On this day (December 31) in 1997, Floyd Cramer died of lung cancer in Nashville, Tennessee, at the age of 64. He was one of the most in-demand session pianists in Nashville. He pioneered the “slip note” style that became the standard for country and rock pianists in the decades to come. His innovative playing can be heard on countless classic recordings from the likes of Elvis Presley, Brenda Lee, and Patsy Cline.
Videos by American Songwriter
The piano wasn’t always an integral part of country music. In fact, the instrument was just starting to rise in popularity when Cramer, who had taught himself to play, signed on with the Louisiana Hayride in the early 1950s. At the time, there were only a handful of session pianists in Nashville. As a result, Cramer was able to commute from Shreveport to Music City and find regular work. After a couple of years of commuting, he chose to relocate, according to the Country Music Hall of Fame…