Reba McEntire Pays Tribute To Band Members Killed In Plane Crash 34 Years Ago

reba's late band members

Reba McEntire honors her band members who died in 1991 (Reba McEntire / Facebook)

Members Of Reba McEntire’s Band Tragically Killed In 1991 Plane Crash

Reba McEntire experienced an unthinkable tragedy when eight members of her band lost their lives in a plane crash on March 16, 1991.

The group had just wrapped up an event in Southern California to promote Reba’s album Rumor Has It. As their twin-engine Hawker Siddeley jet departed San Diego, the wing clipped an outcropping of rock on the side of Otay Mountain, causing it to crash into the terrain and explode on impact.

Reba reportedly stayed behind by the recommendation of her then-husband Narvel Blackstock, who encouraged her to rest as she was recovering from bronchitis. She had planned to meet her band in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the following day. Narvel would later have the grueling task of calling the family members of the deceased to tell them the news.

Fiddler Chris Austin, band leader Kirk Cappello, keyboardist Joey Cigainero, backup singer Paula Kaye Evans, bassist Terry Jackson, drummer Anthony Saputo, guitarist Michael Thomas, tour manager Jim Hammon, and the two pilots operating the plane were all lost in the crash.

Days after the incident, Reba told People Magazine:

“By far this is my darkest hour, the most awful thing that ever happened in my life. When you have eight people that you absolutely love and their lives are just wiped out – it’s devastating.”

newspaper clipping from 1991 Newspaper article from 1991 following the plane crash that claimed the lives of Reba McEntire’s bandmates (via newspapers.com)

Reba Pays Tribute To Her Late Band Members

Not a year goes by when the “Fancy” singer does not honor the memory of her friends and bandmates. Six months after the tragedy, she released an album titled For My Broken Heart, dedicated to her lost comrades. The album was one of the most successful of her career – selling four million copies.
Reba McEntire "for my broken heart" Album cover for “For My Broken Heart” by Reba McEntire (via Discogs)
In 2015, Reba visited the site of the crash and reflected:

“I feel in my heart that they know we still miss them so much. My love and prayers to all the families and friends.”

 

This year, on the 34th anniversary of the crash, she shared a simple and heartfelt message on her social media pages. It read:

“Always in our minds, thoughts, and prayers no matter how many years have passed. Love and miss you all.”