Sad Week for the Country Music Hall of Fame

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Back in 2016 the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame took a beating, losing six members in the first two months of the year. It seems the Country Music Hall of Fame is on pace to have an equally tragic year. The Hall of Fame has lost two members and had a tragedy in the family of a third. FRED FOSTER. You've probably never heard of Fred Foster, but I know you've heard of a song he co-wrote: "Me and Bobbie McGee." In addition to that, he was a longtime executive in music, co-founding Monument Records, producing records (including the biggest hits of Monument artist Roy Orbison), and helping discover talent. His three biggest signings would probably be Orbison, Dolly Parton, and Kris Kristofferson. He was inducted in 2016, and died February 21 of natural causes at the age of 87. MAC WISEMAN. They call him "the voice with a heart," and that he was. With his sweet mountain tenor he delighted bluegrass audiences for seven decades, beginning as a bass player with Molly O'Day and going on to stints with Flatt & Scruggs (he was the last surviving member of the original Flatt & Scruggs band) and Bill Monroe. He began recording on his own in 1951. His classics "'Tis Sweet to Be Remembered" and "Jimmy Brown the Newsboy" were favorites in country and bluegrass. Additionally, he was a businessman, helping found both the CMA and the IBMA. He was inducted into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame in 1993 and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2014. He was 93 and had been suffering from kidney failure. He died February 24. TODD MILSAP. Todd Milsap, the son of Country Music Hall of Fame member Ronnie Milsap, was found dead on his boat on February 23. No cause of death has been released as of yet. Todd Milsap was a major factor in planning his famous father's tours. He was just 49. What a sad week. Here's the late Mac Wiseman with that beautiful tenor of his: