March 19th: On this day
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.
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.
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.
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.
2000
Dixie Chicks fifth studio album Fly was at #1 on the country chart. The album debuted and peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200 and has now sold over 10 million units. The album earned 4 Grammy nominations and the group won 2: Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for "Ready to Run" and Best Country Album.
2000
Country music comedian and entertainer Speck Rhodes died age 84. Rhodes who played banjo and bass fiddle is best known for his appearances on the Porter Wagoner television show.
2007
Days after an announcement that Lonestar had parted ways with longtime record label BNA Records, lead singer Richie McDonald announced plans to depart the group at the end of the year, in search of a solo career.
2010
Josh Turner was at #1 on the Country singles chart with "Why Don't We Just Dance", released in August 2009 as the lead-off single from his album Haywire. The song became Turner's third #1 hit.
2013
Police in north Florida cited country music singer David Allan Coe for running a red light before being struck by a tractor-trailer near downtown Ocala. Police said Coe was driving a 2011 Suburban when he ran the red light. The truck hit the SUV broadside, pushing it into a nearby parking lot. The truck flipped on its side, wrapped around a pole and spilled the radishes and corn it was hauling.