Telling his story (1973-1982)
1973
October - Frances Douglas, manager of I. W. Gernert Homes, introduced David Morton to DeFord Bailey.
October 19 - First of many musical sessions and long conversations with DeFord that David Morton taped in apartment 307 where DeFord lived in I. W. Gernert Homes.
December 15 - DeFord recorded a number of songs on a cassette tape as a Christmas present for David Morton's father. Some of these were first made public in 1998 when David allowed the Tennessee Folklore Society to issue a cd from his reel to reel and cassette recordings. That tape can be heard in its entirity on this website.
1974
February - Morton arranged for a MDHA social worker to take Bailey to Bill Wilkerson Speech and Hearing Clinic to check out his hearing. Staff found that he had a major wax buildup that was adversely affecting his hearing, and were able to correct most of his hearing problems as a result.
February 23 - First Old Timers Show on the Grand Ole Opry was held to bring DeFord Bailey back to the Opry. David Morton had met earlier with WSM Jud Collins and they planned this as a way to get DeFord Bailey back on the Opry.
March - David Morton's article "Every Day's Been Sunday" about DeFord appeared in "Nashville" magazine.
March 30 - Open House for DeFord Bailey was held at Gernert Homes at 12th and Edgehill in Nashville. This event was organized by David Morton and sponsored by the Metro Develpment and Housing Agency (MDHA). Buford Drake, representing Mayor Beverly Briley, gave DeFord a key to the city and said that he had "brought soul to County Music."
June 20 - MDHA Awards Day ceremony held at Parthenon Towers, with DeFord providing the entertainment.
December 14 - DeFord celebrated his 75th birthday by performing that night at the new Opry house.
1975
The Burt Reynolds film "W. W. and the Dixie Dancekings" was released. David Morton had an offer for DeFord to perform in this film, but was unsuccessful in getting him to do so.
March - "An Opry Star Shines On" written by Frye Gaillard appeared in "Country Music" magazine.
March 15 - DeFord performed at the second Old Timer's Show at the Grand Ole Opry.
Charles K Wolfe's book "The Grand Ole Opry: The Early Years, 192-35" was published.
1979
Peter Guralnick's book "Lost Highway" was published. It contained a chapter on DeFord Bailey.
April - David Morton moved to Dallas, Texas to take a new job with the Dallas Housing Authority. From that point until DeFord died in 1982, David called his friend every Sunday afternoon to check on him. He also recorded a number of those telephone conversations to help with writing DeFord's biography.
1980
April - David Morton took his small son Andrew to visit DeFord and to read him a first draft of the biography.
1982
April 3 - DeFord made his last public appearance playing for the homecoming show at the Grand Ole Opry. Thiis was apparently the only time he ever wore a Cowboy hat to the Opry.
July 2 - DeFord died in Nashville at the age of 82.
July 6 - His funeral was held at the Bethel A.M.E. Church, 1300 South St in Nashville. Memorial tributes were given by David Morton, Clarence Kilcrease, James Talley, and Bill Monroe. Herman Crook played "Amazing Grace" on his harmonica.
August 23 - The New York Times published a front page article on DeFord Bailey by Reginald Stuart entitled "Death of Black Opry Pioneer Leads to Disharmony in Nashville."