Celebrates members of the Country Music Hall of Fame
Part of the Legends of American Music Series
Why the stamp was issued:
These stamps were issued to honor country music legends, and members of the Country Music Hall of Fame, Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, the Carter Family, and Bob Wills.
About the stamp design:
All four Country & Western stamps picture artwork by Richard Waldrep. The designs were created using Waldrep’s airbrush paintings based on photographs sent to him by USPS researchers. Both the Hank Williams and Carter Family stamps have orange backgrounds while the Patsy Cline stamp has a blue-violet background, and the Bob Wills stamp has a variegated background shifting from mauve to fuchsia.
First Day City:
The Country & Western set was issued on stage at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, the capital of country music. There could be no better place for the First Day Issue Ceremony of the stamps honoring members of the Country Music Hall of Fame.
About the Legends of American Music Series:
The Legends of American Music Series debuted on January 8, 1993, and ran until September 21, 1999. More than 90 artists are represented from all styles of music: rock ‘n’ roll, rhythm and blues, country and western, jazz and pop, opera and classical, gospel and folk. In addition to individual singers and Broadway musicals, subjects include band leaders, classical composers, Hollywood songwriters and composers, conductors, lyricists, and more. The Legends of American Music Series was a huge advancement for diversity because it honored many Black and female artists.
History the stamps represent:
The four-stamp set was issued to commemorate a handful of the men and women whose contributions to country and western music made history. The set pictures Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, the Carter Family, and Bob Wills. The Hank Williams stamp was the same design used earlier in 1993. Each person pictured in the Country & Western set has the designation of being listed in the Country Music Hall of Fame.