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23-Mar-1870 Born on this day in Fannin County, Georgia was Fiddlin' John Carson who became the first "hillbilly" artist to play on the radio, when he performed on Atlanta's WSB. It was reported by the Atlanta Journal that Carson's fame quickly spread all over the United States following his broadcast at WSB.
7-Oct-1870 Born on this day in Smartt Station, Tennessee, was Uncle Dave Macon also known as "The Dixie Dewdrop" who was an old-time banjo player, singer, songwriter, and comedian. Known for his chin whiskers, plug hat, gold teeth, and gates-ajar collar, he gained regional fame as a vaudeville performer in the early 1920s before becoming the first star of the Grand Ole Opry in the latter half of the decade. He died on March 22nd 1952.
31-Oct-1878 Born on this day was the acclaimed early country and folk music performer Samantha Bumgarner from Dillsboro, North Carolina. In 1924, accompanied by guitarist Eva Davis, she traveled to New York City and recorded about a dozen songs for Columbia Records. The recordings are also notable for being the first use of a 5-string banjo on a recording. She died on December 24, 1960.
8-Oct-1882 Born on this day in Knoxville, Tennessee, was Haywire Mac, (Harry McClintock), an American singer and poet, best known for his song "Big Rock Candy Mountain", which was featured in the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou? The song reached #1 on Billboard's "Hillbilly Hits" chart in 1939. Having worked as a cowboy himself, McClintock was one of the few "country" singers who had an authentic background from which to draw. McClintock died on April 24, 1957.

20-Nov-1887 Born on this day in Delaney, Arkansas, was Eck Robertson, fiddle player, mostly known for commercially recording the first country music songs in 1922 with Henry Gilliland. He died on Feb 15th 1975.
19-Oct-1889 Born on this day in Bristol, England, was Art Satherley, record producer and A&R man who joined Columbia Records in 1930 and subsequently became one of the most successful country music promoters in the genre's early history. Among those he produced were Gene Autry, Bob Wills, Hank Penny, Lefty Frizzell, Carl Smith, Marty Robbins and Roy Acuff. Satherley died on 10 Feb 1986.
4-Aug-1890 Born on this day in Oswego, Kansas, was Carson Robison, country music singer and songwriter. Although his impact is generally forgotten today, he played a major role in promoting country music in its early years through numerous recordings and radio appearances. He was also known as Charles Robison and sometimes composed under the pseudonym Carlos B. McAfee. He died on March 24, 1957.
15-Dec-1891 Born on this day in Maces Spring, Virginia, was American musician and founding member of The Carter Family A. P. Carter who was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970. Carter was inducted as part of The Carter Family in the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1970 and in 1993, his image appeared on a US postage stamp honoring the Carter Family. Carter died on 7th Nov 1960.
22-Mar-1892 Born on this day in Spray, now part of Eden, Rockingham County, was Charlie Poole, old time banjo player and country musician and the leader of the North Carolina Ramblers, an American old-time string band that recorded many popular songs between 1925 to 1930. Poole's life ended on May 21 1931 after a 13-week drinking bender. He had been invited to Hollywood to play background music for a film. According to some reports, he was disheartened by the slump in record sales due to the Depression.
22-May-1892 Born on this day in Independence, Missouri, was Ralph Peer an American talent scout, recording engineer and record producer. He is credited with what is often called the first country music recording, Fiddlin' John Carson's disc "Little Old Log Cabin In The Lane"/"That Old Hen Cackled and The Rooster's Goin' To Crow". In August 1927, while talent hunting in the southern states, he recorded both Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family in the same session at a makeshift studio in Bristol, Tennessee, known as the Bristol Sessions. This momentous event could be described as the genesis of country music as we know it today. Peer died on 19 Jan 1960.
22-May-1892

25-May-1893 Born on this day in Monarat (Iron Ridge), Carroll County, Virginia, was Ernest Stoneman who is ranked among the prominent recording artists of country music's first commercial decade. On February 12, 2008, Ernest "Pop" Stoneman was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
9-Nov-1895 Born on this day in Attica, Indiana, George D. Hay, the founder of the original Grand Ole Opry radio program on WSM-AM in Nashville, Tennessee, from which the country music stage show of the same name evolved. The show was originally named WSM Barn Dance, and Hay billed himself as "The Solemn Old Judge."
24-Aug-1897 Born on this day in Evansville, Indiana, was Fred Rose an American Hall of Fame songwriter and music publishing executive. Along with Hank Williams and the "Father of Country Music", Jimmie Rodgers, Fred Rose was one of the three charter members of the Country Music Hall of Fame when it opened in 1961. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970 and into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1985. Rose died on December 1, 1954.
8-Sep-1897 Born on this day in Geiger, Alabama, was Jimmie Rodgers, singer, songwriter, who was among the first country music superstars and pioneers, Rodgers was also known as "The Singing Brakeman", "The Blue Yodeler", and "The Father of Country Music." Rodgers sold over 12 million records and was the first person to be elected into the Country Music Hall Of Fame. Rodgers died on 26th May 1933.

21-Jul-1898 Born on this day in Copper Creek, Virginia, was Country music musician, singer and songwriter Sara Carter, lead singer on most of the recordings of the historic Carter Family act in the 1920s and 1930s. Carter was inducted as part of the Carter Family in the Country Music Hall of Famein 1970 along with Bill Monroe. In 1993, her image appeared on a US postage stamp honoring the Carter Family. Carter died on Jan 8th 1979 aged 80.
11-Sep-1899 Born on this day, was Jimmie Davis, singer, songwriter, who served two nonconsecutive terms as the 47th Governor of Louisiana (1944-1948 and 1960-1964). Davis was a nationally popular country music and gospel singer from the 1930s into the 1960s, occasionally recording and performing as late as the early 1990s. He is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. Davis died on November 5, 2000.
14-Dec-1899 Born on this day in Smith County, Tennessee was DeFord Bailey, country music star from the 1920s until 1941. Bailey was both the first performer to be introduced as playing on the Grand Ole Opry and also the first African-American performer on the show. He played several instruments but is best known for his harmonica tunes. He died on July 2nd 1982 aged 82.
12-May-1901 Born on this day in De Soto, Missouri, was The Duke of Paducah (Benjamin Francis Ford), an American country comedian, radio host and banjo player popular from the 1940s to the 1960s. He was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in February 1986. He died on 20 June 1986.
8-Feb-1902 Born on this day born in Yoakum, Texas was country music record producer and entrepreneur Pappy Daily who co-founded the Texas-based record label Starday Records where he worked with George Jones, Melba Montgomery and Roger Miller. In the mid-1950s, when Starday signed up George Jones, Daily became a key figure in country music. Daily died on December 5, 1987.
6-May-1903 Born on this day in Taylorsville, Kentucky, was Cliff Carlisle, American country and blues singer. Carlisle was a yodeler and was a pioneer in the use of the Hawaiian steel guitar in country music. He died on April 5th 1983.
15-Sep-1903 Born on this day in Maynardville, Tennessee, was Roy Acuff, who became synonymous with the Grand Ole Opry following his 1938 debut. In 1962, he became the first living inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Acuff is often credited with moving the genre from its early string band and "hoedown" format to the star singer-based format that helped make it internationally successful. He died in Nashville on November 23, 1992 of congestive heart failure.

12-Jan-1905 Born on this day, was Woodward Maurice Ritter, better known as Tex Ritter, the American country music singer and movie actor who was popular from the mid-1930s into the 1960s. He was the first artist signed with the newly-formed Capitol Records in 1944, where he scored a hit with "I'm Wastin' My Tears on You". Ritter died on January 2, 1974.
6-Mar-1905 Born on this day near near Kosse, Texas was James Robert Wills, better known as the American Western swing musician Bob Wills who is considered by music authorities as the co-founder of Western swing. Wills who was also a member of The Texas Playboys died on May 13, 1975.
4-May-1905 Born on this day, was Al Dexter (born Clarence Albert Poindexter), who was an American country musician and songwriter who helped popularize the style of honky tonk. Best known for his 1944 hit "Pistol Packin' Mama," Dexter who died on January 28, 1984 was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall Of Fame in 2010.
20-Jun-1907 Born on this day in Timbo, Arkansas, was Jimmy Driftwood who was a prolific songwriter and musician, most famous for his songs "The Battle of New Orleans" (which won the 1960 Grammy Award for Song of the Year), and "Tennessee Stud". Eddy Arnold, Johnny Cash, Hawkshaw Hawkins, Homer and Jethro all covered his songs. He died of a heart attack on July 12, 1998 in Fayetteville, Arkansas aged 91.
9-Jul-1907 Born on this day in Posey in Hopkins County, Texas, was Eddie Dean singer and actor, whom Roy Rogers and Gene Autry termed the best cowboy singer of all time. Dean was best known for "I Dreamed Of A Hill-Billy Heaven" (1955), which became an even greater hit for Tex Ritter in 1961. Dean died on March 4th 1999 aged 91.
29-Sep-1907 Born on this day, was Orvon Grover Autry, better known as Gene Autry, who gained fame as The Singing Cowboy on radio, in movies (he appeared in almost 100 films) and television for more than three decades beginning in the 1930s, his signature song is "Back in the Saddle Again". Autry was the owner of the Los Angeles/California Angels Major League Baseball team from 1961 to 1997. He died three days after his 91st birthday at his home in Studio City, California on October 2, 1998.

11-Feb-1908 Born on this day was Roba Stanley, country music singer who has been said to be the first woman to record country music, (others have pointed out that Samantha Bumgarner and Eva Davis recorded a session three months before Roba). She died on June 8, 1986.
13-Apr-1908 Born on this day in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, was Bob Nolan, singer, songwriter, and actor. He was a founding member of the Sons of the Pioneers, and composer of numerous Country music and Western music songs, including the standards "Cool Water" and "Tumbling Tumbleweeds."
20-Oct-1908 Born on this day in Kellyville, Texas was Stuart Hamblen who was one of American radio's first singing cowboys wrote "This Ole House", which has been covered by many artists including Rosemary Clooney, Jimmy Dean, Boxcar Willie, Bill Black, and UK singer Shakin' Stevens. Hamblen died in Santa Monica, California on March 8th 1989 of brain cancer.
30-Oct-1908 Born on this day Beaudry, Arkansas, was Patsy Montana country music singer, songwriter and actress. Montana was the first female country performer to have a million-selling single with her signature song "I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart", and is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. She died on 3 May 1996 aged 87.
19-Dec-1908 Born on this day in Wakefield, Kentucky southeast of Louisville, was Bill Carlisle, country music singer, songwriter, comedian and guitarist popular in the late 1940s and 1950s but who influenced the genre for more than 50 years. Carlisle was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in September 2002. He died on March 17th 2003.
25-Dec-1908 Born on this day in Elkmont, Alabama, was Alton Delmore from The Delmore Brothers, the country music pioneers and stars of the Grand Ole Opry in the 1930s. The Delmore Brothers, together with other brother duos such as the Louvin Brothers, the Blue Sky Boys, the Monroe Brothers (Birch, Charlie and Bill Monroe), the McGee Brothers, and The Stanley Brothers, had a profound impact on the history of country music and American popular music. Delmore died on June 8th 1964.
3-Mar-1909 Born on this day in Tifton, Georgia was Johnny Barfield a country and old-time music performer, best known for his 1939 recording of "Boogie Woogie", the first country boogie. He died on 16 January 1974, aged 64.
29-Mar-1909 Born on this day near Corrigan, Polk County, Texas was Moon Mullican, country and western singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is associated with the hillbilly boogie style which greatly influenced rockabilly and in 1945, put together his own band, the Showboys. He scored the 1950 #1 hit "I'll Sail My Ship Alone." Mullican died on January 1, 1967 aged 57.
10-May-1909 Born on this day in Nickelsville, Virginia, was Maybelle Carter, country musician. She is best known as a member of the historic Carter Family act in the 1920s and '30s and also as a member of Mother Maybelle and the Carter Sisters. Maybelle Carter was inducted as part of The Carter Family in the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1970. In 1993, her image appeared on a US postage stamp honoring the Carter Family. She died on Oct 23rd 1978 aged 69.
17-Jun-1910 Born on this day, was Clyde Julian Foley, better known as Red Foley, the American singer, radio and TV personality became one of the biggest country music stars after World War II, selling over 25 million records. Foley also hosted the first popular country music series on network television, The Ozark Jubilee, from 1955 to 1960. Foley died on September 19, 1968. Hank Williams, Jr. who had been with him the day he died, later wrote and record (as Luke the Drifter, Jr.) "I Was With Red Foley (The Night He Passed Away)".
14-Jul-1910 Born on this day in Christian County, Missouri, was Slim Wilson, singer, songwriter, bandleader, and radio and TV personality who was a cornerstone of country music in the Ozarks for more than 50 years. He died on July 15, 1990.
22-Aug-1910 Born on this day in Smithville, Mississippi, was Rod Brasfield, a comedian who was prominently featured on the Grand Ole Opry from 1947 until his death in 1958. In 1987, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Brasfield died 12 Sept 1958.
29-Sep-1910 Born on this day in Ladonia in Fannin County, Texas, was Bill Boyd, American Western style singer and guitarist. He was a member of The Cowboys Ramblers who made more than 225 recordings between 1934-1951. The band had their own popular radio show, The Bill Boyd Ranch House. In 1935, the Cowboy Ramblers had a huge hit with their recording of "Under the Double Eagle".
17-Dec-1910 Born on this day, was Spade Cooley, American Western swing musician, big band leader, actor, and television personality. His career ended in 1961 when he was arrested and convicted for the murder of his second wife, Ella Mae Evans. Cooley died on November 23, 1969.
19-Jan-1911 Born on this day in Caledonia, Minnesota, was Ken Nelson, record producer and A&R man for Capitol Records who was responsible for country music's growth during the post-World War II era. During his years with Capitol, he produced many of the genre's most notable and successful hits, by artists including Merle Travis, Gene Vincent, Ferlin Husky, Jean Shepard, Hank Thompson and the many #1 country hits known as the Bakersfield Sound by Merle Haggard, Buck Owens, along with many others. Nelson was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001. He died on 6 Jan 2008 aged 96.
12-Feb-1911 Born on this day in Washington, D.C. was Stephen H. Sholes a prominent recording executive with RCA Victor. He was responsible for recruiting such talent as Chet Atkins, Eddy Arnold, The Browns, Hank Locklin, Homer and Jethro, Hank Snow, Jim Reeves, and Pee Wee King. In 1955, he signed Elvis Presley for RCA Victor.

11-Mar-1911 Born on this day in Comanche County, Texas, was Cowboy Slim Rinehart. He was among the first of the "Singing cowboys" of the 1930s and 40s (whose ranks included Jimmie Rodgers, Gene Autry, and Roy Rogers among others). He died on October 28, 1948 in Michigan in a car accident. Rinehart was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in October 1996, in recognition of his being a pioneer of the Texas music scene.
13-Sep-1911 Born on this day in Rosine, Kentucky, was Bill Monroe, American mandolinist who helped create the style of music known as bluegrass. The genre takes its name from his band, the "Blue Grass Boys", named for Monroe's home state of Kentucky. He is often referred to as 'The Father of Bluegrass'. Monroe died on Sept 9th 1996.
5-Nov-1911 Born on this day in Cincinnati, Ohio, was Roy Rogers, singer and cowboy actor, one of the most heavily marketed and merchandised stars of his era, as well as being the namesake of the Roy Rogers Restaurants franchised chain. He and his wife Dale Evans, his golden palomino, Trigger, and his German Shepherd dog, Bullet, were featured in more than 100 movies & The Roy Rogers Show. The show ran on radio for 9 years before moving to TV from 1951 - 1957. Rogers died of congestive heart failure on July 6, 1998, he was residing in Apple Valley, California.

14-Jul-1912 Born on this day in Okfuskee County, Oklahoma, was singer-songwriter Woody Guthrie. His best-known song is "This Land Is Your Land." Many of his recorded songs are archived in the Library of Congress and many Country artists have acknowledged Guthrie as a major influence.
2-Sep-1912 Born on this day was Johnnie Lee Wills the younger brother of Bob Wills. He played banjo with Bob as a member of the Texas Playboys starting in 1934. In 1949 he saw his greatest success with songs such as "Rag Mop" and "Peter Cotton Tail".
25-Oct-1912 Born on this day in Centerville, in Hickman County, Tennessee, was Minnie Pearl, country comedian who appeared at the Grand Ole Opry for more than 50 years (from 1940 to 1991) and on the television show Hee Haw from 1969 to 1991. Pearl died on 4 March 1996 aged 83.
31-Oct-1912 Born on this day in Uvalde, Texas, was Dale Evans, film star and singer-songwriter. She was the third wife of singing cowboy Roy Rogers. From 1951 to 1957, Evans and her husband starred in the highly successful television series The Roy Rogers Show, in which they continued their cowboy and cowgirl roles, with her riding her trusty buckskin horse, Buttermilk. She died on February 7, 2001 aged 88.
8-Dec-1912 Born on this day, was Jack Stapp who was an influential country music manager. He co-wrote, with Harry Stone, the popular song "Chattanooga Shoe Shine Boy." Stapp was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1989.
27-Jun-1913 Born on this day in Marshall, Arkansas was Elton Britt, country music guitarist and singer-songwriter. He recorded over 60 albums for RCA and other labels in more than a 30-year span, and is best known for such hit songs as "Someday (You'll Want Me to Want You)," "Detour," "Chime Bells," "Maybe I'll Cry Over You," "Pinto Pal," and the million-selling wartime hit "There's a Star-Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere". Britt died on June 22, 1972.
15-Jul-1913 Born on this day in Jefferson Township in Adams County, Ohio was Cowboy Copas (Lloyd Estel Copas), who had the 1960 #1 hit "Alabam". The American country music singer was popular from the 1940s until his death in the 1963 plane crash that also killed country stars Patsy Cline and Hawkshaw Hawkins on March 5, 1963.
20-Oct-1913 Born on this day in Henderson County, Kentucky, was Grandpa Jones an American banjo player and "old time" country and gospel music singer. He is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. Jones died on 19 Feb 1998 aged 84.
9-Feb-1914 Born on this day, was Ernest Tubb, nicknamed the Texas Troubadour, who was an American singer and songwriter and one of the early pioneers of country music. His biggest hit song, "Walking the Floor Over You" from 1941, marked the rise of the honky tonk style of music. Tubb died on September 6th 1984.

16-Feb-1914 Born on this day in Howard County, Arkansas, was Jimmy Wakely, actor and country Western music vocalist, and one of the last singing cowboys. During the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, he released records, appeared in several B-Western movies, appeared on radio and television and even had his own series of comic books. His duet singles with Margaret Whiting from 1949-51 produced a string of hits, including 1949's #1 hit on the US country charts and pop music charts, "Slippin' Around." Wakely died on September 23, 1982.
18-Feb-1914 Born on this day in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was Julius Frank Anthony Kuczynski who became better known as Pee Wee King. The American country music songwriter is best known for co-writing "The Tennessee Waltz", which was a hit for both Cowboy Copas, Patti Page and Petula Clark. He died of a heart attack in Louisville, Kentucky, aged 86 on March 7, 2000.

9-May-1914 Born on this day in Brooklyn, Queens County, Nova Scotia, was Hank Snow, (Clarence Eugene Snow), who scored more than 70 singles on the Billboard country charts from 1950 until 1980, including "I'm Moving On", "I Don't Hurt Anymore", and "Hello Love". He is a member of both the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame and the Music Hall of Fame. Snow died on December 20, 1999.

13-May-1914 Born on this day in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, was Johnnie Wright, the singer-songwriter who worked with Jack Anglin in the duo Johnnie & Jack, who had the 1965 #1 hit "Hello Vietnam", which was used as the opening theme in the film Full Metal Jacket. He died on Sept 27th 2011.
19-Jun-1914 Born on this day in Overton County, Tennessee, was Lester Flatt, bluegrass musician best known for his work in the Bluegrass duo The Foggy Mountain Boys. He was also known as "Flatt and Scruggs," with banjo picker Earl Scruggs who performed "The Ballad of Jed Clampett", which was used as the theme for the television show The Beverly Hillbillies. He also released many solo and collaboration works and hed been a member of Bill Monroe's band during the 1940s. He died on May 11th 1979.
22-Aug-1914 Born on this day in Lizard Lick, North Carolina, was Connie B. Gay renowned as a "founding father" and "major force" in country music. He is credited for coining the country music genre, which had previously been called hillbilly music. Gay was the founding president of the Country Music Association (CMA) and co-founder of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Gay died on 3 Dec 1989.
8-Dec-1914 Born on this day, was Floyd Tillman American country musician who, in the 1930s and 1940s, helped create the Western swing and honky tonk genres. Tillman was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970 and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1984. Tillman's only #1 song as a singer was "They Took the Stars Out of Heaven" which reached the top of the charts in 1944.
13-Jan-1915 Born on this day in Decatur, Illinois, was American country music singer-songwriter Jenny Lou Carson, the first woman to write a #1 country music hit, (the 1945 hit "You Two-Timed Me One Time Too Often"). From 1945 to 1955 she was one of the most prolific songwriters in country music.
1-Jun-1915 Born on this day in Enville, Oklahoma, was Johnny Bond best known for his 1947 hit "Divorce Me C.O.D.", one of his seven top ten hits on the Billboard country charts. In 1965, at the age of 50, he scored the biggest hit of his career with the comic "Ten Little Bottles", which spent four weeks at #2. Bond's other hits include "So Round, So Firm, So Fully Packed" (1947), "Oklahoma Waltz" (1948), "Love Song in 32 Bars" (1950), "Sick Sober and Sorry" (1951) and "Hot Rod Lincoln" (1960). Bond died on 12 June 1978.
16-Jul-1915 Born on this day was country music comedian and entertainer Speck Rhodes best known for his appearances on the Porter Wagoner television show. Rhodes died March 19, 2000 age 84.
4-Sep-1915 Born on this day, was Dick Thomas, American singing cowboy and actor. He was best known for his 1945 single "Sioux City Sue," a #1 country hit and #16 pop hit that year which later became a country music standard and was included in a Gene Autry movie. Thomas died on November 22, 2003.
21-Oct-1915 Born on this day, was American record producer Owen Bradley, who, along with Chet Atkins and Bob Ferguson, was one of the chief architects of the 1950s and 1960s Nashville sound in country music and rockabilly, working with artists such as Patsy Cline, Brenda Lee, Loretta Lynn, and Conway Twitty.
13-Nov-1915 Born on this day was Jack Guthrie, songwriter and performer whose rewritten version of the Woody Guthrie song "Oklahoma Hills" was a hit in 1945. The two musicians were cousins.
20-Jun-1916 Born on this day near Mena, Arkansas was David Luke Myrick who became known professionally as T. Texas Tyler, best known for his 1948 hit, "The Deck of Cards".
4-Jul-1916 Born on this day in Annville, Jackson County, Kentucky, was David Akeman better known as Stringbean (or String Bean), American country music banjo player and comedy musician best known for his role on the hit television show, Hee Haw. On November 10, 1973, Akeman and his wife were murdered by burglars at their rural Tennessee home in 1973 after they returned home after he performed at the Grand Ole Opry.
3-Dec-1916 Born on this day in Elkmont, Alabama, was Rabon Delmore from The Delmore Brothers, the country music pioneers and stars of the Grand Ole Opry in the 1930s. The Delmore Brothers, together with other brother duos such as the Louvin Brothers, the Blue Sky Boys, the Monroe Brothers (Birch, Charlie and Bill Monroe), the McGee Brothers, and The Stanley Brothers, had a profound impact on the history of country music and American popular music. Delmore died on Dec 4th 1952.
3-Jan-1917 Born on this day in Houston, was Leon McAuliffe who played steel guitar for Bob Wills' Texas Playboys from 1935-1942. He scored his own instrumental hit in 1949 with "Panhandle Rag."
15-Feb-1917 Born on this day near Adairsville, Georgia, was Wally Fowler singer, manager, and music promoter and businessman. He founded the Oak Ridge Quartet, a gospel act that eventually became the Oak Ridge Boys. He was known as The Man with a Million Friends and Mr. Gospel Music, he died on June 3rd
1-Mar-1917 Born on this day in Stockton, California, was Cliffie Stone, singer, musician, record producer, music publisher, and radio and TV personality who was pivotal in the development of California's thriving country music scene after World War II during a career that lasted six decades. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1989.
23-Jul-1917 Born on this day in Decatur, IL, was Judy Martin, country music singer, performing from the early 30's to the late 40's on the WLS-AM's National Barn Dance in Chicago. She was the second wife of Country Music Hall of Fame member Red Foley. On November 17, 1951 Foley died at her Nashville home from an overdose of sleeping pills aged 34.
23-Aug-1917 Born on this day in Ramsey, Illinois, was Sollie Paul Williams who became known as the American Western swing musician Tex Williams. He is best known for his talking blues style and had the 1947 novelty hit with "Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)" which he co-wrote with Merle Travis. Williams died of pancreatic cancer on October 11, 1985.
29-Nov-1917 Born on this day in Rosewood, Kentucky was Merle Travis. The American country and Western singer, songwriter known for his hit "Sixteen Tons". Travis' guitar style became known as "Travis picking", and his songs often discussed the life and exploitation of coal miners in the lyrics. Travis who was was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970 and elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1977 died on October 20, 1983.

13-Dec-1917 Born on this day in Lamar, Colorado, was Wesley Tuttle, country music singer. He relearned to play the guitar and ukulele after losing all but the thumb and one finger on his left hand. He contributed the yodeling to the "Silly Song" in Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and later backed Tex Ritter on guitar. He married actress Marilyn Myers in 1946 and acted with her in several Western films, in addition to recording the duet "Never" with her. Tuttle died on September 29, 2003.
30-Dec-1917 Born on this day in Lamar, Colorado, was Wesley Tuttle the country music singer. He was raised in California and took up music when he was four years old, relearning to play the guitar and ukulele after losing all but the thumb and one finger on his left hand. He contributed the yodeling to the "Silly Song" in Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and later backed Tex Ritter on guitar. Tuttle died on September 29, 2003.
11-Feb-1918 Born on this day in Chicago, Illinois, was Wesley Rose, music industry executive and record producer. Rose was a important part of the development of the country music industry. He was a driving force behind the creation of the Country Music Association.
15-Feb-1918 Born on this day in the Florida Panhandle, was Lawrence Hankins Locklin better known as Hank Locklin. A member of the Grand Ole Opry for nearly 50 years, Locklin had a long recording career and scored the hits, "Please Help Me, I'm Falling", "Send Me the Pillow That You Dream On" and "Geisha Girl". Locklin died on March 8, 2009.

15-May-1918 Born on this day near Henderson, Tennessee, was Richard Edward Arnold, who became known as Eddy Arnold. So-called 'Nashville sound' innovator of the late 1950s, Arnold scored 147 songs on the Billboard country music charts, second only to George Jones and has sold more than 85 million records. He co-wrote with Cindy Walker the country and pop standard "You Don't Know Me" which became a hit for Ray Charles in 1962. He died in a nursing home in Nashville, on May 8, 2008, exactly one week before his 90th birthday.
17-Jul-1918 Born on this day in Charleston, West Virginia was Woodrow Wilson Sovine better known as Red Sovine, the country music singer associated with truck driving songs. The most famous example is his 1976 #1 hit "Teddy Bear". He was killed on April 4, 1980 after he suffered a heart attack while driving his Ford van in Nashville, which caused him to crash.
20-Jul-1918 Born on this day near Mexia east of Waco, Texas, was Cindy Walker the prolific American songwriter, singer who wrote hits such as "Distant Drums", "Bubbles in My Beer", "Cherokee Maiden" and "You Don't Know Me". Walker who was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1997 and into the Texas Heritage Songwriters Hall of Fame in March 2011 also had the 1944 hit with "When My Blue Moon Turns to Gold Again".

16-Oct-1918 Born on this day, was Stoney Cooper, an American country star and member of the Grand Ole Opry. He was a master of the fiddle and the guitar. Cooper died on March 22 1977 aged 58.
13-Feb-1919 Born on this day in Bristol, Tennessee, was Ernest Jennings Ford better known as Tennessee Ernie Ford. The television host scored an unexpected hit in 1955 with his rendition of Merle Travis' "Sixteen Tons". Ford died on October 17, 1991 exactly 36 years after "Sixteen Tons" was released, and one day shy of the first anniversary of his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
30-Aug-1919 Born on this day in Nashville, Tennessee was Ellen Muriel Deason who became known as Kitty Wells. Her 1952 hit "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels", made her the first female country singer to top the US country charts, and turned her into the first female country star. In 1976, she was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame; as of 2011 - at the age of 92 - is its oldest living member. Wells' accomplishments earned her the moniker, 'The Queen of Country Music.'
1-Dec-1919 Born on this day in Dublin, Texas was Slim Willet (Winston Lee Moore), disc jockey, musician, and songwriter who had the 1952 US Country #1 "Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes".
25-Dec-1919 Born on this day in China Grove, North Carolina was bluegrass musician Curly Seckler. He played with Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs in their band the Foggy Mountain Boys from 1949 to 1962. He died in his sleep on December 27, 2017, just two days after his 98th birthday.
13-Feb-1920 Born on this day in Shellman, Georgia, was Boudleaux Bryant, songwriter with his wife Felice. They wrote The Everly Brothers hits, "Bye Bye Love", "All I Have To Do Is Dream" and "Wake Up Little Susie" as well as "Raining In My Heart", which was a hit for Buddy Holly. Many other artists have recorded their songs including Charley Pride, Gram Parsons, Ray Charles, Jim Reeves, Red Foley. Bryant died on June 25th 1987.
10-Mar-1920 Born on this day in Conasauga, Tennessee, was Kenneth C. "Jethro" Burns, American country musician, comedian, and mandolin player. He was better known by his stage name Jethro from his years with Henry D. Haynes as part of the comedic musical duo Homer and Jethro. In 2001, Burns and Haynes were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
27-Jul-1920 Born on this day near Knoxville, Tennessee, was Henry D. "Homer" Haynes, American entertainer who gained fame on radio and television as Homer of the country music comedy duo Homer and Jethro with Kenneth C. Burns for 35 years beginning in 1936. The pair recorded more than 50 albums during their career and won a Grammy for the best comedy performance in 1959 for "The Battle of Kookamonga," a parody of Johnny Horton's "Battle of New Orleans." Haynes, who owned Fender Stratocaster serial number 0001, died on August 8, 1971 of a heart attack in Hammond, Indiana.
19-Dec-1920 Born on this day in Bolt, West Virginia, was Little James Dickens, famous for his humorous novelty songs, his small size, 4'11" (150 cm), and his rhinestone-studded outfits. He scored the 1965 #1 "May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose", and has been a member of the Grand Ole Opry for 60 years and is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. He died on Jan 2nd 2015 at the age of 94.
7-Feb-1921 Born on this day in Valley Head, West Virginia, was Wilma Lee Cooper American bluegrass-based country music entertainer. Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper had success in the late 1950s and early 1960s scoring seven hit records between 1956 and 1961, with four top ten hits on Billboard charts, notably "Big Midnight Special" and "There's a Big Wheel." He died on Sept 13 2011 aged 90.

20-Feb-1921 Born on this day in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. was Mervin Shiner. Several of his songs, such as "Why Don't You Haul Off and Love Me", which made the top ten on the Country & Western chart and "Peter Cottontail," achieved success and opened doors for him, allowing him to perform with renowned artists like Hank Williams and Minnie Pearl. Shiner died in Tampa, Florida, on October 23, 2023, at the age of 102.
1-Apr-1921 Born on this day in Clinton, South Carolina was Country guitarist Arthur Smith, best known for the theme tune from the 1972 film Deliverance, He was one of the most influential guitar-players in country and early rock 'n' roll. He found fame with his 1948 single "Guitar Boogie" and enjoyed other hits including "Feudin' Banjos" in 1955. When the Warner Bros film studio used a cover version and renamed it "Dueling Banjos" for Deliverance, he sued them and won substantial royalties. He died at his home from natural causes at the age of 93 just 2 days after his 93rd birthday.
10-Apr-1921 Born on this day in Erick, Oklahoma, was Sheb Wooley, the singer, songwriter and actor best known for his 1958 novelty song "Purple People Eater". He played Ben Miller, brother of Frank Miller in the film High Noon, Travis Cobb in The Outlaw Josey Wales, and also had a co-starring role as scout Pete Nolan in the television program Rawhide. He died in Nashville, Tennessee on September 16th 2003.
13-May-1921 Born on this day in Dora, Alabama, was Terry Fell who started his record career in 1945 as a member of Billy Hughes band. During his first session for RCA in Hollywood, he recorded a song that would become a hit. Although the A-side, "Don't Drop It", was underplayed, the B-side, "Truck Drivin Man", became a classic, especially in the trucker country music scene. Many artists have covered the song including; Ricky Nelson, Boxcar Willie, Charley Pride, Conway Twitty, Jimmy Martin, The Flying Burrito Brothers, George Hamilton IV, Glen Campbell, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Willie Nelson, David Allan Coe, Leon Russell and Toby Keith.
8-Aug-1921 Born on this day in West Monroe, Louisiana, was Webb Pierce who became one of the most popular American honky tonk vocalists of the 1950s, charting more #1 hits than any other country artist during the decade. His best know hit "In The Jailhouse Now," stayed on the charts for 37 weeks in 1955. Pierce died after a long battle with pancreatic cancer on February 24, 1991.
17-Aug-1921 Born on this day was American country singer and harmonica player Wayne Raney. His longtime musical associate was Lonnie Glosson and the two men established a harmonica mail order business which sold millions of harmonicas and played a major role in turning the harmonica into a widely popular instrument. His 1949 single, "Why Don't You Haul Off and Love Me", was a #1 country hit. He died on January 23, 1993.
22-Dec-1921 Born on this day in Huntington, West Virginia, was Hawkshaw Hawkins, country music singer popular from the 1950s into the early 60s and known for his rich, smooth vocals and music drawn from blues, boogie and honky tonk. Hawkins died in the 1963 plane crash that also killed country stars Patsy Cline and Cowboy Copas.
26-Mar-1922 Jeff Carson died from a heart attack at a hospital in Franklin, Tennessee, at the age of 58. He had charted fourteen singles on the Billboard country charts, including the #1 hit "Not on Your Love." He retired from music in 2009 and became a police officer.
4-Jun-1922 Born on this day in London, Ontario was Canadian entertainer Gordie Tapp. He is best known as a radio and television presenter, comedian and longtime cast member of the television series Hee Haw. Tapp was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 1990. He died on December 18, 2016 at the age of 94.
24-Jul-1922 Born on this day in Troy, Tennessee was country music singer and songwriter Lawton Williams. His major label debut, in 1951 on Coral, was "Everlastin' Love"/"Lovin' Overtime." He became in demand as a songwriter, Hank Locklin recorded his "Geisha Girl" and "Color Of The Blues", co-written with George Jones, was a country #10 for Jones. Williams died on July 27, 2007 age 85.
26-Jul-1922 Born on this day in Lundale, West Virginia, was Jim Foglesong country music producer and executive from the 1950s until the 1990s, based in Nashville He signed many artists, among them Barbara Mandrell, Don Williams, Garth Brooks, Donna Fargo, Reba McEntire, The Oak Ridge Boys, Con Hunley, George Strait, Tanya Tucker, Sawyer Brown, Suzy Bogguss, and Kevin Morris. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2004.
20-Dec-1922 Born on this day in Surrey Hills, Victoria, Australian country singer, songwriter Geoff Mack. He wrote the song "I've Been Everywhere" which became popular in North America when adapted for Hank Snow. More than 130 cover versions of the song have since been recorded.
5-Jan-1923 Born on this day near Florence, Alabama, was Sam Phillips, businessman, record executive, record producer and DJ who most notably founded Sun Studios and Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee. Through Sun, Phillips discovered such recording talent as Howlin' Wolf, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash. The height of his success culminated in his launching of Elvis Presley's career in 1954. Philips was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in October 2001. He died on 30 July 2003.
5-Feb-1923 Born on this day in Keithville, Louisiana, was Claude King, singer and songwriter, best known for his million selling 1962 hit, "Wolverton Mountain". Written with Nashville veteran Merle Kilgore, the song is based on a real character, Clifton Clowers, an uncle of Kilgore's who lived on Wolverton Mountain north of Morrilton, Arkansas. King died at his home in Shreveport on March 7, 2013, at the age of ninety.

28-Feb-1923 Born on this day, in Pike County, Alabama, was Audrey Williams. She met Hank Williams in 1943 at the age of 20, and the couple married before a Justice of the Peace at a gas station near Andalusia, Alabama in December 1944. She died from heart failure related to her years of alcohol and drug use on 4th November 1975 at the age of 52. Audrey is mentioned in the song by Johnny Cash featuring Waylon Jennings: "The Night Hank Williams Came To Town" as "How'd They Get Miss Audrey In That Gown."
25-Mar-1923 Born on this day in Seattle, Washington, was Bonnie Guitar, Country-Pop Singer. She is best remembered for her 1957 Country-Pop crossover hit "Dark Moon". She became one of the first female Country Music singers to have songs crossover from the Country charts to the Pop charts. She died on January 13th 2019 age 95.
2-Jul-1923 Born on this day, in Maces Spring, Virginia, was Janette Carter who was the last surviving child of A.P. and Sara Carter, of Carter Family musical fame. In 1976, she and community members built an 880-seat amphitheater, the Carter Family Fold, beside the store her father operated in Southwestern Virginia. Today, the Carter Family Fold attracts more than 50,000 visitors a year. She died on 22nd Jan 2006 aged 82.
20-Aug-1923 Born on this day in Galloway, Texas was American country music singer-songwriter James Travis Reeves who became known as Jim Reeves, (Gentleman Jim). With records charting from the 1950s to the 1980s, he became well known as a practitioner of the Nashville sound. Reeves who scored over ten Country music #1's died in a plane crash on 31st July 1964 aged 40. He is a member of both the Country Music and Texas Country Music Halls of Fame.

17-Sep-1923 Born on this day in Mount Olive, Alabama, was Hank Williams (born Hiram King Williams). The American singer-songwriter and musician is regarded as one of the most important country music artists of all time. Williams recorded 35 singles (five released posthumously) that would place in the Top 10 of the Billboard Country & Western Best Sellers chart, including 11 that ranked #1. During his last years Williams's consumption of alcohol, morphine and painkillers severely compromised his professional life. Williams died aged 29 on January 1, 1953.

6-Jan-1924 Born on this day in Shelby, North Carolina, was Earl Scruggs the American musician noted for perfecting and popularizing a 3-finger banjo-picking style (now called Scruggs style). Worked with Bill Monroe in the "Blue Grass Boys", scored the hit as Flatt and Scruggs with "The Ballad of Jed Clampett" for the TV show The Beverly Hillbillies in 1962. Scruggs died from natural causes on March 28, 2012, in a Nashville hospital.

20-Jan-1924 Born on this day in Tampa, Florida, was Ottis Dewey Whitman, Jr. who became known professionally as Slim Whitman. The American country music singer and songwriter, known for his yodelling abilities has sold in excess of 120 million albums. His 1955 hit single "Rose Marie" held the Guinness World Record for the longest time at#1 on the UK charts until Bryan Adams broke the record in 1991. Beatle George Harrison cited Whitman as an early influence, stating; "The first person I ever saw playing a guitar was Slim Whitman". He died on June 19th 2013.

25-Jan-1924 Born on this day, American pedal steel guitarist and record producer Speedy West who was part of the regular Capitol Records backing band for Tennessee Ernie Ford and many others. He also played on Loretta Lynn's first single. He died on November 15, 2003.
16-Feb-1924 Born on this day in Orlinda, Tennessee was music executive Jo Walker-Meadow. She served as Executive Director of the Country Music Association (CMA) from 1962 to 1991. During her tenure, she created the first Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Walker-Meador died of a stroke in Nashville on August 16, 2017 age 93.
29-Mar-1924 Born on this day on Akron, Ohio was country musician and songwriter Jimmy Work best known for the country standard "Making Believe" recorded by many artists including Kitty Wells, Johnny Cash, Don Gibson, Roy Acuff, Lefty Frizzell, Wanda Jackson, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris and Merle Haggard. He died on December 22, 2018, at the age of 94.
21-Apr-1924 Born on this day in Section, Alabama, was Ira Louvin, country music singer, mandolinist and songwriter and one half of The Louvin Brothers who helped popularize close harmony, a genre of country music. In 2001, the Louvin brothers were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Ira Louvin died on June 20th 1965.
28-Jun-1924 Born on this day in Waverly, Tennessee was George Morgan, American country music singer who had the 1949 US #1 hit "Candy Kisses". In 1974, Morgan was the last person to sing on the stage of the Ryman Auditorium before the Grand Ole Opry moved to the new Grand Ole Opry House. A week later he was the first to sing on stage at the venue. He died on July 7, 1975.
3-Aug-1924 Born on this day in Gleason in northwest Tennessee, was Gordon Stoker. He was a member of the world-famous Jordanaires and was heard on records by artists such as Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline and Jim Reeves. The Jordanaires were the background group on the majority of Presley's records and also appeared on classic records such as Cline's "Crazy," Reeves' "Four Walls," and Loretts Lynn's "Coal Miners' Daughter". He died on March 27th 2013.
19-Sep-1924 Born on this day in Toronto, Ontario, was Canadian comedian, actor, director, journalist, author, playwright and composer Don Harron. He is perhaps best known for the comedic character Charlie Farquharson from the country music television show, Hee Haw. He died on January 17, 2015 age 90.
5-Mar-1925 Born on this day in Moultrie, Georgia was American country music guitarist Jimmy Bryant. Waylon Jennings had a hit with his song "Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line". Bryant died on September 22nd 1980 at the age of 55.
12-Apr-1925 Born on this day in Rains, Carbon County, Utah, was Ned Miller, known for his hit single, "From a Jack to a King", a crossover hit in 1962 which reached the Top 10 on the country music chart. Ricky Van Shelton later had a #1 hit with his version of the song. He died on March 18, 2016 age 90.
30-Apr-1925 Born on this day in Los Angeles, California, was Johnny Horton, most famous for his semi-folk, so-called "saga songs" which began the "historical ballad" craze of the late 1950s and early 1960s. With them, he had several major successes, most notably during 1959 with the song "The Battle of New Orleans" (written by Jimmy Driftwood) which was awarded the 1960 Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Recording. Horton was killed in a car crash near Milano, Texas involving a truck on November 5, 1960.

23-May-1925 Born on this day in Crimora, Virginia was Mac Wiseman, who worked as a sideman for Bill Monroe and Flatt & Scruggs as well as releasing his own solo bluegrass records for the Dot label. Wiseman also serves as a founding member of the Country Music Association and joined the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2014. He died on February 24th 2019.
2-Jul-1925 Born on this day, in Wichita, Kansas, was Marvin Rainwater, country and rockabilly singer and songwriter who had several hits during the late 1950s, including "Gonna Find Me a Bluebird" and "Whole Lotta Woman." He was known for wearing Native American-themed outfits on stage and was 25 percent Cherokee. Rainwater died on Sept 17 2013.

7-Aug-1925 Born on this day, was Felice Bryant, songwriter with her husband Boudleaux. They wrote the Everly Brothers hits, "All I Have To Do Is Dream", "Bye Bye Love", "Wake Up Little Susie" and "Raining In My Heart" a hit for Buddy Holly. Many other artists have recorded their songs including Charley Pride, Gram Parsons, Ray Charles, Jim Reeves, and Red Foley.
15-Aug-1925 Born on this day in Boaz, Alabama, was Rose Maddox country singer-songwriter and fiddle player, who was the lead singer with the Maddox Brothers and Rose before a successful solo career. Dolly Parton credits Maddox as an early influence. Maddox died on April 15th 1998.
28-Aug-1925 Born on this day in Benton, Illinois, was Billy Grammer, country music singer and accomplished guitar player. He recorded the million-selling "Gotta Travel On", which made it onto both the country and pop music charts in 1959. Grammer would become a regular performer on the Grand Ole Opry, eventually designing, and marketing his namesake guitar after co-founding a guitar company, in Nashville, Tennessee. He died on Aug 10th 2011.
3-Sep-1925 Born on this day in Waco, Texas, was Henry William Thompson, who became known as Hank Thompson. His career which spanned seven decades saw him sell over 60 million records worldwide. He was a leader in the music industry with accomplishments including the first music-based television show to be broadcast in color, the first artist to travel with sound and lighting systems and the first to record a live album. Thompson died from lung cancer, on November 6, 2007 aged eighty-two.
26-Sep-1925 Born on this day in Glendale, Maricopa County, Arizona, was Martin David Robinson, who became known as Marty Robbins, the American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. One of the most popular and successful country and Western singers of his era, releasing over 50 singles and 100 albums. Robbins died of a heart attack on December 8, 1982.

28-Nov-1925 The Grand Ole Opry started as the WSM Barn Dance in the new fifth-floor radio studio of the National Life & Accident Insurance Company in downtown Nashville. Some of the bands regularly on the show during its early days included Bill Monroe, the Possum Hunters (with Dr. Humphrey Bate), the Fruit Jar Drinkers, the Crook Brothers, the Binkley Brothers' Dixie Clodhoppers, Uncle Dave Macon, Sid Harkreader, Deford Bailey, Fiddlin' Arthur Smith, and the Gully Jumpers.
3-Dec-1925 Born on this day in Cantwell, Missouri was Ferlin Husky, an early American country music singer. He had two dozen Top 20 hits in the Billboard country charts between 1953 and 1975 including his version of "Wings of a Dove". He died on 17th March 2011.
18-Dec-1925 Born on this day, was James Carter, an American amateur singer and several times an inmate of the Mississippi prison system. He was paid $20,000, and credited, for a four-decade-old lead-vocalist performance used on the soundtrack to the film O Brother, Where Art Thou? Folk music historian Alan Lomax had recoded the imates (including Carter), in 1959, singing and chopping logs in time to music. Carter died on November 26, 2003 aged 77.
2-Jan-1926 Born on this day was Harold Bradley, American country and pop guitarist. As a session musician into the 1970s, he performed on hundreds of albums by country stars such as Patsy Cline, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley and Slim Whitman. Bradley was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2006. He died on January 31st 2019 age 93.
12-Jan-1926 Born on this day in Perryville, Texas, was Ray Price, singer, songwriter and guitarist. His wide-ranging baritone has often been praised as among the best male voices of country music. He was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1996. Price died on 16th Dec 2013 aged 87 at his ranch outside Mount Pleasant, Texas.

30-May-1926 Born in Tyler, Texas was Fiddler Johnny Gimble. Named Instrumentalist of the Year five times by the Country Music Association, his credits include work with Bob Wills, Willie Nelson, Moe Bandy and George Strait. He died at his home in Dripping Springs, Texas on May 9, 2015, aged 88.
1-Jun-1926 Born on this day in Mount Airy, North Carolina was Andy Griffith actor, Grammy Award-winning Southern-gospel singer, and writer. His most successful release was the 1996 I Love to Tell the Story: 25 Timeless Hymns, which won a Grammy Award for Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album at the 1997 Grammy Awards. Griffith died on July 3rd 2012.
27-Aug-1926 Born on this day in Butcher Holler, KY was Oliver Lynn, an American talent manager and country music figure, best known as the husband of country music legend Loretta Lynn. Doolittle was instrumental in developing Lynn's musical talent and country music career, purchasing her first guitar, getting her first radio appearances, and serving as her de facto talent manager for many years. He died on August 22, 1996.
2-Nov-1926 Born on this day in Copeville, Texas, was Charlie Walker country musician, Walker worked as a disc jockey in the early 1950s before signing with Decca Records. His first hit, "Only You, Only You" was co-written with Jack Newman and reached #9 on the country chart in 1956. Walker later reached #2 with a Harlan Howard song, "Pick Me Up On Your Way Down". He died on September 12, 2008.
21-Dec-1926 Born on this day, was Freddie Hart, country musician and songwriter best-known for his #1 hit "Easy Loving," which won the Country Music Association Song of the Year award in 1971 and 1972. He died on October 27th 2018 age 91.
13-Jan-1927 Born on this day in Roseau, Minnesota, was American country music singer, songwriter Liz Anderson. She received two Grammy Award nominations in 1967, for "Best Female Country Vocal Performance" for her Top 5 hit, the self-penned "Mama Spank" and with Bobby Bare and Norma Jean for "Best Country Vocal - Group" for another top 5 hit "The Game of Triangles". Anderson also wrote many of the early hits for her daughter, Lynn Anderson. Liz Anderson died on Oct 31st 2011.
25-Feb-1927 Born on this day in Southwest Virginia, was Ralph Stanley also known as Dr. Ralph Stanley, bluegrass artist, known for his distinctive singing and banjo playing. His work was featured in the 2000 film O Brother, Where Art Thou?, in which he sings the Appalachian dirge "O Death." That song won him a 2002 Grammy Award in the category of Best Male Country Vocal Performance. Stanley died on June 23 2016 aged 89.
28-Feb-1927 Born on this day in New Brockton, Alabama was Don Helms a steel guitarist best known as the steel guitar player of Hank Williams' Drifting Cowboys. Helms was a featured musician on over 100 Hank Williams recordings and went on to play on many classic country hits, including Patsy Cline's "Walking After Midnight," Stonewall Jackson's "Waterloo," the Louvin Brothers' "Cash on the Barrelhead," Lefty Frizzell's "Long Black Veil" and Loretta Lynn's "Blue Kentucky Girl." He died on August 11, 2008.
15-Mar-1927 Born on this day in Maynardville, Tennessee was Carl Smith, better known as "Mister Country". Smith was the husband of June Carter (later June Carter Cash) and the father of Carlene Carter. He was one of country's most successful male artists during the 1950s, with 30 Top 10 Billboard hits, including 21 in a row. Smith died on January 16, 2010.
2-Jun-1927 Born on this day in Knoxville, Tennessee, was Carl Butler who with his wife became known as Carl Butler and Pearl. Between 1962 and 1969, the duo released several singles and charted thirteen times on the US country charts, reaching #1 in 1962 with their first single, "Don't Let Me Cross Over". He died of a heart attack on September 4, 1992.

7-Jul-1927 Born on this day in Henagar, Alabama, was Charlie Louvin, singer and songwriter. He is best known as one of the Louvin Brothers, and was a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1955. In 2001, the Louvin brothers were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Charlie Louvin died on 26 Jan 2011.
3-Aug-1927 Ralph Peer, a representative of the Victor Talking Machine Company held auditions for local musicians in Bristol, Tennessee which saw Jimmie Rodgers auditioning for Peer in an empty warehouse. The following day Rodgers completed his first session for Victor, recording two songs: "The Soldier's Sweetheart" and "Sleep, Baby, Sleep". For the test recordings, Rodgers received $100.
4-Aug-1927 Jimmie Rodgers recorded for the first time in Bristol, Tennessee, singing "Sleep, Baby, Sleep" and "The Soldier's Sweetheart" during an afternoon session with producer Ralph Peer at a furniture store at 408 State Street. Among the first country music superstars and pioneers, Rodgers was also known as The Singing Brakeman, The Blue Yodeler, as well as The Father of Country Music.
12-Aug-1927 Born on this day, in West Plains, Missouri was Porter Wagoner, Country singer known for his flashy Nudie and Manuel suits and blond pompadour. In 1967, he introduced a then little known Dolly Parton on his long-running television show. Also known as Mr. Grand Ole Opry, Wagoner has scored over 80 US singles from 1954-1983. He died from lung cancer on October 28, 2007.
27-Aug-1927 Born on this day near Big Mamou, Louisiana was Jimmy Yves Newman, better known as Jimmy C. Newman (the C stands for Cajun), the American singer and a long time star of the Grand Ole Opry.
8-Sep-1927 Born on this day, in Detroit, Michigan, was Harlan Howard, American songwriter. In a career spanning six decades, Howard wrote songs, recorded by a variety of different artists including "Fall to Pieces", co-written with Hank Cochran and recorded by Patsy Cline. Howard was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1997. He died on March 3, 2002.
19-Sep-1927 Born on this day was Helen Carter, American country music singer. The eldest daughter of Maybelle Carter, she performed with her mother and her younger sisters, June Carter and Anita Carter, as a member of Mother Maybelle and the Carter Sisters, a pioneering all female country/folk music group. The group was also known as The Carter Family. She died on June 2nd 1998 aged 70.
30-Sep-1927 Born on this day in Nashville, was Pearl Dee Jones who with her husband became known as Carl Butler and Pearl. Between 1962 and 1969, the duo released several singles and charted thirteen times on the US country charts, reaching #1 in 1962 with their first single, "Don't Let Me Cross Over". Pearl died at the age of 60 on March 1, 1988.
2-Oct-1927 Born on this day in Billings, Missouri was Leon Rausch "the voice" of "Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys. Rausch died on May 14, 2019, in Fort Worth, Texas age 91.
13-Oct-1927 Born on this day in Memphis, Tennessee was singer, arranger, composer, pianist, and music producer Anita Kerr. She worked on sessions as the Anita Kerr Singers with many artists as well as a producer working with artists including Patsy Cline, Jim Reeves, Red Foley, Hank Snow, Brenda Lee, Pat Boone, Rosemary Clooney, Roy Orbison, and Willie Nelson. Kerr died on October 10, 2022, in Carouge, Geneva, Switzerland, at the age of 94, just 3 days short of her 95th birthday.
8-Nov-1927 Born on this day was Patti Page. Page's signature song, "Tennessee Waltz", recorded in 1950, was one of the biggest-selling singles of the 20th century, and is also one of the nine official state songs of Tennessee. She was the best-selling female artist of the 1950s and sold over 100 million records. Page died aged 85 on Jan 1st 2013.

10-Dec-1927 The phrase 'Grand Ole Opry' was first uttered on-air. That night Barn Dance followed the NBC Red Network's Music Appreciation Hour, a program of classical music and selections from Grand Opera presented by classical conductor Walter Damrosch. That night, Damrosch remarked that "there is no place in the classics for realism," In response, Opry presenter George Hay said: "Friends, the program which just came to a close was devoted to the classics. Doctor Damrosch told us that there is no place in the classics for realism. However, from here on out for the next three hours, we will present nothing but realism. It will be down to earth for the 'earthy'."
15-Dec-1927 Born on this day in Guilford, Missouri, was Jerry Wallace country and pop singer. Between 1958 and 1964, Wallace charted nine hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including the #8 "Primrose Lane." He died on May 5, 2008.
30-Dec-1927 Born on this day in Willow Springs, Missouri was country music songwriter and record producer Bob Ferguson. He worked for nearly 30 years at RCA's Studio B in Nashville producing hundreds of albums for artists such as Chet Atkins, Dolly Parton, and Porter Wagoner. Ferguson is also best known for writing the bestselling songs "On the Wings of a Dove" and "The Carroll County Accident." He died age 73 on July 22, 2001.
8-Jan-1928 Born on this day in Tennessee, was Luther Perkins, guitarist who played an essential role in defining Johnny Cash's "boom-chicka-boom" rockabilly sound. Perkins is lauded in the title of Cash's Top 10 1959 single "Luther Played The Boogie". Perkins died in a house fire on Aug 3rd 1968 after he apparently went to sleep in the living room of his home while holding a lit cigarette.

31-Mar-1928 Born on this day in Corsicana, Texas, was Lefty Frizzell (born William Orville Frizzell). The American country music singer and songwriter of the 1950s, became an influence on later stars including Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, George Jones, John Fogerty and Roy Orbison, (who as a part of the Traveling Wilburys chose the name "Lefty Wilbury" to honor his musical hero). Frizzell died on July 19, 1975.
3-Apr-1928 Born on this day in Shelby, North Carolina, was Don Gibson, songwriter and country musician who was nicknamed 'The Sad Poet' because he frequently wrote songs that told of loneliness and lost love. Gibson, who made his first recordings in 1948, penned such country standards as "Sweet Dreams", "Oh Lonesome Me" and "I Can't Stop Loving You", (which has been recorded by over 700 artists, most notably by Ray Charles in 1962) Gibson enjoyed a string of country hits from 1957 into the early 1970s. He died from natural causes on November 17, 2003.
21-Apr-1928 Born on this day in Lafayette, Tennessee, was American country music guitar player, Hillous Butrum, best known as being a member of Hank Williams' Drifting Cowboys. He died on April 27th 2002.
1-May-1928 Born on this day near outside Hackleburg, Alabama, was James Loden who became known as Sonny James, best known for his 1957 hit, "Young Love". Dubbed the Southern Gentleman, James has had 72 country and pop chart hits from 1953 to 1983, including a five-year streak of 16 straight among his 23 #1 hits. James died on 22 Feb 2016 aged 87.
3-May-1928 Born on this day in Spencer, Wisconsin, was Dave Dudley, country music singer best-known for his truck-driving country anthems of the 1960s and 1970s including the 1963, hit "Six Days on the Road". He died on December 22, 2003.

5-May-1928 Born on this day in Bessemer City, North Carolina, was Marshall Grant, upright bassist and electric bassist with Johnny Cash's original backing duo, the Tennessee Two, in which Grant and electric guitarist Luther Perkins played. The group became known as The Tennessee Three in 1960, with the addition of drummer W. S. Holland. Grant also served as road manager for Cash and his touring show company. He died on August 7, 2011.
10-Aug-1928 Born on this day in Olton, Texas was Jimmy Ray Dean the American country music singer, television host, and businessman who had the 1961 country crossover hit "Big Bad John". Dean became a national television personality in the late 50's with his television series, The Jimmy Dean Show and is also famous as the creator of the 'Jimmy Dean sausage brand'. Dean died of natural causes at the age of 81, on June 13, 2010.
15-Nov-1928 Born on this day in Audubon, Iowa, was C. W. McCall (William Dale Fries, Jr.), singer, activist and politician known for his truck-themed outlaw country songs who had the 1975 US Country #1 and cross-over hit "Convoy."
15-Dec-1928 Born on this day in Huntsville, Alabama was Ernest Ashworth who charted several singles on Billboard Hot Country Songs, including the #1 "Talk Back Trembling Lips" and six other top ten hits. He died on March 2, 2009.
15-Dec-1928 Born on this day, was Jerry Wallace country and pop singer who between 1958 and 1964, scored nine hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including the #1 "If You Leave Me Tonight I'll Cry".
23-Dec-1928 Born on this day in Nashville, Tennessee, was Buddy Harman who as a session musician played drums on over 18,000 sessions for artists such as Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, Brenda Lee, Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn, Roy Orbison, Chet Atkins, Marty Robbins, Roger Miller, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, Kenny Rogers, Merle Haggard, Reba McEntire, and many more. He died on August 21, 2008.
14-Jan-1929 Born on this day in Ralls, Texas, was William Marvin Walker, better known as Billy Walker the country music singer and guitarist. He is best-known for his 1962 hit, "(I'd Like to Be In) Charlie's Shoes". Nicknamed The Tall Texan, Walker had more than 30 charted records during a nearly 60-year career and was a longtime member of the Grand Ole Opry. Walker was killed on May 21, 2006 in a car accident when the van he was driving back to Nashville after a performance in Foley, Alabama veered off Interstate 65 in Fort Deposit and overturned.
5-Feb-1929 Born on this day, was Hal Blaine, session drummer known for his work with the Wrecking Crew in California. Blaine has played on 50 #1 hits and worked with numerous artists including Glen Campbell, Elvis Presley, John Denver, The Byrds, Simon & Garfunkel, The Carpenters, and The Beach Boys.
27-Mar-1929 Born on this day was Don Warden, American country musician and manager best known for his years on The Porter Wagoner Show and as the manager of Wagoner and Dolly Parton. Warden was inducted into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame in 2008. He died on March 11th 2017 age 87.
4-Jun-1929 Born on this day was American country music songwriter, singer, and radio host Bill Mack. His best-known song is "Blue," one of LeAnn Rimes' biggest hits. The song won Mack the Grammy Award for Best Country Song in 1997. Mack also wrote "Drinking Champagne," which has been recorded by numerous artists. He died on July 31, 2020.
23-Jun-1929 Born on this day, was June Carter Cash, country singer, and wife of Johnny Cash. She had hits with Johnny Cash including, "Ring Of Fire", "Jackson", "If I Were A Carpenter". She played the guitar, banjo, harmonica, and autoharp, and acted in several films and television shows. Carter Cash won five Grammy Awards. She died 15th May 2003 aged 73.

9-Jul-1929 Born on this day in Mannford, Oklahoma, was Lee Hazlewood country and pop singer, songwriter, and record producer, his recordings have been praised as an essential contribution to a sound often described as "Cowboy Psychedelia." He died on Aug 4th 2007.
1-Aug-1929 Born on this day was American bluegrass fiddler Mack Magaha, best known as a member of Porter Wagoner's band, and a long-time backup player in the pioneering bluegrass band, Reno and Smiley. He wrote "I know You're Married But I Love You Still" which was recorded by Reno & Smiley and later covered by artists such as Bill Anderson, Rodney Crowell, Patty Loveless and Travis Tritt. He died on August 15, 2003.
12-Aug-1929 Born on this day in Sherman, Texas was Buck Owens, Jr., singer and guitarist, who scored twenty 21 #1 hits on the Billboard country music charts and pioneered what has come to be called the Bakersfield sound a reference to Bakersfield, California. Owens died in his sleep of an apparent heart attack on March 25th 2006.
1-Oct-1929 Born on this day in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma was country singer Bonnie Owens who was married to Buck Owens and later Merle Haggard. In 1965 Haggard and Owens recorded the song "Just Between the Two of Us", a duet and probably Owens's best known hit. She died on April 24, 2006.
4-Oct-1929 Born on this day in Mora, Missouri, was Leroy Frank Van Dyke, the American country music singer. He has recorded more than 500 songs, his best known hits, are "The Auctioneer" (which sold over 2.5 million copies), from 1956 and "Walk On By" from 1961, (which was named by Billboard in 1994 as the biggest country single of all time, based on sales, plays and weeks in the charts).
7-Jan-1930 Born on this day in Maryville, Tennessee, was Jack Greene the country musician nicknamed the "Jolly Green Giant". His best known song is the 1966 #1 hit "There Goes My Everything." He died at home on March 14, 2013, from complications of Alzheimer's disease two months after his 83rd birthday.
13-Mar-1930 Born on this day in West Plains, Missouri, was Jan Howard country music singer and Grand Ole Opry star. Howard's biggest hit and signature song is the 1966 country hit "Evil on Your Mind", which peaked at #5 on the Billboard country charts. Howard died on March 28, 2020 age 91 fifteen days after her 91st birthday, in Gallatin, Tennessee.
22-Jun-1930 Born on this day in Atlanta, Georgia, was Roy Drusky, singer who was popular from the 1960s through the early 1970s. Known for his baritone voice. His highest-charting single was the #1 "Yes Mr. Peters", a duet with Priscilla Mitchell. He died on September 23, 2004.
7-Jul-1930 Born on this day in Hardy, Arkansas was Doyle Wilburn who was one half of the country music duo The Wilburn Brothers. In addition to being successful artists, the Wilburns formed the Wil-helm Talent Agency in the early 1960s and were instrumental in launching the careers of many country music legends, most notably Loretta Lynn. He died on October 16, 1982.
16-Jul-1930 Jimmie Rodgers recorded "Blue Yodel No. 9" with an uncredited Louis Armstrong on trumpet and his wife Lil Hardin Armstrong on piano. The song was later selected as one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.
23-Sep-1930 Born on this day in Albany, Georgia, was Ray Charles who helped racially integrate country and pop music during the 1960s. His 1962 album, Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music and its sequel Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, Vol. 2, helped to bring country into the mainstream of music. His version of the Don Gibson song, "I Can't Stop Loving You" topped the Pop chart for five weeks. Charles died on June 10, 2004 due to acute liver disease at his home in Los Angeles, California.

25-Sep-1930 Born on this day, was Shel Silverstein, American poet, singer-songwriter, cartoonist, screenwriter, and author of children's books. He wrote Tompall Glaser's highest-charting solo single "Put Another Log on the Fire", "One's on the Way" (a hit for Loretta Lynn), and wrote one of Johnny Cash's best known whimsical hits, "A Boy Named Sue." Other songs co-written by Silverstein include "The Taker" by Waylon Jennings and hits for Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show.
24-Oct-1930 Born on this day in Sabine Pass, Texas was musician, songwriter, and disc jockey J. P. Richardson Jr, known as The Big Bopper. His best known compositions include "Chantilly Lace" and "White Lightning", the latter of which became George Jones' first #1 hit in 1959. Richardson was killed in a plane crash in Iowa on February 3 1959, along with fellow musicians Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens.
28-Oct-1930 Born on this day in Hampton, Arkansas, was Tommy Tomlinson, guitarist, (The Tomlinson family resided on a farm located just a few miles away from Johnny Cash's farm between Kingsland and Tinsman). Tomlinson played with Hank Williams in the late 40's, early 50's, Johnny Horton, Jim Reeves, Claude King, and Marty Robbins. He died on April 8, 1982.
4-Nov-1930 Henry Horton was re-elected to a third term as governor of Tennessee, USA. Immediately, Nashville residents began withdrawing money from Caldwell-affiliated banks en masse, because Horton and the Caldwell Bank had both been involved in a scandal involving awarding contracts without bids. The story of the scandal would inspire the song "The Wreck Of The Tennessee Gravy Train" by Uncle Dave Macon.
11-Nov-1930 Born on this day in Cowpens, South Carolina, was Hank Garland a Nashville studio guitarist who performed with Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline, Roy Orbison and many others. At the age of 19, Garland recorded his million-selling hit "Sugarfoot Rag." He died on 27 December 2004.
20-Nov-1930 Born on this day in Princeton, Jackson County, Alabama, was Curly Putman, Jr., songwriter. His biggest success was "Green, Green Grass of Home" (1964, sung by Porter Wagoner), which was covered by Elvis Presley, Johnny Darrell, Gram Parsons, Joan Baez, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Roberto Leal, Merle Haggard, Bobby Bare, Joe Tex, Nana Mouskouri, and Tom Jones. He also co-wrote "D-I-V-O-R-C-E" with Bobby Braddock. He died on October 30, 2016 aged 85.
28-Nov-1930 Born on this day in Waco, Texas, A.L. was "Doodle" Owens, country music songwriter and singer He had a long songwriting partnership with Dallas Frazier, with whom he wrote "All I Have to Offer You (Is Me)" (1969), "(I'm So) Afraid of Losing You Again" (1969), I Can't Believe That You've Stopped Loving Me"(1970) and "Then Who Am I" (1974), all #1 country hits for Charley Pride. In the 1980s Owens wrote many songs with fellow songwriter Dennis Knutson for George Jones and other artists. Owens died on Nov 28 1999.

1-Jan-1931 Born on this day was Bobbie Lee Nelson American pianist and singer, the elder sister of Willie Nelson, and a member of his band, Willie Nelson and Family. When she was five, her grandmother taught her to play keyboards with a pump organ. Nelson died in Austin, Texas, on March 10, 2022, at the age of 91.
16-Mar-1931 Born on this day in Chillicothe, Missouri, was Shirley Collie Nelson, country music and rockabilly singer, yodeler, guitarist and songwriter. From 1963 to 1971, she was the second wife of country star Willie Nelson. She died on January 27, 2010, aged 78, following a long illness.
28-Mar-1931 Born on this day was American bluegrass musician Benny Williams. A multi-instrumentalist, he sang and played fiddle, guitar, banjo, autoharp, and mandolin. He played in Porter Wagoner's in-house band, the Wagonmasters, as a guitarist. He died on October 11, 2007.
5-Apr-1931 Born on this day, was Jack Henderson Clement, (nicknamed 'Cowboy' Jack Clement). Clement worked with future stars such as Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash, but most importantly, he discovered and recorded Jerry Lee Lewis. Clement wrote the song "Ballad of a Teenage Queen" that became a crossover hit for Johnny Cash. He died on August 8, 2013 at his home in Nashville, Tennessee after suffering from liver cancer.
21-Apr-1931 Born on this day, was Carl Robert Belew, American country music singer and songwriter. Belew recorded for Decca, RCA Victor, and MCA in the 1950s through 1970s, charting 11 times on Hot Country Songs. He also wrote singles for Johnnie & Jack, Eddy Arnold, Jim Reeves, Waylon Jennings and others. Belew died on October 31, 1990.
27-Apr-1931 Born on the day was Maxine Brown. She performed with siblings Jim Ed and Bonnie Brown as The Browns. The siblings' first chart single "Here Today and Gone Tomorrow" peaked at #7 in 1955, and in 1956, their recording of "I Take the Chance" was a #2 hit on the country charts. She died on January 21st 2019 age 87.
7-May-1931 Born on this day in Loyall, Kentucky was country music songwriter Jerry Chestnut. His hits include "Good Year for the Roses" (recorded by Alan Jackson, George Jones and Elvis Costello) and "T-R-O-U-B-L-E" (recorded by Elvis Presley in 1975, and Travis Tritt in 1992.) Chesnut died in Nashville on December 15, 2018 at the age of 87.
24-May-1931 Born on this day, was Clint Ballard, Jr., American songwriter who wrote two Billboard Hot 100 #1 hits. The first was "Game of Love" by Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders in 1965, the second was the 1975 hit, "You're No Good" by Linda Ronstadt.
26-Jul-1931 Born on this day in Rutherford County, North Carolina was Country Music Hall of Fame member Fred Foster. He is credited as producer behind all of Roy Orbison’s biggest hits including "Oh, Pretty Woman", "Only the Lonely" and "Crying" and also produced major hits for Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Ray Stevens and Kris Kristofferson. He died on February 20th 2019 age 87.
1-Sep-1931 Born on this day in Sterrett, Texas, was American country music singer Boxcar Willie. "Boxcar Willie" was originally a character in a ballad he wrote, but he later adopted it as his own stage name. He died on April 12, 1999, interstate 35E and Farm to Market Road 664 in Red Oak, Texas was renamed Boxcar Willie Memorial Overpass.
12-Sep-1931 Born on this day in Saratoga, Texas, was George Jones the country music singer who has scored more than 150 hits during his career, both as a solo artist and in duets with other artists. Jones who married Tammy Wynette in 1969, and has had 15 US #1 country hits, is celebrated by some of his fans as the hard-drinkin', fast-livin' spiritual-son of his idol, Hank Williams. Jones missed so many engagements that he gained the nickname of "No-Show Jones." Jones died on 26th April 2013 aged 81.

8-Nov-1931 Born on this day in Bremen, Georgia was music industry executive and producer Harold Shedd best known for his role as producer of the country group Alabama as well as Reba McEntire, Shania Twain and Toby Keith.
24-Nov-1931 Born on this day near Owasso, Oklahoma was American rockabilly and swing musician Tommy Allsup. He worked with Buddy Holly and Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys. Allsup was touring with Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson when he serendipitously lost a fateful coin toss with Valens for a seat on the plane that crashed, killing Valens, Holly, Richardson, and pilot Roger Peterson on February 3, 1959. As a producer he worked with Asleep at the Wheel, Willie Nelson and Roy Orbison. He died on January 11, 2017 age 85.
30-Nov-1931 Born on this day in Hardy, Arkansas was Teddy Wilburn who was one half of the country music duo The Wilburn Brothers. In addition to being successful artists, the Wilburns formed the Wil-helm Talent Agency in the early 1960s and were instrumental in launching the careers of many country music legends, most notably Loretta Lynn. He died on November 24, 2003.
7-Dec-1931 American bluegrass musician Bobby Osborne. He was the co-founder (with his brother Sonny) of the Osborne Brothers, a member of the Grand Ole Opry and the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. Osborne died on 27 June 2023, at a hospital in Gallatin, Tennessee, at the age of 91.
30-Dec-1931 Born on this day in Dry Ridge, Kentucky, was Skeeter Davis one of the first women to achieve major stardom in the country music field as a solo vocalist, she was an acknowledged influence on Tammy Wynette and Dolly Parton. Davis died on Sept 19 2004.

26-Jan-1932 Born on this day in Henderson, Texas, was Claude Gray country music singer-songwriter and guitar picker best known for his 1960 hit "Family Bible," which has been covered by many different artists.
25-Feb-1932 Born on this day in Shreveport, Louisiana, was Faron Young, singer and songwriter from the early 1950s into the mid-1980s. The honky tonk singer scored hits including "Live Fast, Love Hard, Die Young" and "If You Ain't Lovin' (You Ain't Livin')". Depressed that the music industry had turned its back on him, Young shot himself on December 9, 1996 and died in Nashville the following day.

26-Feb-1932 Born on this day in Kingsland, Arkansas, was Johnny Cash, US country singer, songwriter who was considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Although he is remembered as a country icon, his songs spanned other genres including rock and roll and rockabilly and blues, folk, and gospel. This crossover appeal won Cash the rare honor of induction in the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. During the last stage of his career, Cash covered songs by several late 20th-century rock artists, most notably "Hurt" by Nine Inch Nails. Cash died of respiratory failure on September 12th 2003, aged 71.
26-Feb-1932

17-Mar-1932 Born on this day in Fort Fairfield, Maine, was Dick Curless country-music singer, a pioneer of the trucking music genre, commonly known as the "Baron of Country Music." He was easily distinguished because of the patch he usually wore over his right eye. In 1965, Curless recorded one of the biggest hits of his career, "A Tombstone Every Mile," which cracked the top-5 on the Billboard country charts and propelled him to national fame. He died on May 25th 1995.

7-Apr-1932 Born on this day in Gans, Oklahoma, was Cal Smith, country musician, most famous for his 1972 #1 hit "The Lord Knows I'm Drinking" and his 1974 hit "Country Bumpkin," which received the Song of the Year Award from both the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association. Smith died on October 10, 2013.
9-Apr-1932 Born on this day, was "the King of Rockabilly", Carl Perkins, American musician who recorded most notably at Sun Records Studio in Memphis, Tennessee, and is known for his song "Blue Suede Shoes". Perkins' songs were recorded by many artists including: Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and Johnny Cash. He died on January 19, 1998.
14-Apr-1932 Born on this day in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky, was Loretta Lynn, country singer, who became the first woman to be named Country Music Artist Entertainer Of The Year. Since her first #1 "Fist City", in 1967 she has scored another 15 chart toppers. Her best-selling 1976 autobiography was made into an Academy Award winning film, Coal Miner's Daughter, starring Sissy Spacek and Tommy Lee Jones in 1980.

14-Apr-1932 Born on this day in Erath, Louisiana, was singer songwriter D. L. Menard who was known as the "Cajun Hank Williams", (whom he met in 1951 at the Teche Club shortly before Williams's death). In 1993, his album Le Trio Cadien was nominated for a Grammy Award. Menard died on July 27, 2017 age 85.
14-Jul-1932 Born on this day in Sparta, North Carolina, was Del Reeves, singer, best known for his "girl-watching" novelty songs of the 1960s including "Girl on the Billboard" and "The Belles of the Southern Bell". He is also known for his 1968 trucker's anthem, "Looking At The World Through A Windshield". Reeves died on January 1st 2007.
8-Aug-1932 Born on this day in Dover, Florida, was Mel Tillis, country music singer who scored the 1972 US #1 'I Ain't Never'. Tills is also known for his hits "Good Woman Blues", and "Coca-Cola Cowboy". Though he always spoke with a stammer, it never affected his singing voice. Tillis died on November 19 2017 age 82.
8-Sep-1932 Born on this day in Winchester, Virginia, was Patsy Cline, country music singer. Her hits began in 1957 with Donn Hecht's and Alan Block's "Walkin' After Midnight", Hank Cochran's and Harlan Howard's "I Fall to Pieces", Hank Cochran's "She's Got You", Willie Nelson's "Crazy" and ended in 1963 with Don Gibson's "Sweet Dreams". She died aged 30 on 5 March 1963 at the height of her career in a private plane crash. She was one of the most influential, successful and acclaimed female vocalists of the 20th century. Ten years after her death, in 1973, she became the first female solo artist inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
8-Sep-1932

11-Oct-1932 Born on this day near McMinnville, Tennessee, was Dottie West, country music singer and songwriter. Along with Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn, West is considered one of the genre's most influential and groundbreaking female artists. Her career started in the early 1960s, with her Top 10 hit, "Here Comes My Baby Back Again," which won her a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance in 1965. She died in hospital on September 4, 1991 after being involved in a car crash a few days earlier when she was on her way to perform at the Grand Ole Opry.
6-Nov-1932 Born on this day in Tabor City, North Carolina was Stonewall Jackson who achieved his greatest fame during country's "golden" honky tonk era in the 1950s and early 1960s when he scored the #1 hits "Waterloo" and "B.J. the D.J." He died at the age of 89 on 4 December 20201.
6-Nov-1932 Born on this day was American drummer Paul English. He was Willie Nelson's long-time drummer and was the titular "Paul" of the Willie Nelson album Me and Paul as well as the title track of that album. English also had a role in Nelson's movie Red Headed Stranger (1986). He died on 11 Feb 2020 after a bout of pneumonia age 87.
13-Nov-1932 Born on this day in Florence, Alabama was Buddy Killen, record producer and music publisher, and a former owner of Trinity Broadcasting Network, and the largest country music publishing business, before he sold it in 1989. He worked with artists such as Faith Hill, Trace Adkins, Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, Reba McEntire and Bill Anderson. Killen died in Nashville, Tennessee on November 1, 2006.
30-Nov-1932 Born on this day in Nashville, Tennessee was session musician Bob Moore. He was a member of the Nashville A-Team during the 1950s and 1960s and performed on over 17,000 recording sessions. By age 15 he was playing double bass on a tent show tour with a Grand Ole Opry musical group and later played bass on almost all of Patsy Cline's Decca sessions.
9-Dec-1932 Born on this day in Boone County, West Virginia, was Billy "Edd" Wheeler, American songwriter, performer, and writer. He has written songs performed by over 90 different artists including Judy Collins, Jefferson Airplane, Bobby Darin, The Kingston Trio, Johnny Cash, Neil Young, Kenny Rogers, Hazel Dickens, and Elvis Presley. With Roger Bowling he co-wote "Coward of the County" a hit for Kenny Rogers.
14-Dec-1932 Born on this day in Colt Arkansas, was Charlie Rich, singer and musician. In the latter part of his life, Rich who acquired the nickname The Silver Fox is best remembered for his 1973 hits, "Behind Closed Doors" and "The Most Beautiful Girl". After "The Most Beautiful Girl", #1 hits came quickly, as five songs topped the country charts in 1974. Rich died in his sleep on July 25, 1995 aged 62.

11-Jan-1933 Born on this day in Karnes City, Texas, was Goldie Hill. She became one of the first women to reach the top of the country music charts with her 1953 #1 hit, "I Let the Stars Get In My Eyes". Along with Kitty Wells, she helped set the standard for later women in country music. Hill died from complications of cancer on February 24th, 2005.

10-Mar-1933 Born on this day, was Ralph Emery a country music disc jockey and television host from Nashville, Tennessee. He gained national fame hosting the syndicated television music series, Pop! Goes the Country, from 1974 to 1980 and the nightly Nashville Network television program, Nashville Now, from 1983 to 1993.
31-Mar-1933 Born on this day in Maces Spring, Virginia, was singer Anita Carter, who played upright bass with her sisters Helen Carter and June Carter Cash as The Carter Sisters. The trio joined the Grand Ole Opry radio show in 1950 and opened shows for Elvis Presley, and joined The Johnny Cash Show in 1971. She scored two Top Ten hits in 1951 with "Down The Trail of Achin' Hearts" with Hank Snow and "Blue Bird Island" and she reached the Top Ten again in 1968 with "I Got You" with Waylon Jennings. She died on July 29th 1999 aged 66.
15-Apr-1933 Born on this day in Meherrin, Virginia, was Roy Clark, musician and performer best known for hosting Hee Haw, a nationally televised country variety show, from 1969-1992. Clark who scored the 1973 country #1 hit "Come Live with Me", also appeared in episodes of The Beverly Hillbillies as "Cousin Roy." He died on November 15th 2018 age 85.
29-Apr-1933 Born on this day in Abbott, Texas, was Willie Nelson, country music singer, songwriter, author, poet, actor, and activist. (He was born on April 29, 1933, but his birth was recorded by doctor F. D. Sims on April 30). Nelson was one of the main figures of outlaw country, a subgenre of country music that developed at the end of the 1960s as a reaction to the conservative restrictions of the Nashville sound. Nelson has acted in over 30 films, co-authored several books, and has been involved in activism for the use of biofuels and the legalization of marijuana. Along with Neil Young and John Mellencamp, he set up Farm Aid in 1985 to assist and increase awareness of the importance of family farms.
29-Apr-1933

24-May-1933 Jimmie Rodgers made his last recordings in New York City in which he recorded "Mississippi Delta Blues" and "Years Ago". After years of fighting tuberculosis, Rodgers was so weakened during the sessions that he needed to rest on a bed between songs. Rodgers died two days later from a pulmonary hemorrhage while staying at the Taft Hotel; he was only 35 years old.
26-May-1933 Jimmie Rodgers, singer, songwriter, who was among the first country music superstars and pioneers, died while staying at the Taft Hotel; he was only 35 years old. Rodgers was also known as "The Singing Brakeman", "The Blue Yodeler", and "The Father of Country Music." Rodgers sold over 12 million records and was the first person to be elected into the Country Music Hall Of Fame.
7-Jun-1933 Born on this day in Morrisville, Missouri Winford was Wynn Stewart, the country music performer who was one of the progenitors of the Bakersfield sound and an inspiration to such greats as Buck Owens and Merle Haggard. Stewart scored the 1967 #1 hit "It's Such a Pretty World Today". Stewart suddenly died of a heart attack on July 17, 1985.
20-Jun-1933 Born on this day in Greenville, Mississippi, was Ben Peters, country music songwriter who wrote many #1 songs. Charley Pride recorded 40 of his songs and 4 of them went to #1 on the American country charts. Peters was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1980. Peters was briefly a recording artist himself; his only charting hit was "San Francisco is a Lonely Town", which hit #46 on the country charts in 1969. He died in Nashville, Tennessee, on May 25, 2005.
15-Jul-1933 Born on this day in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec was Canadian country singer Hal Willis. His famous country single was "The Lumberjack," an international hit that sold over 1.5 million copies. In 1965, it peaked at #5 on the Billboard country charts in the USA. This success was such a phenomenon that he was nicknamed "Mr. Lumberjack." Willis died on September 4, 2015.
15-Aug-1933 Born on this day, was Bobby Helms, American country music singer best known for his 1957 hit, "Jingle Bell Rock". He died on June 19, 1997 of emphysema at his home in Martinsville, Indiana, he was 63.
1-Sep-1933 Born on this day in Friars Point, Mississippi, was Conway Twitty (born Harold Lloyd Jenkins). Twitty held the record for the most #1 singles of any act with 55 #1 Billboard country hits until George Strait broke the record in 2006. Twitty who scored his first #1 in 1958 with "It's Only Make Believe" died on June 5, 1993 in Springfield, Missouri, at Cox South Hospital two months before the release of what would be his final studio album, Final Touches.

3-Sep-1933 Born on this day in Spalding, Nebraska, was Tompall Glaser, who recorded as a solo artist and with his brothers Chuck and Jim in the trio Tompall & the Glaser Brothers. He scored the 1975 solo hit with Shel Silverstein's "Put Another Log on the Fire", which peaked at #21 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles and appeared with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Jessi Colter on the album Wanted! The Outlaws. Glaser died August 13, 2013 in Nashville, Tennessee, aged 79, after a long illness.

27-Oct-1933 Born on this day in Shreveport, Louisiana, was pianist Floyd Cramer, who was one of the architects of the "Nashville sound". He was known for his "slip note" piano style, where an out-of-key note slides into the correct note. In 2003 Floyd Cramer was inducted into both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He died on Dec 31st 1997.
21-Nov-1933 Born on this day in Paul's Valley, Oklahoma, was Jean Shepard, honky tonk singer, songwriter, who has scored the hits "Second Fiddle (To An Old Guitar)," "A Satisfied Mind" and a Ferlin Husky duet, "A Dear John Letter." In 2005, Shepard celebrated 50 years as a member of the Opry and is the longest-living female member of the Opry to date. She died on September 25, 2016 aged 82.
8-Dec-1933 Born on this day in Canton, Ohio, was Dick Glasser, singer, songwriter, and record producer. His biggest hit as a songwriter was "Angels in the Sky." By the 1970s he was managing MGM Records' country music division in Nashville and there he produced C. W. McCall's #1 record "Convoy," a worldwide hit for the company.
17-Dec-1933 Born on this day in Atlanta in Cass County, Texas, was Nat Stuckey country singer. He recorded for various labels between 1966 and 1978, charting in the top 10 of Hot Country Songs with "Sweet Thang", "Plastic Saddle", "Sweet Thang and Cisco" and "Take Time to Love Her." He died on Aug 24th 1988.
22-Dec-1933 Born on this day in Clay County, Kentucky, was singer, songwriter, and record producer Ray Pennington. He is known for writing the song "I'm a Ramblin' Man", which gave Waylon Jennings his second #1 Country hit. Pennington was also the founder of the independent Step One Records label. He died at home on October 7, 2020 after entering a garage that had caught fire.
27-Dec-1933 Born on this day in Elaine, Arkansas was session pedal steel guitar player John Hughey. He has worked with various country music acts, most notably Vince Gill and Conway Twitty. A member of the Pedal Steel Guitar Hall of Fame, Hughey was known for a distinctive playing style called "crying steel", which focused primarily on the higher range of the guitar. He died on November 18, 2007 age 73.
6-Mar-1934 Born on this day in in Higley, Arizona was country singer-songwriter Red Simpson, best known for his trucker-themed songs. His first #1 hit was with "Sam's Place," recorded by Buck Owens. Simpson died on January 8, 2016.
31-Mar-1934 Born on this day in Durham, North Carolina, was songwriter John D. Loudermilk. His hits include "Indian Reservation," by Paul Revere & The Raiders; "Abilene," by George Hamilton IV; and "Tobacco Road" (a hit for The Nashville Teens in 1964). He died on September 21, 2016 aged 82.
1-Apr-1934 Born on this day in Sparkman, Arkansas, was Jim Ed Brown, singer who achieved fame in the 1950s with his two sisters as a member of The Browns. He later had a successful solo career from 1965 to 1974, followed by a string of major duet hits with Helen Cornelius who had the 1976 US Country #1 hit "I Don't Want to Have to Marry You". Brown is currently the host of the Country Music Greats Radio Show, a syndicated country music program from Nashville, Tennessee. He died from lung cancer at the age of 81 on June 11 2015.
23-Apr-1934 Born on this day in San Antonio, Texas, was Vivian Liberto the first wife of Johnny Cash, and the mother of singer-songwriter Rosanne Cash. During their courtship, Cash and Liberto wrote each other over 10,000 pages of love letters, forming the basis of her autobiography, titled I Walked the Line: My Life with Johnny, which was published in 2007. She died on May 24, 2005.
5-Aug-1934 Born on this day, was Vern Gosdin, nicknamed "The Voice" by his peers. He had 19 top-ten solo hits on the Country music charts from the late 1970s through the early 1990s, including three #1's: "I Can Tell By the Way You Dance (You're Gonna Love Me Tonight)", "Set 'Em Up Joe" and "I'm Still Crazy". Gosdin died on 28th April 2009.

9-Aug-1934 Born on this day in Chickasha, Okla, was Wyatt Merle Kilgore, American singer, songwriter, and manager who co-wrote (with June Carter), "Ring Of Fire", which became a hit for Johnny Cash, ending Cash's three-year career slump, staying at #1 on the country chart for seven weeks in 1963. Kilgore started his career in country music as a teenage gofer for Hank Williams and ended as the manager of Hank Williams Jr. Kilgore died on February 6, 2005.

20-Aug-1934 Born on this day was 'Sneaky' Pete Kleinow, US country-rock steel guitar player. He was one of the original members of the Flying Burrito Brothers with the Byrds' Chris Hillman and Gram Parsons and also worked with John Lennon and Joni Mitchell. He died 6th Jan 2007 aged 72.
14-Sep-1934 Born on this day in Brownfield, Texas, was Don Walser, was known as a unique, award-winning yodeling "Texas country music legend." He was known for maintaining a catalog of older, obscure country music and cowboy songs and kept alive old 1940s and 1950s tunes by country music pioneers such as Bob Wills and Eddie Arnold. He died on September 20, 2006.
24-Oct-1934 Born on this day in Whitney, Texas was country songwriter and musician Sanger D. Shafer. He wrote numerous hits for stars such as George Jones, Lefty Frizzell, and George Strait. Shafer died after a long illness on January 12, 2019, at the age of 84.
8-Jan-1935 Born on this day in East Tupelo, Mississippi, was Elvis Presley. Before emerging as the "King of Rock & Roll," Presley made inroads in country, where he returned during his latter years. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1998. Presley died on Aug 16th 1977.
19-Jan-1935 Born on this day in Joinerville, Texas was Charlie Waller, lead singer and guitarist for the legendary bluegrass band the Country Gentlemen. Waller was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor in 1996. He died on August 18, 2004.
17-Feb-1935 Born on this day in Houston, Texas, was Johnny Bush, country music singer, songwriter, and drummer. Bush, nicknamed the "Country Caruso," is best known for his distinctive voice and as the writer of "Whiskey River," a top-ten hit for himself and Willie Nelson's signature song. Bush died at a hospital in San Antonio on October 16, 2020 age 85.
7-Apr-1935 Born on this day, was Bobby Bare, who scored over 30 US Country hits including his only Country #1 hit in 1974, "Marie Laveau", (which was written by written by Shel Silverstein). In 1998, he formed the band, Old Dogs, with his friends Jerry Reed, Mel Tillis and Waylon Jennings.
22-Apr-1935 Born on this day in Saltillo, Tennessee, was W. S. "Fluke" Holland, drummer who worked extensively with numerous rock and roll musicians, beginning with Carl Perkins, but became well known as the drummer with Johnny Cash's succession of backing bands: The Tennessee Three, The Great Eighties Eight, and The Johnny Cash Show Band. Holland played drums on the 1955 Sun Records recording of "Blue Suede Shoes" by Perkins. He died at his home in Jackson, Tennessee on September 23, 2020 at the age of 85.
2-Aug-1935 Born on this day, was Hank Cochran, American country music singer and songwriter. Starting during the 1960s, Cochran was a prolific songwriter in the genre, including major hits by Patsy Cline, ("I Fall to Pieces."), Ray Price, Eddy Arnold, Merle Haggard, George Strait and others. Cochran was also a recording artist between 1962 and 1980, scoring seven times on the Billboard country music charts, with his greatest solo success being "Sally Was a Good Old Girl". He died on July 15, 2010 aged 74.
20-Aug-1935 Born on this day in San Antonio, Texas was Justin Tubb, the oldest son of legendary country singer Ernest Tubb. He scored two duets with Goldie Hill, ("Looking Back to See" and "Sure Fire Kisses"). A year later, at the age of 20, he was made a member of the Grand Ole Opry. He penned many hit songs for other performers, including "Keeping Up with the Joneses", "Love Is No Excuse", and "Lonesome 7-7203", a hit for Hawkshaw Hawkins.
23-Sep-1935 Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys made their first recordings in Dallas, Texas, produced by Don Law and Art Satherley of the American Record Corporation. Wills' later recording of "Ida Red" served as a model for Chuck Berry's decades later version of the same song - "Maybellene"
25-Sep-1935 Born on this day in St. Louis, Missouri, was Royce Kendall, singer from the duo, The Kendalls who released 16 albums including the #1 hits "Heaven's Just a Sin Away," "Sweet Desire" and "Thank God for the Radio". She died on May 22, 1998.
29-Sep-1935 Born on this day, was Jerry Lee Lewis, rock and roll and country music singer-songwriter and pianist, known by the nickname "The Killer". Lewis is the last surviving pioneers of '50s rock 'n' roll music and the last surviving member of Sun Records' Million Dollar Quartet and the Class of '55 album, which altogether included Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison and Elvis Presley.
5-Oct-1935 Born on this day in Coushatta, Louisiana, was Margie Singleton, country music singer and songwriter. In the 1960s, she was a popular duet and solo recording artist, working with country stars George Jones and Faron Young. Singleton had her biggest hit with Young called "Keeping Up With The Joneses" in 1964.
21-Oct-1935 Born on this day in Rowe, Virginia, was Mel Street. From 1968 to 1972, Street hosted his own show on a Bluefield, West Virginia television station. He recorded his first single, "Borrowed Angel," in 1970 for a small regional record label. A larger label, Royal American Records, picked it up in 1972, and it became a top-10 Billboard hit. He recorded the biggest hit of his career, "Lovin' on Back Streets", in 1973. He committed suicide by a self-inflicted gunshot wound, on October 21, 1978, his 43rd birthday.
9-Dec-1935 Born on this day, in Bossier City in northwestern Louisiana, was David Houston, country music singer. His peak in popularity came between the mid-1960s through the early 1970s, scoring 7 hits including the 1970 US #1 hit Baby, Baby (I Know You're a Lady). Houston died on November 30, 1993.
11-Dec-1935 Born on this day, was Tom Brumley, American steel guitarist who played with Buck Owens and the Buckaroos in the 1960s, contributing to the group's "Bakersfield sound", and later spent a decade with Rick Nelson. Brumley died on February 3, 2009.
2-Jan-1936 Born on this day in Fort Worth, Texas, was Roger Miller the singer, songwriter, musician and actor, best known for his honky tonk-influenced novelty songs. His best known songs included the chart-topping country/pop hits "King of the Road", "Dang Me" and "England Swings", all from the mid-1960s. A lifelong cigarette smoker Miller died on October 25, 1992 of lung and throat cancer at the age of 56.

11-Jan-1936 Born on this day in Garrard County, Kentucky, was Jody Payne best known as a longtime guitarist in Willie Nelson's band, The Family. Payne died on Aug 10th 2013.
24-Jan-1936 Born on this day in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, was Doug Kershaw, fiddle player, singer and songwriter who had the 1969 hit "Diggy Liggy Lo."
9-Feb-1936 Born on this day in Saint John, New Brunswick, was Stompin' Tom Connors one of Canada's most prolific and well-known country and folk singer-songwriters. He is credited with writing more than 300 songs and released four dozen albums, with total sales of nearly 4 million copies. Connors died aged 77 in his home in Ballinafad, Ontario on March 6, 2013.
29-Feb-1936 Born on this day in Midway, Pennsylvania was Keyboard player Charles Cochran. He became a prominent Nashville session musician, playing on hits by Crystal Gayle, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Charley Pride and Don Williams. He died June 7, 2007 in a two-car crash in Nashville, Tennessee, after a driver ran a stop sign.
9-Mar-1936 Born on this day in Ferriday, Louisiana, was Mickey Gilley, American country music singer and musician and the cousin of Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl McVoy, Jim Gilley and Jimmy Swaggart. Among his biggest hits is "Room Full of Roses," "Don't the Girls All Get Prettier at Closing Time," and the remake of the Soul hit "Stand by Me". Gilley died on May 7, 2022, of complications from bone cancer.
22-Apr-1936 Born on this day in Pike County, Arkansas, was Glen Campbell, country singer, songwriter, actor, TV presenter. Hits include "By the Time I Get to Phoenix", "Wichita Lineman", and "Rhinestone Cowboy." He was a touring member of The Beach Boys, filling in for an ailing Brian Wilson in 1964 and 1965. His guitar playing can be heard on "Strangers in the Night" by Frank Sinatra, "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" by The Righteous Brothers and "I'm a Believer" by The Monkees. Campbell became a patient at an Alzheimer's long-term care and treatment facility in 2014 and died of the disease in Nashville, Tennessee on August 8, 2017 at the age of 81.
23-Apr-1936 Born on this day, was Roy Orbison, singer, songwriter, who had a 1964 UK & US #1 single with "Pretty Woman" plus over 20 US & 30 UK Top 40 singles. Orbison grew up in Texas and began singing in a rockabilly/country and western band in high school until he was signed by Sun Records in Memphis. As a member of Traveling Wilburys, he had a 1988 UK #21 single with "Handle With Care". Orbison died on December 6th 1988.
18-May-1936 Born on this day in Covington, Georgia was Leon Ashley who is known mainly for his #1 hit "Laura (What's He Got That I Ain't Got)", which topped the country singles charts in September 1967. Ashley made chart history as the first country artist to have a #1 hit with a song he wrote, published and sang. Ashley died on Oct 20th 2013.

25-May-1936 Born on this day in Olive Hill, Kentucky, was Tom T. Hall, country music singer-songwriter. Hall has written 11 #1 hit songs, with 26 more that reached the Top 10, including "Harper Valley PTA" a hit for Jeannie C. Riley in 1968. He became known as 'The Storyteller,' due to his storytelling skills in his songwriting. He died on 20 August 2021 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
22-Jun-1936 Born on this day in Brownsville, Texas, was Kris Kristofferson, musician, actor, and writer, known for such hits as "Me and Bobby McGee", "For the Good Times", "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", and "Help Me Make It Through the Night". In 1985, Kristofferson joined fellow country artists Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash in forming the country music supergroup "The Highwaymen". In 2004, Kristofferson was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

30-Jun-1936 Born on this day, was Doyle Holly, American musician best known as the bass guitar player of the country music band Buck Owens and the Buckaroos and for his solo hit songs "Queen Of The Silver Dollar" and "Lila". The Buckaroos had more than 30 Top 40 singles on the country music charts in the 1960s and early 1970s, with 21 #1 hits such as "I've Got a Tiger By the Tail," "Love's Gonna Live Here, "and "Act Naturally." Their sound influenced later artists such as Creedence Clearwater Revival, Jackson Browne, The Eagles, The Derailers and the Desert Rose Band. Holly died on January 13, 2007.
21-Sep-1936 Born on this day in Memphis, Tennessee, was Dickey Lee, best known for the 1960s teenage tragedy songs "Patches" and "Laurie (Strange Things Happen)." He also scored the 1975 US Country #1 "Rocky."
28-Oct-1936 Born on this day in Wilmington, North Carolina, was Charlie Daniels who is known for his #1 country hit "The Devil Went Down to Georgia"; Daniels has been active as a singer since the early 1950s and was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry on January 24, 2008. He died on July 6, 2020 age 83 of a hemorrhagic stroke.
29-Oct-1936 Hank Snow auditioned with the Canadian division of RCA Victor in Montreal, Quebec which led to the release of his first record with "The Prisoned Cowboy" on one side and "Lonesome Blue Yodel" on the other. Snow signed with the label, staying for more than 45 years. During his career that spanned nearly 50 years, he recorded 140 albums and charted more than 85 singles.
5-Nov-1936 Born on this day, was Billy Sherrill, record producer and arranger who is most famous for his association with a number of country artists, most notably Tammy Wynette. Sherrill and business partner Glenn Sutton are regarded as the defining influences of the countrypolitan sound, a smooth amalgamation of pop and country music that was hugely popular during the late 1960s and throughout the '70s. Sherrill died on 4 Aug 2015 after a short illness at the age of 78.
12-Dec-1936 Born on this day in Caruthersville, Missouri, was Reggie Young, lead guitarist in the American Sound Studios Band (aka The Memphis Boys), and is a leading session musician. He played on various recordings with artists such as Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Merle Haggard, and George Strait. He died on January 18 2019 age 82.
4-Jan-1937 Born on this day in Huntland, Tennessee, was Lorene Mann, American country music singer and songwriter. She is known for her duets with Justin Tubb and Archie Campbell. Mann was a co-founder of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI). She appeared in the movies Music City USA and W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings. Mann died aged 76 on May 24, 2013.
14-Jan-1937 Born on this day in Beaumont, Texas, was Billie Jo Spears, country music singer who reached the top-10 of the Country music charts five times between 1969 and 1977, her biggest hit being the 1975 "Blanket on the Ground." She died of cancer aged 73 on December 14th, 2011.

19-Jan-1937 Born on this day in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, was George Hamilton IV who began his career in the late 1950s as a teen idol, later switching to country music in the early 1960s.
27-Jan-1937 Born on this day in Mishawaka, Indiana was pedal steel guitarist, Buddy Emmons. He was widely regarded as the world's foremost pedal steel guitarist of his day and was inducted into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame in 1980. He recorded with artists including Linda Ronstadt, The Everly Brothers, Ernest Tubb, John Hartford, Ray Price, Judy Collins, and Ray Charles. Emmons died of a heart attack in Nashville, Tennessee on July 21, 2015.
30-Jan-1937 Born on this day in Pell City, Alabama, was Jeanne Pruett, Country music singer and Grand Ole Opry star, best-known for her 1973 chart-topping hit, "Satin Sheets."
1-Feb-1937 Born on this day in Brownie, Muhlenberg County, Kentuck, was singer, songwriter Don Everly. The Everly Brothers scored 4 #1 Country hits in the late 50's; "Bye Bye Love", "Wake Up Little Susie", "Bird Dog" and "All I Have to Do Is Dream" Their song "When Will I Be Loved" later became hits for Reba McEntire and Linda Ronstadt, respectively. The Everly Brothers were elected to Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001.
20-Mar-1937 Born on this day in Atlanta, Georgia, was Jerry Reed, country music singer, guitarist, songwriter, and actor who appeared in more than a dozen films. His signature songs included "Guitar Man,", "A Thing Called Love," (both of which were covered by Elvis Presely), "When You're Hot, You're Hot" "Ko-Ko Joe", "East Bound and Down" (the theme song for the 1977 blockbuster Smokey and the Bandit, in which Reed co-starred), and "She Got the Goldmine (I Got the Shaft)". Reed died on Aug 31st 2008.
20-Mar-1937 Born on this day in London, Ontario, was Tommy Hunter, Canadian country music performer, known as "Canada's Country Gentleman". Hunter was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 1984 and in 1986, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada.
6-Apr-1937 Born on this day in Oildale, California, was country music songwriter, singer, and guitarist Merle Haggard. Along with Buck Owens, Haggard and his band The Strangers helped create the Bakersfield sound, which is characterized by the unique twang of Fender Telecaster guitar and the unique mix with the traditional country steel guitar sound. Haggard who was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in 1994 has scored 38 US #1 Country hits. Haggard died on the morning of April 6, 2016, his 79th birthday, of complications from pneumonia at his home in Palo Cedro, California.
4-Jun-1937 Born on this day in San Benito, Texas, was Country musician Freddy Fender who had the 1975 US Country #1 hit "Before the Next Teardrop Falls" and is known for his work in the groups Los Super Seven and the Texas Tornados. Fender died on 14th October 2006.

12-Jun-1937 Born on this day, was Chips Moman, American record producer, guitarist, and songwriter. As a record producer, Moman is known for recording Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson, Gary Stewart, Tammy Wynette and Ronnie Milsap.
15-Jun-1937 Born on this day in Littlefield, Texas, was Waylon Jennings, singer, songwriter, and musician. Jennings, who once worked as a DJ, played bass with Buddy Holly, Jennings unintentionally missing flying with Holly, The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens on the flight on which they died. In 1976 he released the album Wanted! The Outlaws with Willie Nelson, Tompall Glaser and Jessi Colter, which became the first platinum country music album, and he was also a member of the country supergroup The Highwaymen with Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and Johnny Cash. Jennings, who died on 13th February 13, 2002, was also the narrator for the TV show the Dukes of Hazzard.
15-Jun-1937

30-Jun-1937 Born on this day was American singer and songwriter Larry Henley. He was best known for co-writing (with Jeff Silbar) the 1989 hit record "Wind Beneath My Wings." He co-wrote with Red Lane "'Til I Get It Right" for Tammy Wynette, later covered by Barbra Streisand and Kenny Rogers. Other #1 country hits were his songs "Is It Still Over?" (Randy Travis), "Lizzie and the Rainman" (Tanya Tucker), and "He's a Heartache (Looking for a Place to Happen)" (Janie Fricke). Other songs included "Shotgun rider" for Delbert McClinton; "You're Welcome to Tonight" by Lynn Anderson and Gary Morris; and "The World Needs a Melody" by The Carter Family with Johnny Cash. He died in Nashville, Tennessee on 18 Dec 2014 age 77.
4-Jul-1937 Born on this day was American country music singer, music publisher, Raymond Pillow. In his career, he had 18 singles on the Billboard country songs chart, with his highest-peaking song being the #9 single "I'll Take the Dog", a duet with Jean Shepard. Pillow died in Nashville, Tennessee, on March 26, 2023, at the age of 85.
19-Jul-1937 Born on this day in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, was George Hamilton IV, country musician. Hamilton's breakthrough hit was the 1961 song "Before this Day Ends". His biggest hit came two years later with "Abilene", another song penned by Loudermilk and Bob Gibson. The song spent four weeks at #1 on Billboard's country singles chart. Hamilton died on Sept 17th 2014 after he suffered a major heart attack.
26-Aug-1937 Born on this day in Lubbock, Texas was Don Bowman the American country music singer, songwriter, comedian and radio host. He was best known for co-writing the hits "Just To Satisfy You" and "Wildwood Weed" and played an important role in Waylon Jennings getting recording contracts. He was the original host of American Country Countdown and the first Country Music Association Comedian of the Year. He died on June 5th 2013.
28-Aug-1937 Born on this day, was Joe Osborn, American bass guitar player known for his work as a session musician and one time member of The Wrecking Crew. He worked with Kenny Rogers, Mel Tillis, and Hank Williams, Jr. One count listed Osborn as bassist on fifty-three #1 hits on the country charts.
9-Sep-1937 Born on this day was American songwriter Don Pfrimmer. He is best known for co-writing many modern hits including "Meet in the Middle" by Diamond Rio and "My Front Porch Looking In" by Lodestar. He died of leukaemia on December 7, 2015 age 78.
10-Sep-1937 Born on this day in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma was country singer Tommy Overstreet, Often known simply as "T.O." His highest charting hit was 1972's "Ann (Don't Go Runnin')," which went to #2. He died on Nov 2 2015.
28-Sep-1937 Born on this day, was Glenn Sutton, country music songwriter and producer. Born Royce Glenn Sutton in Hodge, Louisiana, he was one of two chief architects of the countrypolitan sound (the other being Sutton's frequent songwriting partner Billy Sherrill). He co-wrote Tammy Wynette's first major hit single, "Your Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad," along with Tammy's #1 record, "I Don't Wanna Play House." He was equally well known as a producer, particular for his former wife Lynn Anderson. Glenn produced her most famous single, "Rose Garden," which hit #1 on the country charts and #3 on the pop charts.
28-Sep-1937

20-Oct-1937 Born on this day in Maud, Oklahoma was Wanda Lavonne Jackson, singer, songwriter, pianist and guitarist who had success in the mid-1950s and 60s as one of the first popular female rockabilly singers and a pioneering rock and roll artist. She is known to many as the Queen (or First Lady) of Rockabilly. Jackson moved to a successful career in mainstream country music with a string of hits between 1966 and 1973, including "Tears Will Be the Chaser for Your Wine", "A Woman Lives for Love" and "Fancy Satin Pillows".

1-Nov-1937 Born on this day in Columbia, South Carolina, was James William Anderson III better known as singer, songwriter and television personality Bill Anderson. He has released more than 40 studio albums and has reached #1 on the country charts seven times: In 1995, Billboard magazine named four Anderson compositions -"City Lights," "Once A Day," "Still," and "Mama Sang A Song" - among the top 20 country songs of the past 35 years, more than any other songwriter.
30-Nov-1937 Born on this day in Santa Rita, New Mexico was American record producer and former rockabilly singer Jimmy Bowen. He produced hits for Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr., and went on to work with many country acts including Glen Campbell, Kenny Rogers, Hank Williams, Jr., The Oak Ridge Boys, Reba McEntire, George Strait and Garth Brooks.
16-Dec-1937 Born on this day in Spalding, Nebraska, was Jim Glaser, country music artist who charted several singles on the Hot Country Songs charts, including the #1 hit "You're Gettin' to Me Again". He died on April 6th 2019 age 81.
26-Dec-1937 Born on this day in Calumet, Quebec, was Canadian American country musician and comedy performer Ronnie Prophet. Prophet died on 2 March 2018 at his home in Florida following cardiac and kidney failure age 80.
30-Dec-1937 Born on this day in New York City, was John Hartford, country and bluegrass composer and musician known for his mastery of the fiddle and banjo, as well as for his witty lyrics. He also invented his own shuffle tap dance move, and clogged on an amplified piece of plywood while he played and sang. Hartford died on June 4 2001.
18-Jan-1938 Born on this day in Spring City, Tennessee, was Hargus Melvin "Pig" Robbins, American session keyboard and piano player. Having played on records for artists such as George Jones, Alan Jackson, Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn, David Allan Coe, George Hamilton IV and Conway Twitty, Robbins became a prominent session instrumentalist in Nashville. He was also blind, having lost his sight when he was four years old, due to an accident involving his father's knife. Robbins died on January 30, 2022, at the age of 84.
30-Jan-1938 Born on this day in Wellston, Oklahoma, was Norma Jean, country music singer who was a member of The Porter Wagoner Show from 1961-1967. She had 13 country singles in Billboard's Country Top 40 between 1963 and 1968, recorded twenty albums for RCA Victor between 1964 and 1973, and received two Grammy nominations.
17-Feb-1938 Born on this day in Spartanburg, South Carolina, was Buck Trent, country music instrumentalist who invented the electric banjo. He was a member of Porter Wagoner's "Wagon Masters" from 1962 to 1973. Trent died on October 9, 2023, at the age of 85.
12-Mar-1938 Born on this day, was Lew DeWitt, Country singer, songwriter with The Statler Brothers who had the 1984 US Country #1 hit "Elizabeth". DeWitt who had suffered from from Crohn's disease died on 15th August 1990.
18-Mar-1938 Born on this day in Sledge, Mississippi, was Charley Pride who has had thirty-nine #1 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. His greatest success came in the 1970s, when he became the best-selling performer for RCA Records since Elvis Presley. Pride became the first Black country musician to be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. Over the past thirty years, Pride has remained one of the Top 20 best-selling country artists of all-time. His incredible legacy includes 36 #1 hit singles, with over 70 million albums sold. Pride died in Dallas on December 12, 2020, of complications which were related to COVID-19. He was 86 years old.
25-Mar-1938 Born on this day, Hoyt Axton, US singer, songwriter and actor who wrote songs for Elvis Presley, Three Dog Night, John Denver, Ringo Starr and Glen Campbell. Had his own hits with "When The Morning Comes" and "Flash Of Fire". Acting roles included Bionic Woman and McCloud. Axton died of a heart attack on October 26th 1999, aged 61.
2-Apr-1938 Born on this day in Nashville, Tennessee, was singer-songwriter Warner Mack. Mack had many hits on the country charts from the late 1950s to the early 1970s, including the 1965 #1 hit "The Bridge Washed Out". Mack died on March 1, 2022, in Nashville, at the age of 86
4-Apr-1938 Born on this day in Scottsville, Kentucky, was Norro Wilson, country music singer, songwriter and producer. Wilson has written numerous hits including songs for Charlie Rich, Charley Pride, George Jones and Tammy Wynette, and has also produced artists, including Joe Stampley, Margo Smith, Sara Evans, Kenny Chesney and Shania Twain. He died on June 8th 2017 age 79.
10-Apr-1938 Born on this day in Jayton, Texas was steel guitar player Weldon Myrick. He was a member of the group of session musicians known as The Nashville A-Team and played on many songs for artists such as: Charley Pride, Reba McEntire, Kris Kristofferson, Chet Atkins, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, George Strait and Johnny Cash. Myrick died on June 2, 2014.
31-May-1938 Born on this day in Greenfield, Ohio, was Johnny Paycheck, (Donald Eugene Lytle), singer and Grand Ole Opry member most famous for recording the David Allan Coe song "Take This Job and Shove It", which was a US Country #1 in 1978. Paycheck died on February 19, 2003.
31-Jul-1938 Born on this day in Sparkman, Arkansas was Bonnie Brown. The American country music singer was a member of the Browns, a trio popular in the 1950s. Signed by RCA Victor in 1956, the trio scored their biggest hit with their folk-pop single "The Three Bells". Brown died on July 16, 2016 aged 77.
18-Aug-1938 Born on this day in North Little Rock, Arkansas, was Allen Reynolds, producer. Best known for producing virtually every album by Garth Brooks, he also produced Crystal Gayle's "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue".
21-Aug-1938 Born on this day in Houston, Texas, was Kenny Rogers, singer-songwriter, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He has charted more than 120 hit singles across various music genres, topping the country and pop album charts for more than 200 individual weeks in the US alone. He was voted the "Favorite Singer of All-Time" in a 1986 joint poll by readers of both USA Today and People.

5-Oct-1938 Born on this day in Dublin, Texas, was Johnny Duncan singer who scorded the 1977 US #1 Country hit "It Couldn't Have Been Any Better." In his career, he released fourteen studio albums, producing more than thirty chart singles, including, "She Can Put Her Shoes Under my Bed (Anytime)." Duncan died on August 14, 2006.
14-Oct-1938 Born on this day in Iron City, Tennessee, was Melba Montgomery, country music singer best known for duet hit recordings in the 1960s with country music singer George Jones and her 1974 US #1 hit "No Charge." Melba has written songs for such artists as George Strait, Reba McEntire, Randy Travis, George Jones, Patty Loveless, Travis Tritt, Tracy Byrd, and Terri Clark.
16-Nov-1938 Born on this day in Bighill, Madison County, Kentucky, was Troy Seals, singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He is a member of the prominent Seals family of musicians that includes, Jim Seals (of Seals and Crofts) and Dan Seals (of England Dan & John Ford Coley) and Brady Seals (Little Texas and Hot Apple Pie). Seals has played guitar on numerous sessions and has collaborated on compositions with Waylon Jennings, Vince Gill, Will Jennings and others. He has had three co-written compositions nominated for the Country Music Association 'Song of the Year' award: "Seven Spanish Angels" (1985), "Lost in the Fifties Tonight" (1986), and "If You Ever Have Forever In Mind" (1999).
12-Jan-1939 Born on this day in Brewton, Alabama, was William Lee Golden, singer with The Oak Ridge Boys who scored the 1978 US Country #1 "I'll Be True To You."
19-Jan-1939 Born on this day, was Phil Everly, singer, songwriter, with the country-influenced rock and roll performers The Everly Brothers. They scored 4 #1 Country hits in the late 50's; "Bye Bye Love", "Wake Up Little Susie", "Bird Dog" and "All I Have to Do Is Dream" Their song "When Will I Be Loved" later became hits for Reba McEntire and Linda Ronstadt, respectively. Phil Everly died on Jan 3rd 2014.
24-Jan-1939 Born on this day in Clarkdale, Georgia, was Ray Stevens, country and pop singer-songwriter. Stevens recorded perhaps his most famous hit, "The Streak," which poked fun at the early-1970s fad of running nude in public, known as "streaking." In 1975, he released the Grammy winning "Misty," which became his biggest country hit (reaching #3 on the country charts).

9-Feb-1939 Born on this day in Brooklyn, New York, was Barry Mann, songwriter, and part of a successful songwriting partnership with his wife, Cynthia Weil. The pair wrote "Here You Come Again" a hit for Dolly Parton in 1977.
14-Feb-1939 Born on this day in La Fayette, Alabama, was Razzy Bailey American country music artist, who scored the 1980 #1 single "Loving Up a Storm". Bailey has had three double sided #1's in succession on the Country charts, a feat never accomplished by any other artist.
19-Mar-1939 Born on this day in Weatherford, Texas, was Bob Kingsley, the longtime on-air personality and the host of syndicated radio show Bob Kingsley's Country Top 40. He died at his home in Weatherford, Texas on October 17, 2019 age 80.
18-Apr-1939 Born on this day in Wellington, Texas, was Glen Hardin, piano player and arranger. He was a member of the house band at the Palamino Club in North Hollywood, called "Country Music's most important West Coast club" by the Los Angeles Times. It featured such performers as Buck Owens, Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Linda Ronstadt, Hoyt Axton and Willie Nelson. He became a member of the Shindogs with a young Glen Campbell and James Burton.
18-Apr-1939 Born on this day in Datto, Arkansas, was Bill Rice, country music singer and songwriter. Rice has written songs for artists such as Johnny Paycheck, Reba McEntire, Charley Pride and Jerry Lee Lewis. Rice has had more awards from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers than any other songwriter.
20-Apr-1939 Born on this day in Jacksonville, Florida, was Johnny Tillotson, singer and songwriter who scored the 1964 Country #4 hit "It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin'."

25-May-1939 Born on this day in Fayetteville, North Carolina was guitarist Jimmy Capps. He was a member of the Grand Ole Opry house band and The Nashville A-Team. He performed on standards the likes of Rogers' "The Gambler," Tammy Wynette's "Stand By Your Man," George Jones' "He Stopped Loving Her Today" and Strait's "Amarillo By Morning." Capps died on June 2 2020 age 81.
27-May-1939 Born on this day in Floydada, Texas, was Don Williams, country singer, songwriter and a 2010 inductee to the Country Music Hall of Fame. After seven years with the folk-pop group Pozo-Seco Singers, he began his solo career in 1971, singing popular ballads and amassing 17 #1 hits including the 1974 #1 "I Wouldn't Want to Live If You Didn't Love Me". Williams died at his home in Alabama on 8 September 2017 aged 78.
16-Jun-1939 Born on this day in Greensboro, North Carolina, was Billy "Crash" Craddock. He first gained popularity in Australia in the 1950s with a string of rockabilly hits, including the Australian #1 hit "Boom Boom Baby". Switching to country music, he gained popularity in US in the 1970s with a string of top ten country hits, several of which were #1 hits, including "Broken Down in Tiny Pieces", "Rub It In", and "Ruby Baby". Craddock is known to fans as "Mr. Country Rock" for his uptempo rock-influenced style of country music.
19-Jul-1939 Born on this day in Okemah, Oklahoma, was Billy Parker country music disc jockey and singer. He was named Disc Jockey of the Year by the Country Music Association in 1974 and by the Academy of Country Music in 1975, 1977, 1978 and 1984. Between 1976 and 1989, Parker charted more than twenty singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.
8-Aug-1939 Born on this day, was Phil Balsley, Country singer, songwriter with The Statler Brothers who had the 80's US Country #1 hits 'Elizabeth' and "Do You Know You Are My Sunshine".
8-Aug-1939 Born on this day in Birmingham, Alabama was Nashville studio musician Henry Strzelecki. He performed with Chet Atkins, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Eddy Arnold, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Ronnie Milsap, Merle Haggard, and many others. Strzelecki was struck by a car in Nashville on December 22 and died of his injuries on December 30, 2014.
16-Aug-1939 Born on this day in Corsicana, Texas, was Billy Joe Shaver, country music singer and songwriter. Shaver's 1973 album Old Five and Dimers Like Me is a classic in the outlaw country genre. Shaver's 2007 album country gospel style Everybody's Brother was Grammy nominated. Many of the songs are duets with artists such as Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson and Tanya Tucker. Shaver died on October 28, 2020, from a massive stroke at the age of 81.
16-Aug-1939 Born on this day in Brooklyn New York City was singer, banjo player, and multi-instrumentalist, Eric Weissberg whose most commercially successful recording was his banjo solo in "Dueling Banjos," featured as the theme of the film Deliverance (1972) and released as a single that reached #2 in the United States and Canada in 1973. He died on March 22 2020 age 80.
21-Aug-1939 Born on this day in Dubberly in south Webster Parish near Minden, Louisiana, was James Burton, guitarist. Since the 1950s, Burton has recorded and performed with an array of notable singers, including Bob Luman, Dale Hawkins, Ricky Nelson, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Glen Campbell, John Denver, Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison and Vince Gill. James Burton is also known as the "Master of the Telecaster."
21-Aug-1939 Born on this day, was Harold Reid, Country singer, songwriter with The Statler Brothers who had the 80's US Country #1 hits "Elizabeth" and "Do You Know You Are My Sunshine." He died on April 25 2020 age 80.
5-Sep-1939 Born on this day in Akron, Ohio, was David Allan Coe songwriter, outlaw country music singer and guitarist. His best-known compositions are the #1 successes "Would You Lay With Me (In a Field of Stone)," which was covered by Tanya Tucker; and "Take This Job and Shove It," which was later covered by Johnny Paycheck.
23-Oct-1939 Bill Monroe auditioned for the Grand Ole Opry at the WSM Radio studios in Nashville, performing "Foggy Mountain Top," "Mule Skinner Blues" and "Fire On The Mountain." He passed the audition and made his debut five days later.
27-Oct-1939 Born on this day in Spiro, Oklahoma, was Dallas Frazier, country musician and songwriter who had success in the 1950s and 60s. His tunes were recorded by George Jones (who recorded an entire album of Frazier's songs in 1968), Willie Nelson, Brenda Lee, Charley Pride, Merle Haggard, Elvis Presley, Rodney Crowell. Many of the songs became hits into the 1980s; examples include the Oak Ridge Boys cover of "Elvira" and Emmylou Harris's version of "Beneath Still Waters". Anne Murray with Glen Campbell, George Strait, Randy Travis, and Patty Loveless have all also recorded Frazier tunes. He died in Gallatin, Tennessee, on January 14, 2022, at the age of 82.
27-Oct-1939 Born on this day in Nashville, Tennessee, was Ruby Wright, country music singer-songwriter. Wright was the daughter of country singers Kitty Wells and Johnnie Wright. She sang with her parents as a young girl and in the mid-1950s, she became part of an all-girl trio, Nita, Rita and Ruby. Wright died on September 27, 2009.
17-Nov-1939 Aged 16, Hank Williams made one of his very first stage appearnces when he played at Weoka High School in Alabama.
29-Dec-1939 Born on this day in Keiser, Arkansas was Ed Bruce. He is best known for writing the 1975 song "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" and recording the 1982 country hit "You're the Best Break This Old Heart Ever Had". He also co-starred in the television series Bret Maverick with James Garner during the 1981-82 season. He died on January 8, 2021 age 81.
8-Jan-1940 Born on this day, was Cristy Lane, country music and gospel music singer, best known for a number of major country hits in the late 70s and the early 1980s, including her cover version of the song, "One Day at a Time".
23-Jan-1940 Born on this day in Moorhead, Mississippi, was Johnny Russell country singer, songwriter, and comedian best known for his song "Act Naturally", which was made famous by Buck Owens, who recorded it in 1963, and The Beatles in 1965. His songs have been recorded by Burl Ives, Jim Reeves, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, and Linda Ronstadt. He died on July 3 2001.

28-Feb-1940 Born on this day in Atlanta, Georgia, was Joe South, singer-songwriter and guitarist who has written many well known songs including the 1971 Lynn Anderson hit "(I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden." which was a hit in 16 countries worldwide. South has also played guitar with Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan and Simon & Garfunkle as well as scoring his own hit with "Games People Play" in 1968. South died aged 72 on 5 Sept 2012.
4-Apr-1940 Born on this day was Sharon Sheeley. She wrote songs for Glen Campbell, Ricky Nelson, Brenda Lee, and Eddie Cochran. Her first song, "Poor Little Fool", was recorded by Ricky Nelson in 1958, and became Nelson's first US #1. At age 18, Sheeley was the youngest woman to write an American #1 hit.
5-Apr-1940 Born on this day in Dyess, Arkansas, was Tommy Cash, singer-songwriter and younger brother of Johnny Cash. While in the army, he was a disc jockey for the American Forces Radio Network and then played with Hank Williams, Jr., and later gained a record deal from Musicor Records in 1965. A year later, he joined United Artists Records and just missed the Country Top 40 in 1968 with "The Sounds of Goodbye."
19-Apr-1940 Born on this day in Nashville, Tennessee, was Bobby Russell, singer and songwriter. Between 1966 and 1973, he charted five singles on the Hot Country Songs charts. "Little Green Apples" won Russell the 1969 Grammy Award for Song of the Year and the Grammy Award for Best Country Song.
22-Apr-1940 Born on this day in Vancouver, British Columbia, was Canadian country music singer and songwriter Ray Griff. He has written many major hits including "Canadian Pacific" for George Hamilton IV, "Who's Gonna Play This Old Piano" for Jerry Lee Lewis, and "Baby" for Wilma Burgess. Others who have had major hit records with Griff songs include Faron Young, Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton, Bob Luman, Gene Watson, and Johnny Duncan. Griff died on March 9, 2016 aged 75.
7-Jun-1940 Born on this day in Pontypridd, South Wales, UK, was Tom Jones, singer who scored the 1977 US #1 Country hit "Say You'll Stay Until Tomorrow". Jones is famous for his version of "Green, Green Grass of Home" which was a world-wide hit in 1966.
23-Jun-1940 Born on this day in Melbourne, Australia was Diana Trask, country and pop singer. She charted eighteen singles on the country charts, of which the highest was the #13 "Lean It All on Me" in 1974.
28-Jun-1940 The movie Grand Ole Opry debuted at Nashville's Paramount Theater, starring Roy Acuff and the Smoky Mountain Boys, Uncle Dave Macon and Opry founder George D. Hay.
6-Jul-1940 Born on this day in Titusville, Pennsylvania, was Jeannie Seely country music singer and Grand Ole Opry star. She is best known for her 1966 Grammy award-winning Country hit, "Don't Touch Me", which peaked at #2 on the country charts.
5-Aug-1940 Born on this day in Lakeland, Florida, was Bobby Braddock, country music songwriter and record producer. A member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Braddock has contributed numerous hit songs during more than 40 years in the industry, including 13 #1 hit singles, one of which is "D-I-V-O-R-C-E" which he co-wrote with Curly Putman.
10-Aug-1940 Born on this day in Shreveport, Louisiana was record producer, songwriter and guitar player Jerry Kennedy. A recipient of four Grammys, Kennedy’s Dobro and guitar playing have been featured on the albums of artists as varied as Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Kris Kristofferson and Ringo Starr. Another work done by Kennedy on Dobro was Jeannie C. Riley's 1968 hit "Harper Valley PTA." Kennedy has also produced memorable hits for Roger Miller, Reba McEntire, The Statler Brothers and Tom T. Hall.
4-Nov-1940 Born on this day in Lubbock, Texas, was Delbert McClinton, singer-songwriter, guitarist, harmonica player, and pianist. His highest-peaking single was "Tell Me About It", a 1992 duet with Tanya Tucker which reached #4 on the Country chart. Emmylou Harris had a #1 country hit in 1978 with McClinton's "Two More Bottles of Wine."

9-Jan-1941 Born on this day in Three Rivers, Texas, was singer Roy Head best known for his 1965 hit record "Treat Her Right". He died on September 21, 2020 following a heart attack.
18-Jan-1941 Born on this day in Marianna, Florida, was Bobby Goldsboro who had a string of Pop and Country hits during the 1960s and 1970s, including his signature #1 classic "Honey," which sold over one million copies in the United States. In 1995, he created the fifty-two episode children's television series The Swamp Critters of Lost Lagoon. Goldsboro voiced all the characters, wrote all the scripts, and played all the musical instruments.

25-Jan-1941 Born on this day, near New Albany, Mississippi, was Bobby Wood, session musician and songwriter most famous for his work as the Memphis Boys keyboardist. He wrote Crystal Gayle's "Half The Way" and Ronnie Milsap's "He Got You," and plays on Elvis Presley's "In the Ghetto", "Suspicious Minds" and "Always On My Mind."
5-Feb-1941 Born on this day in Oklahoma, was Henson Cargill country music singer best known for the 1968 #1 hit, "Skip a Rope". He died on March 24, 2007.
18-Mar-1941 Born on this day in Roxboro, North Carolina, was singer Margie Bowes. She had a top 10 country hit, "Poor Old Heartsick Me", in 1959. Bowes died on October 22, 2020 age 79 in Brentwood, Tennessee after an extended illness.
28-Mar-1941 Born on this day in Oak Hill, West Virginia, Charlie McCoy, session musician noted for his work on a wide variety of instruments. In his career, McCoy has backed several notable musicians including Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Tom Astor, Elvis Presley, Chet Atkins and Ween. He has also recorded thirty-seven studio albums.
9-Apr-1941 Born on this day in Knox City, Texas, was singer Kay Adams. In the 1960s, Adams arrived on the country scene with the songs "Six Days a Waiting," "Old Heart Get Ready," "Anymore," "Honky Tonk Heartache" and "She Didn't Color Daddy." At the inaugural Academy of Country Music Awards , in 1965, Adams was named Top New Female Vocalist.
21-Apr-1941 Born on this day in Robards, Kentucky was singer-songwriter Jim Owen. Several artists had chart hits with his songs. These included "Too Lonely Too Long" and "One More Drink" (both Mel Tillis), "Little Boy’s Prayer" (Porter Wagoner), "Sweet Baby On My Mind" (June Stearns), "Southern Loving" and "Broad Minded Man" (both Jim Ed Brown), "The Telephone" (Jerry Reed) and arguably the best-known of all, "Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man" (Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn). Charlie Daniels once called Jim Owen country music's least known country superstar. He died on March 7 2020.
1-Jun-1941 Born on this day in Greenwood, Arkansas was songwriter and recording artist Wayne Kemp, who penned hit tunes for George Strait, George Jones and Johnny Cash, among many others. He died at Macon County General Hospital in Lafayette, Tennessee on March 9th 2015. One of his most well-known songs gave Johnny Cash his 1976 #1 hit "One Piece at a Time" and also co-wrote "Love Bug" for George Jones.
14-Aug-1941 Born on this day in Elkhart, Indiana was Connie Smith the country music artist. She began her career in 1963 after winning a local talent contest near Columbus, Ohio, which attracted the attention of country songwriter Bill Anderson. Her first #1 hit was with her debut single "Once A Day" released in 1964. Smith won Billboards Most Promising Female Country Artist in 1964.
15-Aug-1941 Born on this day, was Don Rich, country musician who helped develop the Bakersfield sound in the early 1960s. He was a noted guitarist and fiddler, and a member of the Buckaroos, the backing band of country singer Buck Owens. Rich died on July 17, 1974.
18-Sep-1941 Born on this day in Marietta, Georgia, was country singer Priscilla Mitchell. In the 1960s, with country singer Roy Drusky, she recorded a series of hits, their best-selling recordings being country music "cheating songs", including their biggest hit together, "Yes Mr. Peters", released in 1965, becoming #1 on the country charts.
26-Sep-1941 Born on this day in El Dorado, Arkansas, was David Frizzell, country music singer the younger brother of country music legend Lefty Frizzell. Frizzell scored his only solo #1 country single with "I'm Gonna Hire a Wino to Decorate Our Home", which was nominated for Song of the Year in the 1982 Grammy Awards.
17-Oct-1941 Born on this day in Portsmouth, Ohio, was Earl Thomas Conley, country music singer-songwriter. In the 1980s and into the 1990s, Conley charted more than thirty singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, of which eighteen reached#1. Conley's eighteen #1 country singles during the 1980s marked the most #1 hits by any artist in any genre during that decade. Conley's music has been referred to as "thinking man's country" because the narrator looks into the heart and soul of his characters in each song. He died on April 10th 2019.
6-Nov-1941 Born on this day in Monahans, Texas, was Guy Clark, Grammy Award winning country musician, songwriter who has released more than twenty albums, and his songs have been recorded by other artists including Jerry Jeff Walker, Jimmy Buffett, Ricky Skaggs, Steve Wariner, and Rodney Crowell. Clark won the 2014 Grammy Award for Best Folk Album: My Favorite Picture Of You. Clark died on May 17, 2016 aged 74.
25-Nov-1941 Born on this day, was songwriter and keyboardist, Bobby Wood who wrote Crystal Gayle's "Half The Way" and Ronnie Milsap's "He Got You" as well as recording with Kris Kristofferson, Garth Brooks, George Jones, and Tammy Wynette.
27-Nov-1941 Born on this day, in Brooklyn, New York, was Eddie Rabbitt, singer-songwriter and musician who as a songwriter in the late 1960s, wrote such hits as "Kentucky Rain" for Elvis Presley in 1970 and "Pure Love" for Ronnie Milsap. Rabbitt also had the 1976 US #1 Country hit with "Drinkin' My Baby (Off My Mind)". He died from lung cancer at the age of 56 on 7th May 1998.

29-Nov-1941 Born on this day in Phoenix, Arizona, was Jody Miller, country music singer who in 1965 released an answer record to Roger Miller's hit "King of the Road", titled "Queen of the House" (which became her signature hit, peaking at #5 on the country singles chart). Miller won the Grammy award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for the song in 1966. Miller died on October 6, 2022, she was 80 years old.
6-Dec-1941 Born on this day in Monroe City, Missouri, was Helen Cornelius, country singer-songwriter and actress, best remembered for a series of hit duets with Jim Ed Brown, many of which reached the US country singles top ten during the late 1970s and early '80s, including the 1976 #1 hit "I Don't Want to Have to Marry You".
26-Dec-1941 Born on this day in Puryear, Tennessee, was Rattlesnake Annie, country singer and songwriter. She earned her nickname as a child from her respect of snakes. She recorded her debut album, Rattlesnakes and Rusty Water, on her own label, Rattlesnake Records. At the time, it was unusual for a woman to play guitar in public, and it was also rare for a woman to produce her own songs.
21-Jan-1942 Born on this day, was Mac Davis, country music singer, songwriter, and actor His early work writing for Elvis Presley produced multiple #1 hits (including "Memories", "In The Ghetto", and the latently popular "A Little Less Conversation"). He died age 78 on September 29, 2020, following heart surgery.
26-Jan-1942 Born on this day in Los Angeles, California was Dave Rowland from the country music trio Dave & Sugar. They charted 16 times on the Billboard country charts, including three #1 hits: "The Door Is Always Open", "Tear Time" and "Golden Tears".
4-Mar-1942 Born on this day in in Paris, Arkansas was American guitarist Bob Wootton. He joined Johnny Cash's backing band, the Tennessee Three, after original lead guitarist Luther Perkins, died in a house fire. He was Cash's guitarist for nearly thirty years. Wootton died on April 9, 2017 age 75.
16-Mar-1942 Born on this day in Oneonta, New York, was Jerry Jeff Walker, country music singer and songwriter who is most famous for writing the song "Mr. Bojangles" and was a leading figure in the outlaw country music movement. He died of throat cancer on October 23, 2020, age 78.
19-Mar-1942 Born on this day in Tyler, Texas, was singer-songwriter Richard Dobson. He was part of the outlaw country movement and spent time in the 1970s with Townes Van Zandt, Mickey White, Rex "Wrecks" Bell, Guy Clark, Steve Earle, Rodney Crowell, and "Skinny" Dennis Sanchez. He died of cancer on December 16, 2017, aged 75.
26-Mar-1942 Born on this day, was Larry Butler, country music producer, songwriter. From the mid-1970s through the 1980s, he worked with Kenny Rogers. These albums include Kenny Rogers (1976), The Gambler (1978), Gideon (1980) and I Prefer The Moonlight (1987). Butler is the only Nashville producer to win the Grammy Award for Producer of the year.
2-Apr-1942 Born on this day in Lawton, Oklahoma, was Leon Russell, (Claude Russell Bridges), musician and songwriter. Russell played piano with "The Wrecking Crew" the top L.A. session musicians of the 1960s, as well as working with many other artists including Willie Nelson, The Byrds, and Bob Dylan.
3-Apr-1942 Born on this day in in Valdosta, Georgia was pop and country singer Billy Joe Royal. His most successful record was "Down in the Boondocks" in 1965. His first hit on the country music chart was in 1984 with "Burned Like a Rocket."
9-Apr-1942 Born on this day in Dayton, Ohio, was Margo Smith, singer who in the 1970's scored two US #1 Country hits, "Don't Break the Heart That Loves You" and "It Only Hurts for a Little While." She is also considered a "world class yodeler".
5-May-1942 Born on this day in Tremont, Mississippi was Tammy Wynette. Known as the first lady of country music. Her best-known song, "Stand by Your Man", was one of the biggest selling hit singles by a woman in the history of the country music genre. Later in her career Wynette had the 1991 hit "Justified and Ancient" with The KLF which became a #1 hit in eighteen countries. She died from cardiac arrhythmiaon aged 55 on 6th April 1998.

8-May-1942 Born on this day in Buffalo, New York, was Jack Blanchard who with his wife, Misty Morgan had hits in 1970s, including the charting albums Birds of a Feather and Two Sides of Jack and Misty. Between 1969 and 1976, the duo also released fourteen singles, including "Tennessee Bird Walk", a #1 hit.
9-May-1942 Born on this day in Hodgenville, Kentucky, was Bobby Lewis, country music singer-songwriter. Between 1963 and 1985, Lewis released ten albums and charted more than twenty-five songs on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. His biggest hit, "How Long Has It Been," peaked at #6 in 1966.
12-May-1942 Born on this day in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, was Billy Swan, singer, songwriter best known for his 1974 US Country #1 and crossover hit single, "I Can Help". Swan also penned country songs for numerous artists, including Conway Twitty, Waylon Jennings, and Mel Tillis.

15-May-1942 Born on this day in Crossett, Arkansas, was K.T. Oslin, country music singer and songwriter who is known for a series of top-ten country hits during the late 1980s and early 1990s, four of which topped the chart including her 1990 hit "Come Next Monday." She died on December 21, 2020, a week after being diagnosed with COVID-19. She was 78 years old.
14-Jul-1942 Born on this day in Cleveland, Ohio, was Rory Bourke, songwriter. His songwriting career took off in the early 1970s and he soon racked up tracks recorded by Charlie Rich, Elvis Presley, Billy Crash Craddock, Lynn Anderson, Olivia Newton-John, and many others. His most successful song was "The Most Beautiful Girl", co-written with Billy Sherrill and Norro Wilson, Rourke's other hit songs include "A Little Good News," (Anne Murray), "You Look So Good in Love" (George Strait), "I Know a Heartache When I See One" (Jennifer Warnes), and "Come Next Monday" (K.T. Oslin).

7-Aug-1942 Born on this day in Hugo, Oklahoma, B. J. Thomas. His 1966, album with The Triumphs I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry sold over one million copies. He is best known for his version of the Burt Bacharach/Hal David song "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head", which was featured in the 1969 film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. In 1975 he scored the US Country #1 "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song."
6-Sep-1942 Born on this day in Checotah, Oklahoma, was Mel McDaniel, country music artist. His chart-making years were mainly the 1980s with his hits from that era including "Louisiana Saturday Night", "Big Ole Brew", "Stand Up", and the #1 "Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On". He died on March 31, 2011.
27-Oct-1942 Born on this day, was Lee Greenwood, country music artist who has charted more than 35 singles on the Billboard country music charts. Greenwood is best known for his single "God Bless the USA", which was popular when it was originally released in 1984, and became popular again after the 9/11 attacks becoming his highest charting pop hit, reaching #16 on the Billboard Hot 100.

8-Nov-1942 Born on this day in Florence, Alabama, was Donnie Fritts, session musician and songwriter. Fritts has been Kris Kristofferson's keyboardist for over forty years as of 2013. In 2008, he was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. Songs which he wrote have been recorded by Charlie Rich and Jerry Lee Lewis. He died on August 27th 2019 age 76.
7-Jan-1943 Born on this day in Vienna, Missouri was country singer Leona Williams. She was a backing musician for Loretta Lynn and Merle Haggard, to whom she was married between 1978 and 1983. She also charted eight times on Hot Country Songs, with her only Top 40 hit being a duet with Haggard titled "The Bull and the Beaver."
16-Jan-1943 Born on this day in Robbinsville, North Carolina, was Ronnie Milsap, country music singer and pianist. He became country music's first well-known blind singer, and one of the most successful and versatile country "crossover" singers of his time scoring the crossover hits, "It Was Almost Like a Song," "Smoky Mountain Rain," "(There's) No Gettin' Over Me," "I Wouldn't Have Missed It for the World," "Any Day Now," and "Stranger in My House." He is credited with six Grammy Awards and 40 #1 country hits.

26-Jan-1943 Born on this day in Mangum, Oklahoma was pastor, singer, songwriter, producer and television host Gary McSpadden. He was a member of the The Oak Ridge Boys and sang with Jake Hess and the Imperials before launching his solo career in 1979. He died on April 15, 2020 age 77.
4-Feb-1943 Born on this day in Sheffield, Alabama, was session guitarist and record producer Jimmy Johnson. He worked with hundreds of artists including: Billy "Crash" Craddock, Oak Ridge Boys, Ronnie Milsap, Delbert McClinton, Eddie Rabbitt and Willie Nelson. He died from kidney failure in 2019 at the age of 76.
19-Feb-1943 Born on this day in Corinth, Mississippi was Bobby Emmons who as a songwriter wrote hits for George Strait ("So Much Like My Dad"), Waylon Jennings ("Luckenbach, Texas," "Women Do Know How to Carry On" and "Wurlitzer Prize") and Tanya Tucker ("Love Me Like You Used To"). Emmons who was a member of Bill Black's Combo from 1960-63 died on February 23rd 2015.
17-Mar-1943 Born on this day American singer-songwriter Jim Weatherly. His notable songs include the 1974 hit "The Need to Be" and "Midnight Train to Georgia" a #1 hit single for Gladys Knight & the Pips. He died from natural causes age 77 on February 3, 2021.
18-Mar-1943 Born on this day, was Dennis Linde, best known for writing the 1972 Elvis Presley hit, "Burning Love". Linde wrote numerous hit songs for mainly country music singers, beginning with hits for Roger Miller and Roy Drusky in 1970. In 2000, his song for the Dixie Chicks, "Goodbye Earl", stirred some controversy for its take on spousal abuse. Linde also wrote tunes that were recorded by Tanya Tucker, Gary Morris, Don Williams, The Judds, Alan Jackson, Mark Chesnutt and Garth Brooks. He died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center on December 22, 2006 aged 63.
29-Mar-1943 Born on this day in Detroit, Michigan, was Randy Barlow. Between 1976 and 1983, he released four albums and charted twenty singles on the US country charts including "Slow and Easy", "No Sleep Tonight", "Fall in Love with Me Tonight", and "Sweet Melinda". He died of cancer on July 30, 2020, at the age of 77.
24-Apr-1943 Born on this day in Camden, New Jersey, was Richard Anthony Sterban, singer with The Oak Ridge Boys who scored the 1978 US Country #1 "I'll Be True To You."

29-Apr-1943 Born on this day in Taylortown, Texas, was Duanne Allen, singer with The Oak Ridge Boys who scored the 1978 US Country #1 "I'll Be True To You."
25-May-1943 Born on this day in Phoenix, Arizona, was Jessi Colter country music artist who is best known for her collaboration with her husband, Waylon Jennings and for her 1975 country-pop crossover hit "I'm Not Lisa".
31-May-1943 Born on this in Denver, Colorado was Wayne Carson, country musician, songwriter, and record producer. He played percussion, piano, guitar, and bass. His most famous songs as a writer include "Neon Rainbow", "The Letter", and "Always on My Mind" (written with Mark James and Johnny Christopher). Carson died on July 20, 2015, aged 72
6-Jun-1943 Born on this day in Springhill, Webster Parish, Louisiana, was Joe Stampley, singer who had the 1973 US #1 hit with "Soul Dog" and the 1975 US #1 country hit with "Roll On Big Mama."
5-Aug-1943 Born on this day in Orange County, California, was Sammi Smith, country music singer and songwriter best known for her 1971 country/pop crossover hit, "Help Me Make It Through the Night", which was written by Kris Kristofferson. She became one of the few women in the outlaw country movement during the 1970s. She died on February 12, 2005.
8-Aug-1943 Born on this day in Alamosa, Colorado, was Michael Johnson, pop, country and folk singer-songwriter and guitarist best known for his 1978 hit song "Bluer Than Blue" and his two #1 country hits from 1986, "Give Me Wings" and "The Moon Is Still Over Her Shoulder". He also co-wrote "Cain's Blood", the debut single of 1990s country group 4 Runner. He died on July 25, 2017 age 72.
6-Sep-1943 Whilst hanging out backstage at the Montgomery Municipal Auditorium, Hank Williams offered to go out on stage to retrieve Hardrock Gunter's guitar who had just finished his set. Hank walked onto the stage and picked it up, and played a few songs, bringing the house down!
13-Sep-1943 Born on this day in Florence, Alabama was drummer and record producer Jerry Carrigan. He first achieved widespread recognition by being part of the original Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. He recorded with Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Charley Pride, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ray Stevens, Kenny Rogers, George Jones and many others. He died on June 22nd age 75.
25-Sep-1943 Born on this day in Rochester, Minnesota, was singer-songwriter Joe Sun. He charted fourteen singles on the Hot Country Songs charts. His highest was his 1978 debut single, the #14 "Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle to You." He died on October 25, 2019 age 76.
11-Oct-1943 Born on this day, was Gene Watson, country singer, best known for his signature song "Farewell Party" and the 1975 hit "Love in the Hot Afternoon," and his 1982 hit "Fourteen Carat Mind." Watson has scored six Country #1's, 23 top tens and over 75 charted singles.
15-Oct-1943 Born on this day, was American drummer and session musician Larrie Londin. He played on more hit records during his career than any other drummer, with the possible exception of the legendary session drummer Hal Blaine. Londin moved to Nashville in 1969, and grew to be regarded as Nashville's top session drummer and played with a wide range of artists, including Emmylou Harris, Charley Pride, Randy Travis, Porter Wagoner, Dolly Parton, Albert Lee, Larry Carlton, Merle Haggard, Hank Snow, Jerry Reed, Rosanne Cash, Reba McEntire, KT Oslin, Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Hank Williams, Jr., Chet Atkins, Ronnie Milsap, and many others. He died on August 24, 1992.
21-Dec-1943 Born on this day in Lingen, Herefordshire, England, was guitarist Albert Lee who was a member of Emmylou Harris' The Hot Band and has also worked with Rosanne Cash, Dolly Parton and Carlene Carter.
31-Dec-1943 Born on this day in Roswell, New Mexico, was John Denver (Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr.), singer, songwriter, activist, and humanitarian. Denver recorded and released over 300 songs, earning him 12 gold and 4 platinum albums with his signature songs "Sunshine on My Shoulders", "Take Me Home, Country Roads", "Leaving on a Jet Plane", "Rocky Mountain High", "Annie's Song" and "Calypso". Denver was killed on October 12, 1997 at the age of 53 when his experimental Rutan Long-EZ plane, crashed into the Pacific Ocean near Pacific Grove, California.
31-Dec-1943

12-Feb-1944 Born on this day in Meridian, Mississippi, was Moe Bandy who had the 1974 Country top 10 album It Was Always So Easy and the 1979 Country #1 hit "I Cheated Me Right Out of You."
7-Mar-1944 Born on this day in Fort Worth, Texas, was Townes Van Zandt singer-songwriter. His music has been covered by such notable and varied musicians as Bob Dylan, Lyle Lovett, Steve Earle, Cowboy Junkies, Andrew Bird, Alison Krauss, and Gillian Welch. He died on January 1, 1997.
4-Apr-1944 Born on this day in Walden, near Beaumont, Texas, was Bob McDill, songwriter who has written numerous songs for country music artists, including 31 #1 hits for artists including Anne Murray, Don Williams, Waylon Jennings, and Mickey Gilley.
27-Apr-1944 Born on this day, was Herb Pedersen, musician, guitarist, banjo player, and singer-songwriter who has worked with numerous musicians including Earl Scruggs, The Dillards, Smokey Grass Boys, Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris, Dan Fogelberg, Stephen Stills, Linda Ronstadt, Kris Kristofferson, John Prine, Jackson Browne, and John Denver. He was also a member of The Desert Rose Band who had the 1988 US Country #1 hit "He's Back and I'm Blue."

28-May-1944 Born on this day in Letcher County, Kentucky, was Gary Stewart, country musician and songwriter known for his distinctive vibrato voice and his southern rock influenced, outlaw country sound. During the mid-1970s Time magazine described him as the "king of honkytonk." His biggest hit was the 1975 US #1 Country hit "She's Actin' Single (I'm Drinkin' Doubles)." Stewart died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on December 16, 2003 a few weeks after his wife had died from pneumonia.

28-May-1944 Born on this day in Big Pond, Cape Breton County, was Rita MacNeil, Canadian country and folk singer. Her biggest hit, "Flying On Your Own", was a crossover Top 40 hit in 1987 and was covered by Anne Murray. In 1990, she was the bestselling country artist in Canada, outselling even Garth Brooks and Clint Black. She was also the only female singer ever to have three separate albums chart in the same year in Australia.
21-Jun-1944 Born on this day was American country music singer and songwriter Kenny O'Dell. He was best known for writing the #1 country hits "Behind Closed Doors" (recorded by Charlie Rich, 1973) and "Mama He's Crazy" (The Judds, 1984). O'Dell who was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame died on March 27, 2018 age 73.
11-Jul-1944 Born on this day in Boscobel, Wisconsin, was Bobby G. Rice, country music singer-songwriter. Between 1970 and 1988, Rice released nine albums and charted thirty songs on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. His biggest hit, "You Lay So Easy On My Mind," peaked at #3 in 1973.
20-Jul-1944 Born on this day in Humboldt, Tennessee, was T. G. Sheppard, (born Billy Neal Browder), country music singer, who had 15 #1 hits during the 1970s and 1980s. Sheppard owned a small chain of now-defunct restaurants under the name of "T.G.'s North of the Border Cafe and Cantina," in Gatlinburg and Chattanooga, Tennessee.
27-Jul-1944 Born on this day in Chickasaw County, Mississippi, was Bobbie Gentry, singer-songwriter notable as one of the first female country artists to compose and produce her own material. Gentry rose to international fame with her intriguing Southern Gothic narrative "Ode to Billie Joe" in 1967. The track spent four weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and sold over three million copies all over the world. Her album Fancy brought her a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

19-Aug-1944 Born on this day in Lafayette, Louisiana, was Eddy Raven, who is known for his Cajun-influenced country music. He has charted more than thirty-five singles in his career, including the #1 hits "I Got Mexico", "Shine, Shine, Shine", "I'm Gonna Get You", "Joe Knows How to Live", "In a Letter to You" and "Bayou Boys", as well as several more Top Ten hits, including seventeen consecutive Top Tens between 1984 and 1990.
8-Oct-1944 Born on this day in Eugene, Oregon, was Susan Raye, country music singer. She enjoyed great popularity during the early and mid 1970's and chalked up seven top 10 and nineteen top 40 country hits. Raye was a protegee of country music singer Buck Owens. Owens and Raye recorded a number of hit albums and singles together.
24-Oct-1944 Born on this day was American country singer, guitarist Ray Downs, best known for his appearances on the syndicated Porter Wagoner television show. He also played with Country Music legend Marty Robbins and recorded under the names Ray Stark as well as Jason Williams. Ray is now a novelist with three novels and hundreds of short stories to his credit.
1-Nov-1944 Born on this day was Kinky Friedman, American Texas Country singer, songwriter, novelist, humorist, politician and former columnist for Texas Monthly. His cover of Chinga Chavin's "Asshole from El Paso", a parody of Merle Haggard's "Okie from Muskogee" is, perhaps, his most famous song.
27-Nov-1944 Born on this day, was Sammy Creason, American session drummer who played with many artists including Kris Kristofferson, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Delbert McClinton, Rita Coolidge, Billy Swan, Hoyt Axton, Gene Clark, Jimmy Buffett, and Jerry Jeff Walker. Creason died on 21 December 1995.
3-Dec-1944 Born on this day in Leslie County, Kentucky, was Roger Bowling, Nashville based songwriter. His best known songs included "Lucille" (co-written with Hal Bynum), and "Coward of the County" (co-written with Billy Ed Wheeler), both recorded by Kenny Rogers, and "Blanket on the Ground", "What I've Got In Mind", and "57 Chevrolet", which were recorded by Billie Jo Spears. He died on December 26, 1982 in Georgia.

4-Dec-1944 Born on this day, was Chris Hillman, one of the original members of The Byrds which in 1965 included Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark, David Crosby, and Michael Clarke. Along with frequent collaborator Gram Parsons, Hillman was a key figure in the development of country rock, virtually defining the genre through his seminal work in The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers and later became the leader of the country rock act Desert Rose Band who had the 1988 US Country #1 hit "He's Back and I'm Blue."
4-Dec-1944 Eddy Arnold held his first recording session at the WSM radio studios in Nashville, where he recorded his first hit, "Each Minute Seems A Million Years," which went on to become a #5 hit.
11-Dec-1944 Born on this day in Atlanta, Georgia, was Brenda Lee. At 4 ft. 9 inches tall (approximately 145 cm), she received the nickname 'Little Miss Dynamite' in 1957 after recording the song "Dynamite"; and was one of the earliest pop stars to have a major contemporary international following. In 1997, she was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
15-Dec-1944 Hank Williams married Audrey Sheppard, their son, Randall Hank Williams, who would achieve fame in his own right as Hank Williams, Jr., was born on May 26, 1949. The marriage ended in divorce on May 29, 1952.
24-Dec-1944 Born on this day in Savannah, Georgia, was Michael Curb, musician, record company executive, and NASCAR and IRL race car owner. Founder of Curb Records whose roster has included many successful country music artists, such as Tim McGraw, LeAnn Rimes, Hank Williams, Jr., Wynonna, the Bellamy Brothers, Steve Holy, the Judds, Hal Ketchum, Jo Dee Messina, Rio Grand, Jim Stafford and Ray Stevens. A Republican, he served as the 42nd Lieutenant Governor of California from 1979-1983 under Democratic Governor Edmund G. "Jerry" Brown, Jr. He was acting governor of California while Brown spent time outside of California pursuing presidential ambitions.
25-Dec-1944 Born on this day in Atlanta, Georgia was musician and producer Emory Gordy Jr. He has worked with many artists including Steve Earle and he accompanied Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris on Parson's Grievous Angel album.
30-Dec-1944 Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys appeared at the Grand Ole Opry. According to the Opry, drums and horns were not considered to be part of country music. Wills' band at the time consisted of two fiddlers, two bass fiddles, two electric guitars, an amplified electric steel guitar, and a trumpet, as well as drums, with which the drummer played in the Dixieland style.
17-Jan-1945 Red Foley became the first country performer to record in Nashville, Tennessee. During the session at WSM-AM's Studio B, he recorded "Tennessee Saturday Night", "Blues in the Heart" and "Tennessee Border".
14-Mar-1945 Born on this day, was Michael Martin Murphey, singer-songwriter and multiple Grammy nominee, Murphey has six gold albums, including Cowboy Songs, the first album of cowboy music to achieve gold status since Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs by Marty Robbins in 1959. Known for the hit singles "Wildfire", "Carolina in the Pines", "What's Forever For", "A Long Line of Love", "What She Wants", and "Don't Count the Rainy Days". Murphey is also the author of New Mexico's state ballad, "The Land of Enchantment".

1-May-1945 Born on this day in Lafayette, Tennessee, was Rita Coolidge, singer and songwriter. She met Kris Kristofferson at Los Angeles airport when they were both catching the same flight to Tennessee and he got off in Memphis with her rather than go on to his originally intended stop in Nashville; the two married in 1973. With him, she recorded several duet albums and earned the duo a Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1974 for "From the Bottle to the Bottom", and in 1976 for "Lover Please".

6-May-1945 Born on this day in Amarillo, Texas, was Jimmie Dale Gilmore, country singer, songwriter. In 1994, Gilmore teamed up with Willie Nelson to contribute "Crazy" to the AIDS benefit album Red Hot + Country produced by the Red Hot Organization.
23-May-1945 Born on this day in Buffalo, New York, was Misty Morgan who with her husband Jack Blanchard had hits in 1970s, including the charting albums Birds of a Feather and Two Sides of Jack and Misty. Between 1969 and 1976, the duo also released fourteen singles, including "Tennessee Bird Walk", a #1 hit. She died from cancer on January 1 2021 age 75.
5-Jun-1945 Born on this day, was Don Reid, Country singer, songwriter with The Statler Brothers who had the 80's US Country #1 hits "Elizabeth" and "Do You Know You Are My Sunshine".
20-Jun-1945 Born on this day in Springhill, Nova Scotia, was Anne Murray, the Canadian singer whose albums have sold over 54 million copies. Murray became the first Canadian female solo singer to reach #1 on the US charts, and also the first to earn a Gold record for one of her signature songs, "Snowbird". She is also the first woman and the first Canadian to win "Album of the Year" at the Country Music Association Awards for her 1984 album A Little Good News.

20-Jul-1945 Born on this day in Los Angeles, California was singer-songwriter Kim Carnes. Successes as a songwriter include co-writing the #1 duet "The Heart Won't Lie" with Donna Weiss, recorded by Vince Gill and Reba McEntire, and co-writing the songs for Kenny Rogers' 1980 concept album Gideon.
7-Aug-1945 Born on this day in Vancouver, British Columbia was musician and songwriter Kerry Chater, best known as a member of Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, but also a successful Nashville songwriter for many years penning such #1 hits as "You're the First Time I've Thought About Leaving" for Reba McEntire, "If I Had You" for Alabama and "You Look So Good in Love" for George Strait.
30-Aug-1945 Born on this day songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Fred Tackett best known as a member of the band Little Feat. Tackett has recorded with various Country stars including: Kenny Rogers, Bonnie Raitt, Vince Gill and Dolly Parton.
19-Oct-1945 Born on this day in Anson, Texas, was Jeannie C. Riley (born Jeanne Carolyn Stephenson, country music and gospel singer who is best known for her 1968 country #1 and pop hit "Harper Valley PTA". In 1980, she published her autobiography, From Harper Valley to the Mountain Top.

1-Nov-1945 Born on this day in Kerang, Victoria, was John Williamson, Australian country music singer-songwriter. Williamson has released over forty albums, and has received twenty-six Golden Guitar trophies at the Country Music Awards of Australia.
10-Nov-1945 Born on this day in Mount Airy, North Carolina, was Donna Fargo country music singer-songwriter, who is best known for a series of Top 10 country hits in the 1970s, including "The Happiest Girl In the Whole USA", "Superman" and "Funny Face."
19-Dec-1945 Born on this day, was John McEuen, multi-instrumentalist (banjo, guitar, mandolin, fiddle, piano), and one of the earliest members of The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band as well as a solo perfomer who has also worked with various artists including Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, Jerry Jeff Walker, and Alison Krauss.
11-Jan-1946 Born on this day in Ashland, Kentucky, was Naomi Judd, country music singer, songwriter, and activist. With her daughter, Wynonna Judd, Naomi formed country music's most famous mother, daughter team, The Judds scored twenty top-10 hits including fifteen #1's and have sold over 20 million albums. On April 30, 2022, Judd died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at her home in Leiper's Fork, Tennessee; she was 76 years old.
19-Jan-1946 Born on this day in Sevierville, Tennessee, was Dolly Parton, singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress. She is one of the most successful female country artists of all time; with an estimated 100 million albums sold. Known as "The Queen of Country Music", She has starred in the movies 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias, Straight Talk, Unlikely Angel and Joyful Noise.

2-Feb-1946 Born on this day in Darby, Florida, was Howard Bellamy, singer, songwriter of The Bellamy Brothers. The duo had success in the 1970s and 1980s, starting with the release of their crossover hit "Let Your Love Flow" in 1976, a #1 single on the Billboard Hot 100. Starting in the late 1970s, the Bellamy Brothers found success in country music as well, charting twenty #1 singles.

27-Feb-1946 Al Dexter was at #1 on the US Country singles chart with "Guitar Polka". The track spent a total of 16 weeks on Billboard's list as the "Most Played Juke Box Folk Record" in 1946.
20-Mar-1946 Born on this day was Douglas B. Green, American musician, arranger, award-winning Western music songwriter, and Grand Ole Opry member. He has worked with many artists from Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys to Miranda Lambert.
8-Apr-1946 Al Dexter and His Troopers were at #1 on the US Country singles chart with "Guitar Polka". The track spent a total of 16 weeks on Billboard's list as the "Most Played Juke Box Folk Record" in 1946. Dexter owned a bar in the 1930s and helped popularize the style of country music known as 'honky tonk', when he recorded "Honky Tonk Blues" at his first recording session in 1936.

5-May-1946 Born on this day in in Springfield, Missouri was American singer-songwriter and author Steve Cash. A founding member of the Ozark Mountain Daredevils who are most widely known for their singles "If You Wanna Get to Heaven" in 1974 and "Jackie Blue" in 1975. Cash died on October 14 2019.
3-Jul-1946 Born on this day in Texas City, Texas, was Johnny Lee country music singer whose 1980 single, "Lookin' for Love" spent three weeks at the top of the Billboard country singles chart in 1980 He racked up a series of country hits in the early and mid-80s.
15-Jul-1946 Born on this day in Tucson, Arizona, was Linda Ronstadt, singer,who has won eleven Grammy Awards and two Academy of Country Music awards. Ronstadt has collaborated with many Country artists including both Gram Parsons and Dolly Parton. Her first Country #1 was in 1975 with her version of the Everly Brothers hit, "When Will I Be Loved."

11-Aug-1946 Born on this day in Versailles, Kentucky, was John Conlee, country music singer who between 1978 and 2004 scored a total of thirty-two singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. Conlee has scored seven #1 hits including, "Lady Lay Down," "Backside of Thirty," "Common Man," "I'm Only in It for the Love," and "Got My Heart Set on You."
15-Aug-1946 Born on this day in Elk City, Oklahoma, was Jimmy Webb, songwriter. His country hits include "Highwayman," by Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson; and "Wichita Lineman" and "By The Time I Get To Phoenix," by Glen Campbell. "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" was the third most performed song in the fifty years between 1940 to 1990. Webb is the only artist ever to have received Grammy Awards for music, lyrics, and orchestration.

1-Sep-1946 Born on this day in the Isle Of Man, England, was Barry Gibb, singer, songwritter and member of The Bee Gees. With his brothers he wrote "Islands in the Stream" which became a world-wide #1 hit for Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton in 1983. The Gibbs originally wrote the song for Marvin Gaye in an R&B style, only later to change it for the Kenny Rogers album Eyes That See In The Dark.
16-Sep-1946 Born on this day in Hampton, Arkansas, was Wood Newton, songwriter and musician based in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1978 and 1979, Newton charted the singles "Last Exit for Love", "Lock, Stock & Barrel" and "Julie (Do I Ever Cross Your Mind?)". He later became a songwriter for other artists, with his credits including Razzy Bailey's #1 single "Midnight Hauler".
10-Oct-1946 Born on this day was US folk and country singer John Prine. He released his debut album in 1971, and put out 19 studio albums in all. While wider mainstream success eluded him for years, he earned a sizeable following, including some of the 20th century’s greatest songwriters. Bob Dylan said in 2009: “Prine’s stuff is pure Proustian existentialism. Midwestern mind trips to the nth degree. And he writes beautiful songs.” He died aged 73 on April 7, 2020 due to complications from Covid-19.
13-Oct-1946 Born on this day in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, was Lacy J. Dalton country singer and songwriter known for her gritty, powerful vocals. Dalton had a number of hits in the 1980s, including "Takin' It Easy," "Crazy Blue Eyes" and "16th Avenue."
27-Oct-1946 Born on this day was Steve Hardin, American songwriter, keyboardist, and harmonica and clavinet player best known as the writer of top-ten country hits "I Love My Truck" (#10, Glen Campbell) and "Breakin' Down" (#10, Waylon Jennings).
5-Nov-1946 Born on this day in Winter Haven, Florida, was Gram Parsons, singer, songwriter. He was a member of The International Submarine Band, The Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers and released the 1973 solo album Grievous Angel. Parsons died on 19th September 1973 from a heroin overdose aged 26.
18-Nov-1946 Born on this day in Groveton, Texas, was Jacky Ward, country music artist. Between 1972 and 1982, he charted more than fifteen singles His highest-peaking single, "A Lover's Question", reached #3 on the charts in 1978.
20-Nov-1946 Born on this day in Athens, Alabama, was Roger Murrah, songwriter and music publisher who has written hits for artists including Waylon Jennings, Alan Jackson, Al Jarreau, and Alabama. Murrah was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1995.
11-Dec-1946 After signing a deal with Sterling Records, during his first recording session, Hank Williams recorded the songs "Wealth Won't Save Your Soul", "Calling You", "Never Again", and "When God Comes and Gathers His Jewels."

11-Dec-1946 Born on this day was American record producer and pianist Tony Brown. A former member of the Stamps Quartet and backing musician for Emmylou Harris, Brown is known primarily for his production work with Reba McEntire, Vince Gill, and George Strait.
25-Dec-1946 Born on this day was Jimmy Buffett, singer-songwriter, film producer, and businessman. He is best known for his music, which often portrays an "island escapism" lifestyle. Together with his Coral Reefer Band. He has a devoted base of fans known as "Parrotheads". Buffett died on September 1, 2023, at age 76, at his home in Sag Harbor, New York, due to complications from Merkel-cell carcinoma, a rare and aggressive skin cancer, with which he had been diagnosed four years earlier.
13-Feb-1947 Hank Williams recorded "My Love for You (Has Turned to Hate)" in Nashville with Fred Rose producing and featuring Tommy Jackson (fiddle), Dale "Smokey" Lohman (steel guitar), Zeke Turner (electric guitar), and Louis Innis (bass). The track became his third single released on Sterling Records in April 1947.
27-Mar-1947 Tex Williams recorded "Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)" at Radio Recorders in Hollywood, California. The song which was co-written with Merle Travis and produced by Lee Gillette, spent 15 weeks at #1 on the country chart in 1947. The song can be heard in the opening of the 2006 film, Thank You for Smoking.
2-Apr-1947 Born on this day in Birmingham, Alabama, was Emmylou Harris, singer-songwriter and musician. She has released many chart-topping albums and singles over the course of her career, winning 12 Grammy Awards. Her first Country #1 was in 1976 with her version of the Buck Owens song "Together Again."
21-Apr-1947 Hank Williams recorded "Move It On Over" at Castle Studio, Nashville. The song was Williams' first major hit, reaching #4 on the Billboard Singles chart and is considered one of the earliest examples of rock and roll music. Many others have recorded and performed the song a notably hit version was by Travis Tritt in the 1990s.
24-Apr-1947 Born on this day was American songwriter and musician Richard Fagan who had six top ten singles and 18 charted singles on the Billboard Country charts. His songs have been recorded by Neil Diamond, George Strait, John Michael Montgomery, Clay Walker, Ricochet, Hank Williams, Jr., George Jones, Shania Twain, Patty Loveless, Collin Raye, Shenandoah, The Crickets, and many others. He wrote two of John Michael Montgomery's singles: "Be My Baby Tonight" and "Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)". Fagan died aged 69 on August 5, 2016.
24-May-1947 Born on this day, was Mike Reid who is a retired professional American football linebacker, as well as a country music artist who played for the Cincinnati Bengals. He scored the 1991 US Country #1 hit "Walk Of Faith."
28-May-1947 Born on this day in Milwaukee, was Leland Sklar, bass guitarist and film score composer who has contributed to over 2,000 albums as a session musician, including albums by Reba McEntire, The Oak Ridge Boys, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, George Strait, Jimmy Webb, Kris Kristofferson, Merle Haggard, Vince Gill, Glen Campbell and Clint Black.
13-Jun-1947 Born on this day in Hazard, Kentucky, was Mary Lou Turner, country music artist. Between 1976 and 1977, she recorded two duet albums with Bill Anderson, and charted four duets with him. One of their duets, "Sometimes", reached #1 in 1976.
28-Jun-1947 Born on this day was American songwriter Kim Williams who wrote hits for Randy Travis, Joe Diffie, Reba McEntire, Garth Brooks and many others. Williams was named ASCAP's Country Songwriter of the Year in 1994, won the Country Music Association's Song of the Year award (for "Three Wooden Crosses") in 2003, and was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2012. Williams died on February 11, 2016.
7-Jul-1947 Born on this day in Hot Springs, Arkansas was songwriter, pianist, and producer Randy Goodrum. A Grammy award-nominated writer and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, Goodrum has written #1 songs in each of the four decades since his first #1 hit, 1978's "You Needed Me."
11-Jul-1947 Hank Williams went into Castle Studio, Nashville and recorded versions of "My Sweet Love Ain't Around", "The Blues Come Around", "Mansion On The Hill", and I'll Be A Bachelor 'Til I Die".
11-Jul-1947 Born on this day in Detroit, Michigan was singer-songwriter Jeff Hanna best known for his association with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. In 2006, his composition "Bless the Broken Road", co-written with Marcus Hummon and Bobby Boyd in 1994, won a Grammy Award for Best Country Song. It has been recorded by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Marcus Hummon, and, in the Grammy year, Rascal Flatts.
19-Jul-1947 Born on this day in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was Bernie Leadon, musician and songwriter, best known as a founding member of the Eagles. Prior to the Eagles, he was a member of two pioneering and highly influential country rock bands, Dillard & Clark and the Flying Burrito Brothers.
22-Jul-1947 Born on this day in Gilmer, Texas, was Don Henley singer, songwriter and drummer, best known as a founding member of the Eagles. In 1970, he moved to Los Angeles to record an album with his early band, Shiloh, while living at the home of fellow Texan Kenny Rogers; the album was produced by Kenny Rogers. Shortly thereafter, Henley met Glenn Frey. They both became members of Linda Ronstadt's backup band. The Eagles have sold over 120 million albums worldwide.
26-Jul-1947 Born on this day in in Windsor, Connecticut was guitarist Al Anderson who has penned hits for George Strait - "Love's Gonna Make It Alright," Diamond Rio's "Unbelievable," LeAnn Rimes' "Big Deal" and The Mavericks' "All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down. "
4-Aug-1947 Hank Williams recorded "On the Banks of the Old Ponchartrain" during sessions at Castle Studio, Nashville. According to biographer Colin Escott, Ramona Vincent, a crippled woman, wrote the words of the song as a poem and sent it to Williams, who put a melody to it. The track became the singer's second single on MGM Records, released in September 1947.
2-Sep-1947 Born on this day in Valencia, California, was Jay Huguely, song writer, actor who enjoyed a run of popularity as a novelty recording artist in the 1970s, who as Cledus Maggard & the Citizen's Band had the 1975 US #1 Country hit with "The White Night."
9-Sep-1947 Born on this day in Atlanta, Georgia, was Freddy Weller, country music artist. His biggest solo hit as an artist was "Games People Play," which peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in 1969; "Promised Land" and "Indian Lake," both 1971, peaked at #3.

23-Sep-1947 Born on this day, was Pat Alger, songwriter, singer and guitarist who in 1991, was voted Songwriter of the Year by the Nashville Songwriter's Association International. He wrote hits for Garth Brooks like "Unanswered Prayers", "What She's Doing Now", "The Thunder Rolls" and "That Summer." He also wrote hits for Hal Ketchum, "Small Town Saturday Night," and for Trisha Yearwood, "Like We Never Had A Broken Heart."
26-Sep-1947 Born on this day in Grand Forks, North Dakota, was Lynn Anderson, country music singer known for a string of hits throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, most notably her Grammy Award-winning, worldwide mega-hit, "(I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden." Anderson was named Billboard Magazine's Female Artist of the Decade (1970-1980). Anderson died on July 30th 2015 aged 67.
6-Nov-1947 Hank Williams recut a version of his song "Honky Tonkin'" during sessions at Castle Studio, Nashville. Waylon Jennings later recorded his version of the song for his 1992 album Ol' Waylon Sings Ol' Hank.
7-Nov-1947 Hank Williams recorded "My Sweet Love Ain't Around" with Fred Rose producing at Castle Studio, Nashville. The track became his third single on MGM Records released in January 1948.
10-Nov-1947 Born on this day in Mountain City, Tennessee, was Dave Loggins, singer, songwriter widely remembered for his 1974 composition "Please Come to Boston", which was a top 10 hit in the US for him, and was subsequently covered by numerous other artists. The cousin of singer/songwriter Kenny Loggins, he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1995.
19-Dec-1947 Born on this day in South Whitley, Indiana, was Janie Fricke, country music singer, best remembered for a series of country music hits in the early to mid 1980s. She won the Country Music Association's Female Vocalist of the Year awards in 1982 and 1983.
2-Jan-1948 Born on this day in Indiana, was Don Von Tress, singer, songwriter who wrote Achy Breaky Heart." Originally titled "Don't Tell My Heart" it was recorded by The Oak Ridge Boys and The Marcy Brothers, its name was later changed to "Achy Breaky Heart" and recorded by Billy Ray Cyrus on his 1992 album Some Gave All.
10-Jan-1948 Loretta Webb married Oliver Vanetta Lynn, commonly known as "Doolittle", "Doo" or "Mooney" (for running moonshine), after courting for a month. Mooney was 21 years old; Loretta was 15. In an effort to break free of the coal mining industry, the couple moved from Butcher Hollow to the logging community of Custer, Washington when she was 16 years old and seven months pregnant with the first of their six children. Over the course of their often-tumultuous nearly 50-year marriage, Doolittle was instrumental in developing Lynn's musical talent and country music career.
13-Jan-1948 The first country music TV show, Midwestern Hayride, premiered on WLW Cincinnati. Inspired by the Shreveport-based Louisiana Hayride, the show was originally called Boone County Jamboree (named for nearby Boone County in Northern Kentucky). In 1951, Midwestern Hayride was picked up by NBC-TV as a summer replacement for Sid Caesar's Your Show of Shows.
14-Jan-1948 Born on this day in St. Louis, Missouri, was Joseph Henry "T Bone" Burnett, musician, songwriter, and record producer. Burnett has produced artists such as Roy Orbison, Lisa Marie Presley, John Mellencamp, Los Lobos, Counting Crows, Elton John & Leon Russell, Elvis Costello and his wife Diana Krall, Natalie Merchant and The Wallflowers as well as Tony Bennett and k.d. lang. Burnett won Grammy Awards for the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack and for his work with Alison Krauss and Robert Plant on the 2007 album Raising Sand.
8-Feb-1948 Born on this day in McCamey, Texas, was Dan Seals, (the younger brother of Seals & Crofts member Jim Seals), who first gained fame as the "England Dan" half of the soft rock duo England Dan and John Ford Coley. After the duo disbanded, Seals began a solo career in country music and throughout the 1980s and into the early 1990s, released 16 studio albums and charted more than 20 singles on the country charts, eleven of which reached #1, including: "Meet Me in Montana" (with Marie Osmond), "Bop", "You Still Move Me", "I Will Be There", "Three Time Loser", and "Good Times". He died on March 25, 2009.
6-Mar-1948 American songwriter and musician Peter McCann. He was known for writing successful pop and country songs, including his 1977 solo hit 'Do You Wanna Make Love'. His songs have been recorded by Lynn Anderson, Karen Carpenter, Crystal Gayle, Mickey Gilley, Lee Greenwood, Nicolette Larson, Reba McEntire, Anne Murray, The Oak Ridge Boys, K.T. Oslin, Buck Owens, and Kenny Rogers. He died on 26 January 2023 age 74.
3-Apr-1948 Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys appeared for the inaugural broadcast of the Louisiana Hayride on KWKH, broadcasting from the Municipal Auditorium in Shreveport, Louisiana. During its heyday from 1948 to 1960 helped to launch the careers of some of the greatest names in American country and western music.
18-Apr-1948 Earl Scruggs married Louise Certain in Gaffney, South Carolina, two months after leaving Bill Monroe's band. She later became the manager of Flatt & Scruggs.
21-Apr-1948 Born on this day, was Paul Lavon Davis, singer and songwriter, best known for his 1977 hit "I Go Crazy", (which once held the record for the longest chart run on the Billboard Hot 100 after spending 40 weeks on the charts). His highest-charting pop hit was the #6 "'65 Love Affair." In the mid 1980s, he also had two country #1 hits as a guest vocalist on songs by Marie Osmond and Tanya Tucker. He died of a heart attack on April 22, 2008 a day after his 60th birthday.
2-May-1948 Born on this day in Seminole, Texas, was Larry Gatlin, singer, songwriter best known for teaming up with his brothers Steve and Rudy in the late 1970s, becoming one of country music's most successful acts of the 1970s and 1980s. Gatlin scored a total of 33 Top 40 singles. Their biggest hits together include, "Broken Lady", "All the Gold in California", "Houston (Means I'm One Day Closer to You)."

4-May-1948 Born on this day, was Tim DuBois, who wrote the satire on divorce, "She Got the Goldmine (I Got the Shaft)", which was a #1 US Country hit for Jerry Reed in 1982. He also co-wrote "Love in the First Degree" a #1 hit for Alabama in 1981. DuBois has earned five #1 singles, 24 top-ten singles, six ASCAP Awards, nine BMI Country Awards, two BMI Pop Awards and a number of other songwriting accolades.

18-May-1948 Born on this day in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was Joseph Bonsall, Jr., singer with The Oak Ridge Boys who scored the 1978 US Country #1 "I'll Be True To You."
5-Jun-1948 Born on this day in Broken Bow, Oklahoma, was Gail Davies singer/songwriter and the first female record producer in the history of country music. She is also the daughter of country singer Tex Dickerson and the younger sister of songwriter Ron Davies. During the 1970s and 1980s she scored numerous Top 10 and Top 20 Billboard hits becoming one of country music's most influential artists.
21-Jun-1948 Born on this day in Aiken, South Carolina, was Leon Everette country music artist. Everette reached top 10 on the Hot Country Songs charts with the singles "Over", "Giving Up Easy", "Hurricane", "Midnight Rodeo", "Just Give Me What You Think Is Fair", "Soul Searchin'", "My Lady Loves Me (Just as I Am)" and "I Could'a Had You".
24-Jul-1948 American country music singer Roy Acuff announced his intention to run for governor of Tennessee. Running as the Republican candidate, he later lost to Democratic candidate Gordon Browning in the November election.
7-Aug-1948 Hank Williams made his debut on Louisiana Hayride broadcast from the Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium in Shreveport, Louisiana, performing "Move It On Over," and "I want to Live and Love."
26-Sep-1948 Born on this day in Cambridge, England, was Olivia Newton-John, Australian singer, songwriter, and actress. Her music has been successful in multiple genres including pop, country, and adult contemporary and has sold an estimated 100 million records worldwide and has scored 3 Country #1 albums.
2-Oct-1948 Born on this day in Biloxi, Mississippi, was Chris Ledoux, singer-songwriter, bronze sculptor and rodeo champion. During his career LeDoux recorded 36 albums (many self-released) which have sold more than six million copies in the US. Ledoux was nominated for a Grammy Award and the Academy of Country Music Music Pioneer Award. He died on March 9, 2005
7-Dec-1948 Born on this day was American country music singer Gary Morris who charted a string of countrypolitan-styled hit songs throughout the 1980s including the 1983 ballad "The Wind Beneath My Wings", and five #1 hits.
22-Dec-1948 Hank Williams went into E.T. Herzog Studio, Cincinatti Ohio and recorded various tracks including "There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight", "Lovesick Blues", and "Lost On The River".
25-Dec-1948 Born on this day, was Country singer Barbara Mandrell, named Country Music Association entertainer of the year in 1979, 1980 & 1981, who scored the 1977 US #1 Country single "Sleeping Single In A Double Bed."
27-Dec-1948 Born on this day in Oneida, Kentucky, was Les Taylor, country music artist who was the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of country-pop band Exile. He performed with the group until 1989, when he left to pursue a solo career. As a songwriter, Taylor has had his songs recorded by Travis Tritt and Shelby Lynne. He also co-wrote Janie Fricke's #1 single, "It Ain't Easy Bein' Easy."
22-Jan-1949 Born on this day, was James Preston 'J.P.' Pennington, American musician, known primarily as a co-founding member of the country pop band Exile who scored the 1984 US Country #1 hit "Woke Up In Love."

28-Jan-1949 Born on this day in Pautaxant, Maryland, was Eddie Bayers, session drummer who has worked with may artists including: George Strait, Elvis Presley, George Jones, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Alan Jackson, Glen Campbell and Dolly Parton.
1-Mar-1949 Working at Nashville's Castle Recording Studio, Hank Williams recorded "Mind Your Own Business," "Honky Tonk Blues," "You're Gonna Change (Or I'm Gonna Leave)" and "Lost Highway".
2-Mar-1949 Hank Williams recorded "You're Gonna Change (Or I'm Gonna Leave)" at Castle Studio, Nashville with Fred Rose producing. It was released as a single on MGM Records in September 1949 and reached #4 on the country singles chart.
20-Mar-1949 During sessions at Castle Studios in Nashville Hank Williams recorded "Wedding Bells" which later peaked at #2 on the country singles chart in 1949.
31-Mar-1949 The first 45-rpm disc, "Texarkana Baby" by country & western singer Eddy Arnold, was issued by RCA in the US. It was made of green vinyl, as part of an early attempt to color-code singles according to the genre of music they featured. Others included red for classical music and yellow for children's songs.
6-Apr-1949 Hank Williams' first publicity photos were taken in Shreveport. The photo which was later used for the Hank Williams stamp issued in 1993 as part of the Legends of American Music was taken on this day.
21-Apr-1949 Roy Rogers had his handprints embedded in concrete in front of Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California. His horse, Trigger, also had its hoof prints cast for posterity.
4-May-1949 Born on this day in Sevierville, Tennessee, was Stella Parton country singer and songwriter. She is a younger sister of Dolly Parton, and musician and businessman Randy Parton. She charted during the mid-to late-1970s, her biggest hit being 1975's "I Want to Hold You In My Dreams Tonight".
26-May-1949 Born on this day in Shreveport, Louisiana, was Randall Hank Williams, better known as Hank Williams, Jr. His musical style is often considered a blend of Southern rock, blues, and traditional country. He is the son of country music pioneer Hank Williams and the father of Hank Williams III.

11-Jun-1949 25 year-old Hank Williams made his debut at the Grand Ole Opry, where he became the first performer to receive six encores.
17-Jun-1949 Born on this day in Nashville, Tennessee, was Russell Smith, country music singer-songwriter. Formerly the lead singer of the Amazing Rhythm Aces, Smith penned #1 songs for Randy Travis ("Look Heart, No Hands"), T. Graham Brown ("Don't Go to Strangers"), Don Williams ("Heartbeat in the Darkness"), and Ricky Van Shelton ("Keep It Between the Lines"). He died age 70 on July 12th 2019.
20-Jun-1949 Born on this day in Tuskegee, Alabama, was Lionel Richie, singer, songwriter and one time member of the Commodores. Kenny Rogers scored the 1980 crossover country hit with the Richie written and produced track "Lady". Richie released his tenth studio album, Tuskegee in 2012 which features 13 of his hit songs performed as duets with country stars including Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles, Jason Aldean, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Darius Rucker, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney, Billy Currington, Little Big Town, Shania Twain, Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson and Jimmy Buffett. The album returned him to the top of the Billboard 200 chart, his first #1 album there for more than 25 years.
4-Jul-1949 Born on this day in Shreveport, Louisiana, was James Stroud, drummer and record producer. He has worked with Eddie Rabbitt, Conway Twitty, Eddy Raven, Clint Black, John Anderson, Clay Walker, Toby Keith and Tim McGraw.
25-Aug-1949 Born on this day in Kingston, New York was country singer, songwriter Henry Paul who was a member of the Southern rock band Outlaws and is also a founding member of the country band BlackHawk.
27-Aug-1949 Born on this day in Fort Payne, Alabama, was Jeff Cook guitarist and singer, songwriter best known as one of the founding members of Alabama who have scored over 30 US Country #1 hits. He died on November 7, 2022, at the age of 73.
30-Aug-1949 Hank Williams went into Herzog Studio in Cincinnati to record "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry". Williams wrote the song originally intending that the words be spoken, rather than sung. The song about loneliness was largely inspired by his troubled relationship with wife Audrey Sheppard and was released as the B side to "My Bucket's Got a Hole in It" which was a #2 hit in 1949.

7-Sep-1949 "Lovesick Blues" by Hank Williams with His Drifting Cowboys was at #1 on the US singles chart. The song first appeared in the 1922 musical Oh, Ernest and was recorded by Emmet Miller in 1928 and later by country music singer Rex Griffin.
18-Sep-1949 Born on this day in Buffalo, NY, was Greg Leisz, songwriter who plays guitar, dobro, mandolin, lap steel and pedal steel guitar. Leisz has worked with many artists including Dwight Yoakam, Alison Krauss, Emmylou Harris and John Fogerty.

5-Oct-1949 Country pop singer B.W. Stevenson was born Louis Charles Stevenson in Dallas, Texas.
7-Oct-1949 Born on this day in Queens, New York, was Kieran Kane, country music artist who between 1986 and 1990, with Jamie O'Hara comprised The O'Kanes, a duo which charted seven singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles charts, including the #1 single "Can't Stop My Heart from Loving You".
23-Nov-1949 Born on this day in Cheverly, Maryland, was country music songwriter Charlie Black who has written singles for Anne Murray, Gary Morris, Earl Thomas Conley, Johnny Paycheck, and Phil Vassar. In 1991, the Nashville Songwriters Association International inducted Black into its hall of fame.
10-Dec-1949 Billboard launched a "Country & Western Records Most Played by Folk Disk Jockeys" chart - the first chart ever to track a song's popularity by radio airplay. The first #1 song on the new chart was "Mule Train" by Tennessee Ernie Ford.
11-Dec-1949 American old-time fiddler and an early-recorded country musician Fiddlin' John Carson died aged 81. He wrote more than 150 songs in his life but only nine were ever copyrighted which led to several copyright issues with both Okeh Records and other musicians during his active career.
22-Dec-1949 Born on this day in the Isle Of Man, England, was Robin Gibb, singer, songwritter and member of The Bee Gees. With his brothers he wrote "Islands in the Stream" which became a world-wide #1 hit for Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton in 1983. The Gibbs originally wrote the song for Marvin Gaye in an R&B style, only later to change it for the Kenny Rogers album Eyes That See In The Dark.
1-Jan-1950 Born on this in in Boise, Idaho was Steve Ripley from the country rock band The Tractors who were nominated for two Grammy Awards and won the Country Weekly 1995 Golden Pick Award for Favorite New Group. Ripley died from cancer on January 3rd, 2019 two days after his 69th birthday.
3-Jan-1950 Sun Studio was opened by Sam Phillips at 706 Union Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee. It was originally called Memphis Recording Service, sharing the same building with Sun Records. Rock-and-roll, country music, and rockabilly artists, including Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, Charlie Feathers, Ray Harris, Warren Smith, Charlie Rich, and Jerry Lee Lewis, recorded there throughout the mid to late 1950s
9-Jan-1950 Hank Williams recorded "Long Gone Lonesome Blues", "Why Don't You Love Me" and "My Son Calls Another Man Daddy" during sessions at Castle Studios, Nashville. "Long Gone Lonesome Blues" later became Hank Williams' second #1 on the Country & Western chart and stayed on the charts for twenty-one weeks, with five weeks at the top of the Country & Western chart.
15-Jan-1950 Born on this day in Bexar, Arkansas, was David Lynn Jones, country music singer-songwriter. Between 1987 and 1994, Jones released four studio albums. His highest charting single, "Bonnie Jean (Little Sister)," peaked at #10 in 1987.
24-Jan-1950 Born on this day in Bartlesville, Oklahoma was Becky Hobbs country music singer, songwriter and pianist who has charted multiple singles on the Country charts, including the #10 hit "Let's Get Over Them Together", a duet with Moe Bandy.
28-Jan-1950 Born on this day in New York City, New York, was Barbi Benton, model, actress and singer. Best known for her years as a regular on the country variety series Hee Haw, appearing in comic sketches with other cast members. Her record "Brass Buckles" (1975) was a top-five hit on Billboard's country singles chart. She was featured on the cover of Playboy Magazine several times (initially credited as Barbi Klein) and in nude photo layouts.
14-Feb-1950 The #1 best selling Country record "Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy" by Red Foley became the first Country hit cross over record on the Pop Best Seller chart.
16-Feb-1950 Born on this day in Nashville, Tennessee, was Paul Worley, American record producer and session guitarist, known primarily for his work in country music. Formerly a vice president at Sony BMG Worley has worked for Big & Rich, and is most widely known as the co- producer (with Victoria Shaw) of the self-titled debut album of Lady Antebellum (2008), as the co-writer (with Lady Antebellum) of their global hit, "Need You Now." He also discovered the Dixie Chicks and, with Blake Chancey, co-produced their first two albums.

24-Feb-1950 Born on this day was American country music singer-songwriter and the vice president of A&R at Capitol Records Larry Willoughby. His debut album, Building Bridges, was released in 1984 and three singles were released from the album, including the title track, which was Willoughby's only single to reach the Top 60 of the Billboard chart. It was covered in 2006 by Brooks & Dunn, whose version peaked at #4. He died on January 14 2021 age 73.
25-Mar-1950 Born on this day, was Ronald Dean "Ronnie" McDowell, country music artist who had the 1977 hit "The King Is Gone", a tribute to Elvis Presley, who had died not long before the single's release. McDowell has charted more than thirty Top 40 hits on the Billboard country music charts. Two of his singles, "Older Women" and "You're Gonna Ruin My Bad Reputation" peaked at #1 on the country charts.
27-Apr-1950 Born on this day was American singer-songwriter Kacey Jones. She co-wrote the Mickey Gilley hit "I'm the One Mama Warned You About" (credited as Gayle Zeiler), and found success as a performer through the band Ethel & The Shameless Hussies. Jones died on September 1, 2016 after a long battle with cancer.
9-May-1950 Born on this day in Macon, Georgia was Country singer Randy Howard who was part of the Outlaw Country movement that spawned Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Johnny Paycheck and more. His released his debut album, Now and Then, in 1976. He was killed in a gunfight with a bounty hunter at the age of 65 on June 11 2015.
20-May-1950 George Jones married his first wife Dorothy Bonvillion, the couple divorced slightly more than a year later.
14-Jun-1950 Hank Williams recorded "They'll Never Take Her Love from Me" during sessions at Castle Studio, Nashville. The song was later released as the flipside to Williams' "Why Should We Try Anymore."
7-Jul-1950 Johnny Cash signed up for the Air Force, taking basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. Assigned as Radio Intercept Operator to Air Force base in Landsberg, Germany, Cash organized a band of five servicemen who share his C&W tastes as the 'Landsberg Barbarians,' as he learns to play the guitar.
25-Jul-1950 During his first recording session at Jim Beck's Studio on 1101 Ross Avenue in Dallas, Lefty Frizzell recorded "If You've Got The Money I've Got The Time," "I Love You A Thousand Ways" and "Shine, Shave, Shower (It's Saturday)." Beck is credited with discovering Frizzell which led to his first major recording contract.
7-Aug-1950 Born on this day in Crosby, Texas, was Rodney Crowell, Grammy Award-winning guitarist and producer who played guitar and sang for three years in Emmylou Harris' "Hot Band". He was married to Rosanne Cash (daughter of Johnny Cash); from 1979 to 1992 who together had the 1988 Country #1 hit "It's Such a Small World."

8-Aug-1950 Born on this day in Toledo, Ohio, was Jamie O'Hara, country music artist who between 1986 and 1990, with Kieran Kane comprised The O'Kanes, a duo which charted seven singles on the Billboardi Hot Country Singles charts, including the #1 single "Can't Stop My Heart from Loving You". He died from cancer on January 7, 2021 age 70.
19-Aug-1950 Hank Snow was at #1 on the Country music singles charts with "I'm Moving On". The song, stayed at the top of the charts for 21 weeks and was the first of seven #1 Billboard country hits Snow scored throughout his career.
30-Aug-1950 Hank Snow was at #1 on the Country music singles charts with "I'm Moving On". The song, stayed at the top of the charts for 21 weeks and was the first of seven #1 Billboard country hits Snow scored throughout his career.
31-Aug-1950 Hank Williams recorded "Moanin' the Blues" during sessions at Castle Studio, Nashville which became his fourth #1 single on MGM Records. "Moanin' the Blues" is one of only two songs that feature Williams working with drums; the other is "Kaw-Liga."
5-Sep-1950 Hank Snow was at #1 on the Country music singles charts with "I'm Moving On". The song, stayed at the top of the charts for 21 weeks and was the first of seven #1 Billboard country hits Snow scored throughout his career.

16-Sep-1950 Born on this day in Darby, Florida, was David Bellamy, singer, songwriter of The Bellamy Brothers. The duo had success in the 1970s and 1980s, starting with the release of their crossover hit "Let Your Love Flow" in 1976, a #1 single on the Billboard Hot 100. Starting in the late 1970s, the Bellamy Brothers found success in country music as well, charting twenty #1 singles.
24-Sep-1950 Hank Snow was at #1 on the Country music singles charts with "I'm Moving On". The song, stayed at the top of the charts for 21 weeks and was the first of seven #1 Billboard country hits Snow scored throughout his career.
27-Sep-1950 Hank Snow was at #1 on the Country music singles charts with "I'm Moving On". The song, stayed at the top of the charts for 21 weeks and was the first of seven #1 Billboard country hits Snow scored throughout his career.
30-Sep-1950 The Grand Ole Opry was televised for the first time form the the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee.
2-Oct-1950 Born on this day was American songwriter Danny Mayo best known for writing country hits for artists such as Alabama, Tracy Byrd, Pirates of the Mississippi and Confederate Railroad. He died from a heart attack on October 2, 1999, his 49th birthday celebration party.
3-Oct-1950 Hank Snow was at #1 on the Country music singles charts with "I'm Moving On". The song, stayed at the top of the charts for 21 weeks and was the first of seven #1 Billboard country hits Snow scored throughout his career.
9-Oct-1950 Hank Snow was at #1 on the Country music singles charts with "I'm Moving On". The song, stayed at the top of the charts for 21 weeks and was the first of seven #1 Billboard country hits Snow scored throughout his career.
16-Oct-1950 Hank Snow was at #1 on the Country music singles charts with "I'm Moving On". The song, stayed at the top of the charts for 21 weeks and was the first of seven #1 Billboard country hits Snow scored throughout his career.
30-Oct-1950 Hank Snow was at #1 on the Country singles chart with "I'm Movin' On". It stayed at the top of the charts for a record breaking 21 weeks, and was the first of seven #1 Billboard country hits Snow scored throughout his career
12-Nov-1950 Born on this day was Barbara Fairchild, Country Music, Gospel Music Singer, who is best known for her 1973 Country #1 hit "The Teddy Bear Song". The track was the first in a series of Fairchild songs where childhood themes were used to express dismay over broken relationships, her follow-up hit was"Kid Stuff."

13-Nov-1950 Hank Snow was at #1 on the Country music singles charts with "I'm Moving On". The song, stayed at the top of the charts for 21 weeks and was the first of seven #1 Billboard country hits Snow scored throughout his career.
2-Dec-1950 Born on this day was American country music artist John Wesley Ryles. He made his debut in 1968 with the single "Kay", a Top Ten hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles.
7-Dec-1950 Born on this day was Canadian country-folk artist Ron Hynes, best known for the songs "Sonny's Dream" and "Cryer's Paradise". Hynes died of cancer on November 19, 2015 aged 64.
20-Dec-1950 Born on this day in Walden, New York was A. J. Masters. The American country music singer charted eight singles on Hot Country Songs between 1985 and 1987, also writing singles for John Berry, Faith Hill, and Jennifer Hanson. Masters died aged 64 on January 12, 2015.
21-Dec-1950 During recording sessions at Castle Studio, Nashville, Hank Williams record "Cold Cold Heart", "Dear John", "Just Waiting" and "Men With Broken Hearts".

9-Jan-1951 Born on this day in Paintsville, Kentucky was Crystal Gayle (Brenda Gail Webb), country music singer best known for her 1977 country-pop hit, "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue". An award-winning singer, Gayle has accumulated 18 #1 country hits during the 1970s and 1980s. She was also famous for her once nearly floor-length hair.

14-Mar-1951 Born on this day was Zella Lehr, American singer and entertainer. She had a hit with her cover of Dolly Parton's "Two Doors Down" (which charted for Lehr in late 1977, before Parton herself had released the song as a single) and in 1980 was nominated by the Academy of Country Music and Cashbox Magazine for the 'Most Promising Female Vocalist' award.
16-Mar-1951 During recording sessions at Castle Studio, Nashville, Hank Williams recorded "I Can't Help It If I'm Still In Love With You" and "Hey Good Lookin'". Since its original recording "Hey Good Lookin'" has been covered by a variety of artists including Ray Charles on his 1962 album Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music.

16-Mar-1951 Born on this day, was Ray Benson the front man of the Western swing band Asleep at the Wheel who have released more than 20 albums and earned 9 Grammy awards.
20-Apr-1951 Born on this day in Buffalo, New York was keyboardist Steve Nathan known for his session work in Muscle Shoals and Nashville studios. He was named "Keyboardist of the Year" by MusicRow Magazine for 13 consecutive years and has worked with some of the biggest names in Country music including: Faith Hill, George Strait, Toby Keith, Willie Nelson, Keith Urban, Reba McEntire and Tim McGraw to name but a few.
23-May-1951 Born on this day in Riverside, California, was Judy Rodman, Country Music Singer. In the mid-80s, she scored the US Country #1 hit "Until I Met You." She also won the Academy of Country Music's "Top New Female Vocalist" award in 1985.
8-Jun-1951 Born on this day in Danville, Virginia, was guitarist and bluegrass musician Tony Rice. He was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 2013. Rice died on December 25, 2020 age 69.
28-Jun-1951 Born on this day Lubbock, Texas, was Lloyd Maines, country music record producer, musician and songwriter. Best known as a pedal steel player, Maines is a multi-instrumentalist who has toured and recorded as a member of the Joe Ely Band. Maines won a Grammy Award for Best Country Album in 2003 as producer of the Dixie Chicks' album, Home. As the father of Natalie Maines, lead singer of the Dixie Chicks, he was instrumental in bringing the current lineup of bandmates together in 1995.
22-Jul-1951 Born on this day American guitarist and record producer Richard Bennett. He has worked with Rodney Crowell, Vince Gill, Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, Marty Stuart, The Bellamy Brothers, Pistol Annies and Miranda Lambert.
13-Aug-1951 Hank Williams was at #1 on Billboard's country chart with "Hey, Good Lookin'". His version of the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001. Since its original 1951 recording it has been covered by a variety of artists including, Ray Charles, Jo Stafford, The Mavericks and Jimmy Buffett.

13-Aug-1951 Born on this day near Louisville, Kentucky was fiddle player, multi-instrumentalist, and country music and bluegrass artist Hoot Hester. Hester had played backup for a number of country music artists, among them Alabama, Hank Williams Jr., Conway Twitty, Randy Travis, Bill Monroe, Vern Gosdin, and Ricky Van Shelton as well as a longtime member of the Grand Ole Opry's staff band. He died on August 30, 2016 age 65.
5-Sep-1951 Born on this day in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was American rock and country music drummer Jamie Oldaker. He recorded with musicians such as the Bellamy Brothers, Asleep at the Wheel, Vince Gill, J. J. Cale and Willie Nelson. He died on July 16, 2020 age 68.
9-Sep-1951 Born on this day Lodi, Wisconsin, was Tom Wopat, actor and singer. He first achieved fame as Luke Duke in the long-running 1979 television series The Dukes of Hazzard. He scored a handful of hits on the country charts including the 1988 "A Little Bit Closer."
23-Oct-1951 Born on this day in Pulaski, Tennessee, was David Wills, singer-songwriter. Wills wrote George Strait's "If You're Thinking You Want a Stranger (There's One Coming Home)" and Garth Brooks' "Wild Horses."
31-Oct-1951 "Always Late (with Your Kisses)" co-written and recorded by Lefty Frizzell was at #1 on the Country charts. The song which spent 13 weeks at the top of the charts has also been recorded by Merle Haggard and Dwight Yoakam.
7-Nov-1951 Born on this day, was harmonica player, Mickey Raphael who is best known for his work with Willie Nelson. He has also recorded with Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Leon Russell, Bonnie Raitt, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Maria Muldaur, Kenny Chesney, and Neil Young.
14-Nov-1951 Hank Williams made his first national TV appearance, on CBS-TV's The Perry Como Show, performing "Hey, Good Lookin'". The following week, Perry Como opened his show by doing his own version of "Hey Good Lookin'" and then apologized to Hank for doing so.
17-Nov-1951 Judy Martin the second wife of Country Music Hall of Fame member Red Foley and the grandmother of Christian country music singer Debby Boone died from an overdose of sleeping pills.
10-Dec-1951 Born on this day in Sabinal, Texas, was Johnny Rodriguez who became the first famous Latin American country music singer, infusing his music with Latin sounds. He had the 1973 US #1 Country hit "You Always Come Back to Hurting Me."
13-Dec-1951 After on-going back problems, Hank Williams underwent a "spine fusion" operation at Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville.
18-Dec-1951 Born on this day was drummer Hugh Wright co-founder of Boy Howdy who charted seven singles on the Country singles chart in the 1990's. He died of natural causes on September 25, 2015 age 63.
10-Jan-1952 Audrey Williams filed for divorce from Hank Williams for the second time in four years.
12-Jan-1952 Born on this day in Danville, Virginia, was Ricky Van Shelton, country music artist who between 1986 and 2006, charted more than twenty singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, including ten #1: "Somebody Lied", "Life Turned Her That Way", 'Don't We All Have the Right", "I'll Leave This World Loving You", "From a Jack to a King" (a cover of the Ned Miller hit), "Living Proof", "I've Cried My Last Tear for You", "Rockin' Years" (a duet with Dolly Parton), "I Am a Simple Man", and "Keep It Between the Lines".
18-Feb-1952 Born on this day in Lakehurst, New Jersey, was Juice Newton pop and country singer, songwriter and guitarist. To date, Newton has received five Grammy Award nominations and scored the 1981 Country #1 single "The Sweetest Thing (I've Ever Known)."
29-Feb-1952 Born on the day in Midland, Texas, was songwriter, record producer and recording artist Billy Joe Walker Jr. He composed singles for Eddie Rabbitt, including "I Wanna Dance with You", "That's Why I Fell in Love with You" and "B-B-B-Burnin' Up with Love". Walker died following a period of declining health on July 25, 2017.
17-Mar-1952 Born on this day in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was Susie Allanson, American country music singer and actress who scored the 1978 hit "We Belong Together."
26-Mar-1952 Hank Williams appeared on The Kate Smith Evening Hour TV show performing "Hey Good Lookin'". He later joined in with the rest of the cast singing his own "I Saw The Light". Footage from this show was later used for the "There's A Tear In My Beer" video some 37 years later.
26-Mar-1952 Born on this day in Lakeland, Florida was musician Monte Yoho. He is best known as being a member of Outlaws, working with The Bellamy Brothers and Blackhawk.
13-Apr-1952 Born on this day in Bowling Green, Kentucky, was Sam Bush, an American bluegrass mandolin player who has worked with many artists including: Leon Russell, Doc Watson, Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton, Pam Tillis, Kathy Mattea and Garth Brooks.
3-May-1952 Kitty Wells recorded "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels". Wells was disenchanted with her career prospects and was considering retirement, but agreed to the session at Owen Bradley's studio because of the $125 union scale recording payment. "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" was an answer song to Hank Thompson's "The Wild Side of Life", and its lyrical treatment of seductive, wayward women. It became the first #1 Billboard country hit for a solo female artist.
17-May-1952 Born on this day in Los Angeles, California was guitarist Pat Flynn. He joined the progressive New Grass Revival in 1981, eventually becoming a studio musician and playing on hits by Randy Travis, Lee Ann Womack, Kathy Mattea, George Strait and Conway Twitty, among others. Pat wrote and performed on Garth Brooks' hit single "Do What You Gotta Do".
18-May-1952 Born on this day in Poteet, Texas, was George Strait, country music singer, actor, and producer. Strait who is referred to as the "King of Country," is known for his unique style of western swing music, bar-room ballads, honky-tonk style. Strait holds the world record for more #1 hit singles than any other artist in the history of music on any chart or in any genre, having recorded 60 #1 hit singles.

12-Jun-1952 Born on this day in Kirksville, Indiana, was Junior Brown, country guitarist and singer. Brown's signature instrument is the "guit-steel" double neck guitar, a hybrid of electric guitar and lap steel guitar. In 1996 he won the CMA Country Music Video of the Year for his video, "My Wife Thinks You're Dead," which featured 6-foot-7-inch Gwendolyn Gillingham.

9-Jul-1952 June Carter married the actor and composer Carl Smith. They had one child together, Carlene Carter. The couple divorced in 1956.
12-Jul-1952 Born on this day in Rogersville, Alabama, was Randy McCormick, keyboard player who co-wrote Eddie Rabbitt's "Suspicions" and Conway Twitty's "Crazy In Love." McCormick has also worked with George Strait, Ricky Van Shelton and Jamie O'Neal.
27-Jul-1952 Hank Thompson was at #1 on the US Country singles chart with "Wild Side Of Life". Spending 15 weeks at #1 on the Billboard country charts, the song solidified Thompson's status as a country music superstar and inspired the answer song, "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" by Kitty Wells.
30-Jul-1952 Born on this day in Tracy, Minnesota was songwriter and music publisher Dennis Morgan. His first songwriting success was "Sleeping Single in a Double Bed", a #1 hit for Barbara Mandrell in 1978. Morgan was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Foundation's Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2004.
11-Aug-1952 Hank Williams was fired from the Grand Ole Opry for habitual drunkenness. (After a fall suffered during a hunting trip in Tennessee early in the year, Williams started to consume painkillers, including morphine, and alcohol to ease the pain).
17-Aug-1952 Hank Williams was arrested in Alexander City, Alabama for public drunkeness. The famous and much used photo of Hank Williams shirtless was taken as he was let out of jail later in the day.
23-Aug-1952 Kitty Wells became the first female solo artist to score a #1 hit on the Billboard country charts with "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels." The song, an answer to Hank Thompson's "The Wild Side of Life," spent two weeks atop the chart and forever changed how women were seen, both in song and professionally.
29-Aug-1952 Born on this day in Durham, North Carolina, was Don Schlitz, country music songwriter who has earned two Grammys, as well as four ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year awards. Since 1993, Schlitz has also been a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Schlitz' first hit as a songwriter was Kenny Rogers' "The Gambler", which became a crossover country hit in 1978. Garth Brooks, Randy Travis, Johnny Cash, Tanya Tucker and The Judds have all recorded his songs.

6-Sep-1952 Born on this day in Fairborn, Ohio, was Buddy Miller, country singer, songwriter, musician, recording artist and producer, who has toured as lead guitarist for Emmylou Harris's Steve Earle, Linda Ronstadt, Patty Griffin and Gillian Welch.
8-Sep-1952 Born on this day in Niagara Falls, New York, was Gary Baker, country music singer and songwriter who was once a member of The Shooters. He has written songs for John Michael Montgomery, Alabama and others. His song "I swear", recorded by both All 4-One and John Michael Montgomery has sold more than 20 million copies internationally, and won the 1995 Grammy for "Best Country Song."
17-Sep-1952 Born on this day was American musician, singer and songwriter Steve Sanders. He was best known as being the replacement for William Lee Golden, the baritone in The Oak Ridge Boys. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head on June 10th 1998.
23-Sep-1952 Hank Williams recorded "Kaw-Liga", "Your Cheatin' Heart", and "Take These Chains from My Heart", in what became the musicians last ever recording session.
11-Oct-1952 Born on this day in Northfield, Minnesota, was Paulette Carlson, country singer-songwriter who rose to fame in the 1980s as the founder and lead vocalist for the country band Highway 101. With Highway 101, she charted four #1 hit singles, and seven Top 10 hits.
18-Oct-1952 Hank Williams married Billie Jean Jones Eshlimar in Minden, Louisiana. The next day two public ceremonies were held at the New Orleans Civic Auditorium, where 14,000 seats were sold for each. After Williams's death, a judge ruled that the wedding was not legal because Jones Eshlimar's divorce had not become final until eleven days after she married Williams.
24-Oct-1952 Born on this day in Vicksburg, Mississippi was Mark Gray, singer, songwriter and a member of Exile between 1979 and 1982. Gray's solo career includes three albums and eight Top 40 hits, of which the highest-peaking is the #6 Tammy Wynette duet "Sometimes When We Touch". Gray also co-wrote "Take Me Down" and "The Closer You Get", both of which became #1 hits for Alabama. He died on December 2, 2016.
29-Oct-1952 Hank Williams was at #1 on the Country singles chart with "Jambalaya (On The Bayou)." Named for a Creole and Cajun dish, jambalaya, it spawned numerous cover versions and has since achieved popularity in a number of music genres. The song spent 14 weeks at the top of the chart. Over the past few decades, the Cajun French version has been performed by many Cajun bands including Aldus Roger and Jo-El Sonnier.
28-Dec-1952 Hank Williams played at a private Musicians Union benefit held at the Elite Cafe Montgomery. The last known photo of Hank alive was taken at this show. Hank perfomed "Jambalaya," "You Win Again," "Cold Cold Heart" and "Lovesick Blues."
30-Dec-1952 Hank Williams loaded up his '52 Cadillac with his guitar, stage suits and other things he would need for this short tour that would take him up through West Virginia and Ohio. At around 11:30am Charles Carr, a 19 year old college freshman Hank had hired to drive him, left his mothers boarding house on N. McDonough St. in Montgomery, Alabama. Hank was wearing dark blue pants, a white button up shirt, a tie and a navy blue overcoat. It was unseasonably cold over the south that day as a snow storm covered the entire southeastern united states.
31-Dec-1952 Hank Williams was scheduled to perform at the Municipal Auditorium in Charleston, West Virginia but due to an ice storm in the Nashville area, Williams could not fly, so he hired Charles Carr, to drive him to the concert. When they arrived at the Andrew Johnson Hotel in Knoxville, Tennessee, Williams complained of feeling unwell and saw a doctor. Carr and Williams checked out of the hotel, and at around midnight in Bristol, Virginia, Carr stopped at a small all-night restaurant and asked Williams if he wanted to eat. Williams said he did not, and those are believed to be his last words. Carr later stopped for fuel at a gas station in Oak Hill, West Virginia, where he realized that Williams was dead.
1-Jan-1953 American singer-songwriter and musician Hank Williams died aged 29. Williams is regarded as one of the most important country music artists of all time. 35 of his singles (five released posthumously) were placed in the Top 10 of the Billboard Country & Western Best Sellers chart, including 11 that ranked #1, including "Cold, Cold Heart," "Hey, Good Lookin'," "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive," and "Your Cheatin' Heart." During his last years Williams's consumption of alcohol, morphine and painkillers severely compromised his professional life.
4-Jan-1953 The funeral of Hank Williams took place at the Montgomery Auditorium. An estimated 20,000 to 25,000 people passed by the silver coffin, and the auditorium was filled with 2,750 mourners. His funeral was said to have been far larger than any ever held for any other citizen of Alabama. Williams had died in the back of his Cadillac travelling to a concert in Ohio.
24-Jan-1953 Hank Williams was at #1 on the US Country charts with "I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive", knocking himself from the top of the charts with his previous single "Jambalaya (On The Bayou)". Williams scored another two #1's this year with "Kaw-Liga" and "Take These Chains From My Heart".
26-Jan-1953 Born on this day in Lake Charles, Louisiana, was Lucinda Williams, rock, folk, blues and country music singer and songwriter who wrote "Passionate Kisses" the Grammy winning song made famous by the 1993 single version by Mary Chapin Carpenter.

9-Apr-1953 Born on this day in Greenwich, New York, was Hal Ketchum, country singer, songwriter. His 1991 album Past the Point of Rescue is his most commercially successful, having been certified gold and between 1991 and 2006, Ketchum scored seventeen entries on the Hot Country Songs charts. Ketchum died at his home in Fischer, Texas on November 23, 2020 at the age of 67.
11-Apr-1953 Hank Williams' "Your Cheatin' Heart" was at #1 in the Billboard country chart. The story goes that Williams was prompted to write the song when thinking about his first wife, Audrey Williams, while driving around with his second, Billie Jean Jones who she is supposed to have written down the lyrics for him whilst sat in the passenger seat. The song was record during his last ever recording sessions, on September 23, 1952 and had been released the following year, shortly after he died.

28-Apr-1953 Born on this day in Jackson, Mississippi, was Fred Knoblock, singer, songwriter. Prior to his solo career, Knoblock had been a member of Let's Eat, a 1970s rock band. He later wrote George Strait's "Meanwhile" and Lorrie Morgan's "Back In Your Arms Again."
7-May-1953 Born on this day in Gainesville, Georgia was country music songwriter John Jarrard. He wrote songs for Alabama, George Strait, Don Williams, and others. Jarred died on February 1, 2001 of respiratory failure.
26-May-1953 The first Jimmie Rodgers Memorial Festival was held to honor the anniversary of Rodgers' death. The festival in Meridian, Mississippi became an annual event.
1-Jun-1953 Born on this day in Coleman, Texas, was Ronnie Dunn, country music artist, best known for being one half of the duo Brooks & Dunn who have won more Country Music Association awards and Academy of Country Music awards than any act in the history of country music. The duo scored the 1991 US Country #1 hit "Brand New Man."

23-Jun-1953 Born on this day, in Chockie, Oklahoma, was Pake McEntire, the oldest brother of Reba McEntire and Susie Luchsinger. His biggest chart hit was the 1986, "Savin' My Love for You" which peaked at #3.
6-Jul-1953 Born on this day in Seguin, Texas, was Nanci Griffith, American singer, guitarist, and songwriter. Griffith has recorded duets with many artists, among them Emmylou Harris, Don McLean, Jimmy Buffett, Dolores Keane, Willie Nelson, and Darius Rucker.
9-Jul-1953 Born on this day in Rock Hill, South Carolina, was David Ball, American country music artist. His highest-peaking chart entries are 1994's "Thinkin' Problem" and 2001's "Riding With Private Malone", both of which peaked at #2.
3-Aug-1953 Born on this day in Nashville, Tennessee, was Randy Scruggs, (the middle son of Earl Scruggs). Scruggs has worked with many artists, including The Talbot Brothers, Waylon Jennings, George Strait and Emmylou Harris. He has won a Grammy Award and was twice named "Musician of the Year" at the Country Music Association Awards. Scruggs died on April 17th 2018.
5-Aug-1953 Born on this day in Whitewright, Texas was fiddle and mandolin player, session musician, and composer Larry Franklin. He has worked with Lee Ann Womack, Martina McBride, Alan Jackson, Vince Gill, Ray Price, Mel Tillis, and Miranda Lambert among others. While a member of Asleep at the Wheel, Franklin won three Grammy awards.
8-Aug-1953 Born on this day in Detroit, Michigan, was Todd Cerney, songwriter and musician. He composed "Good Morning Beautiful", a 2002 five-week country #1 hit for Steve Holy (co-written with Zack Lyle). In October 2009, Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton reunited for the first time in 25 years to sing "Tell Me That You Love Me," a duet that Cerney co-wrote. Cerney died in Nashville, Tennessee on March 14, 2011 from melanoma, a disease with which he had first been diagnosed with in November 2010, following a brain seizure. He was 57 years old.
16-Sep-1953 Born on this day in Monroe, Louisiana was Michael Rhodes bass player, known for his session work. Rhodes has worked with Rodney Crowell, Wynonna Judd, Dixie Chicks, Reba McEntire, Tanya Tucker, Hank Williams, Jr., Rosanne Cash, Vince Gill, Dolly Parton, Randy Travis, Faith Hill, Toby Keith, and Kenny Chesney. Rhodes died on March 4, 2023, at the age of 69 of pancreatic cancer.
18-Sep-1953 Born on this day in Louisville, Mississippi, was Carl Jackson, country and bluegrass musician who played in Glen Campbell's band for 12 years. Jackson's first Grammy was awarded in 1992 for his duet album with John Starling titled Spring Training. In 2003 Jackson produced the Grammy Award-winning CD titled Livin', Lovin', Losin': Songs of the Louvin Brothers - a tribute to Ira and Charlie Louvin. He also recorded one of the songs on the CD, a collection of duets featuring such artists as James Taylor, Alison Krauss, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Emmylou Harris, and others.
19-Sep-1953 Patsy Cline married contractor Gerald Cline. The couple divorced on July 4, 1957, the dissolution of the marriage was blamed on their considerable age difference and on the conflict between her desire to sing professionally and his desire that she adopt the conventional role of a housewife.
30-Sep-1953 Born on this day in Thurmond in Memphis, Tennessee, was Deborah Allen who scored the 1983 crossover hit "Baby I Lied" which reached #4 on the country charts. Allen has also written hits for Janie Fricke, John Conlee, Patty Loveless, Tanya Tucker, The Whites and others.
12-Oct-1953 Born on this day in Lexington, North Carolina, was Terry McMillan, country musician who played harmonica and percussion. He became a very in-demand session musician working with, Ray Charles, Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, George Jones, Merle Haggard, Reba McEntire, Randy Travis, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Kenny Chesney, Emmylou Harris, Waylon Jennings, Trisha Yearwood, and Dixie Chicks. He died at the age of 53 on 2 Feb 2007.
3-Nov-1953 "I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know" by The Davis Sisters was at #1 on the Country chart. Written by Cecil Null, it was the first hit for the duo of Skeeter Davis and Betty Jack (Jack was killed in an automobile accident the week the record was released). The song was a blockbuster hit, and the only #1 country song by a female duet until the rise of The Judds some thirty years later.
4-Nov-1953 Born on this day in Hamilton, Ohio was singer, songwriter Van Stephenson. He scored three US Billboard Hot 100 hits in the 1980s as a solo artist, and later became vocalist in the country music band BlackHawk. Stephenson died of cancer on April 8, 2001.
22-Nov-1953 Born on this day was record producer and guitarist John Jennings. He was best known for his work with Mary Chapin Carpenter as well as working with Indigo Girls, the Rankin Family, Cheryl Wheeler, Iris DeMent, and George Jones. Jennings died of kidney cancer on October 16, 2015 aged 62.
12-Dec-1953 Born on this day in Atlanta GA and raised in NC, was country music songwriter Byron Hill. Inducted in the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2018, Hill wrote hits including “Fool Hearted Memory” for George Strait, “Pickin’ Up Strangers” for Johnny Lee, “Born Country” for Alabama, “Politics, Religion, And Her” for Sammy Kershaw, “Nothing On But The Radio” for Gary Allan, “High-Tech Redneck” for George Jones, “Alright Already” for Larry Stewart, “If I Was A Drinkin’ Man” for Neal McCoy, “Lifestyles Of The Not So Rich And Famous” for Tracy Byrd, and many others.
15-Dec-1953 Born on this day was American country singer-songwriter Randy Parton, the younger brother of Dolly Parton. He had the 1981 hits "Hold Me Like You Never Had Me" and "Shot Full of Love". He died from cancer on January 21, 2021 age 67.
2-Jan-1954 Born on this day in Pasadena, California was songwriter, composer, session pianist John Barlow Jarvis. He has worked with many artists including: Garth Brooks, Tammy Wynette, Shania Twain, Bob Seger, Hank Williams Jr, George Strait, Reba McEntire and Jimmy Buffett.
19-Jan-1954 George Jones recorded "No Money in This Deal" and "Play It Cool, Man". "No Money in This Deal" became his debut country song released on February 18, 1954 with Starday Records. The songs became the first recordings to be of a little over 900 that Jones would record during his 61-year career.
24-Jan-1954 Born on this day in Dayton, Ohio, was Glenn Worf, a prolific Nashville session bassist. Throughout his career, Worf has recorded with numerous performers including Trace Adkins, Billy Ray Cyrus, Alan Jackson, Wynonna Judd, Toby Keith, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Miranda Lambert, Kenny Rogers, Sugarland, Shania Twain, Keith Urban, Lee Ann Womack, and Tammy Wynette.
18-Feb-1954 George Jones released his debut single "No Money in This Deal" on Starday Records. The song became the first recording to be of a little over 900 that Jones would record during his 61-year career.
20-Feb-1954 "Slowly" by Webb Pierce became the first #1 song on Billboard's country charts to feature the pedal steel guitar. (His biggest hit was "In the Jailhouse Now," which charted for 37 weeks in 1955).

1-Mar-1954 Born on this day, in Cleveland, Ohio, was Catherine Bach, actress, known for playing Daisy Duke in the television series The Dukes of Hazzard that aired on the CBS television network from 1979 to 1985. The producers were looking for a Dolly Parton-lookalike; despite not looking like what they were searching for, she was hired on the spot. At the hight of the show a poster of 'Daisy' in her cut-off jeans sold over 5 million copies.
25-Apr-1954 Born on this day in Sumter, South Carolina was American country music artist Rob Crosby. Between 1990 and 1996, he charted eight singles on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts. Crosby has written songs from many artists including Lady Antebellum, Carl Perkins, Brooks & Dunn, Restless Heart, Martina McBride, Eric Paslay, Darryl Worley, Boy Howdy, Ty Herndon and Don Williams.
4-May-1954 Born on this day in 1954, in Fremont, Nebraska, was singer, songwriter, guitarist, and trumpeter, Don King who in the 1970s and 1980s charted more than fifteen hit singles on the Billboard country music charts. King toured with many artists, such as Alabama, Reba McEntire, John Anderson, The Oak Ridge Boys, Conway Twitty, and Tammy Wynette.
29-May-1954 George Jones released "Play It Cool, Man" on Starday Records. It is the oldest recording to be included on his debut album released in 1956.
31-May-1954 Born on this day in Detroit, Michigan, was Paul Franklin, multi-instrumentalist, known mainly for his work as a steel guitarist. Franklin has worked with many well known acts during his career, including Barbara Mandrell, Rodney Crowell, George Strait, Alan Jackson, Faith Hill, Shania Twain, Reba McEntire, Patty Loveless, and Kathy Mattea.
15-Jun-1954 Born on this day in Miami, Florida, was Terri Gibbs, country music artist who was born blind. Between 1980 and 1990, she recorded seven studio albums, including four for MCA Records and one for Warner Bros. Records. She also charted thirteen singles on the Billboard country singles charts in that timespan, including her debut single "Somebody's Knockin'", which reached #8 on the country charts.
19-Jun-1954 "I Don't Hurt Anymore" by Hank Snow began a 20 week run at #1 on the Country Best Seller list. Also on the chart, "One by One" by Red Foley and Kitty Wells began a 21 week run at #2 on same chart, managing a single week at #1 later in the year.
1-Jul-1954 Born on this day in Ashland, Kentucky, was Keith Whitley, country music singer who charted 19 singles on the Billboard country charts, including five consecutive #1's: "Don't Close Your Eyes", "When You Say Nothing at All", "I'm No Stranger to the Rain", "I Wonder Do You Think of Me" and "It Ain't Nothin'". He died on May 9, 1989, the cause of death was determined to be acute ethanolism (alcohol poisoning).

9-Jul-1954 During recording sessions at Sun studios in Memphis, Elvis Presley recorded a version of Bill Monroe's "Blue Moon Of Kentucky". Numerous artists have recorded the song, including John Fogerty, Patsy Cline, Ronnie Hawkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, LeAnn Rimes, Paul McCartney, Boxcar Willie, Ray Charles and Jerry Reed.

13-Jul-1954 Born on this day in Corpus Christi, Texas, was Louise Mandrell country music singer. She is the younger sister of country singer Barbara Mandrell, and older sister of actress Irlene Mandrell.
18-Jul-1954 Born on this day, was Ricky Skaggs, country and bluegrass singer, musician, producer, and composer, who was the 1982 Country Music Association singer of the year. He scored the US country #1 single 'Crying My Heart Out Over You'.
7-Aug-1954 Johnny Cash married Vivian Liberto at St Ann's Catholic Church in Memphis. The couple had four daughters: Rosanne (born May 24, 1955); Kathleen (born April 16, 1956); Cindy (born July 29, 1958); and Tara (born August 24, 1961). The couple divorced in late 1967. During their courtship, Cash and Liberto wrote each other over 10,000 pages of love letters, forming the basis of her autobiography, titled I Walked the Line: My Life with Johnny, which was published in 2007.
4-Sep-1954 After a two-week courtship, George Jones married his second wife eighteen-year-old Shirley Ann Corley.
9-Sep-1954 Elvis Presley played at the opening of the Lamar-Airways Shopping Center in Memphis Tennessee. Johnny Cash was in the audience and after the show met Elvis for the first time.
21-Sep-1954 Alabama governor Gordon Persons officially proclaimed today - September 21st the official Hank Williams Day.
25-Sep-1954 George Jones released his third single "You All Goodnight" on Starday Records. The song was recorded in the living room of Quinn at 5628 Brock Street in Houston with just one microphone that hung down from the wooden ceiling beams.
30-Sep-1954 22 year-old Patsy Cline signed her first recording contract with Bill McCall of Four Star Records. The contract would only allowed her to record songs from the Four Star Records publishing company and also stipulated that Cline only sing country songs. She later left Four Star Records to sign with Decca Records, and her self-titled debut album on Decca was released in 1957.
2-Oct-1954 Elvis Presley made his one and only appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. Although the audience reacted politely to his revolutionary brand of rockabilly music, he was supposedly told by Opry manager Jim Denny to "go back to driving a truck in Memphis."
30-Oct-1954 Born on this day in St. Louis, Missouri, was Jeannie Kendall, singer from the duo The Kendalls who released 16 albums including the #1 hits "Heaven's Just a Sin Away," "Sweet Desire" and "Thank God for the Radio".
30-Oct-1954 Born on this day in Arabi, Georgia, was T. Graham Brown, country music artist who has recorded over a dozen studio albums, and has charted more than twenty singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. Three of these singles - "Hell and High Water" and "Don't Go to Strangers" from 1986, and "Darlene" from 1988, reached #1.

13-Nov-1954 A Billboard disc jockey poll reported that U.S. disc jockeys were playing 11 percent country on radio stations, compared to 42 percent pop and 5 percent rhythm and blues.
20-Nov-1954 Bartenders in Hammond, Indiana requesed that disc jockeys at WJOB radio stop playing Ferlin Husky's "The Drunken Driver," about an intoxicated driver who causes a crash that kills two children; the song "is hurting business," the union claimed.
1-Dec-1954 Fred Rose an American Hall of Fame songwriter and music publishing executive died. Along with Hank Williams and the "Father of Country Music", Jimmie Rodgers, Fred Rose was one of the three charter members of the Country Music Hall of Fame when it opened in 1961. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970 and into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1985.
13-Dec-1954 Born on this day in Orlando, Florida, was John Anderson, country music artist who has charted more than 40 singles on the Billboard country music charts, including five #1's, "Wild and Blue", "Swingin'", "Black Sheep", "Straight Tequila Night", and "Money in the Bank". He has also recorded twenty-two studio albums on several labels.

25-Dec-1954 Born on this day in Noblesville, Indiana, was Steve Wariner, country music singer, songwriter and guitarist who has charted more than fifty singles on the Billboard country singles charts, including ten #1 hits: "All Roads Lead to You", "Some Fools Never Learn", "You Can Dream of Me", "Life's Highway", "Small Town Girl", "The Weekend", "Lynda", "Where Did I Go Wrong", and "I Got Dreams", and "What If I Said", a duet with Anita Cochran.

29-Dec-1954 Born on this day in Creston, Iowa was drummer and session musician John Robinson. He has worked with many Country artists including Clint Black, Martina McBride, Toby Keith, Wynona Judd, Crystal Gayle, Faith Hill as well as Michael Jackson's multiplatinum Off the Wall album and the charity single "We Are the World."
31-Dec-1954 Born on this day in Aylmer, Quebec, was Charlie Major Canadian country music artist. He was blinded in one eye as a result of a pellet gun accident when he was 12. Through the 1990s, he won the Juno Award as Country Male Vocalist of the Year for two years in a row.
14-Jan-1955 George Jones released "What Am I Worth", one of the fourteen songs included on Jones' debut album with Starday Records in 1957. The single gave Jones his second Country hit when it peaked at #7 on the charts.
17-Jan-1955 Born on this day, at Fort Monroe in Hampton, Virginia, was Steve Earle, singer, songwriter. His song "Mustang Wine" was due to be recorded by Elvis Presley in 1975, but Presley did not turn up for the recording session and was later released as a single by Carl Perkins. His gritty 1986 album Guitar Town album became an influential signpost for the alt-country movement. Earle has been married seven times, including twice to the same woman.
18-Jan-1955 Born on this day in Lynwood, California, was Kevin Costner actor, producer and singer. Costner is the singer in Kevin Costner & Modern West, a country rock band which he founded with the encouragement of his wife Christine.
22-Jan-1955 Ozark Jubilee aired for the first time on ABC-TV, which became the first popular country music show on network TV. Hosted by Red Foley many acts including Patsy Cline, Eddy Arnold, Johnny Cash, Merle Travis, Slim Whitman, Cowboy Copas, George Jones, George Hamilton IV, Buck Owens, Jim Reeves and Faron Young all appeared on the show. Music executive Si Siman convinced Red Foley to host the show and the deal was set over a bottle of Jack Daniel's whiskey at the Andrew Jackson Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee.
14-Feb-1955 George Jones was on the Country charts with "Why Baby Why", Jones' first chart single, (which peaked at #4), following several unsuccessful singles released during the prior year on Starday Records.
11-Mar-1955 Born on this day, was Jimmy Fortune, Country singer, songwriter with The Statler Brothers who had the 80's US Country #1 hits 'Elizabeth' and "Do You Know You Are My Sunshine".
17-Mar-1955 Born on this day in Newton, Mississippi, was Paul Overstreet country music singer and songwriter who has charted two #1 hits. He has also written singles for several other country acts, including #1 hits for Randy Travis, Blake Shelton, and Keith Whitley, as well as hits for The Judds and Kenny Chesney.
26-Mar-1955 Born on this day, was Dean Dillon, country music artist who between 1982 and 1993, recorded six studio albums on various labels, and charted several singles on the Billboard country charts. Dillon has continued to write several hit songs for other artists, most notably George Strait. He is the father of country music songwriter, Jessie Jo Dillon, and the two often collaborate.
28-Mar-1955 Born on this day outside of Kiowa, Oklahoma, Reba McEntire, country music artist and actress who has scored 35 #1 singles and released over 25 albums. Sometimes referred to as "The Queen of Country", she has sold more than 70 million albums worldwide as well as starring in her television sitcom, Reba for which she was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Performance in a Television Series-Musical or Comedy.
4-May-1955 Born on this day in Winthrop, Massachusetts was Robert Ellis Orrall singer, songwriter, and record producer who has penned #1 singles for Shenandoah and Clay Walker and has also written hits for Reba McEntire, Taylor Swift, and Lindsay Lohan. In 1991 he charted the singles "Boom! It Was Over" and "A Little Bit of Her Love", from his first country music album, Flying Colors.
12-May-1955 Born on this day, was Kix Brooks III, country music artist, best known for being one half of the duo Brooks & Dunn who have won more Country Music Association awards and Academy of Country Music awards than any act in the history of country music.
24-May-1955 Born on this day in Memphis, Tennessee, was American singer-songwriter and author, Rosanne Cash, the eldest daughter of country music icon Johnny Cash and his first wife, Vivian Liberto Cash Distin. She won a Grammy in 1985 for "I Don't Know Why You Don't Want Me", and has received twelve other Grammy nominations. She has had 11 #1 country hit singles, 21 Top 40 country singles and two gold records.

6-Jun-1955 Born on this day, was Curtis Wright, American country music artist. He made his debut in 1989 with the single "She's Got a Man on her Mind". By 1994, he and frequent songwriting partner Robert Ellis Orrall had formed a duo known as Orrall & Wright who wrote Ronnie Milsap's #1 single "A Woman in Love".
18-Jun-1955 Faron Young's signature hit, "Live Fast, Love Hard, Die Young," peaked at #1 on the Billboard country chart. The song idea came to Joe Allison while watching a gangster movie starring John Derek. Allison explained, "All through this picture he said, 'I want to die young and leave a good-looking corpse.'
1-Jul-1955 Patsy Cline made her network television debut on the short-lived television version of the Grand Ole Opry on ABC-TV.
10-Jul-1955 Born on this day in Easton, Pennsylvania, was Stan Munsey, songwriter and one of several writer-musicians to emerge out of the Muscle Shoals, Alabama music scene. His songs have sold more than 12 million worldwide and has penned tunes for Alabama, Shenandoah, The Statler Brothers, Glen Campbell, Shania Twain, Tim McGraw, The Kinleys, Butch Baker, Lorrie Morgan, Suzy Bogguss, Barbara Mandrell, Lee Greenwood, Jonathan Edwards, Mel McDaniel, Charly McClain, Wayne Massey, Ty Herndon, Collin Raye, John Michael Montgomery, Marty Raybon, and Marie Osmond.
15-Jul-1955 Slim Whitman's "Rose Marie" became an international smash hit, debuting on the UK charts and quickly rising to #1. The song's 11-week run in pole position stood as one of the longest runs for many years on the UK charts.
30-Jul-1955 Johnny Cash recorded his first version of "Folsom Prison Blues" at the Sun Recording Studio in Memphis, Tennessee. Cash was inspired to write this song after seeing the movie Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison (1951) while serving in West Germany in the United States Air Force at Landsberg, Bavaria (itself the location of a famous prison).
1-Aug-1955 Johnny Cash was part of a 5-date Webb Pierce package tour with Elvis Presley and Wanda Jackson, which played the opeening night at the Mississippi- Alabama Fairgrounds in Tupelo, Mississippi.
6-Aug-1955 Hank Snow, Lefty Frizzell, Eddie Dean, Freddie Hart and The Collins Kids performed the first-ever country concert at Los Angeles' Hollywood Bowl with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.
17-Aug-1955 Born on this day in Long Beach, California, was Kevin Welch, country music artist who has charted five singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.
27-Aug-1955 George Jones recorded "Why Baby Why" at Gold Star Studios, Houston, Texas. The song became Jones' first chart single (peaking at #4), following several unsuccessful singles released during the prior year on Starday Records.
17-Sep-1955 George Jones released "Why Baby Why" on Starday Records. It became Jones' first chart single, following several unsuccessful singles released during the prior year when it peaked at #4 on the Billboard country charts.
24-Sep-1955 Born on this day in Oak Park, Illinois, was American female singer-songwriter Lane Brody, best known for her 1984 Billboard topping country hit, "The Yellow Rose" (a duet with country music singer Johnny Lee), and for the Oscar nominated song "Over You" from the film Tender Mercies. She is the first female in country music to have an Oscar nominated hit from a soundtrack album. Besides "The Yellow Rose", Brody has eleven other chart singles on the country charts.
26-Sep-1955 Born on this day country singer and songwriter Carlene Carter, (the daughter of June Carter and her first husband, Carl Smith). She has released twelve albums and over twenty singles, including three #3 peaking hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.
9-Oct-1955 Johnny Cash played the first night of a week long tour appearing with Elvis Presley, Floyd Cramer, Jimmy Newman and Porter Wagoner at the Cheery Springs Dance Hall, Cherryspring.
11-Oct-1955 Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash kicked off an eleven date tour of the Southern US states in Abilene, Texas.
12-Oct-1955 The Chrysler Corporation introduced high fidelity record players for their 1956 line-up of cars. The unit measured about four inches high and less than a foot wide and mounted under the instrument panel. The seven-inch discs spun at 16 2/3 rpm and required almost three times the number of grooves per inch as an LP. A set of 35 classical recordings were available that provided between 45 and 60 minutes of uninterrupted music. The players would be discontinued in 1961.
1-Nov-1955 Born on this day in Wichita Falls, Texas, was Keith Stegall, country music recording artist and record producer. Stegall charted thirteen singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, with the highest-peaking being 1985's "Pretty Lady."
10-Nov-1955 Elvis Presley attended the fourth Country Music Disc Jockey Convention in Nashville Tennessee. Back at his hotel Mae Boren Axton played him a demo of a new song she had written with Tommy Durden called "Heartbreak Hotel." Presley released the track as a single on January 27, 1956, his first on his new record label RCA Victor. The song gave him his his first #1 pop record.
12-Nov-1955 Billboard magazine's annual disc jockey poll voted Elvis Presley as the most promising country and western artist.
9-Dec-1955 Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash kicked off an eleven date tour of the Southern US states in Abilene, Texas.

12-Dec-1955 Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley all appeared at the National Guard Armory, Armory, Mississippi.
1-Jan-1956 George Jones won the Billboard Award for Most Promising New Country Vocalist.
7-Jan-1956 Johnny Cash started a regular Saturday night spot on the Louisiana Hayride, broadcast from the Auditorium in Shreveport, Louisiana.
11-Jan-1956 Born on this day was Robert Earl Keen, American singer-songwriter. His songs have also been covered by several different artists including George Strait, Joe Ely, Lyle Lovett, The Highwaymen, Nanci Griffith, and the Dixie Chicks.
13-Jan-1956 Born on this day in Neptune Township, New Jersey was singer, songwriter Greg Trooper. Many artists covered Trooper's songs, including Vince Gill, Steve Earle and Robert Earl Keene. He died on January 15th 2017 just two days after his 61st Birthday.
18-Jan-1956 Born on this day was Mark Collie, American singer, songwriter, musician, actor, producer and tireless advocate and fundraiser for Type 1 diabetes study. Sixteen of his singles have charted on Hot Country Songs, including the top ten hits "Even the Man in the Moon Is Cryin'" and "Born to Love You". Collie has also written songs for Aaron Tippin, Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw, and JT Hodges.
23-Jan-1956 Born on this day in Dayton, Ohio, was singer-songwriter Harley Allen who penned Alan Jackson's "Between The Devil And Me" and John Michael Montgomery's "The Little Girl", as well as songs for Garth Brooks, Don Williams, Linda Ronstadt and George Jones. Allen died of lung cancer on March 30, 2011 at his home in Brentwood, Tennessee.
20-Feb-1956 Born on this day, James Salestrom American singer-songwriter. Salestrom was the lead singer of the band Timberline from 1971 to 1977. Salestrom performed in Dolly Parton's band from 1979 to 1991. As a solo artist, he performed in shows around the world. He died from cancer at his home in Arvada, Colorado, on November 22, 2023, at the age of 67.
26-Mar-1956 Born on this day in Memphis, Tennessee, was Charlotte Denise "Charly" McClain, country music singer, best known for series of Country hits during the 1980s Including, "Who's Cheatin' Who," "Sleeping With the Radio On," and "Radio Heart."
2-Apr-1956 Johnny Cash recorded his classic song, "I Walk the Line", which became his first #1 Billboard country hit. Released in May of this year it remained on the charts for over 43 weeks, and sold over 2 million copies. The unique chord progression for the song was inspired by backwards playback of guitar runs on Cash's tape recorder while he was in the Air Force stationed in Germany.

26-Apr-1956 Born on this day was American musician Dave Pomeroy. He has played electric and acoustic bass for many world renowned artists including Trisha Yearwood, Emmylou Harris, Toby Keith, Neil Diamond, Billy Ray Cyrus, Tom Paxton, George Jones, Shelby Lynne, Earl Scruggs and Asleep At The Wheel.
30-Apr-1956 Born on this day in Washington, D.C., was Terry Gregory, country music singer-songwriter. Gregory's debut album, Just Like Me, was released in 1981 by Handshake Records. Its first single, the title track, reached the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.
1-May-1956 Johnny Cash released his classic song, "I Walk the Line", which became his first #1 Billboard country hit and remained on the charts for over 43 weeks, selling over 2 million copies. The unique chord progression for the song was inspired by backwards playback of guitar runs on Cash's tape recorder while he was in the Air Force stationed in Germany.
25-May-1956 Born on this day Cindy Cashdollar, steel guitar and Dobro artist. Cashdollar received five Grammy awards while playing for eight years with Asleep at the Wheel. In 2006, she toured with Van Morrison promoting his country and western album, Pay the Devil.
28-May-1956 Born on this day in Warren, Ohio, Jerry Douglas, lap steel player and record producer who has worked with Ray Charles, Dolly Parton, Alison Krauss, Clint Black and others. Douglas has received thirteen Grammy Awards and has won the Country Music Association's 'Musician of the Year' award three times,
28-May-1956 Born on this day in Waxahachie, Texas was session musician and record producer Brent Rowan. He also played guitar for Alabama, Alan Jackson, Chris LeDoux, Clay Walker, Confederate Railroad, and others. In 1989, Rowan was awarded Guitarist of the Year by the Academy of Country Music.
1-Jun-1956 Born on this day in Houston Texas, was Lisa Hartman Black, American singer and actress. She achieved her most notable success with a duet with her husband Clint Black, entitled "When I Said I Do". It reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts in 1999 and was nominated for a Grammy Award.
7-Jun-1956 Born on this day in Cooper City, Florida, was Larry Boone, American country music artist. His highest-charting single, "Don't Give Candy to a Stranger", reached #10 in 1988. Boone has also co-written several singles for other country music artists, including a #1 single for Kathy Mattea, "(Burnin' Old Memories)", and Top Ten hits for Don Williams, Tracy Lawrence, Rick Trevino and Lonestar.

19-Jun-1956 Born on this day, in Newnan, Georgia, was Doug Stone, country music artist who had the 1991 US #1 Country hit "In A Different Light." Stone made his acting debut in the film Gordy.
19-Jun-1956 Born on this day in Nacogdoches, Texas, was Jim Collins, country music singer-songwriter. Between 1985 and 1998, Collins released three studio albums. As a songwriter, Collins has had more than fifty of his songs cut, including singles by Kenny Chesney ("She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy", "The Good Stuff", "Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven"), Chad Brock ("Yes!"), Jason Aldean ("Big Green Tractor"), and Gretchen Wilson ("I Don't Feel Like Loving You Today"). "The Good Stuff" was Billboard's #1 country single of 2002.

7-Jul-1956 Following six months on the Louisiana Hayride Johnny Cash made his first appearance at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee.
14-Jul-1956 Elvis Presley started a two week run at #1 on the Country charts with "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You". In this year Elvis also scored 3 more #1's with "I Forgot To Remember To Forget", "Heartbreak Hotel", and "Don't Be Cruel", giving Elvis 26 weeks at the top of the charts in 1956.
26-Jul-1956 Born on this day in Clinton, Oklahoma was record producer Scott Hendricks who has produced over 30 country music artists. His productions have garnered 116 Top 10s, and 75 #1 hits. Acts for whom Hendricks has produced include Restless Heart, John Michael Montgomery, Brooks & Dunn, Trace Adkins, Alan Jackson, Faith Hill, Blake Shelton, Jana Kramer and Dan + Shay.
7-Sep-1956 Born on this day in Van Nuys, Los Angeles was songwriter Diane Warren. She has won a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, three consecutive Billboard Music Awards for Songwriter of the Year, and has been nominated for eleven Academy Awards. Warren has written songs for many Country artists including: LeAnn Rimes, Travis Tritt, Trisha Yearwood, Carrie Underwood and Faith Hill.
13-Sep-1956 Born on this day in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was David Mansfield, violinist, mandolin player, guitarist, pedal steel guitar player, and composer. Mansfield has worked with many artists including, Bob Dylan, T-Bone Burnett, Johnny Cash, Nanci Griffith, Roger McGuinn, Sam Phillips, and Dwight Yoakam.
20-Sep-1956 Touring North America, Johnny Cash appeared at the Memorial Coliseum in Corpus Christi, Texas.
22-Sep-1956 Born on this day, was Debby Anne Boone, singer and actress best known for her 1977 hit, "You Light Up My Life," which spent ten weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and won her the Grammy Award for Best New Artist the following year. Boone also scored the 1980 #1 hit, "Are You on the Road to Lovin' Me Again".
22-Sep-1956 Born on this day in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia was June Forester from the American country music vocal group The Forester Sisters, consisting of sisters Kathy, June, Kim and Christy Forester. The quartet had commercial success in the 1980s, charting fifteen Top Tens on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, including the Number Ones "I Fell in Love Again Last Night", "Just in Case", "Mama's Never Seen Those Eyes".
29-Sep-1956 Born on this day was Bob Carlisle, singer, songwriter. He performed with several bands, most notably Allies and Billy Thermal, but is best known for his hit song "Butterfly Kisses", which appeared on his third solo album.
1-Oct-1956 George Jones released his debut album "Grand Ole Opry's New Star". Jones wrote or co-wrote all fourteen songs on the album, which included three of his early top-10 country hits: "Why Baby Why", "What Am I Worth", and "You Gotta Be My Baby".
4-Oct-1956 George Jones released "Just One More" which peaked at #3 on the Country charts giving the singer his biggest hit to date. "Just One More" is one of the earliest examples of the "hard" drinking songs for which Jones would become famous. The song describes a lonely, self-pitying man who is drinking to forget his worries.
23-Oct-1956 Born on this day in Pikeville, Kentucky, was Dwight Yoakam. The country singer, actor and film director, who is most famous for his pioneering country music has sold over 25 million records with 5 Billboard # 1 Albums, 12 Gold Albums, and 9 Platinum Albums. Yoakam is the most frequent musical guest in the history of The Tonight Show and has also starred in many films, most notably in critically acclaimed performances as an ill-tempered, abusive, live-in boyfriend in Sling Blade.
8-Nov-1956 During recording sessions, Patsy Cline laid down four songs including Walkin' After Midnight, which was written for and rejected by singer Kay Starr. Originally Cline was not fond of Walkin' After Midnight, but after making a compromise with her label, she recorded it and it became Cline's first major hit single.
10-Nov-1956 George Jones was named the most promising country and western artist, according to Billboard magazine's annual nationwide disc jockey poll.
17-Nov-1956 Marty Robbins started a seven week run at #1 on the Country singles chart with "Singing The Blues".
18-Nov-1956 Born on this day, was Laura Lynch, singer-songwriter, and founding member of the Dixie Chicks. Of the Dixie Chicks' twenty-five singles, six have reached #1 on the Billboard country singles chart: Lynch left the group in 1995.
4-Dec-1956 The Million Dollar Quartet legend was born when a Memphis newspaper photographed Johnny Cash and Elvis Presely who had dropped in on a Carl Perkins session (for "Matchbox") at Sun Studios, with Jerry Lee Lewis as piano sideman.
9-Dec-1956 Born on this day in Kokomo, Indiana, was Sylvia Jane Kirby, country music singer and songwriter. More commonly known by the singular name Sylvia, she enjoyed crossover music success with the song "Nobody" in 1982.
21-Dec-1956 Born on this day in Abilene, Texas, was Lee Roy Parnell, country music and blues artist, singer, songwriter. His highest-charting hits are "What Kind of Fool Do You Think I Am" (1992), "Tender Moment" (1993), and "A Little Bit of You" (1995), all of which peaked at #2.
30-Dec-1956 Born on this day in Aledo, Illinois country music singer and songwriter Suzy Bogus. In the 1990s, six of her songs were Top 10 hits. She won Top New Female Vocalist from the Academy of Country Music and the Horizon Award from the Country Music Association.
4-Jan-1957 Born on this day near Pikeville, Kentucky, was Patty Loveless, country music singer, songwriter who has charted more than forty singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, including five #1's including the 1988 "Timber, I'm Falling in Love."

5-Jan-1957 Patsy Cline started recording what would become her self-titled debut studio album with Owen Bradley producing. The first single from the album, "Walkin' After Midnight," peaked at #2 on the Country charts when released.
19-Jan-1957 Johnny Cash performed on The Jackie Gleason Show (almost one year to the week after Elvis), following the success of his #1 Country hit "There You Go."
21-Jan-1957 Patsy Cline made her debut appearance on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts TV show in New York City. The day of the show, she met with the show's producer Janette Davis. Cline had chosen "A Poor Man's Roses (Or a Rich Man's Gold)" to perform on the program, but Davis preferred "Walkin' After Midnight". Cline initially refused to perform it, but ultimately agreed to it. Davis also suggested Cline wore a cocktail dress instead of the cowgirl outfit created by her mother. Cline won the program's contest that night.
11-Feb-1957 After making an appearance on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts TV show performing "Walkin' After Midnight" (and winning the contest), Decca Records rush-released the song as a single. It became Cline's first major hit single, reaching #1 on the Billboard country music chart and #12 on its pop chart.
11-Apr-1957 Born on this day in Troutman, North Carolina, was country singer, songwriter Jim Lauderdale. Since 1986 he has released nineteen studio albums and artists who have recorded his material include George Strait, Vince Gill and Patty Loveless.
12-Apr-1957 Born on this day in Norman, Oklahoma, was Vince Gill, country singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Gill was a member of country rock band Pure Prairie League in the 1970s, and then went solo in 1983. Gill has recorded more than twenty studio albums, charted over forty singles on the Billboard charts and has sold more over 22 million albums. He has been honored by the Country Music Association with 18 CMA Awards, including two Entertainer of the Year awards and five Male Vocalist Awards. Gill has also been awarded 27 Grammy Awards.

14-Jun-1957 Born on this day in Paducah, Kentucky, was Chad Cromwell, drummer who has recorded and toured with may acts including, Neil Young, Vince Gill, Lady Antebellum, Diana Krall, Willie Nelson, Jackson Browne, Trisha Yearwood, Miranda Lambert, Bonnie Raitt, Rodney Crowell, and Marty Stuart.
23-Jun-1957 Born on this day, was American country music artist Keith Palmer who co-wrote Reba McEntire's 1991 single "For My Broken Heart." Palmer died on June 13th 1996.
25-Jun-1957 Born on this day in Binghamton, New York, was Tim Malchak country music singer-songwriter. Malchak partnered with Dwight Rucker in 1982 to form the country music duo Malchak & Rucker. Together, they became the first black/white duo in country music history with a charting single "Just Like That."
15-Jul-1957 Born on this day in Red Bay, Alabama, was Mac McAnally, country music singer-songwriter, session musician and record producer. His ninth chart entry came in late 2008-early 2009 as a guest vocalist on Kenny Chesney's #1 cover of his 1990 single "Down the Road". He is also a member of Jimmy Buffett's backing band, The Coral Reefer Band.
24-Jul-1957 Born on this day was Pam Tillis country music singer-songwriter and actress, (she is the daughter of country music singer Mel Tillis). Originally a demo singer in Nashville, Tennessee, she scored the 1991 hit "Don't Tell Me What to Do", and has since charted more than 30 singles on the US Billboard country charts, including her only #1 single, 1995's "Mi Vida Loca (My Crazy Life)".

4-Aug-1957 Johnny Cash completed recoding sessions for his debut album, Johnny Cash with His Hot and Blue Guitar. The album contained four of his hit singles: "I Walk the Line," "Cry! Cry! Cry!," "So Doggone Lonesome," and "Folsom Prison Blues." This was the first LP ever issued on Sam Phillips' Sun Records label.

5-Aug-1957 The self-titled debut album by Patsy Cline was released, which would be one of three studio albums Cline would record during her lifetime. The album produced two singles, "Walkin' After Midnight," and "I Don't Wanta."
22-Aug-1957 Born on this day in San Antonio, Texas, was Holly Dunn, country music artist who first found fame with her 1986 Top-10 hit "Daddy's Hands" from her self-titled debut album. Dunn has charted more than a dozen country singles, two of which ("Are You Ever Gonna Love Me", "You Really Had Me Going") reaching the #1 spot. Dunn died on November 14, 2016.
6-Sep-1957 Born on this day in Dallas, Texas was country music songwriter Liz Rose best known for her work with Taylor Swift. She has co-written twenty of Swift's songs, including "You Belong with Me", which was nominated for a Grammy Award for Song of the Year, "Teardrops on My Guitar" and "White Horse", which won Swift and her a Grammy Award for Best Country Song in 2010.
15-Sep-1957 Patsy Cline married her second husband Charlie Dick. The pair met in 1956 while Cline was performing with a local Virginia band. Following Cline's death in 1963, Dick married country artist Jamey Ryan in 1965.
21-Sep-1957 Born on this day in Fayetteville, Arkansas was songwriter - producer Mark Wright. Reba McEntire, Amy Grant, and Kenny Rogers have all covered his songs, and has produced hits for Lee Ann Womack, Gary Allan, Mark Chesnutt, Brooks & Dunn and Gretchen Wilson.
10-Oct-1957 Born on this day, was Tony Arata, singer-songwriter, his songs have been recorded by Garth Brooks, ("The Dance"), Patty Loveless, Trisha Yearwood, Jim Glaser, Reba McEntir, Hal Ketchum, Oak Ridge Boys, Randy Travis and Emmylou Harris.
11-Oct-1957 Johnny Cash with His Hot and Blue Guitar was released in the US. The singer's debut album contained four of his hit singles: "I Walk the Line," "Cry! Cry! Cry!," "So Doggone Lonesome," and "Folsom Prison Blues." This was the first LP ever issued on Sam Phillips' Sun Records label.
14-Oct-1957 The Everly Brothers were at #1 on the country singles chart with "Wake Up Little Susie." Written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant the song was banned in such places as Boston, although the song does not state that Susie and her boyfriend had sexual relations. Indeed, it strongly implies that they did not!
1-Nov-1957 Born on this day in Houston, Texas, was Lyle Lovett, singer-songwriter and actor. Lovett has won four Grammy Awards, including Best Male Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Album. It's Not Big It's Large was released in 2007, where it debuted and peaked at #2 on the Top Country Albums chart.
14-Nov-1957 Born on this day in Bronxville, New York, was Gretchen Peters, singer and songwriter. She moved to Nashville in the late 1980s and there, she found work as a songwriter, composing hits for Martina McBride, Etta James, Trisha Yearwood, Patty Loveless, George Strait, Anne Murray and others. Peters has released studio albums of her own, the title track of her 1996 debut album The Secret of Life was recorded by Faith Hill in 1999.

2-Dec-1957 "Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis Presley was at #1 on the Billboard magazine country charts. The Leiber and Stoller song which was from his third motion picture of the same name featured Mike Stoller as a piano player. "Jailhouse Rock" later became the first song to debut at #1 in Great Britain.
6-Jan-1958 Jerry Lee Lewis was at #1 on the Billboard country chart with "Great Balls Of Fire". The song which was recorded at Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee, featured in the 1957 movie Jamboree.
6-Jan-1958 Johnny Cash released "Ballad of a Teenage Queen". Taken from his 1958 album Sings the Songs That Made Him Famous, the song which is just 2 minutes and 13 seconds long gave Cash his third #1 country hit.
15-Jan-1958 George Jones released "Color of the Blues" which reached #7 on the country singles chart. The song written by Jones and Lawton Williams became his sixth Top 10 Country chart hit.
25-Jan-1958 Marty Robbins was at #1 on the US Country charts with "The Story of My Life" which was written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David.

21-Feb-1958 Merle Haggard was transferred to San Quentin Prison, after a failed escape attempt from Bakersfield Jail. During his time at the proson, Haggard started to run a gambling and brewing racket with his cellmate. One time, after he was caught drunk, he was sent for a week to solitary confinement. Haggard had been arrested in 1957 shortly after he tried to rob a Bakersfield roadhouse.
21-Feb-1958 Born on this day in Princeton, New Jersey, was Mary Chapin Carpenter, folk and country music singer, songwriter. Carpenter has won five Grammy Awards and is the only artist to have won four consecutive Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance, which she received from 1992 to 1995.
24-Feb-1958 Born on this day in Kaplan in Acadiana, was Sammy Kershaw, country music artist who has scored over twenty-five US Country hits including the 1993 #1 hit "She Don't Know She's Beautiful".
14-Apr-1958 Don Gibson's "Oh Lonesome Me" was at #1 on the Billboard country chart. The track, which was produced by Chet Atkins, topped the country chart for eight non-consecutive weeks in addition to reaching #7 on the Billboard Hot 100. Both Johnny Cash and Neil Young have recorded versions of the song.
21-Apr-1958 US country music singer Marvin Rainwater was at #1 on the UK singles chart with "Whole Lotta Woman". Rainwater was a full-blooded Cherokee Indian, known for wearing Native American-themed outfits on stage.

19-May-1958 Johnny Cash released "Guess Things Happen That Way". Written by Jack Clement, the single, a song about 'a man struggling after the love of his life has left him', was Johnny Cash's fourth #1 on the country chart spending eight weeks at the top and a total of twenty-four weeks on the chart.

23-May-1958 Born on this day in Cleveland, Ohio, was Shelly West, country music singer. Her mother was the country music star Dottie West, whose career spanned three decades. Shelly is best known for having hit duets with David Frizzell, and for their #1 hit "You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma". She also was a successful solo artist, having her own #1 hit, "Jose Cuervo" in 1983.
31-May-1958 Johnny Cash appeared at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. The Grand Ole Opry started as the WSM Barn Dance in the new fifth-floor radio studio of the National Life & Accident Insurance Company in downtown Nashville on November 28, 1925.
3-Jul-1958 Born on this day in Pensacola, Florida, was Aaron Tippin, country music artist and record producer. His debut single, "You've Got to Stand for Something" became a popular anthem for American soldiers fighting in the Gulf War. Tippin also scored the 1992 US Country #1 hit "There Ain't Nothin' Wrong with the Radio."

17-Jul-1958 Johnny Cash recorded his final session for Sun Records, recording two tracks; "Down The Street To 301" and "I Forgot To Remember To Forget."
24-Jul-1958 Johnny Cash started recoding session for his third album The Fabulous Johnny Cash which was released in November 1958 by the Columbia label, after Cash's departure from Sun Records.
30-Jul-1958 Born on this day in Jacksonville, Texas, was Neal McCoy, country music singer. His 1993 singles "No Doubt About It" and "Wink" from his platinum-certified album No Doubt About It both topped the US Country charts.
30-Jul-1958 Johnny Cash started recoding session for his fourth album Greatest! Six out of the twelve songs featured on the album became singles, with "Get Rhythm" topping the Country charts and becoming the most successful one.
18-Aug-1958 Don Gibson scored his second Country #1 hit with "Blue Blue Day" which remained on the Country charts for a total of six months.
14-Sep-1958 Born on this day in Harlingen, Texas, was singer-songwriter, Beth Nielsen Chapman who has written many Country hits including: co-songwriter of Faith Hill's "This Kiss", Trisha Yearwood ("Down On My Knees", "You Say You Will", "Trying to Love You"), Martina McBride ("Happy Girl"), Willie Nelson ("Nothing I Can Do About It Now", "Ain't Necessarily So", "If My World Didn't Have You").

30-Sep-1958 Born on this day in Philadelphia, Mississippi was Marty Stuart, country music singer-songwriter, known for both his traditional style, and eclectic merging of rockabilly, honky tonk, and traditional country music. Stuart married country artist Connie Smith on July 8, 1997.
10-Oct-1958 Born on this day in Seminole, Texas, was Tanya Tucker, female country music artist who had her first hit, "Delta Dawn", in 1972 at the age of 13 and hit songs such as 1973's "What's Your Mama's Name?", "Blood Red and Goin' Down," 1975's "Lizzie and the Rainman," and 1988's "Strong Enough to Bend". Tucker starred in her own reality show, Tuckerville, on The Learning Channel in 2005. It ran for two seasons for a total of 18 episodes.
13-Oct-1958 Billboard discontinued the "C&W Best Sellers in Stores" and "Most Played C&W by Jockeys" charts. Starting with the October 20 issue, there is one all-encompassing "Hot C&W Sides" chart. The new chart has 30 positions, and "City Lights" by Ray Price was the first #1 song.
17-Oct-1958 Born on this day in Newnan, Georgia, was Alan Jackson, country music singer, who has recorded over a dozen studio albums. More than 50 of his singles have appeared on Billboard's list of the "Top 30 Country Songs", for which of Jackson's entries, 35 were #1 hits. He is the recipient of 2 Grammys, 16 CMA Awards, 17 ACM Awards and is also a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
13-Nov-1958 Johnny Cash Sings the Songs That Made Him Famous was released in the US, the singer, songwriters second album. "There You Go" from the album was a country #1 hit.

26-Nov-1958 Johnny Cash, made his debut on the US country chart when "Cry! Cry! Cry!" made it to #14. His next seven singles would all make the country top 10, with "I Walk the Line" and "There You Go" both hitting #1.
26-Dec-1958 Johnny Cash topped a country and western concert at the Showboat Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada; also appearing on the same bill were Tex Ritter and the Sons of the Pioneers.
28-Dec-1958 Born on this day in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was Joe Diffie, country music singer known for his ballads and novelty songs. Diffie has scored five #1 singles: "Home", "If the Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets)", "Third Rock from the Sun", "Pickup Man" and "Bigger Than the Beatles". He's also co-wrotten singles for Holly Dunn, Tim McGraw and Jo Dee Messina, as well as recording with Mary Chapin Carpenter and George Jones. He died on March 29 2020 from complications of COVID-19.
1-Jan-1959 Johnny Cash played a free concert for the inmates of San Quentin Prison, California. One of the audience members was 19 year-old Merle Haggard, who was in the midst of a 15 year sentence (he served three years) for grand theft auto and armed robbery.
7-Jan-1959 Born on this day in Herrin, Illinois, was David Lee Murphy country singer, songwriter, who scroed the 1995 US Country #1 hit "Dust On The Bottle."
20-Jan-1959 George Jones released his sixth studio album Country Church Time which includes multiple early gospel recordings by Jones. The album wasn't received well, and did not chart, due in large part to the lackluster sound of Starday and Mercury Records during the 1950s.
27-Jan-1959 Johnny Horton recorded "The Battle Of New Orleans" during an evening session at the Bradley Film & Recording Studio on Nashville's Music Row. The song describes the 1815 Battle of New Orleans from the perspective of an American soldier; the lyrics are evidently intended to be comical. The song, which was written by Jimmy Driftwood, has been recorded by many artists but the singer most often associated with this song is Johnny Horton.

3-Feb-1959 J. P. Richardson Jr, better known as The Big Bopper was killed in a plane crash in Iowa along with fellow musicians Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens. His best known compositions include "Chantilly Lace" and "White Lightning", the latter of which became George Jones' first #1 hit in 1959.
9-Feb-1959 Mercury Records released "White Lightning" by George Jones, which became the first #1 single of his career. In his 1997 autobiography, I Lived To Tell It All, Jones mentions the fact that the recording process of "White Lightning" was extremely lengthy after he arrived for the recording session under the influence of a great deal of alcohol and it took him approximately 80 takes just to record his vocals.
22-Feb-1959 The Western series The Rebel was aired for the first time on TV. The show would run until Sept 1961, with the theme song being sung by Johnny Cash.
26-Feb-1959 Born on this day in Ringgold, Louisiana was songwriter Kenny Beard. He wrote songs for Trace Adkins, Tracy Lawrence, and Aaron Tippin. His first hit as a songwriter was "Doghouse" by John Conlee. Beard died of natural causes on October 1, 2017 age 58.
2-Mar-1959 Born on this day, was Larry Stewart, country music singer, best known for his role as lead singer of the country pop band Restless Heart. In 1993, Stewart left the band for a solo career, recording four solo albums and charting eight singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles charts before reuniting with Restless Heart in 2002. His highest-charting solo single was "Alright Already", which peaked at #5 in 1993.
15-Apr-1959 Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two played their first show in Australia when they kicked off a tour at Melbourne Festival Hall. This was the first time Cash had appearred live outside of the US.
20-Apr-1959 Goldband Records released "Puppy Love" by a 13-year old Dolly Parton, a song that was recorded two years earlier when she was just eleven years old. The song didn't chart, but was later to be a hit in 1972 for Donny Osmond.
27-Apr-1959 Born on this day in Bellshill, Scotland was Sheena Easton, singer and actress. Sheena Easton is the only artist in the history of the US Billboard charts to have a top 5 hit on each of the Billboards key charts consecutively: "Morning Train (9-5)" (Pop, Adult Contemporary), "We Got Tonight" w/Kenny Rogers (Country), "Telefone (Long Distance Love Affair)" (Dance), and "Sugar Walls" (R&B).
4-May-1959 Born on this day in Marshville, North Carolina, was Randy Travis, singer and actor. Since 1985, he has recorded 20 studio albums and charted over 20 #1 hits. Considered a pivotal figure in the history of country music, Travis broke through in the mid-1980s with the release of his album Storms of Life, which sold more than three million copies. The album established him as a major force in the Neotraditional country movement.

26-May-1959 George Jones released his seventh studio album White Lightning and Other Favourites. The track "White Lightning" which gave Jones a #1 hit single was written by The Big Bopper ("J. P." Richardson), who was killed in a plane crash in Iowa in 1959, along with fellow musicians Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens.
21-Jun-1959 Born on this day in South Charleston, West Virginia, was Kathy Mattea, singer, songwriter, who has recorded seventeen albums and has charted more than thirty singles on the Billboard Hot Country charts. This total includes the #1 hits "Goin' Gone", "Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses", "Come From the Heart" and "Burnin' Old Memories."

27-Jun-1959 Born on this day in Nashville, Tennessee, was Lorrie Morgan, country music singer, (the daughter of George Morgan, the country music singer who charted several hit singles between 1949 and his death in 1975). Lorrie scored the 1989 single, "Trainwreck of Emotion," and since then, has charted more than 25 singles on the Billboard Hot Country hits including three #1 hits: "Five Minutes," "What Part of No" and "I Didn't Know My Own Strength." Morgan has been married to three different country singers: Keith Whitley, Jon Randall and Sammy Kershaw.

13-Jul-1959 Born on this day in Van Wert, Ohio, was Brent Mason, one of the most recorded guitarists in history. He is a Grammy Award winner, a 12-time winner of the Academy of Country Music Guitarist of the Year Award and a two-time winner of the CMA Award Musician of the Year. He was discovered by guitarist Chet Atkins and has since worked with many artists including; George Strait, Alan Jackson, Shania Twain, David Gates, Zac Brown Band, Scotty McCreary, and Blake Shelton. Mason also co-wrote McBride & the Ride's "Hurry Sundown".
20-Jul-1959 Born on this day in Del Rio, Texas, was Radney Foster, singer-songwriter and music producer. Initially a songwriter in Nashville, Tennessee, Foster made his recording debut as part of the Foster & Lloyd duo, recording three studio albums and with nine singles on the country charts. His songs have been recorded by Gary Allan, Sara Evans, Keith Urban and Jack Ingram.
7-Aug-1959 Born on this day in Tucson, Arizona, was Michael Peterson, country music singer, songwriter. His 1997 self-titled debut album, produced five Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot Country charts, including the #1 hit "From Here to Eternity".
22-Aug-1959 Born on this day in Brooklyn, New York was songwriter Liz Hengber. She wrote "For My Broken Heart', a #1 for Reba McEntire, as well as other songs for Reba and hits for Andy Griggs, Trick Pony, Bucky Covington and other artists.
25-Aug-1959 Born on this day in Mechanicsville, Virginia, was Tim Mensy, country music artist. Initially, he was a member of the band Bandana, in which he charted several singles on the Hot Country Songs charts in the 1980s. He later co-wrote the single "Mama Knows," recorded by Shenandoah and released in 1989.
2-Sep-1959 Born on this day born in Miami, Florida, was Paul Deakin, drummer and founder member of The Mavericks who charted 14 singles on the Billboard country charts.
14-Sep-1959 Born on this day in Aiken, South Carolina, was John Berry country singer, songwriter, who has recorded over fifteen studio albums, and scored the 1994 US #1 single "Your Love Amazes Me."
17-Sep-1959 Johnny Cash made his first appearance on UK television when he appeared on Boy Meets Girl. Cash appeared solo, as his backing group the Tennessee Two who, under UK Musicicans Union rules, were not allowed to accompany Cash.
28-Sep-1959 Born on this day in Voorheesville, New York, was Billy Montana, singer-songwriter. His songs have been recorded by Garth Brooks, ("More Than a Memory"), Sara Evans, ("Suds in the Bucket"), Jo Dee Messina, Tim McGraw, Martina McBride, Sister Hazel and Kenny Rogers, among others.
13-Oct-1959 Born on this day in Ogden, Utah, was Marie Osmond singer, actress, doll designer, and a member of the show business family The Osmonds. She scored a US #1 hit in 1973 with her version of the country pop ballad "Paper Roses."
29-Nov-1959 At the 2nd Annual Grammy Awards held at Los Angeles and New York, (the first televised Grammy Award ceremony), Best Country & Western Performance went to Johnny Horton for "The Battle of New Orleans."
8-Dec-1959 Born on this day was Marty Raybon, singer, songwriter from Shenandoah who had the 1990 US Country #1 hit single with "Next to You, Next to Me." Before leaving Shenandoah in 1997, he and his brother Tim formed a duo known as the Raybon Brothers, which had crossover success that year with the hit single "Butterfly Kisses."
22-Dec-1959 Born on this day was Mark Bright American country music producer and songwriter. Bright has produced records and co-written songs for many artists including: Reba McEntire, Sara Evans, Scotty McCreery, Lonestar, Peter Cetera, Brad Paisley, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban.
19-Jan-1960 Ralph Peer an American talent scout, recording engineer and record producer died aged 67. He is credited with what is often called the first country music recording, Fiddlin' John Carson's disc "Little Old Log Cabin In The Lane"/"That Old Hen Cackled and The Rooster's Goin' To Crow". In August 1927, while talent hunting in the southern states he recorded both Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family in the same session at a makeshift studio in Bristol, Tennessee, known as the Bristol Sessions.
2-Feb-1960 Loretta Lynn signed her first contract on with Zero Records which saw her recoding tracks tat United Western Recorders in Hollywood, California.
8-Feb-1960 Jim Reeves was at #1 on the country singles Billboard chart with "He'll Have To Go". Reeves recorded what became one of country music's biggest hits ever after listening to a version recorded by singer Billy Brown. The song, written by Joe and Audrey Allison, was inspired after the couple were having difficulty communicating by telephone. The first verse set the tone: "Put your sweet lips a little closer to the phone/Let's pretend that we're together all alone/I'll tell the man to turn the juke box way down low/And you can tell your friend there with you he'll have to go."
10-Feb-1960 Born on this day in Gallipolis, Ohio, was Lionel Cartwright, country music artist. Between 1988 and 1992, Cartwright charted twelve singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles charts, including the 1991 #1 "Leap of Faith". He also charted in the Top Ten on the same chart with "Give Me His Last Chance", "I Watched It All (On My Radio)" and "My Heart Is Set on You".
8-Apr-1960 Born on this day in Mount Kisco, New York, was John Schneider III, actor and singer best known for his portrayal of Bo Duke in the 1980s American television series The Dukes of Hazzard, and as Jonathan Kent on Smallville, a 2001 television adaptation of Superman. Alongside his acting career, Schneider performed as a country singer in the 1980s, releasing nine studio albums which gave him hits such as: "I've Been Around Enough to Know", "Country Girls", "What's a Memory Like You (Doing in a Love Like This)" and "You're the Last Thing I Needed Tonight", all of which reached the top of the Billboard country singles charts.
25-Apr-1960 Jim Reeves was at #1 on the US singles chart with "He'll Have to Go," which spent a total of 14 consecutive weeks at the top of the charts and was one of just five different titles to occupy the chart's summit during 1960.
12-May-1960 Johnny Cash guest starred with comics Homer & Jethro on the NBC TV The Ford Show, presented by Tennessee Ernie Ford.
24-Jun-1960 Born on this day in Slaughters, Kentucky, was Chris Knight, singer-songwriter who has had a successful career writing songs that have been recorded by Confederate Railroad, John Anderson, and Randy Travis among others.
11-Aug-1960 Johnny Cash appeared at the Three Rivers Inn in Syracuse, New York during a four night run.
22-Aug-1960 Born on this day in De Queen, Arkansas, was country music singer, Collin Raye who made his debut on the American country music scene in 1991 with the release of his debut album All I Can Be, which produced his first #1 hit in "Love, Me".
27-Aug-1960 The last ever Louisiana Hayride show was broadcast. What started as a country music radio show and later became a television show was broadcast from the Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium in Shreveport, Louisiana, that from 1948 to 1960 helped to launch the careers of some of the greatest names in American country & western music. The creators of the show took the name from the 1941 book with that title by Harnett Thomas Kane.
15-Sep-1960 Johnny Cash Sings Hank Williams was released in the US, the singer, songwriters seventh studio. Contrary to what the title might suggest, only the first four out of the twelve tracks on the album were written by Williams himself, with most of the others being versions of Cash's self-penned songs.
26-Sep-1960 Born on this day in Bryan, Texas, was Doug Supernaw, country music artist who had the 1993 US #1 single "I Don't Call Him Daddy." He died at his home on November 13, 2020, age 60 from lung and bladder cancer.
15-Oct-1960 Loretta Lynn made her first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. In a press conference she said, "I've played in a million places, but the Grand Ole Opry is different." Lynn has been a member of The Grand Ole Opry for over years, since joining on September 25, 1962.
5-Nov-1960 Johnny Horton was killed in a car crash near Milano, Texas involving a truck. He had several major successes, most notably during 1959 with the song "The Battle of New Orleans" (written by Jimmy Driftwood) which was awarded the 1960 Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Recording.
15-Nov-1960 Born on this day, was Dann Huff, American session musician, singer-songwriter and producer. Since the 1990s Huff has been working as a producer for various bands and artists some of which include Faith Hill, Rascal Flatts, Taylor Swift and Reba McEntire. Duff has won several awards, including the Musician of the Year award in 2001, 2004, and 2016 at the Country Music Association Awards and the Producer of the Year award in 2006 and 2009 at the Academy of Country Music.
16-Nov-1960 Patsy Cline recorded "I Fall to Pieces" which the following year became Cline's first #1 hit on the Country charts, and her second hit single to cross over onto the Pop charts. It was the first of a string of songs that would be written by Hank Cochran and Harlan Howard. The song was ranked at #7 on CMT's television special of the 100 Greatest Songs in Country Music.

6-Dec-1960 "Wings of a Dove" by Ferlin Husky was at #1 on the Country charts, his third and final chart topper. Written by Bob Ferguson, in 1987, Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI) awarded Ferguson with the "million air" plays for the "Wings of a Dove."
28-Dec-1960 Born on this day in Washington, DC, was Marcus Hummon, country music artist. Hummon has co-written songs for many country music artists, including Top 40 singles for Tim McGraw, Wynonna Judd, and Alabama, as well as three #1 country hits: "Cowboy Take Me Away" by Dixie Chicks, "Born to Fly" by Sara Evans, and "Bless the Broken Road" by Rascal Flatts.
5-Jan-1961 Born on this day in Beaumont, Texas, was Mark Nesler, singer-songwriter who wrote Tim McGraw's "Just To See You Smile," George Strait's "Living And Living Well," Aaron Tippin's "For You I Will", Darryl Worley's "I Miss My Friend" and Keith Urban's 2008 single "You Look Good in My Shirt".
5-Jan-1961 Born on this day in Paragould, Arkansas was singer and songwriter Iris DeMent a two-time Grammy nominated singer and songwriter.
30-Jan-1961 Decca Records released "I Fall to Pieces" by Patsy Cline. Taken from her 1961 studio album, Patsy Cline Showcase. "I Fall to Pieces" was Cline's first #1 hit on the Country charts, and her second hit single to cross over onto the Pop charts. It was the first of a string of songs that would be written by Hank Cochran and Harlan Howard.

1-Mar-1961 Born on this day in Arlington Heights, Illinois, was Davis Daniel, country music artist. Seven of his singles entered the Billboard Hot Country Singles charts, including the Top 40 hits "Picture Me", "For Crying Out Loud" and "Fighting Fire with Fire."
19-Mar-1961 Marty Robbins was at #1 with "Don't Worry" his seventh Country chart topper, (which stayed at #1 for ten weeks). "Don't Worry" is an early example of guitar distortion after session guitarist Grady Martin, using a faulty channel in the mixing-desk for his six-string bass, created a distorted sound. Although Martin didn't like the sound, Robbins' producer left the guitar track as it was.
2-Apr-1961 Born on this day in Lepanto, Arkansas, was Buddy Jewell who was the first winner on the USA Network talent show Nashville Star. His self-titled Country #1 album, produced the singles "Help Pour Out the Rain (Lacey's Song)" and "Sweet Southern Comfort".
23-Apr-1961 Red Foley was acquitted of federal income tax evasion charges in a trial that ended with a hung jury. His highly successful Country TV show Ozark Jubilee was canceled partly because of the charges.
22-May-1961 Born on this day in Dayton, Ohio was bassist Dana Williams from Diamond Rio, (originally known as the Grizzly River Boys). Their 1991 single "Meet in the Middle", made them the first band ever to send a debut single to #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.
14-Jun-1961 Patsy Cline and her brother Sam Hensley, Jr. were both seriously injured in a car accident outside the Madison High School in Nashville. During her two month hospital stay, her song "I Fall to Pieces" gave the singer her first Country #1 and also became a huge country-pop crossover hit.

8-Jul-1961 Born on this day in Clinton, Oklahoma, was Toby Keith, country music singer-songwriter, record producer and actor. His debut "Should've Been a Cowboy", topped the US country charts and was the most played country song of the 1990s. The song has received three million spins since then. In June 2022, Keith announced that he had been diagnosed with stomach cancer, he died in his sleep in Oklahoma, on 5 February 2024, at the age of 62.
9-Jul-1961 Born on this day in Mount Airy, North Carolina was singer and composer of bluegrass music Ronnie Bowman best known for his work with the Lonesome River Band. Bowman also co-wrote "Nobody to Blame" on Chris Stapleton's Traveller album, "It's Getting Better All the Time" by Brooks & Dunn and "Never Wanted Nothing More" for Kenny Chesney.
10-Jul-1961 "Heartbreak U.S.A." by Kitty Wells was at #1 on the US Country singles chart. The track became Kitty Wells third and final #1 staying at the top spot for four weeks and spending twenty-three weeks on the chart.
22-Jul-1961 Patsy Cline was brought onstage at the Grand Ole Opry in a wheelchair to tell her fans that she would be back singing soon. Cline had been seriously injured in a car accident outside the Madison High School in Nashville the previous month.
28-Jul-1961 Born on this day was American country and adult contemporary artist Ray Vega, who performed with his brother, Robert, as The Vega Brothers.
29-Jul-1961 Patsy Cline appeared at The Cimarron Ballroom in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The show was recorded and later released in 1997 as the album Live At The Cimarron Ballroom. The ticket price for the show was $1.50.
5-Aug-1961 Born on this day in Seattle, Washington, was Mark O'Connor, bluegrass, jazz and country violinist, fiddler, composer and music teacher. He was named Musician of the Year by the Country Music Association six years in a row (from 1991 to 1996).
5-Aug-1961 Born on this day in Columbus, Georgia, was Tim Wilson, stand-up comedian and country music artist. He scored the 1993 hit "Garth Brooks Has Ruined My Life." Wilson died of a heart attack on February 26, 2014.
15-Aug-1961 Born on this day in Woodside, California, was Paul Jefferson, country music artist who has had his songs recorded by Keith Urban, Little Texas and Buddy Jewell, among others. He also co-wrote Aaron Tippin's #1 song "That's as Close as I'll Get to Loving You."
16-Aug-1961 Patsy Cline recorded "Crazy". The ballad composed by Willie Nelson became one of her signature tunes and gave Cline a #2 country hit in 1962. Nelson originally wrote the song for country singer Billy Walker, but Walker turned it down. The song's eventual success helped launch Nelson as a performer as well as a songwriter.
18-Aug-1961 Born on this day in Woodland Hills, California was Canadian music video and film director Steven Goldmann. His innovative direction of Faith Hill’s This Kiss took top prize with the Country Music Association, Academy of Country Music. Goldmann also directed the feature film Broken Bridges, starring Toby Keith. He died on April 30, 2015 age 53.
21-Aug-1961 American Western swing singer Spade Cooley was convicted of first-degree murder by a jury. Cooley had suspected his second wife, Ella Mae Cooley of repeatedly being unfaithful, (she had an affair with Roy Rogers), and he murdered her at their home in front of their 14-year-old daughter. It was said that after he had beaten her to death he crushed a lighted cigarette against her skin to see whether she was dead. Cooley had scored over 6 top 10 Country hits in the 1940's.
21-Aug-1961 Patsy Cline recorded her version of the Willie Nelson song "Crazy" during sessions at Bradley Film and Recording Studio, Nashville. Patsy Cline's husband had first heard the song on the juke box at Tootsie's Orchid Lounge in Nashville, and later played it to his wife who absolutely hated it because Nelson's demo "spoke" the lyrics ahead of and behind the beat. Cline's producer, Owen Bradley, arranged it in the ballad form in which it was recorded.
25-Aug-1961 Born on this day in Flatwoods, Kentucky, was Billy Ray Cyrus, country music singer, songwriter and actor, best known for his 1992 US #1 single "Achy Breaky Heart," (which was originally titled "Don't Tell My Heart"). His 1992 debut album Some Gave All has been certified 9 x Multi-Platinum in the US and is the longest time spent by a debut artist at #1 on the Billboard chart. From 2001 to 2004, Cyrus starred in the television show Doc. The show was about a country doctor who moved from Montana to New York City. In late 2005, he began to co-star in the Disney Channel series Hannah Montana with his daughter Miley Cyrus.
25-Aug-1961

25-Aug-1961 The first recordings for the Sentimentally Yours began at the Bradley Film and Recording Studios in Nashville. This would become Patsy Cline's final studio album she would release before her death in a plane crash less than a year later. Out of the twelve songs this album consisted of, only two songs were new songs, "She's Got You" and the "She's Got You"'s flip side, "Strange". The ten remaining tracks were cover versions of standards.
26-Aug-1961 Born on this day in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was Jimmy Olander, guitarist with Diamond Rio, who had hits with, "Meet In The Middle," "One More Day" and "How Your Love Makes Me Feel".
27-Aug-1961 Born on this day in Burbank, California, was Jeffrey Steele, country music singer and songwriter who formed the band Boy Howdy, and along with recording his own material, Steele has become a prolific Nashville songwriter, having co-written more than sixty hit songs for such artists as Montgomery Gentry, Tim McGraw, ("The Cowboy in Me"), Faith Hill, LeAnn Rimes, Rascal Flatts, ("These Days" and "What Hurts the Most"), Billy Ray Cyrus, and others.

7-Sep-1961 George Jones scored his second Country #1 single with "Tender Years." The song spent seven non consecutive weeks at #1 and a total of 32 weeks on the Country chart.
16-Oct-1961 Decca records released "Crazy" by Patsy Cline. The ballad, composed by Willie Nelson gave Cline a #2 country hit in 1962. Nelson originally wrote the song for country singer Billy Walker, but Walker turned it down. The song's eventual success helped launch Nelson as a performer as well as a songwriter. It spent 21 weeks on the chart for Cline, and eventually became one of her signature tunes.

2-Nov-1961 Born on this day in Edmonton, Alberta, was k.d. lang, Canadian pop and country singer-songwriter who won a Grammy Award in 1989 for Best Country Vocal Collaboration for "Crying" (shared with Roy Orbison) and in 1990 for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for "Absolute Torch and Twang."

15-Nov-1961 Born on this day in Lake Charles, Louisiana, was country music artist Steve Kolander. His 1994 his self-titled album produced two singles on the Hot Country Songs charts.
27-Nov-1961 Decca Records released Patsy's Cline's second studio album Showcase which was produced by Owen Bradley. The album produced two singles that became hits on both the Billboard country and pop charts. The first, "I Fall to Pieces," became Cline's first #1 hit on the country chart and also reached the Top 15 on the pop Top 100 in 1961. The follow-up single, "Crazy," was nearly as big of a hit as "I Fall to Pieces," peaking in the top five on the Billboard country chart.
29-Nov-1961 The Grand Ole Opry went to Carnegie Hall, for a special event which benefits the Musicians' Aid Society. Patsy Cline, Grandpa Jones, Bill Monroe, Minnie Pearl, Marty Robbins, Jim Reeves, Faron Young and The Jordanaires all appeared.
10-Jan-1962 Patsy Cline released "She's Got You" as the follow-up to her last hit "Crazy". Penned by Hank Cochran, the single peaked at #1 on the Country charts and has since been covered by many artists including Rosanne Cash, Ricky Van Shelton, LeAnn Rimes, and Jimmy Buffett.
13-Jan-1962 Born on this day in Sarepta, north Louisiana, was Trace Adkins, country music artist who has charted more than 20 singles on the Billboard country music charts, including the #1 hits "(This Ain't) No Thinkin' Thing", "Ladies Love Country Boys", and "You're Gonna Miss This."

29-Jan-1962 Patsy Cline released her third EP which featured four new songs from her recording sessions under Decca Records the previous year. "Crazy", "Foolin' 'Round","Who Can I Count on", and "South of the Border (Down Mexico Way)."
4-Feb-1962 Born on this day in Long Branch, New Jersey, was Clint Black, country music singer-songwriter, record producer, multi-instrumentalist and actor. Black made his debut with his Killin' Time album, which produced four #1 singles on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles charts. He has amassed more than 30 singles on the US country charts (of which 13 have reached #1). Black has also ventured into acting, having made a cameo appearance in the 1994 film Maverick, as well as a starring role in 1998's Still Holding On: The Legend of Cadillac Jack.

5-Feb-1962 The first days recording sessions for Ray Charles' Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music took place at Capitol Studios in New York City. Regarded by many critics as Charles's best studio album, the albums lead single, "I Can't Stop Loving You", became a huge hit on country music radio stations and the record has now shipped over 500,000 copies in the United States alone.

6-Feb-1962 Born on this day in Lubbock, Texas, was Richie McDonald country music singer, songwriter who from 1992 until his departure in 2007, was the lead singer of Lonestar. McDonald co-wrote several of the band's singles, and sang lead on all but one of them. Lonestar scored the 1996 US Country #1 hit "No News."

7-Feb-1962 Born on this day Tulsa, Oklahoma, was Garth Brooks, country singer, who had the 1991 US #1 album Ropin' The Wind which spent 70 weeks on the US chart, and the 1994 UK #13 single "The Red Strokes." Brooks is the biggest selling artist of the 90's with over 60 million sales. According to the RIAA he is the second best-selling solo albums artist in the United States of all time behind Elvis Presley (overall is third to the Beatles and Elvis Presley) with 128 million units sold.
7-Feb-1962 Patsy Cline made her debut on Pet Milk Grand Ole Opry when she performed her 1961 Top 10 hit "Crazy" (written by a little-known songwriter named Willie Nelson), as well as her 1962 hit "She's Got You."
11-Feb-1962 Born on this day in Kennett, Missouri, was Sheryl Crow, singer, songwriter and actress. In 2013, Crow signed a recording contract with Warner Music Nashville and, a few months later, released "Easy", the first single from the upcoming album, which became her first top twenty country radio hit.
15-Feb-1962 The second set of recording sessions for Ray Charles' Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music took place at United Recording Studios in Hollywood, California. Modern Sounds and the albums lead single, "I Can't Stop Loving You", were both certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America in 1962, as each record had shipped 500,000 copies in the United States.
2-Mar-1962 Born on this day in Meridian, Mississippi, was Ty Herndon, country music singer who scored the 1995 US #1 hit single "What Mattered Most". He later scored two other chat toppers: "Living in a Moment" and "It Must Be Love".
3-Mar-1962 George Jones recorded "She Thinks I Still Care" which later became his third Country #1 hit. The song has been recorded by multiple artists, including Connie Francis, Anne Murray, Elvis Presley and Patty Loveless.
2-Apr-1962 Born on this day in Quincy, Florida, was Billy Dean, Country singer, songwriter who first gained national attention after appearing on the television talent competition Star Search. He guested on the Kenny Rogers 2000 US #1 Country hit with Alison Krauss "Buy Me A Rose."
14-Apr-1962 George Jones released "She Thinks I Still Care" which became his third Country #1 hit. Jones first heard the song when Jack Clement played it for him at Gulf Coast Studio in Beaumont. Many artists have recorded the song including Merle Haggard on his 1969 LP A Portrait of Merle Haggard and Glen Campbell on his 1972 album Glen Travis Campbell.
16-Apr-1962 Patsy Cline made an appearance on Pet Milk Grand Ole Opry which included renditions of "Strange" and "Imagine That."
20-Apr-1962 Decca Records released Patsy Cline's second EP of the year - "She's Got You" which contained two new songs: the title track (written by Hank Cochran), and "Strange" which was written by Fred Burch and Mel Tillis.
29-May-1962 At the 4th Annual Grammy Awards held at Chicago, Los Angeles and New York Jimmy Dean won Best Country & Western Recording for "Big Bad John."
27-Jun-1962 Hank Snow recorded "I've Been Everywhere" at RCA Studio B in Nashville. The song which was written by Australian country singer Geoff Mack in 1959, was also made popular by Lucky Starr in 1962 and has been covered by Lynn Anderson, Asleep at the Wheel and Johnny Cash.
1-Jul-1962 Claude King was at #1 on the Country chart with "Wolverton Mountain." The hit that established his career was a rewrite of the original version by Merle Kilgore, which was based on a real character named Clifton Clowers who lived on the mountain north of Morrilton, Arkansas.
13-Jul-1962 Born on this day in Manhattan, New York City, Victoria Shaw, country music artist. As well as releasing four studio albums, she has co-written four #1 singles for other country music artists, including John Michael Montgomery's "I Love the Way You Love Me", which won the 1993 Academy of Country Music award for Song of the Year. She co-wrote "The River" with Garth Brooks on his Ropin' the Wind album. With Paul Worley, she also co-produced the debut album of Lady Antebellum.

6-Aug-1962 Patsy Cline released Sentimentally Yours her third studio album on Decca Records, produced by Owen Bradley. The album featured two of Cline's major hits singles that year. The first single, "She's Got You" was released early in 1962 and became a #1 hit on the Country Chart and crossed over into the Pop chart to #14, becoming another major crossover hit for Cline. The second single, a cover of "Heartaches", charted only on the Pop Chart in the United States. The album was the final studio album Cline would release before her death in a plane crash less than a year later.
7-Aug-1962 Patsy Cline released her third studio album Sentimentally Yours, the final album Cline recorded before her death in a plane crash less than a year later. Also on this day Patsy Cline appeared on Pet Milk Grand Ole Opry performing "A Church, A Courtroom, Then Goodbye", "You're Stronger Than Me," and "So Wrong."
22-Aug-1962 Willie Nelson started recording his first album ...And Then I Wrote at Quonset Hut Studio in Nashville after signing with Liberty Records. Nelson started the recording sessions during the night, lasting until the morning of the following day.
23-Aug-1962 Born on this day in San Antonio, Texas was Emilio Navaira, singer-songwriter of Tejano and country music. (He was called the "Garth Brooks of Tejano"). Navaira charted six singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts. He died of a a massive heart attack on May 16th, 2016.
11-Sep-1962 Born on this day, was Blake Chancey American record producer and music business executive, (the son of record producer and label executive Ron Chancey, who signed George Strait and Jimmy Buffett, and produced the Oak Ridge Boys). Chancey worked with and developed Dixie Chicks, Ricochet, Montgomery Gentry, as well as overseeing the A&R of many other artists on the roster. He went on to produce Waylon Jennings, Billy Ray Cyrus, Little Big Town and Mary Chapin Carpenter and many other Sony artists.
20-Sep-1962 Born on this day in Cumberland Gap, Tennessee, was singer-songwriter Steve Gulley. He was one of the founding members of the band Mountain Heart and he went on to form Grasstowne and later Steve Gulley & New Pinnacle, along with recording solo and collaboration albums. He appeared on the Grand Ole Opry more than 90 times. Gulley died on August 18, 2020 age 57.
24-Sep-1962 Patsy Cline released her third and final EP, So Wrong/You're Stronger Than Me. This was the final EP released in her lifetime, as she would be killed in a plane crash less than a year later in March 1963. The other two tracks were, "Heartaches and a version of the Hank Williams song "Your Cheatin' Heart." George Strait covered "You're Stronger Than Me" on his 2000 album George Strait.

24-Sep-1962 Singer Jerry Scoggins, Lester Flatt, and Earl Scruggs recorded "The Ballad of Jed Clampett" for the TV show The Beverly Hillbillies, which was released October 12, 1962. The theme song became an immediate country music hit and was played at the beginning and end of each episode. Flatt and Scruggs appeared in several episodes as family friends of the Clampetts in the following years.
25-Sep-1962 Patsy Cline appeared on Pet Milk Grand Ole Opry performing "When I Get Through With You (You'll Love Me Too)" and "Why Can't He Be You."
26-Sep-1962 The Beverly Hillbillies TV comedy starring Buddy Ebsen, Irene Ryan, Donna Douglas, and Max Baer, Jr. was aired for the first time. The show's theme song, "The Ballad of Jed Clampett", was written by producer and writer Paul Henning and originally performed by bluegrass artists Flatt and Scruggs.
7-Oct-1962 Born on this day in Birmingham, Alabama, was Dale Watson, country, Texas Country singer, guitarist, and songwriter.
26-Oct-1962 Singer songwriter Kristen Hall was born in Gross Pointe, Michigan. She becomes a founding member of the trio Sugarland, but left the group at the end of 2005.
3-Nov-1962 Billboard renamed its Hot C&W Sides chart "Hot Country Singles," a name it will keep for the next 27 years. The chart length remained 30 positions.
15-Nov-1962 All Aboard the Blue Train by Johnny Cash was released in the US, the singer, songwriters fourteenth album, which featured, "Folsom Prison Blues", and "Rock Island Line".
23-Nov-1962 Patsy Cline became the first woman in country music to headline her own show in Las Vegas at the Mint Casino, (the sign from which can still be seen at its new home on Pico Boulevard near La Brea in Los Angeles). Cline was paid $36,500 for the five week engagement.
26-Nov-1962 Born on this day in Dotson, Texas was singer Linda Davis who scored three minor country singles as one half of the duo Skip & Linda. As a solo artist Davis has recorded five studio albums, her highest chart entry was "Does He Love You", her 1993 duet with Reba McEntire, which reached #1 on the Billboard country charts and won both singers the Grammy for Best Country Vocal Collaboration. Davis is the wife of the country singer Lang Scott and the mother of Hillary Scott, the co-lead singer of Lady Antebellum.
10-Dec-1962 Waylon Jennings married his second wife Lynne Jones. The couple divorced in 1967. He later composed the song "This Time" about the trials and tribulations of his marriages and divorces.
27-Dec-1962 Born on this day, in Pecos, Texas, was Jeff Bryant, drummer. He has contributed to several hits with Ricochet who won the Academy of Country Music's top vocal group honor in 1996 and 1998. He was forced to leave the group in 1999, suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome.
30-Dec-1962 Singer Brenda Lee was hurt when she attempted to rescue her poodle, Cee Cee from her burning house in Nashville. Lee's nine-room home, valued at $37,000 was destroyed along with $25,000 worth of clothing. Cee Cee later died of smoke inhalation.
1-Jan-1963 Loretta Lynn released her debut studio album Loretta Lynn Sings on Decca Records. The album featured Lynn's first top 10 Country hit, "Success" which was released the previous year.
23-Jan-1963 The theme song for The Beverly Hillbillies TV show "The Ballad of Jed Clampett" by Jerry Scoggins, who was accompanied by bluegrass musicians Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs was at #1 on the US Country charts. During the original run of The Beverly Hillbillies, special lyrics were written and inserted into the closing theme, advertising regular sponsors such as Kellogg's cereals and Winston cigarettes.

4-Feb-1963 Patsy Cline started what would be her last recordings at Bradley Studios cutting a dozen tracks including "Love Letters In The Sand", "Crazy Arms", and "The Blue Moon Of Kentucky."
9-Feb-1963 Born on this day, in Marietta, Georgia, was Travis Tritt, Grammy winning, country music singer who has charted more than forty times on the Hot Country Songs charts, including five #1's: "Help Me Hold On," "Anymore," "Can I Trust You with My Heart," "Foolish Pride" and "Best of Intentions." He received two Grammy Awards, both for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals: in 1992 for "The Whiskey Ain't Workin'," a duet with Marty Stuart, and again in 1998 for "Same Old Train", a collaboration with Stuart and nine other artists.

28-Feb-1963 Patsy Cline made the final television appearance of her career when she appeared on The Glenn Reeves Show singing "San Antonio Rose" and "I Fall To Pieces". She died tragically in a plane crash just five days later at the age of 30.
3-Mar-1963 Patsy Cline performed at a benefit at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall, Kansas City, Kansas, along with George Jones, George Riddle and The Jones Boys, Billy Walker, Dottie West, Cowboy Copas and Hawkshaw Hawkins. The concert was in aid of the family of disc jockey "Cactus" Jack Call who had died in an automobile crash a little over a month earlier. This was the last perfomance by Cline who died in a plane crash two days later.
5-Mar-1963 Patsy Cline, Cowboy Copus and Hawkshaw Hawkins were all killed when the plane they were travelling in flew into severe weather and crashed in a forest near Camden, Tennessee, 90 miles from the destination. The Country artists had left for Nashville in a Piper Comanche piloted by Copas' son-in-law (and Cline's manager), Randy Hughes. The three had perfromed at a benefit concert at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas for the family of disc jockey Cactus Jack Call, who had died the previous December in an automobile accident.

10-Mar-1963 Born on this day, was Frederick Jay "Rick", Rubin, American record producer. Rubin was the co-founder of Def Jam Records and also established American Recordings who released Johnny Cash's American Recordings (1994), a record including six cover songs and new material written by others for Cash at Rubin's request. The album was a critical and commercial success, and helped revive Cash's career. Rubin introduced Cash to Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt", and the resulting cover version of it on The Man Comes Around would become a defining song of Cash's later years.

13-Mar-1963 Born on this day in Doniphan, Missouri, was Billy Yates, singer, songwriter. Yates co-wrote George Jones' singles "I Don't Need Your Rockin' Chair" and "Choices".
25-Mar-1963 Born on this day in York, Pennsylvania, was Robbie Fulks, alternative country singer-songwriter who has released 12 albums over a career spanning more than 25 years.
25-Mar-1963 Johnny Cash recorded the June Carter/Merle Kilgore song "Ring Of Fire." The song was originally recorded by June's sister Anita Carter, on her 1963 album Folk Songs Old and New as "(Love's) Ring of Fire". Cash claimed he had a dream where he heard the song accompanied by "Mexican trumpets". It became the biggest hit of Johnny Cash's career, staying at #1 on the charts for seven weeks.
29-Mar-1963 Texas Ruby, of the duo Curly Fox and Texas Ruby, was killed in a trailer fire while Fox was performing in Nashville, Tennessee on the Grand Ole Opry. The singer had fallen asleep smoking in their mobile home and was killed in the resulting fire.
29-Apr-1963 Born on this day in Thomasville, Georgia, was Stephanie Bentley, country music artist who found success as a songwriter, having penned Faith Hill's 1999 crossover single "Breathe", as well as Martina McBride's 2002 Top 5 hit "Concrete Angel".
8-May-1963 Born on this day in Greenwood, South Carolina, was Keith Harling, country music artist. He made his debut in 1998 with the album Write It in Stone which produced four hit singles including "Papa Bear".
15-May-1963 At the 5th Annual Grammy Awards held Chicago, Los Angeles and New York, Burl Ives won Best Country & Western Recording for "Funny Way of Laughin'."
27-May-1963 Hawkshaw Hawkins was at #1 on the US country chart with "Lonesome 7-7203". Written by Justin Tubb it was the final single release of his career, three days after its release, Hawkins died in an airplane crash which also killed Patsy Cline and Cowboy Copas. Two weeks after Hawkins' death, the song reached the top of the charts for a four-week run.
8-Jun-1963 "Ring Of Fire" by Johnny Cash made its debut at #28 on the singles charts. It went on to become his first #1 hit since the 1959 "Don't Take Your Guns To Town."
10-Jun-1963 Four months following her death, Decca Records released The Patsy Cline Story, a double album compilation consisting of Patsy Cline's best-known songs between 1961 and 1963.
15-Jun-1963 Buck Owens scored his first #1 single with "Act Naturally". The song has been covered by many other artists, including Loretta Lynn, Dwight Yoakam, and The Beatles. In 1989, Owens and Ringo Starr teamed up for a brand-new version, also creating a lighthearted music video for it, with them playing bumbling versions of themselves playing cowboys in a western being filmed.
31-Jul-1963 Born on this day in Ocala, Florida, was Chad Brock, Country music singer, songwriter and DJ who scored the 2000 US #1 Country hit "Yes!"
22-Aug-1963 Born on this day in Dawson Springs, Kentucky, was Mila Mason, country music artist. She made her debut in 1996 with the release of her debut album That's Enough of That, which produced three hit singles. She also co-wrote Mindy McCready's 2002 single "Maybe, Maybe Not".
4-Sep-1963 Born on this day in Bakersfield, California, was Noel Haggard the son of country music legend Merle Haggard who released his debut album, One Lifetime, in 1997.
6-Sep-1963 Born on this day in Beaumont, Texas, was Mark Chesnutt, country music singer who scored the 1991 US Country #1 single with his version of "Brother Jukebox", (which Don Everley had recorded in 1977).
19-Sep-1963 Born on this day in Bunker Hill, Mississippi, was Jeff Bates American country music artist. His two RCA albums accounted for seven chart singles on the Billboard country charts, of which three reached top 40: "The Love Song", "I Wanna Make You Cry" and "Long, Slow Kisses".
19-Sep-1963 The Jimmy Dean Show aired for the first time on ABC-TV. An hour-long weekly series, the variety program featured country performers such as Charlie Rich, Roger Miller, Eddy Arnold, Connie Smith, Buck Owens, Jim Reeves, Red Buttons, and Johnny Cash. The Jimmy Dean Show, also gave puppeteer Jim Henson his first national media exposure, best known as the creator of The Muppets.
30-Sep-1963 Born on this day in in Danville, Kentucky was Eddie Montgomery one half of the Country duo Montgomery Gentry. Both the Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association named them Duo of the Year in 2000.
31-Oct-1963 Buck Owens was at #1 on the Country singles chart with "Love's Gonna Live Here", which spent sixteen weeks at the top spot and a total of thirty weeks on the chart. After "Love's Gonna Live Here" finished its 16-week stay, no other song would spend more than 10 weeks at #1 for 49 years.
1-Nov-1963 Born on this day in Culpeper, Virginia, was Big Kenny, country music singer. He and John Rich comprise the duo Big & Rich, which has recorded three studio albums. Kenny has also written or co-written singles for Gretchen Wilson, Jason Aldean, McBride & the Ride and Tim McGraw. His first solo single, "Long After I'm Gone," was released in 2009.

6-Nov-1963 Born on this day in Terre Haute, Indiana was session musician and country guitarist J. T. Corenflos. He worked on demos in the mid-1990s with Kenny Chesney and had also worked with Jean Shepard and Joe Stampley before joining the band Palomino Road in 1992. He died on October 24, 2020 age 56.
7-Nov-1963 Born on this day in Nashville, Tennessee, was Robin Lee Bruce, country music artist who scored the #12 hit on Hot Country Songs in 1990 with a cover of Alannah Myles' single "Black Velvet" and has written album cuts for LeAnn Rimes and Jo Dee Messina, as well as other artists.

13-Nov-1963 Born on this day was American record producer Frank Liddell, (who is married to singer Lee Ann Womack). Liddell has won the Academy of Country Music's Album of the Year award three times for production on the Miranda Lambert albums: Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, in 2008, Revolution in 2010, and for Four the Record in 2012.
16-Nov-1963 Born on this day in Atlanta, Georgia, was Keith Burns, guitarist and singer from Trick Pony who scored eight singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, including four Top 20 hits: "Pour Me," "On a Night like This," "Just What I Do" and "On a Mission."
5-Dec-1963 Born on this day, was Ty England, American country music singer and guitarist. Initially a member of Garth Brooks' band, England began his solo career in 1995, recording a self-titled debut album on RCA Records. A second album, Two Ways to Fall, followed in 1996. England has also charted six singles on the country charts. His highest-charting single was his debut single, "Should've Asked Her Faster", a #3 hit in late 1995.
16-Dec-1963 Born on this day in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was Jeff Carson, country music artist who was originally a session musician in Branson, Missouri and later a demo singer. He has charted fourteen singles on the Billboard country charts, including the #1 hit "Not on Your Love." He retired from music in 2009 and became a police officer. Carson died from a heart attack at a hospital in Franklin, Tennessee, on March 26, 2022, at the age of 58.
24-Dec-1963 "Love's Gonna Live Here" by Buck Owens, was at #1 on the Country chart. Spending sixteen weeks at the top spot and a total of thirty weeks on the chart, after "Love's Gonna Live Here" finished its 16-week stay at #1, no other song would spend more than 10 weeks at #1 for 49 years. On January 12, 2013, "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" by Taylor Swift would become the first song to spend at least 10 weeks at #1.
11-Jan-1964 Ring Of Fire The Best of Johnny Cash became the first #1 album when Billboard debuted their Country Album Chart. It was his sixteenth album in total and the first compilations album by Cash.
1-Feb-1964 Buck Owens' hit, "Love's Gonna Live Here," finished its 16-week run at #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. To date, it is the most recent song to spend 10 or more weeks atop the chart.

3-Feb-1964 Born on this day in Nashville, Tennessee, was Matraca Berg, country music singer and songwriter. Besides recording her own material, Berg has written hits for T.G. Sheppard, Karen Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Deana Carter and others. In 2008 she was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
24-Feb-1964 Born on this day in Boone, North Carolina was Chris Austin, singer. Austin was most known for playing guitar and fiddle for Ricky Skaggs's and Reba McEntire's road bands. Austin toured with McEntire until an airplane carrying Austin and six other members of McEntire's band, and her road manager crashed into a nearby mountain on March 16, 1991, after taking off from an airport in San Diego, California, killing all on board. Austin was aged 27.
1-Mar-1964 Born on this day in Martinsville, Virginia, was Clinton Gregory, country and bluegrass singer, songwriter, and fiddler. His highest charting single is the 1991 "Play, Ruby, Play", which reached #25.
6-Mar-1964 Born on this day in Redlands, California, was Skip Ewing. Artists who have recorded Ewing's songs include Conway Twitty, George Jones, Kenny Rogers, George Strait, Willie Nelson, Kenny Chesney, Clint Black, Collin Raye, Diamond Rio, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Trisha Yearwood, Randy Travis and Merle Haggard
4-Apr-1964 Buck Owens released "My Heart Skips a Beat" which peaked at #1 on the Country chart. The B-side "Together Again" features steel guitarist Tom Bromley's playing - which is considered one of the finest steel guitar solos in the history of country music.
11-Apr-1964 Born on this day, in Greenville, Mississippi, was Steve Azar, country music singer, songwriter who scored the 2002 US Country #2 "I Don't Have to Be Me ('Til Monday)", which was the lead-off single from his second studio album, Waitin' on Joe.
14-Apr-1964 Born on this day in Quantico, Virginia, was Stuart Duncan, bluegrass musician who plays the fiddle, mandolin, guitar and banjo. Duncan has played with numerous well known performers including George Strait, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire and Alison Krauss.
18-Apr-1964 Johnny Cash was at #1 on the US Country singles charts with "Understand Your Man." The song which enjoyed a 6 week run at the top of the charts borrowed parts of the melody from Bob Dylan's "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right."

12-May-1964 Connie Francis and Hank Williams Jr, recorded "Singing The Blues", "Wabash Cannonball", "Blue Blue Day" and "If You've Got The Money" at Columbia Recording Studio, Nashville, Tennessee.
21-May-1964 Buck Owens was at #1 on the country charts with "My Heart Skips a Beat", Owens's third chart topper. "My Heart Skips a Beat" spent seven non-consecutive weeks at the top with a total of twenty-six weeks on the chart. The B-side, "Together Again", also hit #1 on the country chart both replacing and being replaced by "My Heart Skips a Beat" from the top spot.

28-May-1964 Born on this day in Lynchburg, Virginia, was Phil Vassar, country music singer, songwriter who has co-written singles for several country artists, including Tim McGraw ("For a Little While", "My Next Thirty Years"), Jo Dee Messina ("Bye, Bye", "I'm Alright"), Collin Raye ("Little Red Rodeo"), and Alan Jackson ("Right on the Money"). In 1999, he was named by American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers as Country Songwriter of the Year.
30-May-1964 Born on this day in Ashland, Kentucky, was Wynonna Judd, country music singer. Her solo albums and singles are all credited to the singular name Wynonna. Wynonna first rose to fame in the 1980s alongside her mother, Naomi, in the country music duo The Judds who scored 14 #1 hits. After The Judds disbanded in 1991, Wynonna began a solo career, seeing her first three singles, "She Is His Only Need", "I Saw the Light" and "No One Else on Earth" all reaching #1 on the US country singles chart.

1-Jun-1964 I Walk the Line the nineteenth studio album by Johnny Cash was released on Columbia Records. The album peaked at #1 on the Country album charts.
8-Jun-1964 Alton Delmore from The Delmore Brothers died. The Delmore Brothers were country music pioneers and stars of the Grand Ole Opry in the 1930's had a profound impact on the history of country music and American popular music.
4-Jul-1964 Buck Owens was at #1 on the Country singles chart with "My Heart Skips a Beat", Owens's third #1. The B-side, "Together Again", also hit #1 on the country chart both replacing and being replaced by "My Heart Skips a Beat" from the top spot.
17-Jul-1964 Born on this day in Kingston Springs, Tennessee, was Craig Morgan country music singer, songwriter. A veteran of the United States Army, Morgan began his musical career in 2000 releasing his self-titled debut album. In 2005 he scored "That's What I Love About Sunday," which spent four weeks at the top of the Billboard country charts.

22-Jul-1964 Hank Snow, with producer Chet Atkins, recorded "In The Misty Moonlight", "I Saw A Man" and other tracks, at RCA Victor Studio, Tennessee. The band on the session includes guitarists Harold Bradley and Jerry Shook, steel guitarist Joseph Tanner, bassist Junior Huskey, drummer Buddy Harman, pianist Hargus Robbins, vibraphonist Joe Layne plus The Anita Kerr Singers.
30-Jul-1964 Born on this day in California was Banjo player Ron Block. He joined Alison Krauss + Union Station in 1991, performing on "When You Say Nothing At All," plus The Soggy Bottom Boys' "I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow" and Vince Gill's "High Lonesome Sound."
31-Jul-1964 A private aircraft piloted by Jim Reeves crashed during a thunderstorm near Nashville, Tennessee. Both Reeves and business partner Dean Manuel were killed in the crash; their bodies are found two days later following a massive search for the two missing men. Reeves became known as a practitioner of the Nashville sound (a mixture of older country-style music with elements of popular music) and his songs continued to chart for years after his death.

2-Aug-1964 After an intense search the bodies of Jim Reeves and Dean Manuel were found in the wreckage of an aircraft and, at 1:00 p.m. local time, radio stations across the United States announced Reeves' death formally. The single-engine Beechcraft Debonair aircraft, with Reeves at the controls had crashed 42 hours earlier during a thunderstrom. Thousands of people traveled to pay their last respects at his funeral two days later. The coffin, draped in flowers from fans, was driven through the streets of Nashville and then to Reeves' final resting place near Carthage, Texas.
17-Aug-1964 Born on this day in Los Angeles, California, was Maria McKee, singer and songwriter who is best known for her work with Lone Justice and her 1990 UK solo chart-topping hit, "Show Me Heaven". Many country atrists have covered her songs including The Dixie Chicks, "Am I the Only One (Who's Ever Felt This Way?)", and Dwight Yoakam who with Maria McKee recorded "Bury Me" on his debut album Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc.

22-Aug-1964 Following the reluctance of radio stations to play the latest Johnny Cash single "The Ballad Of Ira Hayes", Cash him-self took out a full page ad in Billboard lambasting their lack of support. The ad read: "DJ's, Station managers, owners etc, where are your guts? I'm not afraid to sing hard, bitter lines that the son of Oliver LaFarge wrote�Classify Me, Categorize Me, STIFLE me, but it won't work."

1-Sep-1964 Born on this day in Houston, Texas, was Charlie Robison, country music singer, songwriter. His biggest hits including "My Hometown" released in 2000. He married Emily Erwin of The Dixie Chicks in 1999. The couple divorced on August 6, 2008 after nine years of marriage. Robison died after suffering from cardiac arrest at a San Antonio, Texas hospital on September 10, 2023, at the age of 59.
3-Sep-1964 Jim Reeves had his first of six posthumous #1's on the US country chart with his version of "I Guess I'm Crazy", which spent seven weeks at the top and a total of twenty-four weeks on the chart. The song was first recorded in 1955 by Tommy Collins.
19-Sep-1964 Born on this day in Monticello, Georgia, was Trisha Yearwood, country music artist. Best known for her ballads about vulnerable young women from a female perspective. She scored the 1997 song "How Do I Live", which was initially released on the soundtrack of the film, Con Air.

1-Oct-1964 Bitter Tears: Ballads of the American Indian by Johnny Cash was released in the US. His twentienth album release was a concept album, with the tracks on the album focusing exclusively on the history of and problems facing Native Americans in the US. Cash had been convinced that his ancestry included members of the Cherokee tribe, and this partly served as inspiration for recording Bitter Tears, but later on as he began researching his ancestry, he actually had no Cherokee ancestry, but Scottish, English, and Scots-Irish ancestry.
31-Oct-1964 Born on this day in Memphis, Tennessee, was Darryl Worley, country music artist whose six albums have produced 18 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, including three #1's: "I Miss My Friend", "Have You Forgotten?", and "Awful, Beautiful Life", from 2002, 2003 and 2004-2005, respectively. "Have You Forgotten?" spent seven weeks at #1. Nine other singles have reached the Top 40.

12-Nov-1964 Born on this day in Tillamook, Oregon, was Jerry Kilgore, country music artist who as well as releasing solo albums has written singles for Tracy Byrd and John Michael Montgomery, ("Cover You in Kisses").
14-Nov-1964 Born on this day in Statesville, North Carolina, was Rockie Lynne country music artist. His self-titled debut album released in 2006 produced three singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, including the top 30 hit "Lipstick".
28-Nov-1964 "Once a Day," by Connie Smith, started an eight-week stay at #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. To date, it is the longest-running chart topper by a solo female act and was the first debut single by a female country artist to reach #1. The song also held the record for the most weeks spent at #1 by a female country artist until it was surpassed by by Taylor Swift's "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" in December 2012.
1-Dec-1964 Buck Owens recorded "I've Got A Tiger By The Tail" and "Cryin' Time" during recording sessions at the Capitol Recording Studios in Hollywood, California. Owens later said he got the idea for "I've Got A Tiger By The Tail" after seeing an Esso gas station sign with the company's slogan at the time, "Put a tiger in your tank."

2-Dec-1964 Buck Owens and his Buckaroos were at the top of the US Country charts with Together Again. The album featured the chart topping single "My Heart Skips a Beat", Owen's third #1 hit.
18-Dec-1964 Born on this day was American country music artist Cledus T. Judd. Known primarily for his parodies of popular country music songs, he has been called the "Weird Al" Yankovic of country music. His highest chart peak is the #48 "I Love NASCAR", a parody of Toby Keith's 2003 single "I Love This Bar".
13-Jan-1965 "Once a Day" by American country artist Connie Smith was at #1 on the US country music chart. It was the first debut single by a female country artist to reach #1, and to date holds the record for the most weeks (eight), spent at #1 by a female country artist.
20-Jan-1965 Born on this day in Danville, Kentucky, was John Michael Montgomery, country singer, songwriter who has produced more than thirty singles on the Billboard country charts, including two #1 country singles of the year: "I Swear" (1994) and "Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)" (1995).
17-Feb-1965 "The Tennessee Waltz" was declared the state song of Tennessee. Written by Redd Stewart and Pee Wee King the song was first released in 1947 by Cowboy Copas. The song also became a multimillion seller in 1950 by Patti Page.
18-Mar-1965 Buck Owens was at #1 on the Country singles charts with "I've Got a Tiger By the Tail" which became one of Owens' signature songs and showcases of the Bakersfield sound in the genre. Owens got the idea for the song after seeing an Esso gas station sign with the company's slogan at the time, "Put a tiger in your tank."

27-Mar-1965 Roger Miller was at #1 on the US Country charts with "King Of The Road." The song has been covered by many other artists, including George Jones, Dean Martin, Boxcar Willie, Randy Travis, the Statler Brothers, Rufus Wainwright & Teddy Thompson, The Proclaimers and Jerry Lee Lewis.

13-Apr-1965 Roger Miller won five trophies at the seventh annual Grammy Awards, taking away, Best New Country & Western Artist; C&W Album, for Dang Me/Chug-A-Lug and C&W Single, Song and Male Vocal, for "Dang Me", his novelty song whose "jazzy instrumental section" helped make it "the quintessential example of Miller's lighthearted humor". Best Country & Western Vocal Performance - Female went to Dottie West for "Here Comes My Baby."
20-Apr-1965 Roger Miller was at #1 on the US Country charts with "King Of The Road." The song has been covered by many other artists, including George Jones, Dean Martin, Boxcar Willie, Randy Travis, the Statler Brothers, Rufus Wainwright & Teddy Thompson, The Proclaimers and Jerry Lee Lewis.
11-May-1965 Johnny Cash was arrested and held overnight at the city jail in Starkville, Mississippi. The event inspired Cash to write the song "Starkville City Jail".

13-May-1965 Born on this day in Dunedin, Florida, was Lari White, country music artist and actress. Three of her singles having reached Top Ten: "That's My Baby" and "That's How You Know (When You're In Love)" and "Now I Know." She died on January 23 20198 age 52 after a battle with peritoneal cancer.
19-May-1965 Roger Miller received a gold single for "King Of The Road", which was was Miller's fifth single for Smash Records.
31-May-1965 Del Reeves was at #1 on the country charts with "Girl on the Billboard". The novelty song was Reeves' fourth entry on the country chart and his only #1 single. "Girl on the Billboard" which spent two weeks at the top of the charts has become one of many country standards about lust.

11-Jun-1965 Buck Owens had the #1 country album with I've Got A Tiger By The Tail. Owens later said he got the idea for "I've Got A Tiger By The Tail" after seeing an Esso gas station sign with the company's slogan at the time, "Put a tiger in your tank."
13-Jun-1965 Born on this day in Turkey, Texas, was American country music singer-songwriter Joe Barnhill who along with Wayne Perry wrote "Not a Moment Too Soon," a #1 hit for Tim McGraw in 1994.
13-Jul-1965 Born on this day was Neil Thrasher, country music singer and songwriter. Between 1995 and 1997, he and Kelly Shiver comprised the duo Thrasher Shiver. Thrasher has written several singles for other artists, such as Jason Aldean, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney, Diamond Rio, Reba McEntire and Montgomery Gentry. Thrasher received an ASCAP Songwriter of the Year award in 2004.
21-Jul-1965 Born on this day, was Sidney Cox, banjo, dobro, guitar, vocals with The Cox Family, who were featuted on the soundtrack to the 2000 film O Brother, Where Art Thou?
29-Jul-1965 Buck Owens was at #1 on the US Country charts with "Before You Go ". The single was Owens' seventh release to hit #1 on the US country singles chart where it spent six weeks at the top and total of twenty weeks on the chart.
7-Aug-1965 Born on this day Miami, Florida, was Raul Malo lead singer of country music group The Mavericks and the co-writer of many of their singles, as well as Rick Trevino's 2003 single "In My Dreams".
28-Aug-1965 Born on this day in Windsor, Ontario, was Shania Twain, Canadian country pop singer-songwriter. Her 1997 album Come On Over, became the best-selling album of all time by a female musician in any genre, and the best-selling country album of all time selling more than 40 million copies worldwide. Twain has won 5 Grammy Awards and 27 BMI Songwriter awards and is sometimes referred to as "The Queen of Country Pop", she is one of the most commercially successful artists of all time, having sold over 80 million albums.

13-Sep-1965 Buck Owens had the #1 country album "I've Got A Tiger By The Tail" Owens later said he got the idea for "I've Got A Tiger By The Tail" after seeing an Esso gas station sign with the company's slogan at the time, "Put a tiger in your tank."
17-Sep-1965 Buck Owens and his Buckaroos were at #1 on the Country singles chart with "I've Got a Tiger by the Tail". The song was one of Owens' signature songs and showcases of the Bakersfield sound in the genre.
30-Sep-1965 Born on this day was Country singer Daron Norwood. Two singles off his debut album, "If It Wasn't For Her I Wouldn't Have You" and "Cowboys Don't Cry", both made the country Top 40. Norwood was found dead in his Hereford, Texas apartment by his landlord on the afternoon of July 22, 2015.
5-Oct-1965 Johnny Cash was arrested crossing the Mexican border into El Paso, Texas after customs officials found 100's of pills in his guitar case. He received a suspended jail sentence and a $1,000 fine.
15-Oct-1965 Born on this day in Los Angeles, California, was Dean Miller, country music artist, (the son of Roger Miller). He has scored four singles on the Hot Country Songs charts as well as writing singles for Trace Adkins and Terri Clark.
24-Oct-1965 Jim Reeves was at #1 on the Country music album chart with "Up Through The Years". Reeves was killed in a plane crash the previous year on July 31, 1964 after they encountered a violent thunderstorm en route to Nashville in a single-engine Beechcraft Debonair aircraft, with Reeves at the controls.
3-Nov-1965 Johnny Wright was at #1 on the Country chart with "Hello Vietnam." The single, with backing vocals from his wife, Kitty Wells, was later used as the opening theme in the 1987 Stanley Kubrick film Full Metal Jacket.
22-Nov-1965 Little Jimmy Dickens was at #1 on the Country chart with the novelty song, "May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose." Neal Merritt, who wrote the song, said it was inspired by one of the many comic putdowns uttered by host Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show.
2-Dec-1965 Born on this day was American country music songwriter Casey Beathard who has co-written singles for several country music recording artists, including Top Ten singles for Gary Allan, Billy Ray Cyrus, Trace Adkins, Kenny Chesney and Eric Church. In 2004 and 2008, he received Broadcast Music, Inc.'s Songwriter of the Year award for his contributions.
28-Dec-1965 Johnny Cash pleaded guilty to drug possession in El Paso, Texas, where he was arrested in October with over 1,000 pills. A related newspaper photo stated the Ku Klux Klan was to boycott Cash concerts under the misguided premise that Cash's wife was black.
3-Jan-1966 Jack Greene was at #1 on the US Country charts with "There Goes My Everything", which spent 7 weeks at the top of the chart. The song won several awards, including "Single of the Year" and "Song of the Year" at the very first CMA Awards.

4-Jan-1966 Born on this day in Nashville,Tennessee, was Deana Carter country music artist who broke through in 1996 with the release of debut album Did I Shave My Legs for This?, which has seen sales of over five million in the US.
18-Jan-1966 Red Sovine was at #1 on the US Country charts with "Giddyup Go", which is the tale of an emotional father-son reunion at a highway truck stop. American country comedienne Minnie Pearl recorded an answer version titled "Giddyup Go Answer." A departure from her usual comic recordings, Pearl told the story from the perspective of the manager of the truck stop where the father-son reunion takes place.

19-Feb-1966 Buck Owens was at #1 on the country singles chart with Waitin' in Your Welfare Line. The single was Owens' tenth #1 on the US country music chart and the track spent seven weeks at the top and a total of eighteen weeks on the country chart.
15-Mar-1966 At this years Grammy Awards at Chicago, Los Angeles, Nashville and New York, Roger Miller won six Awards, five of them related to his hit "King of the Road". The Best New Country & Western Artist went to The Statler Brothers.
24-Mar-1966 Buck Owens was at #1 on the Country charts with "Waitin' in Your Welfare Line." Owens' tenth #1 spent seven weeks at the top and a total of eighteen weeks on the country chart.
18-Apr-1966 Eddy Arnold was at #1 on the Country singles chart with "I Want to Go with You" which was written by country music singer-songwriter Hank Cochran.
26-Apr-1966 Born on this day in Tarrant County, Texas, was Jeff Huskins, country fiddle and keyboard player, producer, and record label founder and one time member of Little Texas who scored the 1994 US Country #1 hit "My Love".
7-May-1966 Johnny Cash kicked off his first ever UK tour at the Empire in Liverpool, with The Statler Brothers opening the show, followed by June Carter.
13-May-1966 Born on this day in Charleston, South Carolina, was Darius Rucker, lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the rock band Hootie & the Blowfish who had the 2008 US Country #1 hit "Don't Think I Don't Think About It." Rucker won the Country Music Association's New Artist of the Year in 2009. Rucker scored two US Country #1's in 2010 with "Come Back Song', and "This".

15-May-1966 Jim Reeves was at #1 on the country charts with "Distant Drums." The track provided the US singer with his only UK #1 hit - albeit posthumously - in 1966, some two years after his death in a plane crash on 31 July 1964. The song remained in the UK charts for 45 weeks.
16-May-1966 Born on this day in Santa Monica, California, was Scott Reeves. He appeared as an actor in the TV series The Young And The Restless, and later formed Blue County with Aaron Benward, who had a hit with "Good Little Girls" in 2004. He also co-wrote Toby Keith's hit "Made In America".
29-May-1966 Jim Reeves was at #1 on the US Country charts with "Distant Drums." This was Reeves' only UK #1 hit - albeit posthumously - in 1966, some two years after his death in a plane crash on 31 July 1964. The song remained in the UK charts for 45 weeks.
30-May-1966 Dolly Parton married Carl Thomas Dean in Ringgold, Georgia. She had met Dean at the Wishy-Washy Laundromat two years earlier on her first day in Nashville. On May 30, 2011, the couple celebrated their 45th marriage anniversary.
3-Jun-1966 Born on this day in Sydney, Australia, was Jamie O'Neal, country singer and songwriter. Her 2000 debut album, Shiver featured the back-to-back #1 singles "There Is No Arizona" and "When I Think About Angels".
11-Jun-1966 Born on this day, was Texas country music singer-songwriter Bruce Robison who has written several songs which have become hits for other artists including: "Travelin' Soldier," the Dixie Chicks, (reached #1 on the Country charts); "Angry All the Time," (recorded by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill in 2001, also reached #1 on the country charts); and "Wrapped," (recorded in 2006 by George Strait, also reached #1).
15-Jun-1966 Born on this day in Fort Worth, Texas, was Michael Britt, guitarist and singer with Lonestar who first charted in late 1995 with the single "Tequila Talkin'," the first of 27 singles on the country charts. Nine of the band's singles have reached #1 on this chart. Their biggest hit was 1999's "Amazed", a crossover hit that reached #1 on both the country charts and the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the first single to do so since Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton's "Islands in the Stream" in 1983.
28-Jun-1966 Merle Haggard recorded "The Bottle Let Me Down" at the Capitol Recording Studio in Hollywood. Released as a single in August of this year, the track peaked at #3 on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles.

28-Jun-1966 Born on this day in Nashville, Tennessee was Bobby Bare Jr. American singer-songwriter, (the son of country musician Bobby Bare, Sr.). In 1974, when Bobby was only eight, he and his father were both nominated for a Grammy for the song 'Daddy What If', which was written by Shel Silverstein.
18-Jul-1966 Buck Owens was at #1 on the US Country charts with "Think Of Me." The singer and songwriter who had 21 #1 hits on the Billboard country music charts with his band the Buckaroos, pioneered what came to be called the Bakersfield sound.

29-Jul-1966 Born on this day in Sharon, Kansas, was Martina McBride, country music singer and songwriter who scored the 1996 US Country #1 single "Wild Angels". McBride has been called the "Celine Dion of Country Music" for her big-voiced ballads and soprano range.

1-Aug-1966 During recording sessions, Merle Haggard recorded "The Fugitive" (later titled "I'm a Lonesome Fugitive"), at the Capitol Recording Studio in Hollywood, California. The song which was written by Liz Anderson and Casey Anderson, (parents of country star Lynn Anderson), became one of the most closely associated with the early part of his career.

6-Aug-1966 George Jones scored his first Country #1 album with I'm a People, his 24th album release spent two weeks at the top of the charts.
14-Aug-1966 "Almost Persuaded" by David Houston was at #1 on the Country chart. The song spent nine weeks at #1 and has since gone on to become a country standard. For 46 years and two months, no #1 song matched the chart-topping longevity of "Almost Persuaded," until Taylor Swift's "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" notched its ninth week atop the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart the week of December 15, 2012.
19-Aug-1966 Born on this day in Jacksonville, Texas, was Lee Ann Womack, country singer, songwriter. Her 2000 single, "I Hope You Dance" was a major crossover music hit, reaching #1 on the Billboard Country Chart and the Top 15 of the Billboard Hot 100, becoming her signature song.
29-Aug-1966 Born on this day in Perryville, Arkansas, was American musician Shawn Camp who has found success as a songwriter, having co-written hit singles for many country music artists, including Garth Brooks, Josh Turner, Brooks & Dunn, and Blake Shelton, although he continues to record his own material as well.
12-Sep-1966 Loretta Lynn released You Ain't Woman Enough which became her first #1 album on the US Billboard Hot Country Albums chart, as well as her first album to chart on the Billboard Top LPs chart. The album's only single, "You Ain't Woman Enough", was released in May 1966 and became Lynn's biggest hit up to that point, peaking at #2 on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.
21-Sep-1966 Born on this day in Big Spring, Texas, was Ronna Reeves, female country music singer. Between 1990 and 1998, she released five studio albums, she has also charted five singles on the Hot Country Songs charts.
28-Sep-1966 Born on this day in Asheville, North Carolina, was country singer-songwriter Matt King who scored the 1998 hit "A Woman's Tears".
3-Oct-1966 Merle Haggard released the album Swinging Doors which went on to peak at #1 on the Country charts. The album is sometimes called Swinging Doors and The Bottle Let Me Down, although the second half of this title is actually an advertisement for the other big single on the album
5-Oct-1966 Loretta Lynn recorded "Don't Come Home A-Drinkin' (With Lovin' on Your Mind)." The song was Lynn's first #1 country hit and she became only the seventh solo female vocalist record to hit that position up to that time as well as the first to score a #1 written by the woman herself (the song being co-written by Loretta and her sister Peggy Sue.
6-Oct-1966 Born on this day in Midwest City, Oklahoma, was Tim Rushlow, country music artist. Between 1991 and 1997, Rushlow was co-lead vocalist of the country music band Little Texas. After Little Texas disbanded in 1997, Rushlow began a solo career and scored the 2000 top 10 hit "She Misses Him."
22-Oct-1966 At the age of 48, Eddy Arnold became the youngest (to that time) living inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
14-Nov-1966 Loretta Lynn was at #1 on the US Country chart with You Ain't Woman Enough. The lead single, and title track became Lynn's biggest hit up to that point peaking at #2. Martina McBride covered the song for her 2005 album Timeless.
12-Dec-1966 Merle Haggard released the single "The Fugitive" (later titled "I'm a Lonesome Fugitive" on the album), which became Haggard's first #1 hit on the country chart. Although not written by Haggard, the song became one of the most closely associated with the early part of his career, as it drew upon his then still-relatively recent prison term for burglary.
17-Dec-1966 Born on this day, was Tracy Byrd, country music singer, songwriter, who broke through on the country music scene with his 1993 single "Holdin' Heaven", which reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts. Although he did not land a second #1 until 2002's "Ten Rounds with Jose Cuervo", Byrd has charted more than thirty hit singles in his career, including eleven additional Top Ten hits. He has also released nine studio albums and two greatest-hits albums.

11-Jan-1967 Johnny Cash and June Carter recorded their duet "Jackson", which went on to win the couple a Grammy Award in 1968 for Best Country & Western Performance Duet. Written in 1963 by Billy Edd Wheeler and Jerry Leiber, Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood also scored a hit with the song.
6-Feb-1967 Born on this day in South Lyon, Michigan, was Anita Cockerham, country music singer, songwriter, guitarist and record producer who made her debut on the US country charts with her first album Back to You. It produced the hit single "What If I Said", a duet with country music artist Steve Wariner, which reached #1 in 1998.
10-Feb-1967 Glen Campbell was at #1 on the US Country music chart with his seventh album By the Time I Get to Phoenix. The title track which was written by Jimmy Webb was originally recorded by Johnny Rivers in 1965. Campbell's version reached #2 on the US Country charts in 1968, and won two Grammy Awards, for Best Vocal Performance, Male and Best Contemporary Male Solo Vocal Performance.

13-Feb-1967 Dolly Parton released her debut album, Hello, I'm Dolly. It contained Parton's hits "Dumb Blonde" and "Something Fishy", both of which reached the top twenty on the country singles charts, and the album itself reached #11 on the country albums chart, a remarkable achievement, considering that Parton was largely an unknown at that point.
16-Feb-1967 American country music performer Smiley Burnette (Lester Alvin Burnett ), died from leukemia aged 55. He also appeared as a comedic actor in Western films and on radio and TV, playing sidekick to Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, and other B-movie cowboys. He was a prolific singer-songwriter who wrote more than 400 songs. His Western classic, 'Ridin' Down the Canyon (To Watch the Sun Go Down)', was later recorded by Willie Nelson, Riders in the Sky, and Johnnie Lee Wills. His career, beginning in 1934, spanned four decades, including a regular role on CBS-TV's Petticoat Junction in the Sixties.
2-Mar-1967 Country music winners at the 9th Annual Grammy Awards held at Chicago, Los Angeles, Nashville and New York included; Best Country & Western Vocal Performance - Female went to Jeannie Seely for "Don't Touch Me", and the Best Country and Western Vocal Performance, Male went to David Houston for "Almost Persuaded."
4-Mar-1967 "Jackson" a duet by Johnny Cash and June Carter (with Carl Perkins, guitar) entered the C&W chart, going on to peak at #2. The song was quickly covered by Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood which gave them a pop hit three months later.

6-Mar-1967 Winners at the second Academy of Country Music Awards hosted by Lorne Green included: Top Female Vocalist of the Year, Bonnie Guitar, Top Male Vocalist of the Year, Merle Haggard, Top Vocal Group, Bonnie Owens and Merle Haggard, Most Promising Female Vocalist of the Year Cathie Taylor, Most Promising Male Vocalist of the Year, Billy Mize and Most Promising Vocal Group went to Bob Morris and Faye Hardin.
1-Apr-1967 The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum opened on Music Row (Sixteenth Avenue and Division Street) in Nashville. The Museum opened in a $37 million landmark, new building in May 2001 located on the west bank of the Cumberland River, just a few steps from the historic Ryman Auditorium.
5-Apr-1967 Born on this day in Lexington, Kentucky was Troy Gentry, one half of the duo Montgomery Gentry who scored three platinum selling albums and were inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 2009. Gentry died in a helicopter crash on September 8, 2017 while taking a helicopter tour of Medford, New Jersey, where he and Montgomery were set to perform that evening.
21-Apr-1967 Johnny Cash appeared at the McElroy Auditorium, Walterloo, Iowa along with June Carter, The Tennessee Three, The Carter Family, The Statler Brothers and Carl Perkins.
1-May-1967 Born on this day in Delhi, Louisiana, was Tim McGraw country singer and actor. Many of McGraw's albums and singles have topped the country music charts with total album sales in excess of 40 million units in the US. McGraw had 11 consecutive albums debut at #1 on the Billboard albums charts, as well as twenty-one singles hitting #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. He is married to country singer Faith Hill and is the son of former baseball player Tug McGraw.

17-May-1967 Working at the Capitol Recording Studio in Hollywood, Glen Campbell recorded "Gentle On My Mind," a song written by John Hartford and arranged by Leon Russell. The song went on to win won four Grammy Awards the following year and became the theme to the television variety show, The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour between 1969 and 1972.
17-Jun-1967 Born on this day in Germantown, Tennessee was Rivers Rutherford, country music songwriter. He has written several #1 country hits, including "Ain't Nothing 'bout You" by Brooks & Dunn, "If You Ever Stop Loving Me" by Montgomery Gentry, and "When I Get Where I'm Going" by Brad Paisley and Dolly Parton. Other acts Rutherford has co written for include: Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Kenny Chesney and Toby Keith.
20-Jun-1967 Born on this day, Dan Tyminski, American bluegrass composer, vocalist, and instrumentalist with Alison Krauss and Union Station who has also released the solo albums Carry Me Across the Mountain (2000) and Wheels (2008).
11-Jul-1967 Following his departure from the New Christy Minstrels the day before, Kenny Rogers formed The First Edition with his friends Thelma Camacho, Mike Settle and Terry Williams - also from The New Christy Minstrels.
15-Jul-1967 Born on this day was American country music artist Elbert West. Initially a session songwriter in Nashville, West saw his first chart success in the 1990s as a co-writer on singles for country singer Tracy Lawrence, including the #1's "Sticks and Stones" and "Can't Break It to My Heart". West co-wrote album tracks for other artists, including tracks for Tim McGraw and John Michael Montgomery. West died on May 18, 2015.
18-Sep-1967 Dolly Parton released her debut studio album Hello, I'm Dolly. The first single from the album, "The Little Things", was released in June 1966 and failed to chart. "Dumb Blonde" was released as a single in November 1966 and gave Parton her first top 40 hit, peaking at #24 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. The album's third single, "Something Fishy", was released in May 1967 and peaked at #17, becoming Parton's first top 20 hit. The album's two hit singles are largely credited with bringing Parton to the attention of Porter Wagoner, who, in September 1967, would invite Parton to join his band and appear on his weekly television show.
21-Sep-1967 Born on this day in Ridgeland, Mississippi, was Faith Hill, country singer, songwriter known both for her commercial success and her marriage to fellow country star Tim McGraw. Hill has sold over 40 million records worldwide and scored eight #1 singles and three #1 albums on the US Country charts. Her Soul2Soul II Tour 2006 with McGraw became the highest-grossing country tour of all time. In 2009 Billboard named her as the #1 Adult Contemporary artist of the decade 2000-2009.

2-Oct-1967 Born on this day in New York City, was singer-songwriter Gillian Welch, who performed on two songs of the O Brother, Where Art Thou? Soundtrack.
3-Oct-1967 Woody Guthrie died in Queens New York after a 15-year struggle with Huntington's disease. The folk singer/songwriter influenced the social content of several 20th-century genres, including country. In 1988 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and in 2000 he was honored with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
18-Oct-1967 Ode to Billie Joe the debut album by Bobbie Gentry was at #1 on the chart. It was the only album to displace The Beatles Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band from its 15-week reign at the top of the Billboard 200 album chart. The recording of the title track "Ode to Billie Joe" generated eight Grammy nominations, resulting in three wins for Gentry and one win for arranger Jimmie Haskell.

23-Oct-1967 Glen Campbell recorded his version of "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" at Capitol Studios, Hollywood, California. The song which was written by Jimmy Webb was originally recorded by Johnny Rivers in 1965. Campbell's version reached #2 on the Hot Country charts and and won two awards at the 10th Annual Grammys.
26-Oct-1967 Born on this day in Whangarei, New Zealand, was Keith Urban, country music singer, songwriter and guitarist whose commercial success has been mainly in the United States and Australia. In 1991, he released a self-titled debut album, and charted four singles in Australia before moving to the United States in 1992. Eventually, Urban found work as a session guitarist before starting a band known as The Ranch. Since 2006, he has been married to actress Nicole Kidman.

29-Oct-1967 Tammy Wynette was at #1 on the Country chart with "I Don't Wanna Play House". Written by Billy Sherrill and Glenn Sutton, the song became Tammy Wynette's first #1 country song as a solo artist. The recording earned Wynette the 1968 Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance.
3-Dec-1967 Tammy Wynette was at #1 on the US Country singles chart with "Stand By Your Man". It proved to be the most successful record of Wynette's career and is one of the most covered songs in the history of country music. The song was placed at #1 on CMT's list of the Top 100 Country Music Songs.
5-Dec-1967 Born on this day in La Mirada, California, was Gary Allan, American country music artist who had the 2001 album Alright Guy which contained the singles "The One," "Man of Me," and "Man to Man," the latter of which became his first Billboard #1 hit.
27-Dec-1967 Born on this day in Midland, Texas, songwriter Jim Beavers who wrote Tim McGraw's "Felt Good On My Lips," Toby Keith's "Red Solo Cup," Luke Bryan's "Drink A Beer" and Josh Turner's "Why Don't We Just Dance."
9-Jan-1968 Loretta Lynn recorded "Fist City" which when released topped the Country music charts. The song was inspired by her husband's dalliances with other women who pursued him while she was busy touring. It is one of several songs that got Lynn banned from the radio in the 1960s for her controversial themes.
11-Jan-1968 Glen Campbell recorded "I Wanna Live" at Capitol Studios, Hollywood, California. When released in March of this year the song became his first of five #1's on the Country singles chart.
13-Jan-1968 Johnny Cash played a show, which was recorded, for his forthcoming live album At Folsom Prison, near Sacramento, California in front of 2,000 inmates. When released, the lead single, "Folsom Prison Blues" (an update of his 1956 hit) became one of the most famous recordings of his career.
24-Jan-1968 Merle Haggard was at #1 on the US Country charts with "Sing Me Back Home", his third chart topper. It was also recorded live by the Byrds on There Is a Season as well as the Grateful Dead who included the song in their live set.
27-Jan-1968 Born on this day in Atlanta, Texas, was Tracy Lawrence, country music singer whose debut album Sticks and Stones was released in 1991, which produced his first chart single and first #1 hit in its title track.
1-Feb-1968 Johnny Cash spent the day visiting several hospitals in Memphis including the sick and wounded at the Navy Hospital in Millington, Tennesse, many of whom had just returned home from Vietnam.
22-Feb-1968 Johnny Cash proposed to tour partner June Carter during a concert in London, Ontario. She said yes. The couple married on March 1, 1968, in Franklin, Kentucky and had one child together, John Carter Cash, born March 3, 1970. Cash and Carter continued to work together and tour for 35 years until Carter's death in 2003. Cash died four months later.
29-Feb-1968 Johnny Cash and June Carter won a Grammy for Best C&W Performance for "Jackson" at the 10th annual Grammy awards. Written in 1963 by Billy Edd Wheeler and Jerry Leiber the song was also a pop hit single by Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood. The song is about a married couple who find (according to the lyrics) that the "fire" has gone out of their relationship. The song relates the desire of both partners to travel to Jackson where they each expect to be welcomed as someone far better suited to the city's lively night life than the other is.

1-Mar-1968 Johnny Cash married June Carter. Johnny had proposed to June while onstage in London, Ontario the previous month. Cash and Carter continued to work together and tour for 35 years until Carter's death in 2003. Cash died four months later.
4-Mar-1968 Winners at the third Academy of Country Music Awards hosted by Pat Buttram included: Man of the Year - Joey Bishop, Top Female Vocalist of the Year - Lynn Anderson, Top Male Vocalist of the Year - Glen Campbell, Top Vocal Group - Sons of the Pioneers, Most Promising Female Vocalist of the Year - Bobbie Gentry, Most Promising Male Vocalist of the Year - Jerry Inman and Bonnie Owens and Merle Haggard won Top Duo of the Year.
15-Mar-1968 The Byrds' record label, Columbia Records, had arranged for the group to be allowed to perform at the Ryman Auditorium, however, when the band took the stage the audience's response was immediately hostile, resulting in derisive heckling, booing and mocking calls of "tweet, tweet." The Byrds further outraged the Opry establishment by breaking with accepted protocol when they performed Parsons' song "Hickory Wind" instead of the Merle Haggard song "Life in Prison", as had been announced by Tompall Glaser.
22-Mar-1968 Tammy Wynette recored her version of the Bobby Braddock and Curly Putman song "D-I-V-O-R-C-E" which went on to top the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in June of this year. "D-I-V-O-R-C-E" is a woman's perspective on the impending collapse of her marriage. The lyrics begin with an old parenting trick of spelling out words mothers and fathers hope their young children will not understand.
26-Mar-1968 Born on this day in Knoxville, Tennessee, was Kenny Chesney country music singer and songwriter. Chesney has recorded 15 albums which have produced more than 30 Top Ten singles on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, 20 of which climbed to the top of the charts.

15-Apr-1968 Dolly Parton released her second studio album Just Because I'm a Woman. The album's title track became the only single from the album. Released in June 1968 it peaked at #17 on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.
15-Apr-1968 Loretta Lynn released her twelfth solo studio album Fist City which became Lynn's second album to top the Country chart. The first single from the album, "What Kind of a Girl (Do You Think I Am)" was released in August 1967 and peaked at #5 on the US Hot Country Singles chart. The second single, "Fist City", was released in January 1968 and peaked at #1 on the chart, making it Lynn's second #1 hit.
3-May-1968 Born on this day in Modesto, California, was Shane Minor country music artist. He has written hits for other artists, including the #1 singles "Beautiful Mess" by Diamond Rio, "Brand New Girlfriend" by Steve Holy, and "Live a Little" by Kenny Chesney.
9-May-1968 Merle Haggard was at #1 on the Country charts with "The Legend of Bonnie and Clyde". Written by Haggard and Bonnie Owens It was released as the first single and title track from the album The Legend of Bonnie and Clyde. The song was Haggard's fourth 1# and spent two weeks at #1 and a total of 14 weeks on the country chart.
10-May-1968 Born on this day in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was Jeff Wood, country music artist. He penned "Cowboy Love", a Top 5 hit for John Michael Montgomery in 1996.

20-May-1968 Charley Pride was at #1 on the Country album charts with The Country Way. Pride went on to score thirty-nine #1 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. His greatest success came in the early-to mid-1970s, when he became the best-selling performer for RCA Records since Elvis Presley.
25-May-1968 Bobby Goldsboro was at #1 on the Country chart with "Honey," also known as "Honey (I Miss You)." Written by Bobby Russell, who first produced it with former Kingston Trio member Bob Shane. Then he gave it to American singer Bobby Goldsboro who recorded it for his tenth album. "Honey" spent five weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart.
27-May-1968 Glen Campbell recored "Wichita Lineman" at Capitol Records Hollywood, California. Campbell's version, which appeared on his 1968 album of the same name, reached #3 on the US pop chart, and in addition, the song topped the American country music chart for two weeks.
5-Jun-1968 Born on this day in Columbia, Missouri, was Brett James, singer, songwriter and record producer. As a solo artist in 1995, James charted three singles and released a self-titled debut album that year. Since the early 2000s, James has become known primarily as a songwriter for other country and pop music artists. Among his compositions is Carrie Underwood's 2006 #1 hit "Jesus, Take the Wheel," which received Grammy Awards for Best Female Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Song.
29-Jun-1968 Tammy Wynette was at #1 on the US Country singles chart with "D-I-V-O-R-C-E." Written by Bobby Braddock and Curly Putman, the song is a woman's perspective on the impending collapse of her marriage. The lyrics begin with an old parenting trick of spelling out words mothers and fathers hope their young children will not understand, they (the children) being not yet able to spell or comprehend the word's meaning. The original Tammy Wynette recording features in the films Five Easy Pieces and Brokeback Mountain.

1-Jul-1968 Tammy Wynette released her third studio album D-I-V-O-R-C-E which peaked at #1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart, becoming Wynette's first album to top the chart. The album's single, "D-I-V-O-R-C-E", (written by Bobby Braddock and Curly Putman), was released on April 19, 1968, and peaked at #1 on the Country Singles chart, Wynette's fourth song to top the chart.
9-Jul-1968 Tammy Wynette was at #1 on the US Country singles chart with "D-I-V-O-R-C-E." Written by Bobby Braddock and Curly Putman, the song is a woman's perspective on the impending collapse of her marriage. The lyrics begin with an old parenting trick of spelling out words mothers and fathers hope their young children will not understand, they (the children) being not yet able to spell or comprehend the word's meaning. The original Tammy Wynette recording features in the films Five Easy Pieces and Brokeback Mountain.
20-Jul-1968 Johnny Cash was at #1 on the country charts with "Folsom Prison Blues" Cash had performed the song at Folsom Prison itself on January 13, 1968 and this version was eventually released on the At Folsom Prison album.
29-Jul-1968 Johnny Cash was at #1 on the US Country music singles charts with "Folsom Prison Blues". Cash was inspired to write the song after seeing the movie Inside The Walls of Folsom Prison (1951) while serving in West Germany in the United States Air Force.
5-Aug-1968 American country guitarist Luther Perkins died at the age of 40 as a result of severe burns and smoke inhalation. Perkins fell asleep at home in his den with a cigarette in his hand. He was dragged from the fire unconscious with severe second and third degree burns. Perkins never regained consciousness. He worked with Johnny Cash and The Carter Family and featured on the live album Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison.
5-Aug-1968 Born on this day in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, was Terri Clark, Canadian country music singer, songwriter, who has scored over twenty singles, including six #1's. "If I Were You", "Poor Poor Pitiful Me", "Emotional Girl" and "In My Next Life" which all topped the country charts in Canada.
19-Aug-1968 Born on this day in Greensboro, North Carolina, was Mark McGuinn, He made his debut in 2001 with the single "Mrs. Steven Rudy", a Top 10 hit on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.
22-Aug-1968 George Jones and Tammy Wynette announced their forthcoming marriage, which took place six months later.
28-Aug-1968 Tammy Wynette recorded "Stand By Your Man" at Epic studios after an idea that came from producer, Billy Sherrill. Wynette and Sherril completed the song in 15 minutes. It proved to be the most successful record of Wynette's career and is one of the most covered songs in the history of country music. The song was placed at #1 on CMT's list of the Top 100 Country Songs. The song has appeared in various films, including: Five Easy Pieces, The Blues Brothers, The Crying Game, Sleepless in Seattle, Four Weddings and a Funeral and GoldenEye.

19-Oct-1968 Born on this day was Rodney Scott Carrington, an American stand-up comedian, actor, and country music artist. He has released six major-label studio albums and a greatest-hits package.
22-Oct-1968 Glen Campbell was at #1 on the US Country music album chart with his sixth studio release, Gentle on My Mind. The title track written by John Hartford, won two 1968 Grammy Awards and received over 5 million radio plays. Campbell used "Gentle on My Mind" as the theme to his television variety show, The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour between 1969 and 1972.

22-Oct-1968 Born on this day in Killen, Alabama, was Marsha Thornton, country music singer. Between 1990 and 2003, she released three studio albums, with her first two released on MCA Records; she has also issued four singles on the Hot Country Songs charts. Her highest peaking single was "A Bottle of Wine and Patsy Cline", which reached #59 in 1990.
22-Oct-1968 Born on this day in Mobile, Alabama, was Shelby Lynne, singer and songwriter. Lynne appeared on TNN's country music show Nashville Now in 1987, her first recording was a duet with George Jones, "If I Could Bottle This Up", which became a top-50 hit in 1988. The success of the 1999 album I Am Shelby Lynne led to her winning the Grammy Award for Best New Artist, even though she had been active in the music industry for some time. She appeared in the film Walk The Line playing the role of Carrie Cash.

9-Nov-1968 Marty Robbins was at #1 on the Country chart with "I Walk Alone", Robbins' thirteenth #1. At least four other country artists recorded "I Walk Alone" for albums released in 1969: Loretta Lynn's Your Squaw Is on the Warpath, Kitty Wells' Guilty Street, David Houston's Where Love Used to Live, and Willie Nelson's My Own Peculiar Way.
10-Nov-1968 Born on this day in DeRidder, Louisiana, was Chris Cagle, country singer, songwriter. Cagle made his debut on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks with the single "My Love Goes On and On", the first single from his debut album Play It Loud. The album, which was certified gold in the US, also produced the 2000 Top 10 hit "Laredo" and "I Breathe In, I Breathe Out", his only #1 hit.
19-Nov-1968 Jeannie C. Riley was at #1 on the US Country album chart with Harper Valley PTA. The title track "Harper Valley PTA" became a hit for Riley and went to #1 on both the Billboard Pop and Country singles charts, a feat not repeated until 1981 when Dolly Parton released "9 to 5".
23-Nov-1968 Tammy Wynette was at #1 on Billboard country chart with "Stand By Your Man". The song was selected by the Library of Congress as a 2010 addition to the National Recording Registry, which selects recordings annually that are "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

30-Nov-1968 Glen Campbell started a five-week run at #1 on the US album chart with Wichita Lineman. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time ranked "Wichita Lineman" at #192.
9-Dec-1968 During recording sessions at Capitol Recording Studios in Los Angeles, Merle Haggard recorded "Hungry Eyes" which was featured on his 1969 album A Portrait of Merle Haggard and when released as a single became a Country #1 and one of the most famous of his career.
20-Dec-1968 Born on this day in in Cleveland, Ohio was session musician and producer Tom Bukovac. He has played on over 500 albums including projects by Bob Seger, Vince Gill, Hank Williams Jr., Sheryl Crow, Don Henley, Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, Willie Nelson, Martina McBride, Faith Hill, Kenny Loggins, Reba Mcintyre, Blake Shelton, LeAnn Rimes and Florida Georgia Line.
21-Dec-1968 Glen Campbell topped the US album chart with Wichita Lineman. Although the LP would stay on the chart for 46 weeks, it would be Campbell's only #1 album.
26-Dec-1968 Glen Campbell was at #1 on the US Country chart with "Wichita Lineman". Jimmy Webb's inspiration for the lyrics came while driving through Washita County in northern Oklahoma. Webb was driving through an endless litany of telephone poles, each looking exactly the same as the last. Then, in the distance, he noticed the silouette of a solitary lineman atop a pole. Webb then "put himself atop that pole and put that phone in his hand" as he considered what the lineman was saying into the receiver.

27-Dec-1968 Glen Campbell was at #1 on the US Country charts with "Wichita Lineman". It has been referred to as "the first existential country song".

31-Dec-1968 Billboard magazine reports that this year, for the first time, US total music sales have topped one billion dollars. Glenn Campbell scored six #1 albums in 1968. His total of 19 weeks at #1 was the most by any artist, more than twice that achieved by any other act.
3-Jan-1969 Born on this day in La Mesa, California, was Nikki Nelson, country music singer who replaced Paulette Carlson as lead vocalist in Highway 101, (featuring on their album Bing Bang Boom).
4-Jan-1969 Dolly Parton became a member of The Grand Ole Opry.
4-Jan-1969 In the issue of Billboard dated January 4, Glen Campbell was at #1 with the album Wichita Lineman, the record's sixth week in the top spot. The album remained at #1 through the issue of Billboard dated April 12 and its run of 20 consecutive weeks atop the chart was the longest achieved since the listing was first published in 1964. When the album was finally displaced from the top of the chart it was by another of Campbell's albums, Galveston, which remained at #1 for 12 consecutive weeks, meaning that Campbell had held the top spot without interruption for 32 weeks.
9-Jan-1969 Glen Campbell recorded "Galveston" at Capitol Studios, Hollywood, California. The Jimmy Webb song gave Campbell his third US Country #1 hit. The song, released in February 1969, was perceived as being a Vietnam War protest song.
10-Jan-1969 Johnny cash was at #1 on the US Country charts with his version of the Carl Perkins song, "Daddy Sang Bass." The record was nominated in the CMA awards category of Single of the Year by the Country Music Association in 1969.
12-Jan-1969 Glen Campbell was at #1 on the US Country chart with Wichita Lineman his twelfth album. The Jimmy Webb penned title track reached #3 on the US pop chart. Webb's inspiration for the lyrics came while driving through Washita County in rural southwestern Oklahoma. Heading westward on a straight road into the setting sun, Webb drove past a seemingly endless line of telephone poles, each looking exactly the same as the last. Then, in the distance, he noticed the silhouette of a solitary lineman atop a pole.

13-Jan-1969 Tammy Wynette released her fourth studio album Stand by Your Man which peaked at #2 on the Billboard Country Albums chart. The album's single, "Stand by Your Man", (written by Billy Sherrill, and Wynette), was released on September 20, 1968, and peaked at #1 on the Country Singles chart, Wynette's fifth song to top the chart.
15-Jan-1969 Elvis Presley recorded the Mac Davis-penned "Don't Cry Daddy" at the American Studios in Memphis. In 1997 Lisa Marie Presley made a video of "Don't Cry Daddy" where she sings it as a duet with her dad. This video was presented on August 16, 1997, at the tribute concert that marked the 20th anniversary of Elvis' death.
22-Jan-1969 Glen Campbell was awared the first gold single of his career, for "Wichita Lineman."
27-Jan-1969 Loretta Lynn released the single "Woman of the World" which became the singers third #1 on the country charts. The track was taken from her LP Woman of the World / To Make a Man.
29-Jan-1969 The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour premiered on CBS, for what would be a three-year run. Guests for the first episode were singer, Bobbie Gentry, songwriter John Hartford, ("Gentle On My Mind"), The Smothers Brothers and comedian Pat Paulsen.
3-Feb-1969 Dolly Parton released her third studio album In the Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad). The album's only single the title track released in October 1968 peaked at #25 on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.
16-Feb-1969 George Jones and Tammy Wynette married in Ringgold, Georgia, after telling others that their marriage was in August 1968. They quickly earnt the titles such as "The First Couple of Country Music," "Country's Sweethearts," and "The President and First Lady."
17-Feb-1969 After having spent three days recording tracks for his forthcoming Nashville Skyline album, Bob Dylan was joined by Johnny Cash, and the pair recorded "Girl From The North Country" together, which was also included on the album. The song was written following his first trip to England in December, 1962. It has been a matter of debate as to which, if any, of Dylan's former girflriends inspired the song: Echo Helstrom, Bonnie Beecher or Suze Rotolo.
17-Feb-1969 Born on this day in Dallas, Texas was country music singer, songwriter, Jon Randall. He co-wrote the song "Whiskey Lullaby", which became a Top 5 hit when Brad Paisley recorded it as a duet with Alison Krauss.
24-Feb-1969 Johnny Cash recorded his second live album behind prison walls at San Quentin State Prison. The resulting album At San Quentin, contained his hit "A Boy Named Sue." During the concert, the song "San Quentin", about an inmate's loathing for the prison, received such an enthusiastic response that Cash immediately played an encore. The concert was also taped for television broadcast.
24-Feb-1969 Capitol records released "Galveston" by Glen Campbell. Written by Jimmy Webb the song was a #4 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the country music chart for Campbell. In 2003, the song ranked #8 in CMT's 100 Greatest Songs in Country Music.
8-Mar-1969 "Only the Lonely" a song written by written by Roy Orbison and Joe Melson gave country singer Sonny James a #1 hit on the Billboard country music charts.
12-Mar-1969 Country music winners at the 11th Annual Grammy Awards included; Best Country Vocal Performance, Female Jeannie C. Riley for "Harper Valley P.T.A.", Best Country Vocal Performance, Male - Johnny Cash for "Folsom Prison Blues", Best Country Performance, Duo or Group - Vocal or Instrumental - Flatt & Scruggs for "Foggy Mountain Breakdown", and Best Country Song - Bobby Russell (songwriter) for "Little Green Apples" performed by Roger Miller / O.C. Smith.
17-Mar-1969 Glen Campbell was at #1 on the US country album chart with his 12th album Wichita Lineman, which went on to spend a total of 46 weeks on the chart. The Jimmy Webb penned title track came while driving through Washita County in rural southwestern Oklahoma. Heading westward on a straight road into the setting sun, Webb drove past a seemingly endless line of telephone poles, each looking exactly the same as the last. Then, in the distance, he noticed the silhouette of a solitary lineman atop a pole.
28-Mar-1969 Born on this day in Knoxville, Tennessee, Rodney Atkins. Signed to Curb Records in 1996, he charted his first single on the Billboard country chart in 1997, but did not release an album until 2003's Honesty, which included the #4 hit "Honesty (Write Me a List)".
29-Mar-1969 Born on this day in Hamilton, Ohio, Brady Seals, (the cousin of Jim Seals of Seals & Crofts) and Dan Seals and Johnny Duncan. Seals made his debut in 1988 as co-lead vocalist and keyboardist in Little Texas, he later formed the band Hot Apple Pie who recorded a self-titled debut album for DreamWorks Records and charted three country singles, including the #26 hit "Hillbillies."
9-Apr-1969 Bob Dylan released his ninth studio album Nashville Skyline, which embraced country music. Twenty seven minutes long and with liner notes by Johnny Cash, (who also appeared on the record), at the time of release it was dismissed by some critics as lightweight, but included "Lay, Lady, Lay", a major hit single for Dylan.

16-Apr-1969 Johnny Cash recorded the first of his ABC-TV weekly shows Hello...I'm Johnny Cash at the Ryman Auditorium, kicking off with "Folsom Prison Blues." The show, which featured guests Glen Campbell, Jeannie C. Riley and Joe Tex, became the fifth episode to be aired.
19-Apr-1969 Glen Campbell was at #1 on the Billboard Country chart with the Jimmy Webb song "Galveston". The song describes a soldier waiting to go into battle who thinks of the woman he loves and his hometown of Galveston, Texas. In 2003, this song ranked #8 in CMT's 100 Greatest Songs in Country Music.
20-Apr-1969 Born on this day in Bethel Acres, Oklahoma, was Wade Hayes, singer, songwriter, who scored the 1995 US #1 single "Old Enough to Know Better." In 2003, he founded the duo McHayes with Alan Jackson's fiddle player Mark McClurg.
28-Apr-1969 Winners at the Academy of Country Music Awards hosted by Dick Clark at The Palladium, Hollywood included: Man of the Year - Tom Smothers, Top Female Vocalist of the Year - Cathie Taylor, Top Male Vocalist of the Year - Glen Campbell, Top Vocal Group - Johnny Mosby and Jonie Mosby, Most Promising Female Vocalist of the Year - Cheryl Poole and Most Promising Male Vocalist of the Year went to Ray Sanders.
1-May-1969 Bob Dylan recorded an appearance for The Johnny Cash Show at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. After two solo numbers from Dylan, Johnny Cash joined him for a rendition of "Girl From The North Country." In this primetime show, Cash enjoyed booking contemporary performers as guests; Neil Young, Kenny Rogers and The First Edition (who appeared a record four times on his show), James Taylor, Ray Charles and Eric Clapton were all booked to appear on forthcoming shows.
2-May-1969 Glen Campbell was at #1 on the Country singles chart with the Jimmy Webb song "Galveston", which also made #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song is now considered as the official anthem of Galveston Island and the City of Galveston, Texas.
11-May-1969 Glen Campbell was at #1 on the Billboard country album chart with Galveston. The singers thirteenth studio album spent 11 weeks at #1 and 26 weeks on the chart. The title track written by Jimmy Webb, describes a soldier waiting to go into battle who thinks of the woman he loves and his hometown of Galveston, Texas.
14-May-1969 Merle Haggard was at #1 on the country charts with "Hungry Eyes" one of the most famous of his career. "Hungry Eyes" is a tribute to Oklahomans and others who lived in labor camps during the Great Depression, the time period in which this song is set.

16-May-1969 Roger Miller recorded a version of the Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster song "Me and Bobby McGee". His version peaked at #12 on the Country charts in August of this year.

22-May-1969 Glen Campbell was at #1 on the Billboard country album chart with Galveston. The singers thirteenth studio album spent 11 weeks at #1 and 26 weeks on the chart. The title track written by Jimmy Webb, describes a soldier waiting to go into battle who thinks of the woman he loves and his hometown of Galveston, Texas.
26-May-1969 Bill Anderson was at #1 on the Country singles chart with "My Life (Throw it Away If I Want To)". Despite spending just two weeks atop the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, "My Life (Throw it Away If I Want To)" was named the #1 song of 1969. Several other songs - most notably Johnny Cash's "Daddy Sang Bass" and "A Boy Named Sue," and Merle Haggard's "Okie from Muskogee" - had longer runs at #1.
2-Jun-1969 Glen Campbell was at #1 on the Billboard country album chart with Galveston. The singers thirteenth studio album spent 11 weeks at #1 and 26 weeks on the chart. The title track written by Jimmy Webb, describes a soldier waiting to go into battle who thinks of the woman he loves and his hometown of Galveston, Texas.
4-Jun-1969 Johnny Cash released At San Quentin, his 31st overall album and a recording of a live concert given by Cash to the inmates of San Quentin State Prison. As well as being released on record the concert was filmed by Granada Television from the UK. The album was a follow-up to Cash's previous live album, the critically acclaimed and commercially successful At Folsom Prison.
7-Jun-1969 The Johnny Cash Show premiered on ABC TV; from the Grand Ole Opry with special guest Bob Dylan and the regular cast, Tennessee Three, June Carter and Carter Family, Statler Brothers, and Carl Perkins, stepping in for Luther Perkins, (who has just died accidentally in house fire). Bob Wootton became a permanent replacement in Cash's band, and a mainstay for the next three decades.
8-Jun-1969 Tammy Wynette was at #1 on the country charts with "Singing My Song" who she co-wrote with Billy Sherrill and Glenn Sutton. "Singing My Song" was Tammy Wynette's fifth #1 on the country charts as a solo artist and spent a total of fourteen weeks on the charts.

11-Jun-1969 True Grit the American western film directed by Henry Hathaway, starring John Wayne and Glen Campbell was released. The film gave Campbell a Golden Globe nomination for 'Most Promising Newcomer'.
14-Jun-1969 Special guests on the second edition of The Johnny Cash ABC television music variety show included, Gordon Lightfoot, Dan Blocker, Joey Scarbury, The Carter Family and The Statler Brothers.
18-Jun-1969 Glen Campbell was at #1 on the Billboard country album chart with Galveston. The singers thirteenth studio album spent 11 weeks at #1 and 26 weeks on the chart. The album features session drummer Hal Blaine who has played on 50 #1 hits and worked with numerous artists including Elvis Presley, John Denver, The Ronettes, Simon & Garfunkel, The Carpenters, and The Beach Boys.
21-Jun-1969 Special guests on this week's Johnny Cash ABC television music variety show included, Eddie Albert, Jerry Reed and Linda Ronstadt.
5-Jul-1969 Special guests on this week's Johnny Cash ABC television music variety show included, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Doug McClure and The Cowsills. Johnny performed a version of "Custer Don't Ride Very Good Any" with Buffy Sainte-Marie.
12-Jul-1969 Glen Campbell appeared as a special guest on this week's Johnny Cash ABC television music variety show along with Joe Tex and Jeannie C. Riley. Glenn performed "Some Day Little Girl" and "Take My Hand For Awhile".
16-Jul-1969 Sonny James was at #1 on the US Country singles chart with "Running Bear." Johnny Preston first sang the song in 1959 with background vocals by The Big Bopper and George Jones, who did the "Indian chanting" of "UGO UGO" during the three verses, as well as the "Indian war cries".

19-Jul-1969 Special guests on this week's Johnny Cash ABC television music variety show included, Ed Ames, Roy Clark, The Monkees and Joni Mitchell. Cash introduced The Monkees by playing the first verse of their hit "Last Train To Clarksville" with The Monkees on backing vocals, The Monkees then performed a version of the Johnny Cash song "Everybody Loves a Nut", with Cash.
26-Jul-1969 Johnny Cash released the single, "A Boy Named Sue", a song written by Shel Silverstein. Cash was at the height of his popularity when he recorded the song live at California's San Quentin State Prison at a concert on February 24, 1969. The song tells the tale of a young man's quest for revenge on a father who abandoned him at 3 years of age and whose only contribution to his entire life was naming him Sue.

2-Aug-1969 Special guests on this week's Johnny Cash ABC television music variety show included, O.C. Smith, Merle Haggard, Merrilee Rush and Carl Perkins. Merle played "The Fugitive/The Highway Is My Home" and a version of Jimmie Rodgers' "No Hard Times," then joined Cash for a duet on "Sing Me Back Home."
4-Aug-1969 Johnny Cash was at #1 on the US Country chart with At San Quentin a recording of a live concert given to the inmates of San Quentin State Prison. The album was nominated for a number of Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year and won Best Male Country Vocal Performance for "A Boy Named Sue."
9-Aug-1969 Special guests on this week's Johnny Cash ABC television music variety show included, Diana Trask, Pat Boone who sand a duet "Peace In The Valley" with Cash and Tom T. Hall who played "The Ballad of $40."
12-Aug-1969 Charley Pride was at #1 on the Country charts with 'All I Have to Offer You (Is Me)'. In doing so he accomplished a feat not done in 25 years: an African American entertainer having a #1 hit on the Billboard country chart. The last song by a black performer to reach the summit was "Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby" by Louis Jordan, in July 1944. Pride became the third black singer to have a #1 country hit (the Nat King Cole-led King Cole Trio had a #1 hit earlier in 1944).
16-Aug-1969 Merle Haggard's "Workin' Man Blues" was at #1 on the Billboard country singles chart. The song is Haggard's tribute to a core group of his fans: The American blue-collared working man.
16-Aug-1969 Special guests on this week's Johnny Cash ABC television music variety show included, O.C. Smith, (who performed "Son Of A Hickory Holler's Tramp" with Cash), Kenny Rogers and The First Edition, (who performed "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town"), Melanie and Grandpa Jones.
19-Aug-1969 Born on this day in Beaumont, Texas, was Clay Walker, Jr. country music artist. His 1993 debut single "What's It to You," reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles charts, as did its follow-up, 1994's "Live Until I Die." Both singles were included on Walker's self-titled debut album, also released in 1993.
23-Aug-1969 Johnny Cash was at #1 on the Billboard country singles chart with "A Boy Named Sue". The song tells the tale of a young man's quest for revenge on a father who abandoned him at 3 years of age and whose only contribution to his entire life was naming him Sue, commonly a feminine name, which results in the young man suffering from ridicule and harassment by everyone he meets in his travels. Also on this day Chet Atkins appeared as the special guest on this week's Johnny Cash ABC television music variety show.
23-Aug-1969 Born on this day in Kingsport, Tennessee, was Barry Bales, bassist who became a member of Alison Krauss' bluegrass band, Union Station, performing on "When You Say Nothing At All" and The Soggy Bottom Boys' "I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow".
30-Aug-1969 Roger Miller was the special guest on this week's Johnny Cash ABC television music variety show. Roger performed "Me And Bobby Magee" and a short comedy version of "I Walk The Line".
5-Sep-1969 Johnny Cash was at #1 on the US Country chart with At San Quentin a recording of a live concert given to the inmates of San Quentin State Prison. The album, which spent 20 weeks at the top of the chart, was nominated for a number of Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year and won Best Male Country Vocal Performance for "A Boy Named Sue."
6-Sep-1969 Special guests on this week's Johnny Cash ABC television music variety show included, Charley Pride and Ian & Sylvia. Charlie performed a medley; Tribute to Hank Williams with Johnny Cash.
16-Sep-1969 Johnny Cash was at #1 on the Billboard country singles chart with "A Boy Named Sue". The song tells the tale of a young man's quest for revenge on a father who abandoned him at 3 years of age and whose only contribution to his entire life was naming him Sue, commonly a feminine name, which results in the young man suffering from ridicule and harassment by everyone he meets in his travels.
20-Sep-1969 Special guests on this week's Johnny Cash ABC television music variety show included, Cass Elliot, Ramblin' Jack Elliot, The Staple Singers and Tommy Cash. Jack Elliot performed "If I Were A Carpenter" then he and Cash dueted on "Take Me Home."
27-Sep-1969 Special guests on this week's Johnny Cash ABC television music variety show included, Roy Orbison, Creedence Clearwater Revival, (who performed "Bad Moon Rising"), Phil Harris and Bobbi Martin. Roy Orbison performed a version of "Pretty Woman" with Cash and "Crying".
28-Sep-1969 Born on this day, in Gary, Indiana, was Karen Fairchild, singer, songwriter with Little Big Town, who have charted over 12 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts and scored the 2010 #1 album The Reason Why.
29-Sep-1969 Capitol Records released "Okie from Muskogee" by Merle Haggard. The song which became one of the most famous of his career was written by Haggard after being released from San Quentin Prison. He said that he became disheartened watching Vietnam War protests and incorporated that emotion and viewpoint into song.
29-Sep-1969 Dolly Parton released her fourth studio album, My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy, which gave the singer her first top 10 hit of the album chart, (peaking at #6). The man in the corner of the album cover is her reclusive longtime husband, Carl Dean.
3-Oct-1969 Johnny Cash was at #1 on the US Country music album chart with At San Quentin which was a live concert given to the inmates of San Quentin State Prison, the follow-up to Cash's previous live album, the critically acclaimed At Folsom Prison. The album was nominated for a number of Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year and won Best Male Country Vocal Performance for "A Boy Named Sue".

6-Oct-1969 Johnny Cash was at #1 on the US Country chart with At San Quentin a recording of a live concert given to the inmates of San Quentin State Prison. The album, which spent 20 weeks at the top of the chart was nominated for a number of Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year and won Best Male Country Vocal Performance for "A Boy Named Sue."

8-Oct-1969 Sonny James was at #1 on the Country charts with his version of "Since I Met You Baby", James' third cover song released during 1969, (the other two being "Only the Lonely" and "Running Bear"). Supposedly recorded live (the song's introduction and fade out features a cheering audience), the audience was added to the studio recording.
12-Oct-1969 Born on this day in York, Pennsylvania, was Martie Maguire, singer-songwriter, violin and gutar with the Dixie Chicks and Court Yard Hounds. Of the Dixie Chicks' twenty-five singles, six have reached #1 on the Billboard country singles chart: "There's Your Trouble", "Wide Open Spaces", "You Were Mine", "Cowboy Take Me Away", "Without You", and "Travelin' Soldier".

13-Oct-1969 Born on this day in Valdosta, Georgia, was Rhett Akins, Country singer, songwriter who scored the 1996 US Country #1 hit "Don't Get Me Started." Akins has written singles for other country music singers, primarily as one-third of the songwriting team The Peach Pickers alongside Dallas Davidson and Ben Hayslip.
15-Oct-1969 Johnny Cash was at #1 on the US Country music album chart with At San Quentin, which was a live concert given to the inmates of San Quentin State Prison the follow-up to Cash's previous live album, the critically acclaimed At Folsom Prison. The album was nominated for a number of Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year and won Best Male Country Vocal Performance for "A Boy Named Sue".

15-Oct-1969 Born on this day was Kimberly Roads from Little Big Town. All of their albums have accounted for over 20 singles on Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay, including the No. 1 singles "Pontoon", "Girl Crush", and "Better Man."
26-Oct-1969 Waylon Jennings married Country singer Jessi Colter in Phoenix, Arizona (his third marriage). The couple remained together until Jennings's death in 2002.
10-Nov-1969 Johnny Cash broke the attendance record at the Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, playing before 18,106 people, the largest indoor crowd that Cash had performed for. The record gross of $93,000 outdistanced even The Beatles.
15-Nov-1969 Earl Scruggs played his Grammy winning "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" on an open-air stage in Washington, D.C., at the Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam, becoming one of the very few bluegrass or country-western artists to give support to the anti-war movement. The march attracted over 500,000 demonstrators against the war, including many performers and activists.
23-Nov-1969 The state of California agreed to parole American Western swing singer Spade Cooley (he had served eight years for murdering his wife), one of the conditions was that he played a benefit concert for the Deputy Sheriffs Association of Alameda County. During the intermission, after a standing ovation, Cooley suffered a fatal heart attack in the backstage area.
27-Nov-1969 Johnny Cash was at #1 on the US Country chart with At San Quentin a recording of a live concert given to the inmates of San Quentin State Prison. The album was nominated for a number of Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year and won Best Male Country Vocal Performance for "A Boy Named Sue."
5-Dec-1969 Johnny Cash appeared at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The concert was recorded and released as an album in 2002 (making it his 86th overal album release).
23-Dec-1969 Merle Haggard recorded "The Fightin' Side Of Me" in Los Angeles at the Capitol Recording Studios. The following, "The Fightin' Side of Me" was nominated for Song of the Year and Single of the Year by the Country Music Association.
1-Jan-1970 Johnny Cash released his 33rd album Hello, I'm Johnny Cash on Columbia Records which peaked at #1 on the Country charts. "If I Were a Carpenter", a famous duet with Cash's wife, June Carter Cash taken from the album earned the couple a Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1971, the song also reached #2 on the Country charts.
3-Jan-1970 Charley Pride was at #1 with the compilation album The Best of Charley Pride, the record's third week in the top spot. It remained the atop the chart for a further 10 weeks before being displaced by Okie from Muskogee by Merle Haggard. Pride would go on to achieve two further #1's during the year.
21-Jan-1970 Special guests on this week's Johnny Cash ABC television music variety show included, Arlo Guthrie, Jose Feliciano (who performed a duet with Cash on "I Guess Things Happen That Way"), and Bobbie Gentry who performed "Fancy (Don't Let Me Down)" and a duet with Cash on "On The Banks Of The Old Pontchartrain."
28-Jan-1970 Special guests on this week's Johnny Cash ABC television music variety show included, Glen Campbell, Marty Robbins and Nancy Ames.
2-Feb-1970 Dolly Parton released her fifth solo studio album The Fairest of Them All which peaked at #13 on the US Billboard Hot Country LP's chart. The album's only single, "Daddy Come and Get Me", was released in December 1969.
11-Feb-1970 Special guests on this week's Johnny Cash ABC television music variety show included, Ray Charles, Neil Diamond and Tammy Wynette. Ray Charles performed a version of "Ring Of Fire", and a short version of "Walk The Line."
18-Feb-1970 Born on this day, was Raine Maida, Canadian musician best known as being the lead vocalist and primary songwriter of the alternative rock band Our Lady Peace. Maida began a solo career in 2006, releasing his first solo album The Hunters Lullaby in 2007. He also self-produced Our Lady Peace's seventh studio album, Burn Burn, in 2009.
21-Feb-1970 Born on this day in Chattanooga, Tennessee, was Eric Heatherly, country music artist who had the 2000 top 20 Country hit "Swimming in Champagne."
3-Mar-1970 Born on this day, was John Carter Cash American country singer-songwriter, author and producer, the only child that Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash had together. His half siblings include Rosanne Cash, Carlene Carter and Rosie Nix Adams. He began his work as a music producer with his mother June Carter Cash on her album, Press On, which won a Grammy in 1999, then went on to work under Rick Rubin as Associate Producer on his father Johnny Cash's Grammy winning records American III: Solitary Man and American IV: The Man Comes Around, the latter receiving three CMA awards.
11-Mar-1970 Country music winners at the 12th annual Grammy awards included; Best Country Vocal Performance "A Boy Named Sue" Johnny Cash, Best Albums Notes went to Johnny Cash (for Bob Dylan's Nashville Skyline) and Best Country Vocal Performance, Female went to Tammy Wynette for "Stand By Your Man."

14-Mar-1970 Born on this day in Knoxville, Tennessee, was Kristian Bush, folk rock and country musician. From 1990 to 2001, Kristian was a member of the folk rock duo Billy Pilgrim along with Andrew Hyra. After leaving Billy Pilgrim, Bush joined Kristen Hall in the group Sugarland. The group Sugarland were the next act scheduled to appear onstage at the Indiana State Fair stage collapse of August 13, 2011.
15-Mar-1970 Merle Haggard was at #1 on the Country chart with "The Fightin' Side of Me." It was released in December 1969 as the first single and title track from the album The Fightin' Side of Me. The song became one of the most famous of his career.

23-Mar-1970 Merle Haggard was at #1 on the US Country chart with "The Fightin' Side of Me", one of the most famous of his career. In reference to his own 2002 patriot song, "Courtesy of the Red, White, & Blue (The Angry American)", Toby Keith once called this song "the original Angry American song."

29-Mar-1970 Johnny Cash was at #1 on the Country album chart with Hello, I'm Johnny Cash, his 33rd album release. The album featured "If I Were a Carpenter", the famous duet with his wife, June Carter Cash, which earned the couple a Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1971.
7-Apr-1970 The single "Tennessee Bird Walk" by the country music husband-and-wife duo Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan was at #1 on the country chart. "Tennessee Bird Walk" is a novelty song theorizing on the effects of removing the wings, feathers, singing ability, and common sense from birds.

13-Apr-1970 Marty Robbins received the Man of the Decade Award from the Academy of Country Music. The Grammy Award winner had suffered a major heart attack earlier in the year.

13-Apr-1970 Winners at the 5th Academy of Country Music Awards hosted by Buddy Ebson included: Bob Wills who won the Pioneer Award, The Jim Reeves Memorial Award went to Joe Allison, Tammy Wynette won Top Female Vocalist of the Year, Merle Haggard won Top Male Vocalist of the Year and Song of the Year went to Merle Haggard for "Okie From Muskogee".
17-Apr-1970 Jim Reeves was at #1 on the Country singles chart with "He'll Have to Go". Reeves recorded what became one of country music's biggest hits ever after listening to a version recorded by singer Billy Brown. The track was first released to country radio as the B-side of the intended hit, "In a Mansion Stands My Love." However, "Mansion" failed to catch on, and disc jockeys began playing the B-side instead where it remained at the top of the charts for 14 consecutive weeks.

17-Apr-1970 Johnny Cash played at the White House with June Carter and The Statler Brothers for President Nixon, who requested that he played "A Boy Named Sue." Cash declined Nixon's request to do Merle Haggard's "Okie From Muskogee" but did perform "Folsom Prison Blues", "Peace In The Valley" and "What Is Truth."
18-Apr-1970 Johnny Cash was at #1 on the Country album chart with Hello, I'm Johnny Cash, his 33rd album release. The album featured "If I Were a Carpenter", the famous duet with his wife, June Carter Cash, which earned the couple a Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1971.
27-Apr-1970 Tammy Wynette released her seventh studio album Tammy's Touch which peaked at #1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart, Wynette's second album to top the chart. The album's first single, "I'll See Him Through", peaked at #2 on the Country Singles chart, and the second single, "He Loves Me All the Way", peaked at #1, Wynette's eighth song to top the chart.
6-May-1970 Marty Robbins was at #1 on the US Country chart with, "My Woman, My Woman, My Wife", his fourteenth #1 hit on the country chart. The song won Robbins a Grammy Award for Best Country Song the following year.

7-May-1970 Merle Haggard was at #1 on the Country music album chart with Okie from Muskogee. The album won the Academy of Country Music award for Album of the Year in 1969. Haggard also won Single of the Year for "Okie from Muskogee" as well as Top Male Vocalist.

10-May-1970 Decca records released "Coal Miner's Daughter" by Loretta Lynn. The autobiographical song became Lynn's signature song, one of the genre's most widely-known songs, and provided the basis for both her autobiography and a movie on her life. In addition to reaching #1 on the Country charts, "Coal Miner's Daughter" also became Lynn's first single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #83.
22-May-1970 Merle Haggard was at #1 on the Country music album chart with Okie from Muskogee. The album won the Academy of Country Music award for Album of the Year in 1969. Haggard also won Single of the Year for "Okie from Muskogee" as well as Top Male Vocalist.
26-May-1970 Born on this day in Georgetown, Texas, was country music artist, Keith Gattis, who has written songs for George Jones, Kid Rock, Randy Houser, Charlie Robison, Gary Allan, Ashley Monroe, Waylon Payne, Sara Evans and the Eli Young Band.
30-May-1970 Merle Haggard was at #1 on the Country music album chart with Okie from Muskogee. The album won the Academy of Country Music award for Album of the Year in 1969. Haggard also won Single of the Year for "Okie from Muskogee" as well as Top Male Vocalist.
21-Jun-1970 Conway Twitty held the #1 position on the country charts with "Hello Darlin'". Twitty's fourth #1 song was named the #1 song of 1970 and aside from being Twitty's standard concert opener, the song became a country standard as well as his signature song.
5-Jul-1970 Tammy Wynette was at #1 on the Country singles chart with "He Loves Me All the Way." Written by Billy Sherrill, Norro Wilson, and Carmol Taylor, it became Tammy Wynette's seventh #1 solo hit on the country charts.
8-Jul-1970 Born on this day in Brownwood, Texas, was Drew Womack, singer, songwriter with Sons Of The Desert. Womack wrote Kenny Chesney's "She's Got It All", from his 1997 album I Will Stand, which became Chesney's first #1 single on the country charts.
10-Jul-1970 Born on this day in Columbus, Ohio, was Gary LeVox, guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter with the American country trio Rascal Flatts who have scored 11 US Country #1's.
10-Jul-1970 Johnny Cash recorded his third live album at the Grand Ole Opry as a tie-in with Cash's then-current TV series of the same title The Johnny Cash Show. It spawned the highly successful single "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", which helped kickstart the career of singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson. The song and album both reached #1 on the Country charts.
25-Jul-1970 Born on this day in Norwich, Connecticut was drummer Rich Redmond. He worked with Rushlow, and later became a member of Jason Aldean's band, playing on "Big Green Tractor," "Dirt Road Anthem" and "She's Country"
22-Aug-1970 Born on this day in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia was George Canyon Canadian country singer. He was runner up in Nashville Star 2 in 2004.
24-Aug-1970 Born on this day near Magna, Utah, was Kristyn Osborn. With sisters Kristyn and Kassidy, she formed SHeDAISY, whose 1999 debut album, The Whole SHeBANG, won them a nomination from the Academy of Country Music for top new duet or group. Their hits include "Little Good-Byes," "This Woman Needs", "I Will� But", "Don't Worry 'bout a Thing".

25-Aug-1970 Born on this day in Framingham, Massachusetts, was Jo Dee Marie Messina country music singer, songwriter, who has scored nine #1 singles on the Billboard country music charts. She has been honored by the Country Music Association, The Academy of Country Music and has been nominated for two Grammy Awards. She was the first female country artist to score three multiple-week #1 songs from the same album.
27-Aug-1970 Born on this day in Barrie, Ontario, was Jason McCoy, who has won many awards including the 2001 Male Vocalist of the Year at the Canadian Country Music Awards. McCoy was a member of the country-rock group The Road Hammers from 2005-2010.
5-Sep-1970 Janis Joplin started recording sessions recording a version of the Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster song "Me and Bobby McGee". Joplin, (who was a lover and a friend of Kristofferson's from the beginning of her career to her death), topped the US singles chart with the song in 1971 after her death, making the song the second posthumous #1 single in US chart history after the 1968 "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" by Otis Redding.
10-Sep-1970 Lynn Anderson recorded "Rose Garden" at the Columbia Recording Studios in Nashville. Anderson's version of "Rose Garden" remains one of the most successful country crossover recordings of all-time. The track topped the US Billboard country chart for five weeks, reached No.3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 pop chart and was a major hit in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, Norway and the UK.
4-Oct-1970 Born on this day in Healdsburg, California, was country music artist Heidi Newfield. She was lead singer, rhythm guitarist and harmonica player for Trick Pony, from 1996 until 2006, when she left in pursuit of a solo career. She made her solo chart debut in 2008 with the single, "Johnny & June" which peaked at #11 on the Hot Country Songs charts.
5-Oct-1970 Tammy Wynette released her eighth studio album The First Lady which peaked at #2 on the Billboard Country Albums chart. The album's single, "Run, Woman, Run", peaked at #1 on the Country Singles chart, Wynette's ninth song to top the chart.
10-Oct-1970 Merle Haggard was at #1 on the country music album chart with The Fightin' Side of Me. The title track (like the song "Okie from Muskogee") became a success and gave Haggard a #1 hit single.
24-Oct-1970 "Run Woman Run" by Tammy Wynette was at #1 on the Country charts. Written by Ann Booth, Duke Goff, and Dan Hoffman, it spent two weeks at the top and a total of thirteen weeks on the country charts and became the 8th chart topper for Wynette.
25-Oct-1970 Born on this day in Kansas City, Missouri, was Chely Wright, Country music singer, songwriter. Her first Top 40 country hit came in 1997 with "Shut Up and Drive". Two years later, her fourth album yielded her first #1 single, the title track, "Single White Female".
7-Nov-1970 Merle Haggard was at #1 on the country music album chart with The Fightin' Side of Me. The title track (like the song "Okie from Muskogee") became a success and gave Haggard a #1 hit single.
14-Nov-1970 Merle Haggard was at #1 on the country music album chart with The Fightin' Side of Me. The title track (like the song "Okie from Muskogee") became a success and gave Haggard a #1 hit single.
15-Nov-1970 Born on this day in The Woodlands, Texas, was Jack Ingram country music singer, songwriter who scored the 2005 US #1 Country hit "Wherever You Are". Ingram has sent six other songs into the country Top 40: "Love You," a cover version of Hinder's "Lips of an Angel," "Measure of a Man," "Maybe She'll Get Lonely," "That's a Man" and "Barefoot and Crazy."

20-Nov-1970 Merle Haggard was at #1 on the Country album chart with The Fightin' Side of Me which was recorded live in Philadelphia, on Valentine's Day 1970.
9-Dec-1970 Born on this day in Humble, Texas, was David Kersh country music singer who made his debut in 1996. His #3 single "Another You" was written by a then-unknown Brad Paisley.
10-Dec-1970 Born on this day in Redding, California, was Kevin Sharp country music artist and author who made his debut on the country music scene in 1997 with a cover of R&B artist Tony Rich's single "Nobody Knows", a cover which topped the Billboard country charts for four weeks. Sharp died on 19th April 2014 after a long-running and high-profile battle with cancer.

18-Dec-1970 Born on this day Cowboy Troy, American musician who performs country rap (also referred to as "Hick-Hop"). He is a member of the MuzikMafia, an aggregation of country music singer-songwriters whose membership also includes Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson and James Otto. He scored the 2005 Country #2 album Loco Motive.
20-Dec-1970 Loretta Lynn was at #1 on the Country chart with "Coal Miner's Daughter." The song became Lynn's signature song, one of the most widely known Country songs, and provided the basis for both her autobiography and a movie on her life. It also became Lynn's first single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100.
29-Dec-1970 Lynn Anderson was at #1 on the US Country charts with "Rose Garden". Written by Joe South, the song was also a major pop hit internationally, topping the charts in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, Norway and hitting the top three in the United Kingdom. Anderson's version of "Rose Garden" remains one of the most successful country crossover recordings of all-time.

7-Jan-1971 Lynn Anderson was at #1 on the country music chart with "Rose Garden." The title track from her album stayed at the #1 position for four weeks. Anderson received a Grammy Award for the song for Best Female Country Vocal Performance.

13-Jan-1971 "Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'" by Charley Pride was at #1 on the US Country charts. The song has since become one of his signature tunes and became his eighth country #1 hit.

5-Feb-1971 Born on this day in Boonville, Missouri, was Sara Evans country singer and songwriter who scored the 1999 US #1 Country hit "No Place That Far." Her fifth #1 hit, "A Little Bit Stronger", was co-written by Hillary Scott of Lady Antebellum.
6-Feb-1971 The soundtrack album Little Fauss and Big Halsy was released, composed entirely of songs by country singer Johnny Cash (and is his 36th overal album). The album includes tracks written by Cash, Carl Perkins and Bob Dylan.
7-Feb-1971 Dolly Parton was at #1 on the Country chart with "Joshua" her first single to reach #1 on the US country charts. Parton received her first Grammy nomination in the Best Country Female Vocal category for the song, (losing to Lynn Anderson).
13-Feb-1971 Rose Garden by Lynn Anderson, was at #1 on the Country album chart, and remained at #1 for 12 consecutive weeks, the year's longest unbroken run atop the chart. It also marked a record for the longest uninterrupted run at #1 by a female vocalist which would stand until 1989, when Reba McEntire topped the listing for thirteen consecutive weeks with Sweet Sixteen.
15-Feb-1971 Dolly Parton released her sixth solo studio album The Golden Streets of Glory which peaked at #22 on the US Billboard Hot Country LP's chart.
16-Feb-1971 Lynn Anderson was at #1 on the country music album chart with Rose Garden. The title track went on to top the country charts, where it stayed at the #1 position for five weeks, and reached #3 on the pop charts in 1971. Anderson received a Grammy Award for the song for Best Female Country Vocal Performance.
22-Feb-1971 Sammi Smith was at #1 on the US Country chart with her country - pop crossover hit, "Help Me Make It Through the Night". Smith's version won a Grammy Award for Best Country Music Female performance. Written by Kris Kristofferson and released on his 1970 album Kristofferson, he later stated that he got the inspiration for the song from an magazine interview with Frank Sinatra. When asked what he believed in, Frank replied, "Booze, broads, or a bible...whatever helps me make it through the night."

27-Feb-1971 Sammi Smith was at #1 on the Country charts with her version of the Kris Kristofferson song "Help Me Make It Through the Night." Kristofferson said that he got the inspiration for the song from an Esquire magazine interview with Frank Sinatra. When asked what he believed in, Frank replied, "Booze, broads, or a bible...whatever helps me make it through the night." Other cover versions of the song appeared on early 1970s albums by Lynn Anderson, Loretta Lynn, Olivia Newton-John, Skeeter Davis, Tammy Wynette, and Dottie West.
4-Mar-1971 Born on this day in Gilmer, Texas, was Jason Sellers country music artist. Has worked with Ricky Skaggs, recorded two solo studio albums: 1997's I'm Your Man and 1999's A Matter of Time which produced five singles on the Country Singles charts; Jason has had continued success as a songwriter, with acts such as Lonestar, Kenny Chesney, and Montgomery Gentry all recording his songs.
10-Mar-1971 Born on this day in Cairo Georgia was Daryle Singletary, country music singer. Singletary entered the top 40 of the Hot Country Songs charts five times in the 90's, reaching #2 with "I Let Her Lie" and "Amen Kind of Love", and #4 with "Too Much Fun". He died on February 12, 2018 age 46.
16-Mar-1971 "If I Were a Carpenter" won Johnny Cash a Grammy for Best Country Performance by a Duo/Group at the 13th annual awards, (Cash's last Grammy for more than 15 years). Other Country music winners included; Best Country Vocal Performance, Female - Lynn Anderson for "Rose Garden", Best Country Vocal Performance, Male - Ray Price for "For the Good Times" and Best Country Song - Marty Robbins (songwriter) for "My Woman, My Woman, My Wife."
18-Mar-1971 Lynn Anderson was at #1 on the Country album charts with Rose Garden. It remained at the top of the charts for 14 weeks, the longest run at the top of that chart for any country female vocalist until Shania Twain's The Woman in Me) album in 1995.
20-Mar-1971 Janis Joplin started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart with her version of the Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster song "Me And Bobby McGee." Joplin, who was a lover and a friend of Kristofferson's from the beginning of her career to her death, changed the sex and a few of the lyrics in her cover. Kristofferson states he did not write this song for her, but the song is associated with her - especially, he has said, in the line "Somewhere near Salinas, Lord, I let her slip away." Joplin died of a drug overdose the year before on 4th October aged 27.
22-Mar-1971 Winners at the 6th Academy of Country Music Awards held at The Palladium in Hollywood hosted by Dick Clark included: Top Male Vocalist of the Year - Merle Haggard, Top Female Vocalist of the Year - Lynn Anderson, Top Vocal Group - Kimberleys, Song of the Year - Ray Price "For the Good Times", and Top Television Personality of the Year went to Johnny Cash.
31-Mar-1971 The final Johnny Cash television music variety show hosted by Johnny Cash was aired. The Screen Gems 58-episode series ran from June 7, 1969 to March 31, 1971 on ABC; it was taped at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. The show featured many folk-country musicians, such as Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Linda Ronstadt, Kris Kristofferson, Mickey Newbury, Neil Young, Gordon Lightfoot, Merle Haggard, James Taylor and Tammy Wynette.
3-Apr-1971 Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty were at #1 on the US country singles chart with "After the Fire Is Gone". The duet written by L.E. White was the only single released from the LP, We Only Make Believe. "After the Fire Is Gone" was the first chart topper for Lynn and Twitty as a duo.

4-Apr-1971 Born on this day in Saltville, Virginia, was Clay Davidson country music artist who released his debut album Unconditional in 2000. Its title track was a top 5 hit for him on the Billboard country charts, and the album produced two more Top 30 hits.
12-Apr-1971 RCA Records released "Take Me Home, Country Roads" by John Denver, from his 1971 breakout album Poems, Prayers and Promises. The single went to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of John Denver's most popular and world-wide beloved songs.
12-Apr-1971 Dolly Parton released here seventh solo studio album Joshua which peaked at #16 on the US Billboard Hot Country LPs chart. The album's single, "Joshua", was nominated for a Grammy and was Parton's first song to reach #1 on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.
22-Apr-1971 Born on this day in Moore, Oklahoma, was Kellie Coffey, country music artist. She made her debut in 2002 with the release of her single "When You Lie Next to Me", a Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles charts. Her debut album, also titled When You Lie Next to Me, was released the same year and in 2003, Coffey won the Top New Female Vocalist award from the Academy of Country Music.
25-Apr-1971 Lynn Anderson was at #1 on the country music album chart with Rose Garden. The title track went on to top the country charts, where it stayed at the #1 position for five weeks, and reached #3 on the pop charts in 1971. Anderson received a Grammy Award for the song for Best Female Country Vocal Performance.
26-Apr-1971 Born on this day in Columbus, Ohio, was Jay DeMarcus, bass guitarist, harmony vocalist, pianist and songwriter with the American country trio Rascal Flatts who have scored 11 US Country #1's.
30-Apr-1971 Born on this day in Grande Prairie, Alberta, was Carolyn Dawn Johnson, country music singer-songwriter. Johnson co-wrote Chely Wright's 1999 single, "Single White Female," which reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.
1-May-1971 Man in Black the 38th overall album by Johnny Cash was released. Many of the songs on the album contain political references, either broad or specific, while the title song refers both to Cash's tendency to wear black at live shows and to the tumultuous times in which the song was created, implying the Vietnam War.
14-May-1971 Johnny Cash appeared on the UK TV David Frost Show, where he talked about his career as well as performing "Man In Black" and "If I Were A Carpenter.'
16-May-1971 Born on this day in Houston, Texas, was Rick Trevino, a Mexican American country music artist who scored the 1997 US #1 Country hit "Running Out of Reasons to Run."
25-May-1971 Hag the thirteenth studio album by Merle Haggard was at #1 on the country chart, becoming his fifth album to top the Billboard country album charts.
6-Jun-1971 Lynn Anderson was at #1 on the country music album chart with Rose Garden. The title track went on to top the country charts, where it stayed at the #1 position for five weeks, and reached #3 on the pop charts in 1971. Anderson received a Grammy Award for the song for Best Female Country Vocal Performance.
29-Jun-1971 Jerry Reed was at #1 on the US Country chart with, "When You're Hot, You're Hot", his most successful on the country charts peaking at #1 for five weeks.
1-Jul-1971 Born on this day was American actress and comedian Melissa Peterman best known for her role as Barbra Jean in the television comedy series Reba.
23-Jul-1971 Born on this day in Decatur, Illinois, was Alison Maria Krauss, bluegrass-country singer, songwriter and fiddler. She released her first solo album in 1987 and then was invited to join the band with which she still performs, Alison Krauss and Union Station. Krauss recorded Raising Sand with Robert Plant in 2007 which was nominated for and won 5 Grammys at the 51st Grammy Awards.

25-Jul-1971 Sonny James was at #1 on the Country singles chart with "Bright Lights, Big City", James' fifteenth #1 hit in a row in the country chart.
30-Jul-1971 Born on this day, was Gordie Sampson, Canadian singer-songwriter and producer from Big Pond, Nova Scotia. He has written songs for Carrie Underwood ("Jesus, Take the Wheel", "Just A Dream", "Get Out Of This Town"), Martina McBride ("If I Had Your Name", "You're Not Leavin Me"), LeAnn Rimes ("Long Night", "Save Myself"), and George Canyon ("My Name").

25-Aug-1971 The Western movie A Gunfight directed by Lamont Johnson and starring Kirk Douglas and Johnny Cash was released across the US.
30-Aug-1971 Lynn Anderson was at #1 on the country music album chart with You're My Man, Anderson's fourth studio album. The record was a #1 hit on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart for seven weeks, Anderson's third (and to date, last) #1 on the chart. Produced by Anderson's husband Glenn Sutton, the title song was Anderson's second #1 record.
17-Sep-1971 Lynn Anderson was at #1 on the country music album chart with You're My Man, Anderson's fourth studio album. The record was a #1 hit on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart for seven weeks, Anderson's third (and to date, last) #1 on the chart. Produced by Anderson's husband Glenn Sutton, the title song was Anderson's second #1 record.
20-Sep-1971 Lynn Anderson was at #1 on the US Country album charts with You're My Man her fourth studio album for Columbia Records. The album stayed at #1 for a total of seven weeks.
28-Sep-1971 Born on this day, was Aimee Mayo, American songwriter, primarily known for writing country hits for artists such as Lonestar, Martina McBride, Sara Evans, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, and Kellie Pickler. Mayo was named BMI Songwriter of the Year in 2000. "Amazed," recorded by Lonestar that same year, is her most popular song to date.
2-Oct-1971 Lynn Anderson was at #1 on the country music album chart with You're My Man, Anderson's fourth studio album. The record was a #1 hit on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart for seven weeks, Anderson's third (and to date, last) #1 on the chart. Produced by Anderson's husband Glenn Sutton, the title song was Anderson's second #1 record.
4-Oct-1971 Dolly Parton released her eighth solo studio album Coat of Many Colors. The album was nominated for Album of the Year at the 1972 CMA Awards and Parton has cited the title track on numerous occasions as her personal favorite of all the songs she has written.
18-Oct-1971 George Jones and Tammy Wynette released "We Go Together", Jones' first album with Epic and his then wife Tammy Wynette. Jones' first album with producer Billy Sherrill went on to peak at #3 on the Country charts.
20-Oct-1971 Born on this day was Jimi Westbrook from Little Big Town. All of their albums have accounted for over 20 singles on Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay, including the No. 1 singles "Pontoon", "Girl Crush", and "Better Man."
30-Oct-1971 Dolly Parton released "Coat of Many Colors" as a single which peaked at #4 on the Country charts. Parton explained in her 1994 memoir, My Life and Other Unfinished Business she composed the song in 1969, while traveling with Porter Wagoner on a tour bus but because she had no paper, as the song came to her, she wrote it on the back of a dry cleaning receipt from one of Wagoner's suits; when the song became a hit, Wagoner had the receipt framed.
29-Nov-1971 Merle Haggard was at #1 on the Country chart with "Daddy Frank (The Guitar Man)". The first single from the album Let Me Tell You About a Song, became Haggard's tenth #1.
4-Dec-1971 George Strait married his high school sweetheart, Normain in Mexico. In this same year he enlisted in the United States Army and was stationed at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii as a part of the 25th Infantry Division.
28-Dec-1971 Charley Pride was at #1 on the Country singles chart with "Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'" his eighth song to reach the top of the country charts. The song has since become one of his signature tunes.
1-Jan-1972 Charley Pride's album Charley Pride Sings Heart Songs went to #1. Pride's album remained in the top spot for a total of 16 consecutive weeks. When it was eventually displaced from the top spot it was by the compilation album The Best of Charley Pride, Volume 2, which also spent 16 weeks at #1. Pride therefore topped the chart without interruption for 32 consecutive weeks. After five weeks out of the top spot, Pride returned to #1 with A Sunshiny Day with Charley Pride, which spent 10 weeks atop the chart, giving him a total of 42 weeks at #1 in 1972.
24-Jan-1972 Charley Pride was at #1 on the US Country charts with "Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'", his eighth song to reach the top of the charts.
27-Jan-1972 Born on this day in Bracebridge, Ontario was Deric Ruttan, Canadian country music artist. In September 2007, Ruttan was awarded his first Canadian Country Music Award (CCMA) for Songwriter Of The Year. His first #1 as a songwriter was with friend and collaborator Dierks Bentleys' "What Was I Thinkin.'"
29-Jan-1972 Merle Haggard was at #1 on the US Country charts with the Tommy Collins penned song "Carolyn", the singers eleventh chart topper.

30-Jan-1972 Born on this day in Austinburg, Ohio, Tammy Cochran, American country music artist. Her self titled debut album released in 2001 was followed a year later by Life Happened. These two albums produced a total of six chart singles of which the highest-charting was "Angels in Waiting" at #9.
10-Feb-1972 Born on this day in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was Dude Mowrey country music artist. His song "Cowboys Don't Cry", was later a Top 40 hit when Daron Norwood recorded it for his debut album three years after Mowrey's version.
12-Feb-1972 Charley Pride was at #1 on the US Country music album chart with Charley Pride Sings Heart Songs. In the early-to mid-1970s, he became the best-selling performer for RCA Records since Elvis Presley.
21-Feb-1972 Dolly Parton released "Touch Your Woman" which peaked at #6 on the US country singles charts. A number of country radio stations refused to play the track because they found the song too sexually suggestive.
23-Feb-1972 Born on this day in Dallas, Texas, Steve Holy, who has scored fifteen singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, including the #1 hits "Good Morning Beautiful" (which was featured in the movie Angel Eyes) and "Brand New Girlfriend".
6-Mar-1972 Dolly Parton released her ninth solo studio album Touch Your Woman. The album's title song and single, "Touch Your Woman", was nominated for Best Country Vocal Performance, Female, at the 15th Annual Grammy Awards.
13-Mar-1972 Winners at the Academy of Country Music Awards hosted by Dick Clark from Knott's Berry Farm Buena Park included: Top Female Vocalist of the Year - Loretta Lynn, Top Male Vocalist of the Year - Freddie Hart, Most Promising Female Vocalist of the Year - Barbara Mandell, Top Television Personality of the Year - Glen Campbell and Song of the Year - Freddie Hart "Easy Lovin'".
14-Mar-1972 California governor Ronald Reagan granted Country singer Merle Haggard a full pardon for all his past crimes. Haggard was arrested for attempting to rob a Bakersfield tavern in 1957 and was sent to the San Quentin state prison for three years.
15-Mar-1972 Country music winners at the 14th Annual Grammy Awards included; Best Country Vocal Performance, Female Sammi Smith for "Help Me Make It Through the Night", Best Country Vocal Performance, Male Jerry Reed for "When You're Hot, You're Hot", Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group, Loretta Lynn & Conway Twitty for "After the Fire Is Gone", Best Country Instrumental Performance Chet Atkins for "Snowbird" and Best Country Song, Kris Kristofferson (songwriter) for "Help Me Make It Through the Night" performed by Sammi Smith.
19-Mar-1972 Freddie Hart and the Heartbeats were at #1 on the country chart with "My Hang-Up Is You", Hart's second #1 on the US country singles chart. The single stayed at the top for six weeks and spent a total of eighteen weeks on the chart.
5-Apr-1972 Born on this day in San Antonio, Texas, was Pat Green who scored the 2003 #3 hit "Wave on Wave" from his gold-certified album of the same name.
5-Apr-1972 Freddie Hart and the Heartbeats were at #1 on the US Country chart with, "My Hang-Up Is You", Hart's second #1 on the US country singles chart. The single stayed at the top for six weeks and spent a total of eighteen weeks on the chart.
23-Apr-1972 Jerry Lee Lewis was at #1 on the Billboard Country Singles chart with "Chantilly Lace." Written by Jerry Foster, Bill Rice, and The Big Bopper, who released the song in 1958, the song depicts one side of a flirting telephone conversation, with a young man talking about what he likes about his girlfriend.
29-Apr-1972 Born on this day in Winter Park, Florida, was James Bonamy, American country music artist who scored the 1996 #2 Country hit "I Don't Think I Will".
14-May-1972 Merle Haggard was at #1 on the Country chart with "Grandma Harp" which was released as the second single from the album Let Me Tell You About a Song. "Grandma Harp" would become Merle Haggard's 12th #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.
23-May-1972 Born on this day in Bethesda, Maryland, was Brian McComas country music artist who scored the 2003 Top Ten single "99.9% Sure (I've Never Been Here Before)".
27-May-1972 Born on this day in Evansville, was Indiana Jace Everett country music singer who co-wrote Josh Turner's #1 single "Your Man". His song "Bad Things" is the theme for the HBO series True Blood.
3-Jun-1972 The Opryland USA country music theme park opened in Nashville. Opryland USA which was later called Opryland Themepark was an amusement park located in suburban Nashville, Tennessee. During the late 1980s, nearly 2.5 million people visited the park annually. Billed as the 'Home of American Music,' Opryland USA featured a large number of musical shows along with amusement park rides.
22-Jun-1972 American country music guitarist and singer-songwriter Elton Britt died aged 58. He recorded over 60 albums for RCA and is best known for such hit songs as "Someday (You'll Want Me to Want You)," "Detour," "Chime Bells," "Maybe I'll Cry Over You," "Pinto Pal," and the million-selling wartime hit "There's a Star-Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere".
30-Jun-1972 Opryland USA Theme Park and Opryland Hotel opened to the public well ahead of the Grand Ole Opry House, which debuted nearly two years later, on March 16, 1974. The opening night, was attended by US President Richard Nixon, who played a few songs on the piano.
17-Jul-1972 Born on this day in Wildwood, Florida, was country music singer Elizabeth Cook who released the single "Sometimes It Takes Balls To Be A Woman" which was co-written with Melinda Schneider.
21-Jul-1972 Born on this day in Calgary, Alberta, was Canadian country music artist Paul Brandt who made his mark on the country music charts with the single "My Heart Has a History," propelling him to international success and making him the first male Canadian country singer to reach to the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in the US since Hank Snow.

26-Jul-1972 Charley Pride was at #1 on the US Country singles chart with "It's Gonna Take a Little Bit Longer", his ninth #1 on the country chart. The single stayed at the top for three weeks and spent a total of fourteen weeks on the country chart.
4-Aug-1972 Born on this day in Muscle Shoals, Alabama was singer-songwriter John Paul White a member of the Grammy Award-winning duo The Civil Wars.
16-Aug-1972 Born on this day in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, was Emily Robinson, singer-songwriter, with the Dixie Chicks. Of the Dixie Chicks' twenty-five singles, six have reached #1 on the Billboard country singles chart: "There's Your Trouble", "Wide Open Spaces", "You Were Mine", "Cowboy Take Me Away", "Without You", and "Travelin' Soldier".
16-Aug-1972 Tammy Wynette's released what would become her twentieth hit on the country charts "My Man (Understands)". The single written by Billy Sherrill, Norro Wilson, and Carmol Taylor peaked at #1.
2-Sep-1972 Don Gibson was at #1 on the Country chart with "Woman (Sensuous Woman)." Gibson's final #1 on the country charts has also been covered by Ray Charles on his 1984 album Do I Ever Cross Your Mind, and later by Mark Chesnutt.
4-Sep-1972 The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A. the debut studio album by Donna Fargo was at #1 on the Country chart. The album was produced by Fargo's husband and manager Stan Silver and the album's title track became Fargo's first major hit and a crossover Country pop hit.
11-Sep-1972 Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton released the album Together Always. The album contains their hit "Lost Forever in Your Kiss", in addition to the humorous "Ten Four — Over and Out", which exploited the C.B. radio craze a few years before it became a major phenomenon in the US. The album peaked at #3 on the US Billboard Hot Country LP's chart.
17-Sep-1972 Faron Young who has international success with "It's Four in the Morning" - was charged with assault for spanking a girl in the audience at a concert in Clarksburg, West Virginia after claiming she spat on him. Young appeared before a Wood County, West Virginia justice of the peace and was fined $24, plus $11 in court costs. It was the first in a string of incidents involving Young, whose increasingly bizarre behavior would begin overshadowing his success.
25-Sep-1972 Tammy Wynette released her eleventh studio album My Man which peaked at #2 on the Billboard Country Albums chart. The album's three singles, "My Man" "Good Lovin' (Makes It Right) and "'Til I Get It Right", all peaked at #1 on the Country Singles chart.
2-Oct-1972 Dolly Parton released her tenth solo studio album My Favorite Songwriter, Porter Wagoner with all tracks being written by Porter Wagoner.
22-Oct-1972 Born on this day was Michael Elizondo American musician, songwriter, and record producer. He co-wrote Carrie Underwood's single, "Cowboy Casanova."
23-Oct-1972 Born on this day in Kings Mountain, North Carolina, was Jimmy Wayne country music singer and songwriter. He released his self-titled debut album in 2003, four singles were released from it, including "Stay Gone" and "I Love You This Much", which both reached Top Ten on the Billboard country charts. "Do You Believe Me Now" became his first #1 hit in late 2008.
28-Oct-1972 Born on this day in Wheeling, West Virginia, was Brad Paisley, singer-songwriter and musician. His style crosses between traditional country music and Southern rock, and his songs are frequently laced with humor and pop culture references. He scored the 2000 US Country #1 hit "We Danced."
14-Nov-1972 Born on this day in Franklin, Tennessee, was Will Hoge, a Grammy nominated American singer, songwriter and musician. Hoge co-wrote "Even If It Breaks Your Heart" the #1 hit for the Eli Young Band.
20-Nov-1972 Loretta Lynn released "Rated "X"" which became Lynn's sixth #1 country single as a solo artist. The song dealt with the stigma faced by divorced women during the early '70s, and was regarded as somewhat controversial at the time, due to its frank language.
28-Nov-1972 Charlie Rich recorded "Behind Closed Doors" which went on to give Rich his first #1 hit on the country charts. Written by Kenny O'Dell, some radio stations banned the record initially as being too racy.
1-Dec-1972 Charley Pride was at #1 on the Country charts with "She's Too Good to Be True". Written by written by Johnny Duncan, it became Pride's tenth #1 single.
12-Dec-1972 Born on this day in Nashville, Tennessee, was Hank Williams III, musician, singer and multi-instrumentalist who scored the 2008 #2 album Damn Right, Rebel Proud.
13-Dec-1972 "Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'" by Charley Pride was at #1 on the US Country charts. The song has since become one of his signature tunes and became his eighth country #1 hit. Both George Jones and Alan Jackson have covered the song.
31-Jan-1973 Merle Haggard was at #1 on the Billboard Country album chart with It's Not Love (But It's Not Bad). The title track was the lead off single which also reached #1 and gave Haggard his thirteenth #1 on the country chart.
4-Feb-1973 Charlie Rich was at #1 on the US country album chart with Behind Closed Doors. The album received three Country Music Association awards: Best Male Vocalist, Album of the Year, and Single of the Year, for the title song which gave the singer his first #1 hit.
26-Feb-1973 Winners at the 8th Academy of Country Music Awards hosted by Dick Clark included: Top Female Vocalist of the Year - Donna Fargo, Top Male Vocalist of the Year - Merle Haggard, Most Promising Female Vocalist of the Year - Tanya Tucker, Most Promising Male Vocalist of the Year - Johnny Rodriguez and Song of the Year Donna Fargo "Happiest Girl/USA".
26-Feb-1973 Loretta Lynn released her twenty-second solo studio album Entertainer of the Year which went on to peak at #1 on the Country music chart. This album was titled Entertainer of the Year after Lynn received the Entertainer of the Year award from the Country Music Association the previous year, becoming the first woman to win that award.
3-Mar-1973 Country music winners at the 15th Annual Grammy Awards (the first to be broadcast live on CBS), included; Best Country Vocal Performance, Female - Donna Fargo for "Happiest Girl in the Whole USA", Best Country Vocal Performance, Male - Charley Pride for Charley Pride Sings Heart Songs, Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group - The Statler Brothers for "Class of '57", Best Country Instrumental Performance - Charlie McCoy for Charlie McCoy/The Real McCoy, Best Country Song - Ben Peters (songwriter) for "Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'" performed by Charley Pride.
5-Mar-1973 Born on this day in Amarillo, Texas, was Trent Willmon, country music artist, who scored the 2006 top 20 album A Little More Livin'.
6-Mar-1973 Born on this day in Amarillo, Texas was country music artist Trent Willmon. Apart from releasing his own albums, as a songwriter he co-wrote Montgomery Gentry's 2009 single "Back When I Knew It All" and Steel Magnolia's 2010 single "Keep On Lovin'" and had a co-write on Brad Paisley's 5th Gear album.
7-Mar-1973 A song from the movie Deliverance called "Dueling Banjos" by Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandel became one of the few 1970s instrumentals to be awarded a Gold record. The record had topped the Cash Box Magazine Best Sellers list and reached No.2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

17-Mar-1973 Eric Weissberg was at #1 on the country album chart with Dueling Banjos. The song "Dueling Banjos" was composed in 1955 by Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith as a banjo instrumental called "Feudin' Banjos", which contained riffs from "Yankee Doodle". The version by Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandell went to #2 for four weeks on the Hot 100 in 1973. The song was made famous by the 1972 film Deliverance, which also led to a successful lawsuit by the song's composer, as it was used in the film without his permission.

28-Mar-1973 Barbara Fairchild was at #1 on the Country singles chart with "Teddy Bear Song". The song was Fairchild's only #1 song on the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles chart was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance by a Female in 1974, but did not win.
30-Mar-1973 Eric Weissberg was at #1 on the country music album chart with Dueling Banjos. The song "Dueling Banjos" was made famous by the 1972 film Deliverance, (starring Jon Voight and Burt Reynolds), which also led to a successful lawsuit by the song's composer, as it was used in the film without his permission.
2-Apr-1973 Dolly Parton released her eleventh solo studio album My Tennessee Mountain Home. The house pictured on the album cover was the house in which the Parton family lived during the late 1940s and early 1950s.
28-Apr-1973 Charlie Rich scored his first #1 on the Billboard country chart with "Behind Closed Doors", which spent 20 weeks on this chart, and also became a crossover hit on the pop charts. The song earned awards for Song of the Year (for writer Kenny O'Dell) and Single of the Year (for Rich) from both the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music, and Rich also received a Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance. In 2003, it ranked #9 in CMT's 100 Greatest Songs in Country Music.

3-May-1973 Born on this day in Greenfield, Ohio, was Brad Martin his debut 2002 album Wings of a Honky-Tonk Angel, produced the #15 single "Before I Knew Better". Martin died in Nashville on March 11, 2022, at the age of 48.
7-May-1973 Charlie Rich was at #1 on the US Country singles chart with "Behind Closed Doors". The single became Rich's first #1 hit on the country charts, and also became a crossover hit on the pop charts. "Behind Closed Doors" earned awards for Song of the Year and Single of the Year from both the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music, and Rich also received a Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance. In 2003, it ranked #9 in CMT's 100 Greatest Songs in Country Music.
22-May-1973 Dolly Parton recorded the song "Jolene" during sessions at RCA Studio B in Nashville. Released in October 15, 1973 the song became Parton's second #1 hit on the Billboard US Country charts.
6-Jun-1973 Born on this day in Surrey, British Columbia, was Canadian country music singer/songwriter and actress, Lisa Brokop, who has charted more than twenty singles on the country music charts in her native Canada.
12-Jun-1973 Dolly Parton recorded "I Will Always Love You" during sessions at RCA's Studio B in Nashville. Parton wrote the song for her one-time partner and mentor Porter Wagoner, from whom she was separating professionally after a seven-year partnership. When released in March 1974 the song reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Whitney Houston's version of the song for the 1992 film The Bodyguard holds the record for being the best-selling single by a woman in music history.
13-Jun-1973 Dolly Parton recorded "I Will Always Love You" which was released as the second single from Parton's thirteenth solo studio album, Jolene. Parton wrote the song for her one-time partner and mentor Porter Wagoner, from whom she was professionally splitting at the time. Singer Whitney Houston recorded a hugely successful version of the song for the 1992 film The Bodyguard.
23-Jun-1973 Charlie Rich was at #1 on the US country album chart with Behind Closed Doors. The album received three Country Music Association awards: Best Male Vocalist, Album of the Year, and Single of the Year, for the title song which gave the singer his first #1 hit.
26-Jun-1973 Born on this day in Pocahontas, Illinois, was country singer, songwriter, Gretchen Wilson who made her debut in 2004 with the Grammy Award-winning single "Redneck Woman," a #1 hit on the Billboard country charts. She has since charted 13 singles on the charts, of which five have reached Top Ten and has now sold over 6 million records worldwide.

26-Jun-1973 Kyle Jacobs, American country music songwriter, vocalist, guitarist, pianist. Jacobs was the co-writer on Garth Brooks' single, "More Than a Memory", which became the first song to debut at #1 on Billboard's Country Singles chart. He was also a staff writer for Curb Music from 2003 until his death on 17 February 2023.
8-Jul-1973 Kris Kristofferson was at #1 on the Country charts with "Why Me." The single features backing vocals by soon-to-be wife Rita Coolidge and up-and-coming singer-songwriter Larry Gatlin and was included on the album, Jesus Was a Capricorn. The song became the biggest hit of his career.
11-Jul-1973 Born on this day in Hollywood, Florida, was Scotty Emerick, country music artist, known primarily for his work with Toby Keith. Amongst his co-writing credits are the #1's "I'm Just Talkin' About Tonight," the Willie Nelson duet "Beer for My Horses," "I Love This Bar," "Whiskey Girl," and "As Good as I Once Was", as well as the Top Five hits "Get Drunk and Be Somebody" and "A Little Too Late."
12-Jul-1973 Born on this day in Taylorsville, Kentucky, was Shannon Lawson country music artist. Lawson co-wrote former Alabama lead singer Randy Owen's 2008 single "Like I Never Broke Her Heart" and James Otto's 2008 single "These Are the Good Ole Days".
12-Jul-1973 Born on this day was American country music singer-songwriter Troy Olsen who co-wrote Blake Shelton's 2009 single "I'll Just Hold On" and Tim McGraw's "Ghost Town Train," a cut from the album Southern Voice.
14-Jul-1973 Billboard increased the number of positions for its Hot Country Singles chart to 100 (up from 75), which it would keep until January 1990. The expansion came at a time when the number of #1 songs in a given year continued to increase; for the first time in history, there are at least 35 #1 songs in one year.
14-Jul-1973 Bluegrass/country guitarist Clarence White (of The Byrds) died at 29 after being hit by a drunk driver. He was loading equipment into his car after a gig in Palmdale, California, when he was struck.
21-Jul-1973 Jeanne Pruett was at #1 on the country album chart with Satin Sheets, the singer's second studio album. The album contained Pruett's first major hit and signature song of the same name as the album. The single reached #1 on the Billboard Country Chart.
29-Jul-1973 Born on this day was James Otto, country music singer, songwriter, who is a member of the MuzikMafia, a group of country musicians known for their "country music without prejudice". Otto began his career on Mercury Nashville Records in 2002, charting three minor singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts and recording his debut album Days of Our Lives. He scored the 2008 US Country #1 hit "Just Got Started Lovin' You."
8-Aug-1973 Born on this day in Cleveland, Tennessee, was Mark Wills, country music artist who scored the 1999 US #1 Country hit "Wish You Were Here."
9-Aug-1973 "Lord, Mr. Ford" by Jerry Reed was at #1 on the Country chart, Reed's second of three #1's. "Lord, Mr. Ford" is a satire on the social, cultural and economic influence the automobile has had on the American public. The lyrics bemoan the fact that a seemingly simple invention to assist mankind has instead brought nothing but grief.
10-Aug-1973 Born on this day, was Jennifer Hanson, country singer, songwriter, (well as a former Miss California). Hanson who is married to songwriter Mark Nesler has also written singles for other artists, including "Leave the Pieces" for The Wreckers, and "A Different World" for Bucky Covington, a co-write with Nesler, and "Let Me Down Easy" for Billy Currington. She also co-wrote "Country Strong" for Gwyneth Paltrow for the movie of the same name.

13-Aug-1973 Born on this day in West Monroe, Louisiana, was Andy Griggs country music artist who scored "You Won't Ever Be Lonely" and "She's More", both of which peaked at #2 on the Country music charts. He also charted "Grow Young With You," a cut from the soundtrack to the film Where the Heart Is.
13-Aug-1973 Loretta Lynn released her twenty-third solo studio Love Is the Foundation which went on the peak at #1 on the Country album chart. The album's first single, "Love Is the Foundation", released in April 1973 peaked at #1 on the US Hot Country Singles chart.
18-Aug-1973 Conway Twitty & Loretta Lynn were at #1 on the Billboard country chart with "Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man", the lead single, and the title track, of their 1973 album was also the duo's third single.
22-Aug-1973 Born on this day was Shannon Forrest American drummer and percussionist known primarily for his session work. Forrest has worked with many Country artists including: Brooks & Dunn, Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Willie Nelson, Trisha Yearwood, Merle Haggard, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw and many others.
31-Aug-1973 Jeanne Pruett was at #1 on the country album chart with Satin Sheets, the singer's second studio album. The album contained Pruett's first major hit and signature song of the same name as the album. The single reached #1 on the Billboard Country Chart.
10-Sep-1973 Dolly Parton released her twelfth solo studio album Bubbling Over. The album's only single, "Traveling Man", peaked at #20 on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.
18-Sep-1973 Conway Twitty scored his 10th US Country #1 hit single with "You've Never Been This Far Before". It was Twitty's only song from the country chart to cross over onto the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, where the single peaked at #22.
19-Sep-1973 Country rock singer, songwriter, 26-year-old Gram Parsons, formerly of The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers, died under mysterious conditions in Joshua Tree, California. His death was attributed to heart failure but later was officially announced as a drug overdose. His coffin was stolen by two of his associates, manager Phil Kaufman and Michael Martin, a former roadie for The Byrds, and was taken to Cap Rock in the California desert, where it was set alight, in accordance to Parson's wishes. The two were later arrested by police.

6-Oct-1973 Country music's most successful syndicated radio countdown program to date, American Country Countdown, made its debut. The three-hour program was created by Casey Kasem and Don Bustany, and was modeled after American Top 40 (which Kasem also hosted). Comedian Don Bowman was the original host, but by 1978, he would be replaced by Bob Kingsley.
6-Oct-1973 Born on this day in Atlanta, was Georgia, Ryan Tyler, country music artist made her debut in 2003 with the single "Run, Run, Run" on the Billboard Hot Country Singles charts.
9-Oct-1973 Born on this day in Austin, Texas, was Tommy Shane Steiner, country music artist. He made his debut in 2001 with the single "What If She's an Angel", which peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles charts.
9-Oct-1973 Elvis and Priscilla Presley were granted a divorce after six and half years of marriage. She was given property along with $725,000 and an additional $4,200 a month for the support of their five-year old daughter, Lisa Marie. The settlement also included half the proceeds from the sale of an L.A. home and five percent of the total outstanding stock in two publishing companies. The couple emerged from a Santa Monica, California courthouse arm in arm, kiss and depart separately.
14-Oct-1973 The Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame added Don Gibson ("I Can't Stop Loving You"), Jack Clement ("Ballad Of A Teenage Queen"), Harlan Howard ("Busted"), Roger Miller, Ed and Steve Nelson ("Bouquet Of Roses") and Willie Nelson.
15-Oct-1973 Dolly Parton released "Jolene" as the first single and title track from her album of the same name. According to Parton, the song which peaked at #1 on the Country charts was inspired by a red-headed bank clerk who flirted with her husband Carl Dean at his local bank branch around the time they were newly married. "Jolene" is the song most recorded by other artists of all the songs Parton has written.
22-Oct-1973 John Denver released "Sunshine on My Shoulders" which hit #1 early in 1974. It was originally the B-side of one of his earlier songs, "I'd Rather Be a Cowboy". As the Vietnam War came to an end, the song took on a new significance and began to receive airplay. It was also his first of four #1's between 1974-1975, the other three being: "Annie's Song", "Thank God I'm a Country Boy", and "I'm Sorry."
3-Nov-1973 Kris Kristofferson was at #1 on the country album chart with his fourth studio release, Jesus Was a Capricorn. The album cover pictures Kristofferson and his soon-to-be wife Rita Coolidge. The track "Why Me" from the album reached #1 on the Country singles charts. The Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge album Full Moon went to #1 on the Country chart the following week.

10-Nov-1973 One of Nashville's most notorious murders made national headlines when David Akeman (aka Stringbean) and his wife, Estelle, were killed when they interrupted a burglary after returning home. Their bodies were found the next day. Their assailants, 23 year old cousins John and Marvin Douglas were later captured, convicted and sentenced to prison. Stringbean, who was 58, was best known to his audiences for his role on the syndicated series Hee Haw. In 1996, 23 years after the murders, $20,000 in paper money was discovered behind a chimney brick in Stringbean's home.
11-Nov-1973 The Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge album Full Moon was at #1 on the Country chart. The duet album was the first of three duet albums by the couple, who married the year before the album's release.
19-Nov-1973 Born on this day in Savannah, Georgia, was Billy Currington country music singer, songwriter. Hits include "Must Be Doin' Somethin' Right", "Good Directions", "People Are Crazy", "That's How Country Boys Roll", "Pretty Good at Drinkin' Beer", and "Let Me Down Easy". He has also charted as a duet partner on Shania Twain's single "Party For Two."
24-Nov-1973 Charlie Rich was at #1 on the US Country singles chart with "The Most Beautiful Girl" which was also a #1 on the pop charts. "The Most Beautiful Girl" was also recorded by Slim Whitman in the 1970s.

21-Dec-1973 Charlie Rich was at #1 on the US country album chart with Behind Closed Doors. The album received three Country Music Association awards: Best Male Vocalist, Album of the Year, and Single of the Year, for the title song which gave the singer his first #1 hit.
30-Dec-1973 Charlie Rich was at #1 on the US country album chart with Behind Closed Doors. The album received three Country Music Association awards: Best Male Vocalist, Album of the Year, and Single of the Year, for the title song which gave the singer his first #1 hit.
2-Jan-1974 Tex Ritter, the American country music singer and movie actor died 10 days before his 69th birthday. Ritter who was popular from the mid-1930s into the 1960s scored over 15 US country hits including "I'm Wastin' My Tears on You" and 'You Two-Timed Me One Time Too Often".

7-Jan-1974 Born on this day was John Rich, country music singer-songwriter. From 1992 to 1998, he was a member of the country music band Lonestar, in which he played bass guitar and alternated with Richie McDonald as lead vocalist. In 2003, he joined Big Kenny to form the duo Big & Rich, who released three albums on Warner Bros. Records as well as ten singles, including the #1 hit "Lost in This Moment". In addition to his work in Big & Rich, John has co-written singles for Faith Hill, Keith Anderson, Jason Aldean and Gretchen Wilson.

16-Jan-1974 Charlie Rich was at #1 on the US Country chart with Behind Closed Doors. The album received three Country Music Association awards: Best Male Vocalist, Album of the Year, and Single of the Year, for the title song written by Kenny O'Dell. The album also went gold. Rich won the Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal Performance, and he took home four Academy of Country Music awards.
22-Jan-1974 George Jones recorded "The Grand Tour" which became Jones' sixth #1 song. The song is widely hailed as one of the finest performances in country music history and in 2014, Rolling Stone named the song #38 on its "40 Saddest Country Songs of All Time".
2-Feb-1974 Dolly Parton scored her second #1 Country hit single with "Jolene." Parton has said that the inspiration for the story was a tall, red-headed bank teller whom Parton believed was flirting with her husband, and her husband's apparent vulnerability to the teller's charm as indicated by his sudden interest in making frequent trips to the bank.
4-Feb-1974 Dolly Parton released her thirteenth solo studio album Jolene. The title track became Parton's second solo #1 country single and was also a moderate pop hit. One of the album's songs, "I Will Always Love You", was reportedly written to express the remorse Parton felt over the professional breakup with Porter Wagoner.
17-Feb-1974 Born on this day in Lawton, Oklahoma, was Bryan White country singer, songwriter. His fourth album, 1999's How Lucky I Am, produced 2 Top 40 hits with singles, "You're Still Beautiful To Me," and, "God Gave Me You." White has charted seventeen singles on the Billboard country charts, of which six reached #1.
24-Feb-1974 John Denver appeared in The Colorado Cattle Caper episode of the police drama McCloud television show, with Dennis Weaver as Marshal Sam McCloud.
2-Mar-1974 Country music winners at the 16th Annual Grammy Awards included; Best Country Vocal Performance, Female - Olivia Newton-John for "Let Me Be There", Best Country Vocal Performance, Male - Charlie Rich for "Behind Closed Doors", Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group - Rita Coolidge & Kris Kristofferson for "From the Bottle to the Bottom", Best Country Instrumental Performance - Steve Mandell & Eric Weissberg for "Dueling Banjos" and Best Country Song - Kenny O'Dell (songwriter) for "Behind Closed Doors" performed by Charlie Rich.
3-Mar-1974 Johnny Cash was a special guest in an episode of the TV decective series Columbo staring Peter Falk entitled Swan Song. Cash played the role of a musical star who murdered his wife, an evangelist who has been exploiting his talent to finance her own religious crusade.
16-Mar-1974 The Grand Ole Opry moved from the Ryman Auditorium, its home of the past 41 years, to the newly built 4,400 Grand Ole Opry House, on the Opryland complex. President Richard Nixon was a guest at the Ryman's last show.
17-Mar-1974 Born on this day was Phillip Sweet from Little Big Town. All of their albums have accounted for over 20 singles on Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay, including the No. 1 singles "Pontoon", "Girl Crush", and "Better Man."
18-Mar-1974 Dolly Parton released "I Will Always Love You" which reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. It later toped the chart in October 1982, with her re-recording on the soundtrack of the movie version of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Parton wrote the song for her one-time partner and mentor Porter Wagoner, from whom she was separating professionally after a seven-year partnership.
24-Mar-1974 Charlie Rich was at #1 on the US country album chart with Behind Closed Doors. The album received three Country Music Association awards: Best Male Vocalist, Album of the Year, and Single of the Year, for the title song which gave the singer his first #1 hit.
25-Mar-1974 Winners at the 9th Academy of Country Music Awards hosted by Roger Miller, and Charlie Rich included: Top Female Vocalist of the Year - Loretta Lynn, Top Male Vocalist of the Year - Charlie Rich, Most Promising Female Vocalist of the Year - Olivia Newton John, Most Promising Male Vocalist of the Year - Dorsey Burnette, and Album of the Year Charlie Rich - Behind Closed Doors.
26-Mar-1974 Charlie Rich was at #1 on the US Country chart with Behind Closed Doors. The album received three Country Music Association awards: Best Male Vocalist, Album of the Year, and Single of the Year, for the title song written by Kenny O'Dell. The album also went gold. Rich won the Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal Performance, and he took home four Academy of Country Music awards.
30-Mar-1974 John Denver's "Sunshine On My Shoulders" was at #1 in the US. The song first appeared on his 1971 album Poems, Prayers & Promises and it came to prominence after featuring in the made-for-TV movie Sunshine in 1973.
5-Apr-1974 Johnny Cash released Ragged Old Flag, his 46th album. The album addresses several political as well as ethical issues, not unlike many of Cash's other releases. The title track, and simultaneously the only single from the album, is a spoken word tribute to patriotism amid the Watergate scandal.
6-Apr-1974 Charlie Rich was at #1 on the country charts with "A Very Special Love Song". Written by Billy Sherrill and Norro Wilson, who had also written Rich's 1973 hit, "The Most Beautiful Girl". The song was included on Rich's 1974 album, Very Special Love Songs.
16-Apr-1974 Charlie Rich was at #1 on the US Country chart with, "A Very Special Love Song". The song was written by Billy Sherrill and Norro Wilson, who had also written Rich's 1973 hit, "The Most Beautiful Girl". Sherrill and Wilson won a Grammy Award for Best Country Song at the 1975 ceremony for "A Very Special Love Song".

25-Apr-1974 Born on this day in Arlington Heights, Illinois was mandolinist and singer Jeff Austin best known for being a founding member of the Yonder Mountain String Band. Austin died on June 24, 2019 age 45.
6-May-1974 Merle Haggard appeared on the cover of Time Magazine in the US.
9-May-1974 Merle Haggard had the #1 country single with "Things Aren't Funny Anymore", Haggard's seventeenth #1 on the country charts spent ten weeks on the country chart.
19-May-1974 Charlie Rich was at #1 on the US Country chart with Behind Closed Doors. The album received three Country Music Association awards: Best Male Vocalist, Album of the Year, and Single of the Year, for the title song written by Kenny O'Dell. The album also went gold. Rich won the Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal Performance, and he took home four Academy of Country Music awards.
20-May-1974 Freddy Fender was at #1 on the Country music album chart with his first album Before The Next Teardrop Falls. The album includes the #1 hits "Before the Next Teardrop Falls" and "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights."
6-Jun-1974 RCA Records released "I Will Always Love You" by Dolly Parton, the second single from Parton's thirteenth solo studio album, Jolene. Recorded on June 13, 1973, the singer wrote the song for her one-time partner and mentor Porter Wagoner, from whom she was professionally splitting at the time.

6-Jun-1974 Born on this day in Mount Clemens, Michigan, was Matthew Shafer known as Uncle Kracker who scored the US #6 Country single "Smile" in 2009 which was taken from his album Happy Hour.
8-Jun-1974 Dolly Parton was at at #1 on the Billboard country singles chart with "I Will Always Love You". It was the second single from Parton's thirteenth solo studio album, Jolene.
22-Jun-1974 Charlie Rich was at #1 on the US Country chart with Behind Closed Doors. The album received three Country Music Association awards: Best Male Vocalist, Album of the Year, and Single of the Year, for the title song written by Kenny O'Dell. Rich won the Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal Performance, and he took home four Academy of Country Music awards.
27-Jun-1974 Born on this day in Dallas, Texas, was Christian Kane, actor and singer and songwriter and lead singer of the country-southern rock band Kane. He is known for his roles in the television shows Angel, Leverage and Into the West, and the movies Just Married and Secondhand Lions.
9-Jul-1974 Born on this day in Savannah, Georgia was six-time Grammy Award-winning American record producer, songwriter Dave Cobb, best known for producing the work of The Highwomen, Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson, Jason Isbell, Brandi Carlile and John Prine.
13-Jul-1974 Olivia Newton-John was at #1 on the country album chart with If You Love Me, Let Me Know. The title track ranks as Newton-John's highest charting single on the country charts, reaching #2, although she would have many more top 10 hits to come. The album spent eight weeks at the top of the charts.
17-Jul-1974 Guitarist and fiddle player Don Rich, a member of Buck Owens' backing band, The Buckaroos, was killed in a motorcycle accident on State Route 99 north of Bakersfield, California, he was 32.
22-Jul-1974 Born on this day was Sonya Isaacs, American country singer. Isaacs is married to singer-songwriter Jimmy Yeary, with whom she co-wrote Martina McBride's 2011 #4 single "I'm Gonna Love You Through It".
3-Aug-1974 Billy "Crash" Craddock's signature song, "Rub It In," was at #1 on the Billboard country chart. The song was written and originally recorded by Layng Martine, Jr., and credited as Layng Martine. His version, released on the Barnaby Records label, was produced by Ray Stevens.
11-Aug-1974 Born on this day in Charleston, West Virginia, was Rachel Proctor, country music artist who co-wrote Martina McBride's 2002 single "Where Would You Be". Her debut hit "Days Like This" which peaked at #24 on the country charts, was the first of four singles from her 2004 debut album Where I Belong.

26-Aug-1974 John Denver recorded "Thank God I'm A Country Boy" at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles in his first night of concerts that become the double album An Evening With John Denver.
31-Aug-1974 Dolly Parton released "Love Is Like a Butterfly" as the first single and title track from the album of the same name. The song became her fourth #1 on the country chart as a solo artist (and her third consecutive #1). Parton used the song as the opening theme for her 1976–77 TV variety show Dolly!
3-Sep-1974 "Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends" a song written by Kris Kristofferson, and recorded by Ronnie Milsap was at #1 on the Country chart. Kristofferson recorded the song with Rita Coolidge for their final duet album, Natural Act, and later with Mark Knopfler for The Austin Sessions.
12-Sep-1974 Born on this day, was Jennifer Nettles, American Grammy winning country music artist, lead vocalist with the duo Sugarland who scored the 2009 US #1 album Live on the Inside'.
16-Sep-1974 John Denver was at #1 on the US country album chart with Back Home Again. The multi-platinum album contained the hit singles "Annie's Song" (#1 pop, #1 adult contemporary), "Back Home Again" (#5 pop, #1 AC, #1 country), and "Sweet Surrender" (#13 pop, #1 AC). In addition, the studio version of "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" appeared on this album.

16-Sep-1974 Dolly Parton released her fourteenth solo studio Love Is Like a Butterfly. The title track was the third consecutive single to reach #1 on the U.S. country charts for Parton. For the few years before her pop chart success, "Butterfly" was considered Parton's signature song and was used as the theme song for her 1976 syndicated music series Dolly!
1-Oct-1974 Olivia Newton-John was at #1 on the country album chart with If You Love Me, Let Me Know. The title track ranks as Newton-John's highest charting single on the country charts, reaching #2, although she would have many more top 10 hits to come. The album spent eight weeks at the top of the charts.
11-Oct-1974 Born on this day was Josh Kear American songwriter. His credits include Lady Antebellum's #1 "Need You Now", for which Kear won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year and Best Country Song at the 53rd Grammy Awards and Carrie Underwood's #1 "Before He Cheats." Kear was award "Songwriter of the Year" at the 2013 ASCAP Country Music Awards, where he was also awarded "Song of the Year", along with Chris Tompkins, for Luke Bryan's "Drunk on You".

12-Oct-1974 Born on this day in Mineral Wells, Texas, was Shane McAnally singer, songwriter and producer. McAnally has written a string of American Country Music hits including Kenny Chesney's singles "Somewhere with You" and "Come Over", Jake Owen's 2011 single "Alone with You", Luke Bryan's single "Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye", The Band Perry's single "Better Dig Two", Lady Antebellum's single "Downtown" and Miranda Lambert's single "Mama's Broken Heart".
14-Oct-1974 Born on this day in Lubbock, Texas, was Natalie Maines, singer-songwriter and lead vocalist the Dixie Chicks. Of the Dixie Chicks' twenty-five singles, six have reached #1 on the Billboard country singles chart: "There's Your Trouble", "Wide Open Spaces", "You Were Mine", "Cowboy Take Me Away", "Without You", and "Travelin' Soldier".

13-Nov-1974 "Love Is Like a Butterfly" by Dolly Parton was at #1 on the Country chart, her fourth #1 as a solo artist. Parton used the song as the opening theme for her 1976-77 TV variety show Dolly!. She also uses a butterfly as the "W" in the trade dress for her Dollywood theme park.
21-Nov-1974 Born on this day near Magna, Utah, was Kelsi Osborn. With sisters Kristyn and Kassidy, she formed SHeDAISY, whose 1999 debut album, The Whole SHeBANG, wom them a nomination from the Academy of Country Music for top new duet or group. Their hits include "Little Good-Byes," "This Woman Needs", "I Will� But", "Don't Worry 'bout a Thing".
14-Dec-1974 Billy Swan scored his only #1 country single with "I Can Help". The song was also a hit in the UK and Australia as well as Norway where it charted for 37 weeks on the Norwegian charts, making it the 4th best-performing single of all time in that country.
20-Dec-1974 John Denver was at #1 on the US Country chart with his eighth studio album Back Home Again. The multi-platinum album contained the hit singles "Annie's Song" and "Back Home Again". In addition, the studio versions of "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" and "Sweet Surrender" appear on this album. On the cover, John is shown with his then-wife Ann Martell.
23-Dec-1974 John Denver was at #1 on the US country album chart with Back Home Again. The multi-platinum album contained the hit singles "Annie's Song", "Back Home Again" and "Sweet Surrender". In addition, the studio version of "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" appeared on this album.
1-Jan-1975 John Denver was at #1 on the US Country chart with his eighth studio album Back Home Again. The multi-platinum album contained the hit singles "Annie's Song" and "Back Home Again". In addition, the studio versions of "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" and "Sweet Surrender" appear on this album. On the cover, John is shown with his then-wife Ann Martell.
25-Jan-1975 Dolly Parton released "The Bargain Store" which became her fifth #1 on the country chart as a solo artist. Worn, second-hand merchandise in a discount store is used as a metaphor for a woman emotionally damaged by an ill-fated relationship. The song was dropped from a number of country stations' playlists when programmers mistook the line "you can easily afford the price" as a thinly veiled reference to prostitution.
11-Feb-1975 Willie Nelson recorded "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" which went on to become his first #1 hit as a singer. Written by songwriter Fred Rose the song was originally performed by Roy Acuff and later by Hank Williams.
17-Feb-1975 Dolly Parton released her fifteenth solo studio album The Bargain Store. The Parton-penned title track, one of her best-known compositions, she used worn, second-hand merchandise in a discount store as a metaphor for a woman damaged by an ill-fated relationship. The song was dropped from a number of country stations' playlists when programmers mistook the line "you can easily afford the price" as a thinly veiled reference to prostitution. Despite the decrease in airplay, the song nonetheless topped the U.S. country singles charts in April 1975.
18-Feb-1975 Born on this day in Woodhaven, Michigan was songwriter and musician Trevor Rosen from Old Dominion who scored the #1 Country hits "No Such Thing as a Broken Heart" and "Written in the Sand".
26-Feb-1975 Linda Ronstadt was at #1 on the US Country music album chart with Heart Like a Wheel, which featured her version of "You're No good". The album spent 51 weeks on the Billboard Album chart.
29-Feb-1975 Linda Ronstadt was at #1 on the Country music charts with her fifth solo album Heart Like a Wheel. Ronstadt won her first of a record 11 Grammy Awards in early 1976 for Best Country Vocal Performance Female for "I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love With You)", from the album.
1-Mar-1975 Country music winners at the 17th Annual Grammy Awards included; Best Country Vocal Performance, Female - Anne Murray for "Love Song", Best Country Vocal Performance, Male - Ronnie Milsap for "Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends", Best Country Instrumental Performance - Chet Atkins & Merle Travis for The Atkins -Travis Traveling Show, Best Country Song - Billy Sherrill & Norro Wilson (songwriters) for "A Very Special Love Song" performed by Charlie Rich.
8-Mar-1975 Olivia Newton-John was at #1 on the US Country chart with Have You Never Been Mellow. The title track was also a US #1 single. Newton-John received a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for her work on the song "Have You Never Been Mellow."

12-Mar-1975 The divorce of George Jones and Tammy Wynette is finalised. Wynette took custody of their only child, Tamala and kept their home on Franklin Road in Nashville. Three of their duets ("We're Gonna Hold On," "Golden Ring" and "Near You") ended up as #1 hits, two of which were recorded after their divorce in 1974.
13-Mar-1975 George Jones and Tammy Wynette divoced after 6 years of marrage. The couple had married in 1969.
25-Mar-1975 Linda Ronstadt released her version of the Everly Brothers 1960 hit "When Will I Be Loved" from her album Heart Like a Wheel, which peaked at #1 on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.
18-Apr-1975 Olivia Newton-John was at #1 on the US Country album chart with Have You Never Been Mellow. The title track was also a US #1 single. Newton-John received a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for her work on the song "Have You Never Been Mellow."
13-May-1975 American Western swing musician Bob Wills died. Wills who was also a member of The Texas Playboys is considered by music authorities as the co-founder of Western swing. He was recording an album with fan Merle Haggard in 1973 when a stroke left him comatose until his death. From the 1970's until his 2002 death, Waylon Jennings performed a song called "Bob Wills is Still the King".
17-May-1975 B.J. Thomas was at #1 on the US Country chart with, "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song". The song which became Thomas' second #1 single is also the longest-titled #1 song (not including the Stars On 45 Medley) to date.

18-May-1975 Five times married country singer, Tammy Wynette was at #1 on the UK singles chart with "Stand By Your Man." Originally recorded and released as a single in 1968 in the USA, it proved to be the most successful record of Wynette's career and is one of the most covered songs in the history of country music.
26-May-1975 Willie Nelson released his eighteenth studio Red Headed Stranger which became his first #1 country album. The cover of "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain", released as a single previous to the album full release became Nelson's first #1 hit.
29-May-1975 Freddy Fender was at #1 on the US country chart with Before The Next Teardrop Falls. The album included the #1 hits "Before the Next Teardrop Falls" and "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights."
3-Jul-1975 Born on this day in Blytheville, Arkansas, was Trent Tomlinson, country music artist. His debut album Country Is My Rock, released in early 2006 produced three Top 40 singles on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs charts: "Drunker Than Me", "One Wing in the Fire" and "Just Might Have Her Radio On."
14-Jul-1975 Born on this day in Enterprise, Alabama, was Jamey Johnson, country music artist. His second album, That Lonesome Song produced two singles, the Top 10 hit "In Color" and "High Cost of Living."
17-Jul-1975 A Russian language version of Conway Twitty's 1970 hit, "Hello Darlin'" was broadcast to a worldwide audience as part of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project. The song, which in Russian was called "Privet Radost," was seen as a "gesture of goodwill" from the Apollo crew to the Soviet Union's Soyuz crew. Twitty had worked with a language professor from the University of Oklahoma to record the phonetic Russian version of the song.
19-Jul-1975 Lefty Frizzell the American country music singer and songwriter of the 1950s died. He became a major influence on Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, George Jones, John Fogerty and Roy Orbison, (who as a part of the Traveling Wilburys chose the name "Lefty Wilbury" to honor his musical hero).

8-Aug-1975 American Country musician Hank Williams, Jr. suffered a near fatal fall off the side of Ajax Mountain in Montana. He slipped while mountain climbing and fell nearly 500 feet, landing on a boulder. He suffered multiple skull and facial fractures and later to hide the scars and the disfigurement from the accident, Williams grew a beard and began wearing sunglasses and a cowboy hat. The beard, hat, and sunglasses have since become his signature look, and he is rarely seen without them.
26-Aug-1975 Glen Campbell was at #1 on the US Country singles chart with "Rhinestone Cowboy". The song was one of six songs released in 1975 that topped both the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard Hot Country Singles charts. The other songs were "Before the Next Teardrop Falls" by Freddy Fender; "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" by B.J. Thomas, "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" and "I'm Sorry"/"Calypso," both by John Denver; and "Convoy" by C.W. McCall.

6-Sep-1975 Glen Campbell started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart with 'Rhinestone Cowboy', his first #1 after 13 Top 40 hits. It made #4 in the UK. Written by Larry Weiss, Campbell first heard the song on the radio and, during a tour of Australia decided to learn the song. Soon after his return to the United States, Campbell went to Al Coury's office at Capitol Records, where he was approached about "a great new song" - "Rhinestone Cowboy."
9-Sep-1975 Born on this day in Alexandria, Indiana was American country music singer and songwriter Joey Feek. From 2008 to 2016, the duo Joey + Rory comprised of Joey and her husband, Rory Lee Feek. She died from cancer on March 4, 2016.
13-Sep-1975 Born on this day was Joe Don Rooney, guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter with the American country trio Rascal Flatts who have scored 11 US Country #1's.
15-Sep-1975 Glen Campbell was at #1 on the US Country album chart with Rhinestone Cowboy, the singer, guitarists 30th album. Campbell had heard the song (written by Larry Weiss) on the radio during a tour of Australia and once back in the US decided to record a version.
15-Sep-1975 Dolly Parton released hersixteenth solo studio Dolly. The album's first single, "The Seeker", peaked at #2 on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.
5-Oct-1975 Willie Nelson was at #1 on the Country singles chart with "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain". Written by songwriter Fred Rose and originally performed by Roy Acuff, the song taken from his 1975 album Red Headed Stranger became Nelson's first #1 hit as a singer.

9-Oct-1975 Born on this day was American singer-songwriter Brandy Clark. Her songs have been recorded by Sheryl Crow, Miranda Lambert, The Band Perry, Reba McEntire, LeAnn Rimes, Billy Currington, Darius Rucker, and Kacey Musgraves. She was nominated for Best New Artist at the 2015 Grammy Awards.
4-Nov-1975 American Country singer, Audrey Williams, (the first wife of Hank Williams) died from heart failure related to her years of alcohol and drug use at the age of 52, outliving Hank, Sr. by 22 years.
20-Nov-1975 Born on this day in Phoenix, Arizona, was Dierks Bentley country music artist who has scored eighteen singles on the country singles charts, of which nine have reached #1. His debut single "What Was I Thinkin'", as well as "Come a Little Closer", "Settle for a Slowdown", "Every Mile a Memory", "Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)", "Feel That Fire", "Sideways", "Am I the Only One", and "Home".

22-Nov-1975 John Denver was at #1 on the US Country chart with Windsong his ninth album which contained the songs "I'm Sorry" and "Calypso," which comprised a two-sided hit for Denver in the fall of 1975.

30-Nov-1975 Born on this day in Fort Myers, Florida, was Mindy McCready country music singer who scored the 1996 US Country #1 hit "Guys Do It All the Time," as well as the Top Ten hits "Ten Thousand Angels" and "A Girl's Gotta Do (What a Girl's Gotta Do)." McCready was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on her front porch on 17th Feb 2013. McCready's first four studio albums yielded twelve singles on the Billboard country singles charts.

2-Dec-1975 Willie Nelson was at the top of the US Country charts with Red Headed Stranger. The album was inspired by the "Tale of the Red Headed Stranger", a song that Nelson used to play as a DJ on his program in Fort Worth, Texas.
15-Dec-1975 Tammy Wynette recored "'Til I Can Make It on My Own" at Columbia Recording, Nashville, Tennessee. The song became Wynette's fifteenth #1 on the country charts. Wynette noted on multiple occasions that the song was her personal favorite of all that she had written or recorded.
18-Dec-1975 Born on this day in Lake, Mississippi, was Randy Houser, who reached #1 with "How Country Feels", the title track to his third album, and with "Runnin' Outta Moonlight" in 2013. He co-wrote the singles "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk" by Trace Adkins, "Back That Thing Up" by Justin Moore, and "My Cowboy" by country-pop artist Jessie James.

3-Jan-1976 C. W. McCall was at #1 on the US country album chart with Black Bear Road, which included the #1 hit novelty song, "Convoy". The song itself was largely responsible for starting a nationwide citizens' band radio craze. The song "Black Bear Road" in turn popularized the now-infamous road itself, along with its "You don't HAVE to be crazy to drive this road - but it helps" sign.

6-Jan-1976 C. W. McCall was at #1 on the US Country album chart with Black Bear Road. It is largely considered the album which gave him the most significant boost of his career, almost entirely due to the hit novelty song, "Convoy". The song itself was largely responsible for starting a nationwide citizens' band radio craze. The song "Black Bear Road" in turn popularized the now-infamous road itself, along with its "You don't HAVE to be crazy to drive this road - but it helps" sign.
14-Jan-1976 Glen Campbell's signature song "Rhinestone Cowboy" was up for nominations for a Grammy Award for Best Country Song as well as for Record of the Year, (but didn't win). Written by Larry Weiss, Campbell first heard the song on the radio during a tour of Australia and decided to record it.
22-Jan-1976 Reba McEntire made her first recordings for Mercury Records. Upon its release that year, her single "I Don't Want to Be a One Night Stand" failed to become a major hit on the Billboard country music chart, peaking at #88
23-Jan-1976 C.W. McCall was at #1 on the Country chart with the novelty song, "Convoy". The song itself was largely responsible for starting a nationwide citizens' band radio craze. The song "Black Bear Road" in turn popularized the now-infamous road itself, along with its "You don't HAVE to be crazy to drive this road - but it helps" sign.
21-Feb-1976 C. W. McCall was at #1 on the US country album chart with Black Bear Road, which included the #1 hit novelty song, "Convoy". The song itself was largely responsible for starting a nationwide citizens' band radio craze. The song "Black Bear Road" in turn popularized the now-infamous road itself, along with its "You don't HAVE to be crazy to drive this road - but it helps" sign.
22-Feb-1976 "Good Hearted Woman" by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson was at #1 on the country chart. In 1969, Jennings and Nelson were staying in a motel in Fort Worth, Texas. Jennings was inspired to write the song after reading an advertisement that promoted Ike and Tina Turner. Jennings joined Nelson during a poker game and told him about the idea and the singers completed the song while Nelson's wife, Connie Koepke, wrote it down.
28-Feb-1976 Country music winners at the 18th Annual Grammy Awards included; Best Country Vocal Performance, Female - Linda Ronstadt for "I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love With You)", Best Country Vocal Performance, Male - Willie Nelson for "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain", Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group - Rita Coolidge & Kris Kristofferson for "Lover Please", Best Country Song - Larry Butler & Chips Moman (songwriters) for "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" performed by B. J. Thomas.

1-Mar-1976 Winners at the 11th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards hosted by Marty Robbins at The Palladium Hollywood included: Top Male Vocalist of the Year - Conway Twitty, Most Promising Female Vocalist of the Year - Crystal Gayle, Song of the Year went to Glen Campbell for "Rhinestone Cowboy" and Album of the Year went to Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn for Feelings.
22-Mar-1976 Wanted! The Outlaws featuring Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Jessi Colter, and Tompall Glaser, was at #1 on the US Country music album chart. Wanted! The Outlaws earned its place in music history by becoming the first country album to sell a million copies.
17-Apr-1976 Eddie Rabbitt scored his first #1 country single with "Drinkin' My Baby (Off My Mind)", the first of fifteen solo #1 country hits for the singer, songwriter.
27-Apr-1976 Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt performed together for the first time during a recording of the syndicated Dolly! TV show. The show's opening theme was "Love Is Like A Butterfly" and the show's closing song was "I Will Always Love You", both #1 hits for Dolly in 1974, and both sung by Dolly on the show.
1-May-1976 Johnny Cash released his 54th album One Piece at a Time. The album is notable for being credited to "Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Three", a credit that hadn't been used on Cash releases since the 1960s, and for featuring Cash's recording of "Love Has Lost Again," written by his daughter, Rosanne Cash prior to the launch of her own solo career.
2-May-1976 Merle Haggard was at #1 on the Country charts with "It's All in the Movies." The title track became Merle Haggard's twenty-second #1 single on the Country chart.
5-May-1976 Mickey Gilley had the #1 song on the country singles chart with "Don't the Girls All Get Prettier at Closing Time". Written by Baker Knight the song became Gilley's fifth #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.
8-May-1976 Johnny Cash received an honorary Doctorate of Human Letters from San Diego's National University. San Diego mayor Pete Wilson also declared this day 'Johnny Cash Day'.
4-Jun-1976 Born on this day in Mount Gambier, South Australia, was country singer-songwriter Kasey Chambers who has scored 4 Australian #1 hits and the 2001 US top 20 album Barricades & Brickwalls.
8-Jun-1976 The novelty song "One Piece at a Time" by Johnny Cash was at #1 on the Country chart. The song tells of a man who works at General Motors in Detroit, Michigan, building Cadillacs and knowing that he will never be able to afford one. He and a co-worker decide to steal a Cadillac, using their assembly line jobs to obtain the parts via salami slicing. He takes the small parts home hidden in his large lunchbox; larger parts are smuggled out in his co-worker's motor home.
18-Jun-1976 Born on this day in Ada, Oklahoma, was Blake Shelton, country music artist. In 2001, he made his debut with the single "Austin" released from his self-titled debut album, which went on to spend five weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot Country charts. Shelton is married to fellow country singer Miranda Lambert, whom he met at the CMT's 100 Greatest Duets Concert.
18-Jun-1976 Born on this day in Walnut Creek, California, was songwriter, record producer and record label executive Michael James Ryan Busbee (known professionally as busboy). He worked with Keith Urban, Jon Bellion, Kelly Clarkson, Florida Georgia Line, and Lady Antebellum. Busbee was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Country Song in 2017 for his work on Maren Morris' debut single, "My Church." He died on September 28, 2019 from brain cancer age 43.
21-Jun-1976 Reba McEntire married Charlie Battles at the First Baptist Church in Stringtown, Oklahoma. They had their honeymoon in Texas, where they promoted her latest single to local radio stations.
26-Jun-1976 Marty Robbins was at #1 on the country charts with "El Paso City", his fifteenth #1. Robbins wrote "El Paso City" while flying over El Paso, in - he reported - the same amount of time it takes to sing, four minutes and 14 seconds. It was only the second time that ever happened to him; the first time was when he composed the original El Paso as fast as he could write it down.
17-Jul-1976 Born on this day, Luke Bryan, country singer, songwriter who began his musical career in the mid-2000s, writing songs for Travis Tritt and Billy Currington. Had the #1 singles "Rain Is a Good Thing" and "Someone Else Calling You Baby".
5-Aug-1976 Kenny Rogers recorded "Lucille" in an afternoon session at Nashville's American Studio. It became Rogers' first major hit as a solo artist after leaving the successful country/rock group The First Edition the previous year.
9-Aug-1976 George Jones and Tammy Wynette released their seventh studio album Golden Ring which peaked at #1 on the Billboard Country Album chart. The singles "Near You" and "Golden Ring" both reached #1 on the Country Singles chart.
14-Aug-1976 Waylon Jennings was at #1 on the US country album chart with Are You Ready for the Country. Its title track is a song from Neil Young's seminal 1972 album Harvest. Despite the title, this outlaw country album featured covers of rock songs, including "Can't You See" by the Marshall Tucker Band. MacArthur Park (Revisited)" and won Waylon his first Grammy Award in 1969.

16-Aug-1976 Dolly Parton released her seventeenth solo studio album All I Can Do. The album which peaked at #3 on the US Billboard Hot Country Albums chart includes two covers; Emmylou Harris' "Boulder to Birmingham" and Merle Haggard's "Life's Like Poetry".
1-Sep-1976 Born on this day in Martin County, Kentucky, was Angaleena Presley, country music singer-songwriter. She is a member of the female country trio Pistol Annies who released their debut album Hell on Heels in 2011.
13-Sep-1976 Waylon Jennings was at #1 on the US country album chart with Are You Ready for the Country. Its title track is a song from Neil Young's seminal 1972 album Harvest. Despite the title, this outlaw country album featured covers of rock songs, including "Can't You See" by the Marshall Tucker Band. MacArthur Park (Revisited)" and won Waylon his first Grammy Award in 1969.
4-Oct-1976 Loretta Lynn released her twenty-eighth solo studio album Somebody Somewhere which went on to peak at #1 on the Top Country Albums chart, Lynn's sixth solo album to top the chart. The album's single, "Somebody Somewhere (Don't Know What He's Missin' Tonight)" peaked at #1 on the Hot Country Songs chart, Lynn's ninth solo single to top the chart.
16-Oct-1976 Tammy Wynette was at #1 on the Country music charts with "You and Me" the singers sixteenth and final #1 country hit as a solo artist. The single stayed at #1 for two weeks and spent a total of twelve weeks on the country chart.
19-Oct-1976 Born on this day in Tifton, Georgia, was Cyndi Thomson, her debut 2001 single, "What I Really Meant to Say", became a #1 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.
23-Oct-1976 Linda Ronstadt was at #1 on the Country music album chart with the Grammy Award winning Hasten Down the Wind. Her third straight million-selling album made Ronstadt the first female artist in history to accomplish this feat.
30-Oct-1976 Born on this day near Magna, Utah, was Lorraine Osborn. With sisters Kristyn and Kassidy, she formed SHeDAISY, whose 1999 debut album, The Whole SHeBANG, won them a nomination from the Academy of Country Music for top new duet or group. Their hits include "Little Good-Byes," "This Woman Needs", "I Will� But", "Don't Worry 'bout a Thing".
18-Nov-1976 Born on this day in Jackson, Tennessee was country music artist Jessi Alexander. She has had her songs recorded by Patty Loveless, Trisha Yearwood, Little Big Town, Blake Shelton, Reba McEntire and Miranda Lambert.
24-Nov-1976 Wanted: The Outlaws, featuring Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Tompall Glaser and Jessi Colter, became the first country album to receive the new platinum certification, signifying one million units sold.
26-Nov-1976 Born on this day in Rogers, Arkansas, was Joe Nichols, country music artist. Nichols has released seven studio albums which have produced fourteen Top 40 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, including the #1 singles "Brokenheartsville," "Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off" and "Gimmie That Girl" as well as five other Top Ten entries.

6-Dec-1976 Willie Nelson was at #1 with The Troublemaker. The gospel album was recorded in 1973, but Nelson's label Atlantic Records refused to release the record at the time. After Nelson signed a contract with Columbia Records, that gave him total creative control, the album was released in Sept 1976.
7-Dec-1976 Born on this day in Houston, Texas, was Sunny Sweeney country music artist. The lead-off to her second studio album, "From a Table Away," became her first single to chart in 2010.
8-Dec-1976 A Star Is Born was released in the US. The musical film told the story of a young woman, played by Barbra Streisand who enters show business, and meets and falls in love with an established male star, played by Kris Kristofferson, only to find her career ascending while his goes into decline. It won five Golden Globe Awards and the Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Evergreen."
16-Dec-1976 Born on this day was songwriter Andrew Dorff. He wrote the hits included Kenny Chesney's "Save It for a Rainy Day" and Hunter Hayes "Somebody's Heartbreak." Dorff's other major cuts were Martina McBride's "Ride," Blake Shelton's "My Eyes" and "Neon Light," Ronnie Dunn's "Bleed Red," Old Dominion's "Shut Me Up," Gary Allan's "Kiss Me When I'm Down" and William Michael Morgan's "Missing." Dorff died on December 19, 2016.
15-Jan-1977 Emmylou Harris was at #1 on the US Country chart with her version of the Don Gibson song, "Sweet Dreams." Gibson originally recorded the song in 1956 with his version hitting the top ten of Billboard's country chart, but was eclipsed by the success of a competing version by Faron Young. The song which has become a country standard was also recorded by Patsy Cline.

24-Jan-1977 United Artists released Kenny Rogers' "Lucille". Written by Roger Bowling and Hal Bynum, the song is about a man in a bar that meets a woman who has left her husband. It became Rogers' first major hit as a solo artist after leaving the successful country/rock group The First Edition the previous year. An international hit, it reached #1 on the Billboard Country Singles chart and #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached the top of the UK singles chart in June 1977.
29-Jan-1977 Emmylou Harris released Luxury Liner which became her second successive #1 country album on the Billboard Music Charts.
31-Jan-1977 Winners at this years American Music Awards included: Loretta Lynn, Glen Campbell, Conway Twitty, Charley Pride, Willie Nelson, Olivia Newton-John and The Eagles. Johnny Cash became the first country artist to win the Award of Merit.
14-Feb-1977 Dolly Parton released her eighteenth solo studio album New Harvest...First Gathering. The album is significant for being Parton's first self-produced album, as well as her first effort aimed specifically at the pop charts.
19-Feb-1977 Country music winners at the 19th Annual Grammy Awards included; Best Country Vocal Performance, Female - Emmylou Harris for Elite Hotel, Best Country Vocal Performance, Male - Ronnie Milsap for "(I'm a) Stand By My Woman Man", Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group - Amazing Rhythm Aces for "The End Is Not in Sight (The Cowboy Tune)", and Best Country Song - Larry Gatlin (songwriter) for "Broken Lady."

19-Feb-1977 Elvis Presley was at #1 on the Billboard country chart with "Moody Blue". Written by Mark James, (who also penned Elvis' "Suspicious Minds"), the song became Presley's last #1 hit in his lifetime,
24-Feb-1977 Winners at the 12th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards hosted by Pat Boone, Pattie Page and Jerry Reed included: Top Female Vocalist of the Year - Crystal Gayle, Top Male Vocalist of the Year - Mickey Gilley, Most Promising Female Vocalist of the Year - Billy Jo Spears, Most Promising Male Vocalist of the Year - Moe Bandy and Song of the Year went to Mickey Gilley for "Don't the Girls Get Prettier at Closing Time."
28-Feb-1977 Born on this day in Macon, Georgia, was Jason Aldean country music singer, who has scored six #1 singles: "Why", "She's Country", "Big Green Tractor", "The Truth", "Don't You Wanna Stay" (a duet with Kelly Clarkson), and "Dirt Road Anthem."
21-Mar-1977 Glen Campbell was at #1 on the US Country chart with "Southern Nights", a song written by Allen Toussaint and the first single released from Campbell's 1977 album, Southern Nights. The lyrics were inspired by childhood memories of Allen Toussaint, who had of visiting relatives in the Louisiana backwoods which often entailed storytelling under star-filled nighttime skies.

22-Mar-1977 Luxury Liner gave Emmylou Harris her second successive #1 country album on the Billboard Music Charts. The highest charting singles were the #6 Chuck Berry cover "(You Never Can Tell) C'est la Vie" and the #8 "Making Believe" (originally a hit for Kitty Wells). The title track was written by Gram Parsons.
24-Mar-1977 Born on this day in in Puxico, Missouri was country music songwriter and singer Natalie Hemby. She has written songs for Lee Ann Womack, Eli Young Band, Toby Keith, Miranda Lambert, Sunny Sweeney, Little Big Town, Jon Pardi, and Lady Gaga. In 2019, she joined an all-female quartet The Highwomen.
31-Mar-1977 Glen Campbell was at #1 on the US country charts with "Southern Nights". Written by Allen Toussaint the lyrics of "Southern Nights" were inspired by childhood memories Toussaint had of visiting relatives in the Louisiana backwoods which often entailed storytelling under star-filled nighttime skies.
4-Apr-1977 Kenny Rogers was at #1 with "Lucille". An international hit, it reached #1 on the Billboard Country Singles chart and reached the top of the UK singles chart.
11-Apr-1977 Waylon Jennings released the single "Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)" which became his fifth US Country #1 hit. In his autobiography, Waylon remarked about his feelings on the song: "I knew it was a hit song, even though I didn't like it, and still don't."
15-Apr-1977 Kenny Rogers was at #1 on the country charts with "Lucille". Written by Roger Bowling and Hal Bynum, the song is about a man who acquaints himself with a downhearted married woman named Lucille. An inebriated Lucille admits her unhappiness in life and a longing for adventure. An international hit, it reached #1 on the Billboard Country Singles chart and #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached the top of the UK singles chart in June 1977.
29-Apr-1977 Born on this day in Danville, Kentucky, was Ashley Gorley, singer, songwriter who has written hits for Trace Adkins' "You're Gonna Miss This," Darius Rucker's "It Won't Be Like This For Long" and Brad Paisley's "Then."
30-Apr-1977 Glen Campbell went to #1 on the US singles chart with "Southern Nights", (a song written by Allen Toussaint), and Campbell's second US chart topper.
3-May-1977 Born on this day in Granite Falls, North Carolina, was Eric Church, Country singer, songwriter. His debut album Sinners Like Me produced four singles on the Billboard country chart, including the Top 20 hits "How 'Bout You", "Two Pink Lines", and "Guys Like Me".

21-May-1977 Taken from his album Ol' Waylon, Waylon Jennings started a six week run at #1 on the US Country charts with "Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)."
9-Jun-1977 Waylon Jennings was at #1 on the US country album charts with Ol' Waylon. The album features one of his signature songs, a track featuring Willie Nelson called "Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)", as well as the Neil Diamond song "Sweet Caroline", a version of Kenny Rogers' "Lucille" and a medley of the two Arthur Crudup songs previous recorded by Elvis Presley.
12-Jun-1977 Waylon Jennings was at #1 on the US country album charts with Ol' Waylon. The album features one of his signature songs, a track featuring Willie Nelson called "Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)", as well as the Neil Diamond song "Sweet Caroline", a version of Kenny Rogers' "Lucille" and a medley of the two Arthur Crudup songs previous recorded by Elvis.
16-Jun-1977 Kenny Rogers was at #1 on the UK singles chart with 'Lucille'. It was the American Country music singer's first of two UK #1's.
25-Jun-1977 Waylon Jennings' hit "Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)" spent its sixth week at #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. It was just the third (and final) six-week #1 song of the 1970s, and would be the last song to spend as long atop the charts for 20 years (until 1997's "It's Your Love" by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill).
26-Jun-1977 Elvis Presley made his last ever live stage appearance when he appeared at the Market Square Arena in Indianapolis. Presley would die less than two months later. The last two songs he performed were "Hurt" and "Bridge Over Troubled Water." Before the show Elvis was presented with a plaque commemorating the 2 billionth record to come out of RCA's pressing plant.
27-Jun-1977 Waylon Jennings was at #1 on the country chart with "Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)". Released at the height of outlaw country movement, from his hit album Ol' Waylon, the song was written by Chips Moman and Bobby Emmons.
15-Aug-1977 Reba McEntire released her self titled debut studio album on Mercury Records. The album featured her first single "I Don't Wanna Be a One Night Stand", but the album was not a commercial success, failing to chart.
16-Aug-1977 Elvis Presley was found dead lying on the floor in his bathroom by his girlfriend Ginger Alden; he had been seated on the toilet reading The Scientific Search For Jesus. He died of heart failure at the age of 42. The most significant pop artist of the 20th century, the beginning and end of his career are grounded in country. He entered the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1998.

18-Aug-1977 Waylon Jennings was at #1 on the US country album charts with Ol' Waylon. The album features one of his signature songs, a track featuring Willie Nelson called "Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)", as well as the Neil Diamond song "Sweet Caroline", a version of Kenny Rogers' "Lucille" and a medley of the two Arthur Crudup songs previous recorded by Elvis.
20-Aug-1977 Born on this day in in Amarillo, Texas was country singer Aaron Watson. In February 2015, Watson made history when he released The Underdog making him the first solo male artist to debut at #1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart with a self-released and independently distributed and promoted album.
23-Aug-1977 Born on this day in Clinton, Mississippi was Shelly Fairchild, country singer, songwriter who scored the 2005 hit "You Don't Lie Here Anymore".
31-Aug-1977 Crystal Gayle was at #1 on the US Country chart with "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue". The song was written by Richard Leigh and first appeared on Gayle's 1977 album, We Must Believe in Magic. The song became Gayle's first, (and biggest), crossover pop hit, reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 3 weeks, and won the singer a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. In 1999, the song was recognized by ASCAP as one of the ten most-performed songs of the 20th century.

7-Sep-1977 Crystal Gayle was at #1 on the US Country chart with "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue". The song was written by Richard Leigh and first appeared on Gayle's 1977 album, We Must Believe in Magic. The song became Gayle's first, (and biggest), crossover pop hit, reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 3 weeks, and won the singer a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. In 1999, the song was recognized by ASCAP as one of the ten most-performed songs of the 20th century.
17-Sep-1977 Reba McEntire made her Grand Ole Opry debut. She almost did not make it in the door after a guard at the Opry gate missed her name on the night's list of performers. Her parents and older sister, Alice, drove 1,400 miles round trip from their Oklahoma home to see what turned out to be Reba's three-minute performance that night.
21-Oct-1977 Born on this day in Buchanan, Virginia was musician and songwriter Matthew Ramsey, the lead vocalist of the American country band Old Dominion. Ramsey has penned hit songs for The Band Perry, Craig Morgan, Dierks Bentley, Sam Hunt, Luke Bryan and Kenny Chesney.
29-Oct-1977 Dolly Parton released her 19th solo studio album, Here You Come Again. The album included Parton's first significant "crossover" success, the Grammy award-winning title single. The album's cover was the first to show the distinctive "Dolly" signature logo, created by Michael Manoogian, would become Parton's de facto logo, appearing on all of her solo albums for the remainder of her association with RCA.
8-Nov-1977 Born on this day in Rockingham, North Carolina, was Bucky Covington, country music singer. He placed eighth on the 5th season of American Idol. His self-titled debut album, released on April 17, 2007 debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, and produced three hit singles: "A Different World", "It's Good to Be Us", and "I'll Walk".
17-Nov-1977 Born on this day was Canadian country musician Aaron Lines, who has charted three singles on the Hot Country Songs charts in the United States, including the 2002 "You Can't Hide Beautiful".
20-Nov-1977 Born on this day was Josh Turner singer and actor who scored the 2006 US Country #1 album Your Man. Haywire, released in 2010, produced his biggest hit, the #1 "Why Don't We Just Dance" and another #1 "All Over Me".
11-Dec-1977 Willie Nelson recorded tracks for his forthcoming album Stardust. Produced by Booker T. Jones, all the songs on the album consist entirely of pop standards that Nelson picked from among his favorites. Executives of Columbia Records were not convinced that the album would sell well, because the project was a radical departure from his earlier success in the outlaw movement. When released, Stardust was on Billboard's Country Album charts for ten years - from its release until 1988.
29-Dec-1977 Glen Campbell and his wife, Sarah, filed a $2-million lawsuit against Us magazine, claiming invasion of privacy among other charges. Campbell maintained the magazine had promised not to mention their previous marriages in a story on the couple.
31-Dec-1977 Dolly Parton's "Here You Come Again" spent its fifth week at #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. It would be the last song to spend that long atop the chart until 1990's "Love Without End, Amen" by George Strait.
23-Jan-1978 Born on this day in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, was Josh Thompson who scored a 2009 hit with "Beer On The Table," from his debut album Way Out Here.
27-Jan-1978 Born on this day in Monticello, Kentucky, was Kevin Denney country music artist who made his debut on the country music scene with the release of his self-titled album (2001's Kevin Denney), which produced three chart singles, including "That's Just Jessie".
14-Feb-1978 Dolly Parton was at #1 on the US Country music album chart with Here You Come Again her nineteenth solo studio album. The album included Parton's first significant "crossover" success, the Grammy award-winning title single, which scored her a #3 on the US pop singles charts.

23-Feb-1978 Country music winners at the 20th Annual Grammy Awards, hosted by John Denver included; Crystal Gayle who won Best Country Vocal Performance for "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue", Best Country Vocal Performance, Male - Kenny Rogers for "Lucille", Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group - The Kendalls for "Heaven's Just a Sin Away", Best Country Instrumental Performance - Asleep At The Wheel for "One O'Clock Jump", Best Country Song - Richard Leigh (songwriter) for "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue" performed by Crystal Gayle.

4-Mar-1978 The Public Broadcasting System broadcast live, the first complete Grand Ole Opry show from the new Grand Ole Opry House. The show featured George Hamilton IV, Bill Monroe, Del Reeves, The Willis Brothers, Billy Grammer, Ronnie Milsap, Lonzo and Oscar, Porter Wagoner, Roy Acuff, The Crook Brothers, The Fruit Jar Drinkers, Grandpa Jones, and others.
20-Mar-1978 Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson had "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" at #1 on the country charts. The song was first recorded by Ed Bruce, written by him and wife Patsy Bruce. Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson won the 1979 Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for the song.

22-Mar-1978 "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson was at #1 on the US Country chart. It beacame the last song for 12 years to spend four weeks at the top of the chart.
25-Mar-1978 "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson became the last song for 12 years to spend four weeks at #1 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart. There wouldn't be another four-week #1 until "Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart" by Randy Travis in April 1990.
4-Apr-1978 Loretta Lynn performed "One's On The Way" on episode #308 of The Muppet Show. Because the Muppet Theatre is supposedly being fumigated, the entire show took place at a railroad station.
11-Apr-1978 Born on this day in Roblin, Manitoba, Canada, was country music singer, songwriter Tara Lyn Hart. Hart's self-titled debut album released in 1999 featured the #6 Canadian country singles chart hit "Stuff That Matters."
12-Apr-1978 Winners at the 13th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards hosted by Donna Fargo, Kenny Rogers and Barbara Mandrell at The Shrine Auditorium, Hollywood included: Top Female Vocalist of the Year - Crystal Gayle, Top Male Vocalist of the Year - Kenny Rogers, Top Vocal Group - Statler Brothers, Top New Female Vocalist of the Year - Debby Boone, Top New Male Vocalist of the Year - Eddie Rabbitt and Song of the Year went to Kenny Rogers for "Lucille".
15-Apr-1978 Born on this day in in Lexington, Kentucky was American country and bluegrass musician Chris Stapleton who scored the 2015 US No.1 album Traveller. Stapleton who is a former member of The SteelDrivers has also written hits for Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Adele and George Strait.
25-Apr-1978 "Every Time Two Fools Collide" by Kenny Rogers and Dottie West was at #1 on the US Country charts. Written by Jan Dyer and Jeff Tweel the duet happened after a recording session with West was running over resulting in Rogers sitting in the studio wating for his session to begin. They began talking about recording a duet, and West suggested "Every Time Two Fools Collide".

4-May-1978 Born on this day in Hartstown, PA was Luke Laird country music songwriter and producer. He has written over 20 #1 Billboard singles, including Carrie Underwood’s "So Small", "Temporary Home", and "Undo It"; Blake Shelton’s "Gonna"; Sara Evans’ "A Little Bit Stronger"; Rodney Atkins’s "Take a Back Road"; Eric Church’s "Drink in My Hand", "Give Me Back My Hometown", and "Talladega"; Little Big Town's "Pontoon", and Luke Bryan's "I See You" and "Fast."
6-May-1978 Bob Kingsley took over hosting American Country Countdown, a stint that would last for 27 years. He had been a producer of the radio countdown show since 1974.
12-May-1978 Dolly Parton had the country #1 single with "It's All Wrong, But It's All Right". Originally appearing on Parton's Here You Come Again album, "It's All Wrong, But It's All Right" became Dolly Parton's seventh #1 country single as a solo artist.

24-May-1978 The United States Postal Service issued a 13-cent commemorative stamp honoring Jimmie Rodgers. The Rodgers stamp, designed by artist Jim Sharpe, became the first in the Postal Service's long-running Performing Arts series.
31-May-1978 Kenny Rogers and Dottie West held the top position on the Country chart with Every Time Two Fools Collide, the duo's first album together. The album spawned two big country hits: the title track went to #1 followed up by the #2 hit "Anyone Who Isn't Me Tonight".
10-Jun-1978 Johnny Cash was presented with the United Nations Humanitarian Award at the annual United Nations Citation Dinner in New York City.
11-Jun-1978 Willie Nelson's remake of Hoagy Carmichael's "Georgia On My Mind" was at #1 on Billboard country singles chart. Nelson won a Grammy award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance for the song.
12-Jun-1978 Johnny Bond died aged 63. Best known for his 1947 hit "Divorce Me C.O.D.", one of his seven top ten hits on the Billboard country charts. In 1965 at the age of 50, he scored the biggest hit of his career with the comic "Ten Little Bottles", which spent four weeks at #2. Bond's other hits include "So Round, So Firm, So Fully Packed" (1947), "Oklahoma Waltz" (1948), "Love Song in 32 Bars" (1950), "Sick Sober and Sorry" (1951) and "Hot Rod Lincoln" (1960).

13-Jun-1978 Born on this day in Youngsville, North Carolina, was Jason Michael Carroll, American country music artist. His debut album Waitin' in the Country produced three consecutive Top 40 country hits for him on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts: "Alyssa Lies", "Livin' Our Love Song" and "I Can Sleep When I'm Dead".
17-Jun-1978 Emmylou Harris was at #1 on the Billboard country charts with her version of Delbert McClinton's "Two More Bottles Of Wine."

6-Jul-1978 Tammy Wynette married songwriter George Richey at her home in Jupiter Beach, Florida. This was the singers fifth marrage and saw Richey becoming her manager throughout much of the 1980s.
5-Sep-1978 Dolly Parton was at #1 on the US country music album chart with Heartbreaker, her 20th solo studio album. The title song, a ballad written by Carole Bayer Sager, topped the US country charts, and became Parton's third top-forty pop hit.
14-Sep-1978 Born on this day in Jacksonville, North Carolina, was Danielle Peck country music artist. Her self-titled debut 2006 album produced the Top 30 country hits "I Don't", "Findin' a Good Man", and "Isn't That Everything".
4-Oct-1978 One of Nashville's most mysterious crimes was reported which involved the abduction of singer, Tammy Wynette. Media reports said that Wynette had been abducted by a masked man at a shopping center. No suspects were ever found or arrested. While Wynette insisted the story was true, her daughter raised doubts, claiming the incident was fabricated.

9-Oct-1978 Johnny Cash hosted the 12th annual Country Music Association Awards Show, broadcast live from the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee on the CBS-TV network. Dolly Parton won Entertainer Of The Year and Grandpa Jones was inducted into the Hall Of Fame.
13-Oct-1978 Dolly Parton was at #1 on the US country music album chart with Heartbreaker, her 20th solo studio album. The title song, a ballad written by Carole Bayer Sager, topped the US country charts, and became Parton's third top-forty pop hit.

21-Oct-1978 Mel Street the honky tonk-styled singer, who had long battled clinical depression and alcoholism, committed suicide on his 43rd birthday. He had signed a recording contract with Mercury Records earlier in the year. He recorded the biggest hit of his career, "Lovin' on Back Streets", in 1973.
23-Oct-1978 American country musician Maybelle Carter died aged 69. She is best known as a member of the historic Carter Family act in the 1920s and '30s and also as a member of Mother Maybelle and the Carter Sisters. Maybelle Carter was inducted as part of The Carter Family in the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1970. In 1993, her image appeared on a US postage stamp honoring the Carter Family.
11-Nov-1978 Waylon Jennings was at #1 on the US country album chart with I've Always Been Crazy. Three singles from the album hit the country charts' top ten: the title reached #1 and "Don't You Think This Outlaw Bit's Done Got Out of Hand" peaked at #5, as did "Girl I Can Tell (You're Trying to Work It Out)". "Don't You Think This Outlaw Bit's Done Got Out of Hand" was Jennings' personal statement on the state of the outlaw movement, written after having been detained by the Drug Enforcement Administration in 1977 for possession of cocaine and conspiracy to distribute. Jennings was never convicted of the crime due to critical faults in the legal process against him.
11-Nov-1978

5-Dec-1978 The Charlie Daniels Band recorded "The Devil Went Down To Georgia" at Nashville's Woodland Sound Studios. The track was later released on their 1979 album Million Mile Reflections and the song was the band's biggest pop hit, reaching #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was also featured in the 1980 movie Urban Cowboy.

5-Dec-1978 Born on this day, was David Hodges, songwriter, producer, composer, keyboardist and vocalist from Little Rock, Arkansas. Once a member of the band Evanescence, he has since worked with both Carrie Underwood (he co-wrote "What Can I Say"), and Reba McEntire, ("Because of You").
16-Dec-1978 American country music singer-songwriter Jenny Lou Carson died aged 63. She was the first woman to write a #1 country music hit ("You Two-Timed Me One Time Too Often"), and from 1945 to 1955 she was one of the most prolific songwriters in country music. She became an expert sharpshooter and learned to spin a rope and manipulate a bullwhip. She toured the state of Texas putting on her cowgirl show and singing with her partner Texas Tommy.
18-Dec-1978 Waylon Jennings was at #1 on the US country album chart with I've Always Been Crazy. Three singles from the album hit the country charts' top ten: the title reached #1 and "Don't You Think This Outlaw Bit's Done Got Out of Hand" peaked at #5, as did "Girl I Can Tell (You're Trying to Work It Out)". "Don't You Think This Outlaw Bit's Done Got Out of Hand" was Jennings' personal statement on the state of the outlaw movement, written after having been detained by the Drug Enforcement Administration in 1977 for possession of cocaine and conspiracy to distribute. Jennings was never convicted of the crime due to critical faults in the legal process against him.
8-Jan-1979 American country music musician, singer, and songwriter Sara Carter died aged 80. She was the lead singer on most of the recordings of the historic Carter Family act in the 1920s and 1930s. In 1993, her image appeared on a US postage stamp honoring the Carter Family. In 2001 she was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor.
9-Jan-1979 Willie and Family Live the double live album by Willie Nelson was at #1 on the US Country charts. Recorded live at Harrah's in Lake Tahoe, Nevada in April 1978 at the height of Willie madness, the album features Emmylou Harris and Johnny Paycheck on some of the songs.
18-Jan-1979 Willie Nelson was at #1 on the country music album chart with the double set, Willie and Family Live. Recorded live at Harrah's in Lake Tahoe, Nevada in April 1978 at the height of Willie madness, the recordings featured Emmylou Harris and Johnny Paycheck as guests on some of the songs.
20-Jan-1979 Dolly Parton was at #1 on the Country charts with "Baby I'm Burnin'" which was released as a double A-side single with "I Really Got the Feeling." The song was aimed at the pop charts, while "I Really Got the Feeling" was aimed toward to country charts.
26-Jan-1979 The American television series The Dukes Of Hazzard aired on CBS, starring John Schneider, as Bo Duke; Tom Wopat, as Luke Duke; and Waylon Jennings, as The Balladeer, the show was set in fictional Hazzard County, Georgia with their attractive cousin Daisy. The series which was inspired by the 1975 film Moonrunners, featured Jennings singing the theme song.
1-Feb-1979 Born on this day in Lancaster, South Carolina, was Julie Roberts, country music singer who made her debut in 2004 with the single "Break Down Here", a Top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles charts.
1-Feb-1979 Born on this day in Green Hill, Alabama was country singer-songwriter Jason Isbell, best known for his solo career and as a former member of the Drive-By Truckers for six years, from 2001 to 2007.
11-Feb-1979 Kenny Rogers was at #1 on the US Country music chart with his sixth studio album, The Gambler which has now sold over 35 million copies world wide.
14-Feb-1979 Taken from the soundtrack to the film of the same name, "Every Which Way But Loose" by Eddie Rabbitt was at #1 on the Country chart. Released just weeks before the film premiered nationwide, the title track immediately broke in popularity. In fact, the song debuted at #18 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, the highest debut since the inception of the 100-position chart in July 1973. The record was later tied by Garth Brooks' "Good Ride Cowboy" in 2005.
15-Feb-1979 Willie Nelson won two trophies during the 21st annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles: Best Country Vocal Performance, Male, for "Georgia On My Mind"; and Best Country Vocal Duo or Group (shared with Waylon Jennings), for "Mammas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys."

3-Mar-1979 The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) telecasted an entire Saturday Night Live from the Grand Ole Opry for the very first time. The show featured many acts including Del Reeves, Barbara Mandrell, Bill Monroe, Hank Snow, Roy Acuff, Minnie Pearl, Don Gibson and many others. The telecast became the most popular one of the year for PBS, and was a part of their March fundraising campaigns.
10-Mar-1979 Soul singer James Brown appeared at The Grand Ole Opry. Brown (who was in Nashville recording new tracks), was not the first non-country act to perform at the Opry, and wouldn't be the last, but Brown's appearance caused an immediate media frenzy during which several Opry regulars expressed their disdain at the Soul singers appearance.
30-Mar-1979 Tammy Wynette was admitted to Underwood Memorial Hospital in Woodbury, New Jersey, with an abdominal infection, a complication from a previous surgery the singer had in New Orleans.
8-Apr-1979 Anne Murray was spending her third week atop of the country charts with "I Just Fall in Love Again". Written by Larry Herbstritt, with co-writers Steve Dorff, Harry Lloyd, and Gloria Sklerov. The song was originally recorded by The Carpenters and later covered by Dusty Springfield, whose version inspired Anne Murray to record her own cover.
24-Apr-1979 Born on this day in Salyersville, Kentucky, was Rebecca Lynn Howard, country music artist. Her highest-charting single, "Forgive", peaked at #12 on the country music charts in 2002.
24-Apr-1979 Ray Charles' "Georgia On My Mind" was proclaimed the state song of Georgia. The music to the song was written in 1930 by Hoagy Carmichael, who also recorded a version of the song in New York in the same year. Ray Charles, a native of Georgia, recorded it in 1960 on the album The Genius Hits the Road.
2-May-1979 Winners at the 14th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards hosted by Roy Clark, Barbara Mandrell and Dennis Weaver at The Palladium, Hollywood included: Top Male Vocalist of the Year - Kenny Rogers, Top Female Vocalist of the Year - Barbara Mandrell, Top Vocal Group - Oak Ridge Boys and Waylon Jennings, Top New Female Vocalist of the Year - Christy Lane, Top New Male Vocalist of the Year - John Conlee and Single Record of the Year went to Don Williams for "Tulsa Time."
11-May-1979 Lester Raymond Flatt the bluegrass musician died. Best known for his work in the Bluegrass duo The Foggy Mountain Boys he was also known as "Flatt and Scruggs," with banjo picker Earl Scruggs who performed "The Ballad of Jed Clampett", which was used as the theme for the television show The Beverly Hillbillies. He also released many solo and collaboration works and hed been a member of Bill Monroe's band during the 1940s.
18-May-1979 Born on this day in Kennett, Missouri, was David Nail country music singer, songwriter. His 2009 album release I'm About to Come Alive produced three singles: the title track, "Red Light", and "Turning Home"; the latter two reached Top 20. His second studio album, The Sound of a Million Dreams, was released in November 2011; "Let It Rain" hit #1 in January 2012.
19-May-1979 The Bellamy Brothers scored their first #1 country single with "If I Said You Have A Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me". Songwriter David Bellamy stated that he got the title from an old Groucho Marx quote used in the American Quiz show You bet Your Life, where Marx sometimes used the quote while interviewing an attractive female contestant, then shake his cigar and raise his eyebrows to elicit a reaction.

19-May-1979 Born on this day, was Shooter Jennings, American singer-songwriter (the only child of country music icons Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter). Jennings made his debut with the single "4th Of July" of his 2005 album Put the "O" Back in Country. Jennings portrayed his father in the Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line alongside Joaquin Phoenix, and Reese Witherspoon.
28-May-1979 Dolly Parton released her twenty-first solo studio album Great Balls of Fire. The album's first single, "You're the Only One", topped the U.S. country charts in mid 1979.
9-Jun-1979 Kenny Rogers was at #1 on the Billboard country chart with "She Believes In Me". The song became one of his biggest crossover hits in the late spring of 1979, reaching #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart.
10-Jun-1979 Born on this day, in Sumter, South Carolina. was Lee Brice, country music singer signed to Curb Records. His highest-charting single "A Woman Like You", reached #1 in April 2012. He also scored Billboard's Top Country Song of 2010 with "Love Like Crazy", the title track to his 2010 debut album; the song spent 56 weeks on the Hot Country Songs chart, peaking at # 3 and setting a record for the longest run in the chart's history.
1-Jul-1979 Waylon Jennings was at #1 on the US country charts with "Amanda", a song written by Bob McDill and which was also recorded by Don Williams. Taken from his 1974 album The Ramblin' Man, "Amanda" would be Waylon Jennings's eighth solo #1 on the country chart.
7-Jul-1979 Born on this day in Hobbema, Alberta, was Cree-Canadian country music singer, songwriter Shane Yellowbird. He was named the Aboriginal Entertainer of the Year at the Aboriginal People's Choice Music Awards, Chevy Trucks Rising Star of the Year at the Canadian Country Music Awards, and had one of the 10 most played country music songs of the year in Canada. Yellowbird died on April 25, 2022, in Calgary. He was 42 years old.
24-Jul-1979 Born on this day, was Jerrod Niemann country music singer, songwriter, who charted with the single "I Love Women (My Momma Can't Stand)". He has also co-written three singles for Garth Brooks: the Chris LeDoux tribute "Good Ride Cowboy", as well as "That Girl Is a Cowboy" and "Midnight Sun".
17-Sep-1979 Born on this day, was Stephen Cochran American Country music singer and songwriter. In 2009 Stephen was named as a spokesman for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Research and Development. The VA and Cochran collaborated to produce a music video for Veterans who need help.
29-Sep-1979 Alabama released their second single "I Wanna Come Over" which became their first Top 40 hit peaking at #33 on the Country Charts.
18-Oct-1979 Johnny Cash received the United Nations Humanitarian Award for his longstanding support for two children's homes in Jamaica and his work for the Youth For Christ Organisation. The ceremony was held at the Maxwell House Hotel in Nashville.
18-Nov-1979 Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge appeared on the comedy-variety television series The Muppet Show. No guest star ever appeared twice on The Muppet Show, although John Denver appeared both on the show and in two specials (John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together and John Denver & the Muppets: Rocky Mountain Holiday).

19-Nov-1979 Kenny Rogers was at #1 on the US Country charts with his seventh studio album Kenny. It included the singles "Coward of the County" and "You Decorated My Life" and went on to enjoy 25 weeks on the album chart.
15-Dec-1979 Singer-songwriter Alan Jackson married his high school sweetheart, Denise Jackson. They had three daughters.
17-Dec-1979 Born on this day in Sonoita, Arizona country was singer Mark Wystrach, lead singer with Midland. Their second album Let It Roll went to #1 on the Country album chart. Midland was nominated for two Grammy Awards in 2018: Grammy Award for Best Country Song and Grammy Award for Best Country Duo/Group Performance, both for "Drinkin’ Problem."
21-Dec-1979 The Electric Horseman, starring Robert Redford and Jane Fonda, had its premiere. Willie Nelson was a supporting character in the film, and he also contributed to the movie's soundtrack.
27-Dec-1979 Born on this day in Mobile, Alabama was country pop singer and songwriter Walker Hayes. His 2019 single "Fancy Like" peaked at #1 on the US Country chart spending 18 weeks at the top of the chart and the track also peaked at #3 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
2-Jan-1980 Kenny Rogers was at #1 on the country album charts with Greatest Hits, (the album reached #1 on both the Pop and Country charts in the US), and featured three singles that were not included on any of Rogers' studio albums: "Lady" (written and produced specifically for Rogers by Lionel Richie), "Love The World Away" (a top five country and top 20 pop hit that was featured on the soundtrack of the box-office smash Urban Cowboy) and "Long Arm of the Law". This was also Rogers' third #1 album of the year. (the other two being Kenny and Gideon).
5-Jan-1980 Kenny Rogers started a three-week run at the top of the Billboard country chart with "Coward Of The County." The song also reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and #1 on the UK pop chart where it remains the most recent traditional country music song to hit #1 in the UK.

25-Jan-1980 At the age of 84, comedian George Burns became the oldest performer (to that time) to have a single in the top 40 of Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart with "I Wish I Was 18 Again." The song peaked at #15 on the chart.

1-Feb-1980 Kenny Rogers was at #1 on the US country album chart with his seventh studio album Kenny, which featured the hit singles "Coward of the County" and "You Decorated My Life."

7-Feb-1980 Kenny Rogers was at #1 on the country album charts with Greatest Hits, (the album reached #1 on both the Pop and Country charts in the US), and featured three singles that were not included on any of Rogers' studio albums: "Lady" (written and produced specifically for Rogers by Lionel Richie), "Love The World Away" (a top five country and top 20 pop hit that was featured on the soundtrack of the box-office smash Urban Cowboy) and "Long Arm of the Law". This was also Rogers' third #1 album of the year. (the other two being Kenny and Gideon).
9-Feb-1980 The Oak Ridge Boys reached the top of the Billboard country chart with the Rodney Crowell-penned "Leaving Louisiana In The Broad Daylight". The song was initially covered by Emmylou Harris (in whose band Crowell had played during the late 1970s), who included it on her 1978 Quarter Moon in a Ten Cent Town album.
27-Feb-1980 Country music winners at the 22nd Annual Grammy Awards included; Best Country Vocal Performance, Female - Emmylou Harris for Blue Kentucky Girl, Best Country Vocal Performance, Male - Kenny Rogers for "The Gambler", Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group - The Charlie Daniels Band for "The Devil Went Down to Georgia", Best Country Instrumental Performance - Doc Watson & Merle Watson for "Big Sandy/Leather Britches" and Best Country Song - Debbie Hupp & Bob Morrison (songwriters) for "You Decorated My Life" performed by Kenny Rogers.

1-Mar-1980 Waylon Jennings was at #1 on the Billboard country chart with the Rodney Crowell-penned song "I Ain't Living Long Like This." Emmylou Harris had also coverd the song for her 1978 album, Quarter Moon in a Ten Cent Town.
2-Mar-1980 The Public Broadcasting Company telecasted the Grand Ole Opry for the third time. The show featured Tom T. Hall, Ronnie Milsap, Roy Acuff, Hank Snow, Minnie Pearl, Porter Wagoner, Billy Grammer, George Hamilton IV, Marty Robbins, and many others. Sissy Spacek also appeared with Loretta Lynn, promoting the new movie Coal Miner's Daughter, which opened the following week.
5-Mar-1980 The film Coal Miner's Daughter debuted in Nashville, and soon became the #1 box office hit in the United States. The film starred Sissy Spacek as Loretta Lynn and Tommy Lee Jones as her husband Mooney Lynn. The film received seven Academy Award nominations, winning a Best Actress Oscar for Spacek.
7-Mar-1980 The film Coal Miner's Daughter, the biography of Loretta Lynn and starring Sissy Spacek opened. Spacek won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Lynn; Tommy Lee Jones and Beverly D'Angelo also play leading roles in the film, which was a huge success with critics and at the box office.

9-Mar-1980 At the age of 84, comedian George Burns became the oldest performer to have a single in the top 40 of Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart when "I Wish I Was 18 Again" peaked at #15.

11-Mar-1980 Willie Nelson was at #1 on the Country music charts with "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys" which was featured on the soundtrack to the 1979 film The Electric Horseman. The song gave Nelson his fifth #1 on the country chart.
13-Mar-1980 Willie Nelson was at #1 on the country chart with "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys", the title of a song from the soundtrack to the 1979 film The Electric Horseman, (starring Robert Redford and Jane Fonda and directed by Sydney Pollack). Written by Sharon Vaughn, it become his fifth #1.

18-Mar-1980 Taken from the soundtrack to The Electric Horseman, Waylon Jennings was at #1 on the Country singles chart with "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys" which was first recorded on the 1976 album Wanted! The Outlaws.
29-Mar-1980 Conway Twitty was at #1 on the Billboard country singles chart with "I'd Love To Lay You Down", his 24th Country #1.
1-Apr-1980 Born on this day in Tifton, Georgia, was Kip Moore, singer-songwriter, who scored the 2012 #1 Country single "Somethin' 'Bout a Truck", which was taken from his debut album Up All Night.
8-Apr-1980 Kenny Rogers as The Gambler premiered on CBS. It was loosely based on the Grammy-winning Kenny Rogers song of the same name, and stars the singer as Brady Hawks, a gambler trying to reunite with a son he never knew, played by Ronnie Scribner. It was a critical and commercial success, receiving an Eddie Award and two Emmy nominations, and resulting in four sequels.
14-Apr-1980 George Jones released "He Stopped Loving Her Today", the lead single from his album I Am What I Am. The song, which was written by Bobby Braddock and Curly Putman has been named in several surveys as the greatest country song of all time. Jones didn't want to record the song, and when he cut it, he said, "Nobody will buy that morbid S.O.B."

14-Apr-1980 Dolly Parton released her twenty-second solo studio album Dolly, Dolly, Dolly. The album was her least traditional country-sounding album to that point, with a number of songs bordering on disco. Though the album's two singles, "Starting Over Again" (written by Donna Summer and Bruce Sudano) and "Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle to You" topped the U.S. country charts.
19-Apr-1980 For the first time in chart history, the top 5 positions on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart were held (or co-held) by female artists. "It's Like We Never Said Goodbye" by Crystal Gayle, "A Lesson in Leavin'" by Dottie West, "Are You on the Road to Lovin' Me Again" by Debby Boone, "Beneath Still Waters" by Emmylou Harris and "Two Story House" by Tammy Wynette (Duet with George Jones).
24-Apr-1980 Born on this day, was American country music singer Danny Gokey who was the third place finalist on the eighth season of American Idol. His debut single "My Best Days Are Ahead of Me" lifted from his debut album, My Best Days, debuted on the Billboard charts at #4, and was the highest debut of digital downloads sold by any new country artist ever.
1-May-1980 Winners at the 15th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards hosted by Loretta Lynn, Charlie Pride and Claude Akins at Knott's Berry Farm, Buena Park included: Top Female Vocalist of the Year - Crystal Gayle, Top Male Vocalist of the Year - Larry Gatlin, Band of the Year - Touring went to the Charlie Daniels Band and Single Record of the Year went to Larry Gatlin for "All The Gold in California."
16-May-1980 Alabama released "Tennessee River" which became their first US Country #1 hit. "Tennessee River" began Alabama's string of 21 consecutive #1 singles in as many releases, a string that spanned from 1980 through 1987.
6-Jun-1980 The movie Urban Cowboy, starring John Travolta and Debra Winger, opened in American theaters. The movie, which showcased Mickey Gilley's nightclub, was a huge success at the box office and its soundtrack included several major hits.
3-Jul-1980 Born on this day in Lawrence, Kansas, was Sarah Buxton, singer, songwriter who had the 2012 US Country #1 hit with David Nail, "Let It Rain."
3-Jul-1980 The film Honeysuckle Rose, starring Willie Nelson, made its world premiere in Austin, Texas. The plot sees Buck Bonham (Willie Nelson) a country singer, with a good family, struggling to find national fame. He juggles his music career with his responsibilities to his wife and son. He has everything going his way until the daughter of his former guitarist joins his tour. The road leads to temptation, which leads to his downfall.
5-Jul-1980 George Jones' classic track, "He Stopped Loving Her Today" was at #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles charts. The melancholy song, written by Bobby Braddock and Curly Putman has been named in several surveys as the greatest country song of all time.

14-Jul-1980 The combustible couple Glen Campbell and Tanya Tucker opened the Republican National Convention in Detroit with a duet of the National Anthem. Campbell later admitted they were "higher than the notes we were singing."
18-Jul-1980 The film Honeysuckle Rose, starring Willie Nelson, opened across America. The plot sees Buck Bonham (Willie Nelson) a country singer, with a good family, struggling to find national fame. He juggles his music career with his responsibilities to his wife and son. He has everything going his way until the daughter of his former guitarist joins his tour. The road leads to temptation, which leads to his downfall.
19-Jul-1980 Dolly Parton released "Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle to You" which went to #1 on the US country singles charts the following month. Written by Pebe Sebert and Hugh Moffatt it was a #14 country hit for Joe Sun in 1978.
24-Jul-1980 The Urban Cowboy soundtrack was certified platinum. The double album featured Anne Murray, Kenny Rogers, The Eagles, Johnny Lee, Mickey Gilley, Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt & J.D. Souther, Jimmy Buffett and The Charlie Daniels Band and others. The film is said to have started the 1980s boom in pop-country music known as the "Urban Cowboy Movement" also known as Neo-Country or Hill Boogie.
26-Jul-1980 Merle Haggard and Clint Eastwood were at #1 on the US Country music charts with "Bar Room Buddies". The song was featured in the film Bronco Billy (starring Clint Eastwood).
9-Aug-1980 The Urban Cowboy soundtrack double album was at #1 on the US Country chart. The album spawned numerous Top 10 Billboard Country Singles, such as #1 "Lookin' for Love" by Johnny Lee, #1 "Stand by Me" by Mickey Gilley, #3 (AC chart), "Could I Have This Dance" by Anne Murray, and #4 "Love the World Away" by Kenny Rogers. The film is said to have started the 1980s boom in pop-country music known as the "Urban Cowboy Movement" also known as Neo-Country or Hill Boogie.
29-Aug-1980 Alabama released "Why Lady Why" which became the group's second #1 song on the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles chart. The track was the second in a string of 21 consecutive #1 singles in as many releases, a string that spanned from 1980 through 1987.
18-Sep-1980 Johnny Lee was at #1 on the US Country charts with "Lookin' for Love". The song was part of the soundtrack to one of the years biggest movies, Urban Cowboy.
13-Oct-1980 Johnny Cash was inducted into the Country Music Hall Of Fame. The presentation was made by Kenny Rogers.
18-Oct-1980 Born on this day was Josh Gracin, country music singer who is a former member of the United States Marine Corps. He first gained public attention as the fourth-place finalist on the second season of the Fox Networks talent competition American Idol. His self-titled debut album was released in 2004 and it produced the #1 hit, "Nothin' to Lose."
21-Oct-1980 Don Williams was at #1 on the Country music charts with "I Believe in You", Williams' eleventh #1 on the country chart. It was also hit in Australia, New Zealand and Europe.
3-Nov-1980 Waylon Jennings was at #1 on the US Country charts with, "Theme from The Dukes of Hazzard (Good Ol' Boys)". The theme to the CBS comedy adventure television series, The Dukes of Hazzard, spent seventeen weeks on the Billboard country singles charts and became his biggest hit.
10-Nov-1980 Dolly Parton released "9 to 5" which went to #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Adult Contemporary chart as well as the Billboard Country Chart. The song was written for the comedy film 9 to 5, starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Parton in her film debut.
12-Nov-1980 The soundtrack album Honeysuckle Rose was at #1 on the US Country chart. The 1980 musical drama film of the same name, featured Willie Nelson. Tracks on the album include songs by Nelson and various artists including Kenneth Threadgill, Emmylou Harris, Johnny Gimble, Hank Cochran, Jeannie Seely and Dyan Cannon. The song "On the Road Again" was nominated for Best Original Song in the 53rd Academy Awards.
17-Nov-1980 Dolly Parton released her twenty-third solo studio album 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs. A concept album about working, the album was centered on Parton's hit "9 to 5", which served as the theme song to the film of the same name.
18-Nov-1980 The country-variety TV series, Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters was aired for the first time. Barbara Mandrell hosted this music-variety series with her younger sisters, Louise and Irelene. Also helping out was Truck Shackley & the Texas Critters, a group of Krofft puppets that included five musicians and a dog. Each week, a well-established country star made appearances.
30-Nov-1980 Kenny Rogers was at #1 on the country album charts with Greatest Hits, (the album reached #1 on both the Pop and Country charts in the US), and featured three singles that were not included on any of Rogers' studio albums: "Lady" (written and produced specifically for Rogers by Lionel Richie), "Love The World Away" (a top five country and top 20 pop hit that was featured on the soundtrack of the box-office smash Urban Cowboy) and "Long Arm of the Law". This was also Rogers' third #1 album of the year. (the other two being Kenny and Gideon).
19-Dec-1980 The film Nine to Five, with Dolly Parton in one of the leading roles opened across America grossing over $3.9 million in its opening weekend. The movie's theme song, "9 to 5", became one of Parton's biggest hits of the decade and went to #1 for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100.

24-Dec-1980 Kenny Rogers was at #1 on the country album charts with Greatest Hits, which featured three singles that were not included on any of Rogers' studio albums: "Lady" (written and produced specifically for Rogers by Lionel Richie), "Love The World Away" (a top five country and top 20 pop hit that was featured on the soundtrack of the box-office smash Urban Cowboy) and "Long Arm of the Law". This was also Rogers' third #1 album of the year. (the other two being Kenny and Gideon).

10-Jan-1981 "I Think I'll Just Stay Here and Drink" by Merle Haggard was at #1 on the US Country charts. Taken from his from the album, Back to the Barrooms it became Merle Haggard's twenty-sixth #1 country hit. The single stayed at #1 for one week and spent a total of twelve weeks on the country chart.

17-Jan-1981 Eddie Rabbitt was at #1 on the US Country chart with "I Love A Rainy Night." According to Rabbit, the song was 12 years in the making. Rabbitt had a collection of old tapes he kept in the basement of his home. While rummaging through the tapes one day in 1980, he heard a fragment of a song he had recorded one rainy night in the late 1960s. The song succeeded Dolly Parton's song "9 To 5" at the #1 position on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart - the last time, to date, that pop chart featured back-to-back country singles in the #1 position.

23-Jan-1981 Alabama released "Old Flame" which became the group's third #1 single on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. The track was the third in a string of 21 consecutive #1 singles in as many releases, a string that spanned from 1980 through 1987.
24-Jan-1981 The Muppet Show staring Johnny Cash was broadcast, in which Cash inspired Kermit the frog to hold an old-fashioned hoedown. During the show Cash sang "Ghost Riders In The Sky" and a medley of his famous railroad songs.
30-Jan-1981 Kenny Rogers won four American Music Awards, including Favorite Country Single, for "Coward Of The County" and Country Album, for The Gambler. Other winners include: Barbara Mandrell, The Statler Brothers and The Eagles.
7-Feb-1981 Hank Williams Jr. released "Texas Women" as the first single from the album Rowdy which became his third #1 on the country chart, the first since "Eleven Roses" in 1972.
20-Feb-1981 Born on this day in Oceanside, California, was Chris Thile, musician, with the acoustic folk/progressive bluegrass quintet Punch Brothers. He was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Country Instrumental Performance for "The Eleventh Reel" in 2006.
25-Feb-1981 Country music winners at the 23rd Annual Grammy Awards held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City included; Best Country Vocal Performance, Male - George Jones for "He Stopped Loving Her Today", Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Groupwent to Emmylou Harris & Roy Orbison for "That Lovin' You Feelin' Again"and Willie Nelson won (songwriter) for "On the Road Again."
28-Feb-1981 Country music star Eddie Rabbitt crossed over to the Pop chart to score a US #1 hit with "I Love a Rainy Night". He had earlier written the Elvis Presley smash "Kentucky Rain" before having a #5 hit with "Drivin' My Life Away". Although it sounds like he made up a stage name, his real name is Edward Thomas Rabbitt.
29-Feb-1981 Dolly Parton was at #1 on the country chart with 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs, her 23rd solo studio release. A concept album about working, the album was centered around Parton's hit "9 to 5", which served as the theme song to the film of the same name.
14-Mar-1981 The final showing of Live From The Grand Ole Opry on the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) was aired. The show actually went beyond the televised segment, but the show was ended with a clip of Marty Robbins singing "El Paso" (a song he used to close out his Opry segment at midnight) from the year before.
16-Mar-1981 Johnny and June Carter Cash filmed their Spring television special, titled Johnny Cash And The Country Girls, at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. Guests on the show, included Emmylou Harris, Anne Murray and Rosanne Cash.
21-Mar-1981 "Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground" gave Willie Nelson his seventh #1 on the country chart. The song is commonly believed to have been written about a friend of Nelson's who was a Hells Angel, who died in a motorcycle crash.
23-Mar-1981 Dolly Parton was at #1 on the country chart with 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs, her 23rd solo studio release. A concept album about working, the album was centered around Parton's hit "9 to 5", which served as the theme song to the film of the same name.
23-Mar-1981 Born on this day in Anaheim, Orange County was country music singer Brett Young. His second album Ticket to L.A. released in 2018 topped the Country album chart.
28-Mar-1981 Willie Nelson was at #1 on the country chart with "Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground", a track from the film Honeysuckle Rose. Nelson's seventh chart topper is commonly believed to have been written about a friend of Nelsons who was a Hells Angel, who died in a motorcycle crash.
3-Apr-1981 Hank Williams Jr. was at #1 on the US country singles chart with "Texas Women", his third #1 on the country chart.
10-Apr-1981 Born on this day, was Laura Bell Bundy, American actress and singer who has performed in a number of Broadway, television and film roles. She signed to Mercury Records Nashville and released her first country music single, "Giddy On Up," in early 2010.
23-Apr-1981 George Strait released what would become his first major hit "Unwound" the lead-off single from his debut album Strait Country when it peaked at #6 on the United States Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. Dean Dillon and Frank Dycus originally wrote the song for Johnny Paycheck, but, Paycheck was in jail at the time.
30-Apr-1981 Winners at the 16th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards hosted by Larry Gatlin, Tammy Wynette and Con Meredith at the Shrine Auditorium, Hollywood included: Top Female Vocalist of the Year - Dolly Parton, Top Male Vocalist of the Year - George Jones, Top Vocal Group - Alabama, Top New Female Vocalist of the Year - Terri Gibbs and Top New Male Vocalist of the Year went to Johnny Lee.
1-May-1981 Alabama released "Feels So Right" which became the group's fourth straight #1 single on the Country charts. The track was the fourth in a string of 21 consecutive #1 singles in as many releases, a string that spanned from 1980 through 1987.
12-May-1981 Born on this day in Nashville, Tennessee, was Holly Williams, singer-songwriter, and the granddaughter of Hank Williams, Sr., the daughter of Hank Williams, Jr. and half-sister of country singer Hank Williams III.
13-May-1981 Heartworn Highways the documentary film by James Szalapski was released. The film captured some of the founders of the Outlaw Country movement in Texas and Tennessee and features Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt, Steve Earle, David Allan Coe, Rodney Crowell, Gamble Rogers, Steve Young, and The Charlie Daniels Band.
17-May-1981 Willie Nelson was at #1 on the Country album chart with Somewhere Over the Rainbow which featured 1940's pop standards arranged by Nelson. The album's acoustic jazz instrumentation was also meant to play tribute to one of his heroes, Belgian gypsy jazz guitar virtuoso Django Reinhardt, who influenced Nelson's playing.
27-May-1981 Alabama were at #1 on the country music album chart with Feels So Right, their second studio album. The album produced three #1 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart: "Old Flame", the title track and "Love in the First Degree".
30-May-1981 Hank Williams Jr. released "Dixie on My Mind" which give him his fourth #1 on the country chart. The track was second single from the album Rowdy.
1-Jun-1981 Born on the day in Ravensdale, Washington was singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile who formed the all-female quartet with Amanda Shires, Maren Morris and Natalie Hemby called The Highwomen. Their self titled 2019 debut album went to #1 on the US Country charts.
8-Jun-1981 Born on this day in Vista, California, was Sara Watkins, fidle player, with Nickel Creek, the bluegrass act. Watkins gained two Grammy nominations before she turned 20.
9-Jul-1981 Born on this day in Waterloo, Iowa, was Emily West, country music artist, who debuted on Billboard Hot Country Songs charts in early 2008 with the single "Rocks in Your Shoes" and also scored a hit with "Blue Sky", a duet with Keith Urban, in 2010.
14-Jul-1981 $175,000 worth of sound equipment and instruments was stolen from Merle Haggard prior to a show in Houston. Most of the equipment was recovered the next day when the thief tried to sell it at a local pawn shop.
31-Jul-1981 Alabama were at #1 on the Country charts with "Feels So Right" the title track from their second studio album which was their first #1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.
19-Aug-1981 Born on this day in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, was Rissi Palmer who debuted in 2007 with the single "Country Girl", which made her the first African-American woman to chart a country song since Dona Mason in 1987.
28-Aug-1981 Born on this day in Vero Beach, Florida, was Jake Owen, country music singer, songwriter. In September 2011, Owen achieved his first #1 on the country charts with the title track to his third album, Barefoot Blue Jean Night. He has also toured as an opening act for several country acts, including Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Little Big Town, Sugarland, and Keith Urban.
4-Sep-1981 "(There's) No Gettin' Over Me" by Ronnie Milsap was at #1 on the Country charts, (the song's official title appears nowhere in the lyrics). It became one of Milsap's biggest country and pop hits during his recording career.
5-Sep-1981 Hank Williams Jr. released "All My Rowdy Friends (Have Settled Down)" from the album The Pressure Is On. The track gave him his fifth #1 on the country chart. The phrase "all my rowdy friends" would later become a catch phrase of sorts for Williams, who would use the line in 1984 for "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight," in 1987 for "Born to Boogie" and "All My Rowdy Friends Are Here on Monday Night," and in 2011 for "Keep the Change."
11-Sep-1981 Born on this day in Augusta, Georgia, was Charles Kelley, country music singer-songwriter with Lady Antebellum, who scored the 2009 US #1 Country hit "I Run To You." The group won five awards at the 2011 Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year and Record of the Year for "Need You Now." Lady Antebellum was also awarded the Best Country Album award at the 54th Grammy Awards.

15-Sep-1981 Born on this day was Andy Gibson American country music singer. He co-wrote "Don't You Wanna Stay", a duet between Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson which reached #1 on the country music charts in 2011.
18-Sep-1981 Born on this day was Jesse Erasure American music publisher, record producer, songwriter, and DJ. He has produced, co-written, or remixed for artists including: Meghan Trainor, Florida Georgia Line, Luke Bryan, Rascal Flatts. In 2015, he reached the #1 spot on the Billboard Country charts with his Florida Georgia Line co-write "Sun Daze."
2-Oct-1981 Alabama released "Love in the First Degree" a song written by Jim Hurt and Tim DuBois. The track was the fifth in a string of 21 consecutive #1 singles in as many releases, a string that spanned from 1980 through 1987. It also became Alabama's biggest crossover hit, peaking at #15 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1982.
7-Oct-1981 Step by Step the seventh studio album by American country music artist Eddie Rabbitt was at #1 on the Country chart. Three singles were released from the album including the "title track", which went to #1 on country charts.
12-Oct-1981 Alabama was named instrumental group and vocal group of the year, at the 15th Annual CMA Awards, hosted by Entertainer of the Year (for that year), Barbara Mandrell.
16-Oct-1981 Eddie Rabbitt was at #1 on the US country album chart with Step by Step, his seventh studio album. The album continued the crossover success established in the singer's two previous albums. Three singles were produced including the title track, which went to #1 on country charts and reached the top 5 on both the Adult Contemporary and Billboard 100 charts.
31-Oct-1981 Charley Pride was at #1 on the Country chart with "Never Been So Loved (In All My Life)" a song written by Wayland Holyfield and Norro Wilson. The first single from his Greatest Hits album it became Charley Pride's twenty-fifth #1 single on the country chart.
11-Nov-1981 During sessions at Woodland Sound Studio Nashville, Tennessee, Reba McEntire recorded "Can't Even Get the Blues" which when released in September 1982 gave the singer her first US #1 Country hit.
24-Nov-1981 Johnny Cash was honoured with the Pride Of Tennessee Award for his promotion of a statewide campaign against adult illiteracy. The recent movie Pride of Jessie Hallam was the basis for the award, which was established by Governor Lamar Alexander.
29-Nov-1981 Kenny Rogers was at #1 on both the Country and Billboard charts with "Lady". Written by Lionel Richie, it became the first record of the 1980s to chart on all four of Billboard magazine's singles charts - country, Hot 100, adult contemporary and Top Black Singles.
13-Dec-1981 Country singer Johnny Paycheck was arrested on a sex charge only minutes after giving a free concert for 1,200 inmates at the Missouri State Penitentiary. He was charged with having sex with a 12 year-old girl and later released on $10,000 bond.
23-Dec-1981 While Johnny Cash and his family were sitting down to enjoy their evening meal, three armed intruders broke into their Montego Bay home. Johnny and his family were all locked in a cellar and over $35,000 worth of items were stolen during the robbery. All were unharmed during the ordeal.
4-Jan-1982 Born on this day in Nashville, Tennessee, was American singer-songwriter Justin Townes Earle (son of Steve Earle). He was recognized with an Americana Music Award for Emerging Artist of the Year in 2009 and for Song of the Year in 2011 for "Harlem River Blues". He died on August 20, 2020 age 38 from an accidental overdose of fentanyl-laced cocaine.
9-Jan-1982 Following a recommendation from the Hendersonville Chamber of Commerce, the City Commision dedicated Highway 31, known locally as Gallatin Road, as the Johnny Cash Parkway. A ceremony was later held in the parking lot at The House Of Cash.
22-Jan-1982 Alabama released "Mountain Music" as the lead-off single and title track to Alabama's album of the same name. The track was the sixth in a string of 21 consecutive #1 singles in as many releases, a string that spanned from 1980 through 1987.
25-Jan-1982 Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson, Barbara Mandrell, Anne Murray and The Oak Ridge Boys all picked up trophies at the American Music Awards.
3-Feb-1982 Born on this day was Jessica Harp, American songwriter and former country artist from Kansas City, Missouri. Between 2005 and 2007, Harp and Michelle Branch recorded and performed as The Wreckers, a duo that topped the country charts in 2006 with the Grammy nominated "Leave the Pieces." After The Wreckers disbanded, Harp began a solo career with her single, "Boy Like Me," debuted in March 2009 and was a Top 30 hit on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
24-Feb-1982 Country music winners at the 24th Annual Grammy Awards included; Best Country Vocal Performance, Female - Dolly Parton for "9 to 5" which also won Best Country Song. Best Country Vocal Performance, Male - Ronnie Milsap for "(There's) No Gettin' Over Me" and Best Country Performance by a Group with Vocal - The Oak Ridge Boys for "Elvira."

25-Feb-1982 Alabama released their sixth studio album Mountain Music which became their most successful album and becoming their second US Country #1. It won 1982's Grammy Award for "Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. Early LP pressings were mastered at a slower speed. Reissues made after have corrected this error.
5-Mar-1982 Born on this day American singer-songwriter and fiddle player Amanda Shires. She has performed as a member of the Texas Playboys, Thrift Store Cowboys and Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, as well as in a duo with Rod Picott. In 2019, she joined The Highwomen alongside Brandi Carlile, Maren Morris and Natalie Hemby.
15-Mar-1982 Alabama were at #1 on the Country album chart with Mountain Music, their award-winning third studio album. A crossover success, it ranked well as an album on both country and pop charts and launched singles that were successful in several markets. This was Alabama's most successful non-compilation album.
29-Mar-1982 Dolly Parton released her twenty-fourth solo studio album Heartbreak Express. The album returned Parton to a more fully realized country sound (a process she had begun on the previous year's 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs), after her late 1970s pop recordings.
30-Mar-1982 George Jones was arrested and charged with drunken driving after he wrecked his 1981 Lincoln while driving home in Mississippi. The accident happened on a country road about 10 miles from the Alabama - Mississippi state line. Just 24 hours earlier Jones and his fiancee Nancy Ford Sepulvada were stopped near Jackson and state narcotics officers said they found a 'small amount' of white substance in his car.
5-Apr-1982 Merle Haggard was at #1 on the Country singles charts with "Big City". The song was his 27th #1 single on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.
8-Apr-1982 The Oak Ridge Boys were at #1 on the Country singles chart with "Bobbie Sue", the title track of their seventh album became the Oaks' sixth #1 single.

12-Apr-1982 Born on this day was Easton Corbin country music singer, songwriter who released his self-titled debut album in March 2010, featuring the two #1 hits "A Little More Country Than That" and "Roll With It", as well as the top 15 hit "I Can't Love You Back".
24-Apr-1982 The Survivors, featuring Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins, entered the Country chart. The live recording was from a Johnny Cash concert in Stuttgart, West Germany the revious year, when Lewis and Perkins (also on-tour in Germany at the same time), showed up unexpectedly and were asked to perform on the second half of the show with Cash. The live tapes were edited and mixed by co-producer Rodney Crowell.
6-May-1982 Alabama released "Take Me Down" the second single from their album Mountain Music. Written by Exile band members Mark Gray and J.P. Pennington, the song was originally recorded by Exile in 1980 but failed to become a hit. The track was the seventh in a string of 21 consecutive #1 singles for Alabama in as many releases, a string that spanned from 1980 through 1987.
14-May-1982 Willie Nelson was at #1 on the US Country charts with, "Always on My Mind", a song originally recorded by Brenda Lee in 1972. Over 300 artists have recored the song, including Elvis Presely who scored a hit with his version in 1972. Nelson won a Grammy Award for his version of the song.
21-May-1982 Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson were at #1 on the Country charts with "Just to Satisfy You" a song written by Jennings and Don Bowman in 1963. Jennings included the song in his performing repertoire, and on radio. In 1982 he recorded a duet version along with Willie Nelson, that peaked at #1 for two weeks on Billboard Hot Country Singles.
26-May-1982 Willie Nelson was at #1 on the country album chart with Always on My Mind, which became the Billboard #1 country album of the year. The album spent 22 weeks at the top of the charts and stayed for a total of 253 weeks on the Billboard Top Country Albums charts. The title track was originally recorded by Brenda Lee in 1972 and has since been recorded by dozens of performers including Elvis Presley in 1972 and John Wesley Ryles in 1979.
27-May-1982 MCA Records released "Fool Hearted Memory" by George Strait, written by Byron Hill and Blake Mevis, it gave the singer his first #1 single. The song was included in the soundtrack of the feature film The Soldier and won an ASCAP Award for being among the most performed country songs of 1982.
31-May-1982 Born on this day in Plano, Texas, was Casey James singer and guitarist who was the third-place finalist on the ninth season of American Idol. He released his eponymous album in March 2012 which peaked at #2 on the US Country chart.
5-Jul-1982 Born on this day in Augusta, Georgia, Dave Haywood, country music singer-songwriter with Lady Antebellum, who scored the 2009 US #1 Country hit "I Run To You." The group won five awards at the 2011 Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year and Record of the Year for "Need You Now". Lady Antebellum was also awarded the "Best Country Album" award at the 54th Grammy Awards.
16-Jul-1982 The American comedy-drama film Six Pack directed by Daniel Petrie and starring Kenny Rogers was released. In the movie Kenny Rogers plays race car driver Brewster Baker. The film grossed over $20 million during its theatrical run.
18-Jul-1982 Willie Nelson was at #1 on the country album chart with Always on My Mind, which became the Billboard #1 country album of the year. The album spent 22 weeks at the top of the charts and stayed for a total of 253 weeks on the Billboard Top Country Albums charts. The title track was originally recorded by Brenda Lee in 1972 and has since been recorded by dozens of performers including Elvis Presley in 1972 and John Wesley Ryles in 1979.
23-Jul-1982 The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas the American musical comedy film co-written, produced and directed by Colin Higgins was released. An adaptation of the 1978 Broadway musical of the same name, the film starred Dolly Parton and Burt Reynolds. The film version presented some difficulties for Universal, particularly with advertising. In 1982, the word "whorehouse" was considered obscene in parts of the US, resulting in the film being renamed The Best Little Cathouse in Texas in some print ads.
6-Aug-1982 Willie Nelson was at #1 on the US Country charts with Always On My Mind. The album was the Billboard #1 country album of the year for 1982, peaking at the top of the charts for a total of 22 weeks, as well as spending 99 weeks on the chart.
7-Aug-1982 "Yesterday's Wine" a duet by George Jones and Merle Haggard was released which peaked at #1 on the Country charts. Written by Willie Nelson (and the title track of the 1971 album of the same name by Nelson), the song inspired the title of their first duet LP by Jones and Haggard, A Taste of Yesterday's Wine.
20-Aug-1982 Alabama released "Close Enough to Perfect" as the third single from the album Mountain Music. The track was the eighth in a string of 21 consecutive #1 singles in as many releases, a string that spanned from 1980 through 1987.
22-Aug-1982 Willie Nelson was at #1 on the country album chart with Always on My Mind, which became the Billboard #1 country album of the year. The album spent 22 weeks at the top of the charts and stayed for a total of 253 weeks on the Billboard Top Country Albums charts. The title track was originally recorded by Brenda Lee in 1972 and has since been recorded by dozens of performers including Elvis Presley in 1972 and John Wesley Ryles in 1979.
28-Aug-1982 Born on this day in Star, Mississippi, was LeAnn Rimes, country pop singer, known for her rich vocals and her rise to fame as an eight-year-old champion on the original Ed McMahon version of Star Search, followed by the release of the Bill Mack song "Blue" when she was 13 to become the youngest country music star since Tanya Tucker in 1972.
2-Sep-1982 Willie Nelson was at #1 on the country album chart with Always on My Mind, which became the Billboard #1 country album of the year. The album spent 22 weeks at the top of the charts and stayed for a total of 253 weeks on the Billboard Top Country Albums charts. The title track was originally recorded by Brenda Lee in 1972 and has since been recorded by dozens of performers including Elvis Presley in 1972 and John Wesley Ryles in 1979.

14-Sep-1982 Willie Nelson was at #1 on the US Country charts with Always On My Mind. The album was the Billboard #1 country album of the year for 1982, peaking at the top of the charts for a total of 22 weeks, as well as spending 99 weeks on the chart.
17-Sep-1982 Willie Nelson was at #1 on the Country charts with Always on My Mind. It was the Billboard #1 country album of the year for 1982, and stayed for 253 weeks on the Top Country Albums charts, peaking at #1 for a total of 22 weeks, as well as spending 99 weeks on the Billboard 200.
20-Sep-1982 Jerry Reed was at #1 on the US Country chart with, "She Got the Goldmine (I Got the Shaft)". Written by Tim DuBois the song is a satire on divorce, and became Reed's third and final #1 country hit, and one of his signature tunes.

20-Sep-1982 Born on this day in Tyler, Texas was country pop singer and songwriter Niko Moon. He has written songs for Dierks Bentley, Zac Brown Band, Rascal Flatts, and Morgan Wallen. He was also a member of the group Sir Rosevelt with Zac Brown and Ben Simonetti. Moon scored the 2020 US #1 Country hit with "Good Time".
23-Sep-1982 Jimmy Wakely, actor and country Western music vocalist, and one of the last singing cowboys died. During the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, he released records, appeared in several B-Western movies, appeared on radio and television and even had his own series of comic books. His duet singles with Margaret Whiting from 1949-51 produced a string of hits, including 1949's #1 hit on the US country charts and pop music charts, "Slippin' Around."
25-Sep-1982 Special guests on this week's syndicated US music television series The Glen Campbell Music Show included Mel Tillis who performed "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" and "Detroit City" and then with Glen Campbell played "Kaw-Liga" and "I Saw the Light".
1-Oct-1982 Born on this day in Roanoke, Virginia was Ross Copperman the Grammy nominated American singer-songwriter and producer. Copperman has penned and produced hits for Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, Trisha Yearwood., Dierks Bentley, Eli Young Band, Kenny Chesney and others.
2-Oct-1982 Special guests on this week's syndicated US music television series The Glen Campbell Music Show included blind singer Terri Gibbs who performed her hit "Somebody's Knockin'" and then with Glen Campbell played "Don't Pull Your Love/Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye", "Blues (My Naughty Sweetie Gives to Me)", "On the Wings of My Victory" and "Galveston/Country Boy" (medley).
9-Oct-1982 Willie Nelson was at #1 on the country album chart with Always on My Mind, which became the Billboard #1 country album of the year. The album spent 22 weeks at the top of the charts and stayed for a total of 253 weeks on the Billboard Top Country Albums charts. The title track was originally recorded by Brenda Lee in 1972 and has since been recorded by dozens of performers including Elvis Presley in 1972 and John Wesley Ryles in 1979.
23-Oct-1982 Special guests on this week's syndicated US music television series The Glen Campbell Music Show included The Righteous Brothers who with Glen Campbell played "True Grit" and "An American Trilogy".
27-Oct-1982 Willie Nelson was at #1 on the US Country charts with Always On My Mind. The album was the Billboard #1 country album of the year for 1982, peaking at the top of the charts for a total of 22 weeks, as well as spending 99 weeks on the chart.
30-Oct-1982 Hank Williams, Jr. had nine albums simultaneously on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.
6-Nov-1982 Special guests on this week's syndicated US music television series The Glen Campbell Music Show included Roger Miller who performed "King of the Road" and then with Glen Campbell played "Southern Nights", "Goin' Back to Alabam", "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" and "It's Your World (Boys and Girls)".
20-Nov-1982 Special guests on this week's syndicated US music television series The Glen Campbell Music Show included Willie Nelson who performed "On the Road Again" and "Always on My Mind". And then with Glen Campbell played "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys", "Crazy", "Old Friends" and "Uncloudy Day".
22-Nov-1982 Filmed in and around Memphis, Johnny Cash's 1982 Christmas TV Special A Merry Memphis Christmas was recorded. The show included guest appearances by June Carter-Cash, Rosanne Cash, Crystal Gayle, Eddie Rabbitt, the gospel group Mighty Clouds Of Joy and Jack Clements.
27-Nov-1982 Special guests on this week's syndicated US music television series The Glen Campbell Music Show included Rita Coolidge who performed "Something 'Bout You Baby I Like" and then with Glen Campbell played "Orange Blossom Special" and "I Believe".
4-Dec-1982 Special guests on this week's syndicated US music television series The Glen Campbell Music Show included B.J. Thomas who performed "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" and then with Glen Campbell played "Hang On Baby (Ease My Mind)" and "Amazing Grace".
8-Dec-1982 Marty Robbins, the American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist died of a heart attack. One of the most popular and successful country and Western singers of his era, Robbins released over 50 singles and 100 albums. In addition to his recordings, Robbins was an avid race car driver, competing in 35 career NASCAR races with six top 10 finishes, including the 1973 Firecracker 400. In 1967, Robbins played himself in the car racing film Hell on Wheels.

15-Dec-1982 The Clint Eastwood, produced and directed, film Honkytonk Man was released. Set in the Great Depression, the film which stars Eastwood with his son, Kyle Eastwood was loosely based on the life of Country music legend Jimmie Rodgers.
16-Dec-1982 Born on this day was American country music singer-songwriter and guitarist Frankie Ballard. His third single, "Helluva Life", became his first Top 20 hit in December 2013.
18-Dec-1982 Special guests on this week's syndicated US music television series The Glen Campbell Music Show included Jerry Reed who performed "East Bound and Down" and "She Got the Goldmine (I Got the Shaft)" and then with Glen Campbell played "Amos Moses", "A Thing Called Love" and "Mule Skinner Blues".
20-Dec-1982 British record producer Don Law died in La Marque, Texas. A longtime Columbia executive, he migrated to the United States in 1924, eventually landing in Dallas, Texas, where he worked as a bookkeeper for Brunswick Records. He oversaw such hits as Jimmy Dean's "Big Bad John," Lefty Frizzell's "Saginaw, Michigan," Johnny Cash's "Ring Of Fire" and Ray Price's "For The Good Times".
25-Dec-1982 Special guests on this week's syndicated US music television series The Glen Campbell Music Show included Emmylou Harris who performed "My Song Bird" and "Cheatin' Is" and then with Glen Campbell played "Gone at Last" and "Time in a Bottle".
26-Dec-1982 Roger Bowling, Nashville based songwriter died. His best known songs included "Lucille" (co-written with Hal Bynum), and "Coward of the County" (co-written with Billy Ed Wheeler), both recorded by Kenny Rogers, and "Blanket on the Ground", "What I've Got In Mind", and "57 Chevrolet", which were recorded by Billie Jo Spears.
1-Jan-1983 Special guests on this week's syndicated US music television series The Glen Campbell Music Show included Lacy J. Dalton, who performed her hit "16th Avenue". Then with Glen Campbell she played three Beatles songs, "Eight Days a Week", "With a Little Help from My Friends" and "Yesterday."
3-Jan-1983 John Anderson was at #1 on the Country chart with the John Scott Sherrill song "Wild and Blue." The track was Anderson's eleventh country hit and the first of five #1's on the country chart.
4-Jan-1983 Alabama were at #1 on the US Country music album chart with Mountain Music, released in 1982, it is the award-winning third studio album by the country music group.

8-Jan-1983 Special guests on this week's syndicated US music television series The Glen Campbell Music Showincluded Ray Stevens, who performed "Proud Mary" and "My Window Faces the South" and then with Glen Campbell played "Everything Is Beautiful."
11-Jan-1983 Reba McEntire was at #1 on the US Country charts with, "Can't Even Get the Blues", McEntrire's fourteenth country hit and her first #1 country hit.

17-Jan-1983 The rise in popularity of Country music was evident at The American Music Awards, where Kenny Rogers took home three citations, Willie Nelson was given two and Alabama was named Favorite Band.
18-Jan-1983 Born on this day in Long Island, New York was record producer and songwriter David Garcia. He co-wrote and produced the smash 2017 hit single "Meant to Be" with Bebe Rexha featuring Florida Georgia Line and worked with Carrie Underwood to produce her 2018 #1 album Cry Pretty.
22-Jan-1983 Tammy Wynette was the special guest on this week's syndicated US music television series The Glen Campbell Music Show, who performed "Stand by Your Man", "I Knew Jesus (Before He Was a Star)" and "My Elusive Dreams."
25-Jan-1983 Born on this day was singer-songwriter Morgane Stapleton, (the wife of Chris Stapleton). Carrie Underwood, Kellie Pickler and LeAnn Rimes have all covered songs penned by Morgane.
28-Jan-1983 Alabama released "Dixieland Delight" as the lead-off single from their album The Closer You Get.... The track was the ninth in a string of 21 consecutive #1 singles in as many releases, a string that spanned from 1980 through 1987.
29-Jan-1983 Special guests on this week's syndicated US music television series The Glen Campbell Music Show included The Statler Brothers who performed "Sunflower", "Sweet Baby James" and "Child of the Fifties" and then with Glen Campbell played "Faithless Love."
12-Feb-1983 Special guests on this week's syndicated US music television series The Glen Campbell Music Show included Jimmy Webb who performed songs with Glen Campbell including "Saturday Night", "MacArthur Park" and "Ocean in His Eyes."
15-Feb-1983 The TV film starring Johnny Cash, Murder in Coweta County was released in the US. Set in 1948, in rural Georgia, and based on a true story, Cash played Sheriff Lamar Potts in the film.
19-Feb-1983 Alabama were at #1 on the US Country music album chart with Mountain Music, released in 1982, it is the award-winning third studio album by the country music group.
23-Feb-1983 Willie Nelson won Best Country Vocal Performance for "Always on My Mind" at the 25th Annual Grammy Awards. Best Female Country Vocal Performance went to Juice Newton for "Break It to Me Gently."

26-Feb-1983 Special guests on this week's syndicated US music television series The Glen Campbell Music Show included Ronnie Milsap, who performed songs with Glen Campbell including "The Sweetest Thing (I've Ever Known)" and "In the Pines."
4-Mar-1983 Country singer, George Jones married Nancy Sepulveda in Woodville, Texas, (his fourth marrige). The newlyweds had their wedding-night dinner at the local Burger King in Jasper, Texas.
5-Mar-1983 CMT was launched at 6:19 PM CST. Originally called CMTV but always "Country Music Television." (The "V" was dropped in response to a complaint by competitor MTV), CMT beat its chief competitor, The Nashville Network (TNN), on the air by two days. CMT was positioned to play country music videos 24 hours a day, seven days a week, while TNN was geared toward programming lending itself to a "country lifestyle". The very first video clip to air on CMT was a performance clip of country music legend Faron Young's classic 1971 hit, "It's Four in the Morning".
7-Mar-1983 The Nashville Network (TNN) was launched from the now-defunct Opryland USA theme park near Nashville, Tennessee. Country Music Television (CMT), founded by Glenn D. Daniels, beat TNN's launch by two days, robbing TNN of the claim of "first country music cable television network".
10-Mar-1983 Born on this day, was Carrie Underwood, country singer, songwriter and actress who rose to fame as the winner of the fourth season of American Idol, in 2005. With eleven #1 hits on Billboard Hot Country Songs, Underwood is listed in the 2012 Guinness Book Of World Records as the Female Country Artist with Most #1 hits on such chart from 1991 to present, tied with Reba McEntire. She is the first-ever female artist to win back-to-back Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards for Entertainer of the Year (2009/10). Forbes reported that Underwood earned over $20 million between May 2010 and May 2011.
13-Apr-1983 CBS-TV celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Country Music Association. Among those appearing on the special: Alabama, Kenny Rogers, The Oak Ridge Boys, Anne Murray, Ricky Skaggs, Roy Acuff, Tammy Wynette, Janie Fricke, Mickey Gilley and The Gatlin Brothers.
16-Apr-1983 Alabama were at #1 on the Country singles chart with "Dixieland Delight" which was released as the lead-off single from their latest album The Closer You Get....
9-May-1983 Winners at the 18th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards hosted by Jerry Reed, John Schneider and Tammy Wynette included: Top Female Vocalist of the Year - Slyvia, Top Male Vocalist of the Year - Ronnie Milsap, Top Vocal Group - Alabama, Top New Female Vocalist of the Year - Karen Brooks, op Vocal Duet of the Year - David Frizzell and Shelly West and Album of the Year went to Willie Nelson for Always On My Mind.
19-May-1983 George Strait scored his second Country #1 hit single with "A Fire I Can't Put Out." The track was released as the fourth and final single from his album Strait from the Heart.
20-May-1983 The Oak Ridge Boys were at #1 on the US country album chart with Deliver, their tenth studio release. The album included two hit singles: "Ozark Mountain Jubilee" and "I Guess It Never Hurts to Hurt Sometimes", the latter of which reached #1 on Hot Country Songs.
30-Jun-1983 Born on this day was Cole Swindell, American country music songwriter known for his 2013 breakout hit "Chillin' It" and co-wrote Florida Georgia Line's "This Is How We Roll."
2-Jul-1983 Born on this day, was Michelle Branch, singer-songwriter, guitarist and actress. During the early 2000s, she released two top-selling albums, The Spirit Room and Hotel Paper, and in 2005, she formed the country music duo The Wreckers with friend and fellow musician Jessica Harp, and produced the Grammy-nominated single "Leave the Pieces". The Wreckers disbanded in 2007 to pursue their respective solo careers.
12-Jul-1983 Born on this day in Mississippi, was Kimberly Perry, singer and guitarist for the country group The Band Perry, who won the CMA Song of the Year Award for "If I Die Young" in 2011.
29-Jul-1983 Born on this day in Waldron, Arkansas was country music singer-songwriter Ashley Mcbride. Her major label debut album Girl Going Nowhere which includes the single "A Little Dive Bar in Dahlonega", was released through Warner Music Nashville to critical acclaim and earned her a Grammy nom for Best Country Album.
30-Jul-1983 George Jones was at #1 on the Country chart with "I Always Get Lucky With You", a song written by Merle Haggard. The track gave Jones his ninth and final chart topper.
5-Aug-1983 Alabama released "Lady Down on Love" which went to #1 on the Country charts. The track was the eleventh in a string of 21 consecutive #1 singles in as many releases, a string that spanned from 1980 through 1987.
22-Aug-1983 Kenny Rogers released his fifteenth studio and #1 album Eyes That See in the Dark. Produced by Barry Gibb from The Bee Gees "Islands in the Stream" from the album became a major hit, reaching #1 on both the Billboard pop and country charts. It turned out to be the #1 country chart song of 1983.
16-Sep-1983 Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson were at #1 on the Country album chart with the honky tonk albumPancho & Lefty.
6-Oct-1983 George Strait released his third studio album Right or Wrong which became his first US #1 on the Country Charts. The singles "You Look So Good in Love" (which was Strait's first song to have a music video), "Right or Wrong" and "Let's Fall to Pieces Together" all topped the Hot Country Singles chart.
7-Oct-1983 The Closer You Get... the seventh studio album by American country music band Alabama was at #1 on the Country chart. All three singles from the album, "The Closer You Get", "Lady Down on Love" and "Dixieland Delight" reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in 1983.
15-Oct-1983 George Jones married his fourth wife, Nancy Sepulvado. The ceremony took place at the home of Jones' sister, Helen Scroggins, in Woodville, Texas. The country legend, who had a highly publicized battle with drugs and alcohol, relied on his fourth wife to finally help him get sober.
20-Oct-1983 Merle Travis died a heart attack. The American country and Western singer, songwriter who was best known for his hit "Sixteen Tons", often discussed the life and exploitation of coal miners in the lyrics. Travis was was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970 and elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1977.
2-Nov-1983 Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton were at #1 on the US Country charts with, "Islands In The Stream". Written by the Bee Gees it was the first single from Rogers' album Eyes That See in the Dark and the second pop #1 for both Rogers and Parton (Rogers having been there with 1980's "Lady" and Parton with 1981's "9 to 5").
10-Nov-1983 Born on this day in Longview, Texas, was Miranda Lambert, country music singer, songwriter, who gained fame as a finalist on the 2003 season of Nashville Star. Lambert made her debut with the release of "Me and Charlie Talking", the first single from her 2005 debut album Kerosene which produced the singles "Bring Me Down", "Kerosene", and "New Strings". All four singles were Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. She is also a member of Pistol Annies with Ashley Monroe, and Angaleena Presley.

1-Dec-1983 Kenny Rogers was at #1 on the Country charts with his eleventh solo studio album Eyes That See in the Dark. The album features "Islands in the Stream" written by Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb from the Bee Gees, (whose title is taken from the Ernest Hemingway novel), which became a #1 hit for Rogers and Parton.
2-Dec-1983 Born on this day in Washington, Michigan, was Jana Kramer actress and country music singer. She is best known for her role as Alex Dupre on the television series One Tree Hill. Kramer began a country music career in 2012 with the single "Why Ya Wanna", from her self-titled debut album.
7-Dec-1983 Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton were awarded a platinum single for "Islands In The Stream". Written by the Bee Gees it was the first single from Rogers' album Eyes That See in the Dark and the second pop #1 for both Rogers and Parton (Rogers having been there with 1980's "Lady" and Parton with 1981's "9 to 5").
12-Dec-1983 Born on this day in Bray, Oklahoma, was Katrina Elam, country music singer and songwriter. Signed to Universal South Records in 2004, she released her self-titled debut album that year. Carrie Underwood has recorded her "Flat on the Floor", and she co-wrote the track "Change" on Underwood's 2009 album Play On. Reba McEntire covered "I Want a Cowboy" on her 2009 album Keep On Loving You, and Elam also co-wrote "Easy", Rascal Flatts' collaboration with Natasha Bedingfield.

20-Dec-1983 Johnny Cash checked into the Betty Ford Center to prevent an addiction to painkillers administered during a recent hospital stay. Actress Elizabeth Taylor was also staying at the clinic for treatment.
29-Dec-1983 Born on this day in Huntingdon, Tennessee, was Jessica Andrews, country music singer. At the age of 15 in mid-1999, she made her debut on the Billboard Hot Country charts with the single "I Will Be There for You", from her debut album Heart Shaped World, released in 1999.
6-Jan-1984 Alabama released "Roll On (Eighteen Wheeler)" as the first single and title track to the band's album Roll On which went to #1 on the Country charts. The track was the twelfth in a string of 21 consecutive #1 singles in as many releases, a string that spanned from 1980 through 1987.
18-Jan-1984 Born on this day in Seattle, Washington, was Kristy Lee Cook, Country singer who was the seventh place finalist on the seventh season of American Idol. She scored the 2008 top 10 Country album Why Wait.
28-Jan-1984 Country singer, songwriter Al Dexter died. Born Clarence Albert Poindexter, the American country musician and songwriter helped popularize the style of honky tonk and scored seven #1 hits in the 40's. He is best known for his 1944 hit "Pistol Packin' Mama" which became the 1943 marching chorus of the New York Yankees. The 1943 movie of the same name, made by the Republic Pictures, gave Dexter close to $250,000 in royalties.
8-Feb-1984 Kenny Rogers was at #1 on the US Country music chart with Eyes That See in the Dark, his 12th solo studio album and first released by RCA Records in August 1983. This album has now sold over 15 million copies world-wide.
11-Feb-1984 Merle Haggard reached #1 on the Billboard country chart with the Lefty Frizzell song "That's The Way Love Goes". At the Grammy Awards of 1985, "That's the Way Love Goes" won the Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance.

20-Feb-1984 Born on this day was American singer and songwriter Audra Mae, (she is the great-great-niece of Judy Garland). As well as releasing her own records she co-wrote "Little Red Wagon" recorded by Miranda Lambert.
28-Feb-1984 Lee Greenwood won Best Male Country Vocal Performance for "I.O.U." at the 26th Annual Grammy Awards. Best Female Country Vocal Performance went to Anne Murray for "A Little Good News."
24-Mar-1984 Toby Keith married Tricia Lucus. The country star first laid eyes on his future wife at an Oklahoma nightclub in 1981.
30-Mar-1984 Born on this day, was Justin Moore, country music singer and songwriter. Hits on the Hot Country Songs charts, include the #1 hits "Small Town USA", "If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away" and the top 10 hit "Backwoods".
1-Apr-1984 Johnny Cash and George Jones appeared at the opening of Jones Country Music Park, Colmesneil, Texas. During the show the pair performed their new duet "I Got Stripes".
19-Apr-1984 Born on this day in Center Ridge, Arkansas was singer, guitarist, and songwriter Matt Stell. His 2019 single "Prayed for You" was a #1 US Country Airplay hit.
26-Apr-1984 Johnny Lee and Lane Brody were at #1 on the US Country charts with, "The Yellow Rose". The song was set to the tune of the folk song "The Yellow Rose of Texas" and was recorded as the theme song to the NBC television series The Yellow Rose starring Cybill Shepherd.
14-May-1984 Winners at the 19th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards hosted by Mac Davis, Crystal Gayle and Charlie Pride included: Top Female Vocalist of the Year - Janie Fricke, Top Male Vocalist of the Year - Lee Greenwood, Top Vocal Group - Exile, Top New Female Vocalist of the Year - Gus Hardin, Top New Male Vocalist of the Year - Jim Glaser, Top Vocal Duet of the Year - Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton and Album of the Year went to Alabama for Alabama.
19-May-1984 Willie Nelson with Julio Iglesias was at #1 on the Country charts with "To All the Girls I've Loved Before", (originally recorded in 1980 by Bobby Vinton). It was one of two entries on the country chart for Julio Iglesias and Willie Nelson as a duo, the second was "Spanish Eyes", which peaked at #8 in late 1988.
18-Jun-1984 Rhinestone starring Dolly Parton and Sylvester Stallone, premiered at Nashville's Roy Acuff Theater. The Dolly Parton-composed soundtrack produced two Top Ten country singles: "God Won't Get You" and the chart-topping "Tennessee Homesick Blues". Parton stated in her memoirs, My Life and Other Unfinished Business, that she regards the soundtrack album as some of her best work.
22-Jun-1984 The movie Rhinestone, starring Dolly Parton and Sylvester Stallone was released to universally negative reviews. The much-hyped movie - about a singer's effort to transform a New York City taxicab driver into a country star within two weeks - flops, but still produced several hit singles, most notably the #1 hit "Tennessee Homesick Blues."
16-Jul-1984 Alabama released "If You're Gonna Play in Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band)" which went to #1 on the Country charts. The track was the fourteenth in a string of 21 consecutive #1 singles in as many releases, a string that spanned from 1980 through 1987.
22-Jul-1984 Jack Benny, who was Loretta Lynn's second child and eldest son, died at the of age 34 while trying to ford the Duck River at the family's ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee.
22-Jul-1984 Born on this day country music singer, songwriter, and record producer Nicolle Galyon. She has written songs for Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, Florida Georgia Line, and many others.
28-Jul-1984 With his #1 hit "Angel in Disguise," Earl Thomas Conley became the first artist in any genre to have four chart-topping songs from the same album. The album in question is Don't Make it Easy For Me, and in addition to "Angel in Disguise" and the title track, Conley also hit with 1983's "Your Love's on the Line" and "Holding Her and Loving You." The feat was part of Conley's impressive 1980s streak, where he enjoyed 16 #1's hits through 1989.

1-Aug-1984 Hank Williams Jr. shot the video to "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight." Directed by John Goodhue the video features artists such as Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Cheech and Chong, and several other celebrities in a party thrown by Hank Williams, Jr. At the end of the video, a ghost Cadillac flies into the night sky, referencing the fact that his father, Hank Williams, Sr., died while riding in a Cadillac. The video was the first video to ever win the CMA Music Video of the Year Award.
4-Aug-1984 The Judds made their first appearance at #1 on the Billboard country chart with "Mama He's Crazy", The Judds' second country hit and the first of fourteen #1 country hits.
26-Aug-1984 "Long Hard Road (The Sharecropper's Dream)" by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band was at #1 on the Country chart. Written by Rodney Crowell the song became the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's first (of three) #1 songs.
6-Sep-1984 Ernest Tubb died. Nicknamed the Texas Troubadour, American singer and songwriter Tubb was one of the early pioneers of country music. His biggest hit song, "Walking the Floor Over You" from 1941, marked the rise of the honky tonk style of music.

11-Sep-1984 Barbara Mandrell was seriously injured in a car accident. She suffered multiple injuries and severe concussion that caused temporary memory loss, confusion, and speech difficulties. She took an 18-month sabbatical from performing to recover.
8-Oct-1984 Although her pop career was on the decline, Anne Murray won the Country Music Association's Album of the Year Award for A Little Good News. She was the first woman to ever be given that distinction.
14-Oct-1984 The movie Songwriter directed by Alan Rudolph, and starring Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson was released. The film a satirical comedy, is loosely based on Willie Nelson's own life and and finances, (his song "Night Life", for example, which he sold in 1961 for $150, went on to be recorded by over 70 artists and sold more than 30 million copies).
22-Oct-1984 Alabama released "(There's A) Fire in the Night" which went to #1 on the Country charts. The track was the fifthteenth in a string of 21 consecutive #1 singles in as many releases, a string that spanned from 1980 through 1987.
24-Oct-1984 Willie Nelson was at #1 on the Country music album chart with City Of New Orleans. The album spent 12 weeks at the top of the charts. The title track is a folk song written by Steve Goodman (and first recorded for Goodman's self-titled 1971 album), describing a train ride from Chicago to New Orleans on the Illinois Central Railroad's City of New Orleans in bittersweet and nostalgic terms.

9-Nov-1984 Born on this day in Kernersville, North Carolina was singer and songwriter Chris Lane. His "I Don't Know About You" was a #1 country airplay hit in 2019.
6-Dec-1984 The Supergroup of Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson recorded the Jimmy Webb song "Highwayman" at Nashville's Moman Studios.

8-Dec-1984 Born on this day in Cedartown, Georgia was Sam Hunt, songwriter and former college football player. He co-wrote Kenny Chesney's 2012 hit "Come Over" and Keith Urban's "Cop Car" and Billy Currington's "We Are Tonight". Hunt also scored the 2014 US Country #1 hit "Take Your Time."
19-Dec-1984 Born on this day was Canadian country music artist Codie Prevost. He is a three-time Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) nominee and a five time Saskatchewan Country Music Association (SCMA) Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year winner.
26-Dec-1984 American country music singer Sheila Andrews died. She recorded three studio albums in her career and released several singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs including "It Don't Get Better Than This", her highest charting single.
20-Jan-1985 Born on this day in Jefferson, Georgia, was Brantley Gilbert who scored the 2012 Country #1 hit "Country Must Be Country Wide" and his follow-up, "You Don't Know Her Like I Do", also hit #1. His 2019 album Fire & Brimstone peaked at #1 on the Country album chart.
20-Jan-1985 Alabama released "There's No Way" which went to #1 on the Country charts. The track was the sixteenth in a string of 21 consecutive #1 singles in as many releases, a string that spanned from 1980 through 1987. The feat allowed Alabama to tie Sonny James' 14-year-old record for most #1 songs in as many consecutive single releases.
21-Jan-1985 Wanted: The Outlaws, featuring Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Jessi Colter and Tompall Glaser, was certified double-platinum.
28-Jan-1985 The recording took place for "We Are The World" the US equivalent of "Band Aid" at A&M Studios in Hollywood, Los Angeles. Written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie the all star cast included, Willie Nelson, Kenny Rogers, Waylon Jennings, Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner, Bruce Springsteen, Diana Ross, Bob Dylan and Ray Charles. The session was produced by Quincy Jones.
28-Jan-1985 Country music artists Alabama, Willie Nelson and Anne Murray each won two American Music Awards, while Loretta Lynn took home a special Award of Merit. Other winners include: Dolly Parton, Barbara Mandrell, Kenny Rogers, and The Oak Ridge Boys.
26-Feb-1985 Country music winners at the 27th Annual Grammy Awards included; Best Country FemaleVocal Performance went to Emmylou Harris for "In My Dreams", Best Male Country Vocal Performance was won by Merle Haggard for "That's the Way Love Goes", Best Country Performance by a Group went to The Judds for "Mama He's Crazy" and Best Country Song was Steve Goodman (songwriter) for "City of New Orleans" performed by Willie Nelson.

24-Mar-1985 Ray Charles and Willie Nelson were at #1 on the US country chart with "Seven Spanish Angels". Written by Troy Seals and Eddie Setser, "Seven Spanish Angels" would be the most successful of Ray Charles' eight hits on the country chart.

17-Apr-1985 Alabama released "40 Hour Week (For a Livin')" which went to #1 on the Country charts. The track was the seventeenth in a string of 21 consecutive #1 singles in as many releases, a string that spanned from 1980 through 1987.
6-May-1985 Winners at the 20th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards hosted by Glen Campbell, Janie Frickie and Loretta Lynn included: Top Female Vocalist of the Year - Reba McEntire, Top Male Vocalist of the Year - George Strait, Top Vocal Group - Alabama, Top New Female Vocalist of the Year - Nicolette Larson, Top New Male Vocalist of the Year - Vince Gill and Single Record of the Year went to Julio Iglesias & Willie Nelson for "To All The Girls I've Loved Before."
14-May-1985 Born on this day, was American country music singer and songwriter Dustin Lynch who scored the 2012 Country #2 hit "Cowboys and Angels."
14-May-1985 Born on this day in Tullahoma, Tennessee was singer and songwriter Dustin Lynch. His 2019 track "Good Girl" reached #1 on the Country Airplay charts.
16-May-1985 Alabama were at #1 on the country album chart with 40-Hour Week, their ninth studio album which included three songs that topped the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. Two of the #1 tracks: "There's No Way" and the title track, became milestones in Alabama's recording career when "There's No Way" became Alabama's 16th consecutive #1 single. The feat allowed Alabama to tie Sonny James' 14-year-old record for most #1 songs in as many consecutive single releases. Then, in August of this year, "40 Hour Week (For a Livin')" topped the chart, becoming Alabama's 17th-straight chart topper, allowing them to surpass James' record.
20-May-1985 Born on this day, was Jon Pardi, American country music singer/songwriter who in April 2012 released his debut single, "Missin' You Crazy." His second single, released in April 2013 became his first Top 20 hit on the US Billboard Country Airplay chart.
1-Jun-1985 Highwayman, feauturing Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson entered the country chart (where it spent 66 weeks) going on to peak at #1. The album features the single "Desperadoes Waiting For a Train."
12-Jun-1985 Born on this day, was Chris Young, country music artist who in 2006 was declared the winner of the television program Nashville Star, a singing competition which aired on the USA Network. His self-titled debut album produced two singles: "Drinkin' Me Lonely" and "You're Gonna Love Me". From his second album, "Voices", "Gettin' You Home (The Black Dress Song)", and "The Man I Want to Be"; reached #1 on the country singles chart. He scored another #1 with "Tomorrow" off his Neon album and in February 2012 he had his fifth straight #1 with "You".
15-Jun-1985 Ricky Skaggs was at #1 on the Country singles chart with "Country Boy" a song written by Tony Colton, Albert Lee, and Ray Smith of the British band Heads Hands & Feet. The song was Ricky Skaggs' ninth #1 country music hit.
4-Jul-1985 Willie Nelson's Fourth of July Picnic in Austin featured the first live assembly of the Highwaymen: Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson. Also appearing was, Neil Young, Hank Snow and June Carter Cash.

8-Jul-1985 Merle Haggard was at #1 on the Country charts with "Natural High", (which featured harmony vocals by Janie Fricke). It became Haggard's thirty-third #1 Country single.
12-Jul-1985 Born on this day in Edmonton, Alberta, was Adam Gregory Canadian country music singer-songwriter and actor. He has charted several singles on the Canadian country music charts, including two singles, which were also Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in the US.
29-Jul-1985 Randy Travis released his debut single, a cover of the Paul Overstreet and Don Schmitz song "On the Other Hand" which was only a minor hit. The track was re-released in April 1986 when it became a #1 hit on the Country chart.
30-Jul-1985 Alabama became the first country act to go quadruple-platinum, as their Mountain Music and Feels So Right albums were certified for shipments of 4 million copies.
9-Aug-1985 Alabama released "Can't Keep a Good Man Down" which went to #1 on the Country charts. The track was the eighteenth in a string of 21 consecutive #1 singles in as many releases, a string that spanned from 1980 through 1987.
17-Aug-1985 Highwayman featuring Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson was at #1 on the Billboard Country album chart.
24-Aug-1985 Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers were at #1 on the Billboard country singles chart with "Real Love", the title track from Parton's latest album, Parton and Rogers' second country chart-topper as a duet act.
26-Aug-1985 Born on this day in Ormond Beach, Florida was American musician Brian Kelley from Florida Georgia Line. Their 2012 debut single "Cruise" broke two major sales records: it was downloaded over seven million times, making it the first country song ever to receive the Diamond certification, and it became the best-selling digital country song of all time, with 24 weeks at #1.
7-Sep-1985 Rosanne Cash was at #1 on the Billboard country chart with I Don't Know Why You Don't Want Me, a song she wrote with her then-husband Rodney Crowell. Her fourth Country #1 later won a Grammy Award.
19-Sep-1985 Born on this day was singer, songwriter, and reality television personality Chase Rice. He co-wrote the "Cruise" by Florida Georgia Line. His first #1 single on country radio was "Eyes on You", which went #1 in 2019.
22-Sep-1985 The first Farm Aid benefit concert was held before a crowd of 80,000 people at the Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. Organized by Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young, the event had been spurred on by Bob Dylan's comments at Live Aid earlier in that year that he hoped some of the money would help American farmers. The star studded line-up of country stars included: Alabama, Hoyt Axton, Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash, Charlie Daniels Band, John Denver, Bob Dylan, John Fogerty, Vince Gill, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, Kris Kristofferson, Loretta Lynn, Roger Miller, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Willie Nelson, Charley Pride, Bonnie Raitt, Kenny Rogers.
1-Oct-1985 Ronnie Milsap was at #1 on the US Country charts with, "Lost in The Fifties Tonight (In The Still of the Night)", also known simply as "Lost in The Fiftes Tonight".

11-Oct-1985 American Western swing musician Tex Williams died. Williams is best known for his talking blues style and had the 1947 novelty hit with "Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)" which he co-wrote with Merle Travis.
12-Nov-1985 The made-for-television western drama Wild Horses starring Kenny Rogers and Pam Dawber premiered on CBS. This was Rogers' seventh TV movie.
25-Nov-1985 Born on this day in Newmarket, Ontario, was Steven Lee Olsen, Canadian country music artist who has written songs for American singers Craig Morgan, The Judds, and Melissa Lawson.
20-Dec-1985 Johnny Paycheck was arrested for shooting a man at the North High Lounge in Hillsboro, Ohio, after he fired a .22 pistol, the bullet grazing a man's head. Paycheck claimed the act was self-defense. After several years spent fighting the sentence, he began serving his sentence in 1989 spending 22 months in prison before being pardoned by Ohio Governor Richard Celeste.
30-Dec-1985 Elsie McWilliams died at her home in Meridian, Mississippi age 89. The sister-in-law of Jimmie Rodgers, she co-wrote numerous Rodgers songs, including "Blue Yodel No. 7 (Anniversary Blue Yodel)," "Waiting For A Train" and "Daddy And Home." McWilliams was the first woman to make a career as a country music songwriter.
30-Dec-1985 Alabama released "She and I" which went to #1 on the Country charts in April 1986. The track was the nineteenth in a string of 21 consecutive #1 singles in as many releases, a string that spanned from 1980 through 1987.
17-Jan-1986 Reba McEntire became a member of the Grand Ole Opry show in Nashville, Tennessee, and has been a member ever since.
2-Feb-1986 Born on this day in Tacoma, Washington, was Blaine Larsen country music artist. At the age of fifteen, he recorded his debut album In My High School on Giantslayer Records, an independent record label.
10-Feb-1986 Reba McEntire released her tenth studio album Whoever's in New England her first #1 album on the Billboard country albums chart. The album produced two singles that were #1 country hits: "Whoever's in New England", and "Little Rock." It was the singer's first platinum record, and was later named the 'Entertainer of the Year' by the Country Music Association in autumn 1986.
5-Mar-1986 Steve Earle released his debut album Guitar Town. It topped the Billboard country album charts, and the title song reached #7 on the country singles charts. Earle was also nominated for two 1987 Grammy Awards, Best Male Country Vocalist and Best Country Song, for the title track. It was one of the first country music albums to be recorded digitally.
10-Mar-1986 Waylon Jennings released his album Will the Wolf Survive, his debut for MCA Records which became his sixth Country #1 album.
23-Mar-1986 Born on this day, was Brett Eldredge, American country music singer signed to Atlantic Records Nashville, who scored the 2013 #1 single "Don't Ya" on the Country Airplay chart. Eldredge is the cousin of Terry Eldredge of The Grascals.
1-Apr-1986 Born on this day in Nashville, Tennessee, was Hillary Scott, country music singer-songwriter with Lady Antebellum, who scored the 2009 US #1 Country hit "I Run To You." The group won five awards at the 2011 Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year and Record of the Year for "Need You Now".
2-Apr-1986 Born on this day in Perryville, Missouri was singer and songwriter Chris Janson. His Top 10 hits include "Buy Me a Boat", "Fix a Drink", "Drunk Girl", and "Good Vibes".
14-Apr-1986 Alabama won Entertainer of the Year for a record fifth straight time during the 21st annual Academy of Country Music awards, broadcast by NBC from Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California. Other winners included: Top Female Vocalist of the Year - Reba McEntire, Top Male Vocalist of the Year - George Strait and Single Record of the Year went to Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and Waylon Jennings for "Highwayman."
21-Apr-1986 Randy Travis re-released his debut single, a cover of the Paul Overstreet and Don Schmitz song "On the Other Hand" which became his first #1 hit on the Country chart. (The song was first released in July 1985 when it became a minor hit).
18-May-1986 Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and Waylon Jennings appeared in a CBS-TV remake of the western movie Stagecoach along with June Carter, John Carter Cash, John Schneider, Jessi Colter, David Allan Coe and Billy Swan
2-Jun-1986 Born on this day was American country singer Craig Strickland, vocalist for the Arkansas-based band, Backroad Anthem. Strickland died in Jan 2016 after he and a friend had gone to Bear Creek Cove, at Kaw Lake to hunt for ducks. Morland drowned after the Boat they were in capsized, while Strickland swam to shore, but later succumbed to hypothermia. The area had been experiencing severe inclement weather due to Winter storm Goliath with freezing temperatures. His body was discovered on January 4, 2016 after last being seen on December 27, 2015. It was determined by Oklahoma Highway Patrol that Strickland's body had been difficult to locate due to the camouflage hunting gear he had been wearing at the time of his death.
2-Jun-1986 Randy Travis released his debut studio album Storms of Life which went on to peak at #1 on the US Country charts. The album features the singles "On the Other Hand" (previously recorded by Keith Whitley on his 1985 album L.A. to Miami), "1982", "Diggin' up Bones" and "No Place Like Home".
18-Jun-1986 Born on this day in Milton, Delaware was singer and songwriter Jimmie Allen. His 2018 single "Best Shot" taken from his debut album Mercury Lane. was a #1 Airplay hit.
25-Jun-1986 Jenifer Strait, the 13 year-old daughter of George Strait, was killed in a car accident in San Marcos, Texas. The family set up the Jenifer Lynn Strait Foundation, which donates money to children's charities in the San Antonio area.
28-Jun-1986 Born on this day in Albemarle, North Carolina, was Kellie Pickler who gained fame as a contestant on the fifth season of American Idol. Her debut album, Small Town Girl, produced three singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts: "Red High Heels", "I Wonder" and "Things That Never Cross a Man's Mind".
4-Jul-1986 The second Farm Aid benefit concert took place at Manor Downs Racetrack, Manor, Texas. Held to raise money for family farmers in the US, the concerts were organized by Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young. Artists who appeared included: Alabama, The Beach Boys, Judy Collins, Rita Coolidge, Bob Dylan, Steve Earle, Joe Ely, Exile, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Emmylou Harris, Jason & the Scorchers, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, Bon Jovi, Nicolette Larson, Los Lobos, John Mellencamp, Tom Petty, Vince Neil and Willie Nelson.
7-Jul-1986 Johnny Cash was honoured with the Shalom Peace Award from the Jewish National Fund at a testimonial dinner held at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis. Executive director of the JNF, Marcia Werbin, said "Johnny Cash was selected for this honour for his contributions and efforts to promote peace through music".
16-Jul-1986 Dolly Parton's Dollywood theme park opened in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Dollywood has over 3,000 people on its payroll, making it the largest employer in the community. In addition to standard amusement park thrill rides, Dollywood features traditional crafts and music of the Smoky Mountains area.
18-Jul-1986 USA Today printed articles concerning Columbia Records' decision not to renew Johnny Cash's contract. Cash had released a steady string of hit singles and over 30 albums during his 28 years with the label.
29-Jul-1986 Singer Paul Davis (who scored 2 Country #1 hits with Marie Osmond and Tanya Tucker), survived a shooting in Nashville, Tennessee. He was leaving a hotel on Music Row with a female companion when an unidentified man walked up, demanded his wallet, and shot him in the abdomen.
30-Jul-1986 Variety magazine reported that RCA had dropped John Denver from its roster after the release of his single, "What Are We Making Weapons For". Variety said the song upset the record company's new owner, General Electric, one of the largest defense contractors in the US.
2-Aug-1986 George Strait was at #1 on the Billboard country chart with "Nobody In His Right Mind Would've Left Her". The track was written by Dean Dillon, whose version peaked at #25 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in 1980.

4-Aug-1986 Randy Travis released "Diggin' Up Bones" as the third single from his album Storms of Life which became his second US #1 hit on the Country chart.
9-Aug-1986 The Judd's' "Rockin' With The Rhythm Of The Rain" was at #1 on the Billboard country singles chart, The Judds' seventh #1 country single.
12-Aug-1986 The estranged father of 17 year-old Shelby Lynn shot and killed her mother and then himself at their home in St. Stephens, Alabama. She and her younger sister Allison Moorer subsequently moved in with relatives.
16-Aug-1986 Born on this day in Coffeeville, Alabama, was Ashton Shepherd, country music singer-songwriter. Her 2008 debut album Sounds So Good produced two top 40 hits on the Hot Country Songs charts: "Takin' Off This Pain" and the title track.
3-Sep-1986 Storms of Life the first album by Randy Travis was at #1 on the Country chart. It features the singles "On the Other Hand" (previously recorded by Keith Whitley on his 1985 album L.A. to Miami), "1982", "Diggin' up Bones", and "No Place Like Home".
10-Sep-1986 Born on this day in Knoxville, Tennessee, was Ashley Monroe, singer-songwriter who became a member of Pistol Annies with Miranda Lambert and Angaleena Presley.
12-Sep-1986 Alabama released "Touch Me When We're Dancing" which went to #1 on the Country charts. The track was the twentieth in a string of 21 consecutive #1 singles in as many releases, a string that spanned from 1980 through 1987. The song was also recorded by The Carpenters in 1981 and Mickey Gilley and Charly McClain for their 1984 duet album.
7-Oct-1986 Black & White by American country music artist Janie Frickie was at #1 on the Country chart. It was the first and only album in Fricke's career to top the Billboard country LP's chart.
24-Nov-1986 Born on this day in Fort Wayne, Indiana, was Megan Mullins, country music singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. At the age of eighteen, she made her debut on the country music scene with the single "Ain't What It Used to Be".
6-Dec-1986 George Strait was at #1 on the Billboard country chart with "It Ain't Cool To Be Crazy About You." Kenny Chesney later recorded a version of the song as a B-side for his "Never Wanted Nothing More" in 2007.
22-Dec-1986 George Strait released "Ocean Front Property" which gave him his tenth US #1 Country hit. It was released as the first single and title track from his album of the same name.
27-Dec-1986 Hank Williams Jr.'s remake of "Mind Your Own Business" was at the top of the Billboard country chart. The song which was first recorded by Hank Williams in 1949, also featured Tom Petty, Willie Nelson and Reba McEntire.
21-Jan-1987 Dwight Yoakam was awared his first gold album, for his debut Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc. The album featured his first three hits "Honky Tonk Man", "Guitars, Cadillacs", and "It Won't Hurt".
21-Jan-1987 Bruce Springsteen inducted Roy Orbison into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. Other artists inducted on the night included: The Coasters, Eddie Cochran, Bo Diddley, Carl Perkins, Muddy Waters, Hank Williams and Jackie Wilson.
31-Jan-1987 Born on this day, was Tyler Hubbard, Country pop artist who is one half of the platinum-selling duo Florida Georgia Line who scored the 2012 Country #1 album Here's to the Good Times. He shared the New Artist of the Year Award from the Academy of Country Music Awards in 2013.
19-Feb-1987 Willie Nelson's American western drama movie Red Headed Stranger premiered in Austin. The film studio had wanted Robert Redford to play the Red Headed Stranger a role Nelson had envisioned for himself. It took two years, but Redford finally turned the part down.
24-Feb-1987 Reba McEntire won Best Female Country Vocal Performance for "Whoever's in New England" at the 29th Annual Grammy Awards. Best Country Song went to Jamie O'Hara (songwriter) for "Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout the Good Old Days)" performed by The Judds.

2-Mar-1987 Warner Bros. released the Trio album, by Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris. The album sold over 4 million copies and also received several Grammy nominations and other awards. The three singers released the follow up album, Trio II in 1999.
13-Mar-1987 George Strait was at #1 on the country chart with Ocean Front Property, his seventh studio album and Strait's first to debut at #1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart. It was ranked #5 on CMT's list of 40 Greatest Albums in Country Music in 2006.
6-Apr-1987 Winners at the 22nd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards hosted by Patrick Duffy and The Judds included: Top Female Vocalist of the Year - Reba McEntire, Top Male Vocalist of the Year - Randy Travis, Top Vocal Group - Forester Sisters, Top New Male Vocalist of the Year - Dwight Yoakam, Top Vocal Duet of the Year - The Judds and Country Music Video of the Year went to Reba McEntire for "Whoever's In New England."
11-Apr-1987 K.T. Oslin was at #1 on the Country chart with her debut album 80's Ladies. "Wall of Tears," the title track, "Do Ya'" and "I'll Always Come Back" were all released as singles from the album.
28-Apr-1987 Waylon Jennings was at #1 on the Country charts with "Rose in Paradise", Jennings' twelfth #1 single. Chris Young has a remake of the song as a duet with Willie Nelson on the album The Man I Want to Be.
4-May-1987 Randy Travis released his second studio album Always & Forever which became his second US Country #1 album. The singles "Too Gone Too Long", "I Won't Need You Anymore (Always and Forever)", "Forever and Ever, Amen" and "I Told You So", all reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.
5-May-1987 Born on this day was singer-songwriter Russell Dickerson. His 9018 album Yours accounted for three charted singles on Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay: "Yours", "Blue Tacoma" and "Every Little Thing".
7-May-1987 Randy Travis was at #1 on the Country chart with second album Always & Forever. The singles "Too Gone Too Long", "I Won't Need You Anymore (Always and Forever)", "Forever and Ever, Amen" and "I Told You So", from the album all reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.
14-May-1987 Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris were at #1 on the country album chart with Trio, which went on to sell over sold over 4 million copies and received several Grammy nominations.
21-May-1987 Born on this day in East Texas was singer-songwriter Cody Johnson. His seventh album Ain't Nothin' to It reached #1 on Billboard country albums chart.
10-Jun-1987 Dwight Yoakam scored his second consecutive #1 album with Hillbilly Deluxe. Four of its tracks would find their way into the Top 40 of the Hot Country Singles chart in 1987 and 1988, all topping out in the lower half of the Top Ten. Chronologically, they were "Little Sister", "Little Ways" "Please, Please Baby" and "Always Late with Your Kisses".
13-Jun-1987 Randy Travis' "Forever and Ever, Amen" spent three weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. It is the first multi-week chart-topping song since "Lost in the Fifties Tonight (In the Still of the Night)" by Ronnie Milsap spent two weeks atop the chart in September 1985.
16-Jun-1987 Hillbilly Deluxe by Dwight Yoakam was at #1 on the Country chart. It was Yoakam's second consecutive #1 album on the Billboard Country Albums chart and four tracks were released as singles with each becoming Top 10 hits in 1987 and 1988.

24-Jun-1987 Randy Travis was at #1 on the US Country charts with, "Forever and Ever, Amen". Written by Paul Overstreet and Don Schlitz, the song gave Travis his third #1 single. "Forever and Ever, Amen" won a Grammy for Best Country & Western Song and a Academy of Country Music award for Song of the Year.
25-Jun-1987 Songwriter Boudleaux Bryant died. With his wife Felice, he wrote many hits including: The Everly Brothers hits, "Bye Bye Love", "All I Have To Do Is Dream", "Wake Up Little Susie" and "Raining In My Heart" a hit for Buddy Holly. Other acts to record their songs include Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Tony Bennett, Simon and Garfunkel, Sarah Vaughan, the Grateful Dead, Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, The Beach Boys, Roy Orbison, Elvis Costello, Count Basie, Dean Martin, and Ray Charles.

26-Jun-1987 Randy Travis was at #1 on the country singles chart "Forever and Ever, Amen." The song written by Paul Overstreet and Don Schlitz, won a Grammy for Best Country & Western Song and an Academy of Country Music award for Song of the Year.
7-Jul-1987 Alabama re-released their fifth 1981 studio album Feels So Right which became their first #1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. The album produced three #1 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart: "Old Flame", the title track and "Love in the First Degree".
11-Jul-1987 George Strait was at #1 on the US singles chart with "All My Ex's Live In Texas." Written by Sanger D. Shafer and Linda J. Shafer, the narrator declares that all four of his ex-girlfriends live in the state of Texas, in various towns, and that is why he lives in Tennessee.

10-Sep-1987 Randy Travis was back at #1 on the country chart with Always & Forever, his second album. Released from this album were the singles "Too Gone Too Long", "I Won't Need You Anymore (Always and Forever)", "Forever and Ever, Amen" and "I Told You So", all of which reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.
19-Sep-1987 The third Farm Aid benefit concert took place at the Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska. Held to raise money for family farmers in the US, the concerts were organized by Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young. Artists who appeared included: Emmylou Harris, Vince Gill, Lyle Lovett, John Denver, Lou Reed, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Bandaloo Doctors, Joe Walsh, Willie Nelson, The Unforgiven, Dr. Starr.
27-Sep-1987 The first edition of Dolly the television variety show hosted by Dolly Parton was aired on ABC. Guest stars featured in the series included Tammy Wynette, Merle Haggard, Tyne Daly, Bruce Willis, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Tom Petty, Tom Selleck, the Neville Brothers, Alabama, Willie Nelson, Glen Campbell, Dudley Moore, and Oprah Winfrey.
4-Oct-1987 The second episode of the TV series Dolly hosted by Dolly Parton was aired featuring guest stars Burt Reynolds, Alabama, and Whoopi Goldberg.
1-Nov-1987 Shania Twain's mother and stepfather died in a car accident approximately 50 kilometres north of Wawa, Ontario. As a result Twain moved back to Timmins to take care of her younger siblings and then took them all to Huntsville, Ontario. There, she supported them by earning money performing at the nearby Deerhurst Resort.
21-Nov-1987 Merle Haggard released the single "Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Star" as the first single from the album Chill Factor. "Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Star" was the last of Merle Haggard's thirty-four #1 singles as a solo artist.
5-Dec-1987 Country music record producer and entrepreneur Pappy Daily died. He co-founded the Texas-based record label Starday Records where he worked with George Jones, Melba Montgomery and Roger Miller. In the mid-1950s, when Starday signed up George Jones, Daily became a key figure in country music.
14-Jan-1988 The Trio collaboration album, by Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris, received a Grammy nomination for Best Album. Parton, Ronstadt and Harris first attempted to record an album together in the mid-1970s, but scheduling conflicts and other difficulties prevented its release.
18-Feb-1988 Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner performed together for the first time since their 1974 breakup, while taping an episode of Dolly! at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry House. Parton wrote the song "I Will Always Love You" after Wagoner suggested she shift from story songs to focus on love songs.
21-Mar-1988 Winners at the 23rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards hosted by Reba McEntire and Hank Williams Jr. included: Pioneer Award - Roger Miller, Top Female Vocalist of the Year - Reba McEntire, Top Male Vocalist of the Year - Randy Travis, Top Vocal Group - Highway 101, Top New Female Vocalist of the Year - K.T. Oslin, Top New Male Vocalist of the Year - Ricky Van Shelton and Song of the Year went to Randy Travis for "On The Other Hand."
22-Mar-1988 The Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville's Music Row opened The Johnny Cash Exhibit. Cash opened the exhibition with one of the 'biggest parties ever' - the star-studded guest list included Emmylou Harris, Lynn Anderson, Chet Atkins, Waylon Jennings, Jessi Colter, Sam Phillips and Bill Monroe.
24-Mar-1988 Born on this day in Atlanta, Georgia was singer, songwriter and record producer Blanco Brown. His 2019 track "The Git Up" taken from his debut album Honeysuckle & Lightning Bugs went to #1 on the Hot Country Songs chart.
28-Mar-1988 Alabama released "Fallin' Again" as the third and final single from their album Just Us which went to #1 on the Country chart. It became the twenty-third #1 single for the group.
30-Mar-1988 Born on this day in Shreveport, Louisiana was singer and songwriter Jordan Davis who had the Airplay #1 hit "Singles You Up" from his debut album, Home State.
29-Apr-1988 Born on this day in Eustis, Florida, was Michael Ray, American country music singer and songwriter. Having taken 65 weeks to reach #1, his single "Whiskey and Rain" tied a record previously set in June 2020 by Travis Denning's "After a Few" for the slowest ascent to the top when it reached the top of the Airplay chart in January 2022.
2-May-1988 Clint Black signed with RCA Records who released his first album, Killin' Time, in 1989, which produced four straight #1 singles on the US Country charts; "A Better Man", "Walking Away", "Nobody's Home", and the title track.

10-May-1988 The final edition of Dolly the television variety show hosted by Dolly Parton aired on ABC. Guest stars featured in the series had included Tammy Wynette, Merle Haggard, Tyne Daly, Bruce Willis, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Tom Petty, Tom Selleck, the Neville Brothers, Alabama, Willie Nelson, Glen Campbell, Dudley Moore, and Oprah Winfrey
12-May-1988 During a UK tour, Johnny Cash appeared at The Royal Albert Hall in London, England. Glen Campbell joined Cash on stage where they played a selection of each other's hits.
21-May-1988 Alabama, The Judds, George Strait and Randy Travis all appeared at a Country Music Stars Concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
24-May-1988 Born on this day in Westerly, Rhode Island, was Billy Gilman, singer. In 2000, at the age of 11, he debuted with the single "One Voice," a Top 20 hit on the Billboard country music charts and became the youngest singer to score a Top 20 hit on the country music charts. He was also given an entry into the Guinness Book of World Records for being the youngest singer to reach #1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.
28-May-1988 Kathy Mattea was at #1 on the Country chart with "Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses." The song is about a truck driver called Charlie who is retiring after 30 years to spend the rest of his time with his wife.
30-May-1988 Randy Travis was back at #1 on the country chart with Always & Forever, his second album. Released from this album were the singles "Too Gone Too Long", "I Won't Need You Anymore (Always and Forever)", "Forever and Ever, Amen" and "I Told You So", all of which reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.
11-Jun-1988 Reba McEntire was at #1 on the country chart with Reba the singer's fifteenth studio album, the title signifying that she had become so well known that she could be identified by first name alone, but also signaling an entirely different style to her music. Gone were the steel guitars and fiddles of My Kind of Country and Have I Got a Deal for You, to be replaced by a highly produced and orchestrated sound. Two of its tracks, "I Know How He Feels" and "New Fool at an Old Game", reached #1 on the Billboard country singles charts.

12-Jun-1988 Randy Travis was at #1 on the US Country charts with, "I Told You So", taken from his 1988 album Always & Forever. Carrie Underwood released a cover version of the song on her 2007 album Carnival Ride.
17-Jun-1988 Garth Brooks signed with Capital Records. His eponymous first album was released in 1989 and peaked at #2 in the US country album chart and Brooks went on to brake records for both sales and concert attendance throughout the 1990s.
12-Jul-1988 Randy Travis released his third studio album Old 8×10 which became his third US Country #1 album. The album produced the singles "Honky Tonk Moon", "Deeper Than the Holler", "Is It Still Over", and "Promises". All of these except "Promises" reached #1 on the Hot Country Songs charts.
20-Jul-1988 Born on this day in Orem, Utah, was Julianne Hough, professional ballroom dancer, (she is a two-time professional champion of ABC's Dancing with the Stars), country music singer, and actress. Her 2008 self-titled debut album debuted at #1 on the Top Country Albums chart.
25-Jul-1988 "Set 'Em Up Joe" by country music artist Vern Gosdin was at #1 on the Country chart. The song was a tribute song to Ernest Tubb and was Vern Gosdin's second #1 on the country chart.
19-Aug-1988 "Crazy" by Patsy Cline and Elvis Presley's "Hound Dog" were announced as the most played jukebox songs of the first hundred years. The jukebox had been around since 1906, but earlier models had been first seen in 1889.
21-Aug-1988 Born on this day, was Kacey Musgraves, American country music artist. She self-released three albums before appearing on the fifth season of the USA Network's singing competition Nashville Star in 2007, where she placed seventh. She signed with Mercury Records in 2012 and released her solo debut single "Merry Go 'Round" which is included on her album Same Trailer Different Park.
18-Oct-1988 Randy Travis was back at #1 on the country chart with Always & Forever, his second album. Released from this album were the singles "Too Gone Too Long", "I Won't Need You Anymore (Always and Forever)", "Forever and Ever, Amen" and "I Told You So", all of which reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.
21-Oct-1988 Country singer Lynn Anderson was booked on a misdemeanor charge of malicious mischief after an incident at the home of songwritter Paul Williams' brother. It was reported that Anderson had damaged a car and stole a jacket.
22-Oct-1988 Johnny Cash performed at a benefit show for a drug and alcohol treatment community for adolescents and their families at the Handley High School Auditorium in Winchester, Virginia Before the show Cash was presented with a plaque and told that the day had been declared Johnny Cash Day.
7-Nov-1988 Alabama released "Song of the South" which went to #1 on the Country chart. It became the twenty-fourth #1 single for the group. The song was first recorded by American country music artist Bobby Bare on his 1980 album Drunk & Crazy.
17-Nov-1988 Born on this day in Jackson Mississippi, Reid Perry, singer and bassist and middle child in The Band Perry who scored the 2013 #1 Country album "If I Die Young."
6-Dec-1988 Recording sessions began for The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's Will The Circle Be Unbroken, Volume 2 with Johnny Cash, John Denver, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Earl Scruggs, Steve Wariner, Ricky Skaggs, Marty Stuart, Chris Hillman and others.
12-Dec-1988 Waylon Jennings underwent triple bypass surgery at Nashville's Baptist Hospital. The singer later said he had quit smoking five or six packs a day after being a smoker for 40 years.
19-Dec-1988 Johnny Cash was admitted to Baptist Hospital in Nashville where he underwent open heart surgery. Following the double bypass operation he was hit with a serious bout of pneumonia and put on a life support system.
31-Jan-1989 Alabama released their twelfth studio album Southern Star. The album produced four singles, "Song of the South", "High Cotton", the title track and "If I Had You", all of which reached #1 on the Hot Country Singles charts between 1989 and 1990.
4-Feb-1989 Old 8 x 10 the third album by Randy Travis was at #1 on the US Country chart. The album produced the singles "Honky Tonk Moon", "Deeper Than the Holler", "Is It Still Over", and "Promises". All of these except "Promises" reached #1 on the Hot Country Songs charts.

4-Feb-1989 Kenneth C. "Jethro" Burns American country musician, comedian, and mandolin player died aged 68. He was better known by his stage name Jethro from his years with Henry D. Haynes as part of the comedic musical duo Homer and Jethro beginning in 1936.
7-Feb-1989 Randy Travis was at #1 on the US country album chart with his third album Old 8 x 10, which featured the three #1 country singles "Honky Tonk Moon", "Deeper Than the Holler", "Is It Still Over." The album earned Travis three American Music Awards for Favorite Country Male Artist, Favorite Country Album, and Favorite Country Single ("Deeper Than the Holler").
13-Feb-1989 Alabama released "If I Had You" the second single from the album Southern Star which went to #1 on the Country chart. It became the twenty-fifth #1 single for the group.
22-Feb-1989 Country music winners at the 31st Annual Grammy Awards included; K.T. Oslin who won Best Country Song and Best Female Country Vocal Performance, for "Hold Me", Best Male Country Vocal Performance went to Randy Travis for Old 8x10, Best Country Performance by a Group went to The Judds for "Give a Little Love", Best Country Vocal Collaboration was won by k.d. lang & Roy Orbison for "Crying", and Best Country Instrumental Performance was Asleep at the Wheel for "Sugarfoot Rag."

27-Feb-1989 Dwight Yoakam was at #1 on the Country charts with "I Sang Dixie" the second single from his album Buenas Noches from a Lonely Room.
8-Mar-1989 Stuart Hamblen who was one of American radio's first singing cowboys died in Santa Monica. He wrote "This Ole House", which has been covered by many artists including Rosemary Clooney, Jimmy Dean, Boxcar Willie, Bill Black, and UK singer Shakin' Stevens.
8-Mar-1989 The country music-themed quiz show Fandango aired for the first time on TNN. Hosted by singer Bill Anderson, it became one of the longest running game shows on a cable network, ending in 1989.
20-Mar-1989 Ricky Van Shelton was at #1 on the Country charts with his own version of "From a Jack to a King." Shelton's version became his fifth consecutive #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles charts. Originally the song was a crossover hit for artist Ned Miller, first released in 1957 and was also recorded in 1962 by Jim Reeves and Elvis Presley.
10-Apr-1989 Winners at the Academy of Country Music Awards hosted by George Strait, K.T. Oslin and Patrick Duffy included: Pioneer Award - Buck Owens, Top Female Vocalist of the Year - K.T. Oslin, Top Male Vocalist of the Year - George Strait, Top Vocal Group - Highway 101 and Song of the Year went to Kathy Mattea for "Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses."
12-Apr-1989 Garth Brooks released his self-titled debut album which was both a critical and chart success, peaking at #13 on the Billboard 200 and #2 on the Top Country Albums. This album contains Brooks earliest hits, including his first ever single, "Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)", which peaked at #3 on the Country Billboard Charts in 1989, and his first #1, "If Tomorrow Never Comes" and the Academy of Country Music's 1990 Song of the Year and Video of the Year, "The Dance".
21-Apr-1989 John Denver walked away, apparently uninjured, after a 1931 biplane he was piloting was caught by a gust of wind, crashing on landing at Holbrook Airport, Arizona. Denver's vintage airplane sustained "extensive damage" in the crash but the entertainer did not need medical treatment.
1-May-1989 Reba McEntire released Sweet Sixteen her sixteenth studio album, (the album's title derives from its being McEntire's sixteenth album). Four singles from the album entered the Billboard country charts: the #1 hits "Cathy's Clown" (a cover version of the Everly Brothers' song) and "Walk On", and the top ten hits "Til Love Comes Again" and "Little Girl". The album stayed at #1 for 16 consecutive weeks.
9-May-1989 Keith Whitley, the country music singer who charted 19 singles on the Billboard country charts, including five consecutive #1's was found dead fully clothed face down on his bed. The cause of death was determined to be acute ethanolism (alcohol poisoning). At the time of his death, he had just finished work on his fourth and final studio album, I Wonder Do You Think of Me. The album was released three months after his death, and produced two more #1 hits, with the title track and "It Ain't Nothin'."

15-May-1989 Born on this day in Wylie, Texas was American singer-songwriter Kylie Rae Harris. Her debut album titled All the Right Reasons was released in July 2010. Harris died on September 4, 2019, when her car collided with another near Taos, New Mexico. She was 30 years old.
21-Jun-1989 At the American Cancer Society Jail-A-Thon held in Hendersonville, Johnny Cash was arrested by Sgt. John Graves. Cash called his friend Willie Nelson, who pledged $1,000 for his release. At the end of the day the event had raised over $20,000 for charity.
24-Jun-1989 Singer, songwriter Rosanne Cash topped the Billboard country chart with a remake of The Beatles' "I Don't Want To Spoil The Party". The track was origianly released on the album Beatles for Sale in the UK in 1964 and was also the B-side of the single "Eight Days a Week".

12-Jul-1989 The Willie Nelson album A Horse Called Music was released. The album includes Nelson's last #1 single, "Nothing I Can Do About It Now", and the single "There You Are."
28-Jul-1989 Alabama released "High Cotton" the third single from the album Southern Star which went to #1 on the Country charts. It became the groups twenty-sixth #1 Country hit.
29-Jul-1989 Reba McEntire went to #1 on the Billboard country chart with her version of the 1960's Everly Brothers hit "Cathy's Clown". It gave Reba her thirteenth #1 single and unlike the original, Reba sang the song in the third person, thus making the narrator another woman observing the storyline.
5-Aug-1989 Johnny Cash was among 12 other recipients of the Golden Boot Award. Presented by the Motion Picture and Television Fund to actors and other entertainers who had left their mark on the western genre. Angie Dickinson, Robert Duvall, Robert Mitchum, Casey Tibbs and Vera Miles were among the other recipients.
11-Aug-1989 "Why'd You Come in Here Lookin' Like That" by Dolly Parton was at #1 on the country chart. Released as the first single from the album White Limozeen, the song was Parton's eighteenth #1.
18-Aug-1989 Regal, Minnesota had the honour of being the smallest place Johnny Cash had ever played. The farm town, consisting of two bars, a church and a baseball field, only had a population of around 45 people, although a crowd approaching 5000 people, mostly from out of town, attended the show, billed as Cornstalk '89.
21-Aug-1989 Capitol records released "If Tomorrow Never Comes" by Garth Brooks. Written by Brooks and Kent Blazy, it was released on his self-titled 1989 debut album Garth Brooks and also appears on The Hits, The Limited Series and Double Live. This was his first #1 single on the Billboard Country Singles chart.
26-Aug-1989 Dolly Parton released "Yellow Roses" the second single from the album White Limozeen which became Parton's 19th #1 country single.
28-Aug-1989 Born on this day in Palm Beach, Florida, was Cassadee Pope, singer-songwriter. She took part in the third season of NBC's The Voice and was crowned the winner on December 18, 2012. Her debut solo country album, Frame by Frame, was released in 2013. The album debuted at #9 on the Billboard 200 and #1 on the Top Country Albums charts, and was preceded by Top 10 country single, "Wasting All These Tears".
30-Aug-1989 Born on this day in Brooklyn, New York was American singer and songwriter Bebe Rexha. She had the 2017 country crossover single "Meant to Be" with Florida Georgia Line which set the record for the longest running #1 hit on the Country chart with 50 weeks.
30-Aug-1989 Born on this day, American singer and songwriter Bleta Rexha. The 2017 single 'Meant to Be' (featuring Florida Georgia Line), had wide success as a country crossover single, peaking at No.2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and spent a record-breaking 50 weeks at the top of the US country chart.
3-Sep-1989 Born on this day in Raleigh, North Carolina was singer-songwriter and producer Jimmy Robbins. His songs have been covered by; Blake Shelton, Eli Young Band, Florida Georgia Line, Jake Owen, Keith Urban, and Scotty McCreery.
26-Sep-1989 Randy Travis released his fourth studio album No Holdin' Back which became his fourth consecutive US Country #1 album. Three singles were released from it, all of which charted on the Hot Country Songs charts: the #1 hits "It's Just a Matter of Time" and "Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart", as well as the #2 hit "He Walked on Water".
15-Nov-1989 Steel Magnolias the American comedy-drama film directed by Herbert Ross was released. The film featured Daryl Hannah, Shirley MacLaine, Julia Roberts, Sally Field and Dolly Parton. The film grossed over $95 million inside the US.
22-Nov-1989 Alabama released "Southern Star" which went to #1 on the Country chart the fourth and final single and title track from the album Southern Star. It became the groups twenty-seventh #1 Country hit.
3-Dec-1989 Connie B. Gay renowned as a "founding father" and "major force" in country music died aged 75. He is credited for coining the country music genre, which had previously been called hillbilly music. Gay was the founding president of the Country Music Association (CMA) and co-founder of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
8-Dec-1989 Arista Records released Alan Jackson's first hit, "Here In The Real World", the title track from the Country singer songwriters debut album.
13-Dec-1989 Born on this day in Reading, Pennsylvania, was Taylor Alison Swift, singer, songwriter, musicican, named by Billboard as most financially successful music artist of 2011, with net earnings of more than $35 million. Her debut single 'Tim McGraw' released in June 2006, peaked at #6 on the US Country chart. Swift moved to Nashville, Tennessee at the age of fourteen to pursue a career in country music and became the youngest songwriter ever hired by the Sony/ATV Music publishing house.
27-Dec-1989 Ronnie Milsap was at #1 on the Country music singles chart with "A Woman in Love", a song written by Curtis Wright and Doug Millett. It was released as the third single from the album Stranger Things Have Happened and was his last song to reach #1 on the US country singles chart.
20-Jan-1990 Billboard magazine began basing the Hot Country Singles chart entirely on radio airplay through Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems (BDS), which used a computerized system to detect actual radio spins. The number of chart positions is reduced from 100 to 75. The new system has an immediate effect on how long the year's biggest songs stay at #1:
22-Jan-1990 Winners at this years American Music Awards include; Randy Travis who won a trio of trophies, including favorite country single, "Deeper Than The Holler" as well as Reba McEntire, Alabama and Clint Black who also awards.
3-Feb-1990 "Nobody's Home" by Clint Black became the first song to stay for three weeks at #1 since Randy Travis' "Forever and Ever, Amen" in 1987.
8-Feb-1990 Travis Tritt released "Help Me Hold On", the second single from his 1990 debut album Country Club. It reached #1 in both the United States and Canada, thus becoming Travis Tritt's first #1 hit.
21-Feb-1990 Country music winners at the 32nd Annual Grammy Awards included; Best Female Country Vocal Performance, k.d. lang for Absolute Torch and Twang, Best Male Country Vocal Performance, Lyle Lovett for Lyle Lovett and His Large Band, Best Country Performance by a Group, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band for Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Volume Two, Best Country Vocal Collaboration, Hank Williams Jr. & Hank Williams Sr. for "There's a Tear in My Beer", Best Country Instrumental Performance Randy Scruggs for "Amazing Grace."

22-Feb-1990 Warner Bros. released Travis Tritt's debut album, Country Club. The track "Help Me Hold On" went on to give the singer a #1 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.
2-Mar-1990 Born on this day in Charlotte, North Carolina was country music singer and songwriter Luke Combs. In June 2017, Combs released his major label debut album, This One's for You which reached #1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums.
11-Mar-1990 Ricky Van Shelton was at #1 on the US Country music album chart with RVS III. Hit singles released from the album were "Statue of a Fool" (#2), "I've Cried My Last Tear for You"(#1), "I Meant Every Word He Said" (#2), and "Life's Little Ups and Downs" (#4).
18-Mar-1990 Randy Travis was at #1 on the Country singles chart with "Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart" released as the second single from the album No Holdin' Back. The song spent four weeks at #1 on the chart and in doing so, became the first song to stay that long atop the chart for 12 years; the last to accomplish the feat was the 1978 song, "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson.
23-Mar-1990 Ricky Van Shelton was at #1 on the Country chart with his third album RVS III. The singles released from the album were "Statue of a Fool" (#2), "I've Cried My Last Tear for You"(#1), "I Meant Every Word He Said" (#2), and "Life's Little Ups and Downs" (#4).
30-Mar-1990 Born on this day, was Thomas Rhett, American country music singer, the son of singer-songwriter Rhett Akins. His third single, "It Goes Like This", topped the Country Airplay chart and also peaked at #2 on the Hot Country Songs. His 2015 single "Die a Happy Man" topped the country charts for 16 weeks.
1-Apr-1990 During a North American tour, Willie Nelson's tour bus crashed into a car in Riverdale, Canada, killing the car driver.
7-Apr-1990 Randy Travis' "Hard Rock Bottom Of Your Heart" broke the four-week barrier, on the US country singles chart, the first since Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson's 1978 hit "Mamas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys."
7-Apr-1990 The fourth Farm Aid benefit concert took place at the Hoosier Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana. Held to raise money for family farmers in the US, the concerts were organized by Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young. Artists who appeared included: Bonnie Raitt, Carl Perkins, Garth Brooks, John Denver, Bill Monroe, Alan Jackson, Asleep at the Wheel, Jackson Browne, Bruce Hornsby, Poco, Elton John, Lou Reed, Don Henley, Taj Mahal, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Neil Young, Willie Nelson, and Guns N' Roses.
8-Apr-1990 Randy Travis was at #1 on the Country singles chart with "Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart" released as the second single from the album No Holdin' Back. The song spent four weeks at #1 on the chart and in doing so, became the first song to stay that long atop the chart for 12 years; the last to accomplish the feat was the 1978 song, "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson.
10-Apr-1990 Born on this day in Arlington, Texas was singer, songwriter Maren Morris. Her major label debut album, Hero reached #1 on the Top Country Albums chart. Morris is also a member of The Highwomen, a group also consisting of Brandi Carlile, Amanda Shires and Natalie Hemby.
24-Apr-1990 Born on this day in Taylor Mill, Kentucky was country music singer Carly Pearce. Her 2017 debut single, "Every Little Thing", peaked at #1 on the US Country Airplay chart.
25-Apr-1990 Clint Black won four trophies at the 25th annual Academy Of Country Music awards at Hollywood's Pantages Theatre: Top Male and New Male Vocalist, Album of the Year, for Killin' Time, and Single Record of the Year, for "A Better Man". The show which was hosted by George Strait, Tammy Wynette, Alabama and The Judds saw Country Music Video of the Year going to Hank Williams Jr. and Hank Williams Sr. for "There's a Tear in My Beer."
30-Apr-1990 Capitol Nashville released "The Dance" by Garth Brooks. The song, written by Brooks' friend, Tony Arata, was a key track on his self-titled debut album Garth Brooks and became #1 chart hit. It is considered by many to be Brooks' signature song. "The Dance" won both Song of the Year and Video of the Year by the Academy of Country Music.
20-May-1990 Clint Black was at #1 on the country chart with his debut album Killin' Time. The album with the success of its first four singles, ("A Better Man", "Walking Away", "Nobody's Home", and "Killin' Time"), was a huge hit upon release, and established Black as one of the biggest new stars in country music.
3-Jun-1990 The Carter Family and Johnny Cash were both inducted into the National Broadcasters Hall of Fame. The ceremony took place at the Berkley Carterette Hotel in Ashbury Park, New Jersey.
9-Jun-1990 George Strait started a five-week run at #1 on the Billboard country chart with "Love Without End, Amen", the lead-off single from his #1 album, Livin' It Up.

7-Jul-1990 "Love Without End, Amen" by George Strait became Billboard's first five-week #1 song, matching 1977's "Here You Come Again" by Dolly Parton. "Love Without End, Amen" is Strait's first multi-week chart-topper, after his first 18 #1's had spent just one week on top.

13-Jul-1990 Alabama released "Jukebox in My Mind" the second single from their album Pass It On Down which went to #1 on the Country chart. It became the groups twenty-eighth #1 Country hit.
14-Jul-1990 Garth Brooks was at #1 on the US Country charts with, "The Dance". The song, written by Brooks' friend, Tony Arata, was a key track on his self-titled debut album Garth Brooks and is considered by many to be Brooks' signature song.
16-Jul-1990 Garth Brooks was at #1 on the US Country charts with, "The Dance". The song, written by Brooks' friend, Tony Arata, was a key track on his self-titled debut album Garth Brooks and is considered by many to be Brooks' signature song.
18-Jul-1990 Garth Brooks was at #1 on the Country singles chart with "The Dance." Written by Tony Arata it is considered by many to be Brooks' signature song.
23-Jul-1990 Born on this day in Jackson Mississippi, was Neil Perry, singer, mandolin, accordion, drums, and Piano in The Band Perry who scored the 2013 #1 Country album If I Die Young.
27-Jul-1990 Garth Brooks was at #1 on the US Country charts with, The Dance. The song, written by Brooks' friend, Tony Arata, was a key track on his self-titled debut album Garth Brooks and is considered by many to be Brooks' signature song.
1-Aug-1990 After Dottie West's financial problems had mounted, her bank foreclosed her mansion outside of Nashville, and sent West an eviction notice. The singer o