PANAMA CITY BEACH — Yellow roses sat Friday on an empty stage at Tootsies Orchid Lounge, under a painting of Billy Pierson, a country singer who, night after night, had made that stage his own.
Pierson died at about 2 a.m. Friday in a single-vehicle traffic accident on County 388 about 6 miles west of State 77 near his Southport home, officials with the Florida Highway Patrol said in a news release. He was 46.
Investigators said Pierson was driving a 2008 Toyota Tacoma eastbound on County 388 when his vehicle traveled across the westbound lane. Pierson then overcorrected, and the vehicle traveled off the eastbound shoulder of the road and overturned. He was not wearing his seat belt, troopers said.
Friends said the big guy’s songs could make a child’s day, make a grump smile and mend a broken heart.
“He was one of the coolest people I ever met,” said David Hutchinson, a friend.
Callie Hicks said the news made her feel like she had been worked over by a baseball bat. She, her husband and other close friends and family had been hanging out with Pierson shortly before his death Thursday night.
“He loved this community,” Hicks said. “He was so proud to be a part of this community.”
Pierson had been planning a charity golf tournament as a way to give back, Hicks added.
On Thursday night, he sang “Fishing in the Dark” for Hicks, she said. He knew she loved the song because her grandfather always took her fishing before the sun came up. Hutchinson, an employee at Dusty’s Oyster Bar, said Pierson was a regular who made time for every body, and when he was a stage, he tried to fill every request. On Thursday, he sang “Happy Birthday” to Hutchinson’s 6-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, Hutchinson said.
“Billy was an exceptional performer,” Hicks said. “He loved to entertain.”
She added that he made time for everyone and that the happy person whom people saw onstage was the same guy when he was out of the spotlight.
Pierson’s songs included “Country Cruise,” “You Can’t Keep a Redneck Blue,” “My Pickup Truck Never Lets Me Down” and “Don’t Get No Sand In It,” his ode to Panama City Beach.
Web sites dedicated to Pierson list his musical influences as George Jones, Merle Haggard, Conway Twitty and Elvis Presley. According to his MySpace.com page, Pierson has appeared with dozens of stars, including Tanya Tucker, Tim McGraw, Lorrie Morgan, George Jones, Hank Williams Jr., Kenny Chesney and Marty Stuart.
Hicks said Pierson was supposed to go golfing with her husband Friday, and it was strange when during the conversation Thursday night, Pierson began talking about his mother.
“I need to talk to my mama,” Hicks recalled Pierson saying. “I need to let her know that I love her.”
At the end of the night, Hicks got a hug from Pierson, she said. He told the close friend that she was like family to him, Hicks said.
“I’ll see y’all tomorrow,” he said.
Last updated 8/08/09 1:59 a.m. CDT
Below is an earlier version of this story:
BAY COUNTY - The person killed in an early morning wreck along County 388 has been identified by family friends.
The deceased has been identified as Billy Pierson, known for performing at Tootsie's at Pier Park.
The Florida Highway Patrol is reporting a fatal traffic accident at 2:13 a.m. today on County 388 about five miles west of State 77.
No further information is currently available. Check back for updates as reports are released.
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