Molly Bee, a country singer popular in the 1950s and 1960s who was a teenage star on television's "Hometown Jamboree" and "The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show," has died. She was 69. Born Mollie Beachboard, she was the sister of Bob Beachboard '57.

TC teens of the 1950s considered her a hometown girl, though she did not attend local schools. Her recordings included both country (inset) and pop music.

After moving to California from Tennesee, at age 10 she sang "Lovesick Blues" for country singer Rex Allen and soon debuted on his radio show. Within two years, she was a regular on "Hometown Jamboree," a Los Angeles-based show run by Cliffie Stone, who helped popularize country music in California. She later was a regular on the Tennessee Ernie Ford program and was a headliner in Las Vegas.

Thanks to Rocky Curtiss '62 for the heads-up news tip.

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