Bobbe ‘Beegie’ Adair, jazz pianist who worked with Dolly Parton, dies at 84

Bobbe ‘Beegie’ Adair, the American jazz pianist and bandleader, is dead aged 84.

Monica Ramey, her manager who confirmed the development, said Adair died on Sunday in Franklin, Tennessee. The cause of death was not immediately stated.

Adair played on over 100 records throughout her six-decade career.

Raised in Cave City, Kentucky, she began playing at age 5. The pianist attended college in Kentucky and then moved to Nashville to work in the city’s music scene in the ’60s.

She worked as a musician on Johnny Cash’s TV show and Ralph Emery’s TV show. The pianist also did some work on albums by Dolly Parton, Vince Gill, and Chet Atkins.

Adair began her own commercial jingle company with her husband and started recording with her own bands.

She released 35 albums with her trio of bassist Roger Spencer and drummer Chris Brown.

Her trio would regularly perform at venues like Carnegie Hall and Birdland Jazz Club.

Adair was acclaimed as having been vital in building Nashville’s jazz music scene.

She was also a founding board member of the Nashville Jazz Workshop where she taught and held performances.