This months vintage guitar news and views is a memorial to the man of many legends Mr. Billy Grammer.I have been blessed with the opportunity to talk with Billy and his wife Ruth countless times picking their brains for information on his wonderful guitars that I have been honored to have been associated with. Countless stories did I listen to from both of them, I was able to allow several museums to acquire some of his fine guitars for permanent display and even sold a few to his family members.I was given Billy's blessings and approval for utilizing his iconic headstock shape into Greg's Guitars logo.He will be missed by many. Listed below is some information on Billy and his guitars. Rest in peace. Billy Grammer.

 

Grammar, the eldest of 13 children (nine boys and four girls), was born in Benton, Illinois.^[1] His father was a musician; he played the violin and trumpet.^{[citation needed]}

Grammar served in the Army during World War II, and upon discharge worked as an apprentice toolmaker at the Washington Naval gun factory at Shop #20. Grammar married his high school girlfriend, Ruth Burzynski, in 1944. Shortly after the war ended, 18,000 of a 24,000-strong workforce were laid off, including Grammar. The couple returned to their home in Franklin County, Illinois. Signed by Monument Records in Nashville, Tennessee, he scored with "Gotta Travel On", written by Paul Clayton. The song peaked at No. 4 on the U.S. Pop Singles chart and peaked at number five on the country chart in 1959. That same year, he became a regular cast member on the Grand Ole Opry.^[2] Grammar named his band after his most notable hit as The Travel On Boys. "Gotta Travel On" was used as the opening song by Buddy Holly on his final tour in January and February 1959, which ended in tragedy.^[3]

Grammar recorded the first chart version of Mel Tillis' "Detroit City", entitled "I Wanna Go Home". It hit the Billboard country chart in early 1963.

Grammar founded RG&G (Reid, Grammar & Gower) Company in 1965 with Clyde Reid and J.W. Gower.^{[citation needed]} RG&G made the Grammar guitar from 1965 until 1968, when a fire consumed the factory in downtown Nashville. The company was then sold to Ampeg, and a new factory was erected down the street from the old one. The company was renamed Grammar Guitar, Inc. (GGI). GGI produced the Grammar guitar until 1970. His guitar was installed into the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville on March 1, 1969.^[1]

On May 15, 1972, Grammar and the Travel On Boys played at the rally in Laurel, Maryland where Alabama governor George Wallace was shot. Grammar and his band played the "Under the Double Eagle" march as Wallace mounted the stage to speak. After he spoke, Wallace mingled with the crowd, and Arthur Bremer shot a concealed handgun at the presidential candidate. The outcome was Wallace's paralysis, leaving him using a wheelchair for the rest of his life.^[4] "I've said all along, if they wanted to do something like this, they do it under these circumstances," Grammar said, weeping, after the incident.^[4]

Grammar also delivered the invocation for the Grand Ole Opry House opening on March 16, 1974.^[5]

In 1990, Grammar was inducted into the Illinois Country Music Hall of Fame, along with Tex Williams, Lulu Belle and Scotty, and Patsy Montana. Grammar suffers from a degenerative eye disease called retinitis pigmentosa.^[6] He became completely blind.^[6] On February 27, 2009, he was honored by the Grand Ole Opry for his 50 years as a member.^[6]

Grammar died on August 10, 2011, at 12:20 a.m. He was in Benton Hospital being treated for a long-term illness, which included suffering a heart attack in January. He was eighteen days short of his 86th birthday.

^{Videos that Billy Grammer has Posted on Youtube}