Nov 22, 2003

Record executive Jack Emerson dies at his home in Nashville. He partnered with Steve Earle to form E-Squared Records

Feb 24, 2004

Stax co-founder Estelle Axton dies at Memphis' Saint Francis Hospital. The R&B label released William Bell's "You Don't Miss Your Water" and Otis Redding's "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay," both named among country's greatest singles in a Country Music Foundation book

Jun 8, 2004

Music publisher Bill Lowery dies of cancer at Atlanta's Haven House Hospice. The founder of the publishing company the Lowery Group, he had a hand in the careers of Bill Anderson, Joe South, Jerry Reed, Mac Davis, Razzy Bailey and others

Feb 3, 2005

Record executive and producer Frank Jones dies at his home in Nashville. In a career with numerous labels, he co-produced such artists as John Anderson, Marty Robbins, Johnny Cash, Jimmy Dean, Ray Price and Claude King

Jun 7, 2005

Simon "Si" Waronker, who founded Liberty Records in 1955, dies at his Beverly Hills home. The label gave Willie Nelson his first hit. The Liberty name was later reinstated for hits by Kenny Rogers, Dottie West, Tanya Tucker and Garth Brooks

Apr 23, 2006

Capricorn Records founder Phil Walden dies in his Atlanta home following a long bout with cancer. As a record executive and manager, he played a role in the careers of Charlie Daniels, Kenny Chesney, Otis Redding and The Allman Brothers Band

Jul 1, 2006

Former record executive Irving Green dies at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, California. He founded Mercury Records, a creative home for such acts as Patti Page, Kathy Mattea, Shania Twain, The Statler Brothers and Billy Ray Cyrus

Dec 14, 2006

In a coma for the previous six weeks, Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun dies in New York from a brain injury suffered at the Beacon Theatre. Ertegun wrote Mickey Gilley's 1977 country hit "Chains Of Love"

Jan 6, 2008

Record producer Ken Nelson dies at his home in Somis, California. A former Capitol Records exec, he produced key recordings by Merle Haggard, Sonny James, Buck Owens and Faron Young, earning membership in the Country Music Hall of Fame

Jan 8, 2008

Songwriter/producer Clyde Otis, best known for his work with R&B singer Brook Benton, dies at Englewood Hospital in New Jersey. He wrote the country hits "Endlessly," "Till I Can't Take It Anymore" and "It's Just A Matter Of Time"