Artists Killed in Accidents or Who Commited Suicide

Billy Walker (1/14/1929 -- 5/21/2006)From his West Texas home of Ralls this country crooner went on to become one of Country music's most successful recording stars during the 1960s. He had moderate success in the 1950's but his career took off when he joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1960 and in 1962 recorded his first number one hit "Charlie's Shoes. On May 21, 2006, Walker died when the van he was driving back to Nashville after a performance in Foley, Alabama veered off Interstate 65 in Fort Deposit and overturned. His wife Bettie; bassist Charles Lilly Jr., son of Everett Lilly of Bluegrass Hall of Fame inductees The Lilly Brothers; and guitarist Daniel Patton were also killed in the crash. Walker was interred in Spring Hill Cemetery in Nashville.

Cowboy Copas (1913-1963) A popular honky-tonk singer of the fifties, Copas made a stunning comeback in 1960 after an eight year gap in his chart activity. He achieved national fame when he replaced Eddy Arnold as a vocalist in Pee Wee King's Golden West Cowboys band (1943). Copas had the third biggest song in country music in 1960, when he dominated the airwaves that year with his No. 1 single, Alabam. Cowboy died at age 50.

Don Rich (1941-1974) Don Rich helped develop theBakersfieldsound in the early 1960s. Rich was Buck Owens' lead guitarist, harmonizer and fiddle player and leader of Owens' back-up band the Buckaroos. On July 17, 1974, after an evening in the studio, Don rode his motorcycle towardMorro Bay,California, where he planned to join his wife and their two sons on a fishing trip. Somewhere nearSan Luis Obispohe crashed his motorcycle and died at age 32.

Dottie West (1932-1991) Country Singer Dottie West was one of the most gifted and talented pioneers of modern country music. West was one of a few female country singers, performing in a genre which was then dominated by male singers.  On August 30, 1991, Dottie was scheduled to perform at the Grand Ole Opry. Shortly after leaving herNashvilleapartment, her car stalled near her home. Her elderly neighbor spotted her on the side of the road and offered to drive her to the Opry. He lost control of his vehicle while exiting near the Opry at an excessive speed. The car left the ramp, vaulted in the air and hit the central division. West later died on the operating table at age 59.

Hawkshaw Hawkins (1923-1963) On March 2, 1963, Lonesome 7-7303 was released and it quickly soared to the top of Billboard's country charts. Grand Ole Opry star, Hawkshaw Hawkins posthumously attained his long sought after No. 1 song. He should be recognized for his pure natural talent, instead of a passenger on an ill-fated plane crash that took the life of Patsy Cline and Cowboy Copas. Hawkins died at age 40.

Jack Anglin (1916-1963) Jack was a country music singer best known as a member of The Anglin Brothers and later Johnnie & Jack with Johnnie Wright. Driving alone to attend a memorial service for Patsy Cline not far from his home, he rounded a bend in Madison, Tennessee at a high speed and died in the ensuing crash at age 46. 

Jim Reeves (1923-1964) Between 1953 and 1964, Reeves placed 46 songs on the Billboard charts. More impressively, his widow, Mary, worked with RCA Records to keep his music alive and he racked up 33 posthumous hits, including the No. 1 songs Distant Drums and Blue Side of Lonesome. The crooner of He'll Have to Go was piloting his own plane when crashed outside Nashville and he died at age 40. Jim was inducted into the Country Music Hall of fame in 1967.

Johnny Horton (1925-1960) Of all the singers who broadened the country music landscape in the '50s, Horton is probably the least known. Johnny, who made his name as a honky-tonk singer with strong rockabilly tendencies, skyrocketed to fame in 1959, with his recording of The Battle of New Orleans. Johnny died in a car crash nearCameron,Texasat age 36.

Patsy Cline (1932-1963): Patsy Cline only had 9 songs on the Billboard country charts before her death in a plane crash at age 30. Like Jim Reeves, Cline's music lived on with several chart entries after her death, including Sweet Dreams and Always. Patsy was inducted into the Country Music Hall of fame in 1973.

Country Music’s Single Biggest Tragedy

Patsy Cline, Cowboy Copas, Hawkshaw Hawkins and Randy Hughes all parished in the same plane crash on 3/5/1963 near Camden, Tennessee. Hughes was Cline's manager and pilot of the plane. Jack Anglin was killed in an auto accident while enroute to Patsy Cline's memorial service.

Cowboy Copas: Could it be that Cowboy Copas is only remembered as a victim of the fatal plane crash that also took the lives of Patsy Cline and Hawkshaw Hawkins? That would be a bigger tragedy then the accident itself. Once intensely popular, Copas' career waned in the late 50's. However, at the time of his death, he was riding the crest of a revived career, generated by his astounding hit; Alabam. The 3rd biggest song in country music in 1960, Alabam topped the No. 1 spot for twelve weeks.

A versatile singer, Copas cut everything from sacred tunes, Christmas carols and novelties to blues and traditional country. He began singing professionally on the Boone County Jamboree, which aired over WLW in Cincinnati during the early 40's. In 1944, Copas signed a recording contract with King Records. He had his first Billboard chart single two years later. By 1952, his chart activity had died out. Eight years later, Copas signed a recording deal with Starday Records and then came the massive hit, Alabam.

Patsy Cline: One of the biggest tragedies to strike the country music world, happened on March 5, 1963, when Patsy Cline, Cowboy Copas and Hawkshaw Hawkins died in a plane crash near Camden, Tennessee. Cline, a relative newcomer, was riding the crest of an exceptional year, one year previous. To that point, she had scored her biggest chart hit, She's Got You and was gaining huge popularity across most sectors of the music industry..

Although her death left an enormous void in country music, her popularity lingered for years. Today, Patsy's music continues to sell at a very steady pace. Through 1995, sales of Cline's 12 Greatest Hits album, exceeded the 6 million mark. In 1973 Patsy was elected posthumously to the Country Music Hall of Fame, the first female artist to receive that honor.

Hawkshaw Hawkins: On March 2, 1963, Lonesome 7-7203 enter the Billboard country charts -- three days later, Hawkshaw Hawkins was dead. He went down in a deadly plane crash that also took the lives of Patsy Cline, Cowboy Copas and Randy Hughes. Ironically, Hawk's career was on the upswing. However, he was still in the hunt for a No. 1 song that eluded him throughout his career.

On March 2, 1963, Lonesome 7-7303 charted and quickly soared to the to the top of the charts. Hawkshaw Hawkins finally attained his long sought after No. 1 hit. Things were clearly looking up for Hawkins. No one knows what might have transpired if the crash hadn't happened. Maybe someday he will be recognized for his pure natural talent and his impact on country music, instead of a passenger on an ill-fated plane crash that took the life of Patsy Cline.

Singers, Songwriters & Musicians Who Committed Suicide

Gary Stewart: (5/28/1944 ~ 12/16/2003): On December 16, his daughter's boyfriend and Stewart's very close friend went to Gary's home to check on his welfare. They found Stewart dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the neck.

Jimmie Osborne (4/8/1923 ~ 12/26/1957): Country singer Jimmie Osborne died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. In the midst of Osborne's life, there was a mystery that no one knew what led him to taking his own life.

Mel Street (10/21/1933 - 10/21/1978): Street took his own life with a gunshot to the head. His single, "Just Hangin' On," entered the country charts the very day he died. Its title turned out to be sadly prophetic.

Steve Sanders (9/17/1952~ 6/10/1998): Personal problems ultimately led to Steve's departure from the Oak Ridge Boys in late-1995. Steve gave no indication why he locked himself in the bathroom of his home and killed himself with a single gunshot wound to the head.

Tagg Lambert

(Jan. 29, 1943 ~ June 9, 1981)

Eugene "Tagg" Lambert was born in Eckman, West Virginia.  Around 1956, he moved to Roswell, New Mexico and launched his musical career at Scotty's Nightclub. Lambert got the name Tagg from Bob Wills when he hired on as the youngest member of the band at age seventeen, because Bob already had two Genes; Gene Gassaway and Gene Crownover.

Bob told Tag that he didn't want confusion on the bandstand!  Lambert worked with the band playing electric guitar. Tagg was also a backing vocalist. He cutting twenty-eight records with Wills before illness forced Bob to retire. One of the singles, Born to Love You, sold a half-million copies.

After Bob died, Tagg continued to work as a musician in the Roswell area and appeared on several television talk shows. Lambert hosted the Bob Wills reunion in Turkey, Texas in April 1981, about two months prior to his death. 

Tagg died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. His talent as a swing guitarist was widely recognized among professionals and his full, rich voice placed him among the best vocalists Bob Wills ever had

Faron Young (2/25/1932 ~ 12/10/1996): Faron became depressed over health problems, his career slump, and a divorce from his wife of 40 years. Faron shot himself in the head with a .38 caliber handgun and was found unconscious on a bed in his home by a former band member, Ray Emmett and died one day later.

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Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder which includes depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism and drug abuse. Financial difficulties, troubles with relationships and other undesirable situations play a significant role. Over one million people commit suicide every year. The World Health Organization estimates that it is the thirteenth-leading cause of death worldwide. It is a leading cause of death among teenagers and adults under 35.

Whenever we hear news about individuals committing suicide, we immediately come up with a conclusion that these people are depressed, dissatisfied and unhappy with their lives. For a bullied student or a lonely husband left by his wife, we assume that their lives have become unbearable that the only way to escape it is by dying. However, when popular and rich people commit suicide, we are left in confusion. Why would someone who is loved and idolized by many decide to commit suicide?

People in the entertainment limelight, like other celebrities, are seldom as good or evil as they are portrayed by friends and enemies. But at the end of the day they are all people, with the same frailties, weaknesses, hopes, fears, loves and losses that we all experience. Success in any endeavor comes with a cost. Those in the spotlight deal with added benefits and added detriments that come with their fame. Mistakes and successes are both amplified beyond any expectation from the outset.

Depression may be the main culprit, but there are a lot of things to consider as well. These include overwhelming pain, medical problems, grief and stress. Some use it as an escape for their failure and shortcomings and financial loss. Between men and women, it is often men who die from suicide, while women who have the most number of suicide attempts made. Although elderly men are the ones who have the highest rate in committing suicide, attempts by young adults have increased recently. The methods used to commit suicide differ for both genders as well. For men, it is much more common to use knives, guns, and even hanging. On the other hand, women are known to use subtle methods like ingesting poison or overdosing on sleeping pills and other medication.

Every situation is different. One cannot jump to conclusions why someone took their own life. How can we know or understand their motivation? How can we judge people who are suffering or the dilemma they are facing? How can we judge their quality of life? This isn't simple or black and white. It's highly complex and difficult to understand. When I was twenty-four, I had a loving beautiful wife, a 3-year old healthy son and a great job, yet I had thoughts of suicide and I don't know why. Sometimes the act of suicide happens on an impulse, such as a teenager with a broken heart after being dumped by his girlfriend. However, that can be overcome by someone who otherwise is healthy and happy. In general, suicide is so mysterious. It often evolves from a very dark place in one's soul where one has no hope, no love, no desire, no purpose and no spiritual connection, but that's part of a treatable illness known as depression. To leave the world in this manner seems so pointless, so in denial of the gift of life that it shocks one's senses. 

Written by: Richard Bell, Country Music Historian - Nashville, Tennessee, USA. July 2009.

Wynn Stewart ~One Way to Go