March 06, 2012
Garth & Connie to Hall of Fame
The Country Music Association on Tuesday named three stars for induction into its Hall of Fame including superstar Garth Brooks and veterans Connie Smith and Hargus "Pig" Robbins.
Brooks, who has sold more than 128 million albums worldwide in his career, became a superstar of the 1990s with albums such as "Ropin' the Wind" and "No Fences" and was heralded for his live stage acts. He took a break from heavy touring in the early 2000s, but in recent years has been performing more often.
At Tuesday's announcement in the Nashville-based Hall of Fame, Brooks said it was an honor to be named but added it seemed premature with others such as Randy Travis, Keith Whitley and Ricky Skaggs still not inducted.
Piano player Hargus "Pig" Robbins was announced in a category for recording and touring musicians. He was among the most sought-after music artists in Nashville for what became known as the "Nashville sound" of the late 1950s and 1960s.
Robbins, 74, also was part of an elite group of studio session musicians known as the Superpickers. He played with hundreds of artists including Haggard, Jones and Reba McEntire.
Connie Smith, 70, was selected in the Veterans Era artist category. She rose to fame in the 1960s and saw her debut single, 1964's "Once a Day," claim the No. 1 spot on Billboard magazine's record chart. It was the first time a female country singer reached No. 1 -- a feat that went unmatched for 20 years.
In the late 1990s, she married singer Marty Stuart and by the 2000s had returned to singing and recording again.
The induction of Brooks, Robbins and Smith will take place later this year at the Hall of Fame's Ford Theater in Nashville.
Brooks, who has sold more than 128 million albums worldwide in his career, became a superstar of the 1990s with albums such as "Ropin' the Wind" and "No Fences" and was heralded for his live stage acts. He took a break from heavy touring in the early 2000s, but in recent years has been performing more often.
At Tuesday's announcement in the Nashville-based Hall of Fame, Brooks said it was an honor to be named but added it seemed premature with others such as Randy Travis, Keith Whitley and Ricky Skaggs still not inducted.
Piano player Hargus "Pig" Robbins was announced in a category for recording and touring musicians. He was among the most sought-after music artists in Nashville for what became known as the "Nashville sound" of the late 1950s and 1960s.
Robbins, 74, also was part of an elite group of studio session musicians known as the Superpickers. He played with hundreds of artists including Haggard, Jones and Reba McEntire.
Connie Smith, 70, was selected in the Veterans Era artist category. She rose to fame in the 1960s and saw her debut single, 1964's "Once a Day," claim the No. 1 spot on Billboard magazine's record chart. It was the first time a female country singer reached No. 1 -- a feat that went unmatched for 20 years.
In the late 1990s, she married singer Marty Stuart and by the 2000s had returned to singing and recording again.
The induction of Brooks, Robbins and Smith will take place later this year at the Hall of Fame's Ford Theater in Nashville.
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