I was flattered when the Associated Press contacted me for comments about Anita Kerr. They were familiar with my 672-page book, "Jim Reeves: His Untold Story," and the reporter asked me a number of questions. The story ran worldwide via the AP containing my observations. I am glad I was able to point out that Anita didn't get a lot of the credit she deserved. Chet would come in the studio, sign the union time card so he'd be paid, and then go play golf and leave Anita to produce a lot of times. Here is the Associated Press story:

Since Anita left Nashville in 1965, I wondered if her leaving had anything to do with Jim's death. Based on what you said, it had to do with her frustrations with the Nashville recording industry. I know the Anita Kerr Singers were a very busy back-up group back then, so I always thought it odd that she would move out of Nashville while so busy. Anyway, I think the Anita Kerr Singers were the greatest back-up group in history and Anita herself was amazing.

Gary ..If you check on page 106 in the Anita Kerr book, you will find most of the reasons why she left Nashville. Larry is correct about her frustrations and not getting the credit she deserved for her work. That was part of it for sure.

I will give a "Readers Digest" version for the folks here on the Forum on what is in the book. By 1965, Anita states she wanted more than to be an arranger and background singer for just Country music. Her calling seemed to be centering with a connection she had with Henry Mancini. She was leaning toward, what she referred to as "This Orchestra Thing" and Mancini said that the only way to follow this quest was to move to California. So, in August 1965, she and her Swiss businessman husband Alex Grob and her two children arrived in Los Angeles. Also, at the same time she was dealing with songs she had written, but as long as she stayed in Nashville they would not be recorded. obviously, a bit of Politics here. Hope this helps Gary but so many other factors determined her decision to leave, it would seem.

To answer your other question, Will (Gill) Wright passed away on April, 2017 at the age of 87. Born July, 1929 in Nashville.

Gary, not sure what you mean by asking if Anita leaving Nashville in 1965 had anything to do with Jim 's death. Jim died in 1964, the year before, and I don't see the connection anyway between Anita leaving Nashville and Jim's plane accident. Could you explain what you mean?...

Thanks Roy. I didn't remember that from the Anita Kerr book. Strange that Anita couldn't get her songs recorded. One would think that being in her position, that would be easy.

Well, it crossed by mind that with Jim gone, one of the artists that Anita worked with so much, that maybe she thought that there would be less work for her group and it would be a good time to leave country music. Sometimes I forget that music is a business, first and foremost. Listening to records I tend to be caught up in the beauty and emotion of the songs and forget that money and self promotion are what really drive the industry. I don't think I would like the "music business" very much.

Gary. Your question about Anita not getting her songs recorded once she left, is a bit puzzling. This Quote from the Barry Pugh book may help...

Quote...."Contractually, she (Anita) was tied to RCA's Nashville Division, and the label not only wouldn't let her out of her contract, but wouldn't record her, unless she was in Nashville. lawyers eventually resolved the stalemate, leaving Anita free to record for whom she pleased,"

By then it was too late, because she was already living in Los Angeles. the songs she asked to be recorded were written in Los Angeles.

Roy, I meant that it should have been easy for Anita to get her songs recorded, provided they were good enough, since she was working in the music business in Nashville. Sorry if I didn't maake that clear. Being an arranger, musician and vocalist on so many Nashville records, I would have thought she would have an inside track to getting her songs recorded since she knew Chet and Owen Bradley so well.

I think there was a bit of revenge by Chet Atkins because Anita made no secret of the fact that she was dissatisfied not being given credit for some of the work she did, especially when Chet's name ended up on an LP cover as producer and sometimes having very little to do with the end result. There was also obviously sexism involved. Remember, it was very difficult for women to be successful in country music. They were treated very unfairly. I am glad Anita had the courage to break away and chart her own path.

How sad. And how stupid of Chet. Anita's contributions to country music were immense, imo. She should have gotten ALL of the credit she deserved. As should everyone. If Chet wanted to produce Jim's records, he should have done so instead of letting Anita do it and then taking the credit.