Country Music Publishing Pioneer Dies

Buddy Killen, 73, built Killen's Tree International, died of pancreatic cancer earlier today. Killen built a 38,000-song catalog starting with Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel," written by the late Mae Boren Axton & Tommy Durden. Killen produced a record for Dolly Parton, when she was 15. Killen's eye for talent brought in songwriters like Parton, Bill Anderson, Roger Miller, Harlan Howard & many others. He also became an acclaimed producer for artists like Parton, Dottie West, Ronnie McDowell & T.G. Sheppard. Killen's sold his company to Sony for an estimated $30 million in 1989. He founded the Killen Music Group, which published for "OutKast," including their soundtrack, "Idlewild." He also co-published "Me and My Gang" by Rascal Flatts & published songs recorded by Faith Hill, Trace Adkins, Lonestar, Kenny Chesney & Reba McEntire.