Web Quotableonline.com Frasescelebres.org Greatbookscollection.org

Floyd Cramer (October 27, 1933  - December 31,
1997) was an United States|American Hall of Fame 
pianist who was one of the architects of the
"Nashville Sound."


Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, Cramer grew up in
the small town of Huttig, Arkansas, teaching
himself to play the piano. After finishing high
school he returned to Shreveport where he worked
as a pianist for the Louisiana Hayride radio show.
In 1952, he made his way to Nashville, Tennessee
at a time when the use of piano accompanists in
country music was growing in popularity. Before
long Cramer would become one of the busiest studio
musicians in the industry, playing piano for stars
such as Elvis Presley, Brenda Lee, Patsy Cline,
The Browns, Jim Reeves, Roy Orbison, Don Gibson
and the Everly Brothers amongst many others.

However, Cramer remained a virtual unknown to
anyone but music industry insiders until he
recorded a 45rpm single (music)|Single in 1960
called "Last Date." An instrumental, the music
exhibited a relatively new concept for piano
playing known as the "slip note" style. The record
went to No.2 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music
chart. By the mid-1960s, Cramer had become a
respected performer, making numerous albums and
touring with guitar maestro Chet Atkins and
saxophonist Boots Randolph. 

Floyd Cramer passed away in 1997 and was interred
in the Spring Hill Cemetery in the Nashville
suburb of Madison, Tennessee.

In 2003, he was inducted into the Country Music
Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

East Tennessee State University in Johnson City,
Tennessee offers the "Floyd Cramer Competitive
Scholarship."