Country Music’s Greatest Tragedy ~ Copas, Cline, Hawkins

Patsy Cline, Cowboy Copas, Hawkshaw Hawkins and Randy Hughes all parished in the same plane crash on 3/5/1963 near Camden, Tennessee. Hughes was Cline’s manager and pilot of the plane. Jack Anglin was killed in an auto accident while enroute to Patsy Cline’s memorial service. Cowboy Copas Could it be that Cowboy Copas is only remembered as a victim of the fatal plane crash that also took the lives of Patsy Cline and Hawkshaw Hawkins? That would be a bigger tragedy then the accident itself. Once intensely popular, Copas’ career waned in the late 50’s. However, at the time of his death, he was riding the crest of a revived career, generated by his astounding hit; Alabam. The 3rd biggest song in country music in 1960, Alabam topped the No. 1 spot for twelve weeks. A versatile singer, Copas cut everything from sacred tunes, Christmas carols and novelties to blues and traditional country. He began singing professionally on the Boone County Jamboree, which aired over WLW in Cincinnati during the early 40’s. In 1944, Copas signed a recording contract with King Records. He had his first Billboard chart single two years later. By 1952, his chart activity had died out. Eight years later, Copas signed a recording deal with Starday Records and then came the massive hit, Alabam. Patsy Cline One of the biggest tragedies to strike the country music world, happened on March 5, 1963, when Patsy Cline, Cowboy Copas and Hawkshaw Hawkins died in a plane crash near Camden, Tennessee. Cline, a …