitar. We made it through about eight bars before the crowd shouted at us,” he said. King also performed with singer-songwriter Wayne Kemp.

In addition to his parents, King was preceded in death by two daughters, Joy Diane King Guier, and Karen Elizabeth King Brown; one son, Henry Ezekiel King III; and one sister, Julia “Sugarpie” King. Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Joy King; his stepsister, Peggy Cunningham; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held May 28, 2022, at Hughart, Beard & Giles Funeral Home in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, with the Rev. Dr. Brandt Lyon officiating. Burial followed in Riverside Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Olivet Baptist Church or a favorite charity.

Walter King

Feb. 8, 1951 – July 19, 2022

Woodwind specialist, arranger, conductor, composer, and educator Walter Riley King, 71, died July 19, 2022. He was a life member of the Nashville Musicians Association who played with B.B. King for over 35 years, and was the last band director for Goodlettsville High School. He joined Local 257 July 16, 1974.

He was born in Lexington, Mississippi, Feb. 8, 1951, to Barnel King and Chetwyn Rodgers. He was the oldest of 19 children, and spent his early childhood on his grandfather’s fame in Bartlett, Tennessee. After graduation from Barrett’s Chapel High School, he attended the Berklee School of Music and Tennessee State University. While at TSU he became a member of the marching band and also belonged to the music fraternity Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He became known as “Heart Attack” because of his antics while pledging the frat. Because of that Walter was affectionately called ‘Tack’ or ‘Heart Attack’ by many who knew him in Nashville. After college he taught as a band director before devoting himself to playing music full time.

Over the course of his career King performed with Lena Horne, The Temptations, The Dells, Gladys Knight, Dr. John, U2, The Nancy Wilson Orchestra, Nelson Riddle Orchestra, and the Muscle Shoals Horns. He performed on the Grand Ole Opry, and also was the music arranger conductor with the continued on page 32

B.B. King Orchestra on The Tonight Show King lived in Omaha, Nebraska, for a time and while there served as guest conductor for Omaha Youth Symphony. King also performed with The Tyrone Smith Revue, Jimmy Church Band and many others.

After King’s passing, a friend remembered him as “a fine musician, teacher and human being,” who once said “if you know all of your scales and understand basic rhythms you should be able to play anything in front of you.” In addition to music, King enjoyed golf and fishing, and was a third-degree black belt in karate. He was a member of ASCAP and SAG-AFTRA, along with his 48-year life membership in AFM Local 257.

Survivors include his devoted life partner, Dr. Brenda King; three sons, Walter Burns, Christopher King, and Brandon King; six grandchildren; one aunt, Modie Faye King Henry, one uncle, Dr. Charles Rodgers; stepmother, Dr. Mary Alice Rodgers; three brothers, William Byrd, Cornelius Wilson, and Randall Williams; five sisters, Rita Simon, Patricia Wilson, Classie Cameros, Janie Burris, and Helen Gipson; two paternal brothers, Dr. Curtis Rodgers and Elder Chetwyn Rodgers; and two paternal sisters, June Rodgers-Calhoun and Kimberly Pete.

Funeral services were held July 30 at Mt. Nebo Baptist Church in Nashville. Interment followed in Greenwood Cemetery in Goodlettsville.

Herschel Sizemore

Aug. 6, 1935 – Sept. 9, 2022

Mandolinist, composer, and author Herschel Sizemore, 87, died Sept. 9, 2022. He was a life member of the Nashville Musicians Association who joined Local 257 Oct. 24, 1979. In addition to a multitude of live performances, he played on records for a long list of bluegrass bands, and released several solo offerings and instructional works.

He was born Aug. 6, 1935, in Sheffield, Alabama, to Claude and Rebecca Dennis Sizemore, and grew up in Leighton. His mother was a self-taught guitarist, and Herschel was playing by the age of seven. He heard Bill Monroe on the family’s battery-operated radio, and was drawn to the mandolin even more when the eight-year-old attended the Grand Ole Opry with his parents and saw Monroe perform live. His brother sent a mandolin home while in the army, and Sizemore’s future career was launched. He played with fiddler Hugh McCormick after learning some chords, and got his first paying job when he was 14, playing at area dances with Ned Campbell & the Sunnyside Playboys.

He went on to play with the Dixie Gentlemen and toured with the group throughout the Southeast, also playing at regional radio stations. Under the name The Blue Ridge Mountain Boys, the band recorded two albums, and then became The Dixie Gentlemen, and recorded an album for United Artists. After that band dissolved, Sizemore played with Bobby Smith & the Boys from Shiloh. Sizemore would play with many bluegrass artists and bands including Jimmy Martin, the Shenandoah Cut-Ups (with whom he worked on several albums), Curly Seckler, and others. He released a record with his own band, The Country Grass, in the ‘70s. In the late ‘70s he worked with Del McCoury’s Dixie Pals.

He recorded a solo album while with McCoury called Bounce Away, noted for what became termed the Sizemore roll, a technique John Lawless called “a pause in a vocal melody when played on the mandolin… like the way a banjo would use a forward roll…He employs a cross-picking pattern across several strings while holding a chord in place to keep the eighth-note rhythm going without emphasizing melody notes.” The record contained the Sizemore composition “Rebecca” which was named for his mother and became a classic in the genre.

In the ‘80s Sizemore played with the Bluegrass Cardinals, recorded a second solo album, and went on to form the Herschel Sizemore Band. Two more albums followed in the early aughts, as well as a longrunning 3-day instructional event for bluegrass players held in Roanoke, Virginia. He also released a transcription book and instructional DVD. Over the course of his lengthy career, he performed many times on the Grand Ole Opry

In Memoriam

The officers, staff and members of Local 257 extend our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of our members who have recently passed away. You are in our thoughts, hearts and prayers.

Physical issues curtailed Sizemore’s busy schedule in 2011, although he continued to work as his health allowed. The DVD Herschel Sizemore: Mandolin in B: A Tribute to a Bluegrass Legend, was released in 2013. In 2018 he was inducted into the Alabama Hall of Fame. In addition to music, Sizemore loved fishing.

Sizemore was preceded in death by his brothers and sisters; one granddaughter, and one great-granddaughter. Survivors include his wife of 68 years, Joyce Sizemore; two daughters, Charlotte Bishop and Tamba Agee; one son, Lee Sizemore; ten grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren; and one greatgreat-grandchild.

Funeral services were held Sept. 15 at Simpson Funeral Home in Roanoke, Virginia, with interment in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens. Memorials may be made to Gentle Shepherd Hospice in Roanoke.

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K Skye Erin Slaver Kent Slucher William L Smithson Janet M Stegall Alan Stoker Tamara Marie Stroud Zander M Sugarman Bobby W Terry, Jr George Tidwell Jonathan Marc Trebing Daniel Truman Robert Joe Turley, III Daniel Lewis Vaughan Ted Wagner Craig Ryan Watson

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Marshall White Mark Wayne Whitehead

James Whitman William Monroe White, III Dana Keith Williams Lynn Williams Edward J Wilson Andrew Whitten Wright Michael Younger G Maxwell A Zemanovic

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David Mark Baldwin Ronald Franklin Block

Cremaine A Booker Troy Lee Boswell

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