George D. Hay

George Dewey Hay (November 9, 1895 – May 8, 1968) was an American radio announcer and journalist. He was the founder of the original radio series Grand Ole Opry on WSM-AM in Nashville, Tennessee, from which the country music stage show of the same name developed.

Early newspaper and radio career Hay was born in Attica, Indiana, United States. There, a fiddle player, a guitar player, and a banjo player performed until dawn.

Newspaper, announcing, touring and film appearance During the 1930s, he was involved with Rural Radio, one of the first magazines about country music, and working on the movie Grand Ole Opry (1940). He was an announcer with the radio series during the 1940s and toured with Opry acts, including the September 1947 Opry show at Carnegie Hall. and he became an editor of Nashville's Pickin’ and Singin’ News in 1953. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1966.

Death Hay relocated to Virginia Beach, Virginia, where he died in 1968. He was interred at Forest Lawn Cemetery on 8100 Granby Street, Norfolk, Virginia 23505.