Jim Reeves, a leading figure in country music’s move towards smoother, orchestral production, died when his private plane crashed near Nashville on 31 July 1964. The 40-year-old singer and his manager, Dean Manuel, were flying from Arkansas to Nashville when they encountered a severe thunderstorm, ending Reeves’ career at its commercial height and deeply affecting country music fans.

The article says Reeves, who was piloting the single-engine aircraft, lost visual reference in poor weather after attempting to turn towards an airport despite air-traffic-control advice to avoid the storm. Wreckage was found around 42 hours later, and thousands later attended memorial events in Nashville; Reeves’ posthumous releases continued to chart, including the UK number-one single ‘Distant Drums’ in 1966.