Bill Ivey, 81, Dies; Quelled Conservative Ire Over U.S. Arts Agency

As the head of the National Endowment for the Arts, Mr. Ivey, a leader in country music, shifted the agency’s focus away from avant-garde work and won more funding.

​As the head of the National Endowment for the Arts, Mr. Ivey, a leader in country music, shifted the agency’s focus away from avant-garde work and won more funding.