Ray Charles and Judd joined the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday in a ceremony filled with tears, music and laughter, just a day after Naomi Judd died unexpectedly.
The loss of Naomi Judd changed the usual holiday ceremony, but the music continued as singers and musicians of the genre mourned Naomi Judd, while celebrating the four nominees: Judd, Ray Charles, Eddie Byers and Pete Drake. Garth Brooks, Trisha Yerwood, Vince Gill and many others performed their hit songs.
Naomi and Winona Judd were among the most popular duos of the 1980s, scoring 14 hits № 1 in their nearly 30-year career. On the eve of her inauguration, the family said in a statement to the Associated Press that Naomi Judd had died at the age of 76 due to “mental illness”.
Daughters Winona and Ashley Judd accepted the induction amid tears, clinging to each other and reciting a verse from the Bible together.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t stand it until today,” Ashley Judd told her mother in the crowd as she cried. Winona Judd talks about the family reunion as they said goodbye to her, and she and Ashley Judd recited Psalm 23.
“Even though my heart is broken, I will continue to sing,” said Winona Judd.
Naomi Judd, left, and Winona Judd, of The Judds, perform on “Girls’ Night Out: Superstar Women of Country” in Las Vegas, April 4, 2011. Julie Jacobson / AP
Fans gathered in front of the museum, attracted by a white floral bouquet in front of the entrance and a small picture framed by Naomi Judd below. A single rose was laid on the ground.
The introduction of Charles demonstrated his country editions that opposed the genre, which showed the commercial appeal of the genre. The Georgia-born singer and pianist grew up listening to Grand Ole Opry and in 1962 released “Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music”, which became one of the best-selling country releases of his era.
The pianist, blinded and orphaned at a young age, is best known for R&B, gospel and soul, but his decision to record country music changed the way the world thought about the genre, expanding its audience in the civil rights era.
Charles’ version of “I Can’t Stop Loving You” spent five weeks at the top of the Billboard 100 and remains one of his most popular songs. He died in 2004.
Brooks sang “Seven Spanish Angels,” one of Charles’ hits with Willie Nelson, while Betty Lavette performed “I Can’t Stop Loving You.”
Country Music Hall of Fame Ronnie Milsap said he met Charles when he was a young singer and that others have tried to imitate Charles, but no one can measure up.
“There was one of them and only one,” Milsap said. – He sang country music as it should be sung.
The Hall of Fame also introduced two musicians from recordings that were elemental to so many country songs and singers: Eddie Byers and Pete Drake.
Byers, a drummer in Nashville for decades who has worked on 300 platinum records, is a member of the Grand Ole Opry. He regularly records for The Judds, Ricky Skaggs, George Strait, Alan Jackson and Kenny Chesney. He was the first drummer to join the institution.
Drake, who died in 1988, was a pedal steel guitarist and a member of Nashville’s team of experienced session musicians, playing hits such as “Stand By Your Man” by Tammy Wynette and “He Stop Stop Loving Her Today” by George Jones. . He was the first pedal guitarist to become part of the Hall of Fame.
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