DeFord Bailey

1983
June 23 - "DeFord Bailey Day in Nashville." Memorial Service was held at Greenwood Cemetery to unveil a monument on his grave and a reception followed at the Country Music Foundation. Nashville Mayor Richard Fulton, Roy Acuff, Bill Monroe, Zeke Clement, Uncle Dave Macon's grandson, and other performers were present, along with family and friends. NBC Television sent a film crew from New York City, and a segment on DeFord was shown on "The Today Show."

July 9 - Cash Box and Billboard both had articles on DeFord Bailey Day and placement of monument on his grave.

1991
DeFord "book" as he called his biography was finally published. It was authored by David Morton, with valuable assistance from Dr. Charles Wolfe. "DeFord Bailey: A Black Star in Early Country Music" was published by the University of Tennessee Press.

May 15 - The Tennessee Historical Commission erected a state historical marker in honor of DeFord Bailey along U.S. Highway 70 N near the Wilson and Smith county line close to his birthplace. The Tennessee Folklore Society and the Center for Popular Music at MTSU sponsored a special event at the marker to celebrate his career and accomplishments.

December 12 - A second historical marker honoring DeFord was erected by the Tennessee Historical Commission at the intersection of 12th and Edgehill. This was done through the efforts of MDHA officials, country music stars, elected officials, friends, and in particular Silas T. Newsom, who had worked as a shoe shine boy for DeFord. Congressman Bob Clement, State Senators Thelma Harper and Douglas Henry, joined Newsom, Morton, family members and friends for the unveiling of the marker.

1993
Kim Field's book Harmonicas, Harmonicas, Harps and Heavy Breathers : The Evolution of the People's Instrument was published.

February 10 - David Morton presented a paper "Black and White Notes from WSM Grand Ole Opry Pioneer DeFord Bailey" at the Afro-American Culture and History 12th Annual Local Conference held at Tennessee State University in Nashville.

1998
Tennessee Folklore Society issued "The Legendary DeFord Bailey: Country Music's First Black Star", a cd of DeFord's music that had been recorded by David Morton in DeFord's apartment.

June 17 - A USA Today music review called the new DeFord Bailey cd "one of the year's most important historical releases."

1999
October - With the help of his son Andrew, David Morton presented a program called "The Legendary DeFord Bailey and His Unforgettable Country Blues" at the annual conference of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) in Philadelphia.

2000
The Kitchen Sisters (Nikki Silva & Davia Nelson) produced a segment on DeFord for their NPR program Lost and Found Sounds.

2001
October - Once again with the assistance of his son Andrew, David Morton made a special presentation on DeFord at the NAHRO annual conference. Because it was held this time in Nashville, DeFord Bailey Jr., Dezoral Thomas and Christine Craig (DeFord's children) were all present to be recognized.

2002
May 19 - Nashville Public Television aired "A Legend Lost: DeFord Bailey," a 30 minute documentary written and produced by Kathy Conkwright. It was subsequently shown on Public Television stations around the country.

2004
February 27 - Country Music Television's documentary "Waiting in the Wings: African Americans in Country Music" was aired.

Public Radio International (PRI) and the Rhythm and Blues Foundation produced a 26 hour public radio series on the history of rhythm and blues "Let the Good Times Roll."

2005
September 1 - Dwight Lewis column "Country music changes it tune on DeFord Bailey" appears in the Tennessean. He expresses the sentiments of DeFord's family, friends and fans when he writes that "I wanted to jump for joy" upon learning that DeFord was finally going to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in November.

November 15 - DeFord Bailey, Glen Campbell, and Alabama were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame at Madison Square Gardens in New York City.

2006
May 7 - Medallion Ceremony at the Country Music Hall of Fame. DeFord Bailey, Jr and his son Carlos performed in honor of their father and grandfather, and were followed by Chicago harmonica player Joe Filisko and Nashville harmonica player Charlie McCoy.

2007
January 10 - DeFord's 1927 Brunswick recording of "Pan American Blues" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

June 27 - A garden of roses named after Country Music stars and songs in Nashville's George W. Carver Food Park was dedicated in DeFord's memory. DeFord's family participated in the ceremony which was organized by two non-profit groups, EarthMatters Tennessee and LifeWorks Foundation. This ceremony was followed by a community wide celebration of DeFord's life in the park the following Sunday afternoon and evening.