21 minute read
FINAL NOTES We bid farewell Charlie Daniels, Bill Pursell
Charlie Daniels
Oct. 28, 1936 – July 6, 2020
Country rock pioneer Charlie Daniels, 83, died July 6. He was noted for his genrecrossing singles including “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” “Uneasy Rider,” and “Long Haired Country Boy,” his hugely successful and long-running musical event the Volunteer Jam, and his decades of charitable endeavors. He was a multi-instrumentalist and life member of the Nashville Musicians Association who joined the local Dec. 14, 1967. Daniels was born Oct. 28, 1936 in Wilmington, North Carolina, to the late William Carlton and LaRue Daniels. He was raised listening to a wide variety of music, including bluegrass, gospel, and country, and learned to play guitar and fiddle as a teenager. He and some friends formed his first band — the Misty Mountain Boys — and he wrote his first song while a member. After he graduated from Goldston High School in 1955, Daniels moved and the band dissolved. In 1959 he formed a rock & roll band called the Jaguars, and in 1964 had his first important success, when he cowrote a song with Joy Byers — a non-deplume for songwriter and producer Bob Johnston at the time — called “It Hurts Me,” which became a Top 30 pop hit for Elvis Presley. Daniels moved to Nashville from California with his wife and 2-year-old son in 1967 to become a session player at the urging of Johnston, who introduced him to Bob Dylan. Dylan used the multi-instrumentalist on his album Nashville Skyline, in which Daniels played electric guitar, bass, and acoustic guitar. In an interview with The Nashville Musician in 2015, Daniels talked about what it was like to be one of the Nashville Cats during the ‘70s. “The producers would turn it loose and let it go here in Nashville,” Daniels said. “There were so many great musicians who worked well together. I never felt a lot of ego. Everyone did their parts and played what was there. Leonard
Cohen. Al Kooper. It was the creativity of the guys. Take a raw song and make something of it.”
Daniels played on Leonard Cohen’s Songs from a Room, Songs of Love and Hate, and Live Songs, and toured with the Canadian poet and songwriter. He also played on Dylan’s Self Portrait and New Morning, and Ringo Starr’s Beaucoups of Blues.
Daniels also produced recordings for the Youngbloods, including the album Elephant Mountain.
The Charlie Daniels Band was signed by Epic in 1972 and scored the chart-crossing hit “Uneasy Rider” in 1973. The pioneering southern rock band placed 34 songs on the Billboard charts. In addition to “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” and “Uneasy Rider,” other Top 10 hits included “Drinkin’ My Baby Goodbye,” “Boogie Woogie Fiddle Country Blues,” and “The South’s Gonna Do It Again.” Top 30 successes include “In America” and “Still in Saigon.” The band was also featured in the film Urban Cowboy in 1980.
The platinum record “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” won CMA Single of the Year in 1979 and also earned a Grammy that year for Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group. Daniels was named CMA Instrumentalist of the Year in 1979, and the band won CMA Instrumental Group of the year in ’79 and ’80. In 2008 Daniels became a member of the Grand Ole Opry, and he was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame in 2009, and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2016.
In 1974 Daniels founded the Volunteer Jam, initially a live recording session for two songs for the band’s Fire on the Mountain album. It was held first at War Memorial Auditorium in Nashville, and in succeeding years grew to become a musical extravaganza showcasing southern rock bands as well as artists from other genres. Performers over the years included Dickey Betts, Dobie Gray, Papa John Creach, Bobby Bare, John Prine, Ray Price, Roy Acuff, Bill Monroe, Alabama, Vince Gill, Tammy Wynette, B.B. King, James Brown, Billy Joel, Little Richard, Steppenwolf, and Don Henley. The Volunteer Jam XX was held in 2018, and at press time a tribute show was being planned for February
2021 at Bridgestone Arena.
Daniels was also known for his generous and extensive charity work. Over the decades he helped fund research for cancer and muscular dystrophy, physically and mentally handicapped people, farmers, and the armed forces — his Journey Home Project for veterans was founded with his manager David Corley in 2014. His charity Christmas concert benefiting children was a Nashville holiday tradition. In recognition of these many efforts he was honored as a BMI Icon in 2005.
Charlie Hayward became Daniels’ bass player in 1975, and talked about the impact of his loss.
“Charlie’s passing stunned all of us in the CDB organization and it is still difficult to imagine life without Charlie. I owe my physical life to him for bringing me into the band back in 1975. I was literally rock bottom when the offer came. Charlie Daniels was one of the good ones in this business, and a devoted Christian who lived the Golden Rule, and was committed to the love of his life Hazel and their son Charlie Jr.,” Hayward said.
Survivors include his wife of almost 56 years, Hazel Alexander Daniels; one son, Charles William Daniels; two grandchildren; and the CDB family.
A memorial service was held July 10 at the World Outreach Church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee; burial followed in Mt. Juliet Memorial Gardens. The family has requested that donations be made to The Journey Home Project at thejourneyhomeproject.org or by mail to 17060 Central Pike, Lebanon, TN, 37090. continued on page 28
Hazel Alexander Daniels and Charlie Daniels
Charlie Daniels on stage during his 2016 Country Music Hall of Fame induction, while Jeff Cook, Charlie Pride, Joe Bonsall, Randy Travis and William Lee Golden look on.
William W. Pursell
June 9, 1926 – Sept. 3, 2020
Distinguished composer, arranger, and keyboardist William W. "Bill" Pursell, 94, died Sept. 3, 2020. He moved to Nashville in 1960 on the invitation of Eddy Arnold, and became part of an elite group of musicians, producers, and arrangers present at the inception of what would become the “third coast” of the music business. He brought his gifted musicianship, gracious intellect, and inimitable style into the mix, and his contributions cannot be understated. He was a life member of the
AFM who joined Local 257 June 17, 1960.
Born June 9, 1926, in Oakland, California, Pursell was raised in Tulare.
He studied composition at the Peabody Institute of Music in Baltimore, Maryland, and arranged for the U.S. Air Force Band while serving in the military during World War II. After his service he studied classical composition at the
Eastman School of Music and earned a masters in composition in the mid1950s. His initial musical award came quickly, when “Christ Looking Over
Jerusalem,” the first movement of “Three Biblical Scenes for Orchestra,” was the recipient of the Edward B. Benjamin Prize in 1953.
Pursell toured with a jazz trio and also played R&B on the road before his move to Nashville. Two years later he had signed as a solo artist with Columbia Records, and released the title track single “Our Winter Love,” which reached the Billboard Top 10 in 1963. The album and follow up single —
“Loved” — also charted, but Pursell soon transitioned into session and live performance work — which included what he termed a career highlight of playing with Chet Atkins for President John F. Kennedy in the White House. He played on a plethora of recording sessions for Owen Bradley and others in the vibrant formative days of the Nashville Sound, and his session work reads like a who’s who of the era. The list includes Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash,
Boots Randolph, Joan Baez, J.J. Cale, Willie Nelson, Marty Robbins, Dan Fogelberg, Bob Dylan and many others. In addition to his frequent live appearances and studio sessions, Pursell also worked with the Nashville Symphony, and taught at Tennessee State and Vanderbilt University.
In the ‘70s he was nominated for two Grammy awards. The first was his performance on the album Listen for the singer Ken Medema in 1974. The second was for his 1978 arrangement of “We Three Kings” for a National Geographic album.
Bill Pursell and his daughter Laura.
Pursell’s symphony, Heritage, which was commissioned by the Nashville Symphony and Victor Johnson, debuted in 1989.
Along with all his other notable skills and talents, Pursell was passionate about music education. He became a member of the faculty of the School of Music at Belmont University in Nashville in 1980, where he taught until his retirement in 2017. His lifelong devotion to teaching and his long friendship with fellow musician W. O. “Smitty” Smith resulted in him being invited in the 1960s to join an integrated men’s discussion group. The members dealt with issues of racial inequality and the need for music lessons for underprivileged children. These talks helped lead to the founding of the W.O. Smith Music School in 1984, which has helped many children discover the joy and the power of music. Pursell was named the Composer of the Year in 1985 by the Tennessee Music Teachers Association, and in 1991 he completed his Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Eastman School of Music.
Pursell continued to record albums after his first Columbia release in 1962, Our Winter Love. His records include The Nashville Sweat Band and Aides (2013), Millenium (2016) and My World’s a Blur World, (2017). As late as August he was working on a new release to be titled Lilacs with his daughter, singer Laura Pursell, when he fell ill.
Friend, fellow pianist, and Director of Education and co-founder of the Nashville Jazz Workshop Lori Mechem talked about the significance of Pursell’s work.
“Bill Pursell was one of Nashville’s greatest stars! Not only was he an amazing composer and arranger, but Bill could play ANYTHING on the piano. From classical, country, pop to jazz — he could do it all. I always loved hearing him play classical because he was so passionate about it. Bill was a great man and always had something new to share — even at 94! I am grateful for our 30-plus years of friendship. We have lost a vital part of our Music City history and we ALL will miss him greatly,” Mechem said.
Pursell was preceded in death by his wife, Julie Crow Pursell; and one daughter, Sharon. Survivors include three daughters, Laura Pursell, Ellen Spicer, and Margaret Pursell; two sons, Bill and Arthur Pursell; and four grandchildren.
A funeral mass was held Sept. 17 at The Cathedral of the Incarnation in Nashville, with interment following at Calvary Cemetery. Those interested may make a donation to the Belmont University School of Music William Whitney Pursell Scholarship in Composition. For information call (615) 460-6408.
Steven David Morrison
Feb. 25, 1965 – June, 2020 Steven David Morrison, 54, died in June, 2020. He was a guitarist and singersongwriter who joined Local 257 Aug. 19, 2019. Morrison was born Feb. 25, 1965, and grew up in Toronto, Canada. He had only recently relocated to Nashville, but had quickly become a favorite at open mic nights and other venues across the city. He was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors include one sister.
Thomas Prince
May 15, 1953 – July 25, 2020
Thomas Prince, 67, died July 25, 2020. He was a bassist, and life member of the Nashville Musicians Association who joined Local 257 April 11, 1979. His professional associations included membership in the Country Music Association.
Prince was born May 15, 1953, to Edwin and Mary Prince in Zanesville, Ohio. He worked as a crane operator for AK Steel in Zanesville for many years, but was drawn to music early in life. Prince later became the touring bass player for the Johnny Carver Band. He worked with the band on the road for 14 years. He was also the best man at Carver’s wedding, and remained
“He called me about once a week, and when he came up to Tennessee, he would spend the night with us. He missed Nashville and all his buddies so much. I loved him, and I’ll miss him.” — Johnny Carver continued on page 30
friends with the family.
He moved to Cape Coral, Florida from Dresden, Ohio in 2014.
Carver commented on Prince, who he called one of his lifelong best friends. “He called me about once a week, and when he came up to Tennessee, he would spend the night with us. He missed Nashville and all his buddies so much. I loved him, and I’ll miss him,” Carver said.
Childhood friend Randy Lincicome also commented on Prince’s passing.
“I have known Tom from first grade to now. Tom was a good friend, great talent in music, and one of the kindest men I have ever met,” Lincicome said.
Prince was preceded in death by his parents; and one sister, Gloria Jean Sensabaugh. Survivors include his wife Debbie; one stepson, Jason Foster; and three step-grandchildren.
A memorial service is planned for a future date at The Rock Church in Fort Myers, Florida, and The Anchor Church in Zanesville, Ohio.
Dan K. Kelly Aug. 26, 1965 - July 22, 2020
Beloved fiddle player Dan K. Kelly, 54, died July 22, 2020. Kelly was a multi-instrumentalist who also played mandolin and guitar. He toured with a plethora of artists, won multiple awards for his fiddle playing, worked as a session player, was a member of the Tennessee Mafia Jug Band, and taught many students as well. He was a longtime member of the Nashville Musicians Association who joined the local March 5, 1986. Kelly was born Aug. 26, 1965 to Ken and Gloria Kelly, and was raised in Connellsville, Pennsylvania. He began playing fiddle at the age of eight, and started to enter contests early on — he won the Canadian National Open Fiddle Championship when he was 12. This initiated a string of other championship honors around the nation, including two wins for the Mid-America Championship. At 17 he won the Grand Master Championship, which is considered the most famous and coveted award for fiddle playing in the United States. It wasn’t long afterward that his talent was noticed by Roy Acuff, who brought him into the band to replace the ailing Howdy Forrester. Kelly would remain a Smoky Mountain Boy until 1992. “The highest compliment or achievement I have ever received is the fact that Roy Acuff, the ‘King of Country Fiddlers,’ liked my fiddling. That’s always been a huge deal for me,” Kelly said. Acuff encouraged Kelly to stay in college, and he graduated from Belmont University with a degree in music business.
Over the years Kelly worked with a host of artists — most recently he was on the road with Clint Black, and also played with Alan Jackson, Steve Wariner, Faith Hill, SheDaisy, Pam Tillis, and others. He’s performed on a variety of TV shows and award shows, as well as Carnegie Hall, which he called “a dream come true.” Kelly talked about the importance of becoming a multi-instrumentalist. “Over the years, because of economic pressures, it has become a necessity for the fiddle player to be a utility musician who also plays mandolin and acoustic guitar. Now the trend is for the fiddle player to also be able to sing harmony. For young players who want to pursue work with touring artists, it’s important to expect that you will not just be playing fiddle. The more versatile you are, the more valuable you are to potential employers,” Kelly said. Guitarist Mike Armistead talked about Kelly, who he considered a good friend. “He had many passions, and one that he was most proud of was that of music instructor, teaching people of all ages how to play guitar, mandolin and fiddle. He loved spending time travelling and antiquing with his wife, Cheryl. Dan would always greet you with a smile and was generous with his time and talent to anyone in need.” Survivors include Kelly’s wife, Cheryl. A celebration of life was held Aug. 26 at Spring Hill Cemetery in Madison, Tennessee. Local 257 President Dave Pomeroy attended Kelly’s service. “Dan Kelly’s memorial service was beautiful and very moving. When more than a dozen fiddlers who were his friends and protégés played ‘Sally Goodin,’ it was a heavenly sound and a perfect send off,” Pomeroy said.
Kenneth Dale Ingram
Aug. 19, 1952 - July 24, 2020
“Well, some of his licks were different. The bluesy licks and the squeezing of the third and second string, those blues licks on the waltz timing stuff. It’s a little bit different, just a bit. Jimmy Martin, he didn’t know any other way than just to say what he had to say. He didn’t sugarcoat anything! He just told you the way it was and the way he wanted it done. But he could show you things. He couldn’t play the banjo, but he could take your banjo and show you little things to do that would make your playing better,” Ingram said. In addition to Scruggs, Ingram said his influences included Osborne, J.D. Crowe, Bill Emerson, Walter Hensley, and Allen Shelton. He left the road in 1986 to spend time with his wife Kaye and their three children, and then returned to work with Rhonda Vincent from 2001 until 2008. He also performed with Larry Stephenson for 10 years. In addition to his work on the road, L egendary banjo player Kenneth Dale Ingram, 67, died July 24, 2020. Known for his preservation of the Earl Scruggs style of playing, his kindness, and his humilget as close to Earl as I could, as far as the timing and that type of tone, that would be good…I think you have to live and breathe it. It’s something you have to feel inside…We used to play a lot of shows with the Osborne he played on records for a variety of artists, including Vincent, Seckler, Marty Stuart, Benny Martin, Ralph Stanley, and Tony Trischka, who talked about seeing Ingram play for the first time. ity, he was a 50-year life member of the Brothers when I was with Lester Flatt, and “I was shocked to learn of Kenny In-
Nashville Musicians Association who joined Sonny [Osborne] and I spent a lot of time gram’s passing. He was one of the all-time
March 26, 1970. together listening to old radio shows, just great banjo players. Seeing him with LesThe native Nashvillian was born Aug. dissecting breaks that Earl did. ter Flatt was like being in the presence of 19, 1952 to John Wesley Ingram and Hallie “Sonny helped me with my playing quite Earl Scruggs in 1955. He was that good,”
Jean (Fisher) Ingram. He grew interested in a bit. He said, “you’re not playing bad, but if Trischka said. banjo after watching Flatt & Scruggs on TV, you’re going to play these songs, I’d like for In addition to performing, and playand his parents bought him his first instru- you to play them right, the way they should ing on records, Ingram was dedicated to ment when he was 12. The young teaching students, and parmusician taught himself to play by “I think you have to live and breathe ticipated in a variety of banjo listening to records repeatedly and watching other performers on TV. it. It’s something you have to feel camps through this past year. Ingram was preceded
A scant five years later in 1971, inside." — Kenneth Dale Ingram in death by his father, John he was on the road with James Wesley Ingram. Survivors
Monroe and the Midnight Ramblers. By 1972 be played.” Little nuances and things you include his wife, Patricia Kaye (Bowman) he had joined Jimmy Martin and the Sunny can do to make them sound more the way Ingram; his mother, Hallie Jean (Fisher)
Mountain Boys, and in 1973 he became a Earl played them. I never heard anything he Ingram; one son, Mike Ingram; two daughmember of Lester Flatt’s Nashville Grass played in any song that sounded bad. Every- ters, Mary Margaret Hoyos, and Laurie band. He rejoined Jimmy Martin in 1978 for a thing he played back then just fit the song. Kinnie; one brother, Randy Ingram; four two year stint, and from 1981 to 1986 worked He was a real musical genius,” Ingram said. grandchildren; one niece; and a host of with Curly Seckler. Ingram’s style was not simply an hom- other relatives and friends.
In a 2009 interview Ingram talked about age to Scruggs. He spoke in an interview A celebration of life service was held July the development of his style and sound. about adjustments he made to match the 31 at the First Apostolic Church in Nashville.
“Lester never told me how to play the banjo sound of other artists he worked for, like Interment followed in Spring Hill Cemetery. when I played with him. But I figured if I could Jimmy Martin. continued on page 32
“Bob brightened any situation and often added much needed wisdom and perspective to about any scenario." – Jeff Hart
Robert Eugene Ricker, Jr.
July 3, 1955 - July 27, 2020 Robert Eugene Ricker, Jr., 65, died July 27, 2020. He was a multi-instrumentalist, producer, and founder of Ricker Music Group. He joined Local 257 Jan. 31, 2001.
Ricker was born to Robert and Lucy Ricker on July 3, 1955 and grew up in the Mount Ayr, Iowa, area. He was drawn to music early on; by grade school he had started playing drums. He took up guitar in junior high, and organized a rock band named Era of Good Feeling. The young pros were successful, and gigged throughout the area, making enough money that Ricker was able to buy a car, and also pay for a portion of his collegiate education.
Childhood friend Joe Carr said in an online tribute page he remembers the naming of that first band, and playing basketball with Ricker. “I was recently able to reminisce with him online about those days and I am so thankful I was able to do so. Bob was a very special guy,” Carr said.
He attended North Carolina Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, where he double-majored in business and computer science. He went on to work in the telecom industry, including 15 years in the Research Triangle Park area, where he was part of design teams that helped bring internet and cell phone technologies to consumers. He also continued to play and perform. In 2000 Ricker and his wife Pam moved to Nashville, where he founded Waltzing Bear Productions.
Jeff Hart, another friend who played music with Ricker, commented on his passing.
“Bob brightened any situation and often added much needed wisdom and perspective to about any scenario…I could reel off countless stories of fun and mayhem that sprang out of numerous live music scenarios that Bob either instigated or was a part of in the 1990s in the Raleigh, North Carolina area. I always looked forward to his Nashville stories. His warmth, comfort and counsel will be sorely missed,” Hart said.
Ricker was known as a dedicated fan of the Drake University Bulldogs, and he and his wife followed the team faithfully. Other interests included horse racing and open wheel racing. Family members also noted his great love of holiday traditions, his optimism, his infectious laughter, and his love of life.
Ricker was preceded in death by his father, Robert Ricker Sr. Survivors include his wife Pam; his mother, Lucy Evelyn Ricker; two brothers, Bruce and Brent Ricker; several nieces and nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends.
A celebration of life will be held in the near future in Iowa. Memorials may be made to the Ricker Endowment for the Elementary Raider and Maroon Reading programs and the United Church of Diagonal in Diagonal, Iowa. TNM
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.
Name
Ray Daniel Pennington Born
12/22/1923 Joined
10/01/1965 Died
08/07/2020 Life Member
Y
