2021 Keith Whitley Tribute Takes On a Good Cause
Since 1990, fans of country music legend Keith Whitley have marked the time near the singer’s July 1st birthday with the Keith Whitley Memorial Ride, which travels from the house that Keith and fellow singer Lorrie Morgan shared to Keith Whitley’s gravesite in Nashville. Also part of the event over the last few years has been a tribute show, this year taking place at The Nashville Palace on Friday, June 25th.
Organized by promoter and label owner Chris Keefe since 2013, this year’s event took on special significance as it also became a benefit for beloved Nashville musician Buddy Hyatt who is suffering from throat Cancer. Buddy has played piano and keyboard on countless country records over the last many years, and is also well-known as a former member of the band Toto.
Emceed by Keith Whitley’s son and performer Jesse Keith Whitley, this year’s event saw performances by Pam Tillis who got the crowd going with her song “Shake The Sugar Tree,” Paul Overstreet who wrote Whitley’s song “When You Say Nothing At All” with Don Schlitz, 80’s country star Deborah Allen who sang her hit “Baby I Lied” and also performed with the family band Rockland Road.
Jesse Keith Whitley also brought out a surprise guest in Warner Bros. Nashville recording artist Michael Ray, and the two sang a couple of Keith Whitley songs together.
Also performing on the night was Ken Mellons, John Berry, Caleb Daugherty, Wesley Dennis, Irlene Mandrell of the Mandrell Sisters, Timothy Baker, Lower Broadway performer Tom Buller, his son Bradley Buller, Cory Keefe, Dustin Keefe, Hayden Powell, Kevin Moon, Kevin Denny, Bryan Moffit, Jake Vanover from Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, and none other than Lee Greenwood, who sang “Please Come To Boston,” and of course, “God Bless the USA.”
Multiple artists who couldn’t attend also sent in videos that played during the presentation, including The Bellamy Brothers, Tanya Tucker, Lorrie Morgan, David Frizzell, and Johnny Lee.
Keith Whitley died on May 9th, 1989 due to alcohol poisoning. His life and tragic death was chronicled in Episode 5 of the Country History X Podcast.
– – – – – – – – – – –
Reporting and all below photos from Kevin Smith. More photos from the event can be found on Kevin’s Flickr.
June 27, 2021 @ 8:38 am
Timing is interesting as I am reading Lorrie Morgan’s book about her life with Keith.
Such a talented artist who was destoyed by the awful disease of alcoholism.
Great that the tribute continues and hopefully it conveys the importance of being careful in dealing with alcohol, Too many lives have been ruined by it.
June 27, 2021 @ 12:09 pm
Great line up. Tom Buller is working on a new album and his son who’s a teenager is very good singer in his own right.
June 27, 2021 @ 2:03 pm
Yessir! Bradley Buller definitely got the crowds attention singing Waylons Dreaming My Dreams. He has a startlingly great voice for a teenager. And to boot, Toms daughter also sang a Merle Haggard song for the event. Bullers were on parade and made their mark!
One thing I want to say having been there, is that there were assembled at this tribute, as fine a bunch of traditional singers and pickers as you will find anywhere, and please by all means check out Caleb, Wesley, Corey, Timothy, Bryan and Jake. All these dudes are real deal solid stone country and are worthy of your listening attention. Seriously, you will not be disappointed. As some point out on this site, real Country ain’t dead if you know where to look for it. Check out KDM records, Chris Keefes label.
June 27, 2021 @ 7:05 pm
Thank You So Much Kevin!
There are so many great, undiscovered or forgotten about “Real Country Music” singers out there and I’m honored to know and work with some of the best!
Chris Keefe
June 28, 2021 @ 10:55 am
Thank You so much Kevin. Very much appreciated.
June 27, 2021 @ 12:57 pm
Wesley Dennis looks like my uncle
June 27, 2021 @ 6:18 pm
I had the pleasure of being their that evening and It was an amazing line up of stellar performers who entertained the crowd all night long! All the artist’s paid tribute to Kieth Whitley and Bryan Hyatt. Also, the pictures of the artists who performed look great too!
January 4, 2022 @ 11:51 pm
Aye Fam.. i can only hope yall aint on????????????
RACIST/REDD NEKK type SHEEAAT??!!!!????????
Ozza gay BLACK FEMALE..bn durrnn ????????????
COUNTRY MUZIK snc early 1990zzz????⚘❤!!
MADD LUV4 KEITH♡LORRIE/FAITH♡TIM..&!
DIE HARD&4SHO…GARTH♡TRISHA ????❤⚘