Billy Grammer Dies

Billy Grammer, 85, guitar player and longtime Grand Ole Opry member, died from natural causes in his home in Illinois Aug. 10, according to a statement.

Grammer began his career playing for Washington, D.C., disc jockey and promoter Connie B. Gay, then became a musician for acts like Hawkshaw Hawkins and Grandpa Jones, then worked as a sideman on Jimmy Dean’s television show.

He recorded “Gotta Travel On” in 1959 and its success led to his Opry membership the same year.