October 2nd: On this day

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.

1928
The first professional recordings in Nashville took place as DeFord Bailey layed down eight tracks in Victor Records (later RCA) Studios. He started his career in the 1920s and was one of the first performers to be introduced on Nashville radio station WSM's Grand Ole Opry, and becoming alongside Uncle Dave Macon one of the programs most famous performers. He was the first African-American performer to appear on the show, and the first performer to record his music in Nashville.

1946
Born on this day was Jo-El Sonnier, American singer-songwriter and accordionist who performed country music and Cajun music. Sonnier charted several minor singles on the Billboard country charts in the late 1970s. By the late 1980s, he had signed to RCA Records, breaking through with the Top Ten hits "No More One More Time" and a cover of Richard Thompson's "Tear-Stained Letter". He died on January 13, 2024 age 77.

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

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.

1954
Elvis Presley makes his one and only appearance at the Grand Ole Opry, where he sang "Blue Moon Of Kentucky." It doesn't go over well with the crowd, which does not approve of his take on traditional country music. The Opry's talent director, Jim Denny, reportedly tells Presley he should go back to driving a truck. Elvis swears never to return.

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.

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.

1972
Dolly Parton released her tenth solo studio album My Favorite Songwriter, Porter Wagoner with all tracks being written by Porter Wagoner.

1976
Guests on this week's edition of the TV show Pop! Goes the Country included Sonny James singing "Bright Lights Big City." Don Gibson "Sweet Dreams." Sarah Johns - "Let the Big Wheels Roll." And Sonny James and Don Gibson sang a medley: "Sea of Heartbreak," "Take Good Care of Her," "Just One Time," "Young Love," "Oh Lonesome Me" and "Running Bear." The weekly half-hour syndicated variety country series ran from 1974 through 1982 for a total of 234 episodes and was recorded at the Grand Ole Opry House.

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.

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).

1996
The 30th Country Music Association Awards, Ceremony, was held at the Grand Ole Opry House, Nashville, Tennessee, hosted by Vince Gill. George Strait won Male Vocalist of the Year. Album of The Year for Blue Clear Sky and Single of The Year for "Check Yes Or No". Patty Loveless won Female Vocalist of the Year, Vocal Group of the Year went to The Mavericks, Brooks & Dunn won Entertainer of the Year, Music Video of the Year was "My Wife Thinks You're Dead" by Junior Brown.

1998
Gene Autry, who gained fame as The Singing Cowboy died three days after his 91st birthday at his home in Studio City, California.

2003
The Del McCoury Band won top honors at the 14th annual International Bluegrass Music Awards in Louisville, Kentucky. The group took home the Entertainer of the Year award for the eighth time. Band members Mike Bub and Jason Carter won in the instrumentalist categories for Bassist and Fiddler of the Year, respectively.

2010
Farm Aid 2010: 25th Anniversary benefit concert took place at the Miller Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds, Neil Young, Jeff Tweedy, Kenny Chesney, Jason Mraz, Norah Jones, Band of Horses, Amos Lee, Robert Francis, and The BoDeans.

2012
Darius Rucker was invited to became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. The way he found out was a bit unorthodox. After playing a set at the Opry, Darius answered a few questions from the audience. The person asking the final question, though, turned out to be Brad Paisley, who asked two questions: "Are you still the worst poker player in the world?" And then, "Would you like to be the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry?"

2021
"Fancy Like" by Walker Hayes was at #1 on the Country singles chart. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Hayes and his family decided to make TikTok videos for fun, creating dances for several songs from his EP Country Stuff for his children, including "Country Stuff" and "I Hope You Miss Me". The TikTok video for "Fancy Like" received more than 2.4 million likes and 23,000 comments, and became a popular meme which led to the song becoming a viral hit.