Biography

February 9, 1939 · Zona, Louisiana, USA [now part of Bogalusa, Louisiana]

July 1, 2015 · Nashville, Tennessee, USA (cancer)

Hollis Rudolph DeLaughter

Country songwriter and session guitarist. Elected to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1993.

After high school graduation, he enlisted in the Air Force. He served as an aircraft engine mechanic because his color blindness disqualified him from becoming a military pilot. He began playing guitar in nightclubs and talent competitions. He adopted his stage name because the military brass didn't approve of service members performing in clubs.

He played guitar on recordings by Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Willie Nelson, and Waylon Jennings. He also toured with Haggard, who recorded several songs written by Lane.

Once the plane arrived on his property it was stabilized and for the most part gutted. He had all the amenities of a regular house installed. And reportedly loved living in this way. At some point in the 21st century, he had a large wood burning fireplace built in a room he had constructed under the fuselage of the plane using the landing gear as a feature of the room. And the under-body of the plane as the ceiling.

His home for more than twenty years was a retired DC-8 Airliner. The plane was moved to his property from Georgia. It was so big it had to be cut up into five sections to be moved over roads. The tail fin was so tall it had to be laid on its side. The trip took 28 days because the trucks could not exceed 25 MPH. And could only travel at night, so as to reduce the effects on traffic in the areas it was traveling through.