JIM ED BROWN----A toss-up between him and the Browns trio of which he sang lead. He developed one of the more under-rated solo careers in the history of the format, and also became one of the major TV stars in Country Music of the 60s through the 80s.
ARCHIE CAMPBELL----It’s been a while since a comedian was inducted, and Campbell deserves the slot. His style of comedy was very unique and cutting edge when he joined the Opry in 1958, his RCA albums are legendary, and of course, as one of the head writers of Hee Haw, he helped to define Country Comedy long before the “Blue Collar Boys.”
JUNE CARTER CASH----You might be surprised to know that June is not a member, but even if she hadn’t married Johnny, her place as a performer was set. With Johnny, they became Mr. and Mrs. Country Music---on a larger scale than George & Tammy or Tim & Faith.
RAY CHARLES------People get emotional, and rightly so, about who is not in the Hall----but in my opinion---none of the names on this list did as much to expose Country Music to the masses than Charles’ frequent forays into the genre’s classics.
COWBOY COPAS----A favorite of the 40s and 50s, he is wrongly known sometimes as a footnote to being a passenger in the Piper Comanche that killed Patsy Cline, but his King Records of the 40s, and Starday Records of the 60s made him famous on his own merits.
JOHNNIE AND JACK----Just like the Louvin Brothers, this duo inspired many including Waylon and the Desert Rose Band. I hope the voters get this oversight taken care of soon so Johnnie Wright can enjoy it.
JOHNNY HORTON-----You think Dwight and Marty have swagger? They definitely stole a few tricks off Horton’s sleeve. He wasn’t active long-----due to his tragic passing in a 1960 automobile accident after a show----but “The Battle Of New Orleans” and “North To Alaska” speak for themselves!
JERRY LEE LEWIS----Strangely, he is not in the Hall just yet. But, it’s an obvious choice at some point. Whether his Sun classics of the 50s or his traditional Mercury sides in the 60s and 70s, the “Killer” deserves to be in this group.
REBA McENTIRE-----Dolly? Check. Loretta? Check. Tammy? Check. Aside from those three, has any other female country singer opened more doors since? I don’t think so. This one is going to happen, and it might be soon.
RONNIE MILSAP----George Strait, Conway Twitty, Merle Haggard, and Alabama are four of the five acts with 40 or more number one records. They’re in. Guess who the fifth is? Only one of the most revered performers of the past forty years.
OAK RIDGE BOYS----Their story has been ongoing since the 1940s. But, the foursome known as Duane, Joe, William Lee, and Richard have carved out their own legacy and keep on ticking.
JERRY REED-----Yeah, he was a great sidekick to Burt Reynolds. And, while those movies made Jerry Reed a household name in the late 70s, his guitar licks influenced a generation of pickers, and his records were incredible---all of them. Plus, to my knowledge, he was the only Country singer featured on Scooby Doo! Now, that’s saying something!
KENNY ROGERS-----This one has been an oversight for a while. Whether you like pop-oriented Country or not….from 1977-1985, there was no Country singer more popular than Kenny Rogers. As my favorite singer, I may be a little biased, but along with Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, and Dolly Parton, there may not be a more recognized Country performer in the world.
JEAN SHEPARD----She wasn’t the first (Patsy Montana) or the most successful, but Shepard paved the way for female vocalists in the 50s with her classic output for Capitol Records. She influenced many out west in California, and has been the matriarch of female vocalists at the Opry for years.
RICKY SKAGGS----We’re getting to the point that the 80’s have to be looked at as closely as any decade now, and that’s created a log jam with some of these artists. But he not only brought traditional Country back to prominence in the 80s, but his return to Bluegrass in the 1990s helped to spark new interest in the format.
CONNIE SMITH----Poll most Country acts about their favorite female vocalist, and they will tell you Connie Smith. Dolly Parton will, and that’s good enough for me. But, a listen to her RCA and Monument works prove she was one of the best of all time----and still is.
RANDY TRAVIS-----Travis deserves to get in soon before the class of the 90s make their way into the Hall. He took what Skaggs and Strait were doing, and kicked the door down for traditional Country in the late 1980s. Pre-Garth, he was everywhere, and released some of the 80s and 90s more timeless recordings to come out of Music City.
DOTTIE WEST-------She looked the part of a Country singer, and lived the life of a Country song. Her stage sass and upbeat persona helped to inspire a new generation of Country female vocalists who were a little more saucy in their approach. But, as is the case with all of the above, he recordings---whether RCA Nashville Sound or 80s’ Liberty Country Pop---speak for themselves.
WILBURN BROTHERS-----Brothers Doyle and Teddy has success with their records, their TV show, and built Sure-Fire music into one of the powerhouse publishing companies in town. Along the way, they helped countless future stars, including Loretta Lynn, Johnny Russell, and the Osborne Brothers.
HANK WILLIAMS, JR.----For close to five decades, he’s been a part of the Country Music landscape in so many ways. Yes, he’s brash, cocky, and very much outspoken about what he thinks. But his omission from the Hall is as ridiculous as his one-time duet partner, Ray Charles. Voters, the career speaks volumes for this one!
MAE BOREN AXTON-----She gave so many Nashville songwriters and performers a helping hand----from a Tupelo, MS cat named Elvis to current CMA Male Vocalist of the Year Blake Shelton. One of the more unsung heroes in the business.
JOE GALANTE----You could make a case for Fred Foster or Jimmy Bowen, I guess. But, stepping into some legendary shoes at RCA, Galante made the company bigger than ever. Yes, he had the talent, but with acts like The Judds, KT Oslin, Keith Whitley, and others, he also proved he had the ears. Country Music wouldn’t be the same without his guidance.
BUDDY KILLEN----From an industry standpoint, the fact that the man who co-owned and ran Nashville’s biggest publishing company of all time is not in the Hall aside Dolly, Bill Anderson, and Roger Miller---all people who are in the Hall is complete and utter B.S., and I don’t mean Blake Shelton. This has to get taken care of---soon.
SAM LOVULLO-----Most people don’t know the name. However, from 1969-1992, he was the producer of Hee Haw. Yes, that might have not been the most glamorous image for Country….Could you imagine Rascal Flatts in Kornfield Kounty? But, it was THE vehicle for exposure for Country artists during that time period. And, how many of today’s biggest stars cite the show as an early example of “Must See TV?”
DON RICH-----While I don’t think any band leader of a star has ever merited Hall induction, Donald Eugene Ulrich was no ordinary band leader. As a Buck Owens fan, Buck might have made it without Don…..but he wouldn’t have made it as far. His harmony and guitar playing WERE the Bakersfield sound, and though he wasn’t known as much as a fiddler than a guitarist-----there’s never been a fiddler in Country Music any better, and you can quote me on that!
I would love to hear your thoughts on this, as I know many have passionate feelings about this,,,,,Who would I induct this year, based on the Hall's usual criteria?
PRE-1950 Johnnie & Jack
PRE-1970 Hank Williams, Jr,
POST 1970 Reba McEntire
INDUSTRY Buddy Killen
Plus a special slot for Ray Charles......You've gotta have him in there!
