February 16, 2016 - The Ameripolitan Music Awards Honour Red Simpson

AUSTIN - From a video retrospective to a live rendition of Highway Patrol by Dale Watson, Bill Kirchen and others, the Ameripolitan Music Awards paid tribute to the Bard of Bakersfield who had been informed in December that he was to receive the Founder of the Sound Award. Red's son, David, was in attendance to accept the award.

January 21, 2016 - Traditional Military Funeral Held at Bakersfield National Cemetery

ARVIN - Red Simpson, who formed his first band while serving with the Navy on the USS Repose during the Korean War over 60 years ago, was laid to rest in Bakersfield National Cemetery today with full military honours. A public memorial service was held yesterday in Bakersfield with over 200 friends and family paying their respects.

January 12, 2016 - Country Music Community Reacts to the Loss of Bakersfield Sound Pioneer

BAKERSFIELD - From friends and family who gathered at the Rustic Rail in Oildale to celebrate the life and the music of a Bakersfield Sound icon on Saturday to WSM's Eddie Stubbs poignant on air tribute emanating from Nashville on Monday, the country music community is sharing memories of a legend who was much more than a singer, songwriter and session player. "He was the soul of Bakersfield." noted Earl Poole Ball, a musician who played piano on a number of Capitol recording sessions. "He played a huge part in the Bakersfield Sound and was a dear friend of mine for over 50 years," added Merle Haggard on his Facebook page.

January 8, 2016 - Bakerfsfield Legend Passes at 81

BAKERSFIELD - Red Simpson passed away at a local hospital this afternoon shortly after suffering a heart attack at home. Red was hospitalized in Bakersfield's San Joaquin Hospital with an arterial blockage on December 18th following the completion of a tour and recording sessions in the Pacific Northwest.

December 16, 2015 - Bard of Bakersfield to be Honored with Founder of the Sound Award

AUSTIN - The Ameripolitan Music Awards announced that Wanda Jackson and Red Simpson will be honored with the Founder of the Sound Award at the 2016 Ameripolitan Awards on February 16th in Austin, Texas. Johnny Bush, W.S. “Fluke” Holland, Billy Joe Shaver, and James Burton are past recipients.

December 14, 2015 - The Forgotten Man of the Bakersfield Sound Back in the Recording Studio

PORTLAND - Red Simpson's first album since 2005 will be released on February 4, 2016. Soda Pops and Saturdays features never before heard songs penned by the Bard of Bakersfield as well as new recordings of classic hit songs. The album will be available from various retailers including CD Baby and iTunes.

March 11, 2015 - Bakersfield Legend Joins Gene Thome on Mighty Hag

BAKERSFIELD - A packed house at the Crystal Palace gathered to celebrate Red Simpson's 81st birthday and purchase copies of It's A Bakersfield Thing, a 10 song tribute to Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, and Red Simpson.by Gene Thome, which features Red's vocal stylings on "Mighty Hag".

May 8, 2014 - The Bard of Bakersfield Included in "Population"

BAKERSFIELD - Pasadena artist Ray Turner photograhped Red Simpson in preparation for a portrait that will appear on a 12 x 12 inch of sapphire glass as part of the "Population" exhibit that will debut at the Bakersfield Museum of Art in May 2014.

April 21, 2014 - The Forgotten Man of the Bakersfield Sound Teams Up With Bob Wayne on Dope Train

AUSTIN - Bob Wayne's independent release "Back to the Camper" features a duet with Red Simpon on the anti-drug song "Dope Train".

March 6, 2014 - Star Studded Salute As The Bard of Bakersfield Turns 80

BAKERSFIELD - A capacity crowd filled the Crystal Palace to honor one of the Bakersfield Sound pioneers -- Red Simpson.  Surrounded by family and friends, the Bard of Bakersfield was serenaded by an all star lineup that included Tommy Hays, Larry Petree, Jay Dee Maness, Deke Dickerson, Mark Yeary, Eugene Moles, and Jimmy Phillips.

The octagenarian also received a key to the city from Bakersfield's mayor Harvey Hall, a framed resolution acknowledging his musical contributions to the cultural enrichment of California from state senators Jean Fuller and Andy Vidak, and a flag that was flown over the Capitol.

July 1, 2013 - The Bard of Bakersfield Is Heading to the Volunteer State

COOKEVILLE - Red Simpson will be one of the featured performers at the 2013 Muddy Roots Music Festival to be held on August 31st and September 1st. 

June 14, 2013 - "Bakersfield Country: The Legends of the Bakersfield Sound" Opens at the Foundry

BAKERSFIELD - "Around Red" by Betty Leonor, a portrait of Red Simpson, is part of an art exhibit which showcases the work of twelve Kern County arists. The exhibit consists of four boards or original photography and portraits of Merle Haggard, Bill Woods, Red Simpson, Bonnie Owens, Billy Mize, Cousin Herb Henson, Buck Owens, Tommy Collins, Jean Shepard, Wynn Stewart, Fuzzy Owen, Ferlin Husky and Lewis Talley.  

February 21, 2013 - The Bard of Bakersfield Guests on Coffee, Country, and Cody on The Legend

NASHVILLE - Red Simpson and Michael Gray join Bill Cody on WSM 650 Nashville & WSM online on Friday, February 22nd at 9:00 a.m. CST.  

December 11, 2012 - Hello I'm Red Simpson on New York Times Best of the Year List

NEW YORK -  If you like underdog stories and 18-wheelers, make room in your life for this boxed set. In the Bakersfield hard-country scene of the 1960s Buck Owens was clearly the boss: bandleader, singer, songwriter, publisher, celebrity. But in the circle of creativity around him there was Red Simpson, a singer-songwriter who took his own talent much less seriously, and almost accidentally ended up as one of the four giants of truck-driving music. (The others were Dave Dudley, Red Sovine and Dick Curless, none of whom had Mr. Simpson’s diffident charm or heartbreaking ballad voice.) At the instigation of the producer Ken Nelson, he pumped out hauling-related LPs for Capitol through the 1960s and ’70s, including a genuinely tear-inducing Christmas album and a collection of tracks from the often misunderstood point of view of the highway patrolman. All that is here: 165 songs, 26 of them previously unissued, and a 108-page biography by Scott B. Bomar.
 

November 10, 2012 - CMHOF Names Latest Poets and Prophets Honoree

NASHVILLE -  In conjunction with The Bakersfield Sound: Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, and California Country exhibit, Red Simpson will be recognized as a Poets and Prophets honoree on February 23rd at the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Past Poets and Prophets honorees include:

August 12, 2012 - Bakersfield Legend Appears at 21st Annual Buck Owens Birthday Bash 

AUSTIN - The Center of Child Protection was the chief benefactor of the 21st Annual Buck Owens Birthday Bash at the Continental Club.  A number of artists from the Austin scene were joined by Red Simpson, who made his first appearance at the event and had 30 songs recorded by Buck.

March 24, 2012 - The Bakersfield Sound: Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, and California Country Exhibit Opens

NASHVILLE - The Bakersfield Sound: Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, and California Country exhibit opened to rave reviews. The exhibit continues through December 31, 2013.

Don Maddox, Rose Lee Maphis, Dallas Frazier, Buddy Mize, and Red Simpson joined host Scott Bomar for the panel discussion Together Again: Pioneers of the Bakersfield Sound.

The five were joined by Dennis Payne, Gene Breeden, Eugene Moles and others for the concert Under Your Spell Again: The Sounds of Bakersfield.

Jean Shepard was scheduled to appear at both the panel discussion and the concert, but was under the weather.