Jul 7, 2001

Songwriter Fred Neil is found dead at his home in Summerland Key, Florida. He's best known for writing Nilsson's "Everybody's Talkin'," ranked in the Country Music Foundation's "Heartaches By The Number" among country's 500 greatest singles

Jul 27, 2001

Bass player Leon Wilkeson dies in his sleep at home in Jacksonville, Florida. He was a longtime member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, a Southern rock band that influenced many country performers and was the subject of the 1994 tribute album "Skynyrd Frynds"

Aug 5, 2001

Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney play the Mars Music Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach, Florida. Watching from the lawn: future country star Jake Owen

Oct 28, 2001

When Sawyer Brown plays Apopka, Florida, the town--celebrating its 120th anniversary--presents each band member a key to the city. Founders Mark Miller and Gregg Hubbard both grew up in Apopka

Nov 11, 2001

Sons Of The Desert perform the national anthem at the Pennzoil 400 at the Homestead Miami Speedway in Florida. Bill Elliott wins

Nov 13, 2001

Drummer David "Panama" Francis dies in Orlando. Skilled in jazz, pop and R&B, he played on recordings by Neil Sedaka, Dinah Washington and The Four Seasons, and also contributed to Bobby Darin's pop/country crossover "Splish Splash"

Nov 18, 2001

Chad Brock sings the national anthem when the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers square off against the Chicago Bears at Raymond James Stadium. The Bears come up with a win, 27-24

Nov 28, 2001

Songwriter Kal Mann dies with Alzheimer's disease at Pompano Beach, Florida. He authored Elvis Presley's "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear"

Mar 26, 2002

Three months after they called off a large wedding ceremony, Phil Vassar marries songwriter Julie Wood on a Florida beach. The couple co-wrote his 2001 hit "That's When I Love You"

May 2, 2002

Lonestar sings "I'm Already There" in a show that also features Clint Black, Celine Dion and Jeff Foxworthy on the U.S.S. Harry S. Truman in Fort Lauderdale. The concert is taped for a CBS special, "Rockin' For The USA"