The best new country and classic country music in South Western Ontario.

Survivor's guilt is what happens when someone survives a traumatic event when others did not, like in combat, natural disasters, plane crashes, just to give a few examples.  When Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens were killed on this date in 1959 in a plane crash near Mason City, Iowa, Buddy's guitar player, Waylon Jennings (no, he wasn't part of The Crickets--Buddy and The Crickets had gone their separate ways by this time), suffered from survivor's guilt for the rest of his life.  The Bopper (real name:  J.P. Richardson) had come down with the flu and asked Waylon if he could take his seat on the plane rather than travel to the next gig in a rickety old bus.  Waylon agreed.  As they parted, Buddy joked, "Well, I hope your ol' bus freezes up."  Jennings, with no idea of what was going to happen, returned the joke, saying, "Well, I hope your ol' plane crashes."  Years later, Waylon included a picture of him, Buddy and Tommy Allsup (who had lost a coin toss to Valens for another seat on the plane) in a music book of one of his albums.  But Waylon had to live with that awful joke until the day he died.

Steel guitarist Tom Brumley died 3 years ago today in San Antonio at the age of 73.  He played with Buck Owens & The Buckaroos from 1963-69 and performed with such artists as Glen Campbell, Merle Haggard, Chris Isaak, Waylon Jennings, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Rick Nelson, Ray Price and Rod Stewart!

And happy 48th birthday to singer/songwriter Matraca Berg.  She married Jeff Hanna, of The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1993.  As a recording artist, Matraca had over half-a-dozen songs on the country charts in the 1990's.  Among the artists who've recorded her songs:  Deana Carter, Reba McEntire, Ray Price, T.G. Sheppard, Tanya Tucker and Trisha Yearwood.

Over the years, I've met, interviewed, and saw the Bellamy Brothers, Howard and David, in concert many times.  One time, the boys were to play at Lulu's Roadhouse in Kitchener, Ont., for two nights.  Back then, they travelled with two buses--one for the brothers and one for their band.  But on the way to the Kitchener gig, one of the buses broke down and they all had to ride in just one bus.  It was a rainy weekend before Mother's Day, so I proposed picking up the brothers at their hotel and taking them out for lunch--my treat for all they've done for me and to give them a change of scenery.  I did pick them up, we did go for lunch, I did buy and dropped them off at the local mall so they could get something for their mom for Mother's Day.  At the food court, we found the band had wandered over for lunch and to just get out of the hotel.  At the time, I was driving a red Camero and I have to hand it to Howard.  While I drove, David was in the front passenger seat and poor Howard was crammed in the backseat with very little leg room.  But he didn't complain once!  Happy birthday today to Howard Bellamy!

Legendary Canadians:  fiddle great Ned Landry, a big part of the Don Messer Show, turns 91 today.  And on this date in 1982, Flora Brown, the matriarch of The Family Brown, died in Ottawa at the age of 53.

Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper made what would be their last public appearances at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa.  Their plane would crash, killing them all, the next day.

It's happened a lot in country music:  a rock 'n' roll, rock or pop music star will try their hand at country music.  Some, like Waylon Jennings and Conway Twitty had been very successful and others (Del Shannon and Tom Jones) have not.  In the last half of the 1980's, the head of the Canadian rock group The Minglewood Band tried to cross over to country.  Matt Minglewood had about half-a-dozen country hits, with the Charlie Major written song, "Someday I'm Gonna Ride in a Cadillac," being his most successful, reaching the Top 10 of the Canadian country music charts.  And today, Matt turns 65!  When I worked in Kitchener, Ont., Matt was one of the stars of our series of concerts called "The Travellin' Road Show" and impressed everyone in attendance.

Two traditional country music pioneers passed away on this date, but in different years.  The legendary Doc Williams died last year in Wheeling, West Virginia at the age of 96 and Scotty Wiseman, of Lulu Belle & Scotty, died on this date in 1981 at the age of 72.  Lulu Belle & Scotty performed as "The Sweethearts of Country Music" for 25 years on the WLS Barn Dance.

Two years ago, Taylor Swift's album "Fearless" won the Grammy award for Album of the Year.  That win made it the first album in history to win the Academy of Country Music, the Country Music Association, the American Music Award and the Grammy awards for Album of the Year in the same awards season!

And on this date in 1968, Merle Haggard recorded "The Legend of Bonnie and Clyde" at the Capitol Recording Studio in Hollywood.  The Warren Beatty film inspired the song.

Congratulations to Shane Chisholm!  Last night, Shane became the first Male Artist of the Year at the first Alberta Country Music Awards.  Shane has visited us here at Country 107 3 a few times in the past, bringing with him his famous gas tank standup bass guitar.  He's been working on a new bass, this one shaped like the Stanley Cup.  Shane's current single, "No One Came," is the title song of his latest album (and that's his son on the cover), and is a great song.  Congrats to all the winners last night, including Tenille, a young star who was one of the finalists for Female Vocalist of the Year at the Canadian Country Music Awards in Hamilton, Ont., last Sept.  Other winners:  The Travelling Mabels for Group of the Year, and Fans' Choice went to Myrol!

Happy birthday today to singer/songwriter Patricia Conroy!  Born in Montreal, her first national chart hit came over 20 years ago (in the summer of 1990) with the song "A Thousand Trails."  Today, Patricia lives in Nashville and has become a much sought-after songwriter by other writers and artists!

Two women, both named Norma Jean celebrate birthdays today!  Norma Jean (real name:  Norma Jean Beasler), was born in 1938 and was a regular of Porter Wagoner's TV show in the early 1960's, and was also his duet partner before Dolly Parton.  And Norma Jean Bowman was born one year earlier.  Better known as Jeanne Pruett, her classic hit "Satin Sheets" was her only #1 song.

Singer/songwriter Tammy Cochran turns 40 today.  And pop singer/songwriter/actor Josh Kelley celebrates his 32nd birthday today.  Married to actress Katherine Heigl, he's the brother of Charles Kelley from Lady Antebellum.  Josh had his first country hit last year with "Georgia Clay."

And on this date in 1958, Merle Haggard was convicted of burlary and "escape without force."  He ended up serving two years and 5 months in San Quentin Prison.  Merle was on parole for two years and 3 months and was finally pardoned in 1972 by the Governor of California at the time...Ronald Reagan!