Bill Ivey, country music hall of fame great, dead at 81: He ‘set a rigorous standard’

Bill Ivey died at the age of 81, it was announced earlier this month.

The Country Music Hall of Fame announced the death of its CEO on Nov. 7.

“Ivey set a rigorous standard that ensured the Museum’s collections of artifacts, recordings, and library materials documenting country music would be unmatched,” the statement read of Ivey, who served as the CEO from 1971 through 1997. “Twice he presided over building expansions, and through his leadership the Museum was transformed form a modest tourist attraction into the premier center for the preservation and study of country music past and present.

“During his tenure, the Museum gained national accreditation, its budget increased fourfold, and its staff and programs grew accordingly.”

In 1997, then-President Bill Clinton selected Ivey to be the chair of the National Endowment for the Arts where he established the NEA “Songs of the Century” project to educate students about the history of American popular music.

He laid the groundwork for better relations with Congress and led to the funding of his “Challenge America” and “Creative Links, Positive Alternatives for Youth” initiatives designed to foster stronger ties between arts organizations, community groups and federal agencies.

He also accompanied First Lady Hillary Clinton to the Grammy Awards when she won in the Spoken Word category.

“After four years in that role, Ivey directed the Curb Center for Art, Enterprise, and Public Policy at Vanderbilt University and served on the faculty there from 2002 to 2012,” the statement said.

“He was a challenging thinker who helped cement the reputation of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum as a significant and authoritative music history center,” the statement said. “His impact on the Museum and the wider arts world is incalculable.”