Country music publishing pioneer Buddy Killen dies

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Nov 1 (Reuters) Buddy Killen, who built the biggest country music publishing business in the world before selling it in 1989, died today at his home, an aide said.

He was 73 and died of pancreatic cancer, spokesperson and long-time friend Betty Hofer said.

Killen's Tree International built a 38,000-song catalog, starting with Elvis Presley's ''Heartbreak Hotel,'' written by the late Mae Boren Axton and Tommy Durden.

Dolly Parton, for whom Killen produced a record when she was 15, said: ''He will live in my heart and memory like a classic song. He was one of the very first people to see my dream and not only did he see it, he tried to help make it come true.'' A former Grand Ole Opry bass player, Killen was hired in 1951 to listen to new songs and sing demonstration tapes for 35 dollars a week for a fledgling part-time business founded by Grand Ole Opry manager Jack Stapp. When Stapp died in 1980, Killen became sole owner of what grew into the Tree International empire.

An Alabama native, Killen's eye for talent brought in songwriters like Parton, Bill Anderson, Roger Miller and Harlan Howard and others.

He also wrote the hit ''Forever'' and became an acclaimed producer for artists like Parton, Dottie West, Ronnie McDowell and T.G. Sheppard.

Killen's sold his company to Sony for an estimated million.

He then founded the Killen Music Group, which published multiplatinum sensation ''OutKast,'' including the soundtrack to their feature film ''Idlewild.'' He was co-publisher of the runaway hit ''Me and My Gang'' by Rascal Flatts and published songs recorded by Faith Hill, Trace Adkins, Lonestar, Kenny Chesney and Reba McEntire.

REUTERS PDM BST2311