December 9th: On this day

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.

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.

1955
Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash kicked off an eleven date tour of the Southern US states in Abilene, Texas.

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.

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.

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.

1979
American fiddle player Tommy Jackson died in Nashville at the age of 53. Regarded as "one of the finest fiddle players of all time". He played on hundreds of country records from the 1940s to the 1970s, and it has been claimed that he "has probably been heard on more country records than any other musician". Jackson played on many of Hank Williams' classic recordings.

1995
Alan Jackson was at #1 on the Country charts with his version of "Tall, Tall Trees". Written by George Jones and Roger Miller, both singers recorded their own versions: Jones on his 1958 album Long Live King George, and Miller on his 1970 cover album A Trip in the Country.

2005
Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood married at their home in Oklahoma. It was Brooks' second marriage, and Yearwood's third. Brooks proposed marriage in front of 7,000 fans in Bakersfield, California on May 25, 2005.

2005
The cowboy movie Brokeback Mountain opened in theaters across the US. The soundtrack featured Roger Miller's "King Of The Road," Tammy Wynette's "D-I-V-O-R-C-E" and Merle Haggard's "I'm Always On A Mountain When I Fall", as well as tracks by Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, Steve Earle and Linda Ronstadt.