NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

Renowned guitarist Reggie Young dies

NASHVILLE, Tenn.

Guitarist Reggie Young, a Memphis- and Nashville-based session player whose signature licks defined hit records from Elvis, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and many more, has died. He was 82.

Friend and fellow Nashville Cats session musician David Briggs said Young died Thursday at his home in Nashville, Tenn.

Young started his illustrious career in Memphis, where he was an in-demand session player working with acclaimed producer Chips Moman, and opened for the Beatles with the Bill Black Combo in 1964. At Moman’s American Studio in Memphis, he played the signature sitar intro on “Hooked on a Feeling,” by B.J. Thomas, and played guitar on “Son of a Preacher Man” by Dusty Springfield, “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond and “Suspicious Minds” by Elvis Presley.

After moving to Nashville in the 1970s, he became part of the Nashville Cats session players recording hundreds of songs for top country stars. Young added guitar to No. 1 records including “Luckenbach, Texas,” by Jennings, “Pancho and Lefty” by Nelson and Merle Haggard and “Always On My Mind” by Nelson.

When the Highwaymen super group formed between Nelson, Jennings, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson, Young played on their No. 1 records and even toured with them.

His first album, containing a collection of hits he played on from Memphis to Nashville, was due out later this month through London-based record label Ace.

Timberlake pops in on patients at Texas children’s hospital

DALLAS

Justin Timberlake pulled some sunshine from his pocket for the patients at a Texas children’s hospital.

Timberlake took a break from his “Man of the Woods” tour to pop in and pose for pictures with the young patients at Methodist Children’s Hospital in San Antonio.

A video of the kids was widely shared all week, with many in their hospital beds as they danced to Timberlake’s hit “Can’t Stop The Feeling” with its refrain of “got some sunshine in my pocket.” The kids held up signs that read “JT see me!,” and on Friday afternoon, JT obliged.

One girl in a picture with Timberlake held up a sign that read “JT saw me!”

The 37-year-old pop star recently resumed his tour after canceling several dates because of bruised vocal chords.

Associated Press