1978 1980

What Happened This Year 1979

All Events 119 Births 778 Deaths 227

People Who Died in 1979

Sara Carter

American singer-songwriter with The Carter Family

Born

July 21st, 1898 127 years ago

Died

1979 46 years ago — 81 years old

A prominent figure in American folk music, contributed significantly to the development of country music. Began performing with The Carter Family in the early 1920s, which became one of the first and most influential country music groups. The group recorded numerous songs that became classics, including 'Wildwood Flower' and 'Keep on the Sunny Side'. The pioneering music style combined traditional folk tunes with harmonies and instrumentation that shaped future generations of musicians. Aside from recordings, performances at various venues helped popularize the genre across the United States.

Norman Tokar

Film and television director, producer

Born

November 25th, 1919 106 years ago

Died

1979 46 years ago — 60 years old

Active in the entertainment industry, directed and produced various films and television series. Contributed to several classic works, including the popular television series 'The Andy Griffith Show' and 'The Mod Squad'. Worked extensively with Walt Disney Productions, directing films such as 'The Happiest Millionaire' and 'Snowball Express'. Also engaged in producing and writing for television, shaping family-oriented programming during the mid-20th century.