September 29th: On this day

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.

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".

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.

1945
Jimmy Wakely was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. The American actor, songwriter, country music vocalist was one of the last singing cowboys. He produced a string of hits, including 1949's #1 hit "Slippin' Around".

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.

1956
Rose Maddox was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. The American country singer-songwriter and fiddle player, was the lead singer with the Maddox Brothers and Rose before a successful solo career. Her musical styles blended hillbilly music, rockabilly and gospel. She was noted for her "reputation as a lusty firebrand", and her "colorful Western costumes"; she was one of the earliest clients of Hollywood tailor, Nathan Turk.

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.

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.

1979
Alabama released their second single "I Wanna Come Over" which became their first Top 40 hit peaking at #33 on the Country Charts.

1993
The 27th Country Music Association Awards, Ceremony, was held at the Grand Ole Opry House, Nashville, Tennessee, hosted by Clint Black and Vince Gill. Winners included Vince Gill who won Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year and Song of the Year for "I Still Believe in You" (with John Barlow Jarvis). Female Vocalist of the Year went to Mary Chapin Carpenter, Diamond Rio won Vocal Group of the Year and Music Video of the Year went to "Chattahoochee" by Alan Jackson.

2001
Farm Aid 2001, A Concert for America took place at the Verizon Wireless Music Center, Noblesville, 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: Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews, Doobie Brothers, and Martina McBride.

2008
Alan Jackson released "Country Boy" the third single from his album Good Time which went to #1 on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts. The song became Jackson's twenty-fifth US Country #1 hit, matching George Strait's record for the most #1 hits by a country artist since January 1990.

2009
Miranda Lambert released her third studio album Revolution. It debuted at #1 on the US Billboard Top Country Albums chart, her third consecutive #1 album. It also won Album of the Year award at the Academy of Country Music Awards and at the Country Music Association Awards in 2010.

2011
Steve Martin shared the International Bluegrass Music Association's Entertainer of the Year award with his fellow members of The Steep Canyon Rangers. The band's LP "Rare Bird Alert" topped Billboard's Blue Grass chart earlier this year and reached #43 on the Billboard 200. Martin reached #17 on the Billboard Pop chart in 1978 with "King Tut".

2018
Carrie Underwood went to #1 on the Country chart with her sixth studio album Cry Pretty featuring the singles "Cry Pretty", "Love Wins", “Southbound”, and "Drinking Alone".

2019
Songwriter, record producer and record label executive Michael James Ryan Busbee (known professionally as busboy) died from brain cancer age 43. 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."

2020
American country music singer, songwriter, and actor Mac Davis died age 78. During his early career he wrote for Elvis Presley, providing him with the hits “Memories”, “In the Ghetto”, “Don’t Cry Daddy”, and “A Little Less Conversation”. A subsequent solo career in the 1970s produced hits such as “Baby, Don’t Get Hooked on Me”. Davis also starred in his own variety show, a Broadway musical, and various films and TV shows.