In nineteen sixty-one Hal Berman became the first chief of Special English.

VOA: special.2009.10.16

Country fans also mourned the deaths of Jimmy Boyd,Hank Locklin, Vern Gosdin and former Grand Ole Opry manager Hal Durham.

VOA: standard.2009.12.22

They also include long-time recording artist Freda Payne, who rose to fame with the 1970 Detroit-sound hit Band of Gold, (Music) the title song from the 1966 romantic film, Alfie,written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David.

VOA: standard.2009.11.03