IN MEMORIAM: DONNY CATRON
OF THE TENNESSEE GENTLEMEN
NEW PHOTOS ADDED 2/24/16
January 16, 1956 - February 22, 2016
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L to R: Richard Bailey, Steve Gregory,
Troy Castleberry, Donny Catron
The Tennessee Gentlemen
Cover Story Bluegrass Unlimited, October 1981
by Betty Westmoreland
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The Tennessee Gentlemen, Memphis, TN, have lost another member of their bluegrass family. Word has come that Donny Catron passed away in Arkansas at the age of 60. Catron had been in ill health for several years, but his smile never waned and he was always ready to sing. The multi-SPBGMA award-winner and lead singer for the Gents for some 30+ years was known far and wide as the highest high lead in the business...and one of the best entertainers to hit the bluegrass festival circuit. While his voice may be stilled here on Earth, no doubt he is singing in that Angel Band with his pal and band leader Troy Castleberry and others who've already gone on to glory. The band closed many a show at their Tennessee Gentlemen Bluegrass Shack with Donny leading the familiar song, "Will the Circle Be Unbroken?" Those who are familiar with the band and the Shack can hear him singing that song right now. When it came to lead and tenor singing, no doubt that Donny Catron was "da man!" We shall miss you, Donny!
*SPECIAL NOTE: KASU 91.9 FM or http://www.kasu.org featured Donny and the Tennessee Gentlemen on Down Home Harmonies in a memorial tribute from a show in 2009. We hope you caught this special programming on radio or on the Web on Sunday (2/28/16) from Noon to 12:35 PM CST. Then again, at 2:45 PM CST, KASU Program Director Marty Scarbrough closed out Down Home Harmonies with the Tennessee Gentlemen. Following the earlier portion at 12:35, Donna Ulisse and The Poor Mountain Boys' show from Monday, February 22, 2016, was broadcast. If you missed their 'live show or just wanted to hear it again, that was your chance!
We will take you down "The River of Memories" quickly here. Enjoy the trip!
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L to R: Richard Bailey, Troy Castleberry, Donny Catron, Steve Gregory
at the Bluegrass Shack
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Cake for Celebration of Second Anniversary
of the Tennessee Gentlemen Bluegrass Shack,
Lucy, TN
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At the Shack: Troy Castleberry, Richard Bailey, Donny Catron
Donny Catron 'played' the gold toilet plunger (at rear) as he
imitated Louis Armstrong's trumpet in "Won't You
Come Home, Bill Bailey?"
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The Tennessee Gentlemen Bluegrass Shack
Pleasant Ridge Road, Lucy, TN
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Is that Dolly or Donny singing Dolly's
classic "Coat of Many Colors"?
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Troy Castleberry and Donny Catron share the stage
with their friend Gary Johnson, who knew every
bluegrass song that ever was
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SPBGMA Award Winners at The Lodge of the Four Seasons
Lake Ozark, MO
Richard Bailey, Ronnie Owen, Donny Catron, Troy Castleberry
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Troy Castleberry, Donny Catron, and Steve Gregory
at a bluegrass festival
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Troy Castleberry, Donny Catron, and Steve Gregory
at SPBGMA Awards, Lodge of the Four Seasons
Lake Ozark, MO
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L to R: Richard Bailey, Troy Castleberry, Donny Catron, Steve Gregory
at benefit fundraiser for WKNO in Memphis, TN
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Tennessee Gentlemen at Barton Coliseum
Little Rock, AR
L to R: Richard Bailey, Troy Castleberry,
Donny Catron, Ron Owen
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Richard Bailey at a Festival
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Carolyn Castleberry at Popcorn Machine
Tennessee Gentlemen
Bluegrass Shack, Lucy, TN
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Donny Catron at Turkey Track Festival
Waldron, AR
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Back side of the Tennessee Gentlemen
Bluegrass Shack, Lucy, TN
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Richard Bailey at Turkey Track
Waldron, AR
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Troy Castleberry, Charlie Derrington,
Donny Catron, Ron Owen at the Bluegrass Shack
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Donny Catron at SPBGMA Awards
Lodge of the Four Seasons
Lake Ozark, MO
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Troy Castleberry at SPBGMA Awards
Lodge of the Four Seasons
Lake Ozark, MO
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Ron Owen at SPBGMA Awards
Lodge of the Four Seasons
Lake Ozark, MO
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Front L to R: Ron Owen, Richard Bailey,
Troy Castleberry
At Rear in Center, Donny Catron
SPBGMA Awards, Lake Ozark, MO
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Richard Bailey at Tennessee Gentlemen
Gig in Downtown Memphis, TN
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Marquee for KIX 106 Show at the New Daisy Theater
featuring the Tennessee Gentlemen
and the River Bluff Clan
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SPBGMA Awards Show
L to R: Richard Bailey, Troy Castleberry,
Wayne Southards, Stuart Brownlee
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Troy Castleberry at Southaven, MS,
Bluegrass Festival
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Mike Swanner at Southaven, MS,
Bluegrass Festival
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L to R: Mike Swanner, Troy Castleberry,
Wayne Southards, Stuart Brownlee at
the Tennessee Gentlemen Bluegrass Shack
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Troy Castleberry at the Bluegrass Shack
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L to R: Richard Bailey, Troy Castleberry, Carolyn Castleberry,
Wayne Southards, Janet Southards (behind Wayne) Jan Brownlee,
Stuart Brownlee at the Bluegrass Shack
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Troy Castleberry at the Bluegrass Shack
A favorite hat and a cigarette
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Carolyn Castleberry in the kitchen at the
Tennessee Gentlemen Bluegrass Shack
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Album "Just Us"
L to R: Donny Catron, Richard Bailey, Steve Gregory,
Troy Castleberry
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Album "Sunday Morning"
Gospel Bluegrass by the
Tennessee Gentlemen
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Album "Here We Go Again"
L to R: Stuart Brownlee, Donny Catron, Troy Castleberry,
Richard Bailey
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Album "Heading West"
Front: Troy Castleberry
Standing: Wayne Southards, Richard Bailey
Stuart Brownlee
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Thank you so much for sharing these memories. We lived in Millington from 1985-1989, and my mom used to take me to the bluegrass shack often. I loved it. I would sit in the front row all the way in the front corner and rest my feet on the stage, singing every song. What a wonderful time it was. I still have several of their albums, and listen to them often.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your nice reply about the Tennessee Gentlemen. Just now found it. I'm so glad you were a part of the crowd that admired the best bluegrass band to ever come out of West Tennessee. It was my pleasure to promote the Gents, sell their merchandise, and write articles about their incredible band. They were, as Troy Castleberry would say, "Mighty fine!" Troy and Carolyn are now at rest in Memorial Park in Memphis, and Donny Catron is buried near Mountain Home, AR. May Troy, Carolyn, and Donny rest in peace.
DeleteLOVED those nights at the Bluegrass Shack!! Great music! Fun times! Special memories!!
ReplyDeleteI remember helping to re-roof the Shack with a patchwork of donated shingle squares one Saturday with a bunch of volunteers.
Such a special place and time!
Those were the best of times!! Troy Castleberry was my dad and he enjoyed playing bluegrass so much! I'd give anything to go back to those times again!
DeleteHey Quinn, so nice of you to drop by with your comment. The Shack always needed a roof, it seems, and there were always folks like you and family and friends of the band to help out. I miss those golden days, too! We have our albums, tapes, and photos, I suppose.
DeleteHey Rusty, you were right there when the Shack and a lot of festivals were going all over the South and Southwest. Your dad Troy did love bluegrass and the mandolin. Nobody could pick like he picked. Come out to Collierville some Friday night and jam with the Town Square regulars! We all would love that! Glad you found this little tribute blog about my favorite subject, the Tennessee Gentlemen. I never yet have heard anything better. Contact me and let's chat, email, or text. Pick away!
DeleteThanks, y'all, for signing in to chat. We've even heard from former Gent, Steve Gregory! We also hear from Wayne Southards, Rick Hargis, Richard Bailey, Richard's sister Melinda Bailey Buchanan, Ron Owen and Stuart Brownlee, from time to time. It's great to hear from everyone! Be well and...pick away!
DeleteI hear so many great things about my grandad Donny. He's a legend to me. I remember he'd always know how to make you smile. Maybe I should come by and play a few songs with you all.
ReplyDelete