As I have been consumed by the fast-paced nature of my schedule these past few weeks, the passings of three of my friends in country and gospel music brought on some sweet memories of the times we shared and the music they created. Two of the artists were in their 90s and had been out of the performance limelight for about a decade.
As I listened to my friend, Grand Ole Opry announcer Eddie Stubbs while driving late one night, it was apparent to me that the way he mentioned her that she had left us and I had missed the news. Grand Ole Opry star Wilma Lee Cooper, 90, was the first of the two, leaving us on Sept. 13 after more than a decade of working to overcome a stroke that occurred on stage. Wilma Lee had a bigger than life voice that always drew my attention and my admiration as a mountain performer. She and her late husband Stoney were mainstays of music keeping the traditional side of mountain music alive in a mainstream environment. After his death in 1977, she continued that on her own recording numerous albums.
Some of my greatest memories as I came to the Grand Ole Opry was visiting with her backstage and watching her sing some of songs such as “Purple Robe,” “Walking My Lord Up Calvary’s Hill” and “Legend of the Dogwood Tree” and other hits such as “There’s a Big Wheel,” and “Big Midnight Special.” I often got to stand next to her as we would gather around the microphone for show finales featuring a host of Grand Ole Opry stars and hear her voice ring out in my soul.
Thank you for all you did to share the mountain sounds Wilma Lee! As I was appearing at the International Bluegrass Music Association Fan Fest, I was visiting backstage at the Grand Master Fiddler Championship with Keith Bilbrey from RFD-TV’s “Larry’s Country Diner.” Our conversation moved towards a CD I produced some 20 years ago, “Christmas Time’s A Comin’” featuring the stars of TV’s “In the Heat of the Night” and some luminary stars of bluegrass and country music. The reason it came up was the Sept 27 passing of country singer Johnnie Wright, 97.
Johnnie, who was half of the famous country duo Johnnie and Jack, had enjoyed tremendous success in that duo until Jack was killed in an auto accident headed to Patsy Cline’s funeral. Johnnie also guided the career of his wife, Country Music Hall of Fame member, Kitty Wells. To say that I revered these two people is almost an understatement. They were such a vital part of our music and the impact they had can still be seen today. Johnnie had numerous songs with Jack and afterwards that I listened to while growing up – “Poison Love,” and “Walkin’, Talkin’, Cryin’, Barely Beatin’ Broken Heart” are among them.
Within his family, his children Carol Sue, Ruby and Bobby also found radio hits and Bobby became one of the stars in the ensemble cast of the TV show “McHale’s Navy” with Ernest Borgnine. When I began putting together the Christmas album years ago, I knew that I wanted to include Kitty and Johnnie and the added bonus of having another music and TV star with Bobby, they joined all the cast of our show with a few other Country Music Hall of Famers to sing “Jingle Bells.” Producing them in the studio will always be one of my greatest career memories.
Johnnie was a class act and someone who helped to set the bedrock of how a country music career should be conducted on and off stage. Thank you Johnnie for allowing me to share in a bit of your history. Finally, let me mention someone who I watched perform in association with the Gaither Homecomings. He could electrify an audience and I always enjoyed getting to see him perform and talking with him. The amazing Jessy Dixon, 73, died Sept. 26. He created so many wonderful songs that were hits such as “I Am Redeemed,” but for me I loved to see him praise the Lord! I know that God has another singer in His choir that just can’t be still now.
Randall Franks is an award-winning musician, singer and actor. He is best known for his role as “Officer Randy Goode” on TV’s “In the Heat of the Night” now on WGN America. His latest CD release, “An Appalachian Musical Revival,” is by www.shareamericafoundation.org. He is a member of the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame. He is a syndicated columnist for http://randallfranks.com and can be reached at rfrankscatoosa@gmail.com.