Born in Florence, Alabama in 1932, Buddy Killen (1932-2006) was a bass player in the Grand Ole Opry. In 1954, he was hired by Jack Stapp (1912-1980), who was both the manager of the Grand Ole Opry and founder of Tree Publishing. At Tree Publishing, Killen's primary work was as a talent scout and music producer. His starting salary was thirty-five dollars a week. After Stapp’s death in 1980, Killen became the president and sole owner of the company. Killen sold Tree International Publishing to CBS Records for forty million dollars in 1989. One year after the sale of the company, he formed the Killen Music Group (KMG) Records. Killen passed away in 2006 and is remembered as a key figure in the development of the Nashville music industry. Buddy Killen Circle, the traffic roundabout at the entrance to Music Row, is named for him.
Buddy Killen
36.1517, -86.793
Description
Born in Florence, Alabama in 1932, Buddy Killen (1932-2006) was a bass player in the Grand Ole Opry. In 1954, he was hired by Jack Stapp (1912-1980), who was both the manager of the Grand Ole Opry and founder of Tree Publishing. At Tree Publishing, Killen's primary work was as a talent scout and music producer. His starting salary was thirty-five dollars a week. After Stapp’s death in 1980, Killen became the president and sole owner of the company. Killen sold Tree International Publishing to CBS Records for forty million dollars in 1989. One year after the sale of the company, he formed the Killen Music Group (KMG) Records. Killen passed away in 2006 and is remembered as a key figure in the development of the Nashville music industry. Buddy Killen Circle, the traffic roundabout at the entrance to Music Row, is named for him.