Longtime Willie Nelson Family Band Bassist Dan Bee Spears Dies

Dan "Bee" Spears, the longtime bassist in Willie Nelson’s family band, died Thursday (Dec. 8) after falling outside his Nashville home, the legendary country singer announced on Friday. According to Nelson, Spears, who was 62, died from exposure. "We are still in shock," he wrote on his website.
 
Spears spent more that 40 years keeping up with Nelson, whose guitar style relies heavily on playing just behind the beat of his songs.