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From: Buddy McPeters
Date: September 25, 2003
Just thought I would alert everyone in case you haven't heard there were three Western Swing related deaths this past week. Western Swing guitarist Jimmie Rivers, whose main claim to fame is the 'Brisbane Bop' album which featured recordings made during the early 60's with Vance Terry on steel from the '23 Club' in Brisbane, CA passed away the 29th after a long illness. His son Jimmie Rivers Jr. plays drums with Truitt Cunningham and the San Antonio Rose Band in Sacramento.
Buddy Ray who played great fiddle passed away this past Wednesday in Texas. He was 83. He played with a number of great bands including Modern Mountaineers, The Texas Wanderers, The Village Boys, Bob Wills, T Texas Tyler, Jimmy Wakley, Merl Lindsay and many others. He was one of the last of a generation of fine jazz fiddlers.
Western Swing researcher and Country Music historian and discographer Bob Pinson died the 4th after a long bout with leukemia. Pinson has long been THE discographer on the subject of Bob Wills. He worked at the Country Music Foundation Library and Media Center at the Hall of Fame for many years and donated untold 1000's of recordings and written and photographic materials. In many cases he was soley responsible for some of the exhibits at the Hall of Fame, including the nice Bob Wills display. He was their chief librarian up until 2 years ago when the Gaylord Entertainment conglomerate who owns the CMF fired everyone there including Ronnie Pugh, who was Bob's right hand man. Pinson resigned after the firings. Bob will always be remembered for his pioneering efforts among us Bob Wills fans for his work. I will always remember his generosity both in sharing research information as well as archived music from various sources.