NASHVILLE, Tenn. – April 1, 2019 – Drummer and producer Richie Albright, who helped shape the unique musical style of Waylon Jennings, will share the story of his distinguished career in the next edition of Nashville Cats, the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum’s interview series with master musicians.
Set for 2 p.m. Saturday, April 13, 2019, in the museum’s Ford Theater, the program will feature an in-depth interview with Albright, illustrated with vintage photos, film and sound recordings from the museum’s rich collection. Albright will perform briefly with Waymore’s Outlaws, a band made up of members of Jennings’s last band, including Jerry Bridges, Fred Newell, Barny Robertson, Carter Robertson and Tommy Townsend. Waymore’s Outlaws will welcome special guest Gordon Payne, rhythm guitarist with Jennings for many years and contributor to some of his best known recordings. Following the program, Albright will sign commemorative Hatch Show Print posters available for purchase in the Museum Store.
Albright played drums for Jennings for nearly 30 years, becoming one of his closest confidants and, eventually, his producer. He joined Jennings as his drummer in Arizona in the early 1960s and moved to Nashville with him in 1966. In the early 1970s, he suggested Jennings adopt rock attitude and production values. Albright, whom Jennings referred to as his “right hand,” played on classic Jennings albums including Lonesome, On’ry and Mean, Honky Tonk Heroes and Dreaming My Dreams.
Albright also has worked with Johnny Cash, Jessi Colter, Willie Nelson, Johnny Rodriguez, Billy Joe Shaver, Tony Joe White and Hank Williams Jr. He tours these days with Waymore’s Outlaws, and his Ludwig Red Sparkle drum kit is on display in the museum’s exhibition Outlaws & Armadillos: Country’s Roaring ʼ70s.
Admission to Nashville Cats is included with museum admission and free to museum members. Seating is limited, and a program ticket is required for admittance. The program is presented in support of the museum’s current exhibition Outlaws & Armadillos: Country’s Roaring ʼ70s, and will be streamed live at CountryMusicHallofFame.org/streaming.
The Nashville Cats series features musicians whose work has had a significant impact on popular music. Recent subjects include Richard Bennett, Duane Eddy, Paul Franklin, Sonny Garrish, Mac Gayden, Steve Gibson, Jim Horn, Mac McAnally, Joey Miskulin, Mickey Raphael, Michael Rhodes, Billy Sanford, Pete Wade, Bill Walker, Bergen White and Andrea Zonn. Additional information about the Nashville Cats series and video of previous interviews can be found at CountryMusicHallofFame.org.
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Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Contact:
Zoe Chichelo 615-577-7749 zchichelo@CountryMusicHallofFame.org