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Acknowledgments This book began to take shape thanks to the kindness of Wade Jessen and Kyle Cantrell, both of whom shared time and information with me many years ago when I had nothing to offer them but questions about country music, radio, and Nashville. They offered me an overview of WSM’s remarkable story, encouraged me to dig deeper, and offered dozens of potential sources. Space doesn’t allow such specific reasons for my appreciation toward the rest of the people who put their faith in me and this project,but for support of one kind or another I offer my sincerest thanks to: Eddie Stubbs,Bud Wendell, Neil Craig, Debbie Craig, Margaret Ann Robinson, Elizabeth Proctor, Ward DeWitt, Sykes DeWitt, Cary Allyn, Ralph Emery, Charlie Lamb, Allen Reynolds ,PaulCorbin,PaulKingsbury,DonCusic,RonniePugh,RichardPeterson, Brenda Colladay,Pam Matthews,Robert K.Oermann,Ridley Wills II,D and MaryJaneKilpatrick,TomandBilliePerryman,LesandDotLeverett,Howard and Ruth White,Leroy Troy and family,Margaret Parker,Donia Craig Dickerson , Liz Ferrell, Jo Walker-Meador, Jud Collins, John Rumble, Watt Hairston, Harold Bradley,Frances Preston,Bill Berry,Mac Wiseman,John and Delores Seigenthaler, Ken Paulson, Jerry Strobel, Bill Cody, Gary and Peggy Walker, Chet Flippo, Robert Ikard, Liz Thiels, Jay Orr, Ellen Pryor, Jack Hurst, Clay Bradley, Connie Bradley, Jerry Bradley, Patsy Bradley, Bill Carey, Micki Estes, Carl Kornmeyer,Bill Denny,Beegie Adair,Cal Young,Beverly LeCroy,David Hall, Dick Frank Jr., Don Cook, Eddie Jones, Elmer Alley, George Reynolds Jr., Harrianne Condra, Joe Layne, John Hartford, Matt Combs, Larry Munxi i-xx_1-286_Havi.indd 11 7/17/07 10:27:31 AM son, Teddy Bart, Tom Adkinson, Dr. Reavis Mitchell, Dr. Paul Kwami, Mike Armistead, Marty Stuart, Dick Hill, William D. Jackson, Doug Seroff, Dave Black, James Foust, Michelle Hilmes, Peter Guralnick, Trudy Stamper, Walt Trott,KarenHicks,LizNorris,CarolineDavis,JerryBailey,BobTubert,Kevin Lamb, Jim Foglesong, Tandy Rice, Mary Ann McCready, Paul Wells, Bruce Nemerov, Beth Curley, Christina Melton, Bart Herbison, and Ed Salamon. Fellow scribes and editors who have offered knowledge and friendship and havehelpedthisprojectalongincludeTimGhianni,PeterCooper,LindaZettler, BillChoyke,BradSchmitt,JeanneNaujeck,BradSchrade,MichaelGray,Craig Shelburne, Alanna Nash, Steve Betts, Michael McCall, Bill Friskics-Warren, Barry Mazor,Lucas Hendrickson,Jack Silverman,and Jon Weisberger. Several key contributors passed away during the work on the book, and they are dearly missed: Dr. Charles K. Wolfe, Irving Waugh, Aaron Shelton, Buddy Killen, Marge Kirby, and Marjorie Cooney. For a careful reading of and invaluable feedback on the manuscript, I must thank my old friend and mentor Barry Yeoman and my father Clark Havighurst, who did his best to teach me how to write in the first place. I am forever grateful. I offer special thanks to the staff of the Nashville Room at the Nashville Public Library, where I was granted an invaluable writer’s room and where everybody let me take advantage of them in my search for the heart of Music City. And finally, very special thanks to Tamara Saviano, the über-believer. xii—acknowledgments i-xx_1-286_Havi.indd 12 7/17/07 10:27:31 AM ...

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