R.I.P. Skeeter Davis.

[NightTrain]

Opry Member Skeeter Davis Dies at 72

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Skeeter Davis, who hit the top of the pop charts with "The End of the World" in 1963 and sang on the Grand Ole Opry radio show for more than 40 years, died Sunday of cancer. She was 72.
Davis died at a Nashville hospice, said Grand Ole Opry publicist Jessie Schmidt. Davis had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 1988 and had a recurrence in 1996.

Davis, nicknamed Skeeter by her grandfather who said she was so active she buzzed around like a mosquito, had toured with Elvis Presley and the Rolling Stones.

She became a regular on the Opry, a live radio show, in 1959, and continued to perform as late as this year.

In 1973, she was suspended from the Opry for more than a year for protesting the arrest of "Jesus freaks" in Nashville.

"I felt like a child without a home," she said after her reinstatement.

Besides "The End of the World," her hits included "I'm Saving My Love" and "I Can't Stay Mad at You."

A native of Dry Ridge, Ky., Davis was born Mary Frances Penick. She took the name Skeeter Davis in the 1950s when she became half of the Davis Sisters duet.

She began a solo career after her duet partner, Betty Jack Davis, was killed in a 1953 car wreck. Skeeter Davis was critically injured in the same accident.

Her autobiography, "Bus Fare to Kentucky," was published in 1993.


Copyright 2004 Associated Press.

[Poisonskin_com]

1. damn

I really love that end of the world song.

Had never heard it before the fake 9-11 radio ban.

[blueknight]

2. i knew skeeter very well

she passed this morning at about 5:30 am. she had been fighting cancer for quite a while. the last time i seen her she was in good spirits. she loved her fans and took the time to always talk with them and appreciate them. i already miss her. RIP skeeter

[miss_kitty]

3. i have a friend in london who used to hang out with her

when she was in town. Mary said she was lovely.
my condolences to you on the loss of a good friend.

[blueknight]

4. she was just so kind...

she never met a stranger. even though she never had any children of her own, she just loved kids. she had a lot of neices and nephews that brought her so much joy. she performed at the grand old opry for over 40 years. as long as i have my cd's,skeeter will always be with me.

[miss_kitty]

5. Mary spoke highly of her

i was pawing through a bunch of pics on her dining table and ran across one of her w/ P McCartney, maybe Linda M. and Mary and Ms Davis-who had her arm draped around Mary, and a big grin on her face-Mary said things about her along the lines of what you just said...and Mary's met and hung out with a lot of people in the business-some nice some not so nice. Skeeter Davis is probably one of only a few of whom she spoke the most highly.

[pacalo]

6. My condolences to you, blueknight.

I love "It's the End of the World", but most particularly, "I Can't Stay Mad at You."

Thank you, Skeeter.