| 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
wroteClassify 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
owed the IRS $1.3
million and filed
for Chapter 11
bankruptcy; she
later switched to
Chapter 7, which
allowed her to
liquidate her
assets. |
| 6-Aug-1990 |
Capitol Records
released "Friends in
Low Places" by Garth
Brooks. The first
single from his
second album, No
Fences, the song
spent four weeks at
#1 on the US country
singles charts. The
idea for the song
was born when Earl
Bud Lee and some
songwriting friends
gathered for lunch
one day at Tavern on
the Row, in
Nashville eatery.
When the check came,
Lee realized he had
forgotten his money.
He was asked how he
was going to pay for
the meal, and he
replied, "Don't
worry. I have
friends in low
places. I know the
cook." |
| 26-Aug-1990 |
Shenandoah were at
#1 on the US Country
singles chart with
"Next to You, Next
to Me." Written by
Robert Ellis Orrall
and Curtis Wright,
it is also the
band's
longest-lasting
chart topper, at
three weeks. |
| 27-Aug-1990 |
Garth Brooks
released his second
studio album, No
Fences which
reached #3 on the
Billboard
200, and #1 on
Billboard's
Top Country Albums
chart. The album
remains Brooks'
best-seller to date
with 17 million
copies sold in the
US alone. |
| 31-Aug-1990 |
Randy Travis
released his sixth
studio album
Heroes &
Friends which
became his fifth
consecutive Country
#1 album. Except for
the title track
every song on this
album is a duet with
another artist
including: Dolly
Parton, Willie
Nelson, Merle
Haggard, Loretta
Lynn, George Jones
and actor Clint
Eastwood. |
| 24-Sep-1990 |
Alabama were at #1
on the Country
charts with "Jukebox
in My Mind", taken
from their album
Pass It On
Down. |
| 6-Oct-1990 |
Garth Brooks joined
the Grand Ole
Opry. His set
list for this
occasion is "Friends
In Low Places," "If
Tomorrow Never
Comes" and "The
Dance." |
| 13-Oct-1990 |
Garth Brooks was at
#1 on the US country
album chart with his
second studio album,
No Fences.
The album remains
Brooks' best-seller
to date with 17
million copies sold
in the US alone. |
| 18-Oct-1990 |
Alabama released
"Forever's as Far as
I'll Go" the third
single from their
album Pass It On
Down which went
to #1 on the Country
chart. It became the
groups twenty-ninth
#1 Country hit. |
| 22-Oct-1990 |
George Strait
released "I've Come
to Expect It from
You" which gave him
his twentieth US #1
Country hit. The
track released as
the third and final
single from his
album Livin' It
Up stayed at the
top of the charts
for five weeks. |
| 25-Oct-1990 |
Alabama re-released
their studio album
Roll On first
issued in 1984. All
four singles
released from this
album reached #1 on
the Hot Country
Singles chart: "Roll
On (Eighteen
Wheeler)", "When We
Make Love", "If
You're Gonna Play in
Texas (You Gotta
Have a Fiddle in the
Band)" and "(There's
A) Fire in the
Night". This was the
last Alabama album
to feature the
Confederate battle
flag on the cover. |
| 12-Nov-1990 |
Garth Brooks was at
#1 on the US Country
album charts with
his second studio
album No
Fences. Some of
Brooks most famous
songs appear on
No Fences,
including: "The
Thunder Rolls"
(CMA's 1991
Video of the Year),
"Friends in Low
Places" (Academy
of Country
Music's 1990
Single of the Year),
"Unanswered Prayers"
and "Two of a Kind,
Workin' on a Full
House". |
| 27-Nov-1990 |
Clint Black released
his second album
Put Yourself in
My Shoes which
went to #1 on the US
Billboard Top
Country Albums. Two
singles "Loving
Blind" and "Where
Are You Now" from
the album reached #1
on the country
charts. |
| 30-Nov-1990 |
Heroes &
Friends by Randy
Travis was at #1 on
the Country chart.
Except for the title
track, every song on
this album is a duet
with another artist.
Dolly Parton, Merle
Haggard, George
Jones, Kris
Kristofferson, and
Tammy Wynette all
featured on the
album. |
| 10-Dec-1990 |
Garth Brooks was at
#1 on the US country
album chart with his
second studio album,
No Fences.
The album remains
Brooks' best-seller
to date with 17
million copies sold
in the US alone. |
| 15-Dec-1990 |
George Strait was at
#1 on the US Country
charts with, "I've
Come to Expect It
from You", a song
written by Buddy
Cannon and Dean
Dillon.
|
| 28-Dec-1990 |
George Strait was at
#1 on the US Country
charts with, "I've
Come to Expect It
from You", a song
written by Buddy
Cannon and Dean
Dillon. |
| 3-Jan-1991 |
Billy Ray Cyrus
signed his first
recording contract
with Mercury
Records. |
| 7-Jan-1991 |
Alan Jackson
released "I'd Love
You All Over Again"
as the last single
from his debut
album, Here in
the Real World.
The song was
Jackson's first #1
single on the
Billboard Hot
Country Singles &
Tracks chart. |
| 4-Feb-1991 |
Alabama released
"Down Home" the
fourth single from
their album Pass
It On Down which
went to #1 on the
Country chart. It
became the groups
thirtieth #1 Country
hit. |
| 20-Feb-1991 |
Country music
winners at the 33rd
Annual Grammy
Awards included;
Kathy Mattea for
"Where've You Been"
who won Best Country
Song and Best
Country Vocal
Performance, Best
Male Country Vocal
Performance, went to
Vince Gill for "When
I Call Your Name",
Best Country
Performance by a
Group was The
Kentucky Headhunters
for Pickin' on
Nashville and
Best Country Vocal
Collaboration went
to Chet Atkins &
Mark Knopfler for
"Poor Boy Blues."
|
| 24-Feb-1991 |
Webb Pierce died
after a long battle
with pancreatic
cancer. He was 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. |
| 26-Feb-1991 |
Mike Reid was at #1
on the Country
charts with "Walk on
Faith", the former
American football
player's only chart
topper. Released as
the first single
from his album
Turning for
Home, the song
became his only #1
country hit. In the
1980s and 1990s,
Reid went on to
write #1 hits with
Marie Osmond, Tanya
Tucker, Collin Raye,
Alabama and Conway
Twitty. |
| 7-Mar-1991 |
Dolly Parton
released her
thirty-first solo
studio album
Eagle When She
Flies which
peaked at #1 on the
Country charts.
Parton's duet with
Shelton, "Rockin'
Years", from the
album also topped
the country singles
charts. |
| 12-Mar-1991 |
Alan Jackson scored
his first #1 on
Billboard Hot
Country Singles &
Tracks chart, with
"I'd Love You All
Over Again." The
song was written by
Alan for his wife,
Denise in a hotel
room in Pine Bluff,
Arkansas on a rainy
evening.
|
| 16-Mar-1991 |
The country music
world was stunned
when seven members
of Reba McEntire's
band, her road
manager and two
pilots, were killed
when their private
plane crash in a
mountain area near
the Mexican border.
The crash, occurred
shortly after the
Hawker Sidley
aircraft had taken
off from Brown
Field, a private
airport about 15
miles southeast of
San Diego. The
35-year-old Miss
McEntire, was left
with only two
members of the band.
Those two, as well
as several members
of her road crew,
were on another
flight that had
taken off before the
one that crashed.
McEntire recorded
her album, For My
Broken Heart in
their memory. |
| 20-Mar-1991 |
At Reba McEntire's
request, Johnny Cash
gave a speech during
the service held for
the eight band
members and two
pilots killed in an
air crash on 16th
March. He opened
his speech by
singing the song
"Jim I Wore A Tie
Today" and when it
came time to say the
name in the song,
Cash replaced it
with the name of
each band member -
"Jim, Chris, Kirk,
Joey, Paula, Terry,
Tony and Mike, I
wore a tie today."
He ended his part of
the service with the
rendition of the
Hank Williams
recitation "Negro
Funeral." |
| 3-Apr-1991 |
Clint Black was at
#1 on the US country
singles chart with
"Loving Blind" the
second single from
his album Put
Yourself in My
Shoes. It was
his seventh single
overall and became
his fifth single to
reach #1 on the
Billboard Hot
Country Singles
chart. |
| 24-Apr-1991 |
Garth Brooks won a
record six times at
the 26th annual
Academy Of
Country Music
awards on NBC.
The Country singer
won: Entertainer of
the Year and Top
Male Vocalist; Best
Album for No
Fences, Single
Record, "Friends In
Low Places", and
Song and Video for
"The Dance". |
| 28-Apr-1991 |
"Rockin' Years" by
Dolly Parton and
Ricky Van Shelton
was at #1 on the
Country chart,
giving Parton her
twenty-third #1
Country
chart-topper. Parton
had first recorded a
version of the song
with George Jones in
1988. |
| 29-Apr-1991 |
Alan Jackson
released "Don't Rock
the Jukebox" his
second consecutive
#1 single on the US
Billboard Hot
Country Singles &
Tracks charts. The
song also received
an ASCAP
award for Country
Song of the Year in
1992. |
| 15-May-1991 |
Born on this day in
Springfield,
Massachusetts, was
Ashley Gearing,
country music artist
who made her chart
debut in 2003 with
the song "Can You
Hear Me When I Talk
to You?", which
peaked at #36 on the
US Billboard
Hot Country Singles
charts. Eleven years
old at the time, she
became the youngest
solo artist to enter
the country charts,
breaking a record
held by Brenda Lee. |
| 29-May-1991 |
Garth Brooks was at
#1 on the US country
chart with his third
studio album,
Ropin' the
Wind. The album
repelaced his
previous album No
Fences at the #1
postion, where it
enjoyed a combined
18 weeks at the top
of the charts. |
| 2-Jun-1991 |
Garth Brooks was at
#1 on the US country
chart with his third
studio album,
Ropin' the
Wind. The album
replaced his
previous album No
Fences at the #1
postion, where it
enjoyed a combined
18 weeks at the top
of the charts. |
| 10-Jun-1991 |
Brooks & Dunn
released their
debut single "Brand
New Man" which
peaked at #1 on the
Country charts. It
made them only the
second country music
band in history to
have its debut
single reach #1 on
the Billboard
Hot Country Singles
& Tracks chart
(behind Diamond
Rio's "Meet in the
Middle" from four
months earlier). |
| 20-Jun-1991 |
Garth Brooks was at
#1 on the US country
chart with his third
studio album,
Ropin' the Wind.
The album
replaced his
previous album No
Fences at the #1
postion, where it
enjoyed a combined
18 weeks at the top
of the charts. |
| 21-Jun-1991 |
Born on this day in
Lawrence County,
Kentucky was singer
and songwriter Tyler
Childers. His third
album Country
Squire reached
#1 on the Country
chart in 2019. |
| 2-Jul-1991 |
MCA released
Trisha
Yearwood, the
eponymous debut
album by future
country music
superstar Trisha
Yearwood. It
features her first
Billboard Hot
Country Songs hit
"She's in Love with
the Boy", which
reached the top of
the country charts
in June 1991. Also
included are
follow-up hits "Like
We Never Had a
Broken Heart",
"That's What I Like
About You", and "The
Woman Before Me".
The album which
itself reached the
#2 position on
Billboard's
Top Country Albums
chart contains the
track "Victim of the
Game", originally
recorded by
Yearwood's friend
and future husband,
Garth Brooks, for
his 1990 album No
Fences. |
| 10-Jul-1991 |
Alan Jackson was at
#1 on the US Country
charts with, "Don't
Rock the Jukebox",
the lead single from
the album of the
same name. His
second consecutive
#1 single on the US
Billboard Hot
Country Singles also
received an
ASCAP award
for Country Song of
the Year in 1992.
That same year, the
song was covered by
Alvin and the
Chipmunks, featuring
commentary by Alan
Jackson himself, for
their 1992 album
Chipmunks in Low
Places.
|
| 13-Jul-1991 |
Alan Jackson was at
#1 on the US Country
singles chart with
"Don't Rock the
Jukebox" the lead
single from the
album of the same
name, The song also
received an
ASCAP award
for Country Song of
the Year in 1992. |
| 22-Jul-1991 |
Alan Jackson was at
#1 on the Country
charts with "Don't
Rock the Jukebox",
released as the lead
single from the
album of the same
name, Don't Rock
the Jukebox. It
was his second
consecutive #1
single on the US
Billboard Hot
Country Singles
charts. |
| 12-Aug-1991 |
Liberty Records
released "Rodeo" by
Garth Brooks.
Written by Larry
Bastian the single
which was taken from
his album Ropin'
the Wind peaked
at #3 on the US
country chart. |
| 17-Aug-1991 |
George Strait's "You
Know Me Better Than
That" was at #1 on
the Billboard
country singles
chart, the second
single from his 1991
album Chill of an
Early Fall. |
| 19-Aug-1991 |
Alan Jackson
released "Someday"
his third
consecutive #1
single on the US
Billboard Hot
Country Singles &
Tracks charts. as
the second single
The track was from
Jackson's second
album, Don't Rock
The Jukebox. |
| 4-Sep-1991 |
Dottie West, country
music singer and
songwriter died in
hospital on the
operating table aged
58. West had been
involved in a car
crash a few days
earlier when she was
on her way to
perform at the Grand
Ole Opry. 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.
|
| 9-Sep-1991 |
Born on this day in
Breaux Bridge,
Louisiana, was
Hunter Hayes,
American country
music singer,
songwriter, and
multi-instrumentalist.
His self-titled
debut album released
in 2011 included the
Top 20 country
single "Storm
Warning" and the #1
singles "Wanted" and
"Somebody's
Heartbreak". |
| 10-Sep-1991 |
Garth Brooks
released his third
studio album,
Ropin' the
Wind, which
became his first
album to debut at #1
the Billboard
200 chart and
the Top Country
Albums chart. There
it enjoyed four runs
at #1 spending a
combined 18 weeks at
the top of the
charts. |
| 10-Sep-1991 |
Brooks & Dunn were
at #1 on the US
Country charts with,
"Brand New Man" the
duo's debut single.
It was also the
first single from
their album,
Brand New Man,
and their first
#1 single on the
country charts.
|
| 7-Oct-1991 |
Garth Brooks was at
#1 on the US country
chart with his third
studio album,
Ropin' the
Wind. The album
replaced his
previous album No
Fences at the #1
postion, where it
enjoyed a combined
18 weeks at the top
of the charts. |
| 17-Oct-1991 |
Tennessee Ernie Ford
died exactly 36
years after his hit
"Sixteen Tons" was
released, and one
day shy of the first
anniversary of his
induction into the
Country Music
Hall of Fame. |
| 20-Oct-1991 |
Clint Black married
actress, singer Lisa
Hartman who played a
major role in the
primetime soap
Knots
Landing, as rock
singer Ciji Dunne. |
| 24-Oct-1991 |
Garth Brooks' No
Fences became
the first country
album certified for
shipments of more
than 5 million
copies. The album
stayed in the top 40
for 126 weeks and to
date has sold over
17 million copies. |
| 27-Oct-1991 |
Garth Brooks was at
#1 on the US country
chart with his third
studio album,
Ropin' the
Wind. The album
replaced his
previous album No
Fences at the #1
postion, where it
enjoyed a combined
18 weeks at the top
of the charts. |
| 29-Oct-1991 |
Born on this day in
New London, CT, was
Veronica
Ballestrini,
American country pop
singer-songwriter.
Her debut album
What I'm All
About was
released in 2009 on
her own independent
label. Her first
single "Amazing"
charted on the Music
Row Country chart
and the music video
debuted at #3 on
CMT Pure. |
| 7-Nov-1991 |
Garth Brooks was at
#1 on the US country
chart with his third
studio album,
Ropin' the
Wind. The album
repelaced his
previous album No
Fences at the #1
postion, where it
enjoyed a combined
18 weeks at the top
of the charts. |
| 24-Nov-1991 |
Hot Country
Nights began a
one-season run on
NBC. The
series was created
to cash in on the
exploding popularity
of country music,
and showcased
several acts on each
episode; featured on
the premiere were
Alabama, Clint
Black, K.T. Oslin,
Kenny Rogers and Pam
Tillis. |
| 4-Dec-1991 |
The Judds performed
the final show of
their farewell tour
at the Murphy Center
in Murfreesboro,
Tennessee. Naomi
Judd later retired,
suffering from a
potentially fatal
strain of hepatitis,
leaving Wynonna to
pursue a solo
career. |
| 7-Dec-1991 |
Reba McEntire was at
#1 on the
Billboard
country singles
chart with "For My
Broken Heart". The
lead track from her
eighteenth album was
originally planned
as a duet with Clint
Black, but he was
unavailable at the
time of recording. |
| 8-Dec-1991 |
Roy Acuff became the
first country artist
recognized in the
Kennedy Center
Honors, which
was attended by
president George
Bush. Among the
participants in the
ceremony, which was
also shot for a
CBS-TV
special: Chet
Atkins, Emmylou
Harris, Steve
Wariner and Bill
Monroe. |
| 29-Dec-1991 |
Garth Brooks was at
#1 on the US country
chart with his third
studio album,
Ropin' the
Wind. The album
repelaced his
previous album No
Fences at the #1
postion, where it
enjoyed a combined
18 weeks at the top
of the charts. |
| 30-Dec-1991 |
Alan Jackson
released "Dallas"
his fourth
consecutive #1
single on the US
Billboard Hot
Country Singles &
Tracks charts.
Jackson was inspired
to write the song
after having played
at Billy Bob's in
Dallas, Texas. After
playing the show, he
commented that he
"wished Dallas was
in Tennessee" and
based the song off
that comment |
| 15-Jan-1992 |
Garth Brooks' No
Fences and
Ropin' The Wind
became the first
country albums
certified for
shipments of 6
million, while his
self-titled set went
triple-platinum. |
| 15-Jan-1992 |
Neil Young, Keith
Richards, Jeff Beck,
Jimmy Page, John
Fogerty and Robbie
Robertson were all
gathered at the
Waldorf Astoria
Hotel in New York
City when Johnny
Cash was inducted
into the Rock And
Roll Hall Of Fame.
|
| 2-Feb-1992 |
Doug Stone was at #1
on the
Billboard
country singles
chart with "A
Jukebox With A
Country Song", the
singers second chart
topper. |
| 3-Feb-1992 |
Liberty Records
released "Papa Loved
Mama" by Garth
Brooks, lifted from
his third album
Ropin' the
Wind, which
peaked at #3 on the
US country charts. |
| 24-Feb-1992 |
Brooks & Dunn
released their third
single "Neon Moon."
Taken from the album
Brand New Man
the song became
their third
consecutive #1
single on the
country charts. |
| 25-Feb-1992 |
Johnny Cash was
awarded the
Grammy Legend
Award, "for ongoing
contributions and
influence in the
recording field."
The award was
presented by the
National Trustees at
the 34th annual
awards. |
| 28-Feb-1992 |
Garth Brooks was at
#1 on the Country
charts with "What
She's Doing Now. "It
was released in
December 1991 as the
third single from
his album, Ropin'
the Wind and
spent four weeks at
the top of the
Billboard Hot
Country Singles &
Tracks chart. It was
written by Brooks
and Pat Alger. |
| 29-Feb-1992 |
Travis Tritt joined
the Grand Ole Opry,
while Trisha
Yearwood debuts on
the show, singing
her #1 hit "She's In
Love With The Boy",
from her self-titled
debut album. |
| 8-Mar-1992 |
Garth Brooks was at
#1 on the Country
singles chart with
"What She's Doing
Now", the third
single from his
album, Ropin' the
Wind. |
| 14-Mar-1992 |
The fifth Farm
Aid benefit
concert took place
at the Texas
Stadium, Irving,
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:
Arlo Guthrie,
Kentucky
Headhunters, Texas
Tornadoes, Bandaloo
Doctors, Bonnie
Raitt, Little
Village, Tracy
Chapman, Lynyrd
Skynyrd, Paul Simon,
Neil Young, Mary
Chapin Carpenter,
The Highwaymen,
Lorrie Morgan, Ricky
Van Shelton, and
Willie Nelson. |
| 23-Mar-1992 |
Billy Ray Cyrus
released "Achy
Breaky Heart." The
song was written in
1990 by Don Von
Tress and first
released in 1991 by
the Marcy Brothers
with the title
"Don't Tell My
Heart". It became
the first country
single to be
certified platinum
since "Islands in
the Stream" by Kenny
Rogers and Dolly
Parton in 1983. |
| 26-Mar-1992 |
George Thackston
pleaded no contest
to a charge of
reckless
endangerment arising
out of the fatal
accident which
killed Dottie West.
Thackston who was
driving the car, was
sentenced to 11
months and 29 days
of probation, and
was also ordered to
complete an alcohol
treatment program. |
| 30-Mar-1992 |
Garth Brooks was
featured on the
cover of Time
magazine
billing him inside
as a
"jumping-jack-flash
performer who can
bring 40-year-olds
to tears with
existential hymns
about accepting
life's compromises." |
| 23-Apr-1992 |
A 13 mile stretch of
Mississippi Highway
23 was renamed
'Tammy Wynette
Highway' after the
late country music
queen. |
| 27-Apr-1992 |
Liberty Records
released "The River"
by Garth Brooks, the
fifth and final
single from his
third album, 1991's
Ropin' the
Wind, which
became his ninth #1
hit on the
Billboard
country charts. |
| 29-Apr-1992 |
Dan Seals was at the
top of the country
charts with "Love on
Arrival". The first
single from his 1990
album On
Arrival, the
song spent three
weeks at #1, making
it the
longest-running
chart-topper of his
career.
|
| 29-Apr-1992 |
Billy Dean was one
of seven
double-winners at
the 27th annual
Academy Of
Country Music
awards, aired by NBC
from Los Angeles'
Universal
Amphitheatre. Dean
was named Top New
Male Vocalist as
well as winning Song
of the Year for
"Somewhere In My
Broken Heart." |
| 5-May-1992 |
Aaron Tippin was at
#1 on the US Country
charts with, "There
Ain't Nothin' Wrong
with the Radio". The
fourth single of his
career, it was also
the first release
from his second
album, 1992's
Read Between the
Lines. The song
was not only the
first #1 hit of his
career, but also his
longest-lasting, at
three weeks.
|
| 1-Jun-1992 |
Billy Ray Cyrus was
at #1 on the US
Country music chart
with his
breakthrough hit
"Achy Breaky Heart".
Written by Don Von
Tress it was
originally titled
"Don't Tell My
Heart" and recorded
by The Marcy
Brothers in 1991,
its name was later
changed to "Achy
Breaky Heart" In the
US it became a
crossover hit on pop
and country radio,
peaking at #4 on the
Billboard Hot
100 and topping the
Hot Country Singles
& Tracks chart,
becoming the first
Country single to be
certified Platinum
since Kenny Rogers
and Dolly Parton's
"Islands in the
Stream" in 1983. |
| 17-Jun-1992 |
Billy Ray Cyrus was
at #1 on the US
Country music chart
with his
breakthrough hit
"Achy Breaky Heart".
Written by Don Von
Tress it was
originally titled
"Don't Tell My
Heart" and recorded
by The Marcy
Brothers in 1991,
its name was later
changed to "Achy
Breaky Heart" In the
US it became a
crossover hit on pop
and country radio,
peaking at #4 on the
Billboard Hot
100 and topping the
Hot Country Singles
& Tracks chart,
becoming the first
Country single to be
certified Platinum
since Kenny Rogers
and Dolly Parton's
"Islands in the
Stream" in 1983. |
| 26-Jun-1992 |
Promoting his latest
album, The Hard
Way Clint Black
launched The Hard
Way Tour which
ran for 11 months. |
| 27-Jun-1992 |
Billy Ray Cyrus was
at #1 on the US
Country music chart
with his
breakthrough hit
"Achy Breaky Heart".
Written by Don Von
Tress it was
originally titled
"Don't Tell My
Heart" and recorded
by The Marcy
Brothers in 1991,
its name was later
changed to "Achy
Breaky Heart" In the
US it became a
crossover hit on pop
and country radio,
peaking at #4 on the
Billboard Hot
100 and topping the
Hot Country Singles
& Tracks chart,
becoming the first
Country single to be
certified Platinum
since Kenny Rogers
and Dolly Parton's
"Islands in the
Stream" in 1983. |
| 29-Jun-1992 |
Vince Gill released
"I Still Believe in
You" as the first
single from his
album of the same
name which became
his first US Country
#1 hit. |
| 8-Jul-1992 |
Garth Brooks and
wife, Sandy, had
their first child,
Taylor Mayne Pearl
Brooks. The couple
first met in May
1986 when Garth was
working as a bouncer
at a bar. |
| 13-Jul-1992 |
Alan Jackson
released "Love's Got
a Hold on You" as
the final single
from his second
album, Don't Rock
the Jukebox. It
became his fifth #1
single on the US
Billboard Hot
Country Singles &
Tracks charts. |
| 13-Jul-1992 |
Jett Williams, the
illegitimate
daughter of country
legend Hank
Williams, was
granted partial
royalties of his
songs by a New York
appeals court,
adding to a ruling
reached on July 5
that she should
receive half of his
estate. |
| 19-Jul-1992 |
Wynonna was at #1 on
the US Country
singles chart with
"I Saw the Light"
the second single
from Wynonna's
self-titled debut
album, it was also
that album's second
#1 hit. |
| 20-Jul-1992 |
For the first time
in her career, Reba
McEntire received a
double-platinum
album, marking two
million units
shipped of For My
Broken Heart. It
was the first album
recorded after an
airplane crash which
killed most of the
members of her
touring band. |
| 31-Jul-1992 |
Garth Brooks scored
his ninth #1 Country
single with "The
River", the fifth
and final single
from his album
Ropin' the
Wind. |
| 4-Aug-1992 |
Country music duo
Brooks & Dunn were
at #1 on the US
Country charts with,
"Boot Scootin'
Boogie". Before its
release, the band
Asleep at the Wheel
recorded it on their
1990 album
Keepin' Me Up
Nights. Brooks &
Dunn's version was
included on the
album Brand New
Man. |
| 23-Aug-1992 |
"Boot Scootin'
Boogie" by Brooks &
Dunn was at #1 on
the Country chart.
Its success is cited
as having started a
renewed interest in
line dancing
throughout the
United States.
Before its release,
Asleep at the Wheel
recorded it on their
1990 album
Keepin' Me Up
Nights. |
| 24-Aug-1992 |
American drummer and
session musician
Larrie Londin died.
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. |
| 25-Aug-1992 |
Garth
Brooks released
his first Christmas
album, Beyond
the Season which
peaked at #2 on both
of Billboard
magazine's 200
and Top Country
Albums sales charts
that year. Beyond
the Season was
also the
best-selling
Christmas/holiday
album of 1992 in the
US where is sold
over 2.5m copies. |
| 1-Sep-1992 |
MCA released
Hearts in
Armor, the
second studio album
by Trisha Yearwood.
Four of its tracks
became hits in the
Billboard Hot
Country Singles
chart in 1992 and
1993: "Wrong Side of
Memphis", "Walkaway
Joe", "You Say You
Will" and "Down on
My Knees". The album
was released
immediately
following Yearwood's
divorce with her
first husband, and
is considered one of
her greatest albums. |
| 1-Sep-1992 |
Alabama released
"I'm in a Hurry (And
Don't Know Why)" the
second single from
their album
American
Pride which went
to #1 on the Country
chart. It became the
groups thirty-first
#1 Country hit. |
| 7-Sep-1992 |
A Lot about
Livin' (and a Little
'bout Love) the
third studio album
by Alan Jackson was
at #1 on the Country
chart. The album
peaked at #13 on the
US Billboard 200 and
#1 on the Top
Country Albums,
becoming Alan
Jackson's first #1
country album. |
| 10-Sep-1992 |
MCA records released
George Jones' "I
Don't Need Your
Rockin' Chair," with
a star studded line
up of vocal guests:
Garth Brooks, Travis
Tritt, Mark
Chesnutt, Clint
Black, Tanya Tucker,
Alan Jackson, T.
Graham Brown, Joe
Diffie, Vince Gill,
Patty Loveless and
Pam Tillis. |
| 22-Sep-1992 |
Garth Brooks
released his fourth
studio album The
Chase, which
debuted at #1 on the
Billboard 200
chart and Top
Country Albums
chart. The album
featured his version
of the Little Feat
song "Dixie
Chicken", and "Night
Rider's Lament" the
classic cowboy song
that had been
previously recorded
by Jerry Jeff Walker
and Chris LeDoux. |
| 30-Sep-1992 |
Vince Gill and Garth
Brooks were
double-winners in
the 26th annual
Country Music
Association awards
at Nashville's Grand
Ole Opry House.
Gill, who co-hosted
the show with Reba
McEntire on CBS,
also won Male
Vocalist and Song of
the Year, for "Look
At Us". |
| 5-Oct-1992 |
Alan Jackson
released "She's Got
the Rhythm (And I
Got the Blues)" his
sixth #1 single on
the US
Billboard Hot
Country Singles &
Tracks charts.
Co-written by
Jackson and Randy
Travis the song
received an award in
1993 from Music
City News for
being one of the
most performed
country songs of the
year. |
| 6-Oct-1992 |
Alan Jackson
released his third
studio album A
Lot About Livin'
(And a Little 'bout
Love) which gave
him his first US
Country #1. |
| 12-Oct-1992 |
Capital Nashville
released "Somewhere
Other Than the
Night", by Garth
Brooks which became
a US #1 hit. It was
the second single
released from his
album, The
Chase and his
fifteenth overall. |
| 16-Oct-1992 |
Taking part at Bob
Dylan's 30th
Anniversary Concert
Celebration at
Madison Square
Garden, New York
Ciry, Johnny Cash
and June Carter
performed "It Ain't
Me, Babe," which was
subsequently
included on a 2 CD
live recording. |
| 23-Oct-1992 |
The American
dramatic musical
western film Pure
Country was
released. Directed
by Christopher Cain,
The film stars
George Strait in his
acting debut with
Lesley Ann Warren,
Isabel Glasser and
Kyle Chandler. The
soundtrack was a
critical success and
to date is Strait's
best selling album. |
| 25-Oct-1992 |
Roger Miller the
singer, songwriter,
musician and actor,
died. Best known for
his honky
tonk-influenced
novelty songs
including the
chart-topping
country/pop hits
"King of the Road",
"Dang Me" and
"England Swings",
from the mid-1960s.
A lifelong cigarette
smoker Miller died
of lung and throat
cancer at the age of
56.
|
| 21-Nov-1992 |
Alabama were at #1
on the
Billboard
country singles
chart with a song
written by Roger
Murrah and Randy
VanWarme "I'm In A
Hurry (And Don't
Know Why)." |
| 23-Nov-1992 |
American country
music singer Roy
Acuff died aged 89.
Known as the "King
of Country Music,"
he was the first
living artist
elected to the
Country Music
Hall Of Fame.
Acuff started his
career in 1932
working for Dr.
Hauer's medicine
show, hired as one
of its entertainers
to draw a crowd to
whom Hauer could
sell medicines. |
| 23-Nov-1992 |
Born on this day,
was Miley Cyrus,
daughter of Billy
Ray Cyrus. She held
minor roles in the
television series
Doc and the
film Big Fish
in her childhood. In
2006, Cyrus rose to
prominence as a teen
idol in the Disney
Channel television
series Hannah
Montana, as
Miley Stewart. In
2013, she was
recognized as the
"Artist of the Year"
by MTV. |
| 26-Nov-1992 |
Garth Brooks was at
#1 on the US Country
chart with his
fourth studio album
The Chase.
The album featured
his version of the
Little Feat song
"Dixie Chicken", and
"Night Rider's
Lament" the classic
cowboy song that had
been previously
recorded by Jerry
Jeff Walker and
Chris LeDoux. |
| 2-Jan-1993 |
Garth Brooks was at
#1 on the US Country
chart with his
fourth studio album
The Chase.
The album featured
his version of the
Little Feat song
"Dixie Chicken", and
"Night Rider's
Lament" the classic
cowboy song that had
been previously
recorded by Jerry
Jeff Walker and
Chris LeDoux. |
| 16-Jan-1993 |
Johnny Cash made his
first guest
appearance in the
series Dr Quinn
Medicine Woman,
an hour long Western
family adventure
series produced by
CBS Entertainment
Productions. |
| 19-Jan-1993 |
Kenny Rogers and
Trisha Yearwood
performed in The
Presidential
Inaugural Gala a
day before Bill
Clinton took office
in The Whitehouse.
Others on the bill
include Fleetwood
Mac, Chuck Berry,
Barbra Streisand,
Michael Jackson, and
Elton John. |
| 2-Feb-1993 |
Willie Nelson agreed
to pay $9 million of
the $16.7 million he
owed the Internal
Revenue Service.
His accountants,
Price
Waterhouse, had
not been paying
Nelson's taxes for
years and in
addition to the
unpaid taxes,
Nelson's situation
was worsened by the
weak investments he
had made during the
early 1980s. |
| 12-Feb-1993 |
Toby Keith released
his debut single
"Should've Been a
Cowboy" and the
first single from
his self-titled
debut album. The
song reached #1 on
the US
Billboard Hot
Country Song chart.
The track has
received more than
three million spins
on country radio,
making it the
most-played country
song of the 1990s. |
| 20-Feb-1993 |
Billy Ray Cyrus was
at #1 on the US
Country music album
chart with his debut
album, Some Gave
All which
included his
breakthrough hit
"Achy Breaky Heart". |
| 24-Feb-1993 |
Mary Chapin
Carpenter won Best
Female Country Vocal
Performance, for "I
Feel Lucky" at the
35th Annual
Grammy
Awards. Vince Gill
won Best Country
Male Vocal
Performance, for "I
Still Believe in
You." |
| 21-Mar-1993 |
Billy Ray Cyrus was
at #1 on the US
Country album charts
with his debut album
Some Gave
All. It produced
four hit singles on
the Billboard
country charts, the
first of these was
Cyrus's breakthrough
song "Achy Breaky
Heart." The album is
the longest time
spent by a debut
artist at #1 with 17
consecutive weeks on
the chart. |
| 27-Mar-1993 |
Clint Black was at
#1 on the US Country
charts with "When My
Ship Comes In", the
final single
released from his
1992 album The
Hard Way. |
| 10-Apr-1993 |
Reba McEntire and
Vince Gill held the
pole position on the
Billboard
country singles
chart with "The
Heart Won't Lie."
The second single
released from Reba's
album, It's Your
Call was
originally planned
to be a duet with
Kenny Rogers, but
when Rogers proved
to be unavailable
McEntire decided to
record the song not
as a duet and Vince
Gill was added
later.
|
| 19-Apr-1993 |
Under the heading
Unchained Melodies,
USA Today
printed a report
about 2,800 never
before released
tapes that were
discovered at a
Nashville auction.
The tapes, dating
between 1953 and
1971, were rumoured
to contain material
by Bob Dylan, Johhny
Cash, Roy Orbison,
Tammy Wynette,
Charlie Rich and
other artists. Sony
Music later filed a
lawsuit preventing
the tapes being
released, claiming
they belong to them. |
| 20-Apr-1993 |
Shania Twain
released her
self-titled debut
album which peaked
at #67 on the US
Country album
charts. Also on this
day Mercury Records
released Toby
Keith's self-titled
debut album and Curb
Records released Tim
McGraw's debut
studio album. |
| 20-Apr-1993 |
Toby Keith released
his self-titled
debut album. The
first single,
"Should've Been A
Cowboy," went to #1
on the Country
chart, the first of
20 chart-toppers for
Keith. |
| 24-Apr-1993 |
The sixth Farm
Aid benefit
concert took place
at the Jack Trice
Stadium, Ames, Iowa.
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:
Arlo Guthrie, The
Jayhawks, Jann
Arden, Lyle Lovett,
Johnny Cash, Neil
Young, Ricky Van
Shelton, Willie
Nelson, Kentucky
Headhunters, Marty
Stuart, Charlie
Daniels Band,
Martina McBride,
Bruce Hornsby, Bryan
Adams, Ringo Starr,
Black 47, The
Highwaymen and
Dwight Yoakam. |
| 1-May-1993 |
Charley Pride
accepted an
invitation to join
the Grand Ole Opry,
in the process
becoming the first
black Opry regular
in the show's more
than 70-year
history. Pride has
sold over 70 million
records world-wide. |
| 11-May-1993 |
Winners at the 28th
Annual Academy
of Country Music
Awards hosted by
George Strait, Reba
McEntire and Randy
Owen included:
Pioneer Award -
George Jones, Top
Female Vocalist of
the Year - Mary
Chapin Carpenter,
Top Male Vocalist of
the Year - Vince
Gill, Top Vocal
Group - Diamond Rio,
Song of the Year
went to Vince Gill
for
"I Still Believe in
You" and Country
Music Video of the
Year was won by
Tanya Tucker
for "Two Sparrows in
a Hurricane." |
| 13-May-1993 |
Born on this day,
American country
music singer and
songwriter Morgan
Wallen. His second
album, Dangerous:
The Double
Album, released
in January 2021,
became the only
country album in the
64-year history of
the Billboard
200 to spend its
first seven weeks at
No. 1. It went on to
spend a total of ten
weeks at that spot,
the first album to
do so since Whitney
Houston's
Whitney in
1987. |
| 17-May-1993 |
Johnny Cash started
four days of
recording in
producer Rick
Rubin's living room
in Los Angeles,
backed only by his
own guitar. This was
the start of
sessions for his
forthcoming
American
Recordings
album. |
| 22-May-1993 |
CBS aired Willie
Nelson The Big
Six-0: An All-Star
Birthday
Celebration with
guests Ray Charles,
Waylon Jennings,
Emmylou Harris, B.B.
King, Paul Simon,
Travis Tritt, Mary
Chapin Carpenter,
Lyle Lovett, Bob
Dylan, Marty Stuart
and Kris
Kristofferson |
| 5-Jun-1993 |
Country singer
Conway Twitty died
from an abdominal
aortic aneurysm. He
had the 1958 US & UK
#1 single "It's Only
Make Believe". Until
2000, he held the
record for the most
#1 singles of any
country act, with 45
#1's. He lived in
Hendersonville,
Tennessee, just
north of Nashville,
where he built a
country music
entertainment
complex called
Twitty City.
|
| 25-Jun-1993 |
Lyle Lovett married
actress Julia
Roberts at St. James
Lutheran Church in
Marion, Indiana. The
couple separated in
March 1995 and
subsequently
divorced. |
| 3-Jul-1993 |
Garth Brooks was at
#1 on the country
charts with "That
Summer". Written by
Garth Brooks, Pat
Alger and Sandy Mahl
and taken from his
fourth studio album
The Chase,
the track also
appears on The
Hits, The Ultimate
Hits, The Limited
Series and
Double Live. |
| 6-Aug-1993 |
Alan Jackson was at
#1 on the US Country
charts with
"Chattahoochee", the
third single from
his 1992 album A
Lot About Livin'
(And a Little 'bout
Love). The album
is named for a line
in the song itself.
"Chattahoochee" also
received CMA
awards for Single of
the Year and Song of
the Year.
|
| 9-Aug-1993 |
George Strait
released "Easy Come,
Easy Go" which would
become his 25th US
#1 Country hit. The
track was the lead
single from his
album of the same
title. |
| 30-Aug-1993 |
Alabama released
"Reckless" the first
single from their
album Cheap
Seats. which
went to #1 on the
Country chart. It
became the groups
thirty-second #1
Country hit. |
| 31-Aug-1993 |
Garth Brooks
released his fifth
studio album In
Pieces, which
like his previous
album, debuted at #1
on the
Billboard 200
and the Top Country
Albums chart. It was
also a huge hit
outside the United
States and in Great
Britain was Brooks'
highest placed album
on the charts. |
| 11-Sep-1993 |
Merle Haggard
married Theresa Ann
Lane, the couple
have two They have
two children,
Jenessa and Ben.
Haggard has been
married five times. |
| 12-Sep-1993 |
Born on this day in
Knoxville, Tennessee
was singer and
songwriter Kelsea
Ballerini. She
scored four #1
singles on starting
with her debut
single "Love Me Like
You Mean It", which
made her the first
female artist to
send a debut single
to the top of that
chart since Carrie
Underwood in 2006. |
| 16-Sep-1993 |
Alan Jackson was at
#1 on the Country
chart with A Lot
About Livin' (And a
Little 'bout
Love) his third
studio album. |
| 17-Sep-1993 |
Alan Jackson was at
#1 on the US County
chart with A Lot
About Livin' (And a
Little 'bout
Love) his first
#1 LP. The singles
"Chattahoochee", and
"She's Got the
Rhythm (And I Got
the Blues)" from the
album were both #1
hits on the Hot
Country Songs chart
and the album won
Academy of
Country Music'
album of the year
award. |
| 23-Sep-1993 |
Faith Hill released
"Wild One" which
gave the singer her
first #1 hit on the
Billboard Hot
Country Singles &
Tracks chart.
Originally titled
"She's a Wild One",
the song was written
by Pat Bunch, Jaime
Kyle, and Will
Rambeoux and was
first recorded in
1992 by country band
Zaca Creek. |
| 25-Sep-1993 |
The Postal Service
issued a series of
stamps honoring four
important country
music acts: Hank
Williams, The Carter
Family, Patsy Cline
and Bob Wills. The
"Legends of American
Music Series" stamps
went on sale for 29
cent's each as well
as a special
collector sheet of
20 stamps. |
| 26-Sep-1993 |
John Denver was
sentenced to sing at
a benefit concert to
settle drunk-driving
charges after he
pleaded guilty to
driving while his
ability was
impaired. The
49-year-old
performer was
originally charged
with driving under
the influence, but
prosecutors agreed
to let him plead
guilty to the lesser
charge. |
| 9-Oct-1993 |
Born on this day in
Raleigh, North
Carolina, was Scotty
McCreery who won the
tenth season of
American Idol
on May 25, 2011. His
debut studio album,
Clear as Day,
includes the top 20
country songs, "I
Love You This Big"
and "The Trouble
with Girls".
|
| 12-Oct-1993 |
Faith Hill released
her debut album,
Take Me as I
Am. Four singles
were released from
the album. The first
two, "Wild One" and
"Piece of My Heart"
(a cover of the 1967
song by Erma
Franklin), reached
#1 on the
Billboard Hot
Country Singles &
Tracks chart. |
| 21-Oct-1993 |
Born on this day was
American singer and
songwriter Kane
Brown. The single
"What Ifs" in
October 2017, made
him the first artist
to have simultaneous
#1's on all five
main
Billboard
country charts. His
second album,
Experiment,
released November
2018, became his
first Country #1
album. |
| 26-Oct-1993 |
MCA released The
Song Remembers
When, the third
studio album by
Trisha Yearwood. The
title track was the
album's lead single,
becoming a major
hit, peaking at #2
on the Hot Country
Singles & Tracks
chart in 1993. |
| 24-Dec-1993 |
"I Don't Call Him
Daddy" by Doug
Supernaw was at #1
on the Country
chart. Initially
recorded by Kenny
Rogers on his 1987
album I Prefer
the Moonlight,
it was released as
the third single
from Supernaw's
debut album Red
and Rio Grande. |
| 28-Dec-1993 |
Shania Twain married
music producer
Robert John "Mutt"
Lange. The couple
divorced in 2010
after Lange
allegedly had an
affair with Twain's
best friend,
Marie-Anne Thiebaud.
On December 20,
2010, Twain's
manager confirmed
that Twain was
engaged to Frederic
Thiebaud (the Swiss
ex-husband of her
former best friend). |
| 8-Jan-1994 |
Faith Hill's first
single release,
"Wild One" was at #1
on the US Country
chart. The song
spent four weeks
atop the
Billboard
chart, the longest
for a debut release
by a female artist
since Connie Smith's
debut "Once a Day"
in 1964.
|
| 30-Jan-1994 |
Clint Black, Wynonna
Judd, Travis Tritt
and Tanya Tucker
performed at the
halftime show
(billed as
Rockin' Country
Sunday) at Super
Bowl XXVIII. The
finale featured a
special appearance
by Naomi Judd, who
joined Wynonna in
performing The
Judds' single "Love
Can Build a Bridge"
(their first major
appearance together
since their
Farewell Tour
of 1991). |
| 1-Mar-1994 |
Dwight Yoakam won
Best Male Country
Vocal Performance
for "Ain't That
Lonely Yet" at the
36th Annual
Grammy
Awards. Mary Chapin
Carpenter won Best
Female Country Vocal
Performance, for
"Passionate Kisses"
and Best Country
Vocal Collaboration
went to Linda Davis
& Reba McEntire for
"Does He Love You." |
| 3-Mar-1994 |
John Michael
Montgomery was at #1
on the US Country
music album chart
with his second
studio album
Kickin' It Up
which included the
Country hit singles
"I Swear," "Rope the
Moon," "Be My Baby
Tonight" and "If
You've Got Love."
|
| 22-Mar-1994 |
Tim McGraw released
his second album
Not a Moment Too
Soon which
became his first US
Country #1 album. It
stayed at the top
of the charts for 26
consecutive weeks
and was
Billboard's
best selling album
of 1994 and The
Academy of Country
Music named it
Album of the Year in
1994. |
| 28-Mar-1994 |
Tim McGraw released
his fifth single
"Don't Take the
Girl" which became
his first #1 on the
Hot Country Songs
chart. The track was
the second single
from his album
Not a Moment Too
Soon. |
| 5-Apr-1994 |
Brooks & Dunn's
Brand New Man
became the first
album by a country
duo certified by the
RIAA for 5 million
shipments. Their
album Hard
Workin' Man was
recognized
quadruple-platinum
at the same time. |
| 12-Apr-1994 |
The premiere issue
of Country
Weekly magazine
was published in the
US. Garth Brooks
graced the cover of
the first issue. |
| 25-Apr-1994 |
The Eagles played
the first of two
shows where they
recorded their
Hell Freezes
Over album. Don
Henley, Glenn Frey,
Joe Walsh, Don
Felder and Timothy
B. Schmit first got
back together the
previous December
for the making of a
Travis Tritt video
of their song, "Take
It Easy". The name
of the album was
taken from an
earlier quote by
Glen Frey, who
responded to the
question "When will
the Eagles get back
together?" |
| 3-May-1994 |
Winners at the 29th
Annual Academy
of Country Music
Awards hosted by
Alan Jackson and
Reba McEntire
included: Pioneer
Award - Charley
Pride, Top Female
Vocalist of the Year
- Wynonna, Top Male
Vocalist of the Year
- Vince Gill, Top
Vocal Group - Little
Texas, Top New
Female Vocalist of
the Year -
Faith Hill, Top New
Male Vocalist of the
Year - John Michael
Montgomery and Album
of the Year went to
Alan Jackson for
A Lot About
Livin' (And A Little
'Bout Love). |
| 7-May-1994 |
Clint Black was at
#1 on the
Billboard
country chart with
"A Good Run Of Bad
Luck", the fourth
single from his 1993
album No Time to
Kill.
|
| 10-May-1994 |
Police in Hewitt,
Texas found Willie
Nelson asleep on the
back seat of his
Mercedes where he
had parked at the
side of a road.
After waking the
singer and searching
him, he was arrested
on drug charges. The
country singer was
taken to the
McLennan County Jail
in Waco. After
posting bail, he
told reporters he
had been returning
to Austin from a
poker game in
Hillsboro, about 140
miles northeast of
Austin."I played all
night long and I was
driving back to
Austin. It was foggy
and the weather was
bad, so I pulled
over on the side of
the road to sleep,
and the policemen
found me there in
the back seat. They
found a roach in the
ashtray," Nelson
said. |
| 21-May-1994 |
Trisha Yearwood
married Robert
"Bobby" Reynolds,
the bass player for
the country music
group The Mavericks.
The couple divorced
in 1999, (she
married her current
husband Garth Brooks
in 2005). |
| 31-May-1994 |
Tim McGraw was at #1
on the coutry chart
with "Don't Take The
Girl". Written by
Craig Martin and
Larry W. Johnson,
the song was Tim's
fifth single
overall, and his
first #1 single on
the Hot Country
Songs chart, it was
also a successful
pop song, reaching
#17 on the Hot 100. |
| 3-Jun-1994 |
Singer Wally Fowler
died of a heart
attack while fishing
from a dock on Dale
Hollow Lake,
northeast of
Nashville, his body
was found floating
in the water. 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.
|
| 6-Jun-1994 |
Randy Travis
released "Whisper My
Name" the second
single from his
album This Is
Me which became
his fifteenth US
Country #1 hit. |
| 27-Jun-1994 |
"Common Thread:
Songs Of The Eagles"
went
triple-platinum. The
tribute album to the
American rock band
The Eagles
features:Clint
Black, Alan Jackson,
Travis Tritt, Little
Texas, John
Anderson, Tanya
Tucker, Suzy
Bogguss, Vince Gill,
Billy Dean, Diamond
Rio, Trisha
Yearwood, Brooks &
Dunn and Lorrie
Morgan. |
| 28-Jun-1994 |
Alan Jackson
released his fifth
studio album Who
I Am which
became his second #1
chart hit. The album
features the #1
singles "Summertime
Blues", "Gone
Country", "Livin' on
Love", and "I Don't
Even Know Your
Name." |
| 19-Jul-1994 |
Toby Keith released
"Who's That Man"
which became his
second #1 hit on the
US Billboard
Hot Country Singles
& Tracks. The track
was released as the
first single from
his 1994 album
Boomtown. |
| 13-Aug-1994 |
John Michael
Montgomery was at #1
on the
Billboard
country singles
chart with "Be My
Baby Tonight", the
third single from
Montgomery's 1994
album Kickin' It
Up. |
| 25-Aug-1994 |
Jimmy Buffett
crashed his Grumman
G-44 Widgeon,
N1471N, while
attempting to take
off in the waters
off Nantucket,
Massachusetts. The
airplane nosed over,
and Buffett was able
to swim to safety,
sustaining only
minor injuries. |
| 29-Aug-1994 |
Alan Jackson
released "Livin' on
Love" which became
his ninth #1 single
on the US
Billboard Hot
Country Singles &
Tracks charts. The
track was the second
single from his
album Who I
Am. |
| 18-Sep-1994 |
The seventh Farm
Aid benefit
concert took place
at the Louisiana
Superdome, New
Orleans, Louisiana.
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:
Neville Brothers,
Spin Doctors, Gin
Blossoms, John
Conlee, Kris
Kristofferson,
Willie Nelson, Neil
Young, John
Mellencamp and Deana
Carter. |
| 27-Sep-1994 |
Tim McGraw was at #1
on the Country chart
with his second
album Not a
Moment Too Soon.
Spending 29 weeks at
#1, it became
Billboard's
best selling Country
album of 1994, and
The Academy of
Country Music
named it Album of
the Year in 1994.
|
| 27-Sep-1994 |
Brooks & Dunn
released their third
studio album
Waitin' on
Sundown which
produced three #1
singles on the Hot
Country Songs
charts. The album
also became the
duo's first #1
album. |
| 24-Oct-1994 |
Tim McGraw released
"Not a Moment Too
Soon" as a single
from the album of
the same name.
Written by Wayne
Perry and Joe
Barnhill the track
gave McGraw his
second #1 on the US
Billboard Hot
Country Singles &
Tracks. |
| 8-Nov-1994 |
Born on this day in
Chattanooga,
Tennessee, was
Lauren Alaina, who
was the runner-up on
the tenth season of
American
Idol. Her debut
studio album,
Wildflower,
released on October
11, 2011 reached #2
on the US Country
chart and featured
the singles "Like My
Mother Does",
"Georgia Peaches"and
"Eighteen Inches." |
| 15-Nov-1994 |
Alan Jackson
released "Gone
Country" which
became his tenth #1
single on the US
Billboard Hot
Country Singles &
Tracks charts. The
track was the third
single from his
fourth studio album,
Who I Am. |
| 16-Nov-1994 |
Garth Brooks' third
studio album
Ropin' The
Wind was
certified for
shipments of 10
million copies,
making Brooks the
first country artist
to reach that
plateau with two
different releases.
The album which had
a combined 18 weeks
at the top of the
charts has gone to
sell over 17 million
copies world wide. |
| 19-Nov-1994 |
Mary Chapin
Carpenters was at #1
on the country
singles chart with
"Shut Up And Kiss
Me". The song won
Carpenter a
Grammy Award
in 1995 for Best
Female Country Vocal
Performance.
|
| 29-Nov-1994 |
Brooks & Dunn's 1991
album Brand New
Man became the
first album by a
country duo to be
certified
quadruple-platinum.
At the some time,
their 1993 Hard
Workin' Man
album goes
triple-platinum. |
| 1-Dec-1994 |
George Strait was at
the top of the US
Country charts with
his fifteenth
studio album Lead
On. The album
includes the singles
"The Big One", "You
Can't Make a Heart
Love Somebody",
"Lead On", and
"Adalida", which all
became top 10 hits. |
| 17-Dec-1994 |
Joe Diffie started a
four week run at #1
on the
Billboard
country singles
chart with "Pickup
Man". |
| 14-Jan-1995 |
Tim McGraw was at #1
on the US Country
chart with "Not A
Moment Too Soon,"
the singers fourth
release from the
album of the same
name. |
| 26-Jan-1995 |
Rolling Stone
magazine named
Johnny Cash - Best
Country Artist and
Comeback of the Year
for American
Recordings in their
Critics' Picks
issue. |
| 7-Feb-1995 |
Shania Twain
released her second
studio album The
Woman in Me,
which went onto
become her
biggest-selling
recording at the
time of its release,
selling 4 million
copies by the end of
the year.
|
| 1-Mar-1995 |
American
Recordings won
Johnny Cash a
Grammy for
Best Contemporary
Folk Album at the
37th annual awards.
Best Country Song
went to Gary Baker &
Frank J. Myers for
"I Swear" performed
by John Michael
Montgomery.
|
| 28-Mar-1995 |
Country singer,
songwriter Lyle
Lovett and actress
Julia Roberts
announced they were
separating after 21
months of marriage. |
| 2-Apr-1995 |
Trisha Yearwood was
at #1 on the Country
singles chart with
"Thinkin' About
You", a song written
by Tom Shapiro and
Bob Regan. It was
released as the
second single and
title track from her
album Thinkin'
About You. The
song became
Yearwood's third #1
country hit. Lee Roy
Parnell plays slide
guitar on the song. |
| 4-Apr-1995 |
The Road Goes on
Forever by
American country
supergroup The
Highwaymen was
released, featuring
the line-up of
Johnny Cash, Waylon
Jennings, Kris
Kristofferson and
Willie Nelson. The
album open's with
the Steve Earle song
"The Devil's Right
Hand". |
| 19-Apr-1995 |
The Eagles played
the first of two
shows at Nashville's
Starwood
Amphitheatre. The
celebrity-packed
audience included;
Reba McEntire, Clay
Walker, Brooks &
Dunn, Tim McGraw,
Doug Supernaw, Steve
Winwood, Lorrie
Morgan and Diamond
Rio's Brian Prout. |
| 10-May-1995 |
Winners at the
Academy of Country
Music Awards
hosted by Clint
Black, Tanya Tucker
and Jeff Foxworthy
included: Pioneer
Award - Loretta
Lynn, Top Female
Vocalist of the Year
- Reba McEntire, Top
Male Vocalist of the
Year - Alan Jackson,
Top Vocal Group -
The Mavericks, Top
New Male Vocalist of
the Year - Tim
McGraw, Song of the
Year went to John
Michael Montgomery
for "I Swear" and
Country Music Video
of the Year was
Garth Brooks "The
Red Strokes." |
| 15-May-1995 |
Alan Jackson
released "I Don't
Even Know Your Name"
which became his
eleventh #1 single
on the US
Billboard Hot
Country Singles &
Tracks charts. The
track was the fifth
single from his
studio album, Who
I Am. |
| 14-Jun-1995 |
John Carter-Cash
married Mary Ann
Joska at a ceremony
in Hendersonville.
Johnny Cash arrived
in an
uncharacteristic
white suit for the
ceremony. Guests
included long-time
friend Waylon
Jennings. |
| 15-Jun-1995 |
Ty Herndon was
arrested for
allegedly exposing
himself to an under
cover policeman. The
undercover officer
reported that
Herndon approached
and asked the
officer to accompany
him to a wooded area
of a park where
Herndon sat on a
log, exposed himself
and began
masturbating. The
incident took place
just before he was
about to perform
before a convention
of Texas police
chiefs at the Fort
Worth Hotel. He was
freed on $500 bond. |
| 17-Jun-1995 |
Dixie Chick Martie
Erwin married
pharmaceutical
representative Ted
Seidel. The couple
divorced in November
1999. |
| 30-Jun-1995 |
Garth Brooks
received a star in
front of Capitol
Records on the
Hollywood Walk of
Fame. The singer
also buried the
master tapes to his
The Hits
underneath the star. |
| 25-Jul-1995 |
Charlie Rich, singer
and musician, died
in his sleep aged
62. Rich who
acquired the
nickname The Silver
Fox is best
remembered for his
1973 hits, "Behind
Closed Doors" and
"The Most Beautiful
Girl". Rich's
destructive personal
behavior famously
culminated at the
CMA awards
ceremony for 1975,
when he presented
the award for
Entertainer of the
Year, while visibly
intoxicated. Instead
of reading the name
of the winner, who
happened to be John
Denver, he set fire
to the envelope with
a cigarette lighter.
|
| 14-Aug-1995 |
Garth Brooks' The
Hits became the
first best-of album
by a country-based
artist certified for
shipments of 7
million units. In
June 1995, the
master copy of the
album was buried
under Garth's star
on the Hollywood
Walk of Fame. |
| 29-Aug-1995 |
Faith Hill released
her second studio
album, It Matters
to Me. It
produced five Top
Ten hits on the Hot
Country Songs
charts: "Let's Go to
Vegas", "Someone
Else's Dream", "You
Can't Lose Me", "It
Matters to Me", and
"I Can't Do That
Anymore." |
| 19-Sep-1995 |
All I Want,
the third album by
Tim McGraw was
released by Curb
Records. The album's
singles were, in
order of release: "I
Like It, I Love It",
"Can't Be Really
Gone", "All I Want
Is a Life", "She
Never Lets It Go to
Her Heart" and
"Maybe We Should
Just Sleep on It". |
| 1-Oct-1995 |
The 10th Anniversary
of Farm Aid
was held at the
Cardinal Stadium,
Louisville,
Kentucky. Held to
raise money for
family farmers in
the US, the concerts
which were organized
by Willie Nelson,
John Mellencamp and
Neil Young had been
spurred on by Bob
Dylan's comments at
Live Aid in
1984 when he said he
hoped some of the
money would help
American farmers in
danger of losing
their farms through
mortgage debt.
Artists who appeared
included: Hootie and
the Blowfish, Dave
Matthews Band,
BlackHawk, John
Conlee, The
Supersuckers, Steve
Earle, Willie
Nelson, John
Mellencamp and Neil
Young. |
| 8-Oct-1995 |
Tim McGraw was at #1
on the Country
charts with "I Like
It, I Love It",
released as the
first single from
the album All I
Want. The song
was McGraw's ninth
single overall, and
his third #1 hit. |
| 9-Oct-1995 |
Alan Jackson
released "Tall, Tall
Trees" his twelfth
#1 on the US
Billboard Hot
Country Singles &
Tracks charts. The
song was co-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
album A Trip in
the Country. |
| 21-Nov-1995 |
Garth Brooks
released his sixth
studio album
Fresh Horses
which peaked at #2
on the
Billboard 200
chart, and #1 on the
Top Country Albums
chart. The album had
a worldwide radio
ban until it was
available to buy.
Only the two singles
issued ("She's Every
Woman" and "The
Fever") were allowed
to be played before
this date, the
latter of which was
a new country-rock
version of an old
Aerosmith song). |
| 9-Dec-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. |
| 11-Dec-1995 |
Garth Brooks
released "The
Beaches of Cheyenne"
as the third single
from his album
Fresh Horses.
The single became
Brooks's fifteenth
Billboard #1
hit, holding the
position for one
week. |
| 21-Dec-1995 |
Sammy Creason,
American session
drummer died. He
worked 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 |
| 31-Dec-1995 |
The Great
American Country
TV channel was
launched with Garth
Brooks' video "The
Thunder Rolls" as
the first video. |
| 1-Jan-1996 |
Alan Jackson
released "I'll Try"
which became his
thirteenth #1 single
on the US
Billboard Hot
Country Singles &
Tracks charts. The
track was the second
single lifted from
his 1995 compilation
album The
Greatest Hits
Collection. |
| 13-Jan-1996 |
Martina McBride made
her first appearance
on the Grand Ole
Opry since becoming
a member in
November. |
| 20-Feb-1996 |
Alan Jackson made a
guest appearance on
Home
Improvement,
singing "Mercury
Blues" on the
fictitious handyman
show Tool
Time. Part of
the show's
attraction was its
token "Tool Time
girl", whose primary
roles were to look
good, be curvaceous,
roll out various
props and help
introduce the two
hosts. |
| 28-Feb-1996 |
Alison Krauss won
Best Female Country
Vocal Performance
for "Baby, Now That
I've Found You" at
the 38th Annual
Grammy
Awards. Vince
Gill won Best Male
Country Vocal
Performance for "Go
Rest High on That
Mountain."
|
| 24-Mar-1996 |
Brooks & Dunn
released a cover
version of "My
Maria" (originally
a 1973 hit for B. W.
Stevenson) which
gave the duo their
tenth country #1
hit. The #1 country
song of 1996
according to
Billboard,
and the track won
the duo its second
Grammy Award
for Best Country
Performance by a
Vocal Group or Duo. |
| 26-Mar-1996 |
The Woman in
Me the second
studio album by
Shania Twain was at
#1 on the Country
chart. It went onto
become her
biggest-selling
recording at the
time of its release,
selling 4 million
copies by the end of
the year. "Whose Bed
Have Your Boots Been
Under?", a song
about a woman
confronting her
lover about his
frequent infidelity,
was released at the
first single from
the album. |
| 2-Apr-1996 |
Born on this day in
Oologah, Oklahoma
Zach Bryan.
American country
singer-songwriter
his major-label
debut album
American
Heartbreak
entered the US
Billboard 200 at #5.
In 2023, his
self-titled album
debuted at #1 on the
US Billboard 200,
with the track "I
Remember Everything"
featuring Kacey
Musgraves debuting
at #1 on the US
Billboard Hot 100. |
| 4-Apr-1996 |
Shania Twain was at
#1 on the US country
chart with The
Woman in Me, her
second studio album
and her first with
the majority of the
songs co-written by
her. It went onto
become her
biggest-selling
recording at the
time of its release,
selling 4 million
copies by the end of
the year. |
| 16-Apr-1996 |
Brooks & Dunn
released their
fourth studio album
Borderline
which produced five
singles on the Hot
Country Songs charts
for the duo. The
album also became
their second US #1
album. |
| 23-Apr-1996 |
George Strait
released his
sixteenth studio
album Blue Clear
Sky which became
his tenth US Country
#1. The album
produced four
singles. The title
track, "Carried
Away", "I Can Still
Make Cheyenne", and
"King of the
Mountain". |
| 6-May-1996 |
Canadian singer
Shania Twain scored
her third #1 country
hit with "You Win My
Love", the fifth
single released from
her 1995 album
The Woman in
Me. The song was
written solely by
producer Mutt Lange,
making it one of the
very few Shania
songs which she did
not co-write.
|
| 3-Jun-1996 |
George Strait
released "Carried
Away" the second
single from his
album Blue Clear
Sky which would
become his 30th US
Country chart hit.
The song was one of
two George Strait
songs (the other
being "One Night at
a Time") to be
nominated for Single
of the Year at the
1997 Country
Music Association
Awards. |
| 16-Jul-1996 |
Billy Ray Cyrus'
Some Gave All
became the first
debut album by a
country artist
certified for
wholesale sales of 9
million copies. The
album featured four
hit singles on the
Billboard
country charts, the
first of these was
Cyrus's breakthrough
song "Achy Breaky
Heart". |
| 23-Jul-1996 |
Born on this day in
League City, Texas,
was Danielle
Bradbery, American
country singer. Her
debut studio album,
Danielle
Bradbery,
released in 2013,
featuring the top 20
country hit "The
Heart of Dixie". She
won season four of
NBC's The
Voice in 2013,
becoming the
youngest contestant
to come in first
place. |
| 2-Sep-1996 |
Clint Black released
"Like the Rain" as
the first single
from his Greatest
Hits compilation
album. The song
became his 23rd
chart single, and
his tenth #1 hit on
the Billboard
Hot Country Singles
& Tracks charts. At
the 1997
Grammy
Awards, "Like the
Rain" was nominated
for the Best Male
Country Vocal
performance. |
| 3-Sep-1996 |
Tim McGraw was at #1
on the Country
singles chart with
"She Never Lets It
Go to Her Heart."
The fourth single
from McGraw's All
I Want album was
written by Chris
Waters and Tom
Shapiro. |
| 8-Sep-1996 |
In a rare double
bill, Johnny Cash
and George Jones
performed at the
Oakdale Music
Theatre,
Wallingford,
Connecticut. |
| 14-Sep-1996 |
Tulsa honored
American Western
swing fiddler
Johnnie Lee Wills
with a street named
after him.
Johnnie Lee Wills
Lane is directly
in front of the Expo
Square Pavilion at
the Tulsa State
Fairgrounds. Wills,
who died in 1984 was
the younger brother
of Bob Wills and had
also played banjo
with Bob as a member
of the Texas
Playboys. |
| 4-Oct-1996 |
Singer songwriter
Roger Miller was
inducted into the
Country Music Hall
of Fame. |
| 6-Oct-1996 |
Tim McGraw married
Faith Hill and
quickly became
country music's most
visible couple.
Their friendship
grew into romance
during their
successful
Spontaneous
Combustion tour
that year. |
| 12-Oct-1996 |
The Farm Aid
96' benefit
concert took place
at the
Williams-Brice
Stadium, Columbia,
South Carolina. 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:
Hootie and the
Blowfish, Marshall
Chapman, Beach Boys,
Son Volt, Robert
Earl Keen, Martina
McBride, John
Conlee, Jewel,
Willie Nelson, John
Mellencamp and Neil
Young. |
| 14-Oct-1996 |
Alan Jackson
released "Little
Bitty" which became
his fourteenth #1
single on the US
Billboard Hot
Country Singles &
Tracks charts. The
song was the
lead-off single to
Jackson's fifth
studio album
Everything I
Love. |
| 29-Oct-1996 |
Alan Jackson
released his sixth
studio album
Everything I
Love which went
to #1 on the Country
charts. The album
produced the #1 hits
"Little Bitty" and
"There Goes." |
| 5-Nov-1996 |
Unchained was
released, the second
album in Johnny
Cash's American
Recording series,
backed by Tom Petty
and the
Heartbreakers.
Unchained
contained songs by
Tom Petty ("Southern
Accents"),
Soundgarden ("Rusty
Cage") and Beck
("Rowboat"), The
album also included
a cover of the
classic 1962 Hank
Snow song, "I've
Been Everywhere",
written by Geoff
Mack. |
| 14-Nov-1996 |
Mel McDaniel had a
near-fatal fall into
an orchestra pit
while he was
performing at the
Heymann Performing
Arts Center in
Lafayette,
Louisiana. The
accident ended his
touring career and
he underwent several
surgeries
thereafter. He
scored the 1985 #1
"Baby's Got Her Blue
Jeans On". |
| 27-Nov-1996 |
Sling Blade,
set in rural
Arkansas, written
and directed by
Billy Bob Thornton,
opened in American
movie theaters. The
picture featured
Dwight Yoakam in a
prominent role,
along with Billy Bob
Thornton, Robert
Duvall and Tex
Ritter's son, John
Ritter. The movie
won Billy Bob
Thornton an
Academy Award
for Best Adapted
Screenplay. |
| 7-Dec-1996 |
Johnny Cash was
honoured at the 19th
Annual Kennedy
Centre Awards
Ceremony at the
Kennedy Centre,
Washington DC. The
ceremony was
televised and
featured a medley of
Cash's hits
performed by Kris
Kristofferson,
Emmylou Harris and
Lyle Lovett. |
| 10-Dec-1996 |
Faron Young,
American singer and
songwriter from the
early 1950s into the
mid-1980s shot
himself after
apparently being
depressed that the
music industry had
turned its back on
him. He died in
Nashville the
following day. His
hits included "If
You Ain't Lovin'
(You Ain't Livin')"
and "Live Fast, Love
Hard, Die Young."
His ashes were
spread by his family
over Old Hickory
Lake outside
Nashville at Johnny
Cash and June Carter
Cash's home while
the Cashes were
away. |
| 12-Dec-1996 |
Clint Black received
a star on the
Hollywood Walk of
Fame. |
| 26-Dec-1996 |
Johnny Cash was
hailed on
CBS-TV's The
Kennedy Center
Honors,
featuring Emmylou
Harris, Kris
Kristofferson and
Lyle Lovett. |
| 20-Jan-1997 |
Billy Ray Cyrus,
Lonestar, Trisha
Yearwood and Kim
Richey were among
the performers at
Bill Clinton's
inaugural
celebration. Vice
president Al Gore
and wife Tipper
danced to the
"Tennessee Waltz." |
| 26-Jan-1997 |
Mary Chapin
Carpenter performed
"Down At The Twist
And Shout" with the
Cajun group
BeauSoleil during
the pre-game show
for Super Bowl XXXI
at the Superdome in
New Orleans. |
| 26-Feb-1997 |
Country music
winners at the 39th
Annual Grammy
Awards held at
Madison Square
Garden, New York
City included; LeAnn
Rimes who won Best
New Artist and Best
Female Country Vocal
Performance for
"Blue', Vince Gill
won Best Male
Country Vocal
Performance for
"Worlds Apart", Best
Country Performance
by a Duo or Group
went to Brooks &
Dunn for "My Maria"
and Best Country
Album was Billy
Williams (producer)
& Lyle Lovett
(producer & artist)
for The Road to
Ensenada.
|
| 2-Mar-1997 |
Shania Twain
released her third
studio album Come
On Over which
became the
best-selling country
music album, by a
female act. To date,
the album has sold
more than 40 million
copies worldwide,
shipped over 20
million copies in
the United States,
and in the UK it has
sold over 3.3
million. The album
debuted at #1 on the
Billboard Top
Country Albums chart
and stayed there for
50 non-consecutive
weeks, staying in
the Top Ten for 151
weeks.
|
| 28-Mar-1997 |
Deana Carter was at
the top of the
Billboard
Country charts with
"We Danced Anyway."
Written by Randy
Scruggs and Matraca
Berg, it was
released in December
1996 as the second
single from her
debut album Did I
Shave My Legs for
This? |
| 29-Mar-1997 |
Reba McEntire was at
#1 on the
Billboard
country chart
with "How Was I To
Know", the second
single released from
her album, What
If It's You. |
| 9-Apr-1997 |
Songwriter Mae Boren
Axton died aged 82
after drowning in
her bath at her home
in Hendersonville,
Tennessee after an
apparent heart
attack. Known as the
'Queen Mother of
Nashville' she wrote
over 200 songs
including a
co-writing credit on
the Elvis Presley
hit "Heartbreak
Hotel". She worked
with Mel Tillis,
Reba McEntire,
Willie Nelson, Eddy
Arnold, Tanya
Tucker, Johnny
Tillotson, and Blake
Shelton. She was the
mother of country
singer, songwriter
Hoyt Axton. |
| 14-Apr-1997 |
Unchained Melody:
The Early Years
a compilation album
by LeAnn Rimes was
at #1 on the Country
charts. Released by
Curb Records due to
high sales of her
debut album
Blue, the
album consists of
tracks recorded
previously to
Blue and
contains cover
versions of "I Want
to Be a Cowboy's
Sweetheart" by Patsy
Montana, "Blue Moon
of Kentucky" by Bill
Monroe, "I Will
Always Love You" by
Dolly Parton, and
"Yesterday" by The
Beatles. |
| 23-Apr-1997 |
Winners at the 32nd
Annual Academy
of Country Music
Awards included:
Top Female Vocalist
of the Year - Patty
Loveless, Top Male
Vocalist of the Year
- George Strait, Top
Vocal Group - Sawyer
Brown, Top New
Female Vocalist of
the Year - LeAnn
Rimes, Top New Male
Vocalist of the Year
- Trace Adkins and
Song of the Year
went to LeAnn Rimes
for "Blue." |
| 11-May-1997 |
Trace Adkins married
Rhonda Forlaw at
Nashville's Belle
Meade Mansion in
front of over 800
guests. Adkins
performed a song he
wrote for his bride:
"The Rest Of Mine." |
| 17-May-1997 |
Kenny Chesney
released "She's Got
It All", which
became Chesney's
first #1 hit on the
US Billboard
Hot Country Singles
& Tracks chart. The
track was taken from
his album I Will
Stand. |
| 19-May-1997 |
MCA records released
Trisha Yearwood's
version of "How Do I
Live". Written by
Diane Warren. the
song was originally
intended for release
as a single from the
1997 Con Air
soundtrack.
Disney (who owns
Touchstone Pictures)
felt Rimes' version
had too much of a
pop feel and because
she was fourteen it
was believed that
she was too young.
Trisha Yearwood was
chosen to re-record
the song. |
| 3-Jun-1997 |
Curb Records
released
Everywhere,
the fourth album by
Tim McGraw. It was
his first release
since his marriage
to Faith Hill and
his collaboration
with his wife from
the album, "It's
Your Love", was
nominated for Best
Country
Collaboration and
Best Country Song at
the 1998
Grammy
Awards. |
| 14-Jun-1997 |
Both LeAnne's Rimes'
and Trisha
Yearwood's versions
of "How Do I Live"
debuted on the US
Billboard Hot
100. LeAnn Rimes'
version peaked at #2
and spent a
record-breaking 69
weeks on the chart,
more than any other
song in history
until Jason Mraz's
"I'm Yours" in 2009.
Yearwood's version
climbed all the way
to #2 on the country
charts. |
| 18-Jun-1997 |
George Strait was at
#1 on the Country
chart with
Carrying Your
Love With Me.
The album produced
four singles for
Strait on the
Billboard
country charts. "One
Night at a Time",
the title track, and
"Round About Way."
|
| 7-Jul-1997 |
Alan Jackson
released "There
Goes" which became
his fifthteen #1
single on the US
Billboard Hot
Country Singles &
Tracks charts. It
was the fourth
single from his
album, Everything
I Love. |
| 8-Jul-1997 |
Connie Smith married
1990s country artist
Marty Stuart. The
couple met while
writing songs
together for Smith's
1998 comeback album. |
| 12-Jul-1997 |
"It's Your Love," by
Tim McGraw and Faith
Hill became the
first song in 20
years to spend six
weeks atop the
Billboard
magazine Hot Country
Singles chart. The
last song to do so
was 1977's
"Luckenbach, Texas
(Back to the Basics
of Love)" by Waylon
Jennings. In that
span, more than 750
songs had reached #1
on the country
chart, a majority of
them for just one
week.
|
| 23-Jul-1997 |
Deana Carter won
Song of the Year at
the Nashville
Songwriters
Association
International's 30th
Songwriter
Achievement Awards
for "Strawberry
Wine." Vice Gill won
Songwriter - Artist
of the Year for the
third time and Mark
D. Sanders won the
award for best
Songwriter. |
| 19-Aug-1997 |
The Songs of
Jimmie Rodgers, A
Tribute was
released. The album
which was
masterminded by Bob
Dylan on his
Egyptian record
label, features,
Dylan, Van Morrison,
Mary Chapin
Carpenter, John
Mellencamp, Willie
Nelson, Steve Earle,
Alison Krauss,
Dwight Yoakam and
Jerry Garcia. |
| 5-Sep-1997 |
The American action
film Fire Down
Below starring
Steven Seagal was
released. The film
included cameos by
country music
performers Randy
Travis, Mark Collie,
Ed Bruce, Marty
Stuart and Travis
Tritt as well as
Kris Kristofferson
in a supporting
role. |
| 16-Sep-1997 |
Trisha Yearwood was
at #1 on the Country
chart with
(Songbook) A
Collection of
Hits, Yearwood's
first to reach #1.
Due to the success
of the single "How
Do I Live" in
Australia, the album
was released there
(in 1998) with six
extra tracks,
including a duet
with Australian
country star Lee
Kernaghan. |
| 4-Oct-1997 |
The Farm Aid
97' benefit
concert took place
at the Tweeter
Center, Tinley Park,
Illinois. 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 Fogerty,
Beck, Dave Matthews
Band and The Allman
Brothers Band. |
| 5-Oct-1997 |
Garth Brooks fans
snap up more than
139,000 tickets in
less than four
hours, selling out
eight shows at
Chicago's Rosemont
Horizon. |
| 12-Oct-1997 |
John Denver was
killed at the age of
53 when his
experimental Rutan
Long-EZ plane,
crashed into the
Pacific Ocean near
Pacific Grove,
California. The
crash badly
disfigured Denver's
head and body,
making
identification by
dental records
impossible, records
of his fingerprints
were used to confirm
that the pilot was
indeed the singer.
He was one of the
most popular
acoustic artists of
the 1970s earning
twelve gold and four
platinum albums with
his signature songs
"Take Me Home,
Country Roads",
"Annie's Song",
"Rocky Mountain
High", and "Sunshine
on My Shoulders".
|
| 15-Oct-1997 |
A federal aviation
official told the
Associated Press
that John Denver
flew to his death
with an invalid
license because he
had twice been
arrested on drunk
driving charges, The
Federal Aviation
Administration had
pulled Denver's
medical certificate
- which is required
to fly with a
pilot's license - on
June 13, 1996. |
| 19-Oct-1997 |
Six airplanes rocked
their wings in a
salute to John
Denver before a
memorial service.
Taped recordings of
four of his songs
were played during
the funeral service
at Faith
Presbyterian Church,
attended by about
2,000 people in the
Denver suburb. |
| 23-Oct-1997 |
More than 100,000
copies of John
Denver's catalog of
albums were sold in
the week after the
singer was killed in
an Oct. 12 plane
crash off the
California coast.
SoundScan reported
that four of
Denver's albums were
among the nation's
top 200 bestsellers
last week and that
10 were among the
top 75 sellers among
country albums. |
| 25-Oct-1997 |
After falling over
on stage when
reaching for a
guitar pick, Johnny
Cash announced
during a gig in
Michigan that he was
suffering from
Parkinson's disease. |
| 27-Oct-1997 |
A press release from
Johnny Cash's
management read;
"Johnny Cash
announced today that
he has developed
Parkinson's Disease.
Although Johnny was
able to perform his
recent concerts, he
is cancelling his
book promotion tour
for Cash: The
Autobiography
because the
Parkinson's Disease
has progressed.
Johnny and his wife
June Carter Cash are
sorry to have to
postpone their
personal appearances
but Cash's manager
Lou Robin states
'Johnny feels
confident that once
the Parkinson's is
medically
stabilised, he can
resume his normal
work schedule'". |
| 4-Nov-1997 |
Shania Twain
released her third
studio album Come
On Over which
became the
best-selling country
music album, by a
female act. To date,
the album has sold
more than 40 million
copies worldwide,
shipped over 20
million copies in
the United States,
and in the UK it has
sold over 3.3
million. The album
debuted at #1 on the
Billboard Top
Country Albums chart
and stayed there for
50 non-consecutive
weeks, staying in
the Top Ten for 151
weeks. |
| 25-Nov-1997 |
Garth Brooks
released his seventh
studio album,
Sevens which
debuted at #1 on the
Billboard
200, and on the
Top Country Albums
chart. The album
also topped the
Country album charts
in Britain for
several months and
crossed over into
the mainstream pop
charts. His duet
with Trisha
Yearwood, "In
Another's Eyes", won
the Grammy
Award for Best
Country
Collaboration with
Vocals at the
Grammy Awards
of 1998.
Sevens was
nominated for the
Best Country Album
Grammy the
following year. |
| 2-Dec-1997 |
At a ceremony held
in Los Angeles,
Johnny Cash, along
with Beach Boy Brian
Wilson and Jeff
Barry, were awarded
the Songwriters
Lifetime Achievement
Award from the
National Academy of
Songwriters. |
| 6-Jan-1998 |
Trisha Yearwood and
LeAnn Rimes were
each nominated for
Best Country Vocal
Performance by a
Female for their
versions of "How Do
I Live." This was
the first time in
Grammy
history that two
renditions of the
same song competed
against each other.
Rimes took the Diane
Warren penned song
to #2 on the US
charts and #7 in the
UK where it spent 34
weeks on the chart.
The song was
originally intended
for release as a
single for the 1997
action blockbuster
Con Air
soundtrack.
|
| 10-Jan-1998 |
Retro Country
USA, a weekly
two-hour syndicated
radio program
spotlighting major
country hits of the
1980s (along with
some from the 1970s
and early 1990s),
premiered. The show
was hosted by Tampa
radio personality
Ken Cooper. |
| 27-Jan-1998 |
Monument released
The Dixie Chicks'
first major label
album, Wide Open
Spaces, their
first record with
new lead vocalist
Natalie Maines. At
the 41st
Grammy
Awards, the album
was awarded 2
Grammy Awards
out of 3
nominations, winning
Best Country Album
and Best Country
Performance by a Duo
or Group with Vocal
for the song
"There's Your
Trouble." |
| 10-Feb-1998 |
"How Do I Live,"
written by Diane
Warren and performed
by Trisha Yearwood
in the movie Con
Air, received an
Oscar
nomination for
Best Original Song.
Originally recorded
by LeAnn Rimes in
1997, her version of
"How Do I Live"
spent 34 weeks on
the UK singles
chart, ending up as
the 6th best selling
UK single of 1998. |
| 14-Feb-1998 |
Hal Ketchum married
Gina Pacconi at the
Grace Methodist
Church in Austin,
Texas. Guests
include Delbert
McClinton and
songwriters Jim
Lauderdale and Kim
Richey. |
| 17-Feb-1998 |
The Nashville
Network
premiered a group of
television specials
called The George
Jones Show, with
Jones as host. The
program featured
informal chats with
Jones holding court
with country's
biggest stars old
and new. Guests
included Loretta
Lynn, Trace Adkins,
Johnny Paycheck,
Lorrie Morgan, Merle
Haggard, Billy Ray
Cyrus, Tim McGraw,
Faith Hill, Charley
Pride, Bobby Bare,
Patty Loveless and
Waylon Jennings,
among others. |
| 25-Feb-1998 |
Johnny Cash's album,
Unchained,
won a Grammy
Award for Best
Country Album. The
album had been a
critical success but
was largely ignored
by mainstream
country radio, a
fact Cash and
producer Rick Rubin
picked up on when
they purchase a
full-page
advertisement in
Billboard
magazine. The ad,
which appeared in
March, featured a
young Cash
displaying his
middle finger and
sarcastically
"thanking" radio for
supporting the
album!
|
| 27-Mar-1998 |
Country music star
Gene Autry, who sold
the California
Angels baseball team
to Disney, was
honored with a
bronze statue, as
Anaheim Stadium was
re-opened after
major renovations. |
| 30-Mar-1998 |
Clint Black was at
#1 on the Country
singles chart with
"Nothin' but The
Taillights" the
third single and
title track from his
album of the same
name. This single
became Black's
eleventh #1 single,
twenty-sixth Top Ten
single, and
twenty-seventh Top
Twenty single. |
| 31-Mar-1998 |
Kenny Chesney was at
#1 on the country
charts with "How
Forever Feels."
Chesney told
Billboard
magazine that he
almost didn't get to
release the song
because Tim McGraw
had also cut it.
|
| 6-Apr-1998 |
Tammy Wynette died
aged 55. She scored
12 hit singles
including "Stand By
Your Man", which is
one of the biggest
selling singles by a
woman in the history
of the country music
genre. Wynette sold
over 30m records and
was married five
times. Known as the
'first lady of
country music'. |
| 9-Apr-1998 |
A public tribute
memorial service for
Tammy Wynette was
held at Nashville's
Ryman Auditorium
featuring
performances by
Randy Travis, Lorrie
Morgan, Rudy Gatlin,
The Judds, and Dolly
Parton who performed
"I Will Always Love
You." |
| 14-Apr-1998 |
Dixie Chicks
released "There's
Your Trouble" as the
second single from
the band's album
Wide Open
Spaces. The song
became the band's
first #1 single on
the Billboard
Hot Country Singles
& Tracks chart. In
1999, the Dixie
Chicks were awarded
a Grammy
Award for Best
Country Performance
by a Duo or Group
with Vocal for their
performance of
“There’s Your
Trouble.” |
| 21-Apr-1998 |
Faith Hill released
her third studio
album, Faith,
which produced the
worldwide hit, "This
Kiss", as well as
the singles "Let Me
Let Go", "Love Ain't
Like That", and a
duet with her
husband Tim McGraw
"Just to Hear You
Say That You Love
Me." As of 2003,
sales for Faith were
certified at six
million. |
| 22-Apr-1998 |
Winners at the
Academy of Country
Music Awards
included: Pioneer
Award - Charlie
Daniels, Top Female
Vocalist of the Year
-
Trisha Yearwood, Top
Male Vocalist of the
Year
- George Strait,
Top Vocal Duo or
Group -
Brooks & Dunn, Top
New Male Vocalist of
the Year - Kenny
Chesney, Song of the
Year and Country
Music Video of the
Year went to Faith
Hill and Tim McGraw
for "It's Your
Love." |
| 27-Apr-1998 |
"If You See Him/If
You See Her" by Reba
McEntire, along with
the duo Brooks &
Dunn was released.
The song reached #1
on the
Billboard Hot
Country Singles &
Tracks giving
McEntire her
twenty-ninth #1
single, and Brooks &
Dunn their twelfth. |
| 2-Jun-1998 |
American country
music singer Helen
Carter died aged 70.
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. |
| 10-Jun-1998 |
Former Oak Ridge
Boys singer and
guitarist, Steve
Sanders died from a
self-inflicted
gunshot to the head
in an apparent
suicide in Cape
Coral, Florida.
Sanders sang lead
vocals on such hits
as "Gonna Take A Lot
Of River" and
"Bridges And Walls".
He was 45. |
| 29-Jun-1998 |
The Country Music
Association
announced it would
add four new
Country Music
Hall of Fame
members in
September: Elvis
Presley, Tammy
Wynette, George
Morgan and former
Grand Ole Opry
executive E.W. "Bud"
Wendell. |
| 6-Jul-1998 |
Roy Rogers, singer
and cowboy actor
died of congestive
heart failure in
Apple Valley,
California. 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 and
The Roy Rogers
Show. The show
ran on radio for
nine years before
moving to television
from 1951 through
1957.
|
| 28-Jul-1998 |
Monument Records
released "Wide Open
Spaces" by Dixie
Chicks. The title
song on the band's
1998 album it hit #1
on the US Country
singles chart,
spending four weeks
there in November
1998. |
| 1-Aug-1998 |
Garth Brooks reaches
#1 on the
Billboard
country chart
with a Bob Dylan
song, "To Make You
Feel My Love". The
song that appeared
on Dylan's 1997
album Time Out of
Mind has also
been covered by
Billy Joel, and
British singer
Adele. |
| 11-Aug-1998 |
Vince Gill released
his eighth studio
album The Key
which became his
first #1 Country
Album. The album
features the singles
"If You Ever Have
Forever in Mind,"
"Kindly Keep It
Country," "Don't
Come Cryin' to Me." |
| 22-Aug-1998 |
Jo Dee Messina was
at #1 on the
Billboard
country singles
chart with, "I'm
Alright", the title
track from her
second studio album. |
| 28-Aug-1998 |
Latin American
country singer
Johnny Rodriguez was
arrested at his home
after shooting and
killing a "drinking
buddy" of his,
Israel "Bosco"
Borrego, whom he
mistook for a
burglar. He was
charged with murder
but was acquitted by
a jury a year later
on grounds of
self-defense, under
Texas law. On the
eve of his trial, he
was asked if his
life was like a
country song. "I
guess it is," he
said, "A bad one." |
| 1-Sep-1998 |
Alan Jackson
released his seventh
studio album High
Mileage which
became his fourth #1
album. |
| 19-Sep-1998 |
American country
music star Red Foley
died aged 58. He
sold over 25 million
records, and hosted
the first popular
country music series
on network
television, Ozark
Jubilee. |
| 20-Sep-1998 |
Alan Jackson was at
#1 on the Country
charts with his
seventh studio
album, High
Mileage. It
produced four hit
singles on the Hot
Country Songs charts
for Jackson: "I'll
Go on Loving You",
"Right on the
Money", "Gone
Crazy", and "Little
Man". |
| 22-Sep-1998 |
The Complete Hank
Williams was
released. The
award-winning box
set was a collection
of almost all of the
recorded works of
country music legend
Hank Williams, from
his first recorded
track in 1947 to the
last session prior
to his untimely
death in 1953 at the
age of 29. The ten
disc box set
contains 225 tracks,
including studio
sessions, live
performances and
demos. Among those
225 songs are 33 hit
singles and 53
previously
unreleased tracks. |
| 30-Sep-1998 |
Faith Hill released
"Let Me Let Go." The
song which features
background vocals by
Vince Gill became
her fifth US Country
#1 single. The song
was also remixed
into a pop version
and used as the
soundtrack for the
movie Message in
a Bottle. |
| 2-Oct-1998 |
Gene Autry, who
gained fame as The
Singing Cowboy died
three days after his
91st birthday at his
home in Studio City,
California. |
| 3-Oct-1998 |
The Farm Aid 98'
benefit concert
took place at the
Tweeter Center,
Tinley Park,
Illinois. 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,
Phish, Neil Young,
John Mellencamp,
Steve Earle, Del
McCoury Band and
Wilco. |
| 6-Oct-1998 |
Country group
Alabama joined the
Hollywood Walk of
Fame at 7060
Hollywood Boulevard. |
| 19-Oct-1998 |
Alan Jackson
released "Right on
the Money" which
became his sixteenth
#1 single on the US
Billboard Hot
Country Singles &
Tracks charts. It
was the second
single from his
album High
Mileage. |
| 17-Nov-1998 |
Garth Brooks
released Double
Live, his tenth
album a two-disc
live album recorded
during Brooks'
second world tour in
1998. It broke the
first week sales
record at the time,
previously held by
Pearl Jam's
Vs. since
1993, when it sold
1,085,000 copies. It
became the
best-selling live
album in the US
since Peter
Frampton's 1976
double set,
Frampton Comes
Alive! It has
been certified 21 x
Platinum by the
RIAA, making it tied
with Billy Joel's
Greatest Hits
Volume I & Volume
II for the sixth
best-selling album
of all time in the
US. |
| 24-Nov-1998 |
Ashland, Kentucky,
proclaimed Billy
Ray Cyrus Day,
presenting the
singer with a key to
the city. A section
of Kentucky Route
693 in nearby
Flatwoods was
renamed Billy Ray
Cyrus Boulevard. |
| 2-Dec-1998 |
Garth Brooks and
First Lady Hillary
Clinton switched on
the Christmas tree
lights at New York's
Rockefeller Center. |
| 7-Dec-1998 |
"You Were Mine" by
the Dixie Chicks was
released as the
fourth single from
the album Wide
Open Spaces. The
song hit #1 on the
US Country singles
chart, spending two
weeks there in March
1999. It also placed
34th on the
Billboard Hot
100 Pop singles
chart. |
| 12-Dec-1998 |
Faith Hill was at #1
on the
Billboard
Country charts with
"Let Me Let Go". The
third single from
Faith Hill's album
Faith,
features background
vocals by country
artist Vince Gill. |
| 14-Dec-1998 |
Double Live,
the tenth album by
Garth Brooks was at
#1 on the US Country
chart. As its name
implies, it is a
two-disc live album
recorded during
Brooks' second world
tour in 1998. It
became the
best-selling live
album in the US
since Eric Clapton's
Unplugged in
1992. |
| 22-Dec-1998 |
The John F.
Kennedy Center
for the Performing
Arts honored Willie
Nelson for his
lifetime
contributions to the
arts. Nelson became
the first primarily
country performer so
honored. |
| 5-Jan-1999 |
Shania Twain's
"You're Still The
One" was nominated
for Record of the
Year and Song of the
Year at this years
Grammy
Awards. The Canadian
singers album
Come On Over was
also up for Album of
the Year. The Dixie
Chicks appeared in
Best New Artist, the
first time country
acts have made each
of the top four
categories. |
| 25-Jan-1999 |
Double Live
the tenth album by
Garth Brooks was at
#1 on the US Country
chart. As its name
implies, it is a
two-disc live album
recorded during
Brooks' second world
tour in 1998. It
became the
best-selling live
album in the US
since Eric Clapton's
Unplugged in
1992. |
| 27-Jan-1999 |
The National
Transportation
Safety Board
concluded that
singer John Denver
died in a 1997
airplane crash
because he took off
with too little fuel
in one tank, had
trouble switching to
his backup tank and
inadvertently put
his plane into a
roll while his
attention was
diverted. The board
also blamed a
builder's decision
to relocate the fuel
tank selector
handle, an absence
of markings on the
handle and nearby
fuel gauges, as well
as Denver's lack of
training in his new
plane which caused
the crash. |
| 1-Feb-1999 |
Brad Paisley
released his debut
single "Who Needs
Pictures" as the
first single and
title track from his
first album. It
reached #12 on the
Hot Country Songs
chart. |
| 12-Feb-1999 |
Clint Black was at
#1 on the US Country
music album chart
with his debut
album, Killin'
Time which
featured the hits "A
Better Man",
"Nothing's News",
"Walking Away",
"Nobody's Home", and
the title track. |
| 18-Feb-1999 |
Dixie Chicks were at
#1 on the US Country
music album chart
with their fourth
studio album and
major label debut
Wide Open
Spaces. At the
41st Grammy
Awards, the album
was awarded 2
Grammy Awards
out of 3
nominations. |
| 24-Feb-1999 |
Country music
winners at the 41st
Annual Grammy
Awards held at
Shrine Auditorium,
Los Angeles
included; Best
Female Country Vocal
Performance - Shania
Twain for "You're
Still the One", Best
Male Country Vocal
Performance - Vince
Gill for "If You
Ever Have Forever in
Mind", Best Country
Performance by a Duo
or Group with Vocal
- Dixie Chicks for
"There's Your
Trouble", Best
Country Album -
Blake Chancey, Paul
Worley (producers),
John Guess
(engineer/mixer) &
Dixie Chicks for
Wide Open
Spaces. |
| 6-Mar-1999 |
George Jones, in the
midst of a comeback
this year, was
seriously injured
when he crashed his
Lexus into a bridge.
It was later
revealed that
alcohol was a factor
in the accident, and
the singer pleaded
guilty to drunk
driving charges.
|
| 25-Mar-1999 |
73-year-old country
music singer Ray
Price was arrested
in his Texas home
for possession of
marijuana. He was
fined $200 after
pleading no contest
to the charges.
According to Price
in a 2008 interview,
old friend Willie
Nelson - no stranger
to marijuana arrests
- phoned and told
him he'd just earned
$5 million in free
publicity with the
drug bust. |
| 6-Apr-1999 |
An all star tribute
to Johnny Cash took
place at the
Hammerstein Ballroom
in Manhattan. The
show was introduced
by Jon Voight and
included appearances
by Willie Nelson,
June Carter Cash,
Kris Kristofferson,
Chris Isaak, Sheryl
Crow, Trisha
Yearwood, U2, Brooks
And Dunn, Lyle
Lovett and many
more. |
| 15-Apr-1999 |
The body of Tammy
Wynette was exhumed
from her grave in an
attempt to settle a
dispute over how the
country music legend
died. A new autopsy
was conducted on her
a week after three
of her daughters
filed a wrongful
death lawsuit
against her doctor
and her husband and
manager, George
Richey, claiming
they were
responsible for her
death 12 months ago.
Richey said he had
requested the
autopsy because of
the allegations made
against him. |
| 16-Apr-1999 |
Shania Twain became
the first woman to
be named songwriter,
and artist of the
year in the
Nashville Songwriter
Achievement
Awards. |
| 1-May-1999 |
Dixie Chick Emily
Erwin married
country singer
Charlie Robison. The
couple who have
three children
divorced on August
6, 2008 after nine
years of marriage. |
| 4-May-1999 |
Curb Records
released A Place
in the Sun, the
fifth album by Tim
McGraw. This album
produced the singles
"Please Remember
Me", "Something Like
That", "My Best
Friend", "My Next
Thirty Years" and
"Some Things Never
Change", all of
which reached #1 on
the Hot Country
Songs charts. |
| 5-May-1999 |
Winners at the 34th
Annual Academy
of Country Music
Awards hosted by
Reba McEntire
included: Pioneer
Award - Glen
Campbell, Top Female
Vocalist of the Year
-
Faith Hill, Top Male
Vocalist of the Year
- Tim McGraw, Top
Vocal Duo or Group -
Dixie Chicks, Song
of the Year went to
Steve Wariner for
"Holes in the Floor
of Heaven." Country
Music Video of the
Year went to Faith
Hill
"This Kiss." |
| 10-May-1999 |
Shel Silverstein,
American poet,
singer-songwriter,
cartoonist,
screenwriter, and
author of children's
books died of a
massive heart attack
aged 68. 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.
|
| 16-May-1999 |
Tim McGraw was at #1
on the Country chart
with his version of
"Please Remember Me"
a song co-written by
Rodney Crowell and
Will Jennings.
Originally recorded
by Crowell on his
1995 album Jewel
of the South,
his version was
released as a single
that year.
|
| 28-May-1999 |
Clint Black was at
#1 on the US Country
music album chart
with his debut
album, Killin'
Time which
featured the hits "A
Better Man",
"Nothing's News",
"Walking Away",
"Nobody's Home", and
the title track. |
| 1-Jun-1999 |
Tim McGraw held the
#1 position on the
country charts with
"Please Remember
Me". Co-written by
Rodney Crowell and
Will Jennings it was
originally recorded
by Crowell on his
1995 album Please
Remember Me.
McGraw's rendition
reached the top of
the Billboard
Hot Country Singles
& Tracks, a position
that it held for
five weeks. The song
was also McGraw's
biggest solo hit on
the Billboard
Hot 100, where it
peaked at #10. |
| 16-Jun-1999 |
Clint Black was at
#1 on the US Country
music album chart
with his debut
album, Killin'
Time which
featured the hits "A
Better Man",
"Nothing's News",
"Walking Away",
"Nobody's Home", and
the title track. |
| 22-Jun-1999 |
George Jones
released his 56th
studio album Cold
Hard Truth which
peaked at #5 on the
Country album
charts. The track
"Choices" from the
album won Jones the
Grammy for
Best Male Country
Vocal Performance. |
| 28-Jun-1999 |
Tim McGraw released
"Something Like
That" which became
his tenth song to
reach #1 on the US
Billboard Hot
Country Singles &
Tracks. According to
Nielsen BDS, the
song was the
top-played radio
single in any
musical genre in the
2000s with 487,343
spins from January
1, 2000, to December
17, 2009. |
| 23-Jul-1999 |
Rolling Stones
guitarist Keith
Richards appeared
onstage with Willie
Nelson at a concert
in Westport,
Connecticut. |
| 26-Jul-1999 |
Shania Twain's
Come On Over
was certified for
shipments of 12
million copies,
passing her own
The Woman In
Me as the
best-selling country
album ever by a
female artist. |
| 28-Jul-1999 |
American singer
Anita Carter died
aged 66. Carter
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. |
| 3-Aug-1999 |
Patsy Cline received
a star on the
Hollywood Walk of
Fame. Prior to
her death at the age
of 30 in a private
plane crash, she was
at the height of her
career. She is
considered to be one
of the most
influential,
successful, and
acclaimed female
vocalists of the
20th century. Some
of the more notable
hits she had during
her lifetime began
in 1957 with Donn
Hecht's "Walkin'
After Midnight",
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".
|
| 24-Aug-1999 |
Linda Ronstadt and
Emmylou Harris
released the album
Western Wall: The
Tucson Sessions.
The album which was
nominated for
several Grammy
Awards peaked at
#6 on the Country
charts. |
| 31-Aug-1999 |
Dixie Chicks
released Fly,
which debuted at #1
on the
Billboard 200
charts, selling over
10 million copies
and making the Dixie
Chicks the only
country band and the
only female band of
any genre to hold
the distinction of
having two
back-to-back
RIAA
certified diamond
albums. |
| 4-Sep-1999 |
Lonestar's hit,
"Amazed," spent its
eighth week at #1 on
the Billboard
Hot Country Singles
& Tracks chart,
becoming the first
song to do so since
Jack Greene's 1966
hit, "There Goes My
Everything." In
several other
charts, including
Radio & Records,
"Amazed" reigns for
nine weeks, which
made it the
longest-lasting #1
single since 1966's
"Almost Persuaded"
by David Houston. |
| 12-Sep-1999 |
The Farm Aid
99' benefit
concert took place
at the Nissan
Pavilion, Bristow,
Virginia. 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:
Susan Tedeschi, Keb'
Mo', Deana Carter,
Barenaked Ladies,
Dave Matthews Band,
John Mellencamp,
Willie Nelson and
Neil Young. |
| 28-Sep-1999 |
Greatest
Hits, also
titled Garth
Brooks in.... The
Life of Chris
Gaines, was
released in the US.
It was part of the
alter ego project of
Garth Brooks, in
which Brooks assumed
the fictitious
persona of
alternative rock
artist Chris Gaines.
Originally, the
album was intended
to be the soundtrack
for a movie called
The Lamb that
was to have stared
Brooks as a rock
star recalling the
different periods of
his life. This album
was purposely
released a year in
advance from the
scheduled film
release date to
pique interest in
Brooks performing
rock instead of
country. The Lamb,
however, was never
filmed due to
financial and
management problems. |
| 4-Oct-1999 |
Tim McGraw released
"My Best Friend" the
third single from
his album A Place
In The Sun which
went on to reach the
top of the
Billboard Hot
Country Singles &
Tracks chart. |
| 4-Oct-1999 |
Alan Jackson won the
prestigious
Entertainer of the
Year award at the
annual Country Music
Association award
ceremony. Alison
Krauss sweeps Top
Female Vocalist.
Vince Gill wins Top
Male Vocalist. |
| 4-Oct-1999 |
15-year-old country
music singer Jessica
Andrews was honoured
in her native
Carroll County,
Tennessee, where she
received the
first-ever Youth
Achievement Award. |
| 17-Oct-1999 |
American steel
guitarist and
songwriter Tommy
Durden died aged 79.
He is most notable
for co-writing Elvis
Presley's
breakthrough hit,
"Heartbreak Hotel"
and later performed
as steel guitarist
for Tex Ritter,
Johnny Cash and
Johnny Tillotson. |
| 20-Oct-1999 |
Johnny Cash was
admitted to Baptist
Hospital in
Nashville suffering
from pneumonia, the
second time this
year. Doctors
suspected that the
medication Cash was
taking for
Shy-Drager's
Syndrome has made
him more susceptible
to infection. |
| 22-Oct-1999 |
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. |
| 25-Oct-1999 |
Lonestar released
"Smile" as the third
single from the
album, Lonely
Grill. The song
reached the top of
the Billboard
Hot Country Singles
& Tracks chart. |
| 26-Oct-1999 |
American singer,
songwriter and actor
Hoyt Axton died of a
heart attack in
Victor, Montana aged
61. He wrote songs
for, Elvis Presley,
John Denver, Ringo
Starr and Glen
Campbell. His mother
Mae Boren Axton
wrote "Heartbreak
Hotel." |
| 8-Nov-1999 |
Dixie Chicks
released "Cowboy
Take Me Away" from
their album,
Fly. The
song's title is
derived from a
famous slogan used
in commercials for
Calgon bath and
beauty products. It
went on to reach #1
on the US
Billboard Hot
Country Singles &
Tracks chart in
February 2000. |
| 9-Nov-1999 |
Faith Hill released
Breathe, her
fourth studio album.
Breathe is one of
the most successful
country/pop albums
to date and has been
certified 8
Platinum for
shipping eight
million copies in
the US. The album
debuted at #1 on the
Billboard
200, a first for
the country artist.
|
| 22-Nov-1999 |
Toby Keith released
"How Do You Like Me
Now?!", the second
single from the
album How Do You
Like Me Now?!.
The song spent five
weeks at #1 on the
Billboard US
Hot Country Songs
chart. |
| 23-Nov-1999 |
Garth Brooks
released his twelfth
studio album,
Garth Brooks and
the Magic of
Christmas, which
peaked at #7 on the
Billboard 200
chart, and #1 on the
Top Country Albums
chart. Two years
after this album's
release, Brooks
released a reissue
of this album,
Songs from Call
Me Claus, which
contained most of
the songs from this
release. |
| 20-Dec-1999 |
Hank Snow died at
his Rainbow Ranch in
Madison, Tennessee.
The Canadian singer
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". Elvis
Presley, The Rolling
Stones, Ray Charles,
Johnny Cash and
Emmylou Harris, have
all covered his
songs.
|
| 9-Jan-2000 |
Shania Twain won the
People's
Choice award for
Favorite Female
Musical Performer at
the CBS
broadcast
ceremony from the
Pasadena Civic
Auditorium in
California. |
| 17-Jan-2000 |
Garth Brooks was
named Artist of the
Decade for the '90s
during the
American Music
Awards at Los
Angeles' Shrine
Auditorium. He also
won awards for
Favorite Male
Country Artist and
Favorite Country
Album, for
Sevens. |
| 30-Jan-2000 |
Faith Hill performed
the national anthem
before Super Bowl
XXXIV at Atlanta's
Georgia Dome. |
| 3-Feb-2000 |
Dixie Chicks were at
#1 on the US country
album chart with
there fifth studio
album Fly
which went on to win
them a Grammy
for Best Country
Album. The tracks
"Ready to Run",
"Cowboy Take Me
Away", "Without
You", "Goodbye
Earl", "Cold Day in
July", "Heartbreak
Town", "Some Days
You Gotta Dance" and
"If I Fall You're
Going Down with Me"
were all released as
singles. |
| 21-Feb-2000 |
Chad Brock released
"Yes!" the second
single from his
album of the same
name. The song which
is considered to be
Brock's signature
song reached the top
of the
Billboard Hot
Country Singles &
Tracks chart,
spending three weeks
at #1 in the US and
one week in Canada. |
| 23-Feb-2000 |
Shania Twain and The
Dixie Chicks both
won awards during
the 42nd annual
Grammy Awards
at Los Angeles'
Staples Center. The
Dixie Chicks won
Best Country
Performance by a Duo
or Group for "Ready
To Run." |
| 29-Feb-2000 |
Faith Hill reelased
"The Way You Love
Me" the second
single off her 1999
album
Breathe,
which was also her
second #1 country
single and her 8th
#1 country single
overall. This song
spent four weeks at
#1 on the
Billboard
Country charts in
May 2000 and peaked
at #7 on the
Billboard Hot
100 on December 30.
|
| 4-Mar-2000 |
"Amazed" by Lonestar
became the first
country song to have
topped both the
Billboard Hot
Country Singles &
Tracks and the
Billboard Hot
100 chart since the
Kenny Rogers-Dolly
Parton duet,
"Islands In The
Stream" in October
1983.
|
| 5-Mar-2000 |
Born on this day in
Munhall,
Pennsylvania was
Gabby Barrett. She
finished third on
the sixteenth season
of American Idol.
Her debut single "I
Hope" became the
best-selling country
song of 2020 in the
United States and
the adult
contemporary song of
2021 in the country.
It spent 62 weeks on
the Billboard Hot
100. |
| 7-Mar-2000 |
Julius Frank Anthony
Kuczynski who became
better known as Pee
Wee King died of a
heart attack in
Louisville,
Kentucky, aged 86.
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. |
| 19-Mar-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. |
| 19-Mar-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. |
| 23-Mar-2000 |
Fly the fifth
studio album by the
Dixie Chicks was at
#1 on the US Country
chart. Eight singles
were released from
Fly, including the
Hot Country Songs #1
hits "Cowboy Take Me
Away" and "Without
You", along with
their then-highest
charting entry on
the Billboard
Hot 100, "Goodbye
Earl", which peaked
at number 19. The
album earned four
Grammy nominations
in 2000. |
| 24-Mar-2000 |
Toby Keith was at #1
on the US Country
chart with "How Do
You Like Me Now?!"
Taken from his album
How Do You Like
Me Now?! The
song spent five
weeks at #1 on the
chart and became his
first major
crossover hit. |
| 24-Mar-2000 |
Dixie Chicks fifth
studio album
Fly was at #1
on the country
chart. The album
earned 4
Grammy
nominations in 2000,
and the group won 2:
Best Country
Performance by a Duo
or Group with Vocal
for "Ready to Run"
and Best Country
Album. It was also
nominated for Album
of the Year and the
writers of "Ready to
Run", Marcus Hummon
and Martie Seidel
were nominated for
Best Country Song. |
| 5-Apr-2000 |
Toby Keith was at #1
on the US chart with
"How Do You Like Me
Now?!", the second
single released from
the album How Do
You Like Me
Now?! The song
spent five weeks at
#1 on the
Billboard US
Hot Country Songs
chart.
|
| 17-Apr-2000 |
Lonestar released
"What About Now",
the fourth single
from their 1999
album, Lonely
Grill, which
went on to spend
four weeks at the
top of the
Billboard Hot
Country Singles &
Tracks. |
| 24-Apr-2000 |
Alan Jackson
released his version
of the Don Williams
song "It Must Be
Love" which became
his seventeenth #1
single on the US
Billboard Hot
Country Singles &
Tracks charts. |
| 28-Apr-2000 |
Columbus, Ohio act
Rascal Flatts made
their Grand Ole Opry
debut. |
| 17-May-2000 |
Kenny Rogers was at
#1 on the Country
chart with "Buy Me a
Rose" released as
the third single
from his album
She Rides Wild
Horses. Upon
reaching #1 on the
Billboard Hot
Country charts, the
song made Rogers
(who was 61 years
old at the time) the
oldest country
singer to have a #1
hit. |
| 20-May-2000 |
Faith Hill's "The
Way You Love Me"
started a four-week
run at #1 on the
Billboard
country chart. It
was her second #1
country single from
her album
Breathe and
her 8th #1 country
single overall.
|
| 22-May-2000 |
Aaron Tippin
released "Kiss
This", the first
single from his
album People Like
Us. Co-written
by Aaron's wife,
Thea, the single
became Aaron's third
and final #1 on the
Billboard
country charts, five
years after his last
chart topper. |
| 3-Jun-2000 |
Kenny Chesney and
Tim McGraw were
arrested in Buffalo,
New York after
Chesney ran away
with a Mounted
Reserve deputy's
horse, and McGraw
attacked deputies
that tried to corral
him. Chesney asked
to sit on the horse
outside Ralph Wilson
Stadium and the
daughter of the
deputy gave him
permission to do so.
Then Chesney mounted
the horse and rode
away. He was told to
stop, but ignored
the orders from the
other deputies, the
deputies were then
attacked by McGraw
and members of his
entourage. Chesney
was charged with
disorderly conduct
and released on $100
bail. McGraw was
charged with
second-degree
assault, obstructing
governmental
administration,
menacing and
resisting arrest. He
was released on
$2,500 bail. |
| 6-Jun-2000 |
Rascal Flatts
released their self
titled debut studio
album. The album
produced four
singles on the
Billboard
country charts in
"Prayin' for
Daylight", "This
Everyday Love",
"While You Loved Me"
and "I'm Movin' On",
all of which charted
in the Top Ten on
the Hot Country
Songs charts. |
| 15-Jun-2000 |
Tennessee governor
Don Sundquist made
this day - "Lynn
Anderson Day"
throughout the
state. The Grammy
Award winning star
has charted 11 #1
Country hits and was
the first female
country artist to
win an American
Music Award in
1974 |
| 18-Jun-2000 |
Chad Brock was at #1
on the Country chart
with "Yes!" the
second single from
his album of the
same name. The track
enjoyed three weeks
at the top of the
chart. |
| 24-Jun-2000 |
Dixie Chick Natalie
Maines married actor
Adrian Pasdar at The
Little White Wedding
Chapel in Las Vegas,
Nevada for 55
dollars. |
| 26-Jun-2000 |
Brad Paisley
released "We
Danced", the fourth
and final single
from his debut
album, Who Needs
Pictures. The
song reached the top
of the Billboard
Hot Country
Singles & Tracks. |
| 11-Jul-2000 |
Lee Ann Womack with
Sons of the Desert
was at #1 on the US
Country chart with
"I Hope You Dance"
which won a
Grammy Award
for Best Country
Song and was
nominated for Song
of the Year. |
| 12-Jul-2000 |
On the opening night
of the sold out Tim
McGraw and Faith
Hill Soul2Soul
Tour at the
Philips Arena in
Atlanta, so many
fans showed up
looking to get in
that the local
promoter opened up a
section behind the
stage and let the
fans in. |
| 17-Jul-2000 |
Tim McGraw released
"My Next Thirty
Years" as the fifth
single from McGraw's
A Place in the
Sun album. The
song reached #1 on
the Billboard
Hot Country Singles
& Tracks. |
| 27-Jul-2000 |
"I Hope You Dance"
by country singer
Lee Ann Womack with
Sons of the Desert
was at #1 on the
Country chart.
Considered to be
Womack's signature
song, "I Hope You
Dance" won the 2001
CMA, ACM, NSAI,
ASCAP and
BMI awards
for Song of the
Year. It also won
the Grammy
Award for Best
Country Song and was
nominated for Song
of the Year. |
| 9-Aug-2000 |
Dixie Chicks
released "Without
You" as the fifth
single from their
album Fly. In
January 2001, it hit
#1 on the US country
singles chart giving
them their fifth
Country #1. |
| 12-Aug-2000 |
Lonestar were at #1
on the country music
charts with "What
About Now", the
fourth single from
their 1999 album,
Lonely Grill. |
| 29-Aug-2000 |
John Michael
Montgomery released
"The Little Girl"
which featured
harmony vocals by
bluegrass musicians
Alison Krauss and
Dan Tyminski. It was
released as the lead
single from the
album Brand New
Me and became
Montgomery's seventh
#1 hit. |
| 17-Sep-2000 |
The Farm Aid 2000
benefit concert took
place at the Nissan
Pavilion, Nissan
Pavilion. 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:
Crosby, Stills, Nash
& Young, Arlo
Guthrie, Sawyer
Brown, Alan Jackson,
Travis Tritt,
Barenaked Ladies,
Tipper Gore and
Willie Nelson. |
| 22-Sep-2000 |
Jo Dee Messina was
at #1 on the Country
charts with "That's
the Way" the
lead-off single for
her album
Burn. The
song spent four
weeks at the top of
the Hot Country
Singles & Tracks
charts. She was the
first female country
artist to score
three multiple-week
#1 songs from the
same album, (the
1998 album I'm
Alright).
|
| 7-Oct-2000 |
George Strait was at
#1 on the US country
chart with his
self-titled album
which produced three
singles: "Go On",
"Don't Make Me Come
over There and Love
You" and "If You Can
Do Anything Else".
|
| 17-Oct-2000 |
American III:
Solitary Man was
released, the third
album in the
American series by
Johnny Cash, (and
his 85th overall
album). The album
was notable for
being Cash's highest
charting (#11
Country) solo studio
LP since his 1976,
One Piece at a
Time.
Solitary Man
featured versions of
"I Won't Back Down",
(Tom Petty), "One",
(U2), and "Solitary
Man", (Neil
Diamond).
|
| 26-Oct-2000 |
Garth Brooks
announced his plans
to retire from
touring during a
party to celebrate
his certification
for sales of 100
million albums at
Nashville's Gaylord
Entertainment
Center. |
| 7-Nov-2000 |
Alan Jackson
released his ninth
studio album When
Somebody Loves
You which became
his fifth US Country
#1. The album
featured the singles
"Where I Come From",
"www.memory", "When
Somebody Loves You",
and "It's Alright to
Be a Redneck." |
| 20-Nov-2000 |
Faith Hill was at #1
on the US Country
chart with
Breathe her
fourth studio album.
It won a
Grammy Award
for Best Country
Album and
Breathe is
one of the most
successful
country/pop albums
to date. It has
shipped over eight
million copies in
the US and the album
debuted at #1 on the
Billboard
200, a first for the
country artist. |
| 27-Nov-2000 |
Alan Jackson was at
#1 on the US country
chart with When
Somebody Loves
You. His ninth
studio album
produced the
singles: "Where I
Come From",
"www.memory", "When
Somebody Loves You",
and "It's Alright to
Be a Redneck." |
| 5-Dec-2000 |
The soundtrack to
O Brother, Where
Art Thou? was
released, which went
on to win a
Grammy Award
for Album of the
Year in 2002. Among
the artists
featured: Emmylou
Harris, Alison
Krauss, Dan
Tyminski, The
Whites, Gillian
Welch, John
Hartford, Ralph
Stanley, The Cox
Family and Norman
Blake. The film
written, directed
and produced by the
Coen Brothers
starred George
Clooney, John
Turturro, Tim Blake
Nelson, and John
Goodman. |
| 12-Dec-2000 |
Husband and wife,
Tim McGraw and Faith
Hill closed their
Soul2Soul 2000
Tour at the D
Waterhouse Centre,
Orlando. The tour
grossed nearly $50
million and was
witnessed by close
to 950,000 people. |
| 26-Dec-2000 |
Tim McGraw was at #1
on the US Country
chart with "My Next
Thirty Years", the
fifth and final
single from McGraw's
A Place in the
Sun album. |
| 8-Jan-2001 |
Faith Hill took home
three trophies at
the American
Music Awards at
the Shrine
Auditorium in Los
Angeles. Tim McGraw
won Favorite Country
Male, The Dixie
Chicks were named
Favorite Country
Band, and Billy
Gilman won Favorite
New Country Artist. |
| 12-Jan-2001 |
O Brother, Where
Art Thou? was
released in movie
theaters across the
US. The movie was
one of the first to
extensively use
digital color
correction, to give
the film a
sepia-tinted look.
The Soggy Bottom
Boys, the musical
group that the main
characters form,
serve as
accompaniment for
the film is a homage
to the Foggy
Mountain Boys, a
bluegrass band led
by Lester Flatt and
Earl Scruggs. |
| 18-Jan-2001 |
Inaugural
celebrations for
president George W.
Bush in Washington,
D.C., include
performances by
Lorrie Morgan, Sammy
Kershaw, Lee Ann
Womack and Brooks &
Dunn, who sang "Only
In America." |
| 22-Jan-2001 |
Tim McGraw was at #1
on the US Country
chart with
Greatest
Hits. All of the
songs, with the
exception of "Let's
Make Love" (a duet
with his wife, Faith
Hill), were released
on various albums by
the singer. Up to
2008, the album had
sold over six
million copies in
the US. |
| 26-Jan-2001 |
Reba McEntire took
over as Annie Oakley
in Annie Get Your
Gun at
Broadway's Marquis
Theatre, New York
City. |
| 1-Feb-2001 |
Country music
songwriter John
Jarrard died of
respiratory failure.
Jarred was affected
by diabetes,
eventually
undergoing a second
kidney transplant
and having both legs
amputated in 1997.
He wrote songs for
Alabama, George
Strait, Don
Williams, and
others. His first #
1 single as a
songwriter was
"Nobody but You" by
Don Williams. |
| 4-Feb-2001 |
Jimmy Buffett was
ejected from the
American Airlines
Arena in Miami
during a basketball
game between the
Miami Heat and the
New York Knicks for
cursing. The referee
who ejected Buffett
did not know who he
was, and got upset
at Heat coach Pat
Riley because he
thought Riley who
was trying to
explain to him who
Buffett was, was
insulting him by
asking if he had
ever been a
"Parrothead", the
nickname for Buffett
fans. |
| 17-Feb-2001 |
Brad Paisley was
inducted into the
Grand Ole Opry. He
was 28 years old
when he accepted the
invitation, becoming
the youngest member
ever to join. |
| 21-Feb-2001 |
At the 43rd Annual
Grammy Awards
held at Staples
Center, Los Angeles,
Faith Hill took home
Best Country Album
for the album
Breathe, Best
Female Country Vocal
Performance for the
song's title track
and for Best Country
Collaboration with
Vocals with Tim
McGraw for "Let's
Make Love".
|
| 24-Mar-2001 |
Toby Keith's father
was killed in a car
accident on
Interstate 35. On
December 25, 2007,
the family was
awarded $2.8 million
for the wrongful
death of H.K. Covel,
(Keith's father).
Elias and Pedro
Rodriguez, operators
of Rodriguez
Transportes of
Tulsa, and the
Republic Western
Insurance Co. were
found liable as they
failed to properly
equip the charter
bus with properly
working air brakes. |
| 8-Apr-2001 |
Singer, songwriter
Van Stephenson died
of cancer age 47. 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. |
| 17-Apr-2001 |
Brooks & Dunn scored
their third US #1
album with Steers
& Stripes. The
album produced three
#1 singles; "Ain't
Nothing 'bout You",
"Only in America"
and "The Long
Goodbye." |
| 24-Apr-2001 |
Curb Records
released Set This
Circus Down, the
sixth studio album
by Tim McGraw. The
four singles from
the album, "The
Cowboy in Me",
"Unbroken", "Angry
All the Time" and
"Grown Men Don't
Cry" all reached #1
on the Country
chart. |
| 27-Apr-2001 |
Monticello, Georgia,
renamed Highway 83
the Trisha Yearwood
Parkway, honoring
its most famous
former resident. |
| 29-May-2001 |
Brad Paisley
released his second
studio album Part
II. The title
for Paisley's second
album as well as the
songs on it were
inspired by the
movie, Father of
the Bride Part
II, the
follow-up to the
movie he went to see
on his first date
with a girl several
years before his
first record deal. |
| 4-Jun-2001 |
John Hartfod died at
Centennial Medical
Center in Nashville,
aged 63. An American
folk, country and
bluegrass composer
and musician known
for his mastery of
the fiddle and
banjo, Hartford
recorded over 30
albums, as well as
being featured on
the soundtrack to
the 2000 film O
Brother, Where Art
Thou? |
| 16-Jun-2001 |
Tim McGraw was at #1
on the
Billboard
country singles
chart with "Grown
Men Don't Cry", the
first single from
McGraw's Set This
Circus Down
album. |
| 19-Jun-2001 |
Lonestar released
their fourth album
I'm Already
There. Serving
as singles from this
album were the title
track (which spent
six weeks at #1 on
the Hot Country
Songs charts), "Not
a Day Goes By" (#3
on Hot Country
Songs), "With Me"
(#10), and
"Unusually Unusual"
(#12). |
| 22-Jun-2001 |
New York City
observes Reba
McEntire Day as the
singer ended her
five-month run on
Broadway in a
production of
Annie Get Your
Gun. Crystal
Bernard took over
McEntire's role in
the production. |
| 23-Jun-2001 |
Lonestar began a
six-week residence
at #1 on the country
chart with "I'm
Already There", the
lead-off single to
the band's fifth
album. |
| 25-Jun-2001 |
The Ryman Auditorium
in Nashville,
Tennessee, the home
of the Grand Ole
Opry from 1943 to
1974 was designated
a National Historic
Landmark. During its
tenure at Ryman
Auditorium, the Opry
hosted the biggest
country music stars
of the day, and the
show became known
around the world. |
| 30-Jun-2001 |
Chet Atkins died
after a long battle
with cancer. An
influential
guitarist & producer
who helped create
"The Nashville
Sound," he entered
the Country Music
Hall of Fame in
1973 and earned a
Lifetime Achievement
award from the
Grammys. A
stretch of
Interstate 185 in
southwest Georgia
(between LaGrange
and Columbus) is
named "Chet Atkins
Parkway." Clint
Black's album
Nothin' but the
Taillights
includes the song
"Ode to Chet".
|
| 9-Jul-2001 |
The Country Music
Association
unveiled 12 Hall of
Fame honorees: Bill
Anderson, Waylon
Jennings, Sam
Phillips, The Louvin
Brothers, The
Delmore Brothers,
The Jordanaires,
Webb Pierce, Don
Gibson, The Everly
Brothers, Don Law,
Ken Nelson and Homer
& Jethro. |
| 22-Jul-2001 |
Country music
songwriter and
record producer Bob
Ferguson died of
cancer age 73. 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." |
| 10-Aug-2001 |
Dixie Chick Martie
Erwin married Gareth
Maguire, a Roman
Catholic teacher and
actor from Northern
Ireland in a civil
ceremony in Hawaii. |
| 14-Aug-2001 |
Alison Krauss &
Union Station
released the album
New Favorite
which went on to win
the Grammy
Award for Best
Bluegrass Album and
the single "The
Lucky One" won the
Grammy Award
for Best Country
Performance by a Duo
or group. |
| 24-Aug-2001 |
Singer, songwriter,
June Carter Cash
underwent surgery to
have a pacemaker
installed. June died
two years later in
Nashville,
Tennessee, on May
15, 2003, of
complications
following heart
valve replacement
surgery, in the
company of her
family and her
husband of 35 years,
Johnny Cash. |
| 28-Aug-2001 |
Toby Keith released
his sixth studio
album Pull My
Chain which
became his first
Country #1 album.
All three of this
album's singles —
"I'm Just Talkin'
About Tonight", "I
Wanna Talk About
Me", and "My List"
were #1 hits on the
Hot Country Songs
charts |
| 11-Sep-2001 |
Filmmaker and music
video director
Carolyn Mayer Beug,
was one of the
passengers who died
when American
Airlines Flight 11
crashed into the
World Trade Center.
Also on the plane
with her was her
mother, Mary Alice
Wahlstrom. Beug had
directed several
music videos for
country singer
Dwight Yoakam. |
| 29-Sep-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. |
| 5-Oct-2001 |
Reba an
American sitcom
starring Reba
McEntire aired for
the first time. The
show was set in
Houston, Texas, and
featured Reba
McEntire as a
wisecracking single
mother Reba Nell
Hart, whose dentist
ex-husband Brock
(Christopher Rich)
has left her to
marry young, ditzy
Barbra Jean (Melissa
Peterman). The final
episode aired on
February 18, 2007. |
| 13-Nov-2001 |
Garth Brooks
released
Scarecrow his
ninth studio album
which debuted at #1
on the
Billboard 200
chart, and the Top
Country Albums
chart. Singles
released from this
album include "Beer
Run (B Double E
Double Are You In?)"
(a duet with George
Jones, "Wrapped Up
in You", and
"Squeeze Me In" (a
duet with Trisha
Yearwood). It was
the last album by
Brooks before his
ten-year hiatus. |
| 14-Nov-2001 |
CBS-TV aired
Garth Brooks:
Coast To Coast
Live from the
Los Angeles' Great
Western Forum. This
was the first of
three consecutive
Wednesday-night
concert specials,
the show also
featured Keb' Mo'
and Trisha Yearwood.
Brooks would see his
latest album
Scarecrow top
the Country charts
the following month. |
| 24-Nov-2001 |
Toby Keith's was at
#1 on
Billboard
country singles
chart with "I Wanna
Talk About Me". His
second single from
the album Pull My
Chain became his
seventh chart
topper. |
| 26-Nov-2001 |
Alan Jackson
released "Where Were
You (When the World
Stopped Turning)"
which became a #1
single on the US
Billboard Hot
Country Singles &
Tracks charts. The
song's lyrics center
on reactions to the
September 11 attacks
in the United
States, written in
the form of
questions. The song
won multiple awards
at the Academy of
Country Music
and Country Music
Association
Awards,
including Song of
the Year, and also
earned Jackson his
first Grammy
Award for Best
Country Song. |
| 27-Nov-2001 |
Reba McEntire was
nominated for a
People's Choice
Award for her
acting in the TV
series Reba.
During its five
seasons on the
Friday night lineup,
it often ranked 4th
in its timeslot,
with a few episodes
bringing in over 5
million viewers.
Reba was
broadcast worldwide
in over 30 different
countries. |
| 28-Nov-2001 |
Garth Brooks was at
#1 on the US Country
chart with
Scarecrow,
his ninth studio
album. Singles
released from this
album include "Beer
Run (B Double E
Double Are You In?)"
a duet with George
Jones, "Wrapped Up
in You", and
"Squeeze Me In" a
duet with Trisha
Yearwood. It was the
last album by Brooks
before his ten-year
hiatus. |
| 3-Dec-2001 |
American session
guitarist Grady
Martin died aged 72.
Member of the
legendary Nashville
A-Team, he played
guitar on hits
ranging from Roy
Orbison's "Oh,
Pretty Woman", Marty
Robbins' "El Paso"
and Loretta Lynn's
"Coal Miner's
Daughter". During a
50-year career,
Martin backed such
names as Elvis
Presley, Buddy
Holly, Woody
Guthrie, Arlo
Guthrie, Johnny
Cash, Patsy Cline,
Joan Baez and J. J.
Cale. |
| 15-Jan-2002 |
Alan Jackson
released his tenth
studio album
Drive which
became his sixth US
Country album. It
produced Jackson's
highest-debuting
single on the Hot
Country Songs charts
in the #1 hit,
"Where Were You
(When the World
Stopped Turning)", a
ballad written in
response to the
September 11, 2001
terrorist attacks. |
| 22-Jan-2002 |
The soundtrack album
O Brother, Where
Art Thou? was at
#1 on the US Country
music album chart.
The soundtrack of
music from the 2000
American film of the
same name, written,
directed and
produced by the Coen
Brothers and
starring George
Clooney, John
Turturro, Tim Blake
Nelson, and John
Goodman won the
Grammy Award
for Album of the
Year in 2002.
|
| 28-Jan-2002 |
Alan Jackson
released "Drive (For
Daddy Gene)" which
became his twentieth
#1 single on the US
Billboard Hot
Country Singles &
Tracks charts. |
| 13-Feb-2002 |
American country
singer, songwriter
Waylon Jennings died
in his sleep after a
lengthy fight with
diabetes. Jennings
was the bassist for
Buddy Holly
following the
break-up of The
Crickets and
released a series of
duet albums with
Willie Nelson in the
late 1970s. He
scored the 1980 US
#21 single "Theme
From The Dukes Of
Hazzard", and was
also the narrator on
the television
series. Jennings was
also a member of The
Highwaymen with
Willie Nelson,
Johnny Cash, and
Kris Kristofferson. |
| 14-Feb-2002 |
Forty couples are
married in a mass
Valentine's Day
ceremony in Newport
News, Virginia.
American country
music singer Steve
Holy performed his
#1 hit "Good Morning
Beautiful" for the
couples' first dance |
| 16-Feb-2002 |
Hank Williams Jr.
made his first
appearance on the
Grand Ole Opry in
more than 20 years,
joining Travis Tritt
and Marty Stuart to
pay tribute to the
late Waylon Jennings
(who had died a few
days earlier on
February 13), for
more than an hour at
Nashville's Ryman
Auditorium. |
| 27-Feb-2002 |
Country music
winners at the 44th
Annual Grammy
Awards were held at
Staples Center, Los
Angeles included;
Best Female Country
Vocal Performance -
Dolly Parton for
"Shine", Best Male
Country Vocal
Performance - Ralph
Stanley for "O
Death", Best Country
Performance by a Duo
or Group with Vocal
- Alison Krauss &
Union Station for
"The Lucky One" and
Best Country Song -
Robert Lee Castleman
(songwriter) for
"The Lucky One"
performed by Alison
Krauss & Union
Station.
|
| 27-Feb-2002 |
Alan Jackson was at
#1 on the US Country
music album chart
with his tenth
studio album
Drive. The
album produced
Jackson's
highest-debuting
single on the Hot
Country Songs charts
in the #1 "Where
Were You (When the
World Stopped
Turning)", a ballad
written in response
to the September 11,
2001 terrorist
attacks. "Drive (For
Daddy Gene)", "Work
in Progress", and
"That'd Be Alright"
were also released
as singles, peaking
at #1, #3, and #2,
respectively. |
| 3-Mar-2002 |
George Strait played
at the Houston
Livestock & Rodeo
Show concert held at
Houston's Astrodome,
to more than 68,000
fans. He dedicated
"Love Without End,
Amen" to George and
Barbara Bush, who
are part of the
crowd. The rodeo has
drawn some of the
world's biggest
recording artists,
including Elvis
Presley, Bob Dylan,
Brooks & Dunn,
George Strait, Garth
Brooks, Keith Urban
and Willie Nelson. |
| 3-Mar-2002 |
American songwriter
Harlan Howard died
aged 74. 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. |
| 27-Mar-2002 |
Lyle Lovett was
rushed to Houston's
Memorial Hermann
Hospital after his
leg was broken in 20
places when a bull
trampled him. The
Country star was
working on his
uncle's Texas ranch
at the time of the
accident; Lovett was
injured when trying
to protect his
uncle, who was
flipped by the bull. |
| 29-Mar-2002 |
The American
thriller film
Panic Room
directed by David
Fincher was
released. The film
stars Jodie Foster
and Kristen Stewart
as a mother and
daughter whose new
home is invaded by
burglars, played by
Forest Whitaker,
Jared Leto, and
Dwight Yoakam. |
| 2-Apr-2002 |
Marty Stuart was
arrested in
Hendersonville,
Tennessee, and
charged with DUI.
Hendersonville
police said Stuart
was picked up and
charged with one
count of DUI and one
count of violation
of the implied
consent law. Police
said a call came in
to them reporting
that Stuart had been
seen intoxicated in
a local retail
store. |
| 23-Apr-2002 |
Kenny Chesney
released No
Shoes, No Shirt, No
Problems which
became his first US
Country #1 album. It
produced five
singles on the US
Billboard Hot
Country Songs chart
between 2001 and
2003. In 2004, the
album was certified
quadruple platinum
by the Recording
Industry Association
of America (RIAA)
for sales of over
four million copies
in the United
States. |
| 29-Apr-2002 |
Alison Krauss &
Union Station
started a two-night
run at the Palace
Theater in
Louisville,
Kentucky. The shows
were recorded for a
concert album,
Alison Krauss &
Union Station -
Live. |
| 6-May-2002 |
Kenny Chesney
released "The Good
Stuff" which became
his fifth #1 hit on
the US
Billboard Hot
Country Singles &
Tracks charts. The
track stayed at the
top of the charts
for seven weeks. |
| 7-May-2002 |
O Brother, Where
Art Thou?
soundtrack was
certified for
shipments of 6
million. The
soundtrack features:
Emmylou Harris,
Alison Krauss,
Emmylou Harris, The
Soggy Bottom Boys,
The Whites, John
Hartford, Ralph
Stanley, and The Cox
Family. |
| 4-Jun-2002 |
Kenny Chesney's
seventh album No
Shoes, No Shirt, No
Problems album
went gold and
platinum. It
produced five chart
singles on the
Billboard
country music charts
between 2002 and
2003: "The Good
Stuff" was the
biggest hit of
Chesney's career at
the time, not only
spending seven weeks
at the top of the
country charts, but
also becoming
Billboard's
#1 country single of
2002. |
| 24-Jun-2002 |
Rascal Flatts
released "These
Days" which became
their first #1 hit
on the US
Billboard Hot
Country Singles &
Tracks. The track
was the first single
from the band’s
2002 album
Melt. |
| 10-Jul-2002 |
Dolly Parton kicked
off her first major
concert tour in 10
years at the Irving
Plaza in New York
City. The Halos &
Horns Tour was
to promote the
release of her
latest album
Halos &
Horns. |
| 14-Jul-2002 |
Kenny Chesney's
seventh album No
Shoes, No Shirt, No
Problems was at
#1 on the Country
charts. It produced
five chart singles
on the
Billboard
country music charts
between 2002 and
2003: "The Good
Stuff" was the
biggest hit of
Chesney's career at
the time, not only
spending seven weeks
at the top of the
country charts, but
also becoming
Billboard's
#1 country single of
2002. |
| 27-Aug-2002 |
Dixie Chicks
released their sixth
studio album
Home, which
is dominated by
up-tempo bluegrass
and pensive ballads.
In addition, the
text of the opening
track and first
single, "Long Time
Gone", was a pointed
criticism of
contemporary country
music radio,
accusing it of
ignoring the soul of
the genre as
exemplified by Merle
Haggard, Johnny
Cash, and Hank
Williams. |
| 29-Aug-2002 |
Alan Jackson
collected 10
nominations for the
36th annual
Country Music
Association
awards, breaking a
32-year-old record
held by Merle
Haggard. |
| 21-Sep-2002 |
The Farm Aid
02, benefit
concert took place
at the Post-Gazette
Pavilion,
Burgettstown,
Pennsylvania. 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, Keith
Urban, Lee Ann
Womack, Kid Rock,
Gillian Welch, Kenny
Wayne Shepherd with
Double Trouble, The
Drive-By Truckers,
Los Lonely Boys and
Anthony Smith. |
| 26-Sep-2002 |
Doug Supernaw was
arrested after
police said he
attacked five
officers during a
scuffle outside a
Brenham bar. The
singer was held on
charges of
assaulting a police
officer, public
intoxication and
resisting arrest.
Supernaw, who was
celebrating his 42nd
birthday, was held
on a $11,150 bond.
His song "I Don't
Call Him Daddy" was
nominated for video
of the year by the
Academy of
Country Music. |
| 15-Oct-2002 |
Faith Hill released
Cry, her
fifth studio album
which has gone on to
sell over 4 million
copies worldwide.
Hill has publicly
stated that, of all
the albums she has
recorded, Cry
is her favorite. |
| 29-Oct-2002 |
Rascal Flatts
released their
second studio album
Melt which
became their first
US #1 Country album.
The lead-off single
"These Days" was the
group's first #1
hit on the
Billboard Hot
Country Songs
charts. |
| 5-Nov-2002 |
American IV: The
Man Comes Around
was released in
the US, the fourth
album in the
American series by
Johnny Cash, (and
his 87th overall).
The album won Album
of the Year at the
2003 CMA
Awards and the
video for "Hurt", (a
song written by
Trent Reznor of Nine
Inch Nails), was
nominated in seven
categories at the
2003 MTV Video
Music Awards and
won the award for
Best Cinematography.
In February 2003,
mere days before his
71st birthday, Cash
won another
Grammy Award
for Best Country
Male Vocal
Performance for
"Give My Love To
Rose," a song Cash
had originally
recorded in the late
1950s. The music
video for "Hurt"
also won a
Grammy for
Best Short Form
Video at the 2004
Awards. |
| 5-Nov-2002 |
|
| 18-Nov-2002 |
Shania Twain
released her fourth
studio album
Up! The album
debuted at #1 on
both the Top Country
Albums chart and the
Billboard
200, after selling
874,000 copies in
its first full week
of release, it then
stayed in the Top
100 of the
Billboard
chart for more than
60 weeks. |
| 25-Nov-2002 |
Randy Travis
released "Three
Wooden Crosses" from
his album, Rise
and Shine. The
song became Travis'
sixteenth #1 Country
single, his first
since "Whisper My
Name" in 1994. The
track was named Song
of the Year by the
Country Music
Association in
2003 and won a
Dove Award
from the Gospel
Music
Association as
Country Song of the
Year in 2004. |
| 26-Nov-2002 |
Curb Records
released Tim
McGraw and the
Dancehall
Doctors, the
singers eighth album
and the first to
feature his band The
Dancehall Doctors.
Two songs from the
album featured in
the movie Black
Cloud, which
starred McGraw. |
| 2-Dec-2002 |
Kenny Chesney's
No Shoes, No
Shirt, No
Problems album
was certified
double-platinum in
the US. His seventh
album produced five
chart singles on the
Billboard
country music charts
between 2002 and
2003 and has now
sold over 4m copies
in the US alone. |
| 6-Dec-2002 |
"These Days" by
Rascal Flatts was at
#1 on the US Country
charts. The track
which was lifted
from their album
Melt became
the group's first #1
hit. |
| 7-Dec-2002 |
Shania Twain was at
#1 on the US Country
chart with her
fourth studio album
Up! The album
debuted at #1 on
both the Top Country
Albums chart and the
Billboard
200, after
selling 874,000
copies in its first
full week of
release, it then
stayed in the Top
100 of the
Billboard
chart for more than
60 weeks. |
| 12-Dec-2002 |
Singer-songwriter
Carlene Carter was
freed on $5,000 bond
after being arrested
near Nashville on
two charges of
identity theft.
Carter, was accused
of using the
identity of a former
boyfriend to fill
two prescriptions
for Zoloft, an
anti-depressant. He
former boyfriend
Francis Reidy had
been killed in an
automobile accident
a few weeks before
Carter allegedly
attempted to fill
the prescription. |
| 20-Dec-2002 |
Dixie Chicks
released "Travelin'
Soldier" from their
album Home.
It became the
group's sixth single
to reach #1 on the
Billboard Hot
Country Singles &
Tracks. The song was
written and
originally recorded
by country artist
Bruce Robison in
1996 and was later
recorded by Ty
England on his 1999
album, Highways &
Dance Halls. |
| 31-Dec-2002 |
Shania Twain was at
#1 on the US Country
chart with her
fourth studio album
Up! The album
debuted at #1 on
both the Top Country
Albums chart and the
Billboard
200, after selling
874,000 copies in
its first full week
of release, it then
stayed in the Top
100 of the
Billboard
chart for more than
60 weeks. |
| 2-Jan-2003 |
Shania Twain was at
#1 on the US Country
chart with her
fourth studio album
Up! The album
debuted at #1 on
both the Top Country
Albums chart and the
Billboard
200, after selling
874,000 copies in
its first full week
of release, it then
stayed in the Top
100 of the
Billboard
chart for more than
60 weeks. |
| 13-Feb-2003 |
Earl Scruggs
received a star on
the Hollywood
Walk of Fame.
Also in this year,
he and his musical
partner Lester Flatt
were ranked #24 on
CMT's 40 Greatest
Men of Country
Music. |
| 18-Feb-2003 |
Country singer
Johnny Paycheck died
at the age of 64. He
had been in a
nursing home,
suffering from
emphysema and
asthma. During his
career, Paycheck
recorded 70 albums
and had more than
two dozen hit
singles, the biggest
of which was the
working man's
anthem, "Take This
Job and Shove It".
|
| 23-Feb-2003 |
Country music
winners at the 45th
Annual Grammy
Awards held at
Madison Square
Garden, New York
City included; Faith
Hill who won Best
Female Country Vocal
Performance for
"Cry", Best Male
Country Vocal
Performance went to
Johnny Cash for
"Give My Love to
Rose", Best Country
Performance by a
Group went to Dixie
Chicks for "Long
Time Gone."
|
| 10-Mar-2003 |
Johnny Cash was
admitted to Baptist
Hospital in
Nashville, Tennessee
to undergo treatment
for pneumonia. |
| 10-Mar-2003 |
During a concert in
London, England,
Dixie Chicks lead
singer Natalie
Maines said that the
band was "ashamed
the President of the
United States is
from Texas"
(referring to
Maines' hometown of
Lubbock and
President Bush
hailing from the
same state). This
was during the
run-up to the
invasion of Iraq,
the comment sparked
intense controversy
and outrage among
Americans, including
a large share of
country music fans. |
| 14-Mar-2003 |
Dixie Chick Natalie
Maines issued an
apology after she
made a comment about
United States
President George W.
Bush regarding the
current situation in
Iraq: "As a
concerned American
citizen, I apologize
to President Bush
because my remark
was disrespectful. I
feel that whoever
holds that office
should be treated
with the utmost
respect. We are
currently in Europe
and witnessing a
huge anti-American
sentiment as a
result of the
perceived rush to
war. While war may
remain a viable
option, as a mother,
I just want to see
every possible
alternative
exhausted before
children and
American soldiers'
lives are lost. I
love my country. I
am a proud
American." |
| 22-Mar-2003 |
Dixie Chicks were at
#1 on the country
charts with
Home, their
sixth studio album.
The group was
promoting this album
when lead singer
Natalie Maines made
controversial
comments about US
President George W.
Bush. The album's
third single,
"Travelin' Soldier",
was #1 on the
Billboard
Country Chart the
week that Maines'
comments hit the
press. The following
week, many stations
started a
still-standing
boycott of the
Chicks' music.
|
| 10-Apr-2003 |
Former Oak Ridge
Boys member Noel Fox
died at a Nashville
hospital following a
series of strokes
aged 63. Fox sang
with the Oak Ridge
boys until 1972, and
later became a music
business executive. |
| 11-Apr-2003 |
During a business
dinner record
producer Tony Brown
(Reba McEntire,
Vince Gill, and
George Strait), fell
down a flight of
stairs, resulting in
a brain injury. He
underwent two
surgeries and fully
recovered. |
| 19-Apr-2003 |
Loretta Lynn
performed a sold-out
show at New York's
Hammerstein Ballroom
with rock duo The
White Stripes. She
decided to do the
concert after
hearing their
version of her 1972
song "Rated 'X'" |
| 22-Apr-2003 |
Songwriter Felice
Bryant died of
cancer. She wrote
many hits with her
husband Boudleaux
including; The
Everly Brothers,
"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
& Garfunkel,
Grateful Dead, Dolly
Parton, Elvis
Presley, Beach Boys,
Roy Orbison, Elvis
Costello, Count
Basie, Dean Martin,
Ruth Brown, Cher,
and Ray Charles. |
| 24-Apr-2003 |
Dixie Chicks
launched a publicity
campaign to explain
their position after
the controversy of
Natalie Maines
statement regading
the Iraq war. During
a prime-time
interview with TV
personality Diane
Sawyer, Maines said
she remained proud
of her original
statement. The band
also appeared naked
(with private parts
strategically
covered) on the
current cover of
Entertainment Weekly
magazine, with
slogans such as
"Traitors",
"Saddam's Angels",
"Dixie Sluts",
"Proud Americans",
"Hero", "Free
Speech", and "Brave"
printed on their
bodies. The slogans
represented the
labels (both
positive and
negative) that had
been placed on them
in the aftermath of
Maines' statement. |
| 2-May-2003 |
The Dixie Chicks
appeared naked on
the cover of
Entertainment
Weekly, with
words such as
"boycott,"
"traitors" and "free
speech" superimposed
on their bodies. The
feature related to
the controversy that
came from an
anti-Bush comment by
band member Natalie
Maines. |
| 6-May-2003 |
After the
controversy regading
Dixie Chicks member
Natalie Maines'
comments about
President George W.
Bush and the Iraq
war, a Colorado
radio station
suspended two of its
disc jockeys for
playing music by
Dixie Chicks. |
| 15-May-2003 |
Country singer June
Carter Cash, the
second wife of
Johnny Cash, died in
Nashville,
Tennessee, of
complications
following heart
valve replacement
surgery, aged 73. As
a member of the
Carter Family, she
had hits with Johnny
Cash, including
Grammy Award
winning song,
"Jackson", "Ring Of
Fire", (which she
co-wrote about their
courtship), and "If
I Were A Carpenter."
|
| 18-May-2003 |
The funeral for June
Carter Cash was held
at the First Baptist
Church in
Hendersonville,
Tennessee. A
wheelchair-bound
Johnny Cash sat in
the front row, along
with Hank Williams
Jr., Tom T. Hall,
Kris Kristofferson,
Rodney Crowell,
Marty Stuart, Connie
Smith, Trisha
Yearwood and Ricky
Skaggs. Emmylou
Harris, Larry
Gatlin, The Oak
Ridge Boys and
Sheryl Crow all
performed at the
memorial. |
| 21-May-2003 |
Winners at the 38th
Annual Academy
of Country Music
Awards hosted by
Reba McEntire
included:
Entertainer of the
Year - Toby Keith,
Top Male Vocalist -
Kenny Chesney, Top
Female Vocalist -
Martina McBride, Top
New Male Vocalist -
Joe Nichols, Top
Vocal Group - Rascal
Flatts, Video of the
Year went to Alan
Jackson for "Drive
(For Daddy Gene)"
and Single Record of
the Year was won by
Kenny Chesney "The
Good Stuff." |
| 22-May-2003 |
At the Academy of
Country Music
awards ceremony in
Las Vegas, there
were boos when the
Dixie Chicks'
nomination for
Entertainer of the
Year award was
announced, (after
Natalie Maines'
comment about George
Bush), however, the
broadcast's host,
Vince Gill, reminded
the audience that
everyone was
entitled to freedom
of speech. |
| 2-Jun-2003 |
"It's Five O'Clock
Somewhere" by Alan
Jackson and Jimmy
Buffett was
released. Written by
Jim "Moose" Brown
and Don Rollins it
spent eight
non-consecutive
weeks at #1 on the
Billboard Hot
Country Songs chart.
It also won the
Country Music
Association (CMA)
Award for Vocal
Event of the Year.
The song became the
#3 country song of
the decade on
Billboard's
Hot Country Songs
Chart. It also
became the biggest
pop hit for Jackson
and the first top
forty hit for
Buffett since the
1970s. |
| 8-Jun-2003 |
Tammy Wynette's
"Stand By Your Man"
was ranked #1 in
CMT's 100
Greatest Songs Of
Country Music.
Ex-husband George
Jones was placed at
#2, with "He Stopped
Loving Her Today."
Followed by "Crazy",
Patsy Cline, "Ring
of Fire", Johnny
Cash, "Your Cheatin'
Heart", Hank
Williams, "Friends
in Low Places",
Friends in Low
Places, "I Fall to
Pieces", Patsy
Cline, "Galveston",
Glen Campbell,
"Behind Closed
Doors", Behind
Closed Doors and
"Mammas Don't Let
Your Babies Grow Up
to Be Cowboys",
Waylon Jennings &
Willie Nelson. |
| 11-Jun-2003 |
Country Music
magazine announced
that it would cease
publication,
effective with the
August - September
2003 issue. The
final issue's cover
artist was Martina
McBride, as part of
a salute to women in
country music. The
magazine's sister
publication,
Country
Weekly, which
had largely taken
over the market for
country
music-related
journalism, picked
up part of the slack
left by the closure
of Country
Music, both of
which were published
by American Media
Inc. |
| 5-Jul-2003 |
Johnny Cash made his
last ever live
performance when he
appeared at the
Carter Ranch. Before
singing "Ring of
Fire", Cash read a
statement about his
late wife that he
had written shortly
before taking the
stage: "The spirit
of June Carter
overshadows me
tonight with the
love she had for me
and the love I have
for her. We connect
somewhere between
here and heaven. She
came down for a
short visit, I
guess, from heaven
to visit with me
tonight to give me
courage and
inspiration like she
always has." Cash
died on Sept 12th of
this year. |
| 6-Jul-2003 |
The Dixie Chicks
performed a concert
at Dallas' American
Airlines Center
despite an anonymous
threat that group
member Natalie
Maines would be shot
on stage, (after the
controversy regading
her comments about
President George W.
Bush, and the Iraq
war). Maines had a
police escort to and
from the show and
then directly to the
airport. |
| 15-Jul-2003 |
Johnny Cash made his
first public
appearance since the
funeral for his
wife, June Carter.
It also turned out
to be his last ever
public performance.
Along with son John
Carter Cash, he
performed "Folsom
Prison Blues", "Ring
Of Fire",
"Understand Your
Man" in Hiltons,
Virginia. |
| 21-Jul-2003 |
The Rascal Flatts
video, "I Melt,"
came under fire by
conservative groups
because it contained
brief scenes of
nudity, (guitarist
Joe Don Rooney's
bare buttocks, and
model Christina
Auria taking a
shower in the nude).
Groups called for
the video to be
banned from airplay
on CMT and
Great American
Country.
Eventually, Rascal
Flatts released an
edited version of
the video, which
aired during daytime
hours on the two
country
music-oriented
networks. |
| 22-Jul-2003 |
Brad Paisley
released his third
studio album Mud
on the Tires
which became his
first US #1 Country
album. It produced
four hit singles on
the Billboard
Hot Country Singles
& Tracks as well as
the #1 title track. |
| 24-Jul-2003 |
Johnny Cash picked
up six nominations
in the MTV Video
Music Awards for
his remake of Nine
Inch Nails' "Hurt"
from his album,
American IV: The Man
Comes Around. The
video, featuring
images from Cash's
life and directed by
Mark Romanek, was
also named the best
video of the year by
the Grammy
Awards and
CMA Awards,
and the best video
of all time by
NME. |
| 25-Jul-2003 |
Refering to Dixie
Chick Natalie
Maines' comment
about United States
President George W.
Bush and the current
situation in Iraq:
Merle Haggard, who
had released a song
critical of US media
coverage of the Iraq
War, issued a press
statement saying: "I
don't even know the
Dixie Chicks, but I
find it an insult
for all the men and
women who fought and
died in past wars
when almost the
majority of America
jumped down their
throats for voicing
an opinion. It was
like a verbal
witch-hunt and
lynching." |
| 30-Jul-2003 |
Sam Phillips the
founder of Sun
Records and studio
died of respiratory
failure at St.
Francis Hospital in
Memphis, Tennessee.
In the 1940s,
Phillips worked as a
DJ for Muscle
Shoals, Alabama
radio station WLAY.
Phillips recorded
what some consider
to be the first rock
and roll record,
"Rocket 88" by
Jackie Brenston and
his Delta Cats in
1951. He discovered
Elvis Presley,
worked with Carl
Perkins, Johnny
Cash, Roy Orbison,
Ike Turner, B.B.
King and Jerry Lee
Lewis. |
| 2-Aug-2003 |
Brooks & Dunn were
at #1 on the
Billboard
country singles
chart with "Red Dirt
Road", the title
tack from the album
of the same name. |
| 9-Aug-2003 |
Alan Jackson and
Jimmy Buffett were
at #1 on the
Billboard
country singles
chart with the Jim
"Moose" Brown and
Don Rollins penned
song, "It's Five
O'Clock Somewhere".
The song spent a
total of eight weeks
at the top of the
chart and won the
Country Music
Association
(CMA) Award for
Vocal Event of the
Year. |
| 14-Aug-2003 |
Toby Keith and
Scotty Emerick
performed for 25,000
troops and president
George W. Bush at
Miramar Marine Air
Corps Station near
San Diego. |
| 15-Aug-2003 |
American bluegrass
fiddler Mack Magaha
died age 74. He is
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. |
| 18-Aug-2003 |
Alan Jackson and
Jimmy Buffett were
at #1 on the
Billboard
country singles
chart with the Jim
"Moose" Brown and
Don Rollins penned
song, "It's Five
O'Clock Somewhere".
The song spent a
total of eight weeks
at the top of the
chart and won the
Country Music
Association
(CMA) Award for
Vocal Event of the
Year.
|
| 22-Aug-2003 |
Floyd Tillman the
American country
musician died. In
the 1930s and 1940s
he 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. His only #1
one song as a singer
was "They Took the
Stars Out of
Heaven". It reached
the top of the
charts in 1944. |
| 2-Sep-2003 |
Alan Jackson and
Jimmy Buffett were
at #1 on the
Billboard
country singles
chart with the Jim
"Moose" Brown and
Don Rollins penned
song, "It's Five
O'Clock Somewhere".
The song spent a
total of eight weeks
at the top of the
chart and won the
Country Music
Association
(CMA) Award for
Vocal Event of the
Year. |
| 7-Sep-2003 |
The Farm Aid
03, benefit
concert took place
at the Germain
Amphitheater,
Columbus, Ohio. 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, Neil Young
and Crazy Horse,
Emmylou Harris,
Hootie & the
Blowfish, Los Lonely
Boys, Sheryl Crow,
Brooks & Dunn, Titty
Bingo, Trick Pony,
Billy Bob Thornton
and Daniel Lanois. |
| 12-Sep-2003 |
Johnny Cash, US
singer songwriter
died of respiratory
failure aged 71.
Widely considered
one of the most
influential American
musicians of the
20th century, he was
known as The Man
in Black. Cash
traditionally
started all his
concerts by saying,
"Hello, I'm Johnny
Cash." His
best-known songs
included "I Walk the
Line", "Folsom
Prison Blues", "Ring
of Fire", "Get
Rhythm" and "Man in
Black." Cash also
had his own US TV
show in late 60's -
early 70's. |
| 14-Sep-2003 |
Alan Jackson and
Jimmy Buffett were
at #1 on the
Billboard
country singles
chart with the Jim
"Moose" Brown and
Don Rollins penned
song, "It's Five
O'Clock Somewhere".
The song spent a
total of eight weeks
at the top of the
chart and won the
Country Music
Association
(CMA) Award for
Vocal Event of the
Year. |
| 15-Sep-2003 |
Miranda Lambert
signed with Epic
Records. She gained
fame as a finalist
on the 2003 season
of Nashville
Star, where she
finished in third
place and made her
debut with the
release of "Me and
Charlie Talking",
the first single
from her 2005 debut
album
Kerosene. |
| 16-Sep-2003 |
Sheb Wooley the
singer, songwriter
and actor best known
for his 1958 novelty
song "Purple People
Eater" died in
Nashville,
Tennessee. 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. |
| 19-Sep-2003 |
Australian country
music
singer-songwriter
David Gordon "Slim
Dusty" Kirkpatrick
died aged 76. He
sold more than five
million albums and
singles in
Australia. |
| 23-Sep-2003 |
Johnny Cash released
A Concert: Behind
Prison Walls his
54th overal album
and a live album
recorded in the
Tenessee Prison
1976. The album
features Cash with
his backing band the
Tennessee Three, but
also features
performances by
Linda Ronstadt, Roy
Clark, and Foster
Brooks. The album
was not released
until this year. |
| 11-Oct-2003 |
Benjamin David
Hodges was freed on
$5,000 bond after
police in
Tuscaloosa, Alabama,
arrested him for
shooting out the
window of a tour bus
used by Pat Green's
band. He was charged
with shooting a gun
into an occupied
vehicle, while the
bus was parked on
the street which
shattered the
driver's side
window. |
| 17-Oct-2003 |
A longtime golf
enthusiast, singer
Anne Murray made
history at the
Turning Stone Resort
& Casino in Verona,
New York, by
becoming the first
woman to score a
hole-in-one on the
108 - yard, par 3,
17th hole at the
Kaluhyat Golf Club. |
| 25-Oct-2003 |
Johnny Cash's
step-daughter, Rosey
Nix Adams and her
fiddle player Jimmy
Campbell were found
dead on their tour
bus in Clarksville,
Tennessee from
Carbon monoxide
poisoning. Heaters
that had been left
on in the converted
school bus were
blamed for the
accident. Campbell
was also a regular
member of Nashville
band, The Sidemen
and performed with
bluegrass great Bill
Monroe and Jim and
Jesse. |
| 27-Oct-2003 |
Alan Jackson
released "Remember
When" which went to
#1 on the US
Billboard Hot
Country Singles &
Tracks charts. The
song became
Jackson's
twenty-second US
Country #1 hit. |
| 4-Nov-2003 |
Dolly Parton was
honored as a BMI
Icon at the 2003
BMI Country
Awards. She has
earned over 35
BMI Pop and
Country Awards
throughout her
prolific songwriting
career. |
| 5-Nov-2003 |
"It's Five O'Clock
Somewhere" by Alan
Jackson with Jimmy
Buffett, and written
by Jim "Moose" Brown
and Don Rollins won
the Country Music
Association
(CMA) Award for
Vocal Event of the
Year. The song
became the #3
country song of the
decade on
Billboard's
Hot Country Songs
Chart. |
| 13-Nov-2003 |
Wynonna Judd was
arrested for drunk
driving near
Nashville, Tennessee
after being pulled
over for driving 47
miles per hour in a
30 mile per hour
zone. After
consenting to a
Breathalyzer, Judd
blew a .175 - more
than twice the
state's legal limit
of 0.08 percent. |
| 17-Nov-2003 |
American country
music legend Don
Gibson died of
natural causes aged
75. He Scored the
1958 US #7 single
'Oh Lonesome Me',
(covered by Neil
Young on his
After The Gold
Rush album). His
song "I Can't Stop
Loving You", has
been recorded by
over 700 artists,
most notably by Ray
Charles in 1962.
Gibson was nicknamed
'The Sad Poet'
because he
frequently wrote
songs that told of
loneliness and lost
love. |
| 25-Nov-2003 |
Glen Campbell was
arrested in Phoenix
Arizona with a blood
alcohol level of .20
after his BMW struck
a Toyota Camry. He
was charged with
'extreme' drunk
driving, hit and
run, and assaulting
a police officer. A
police officer
reported that while
in custody, Campbell
hummed his hit
"Rhinestone Cowboy"
repeatedly.
|
| 26-Nov-2003 |
Glen Campbell issued
an public apology to
his family and fans
after being arrested
on charges of
driving drunk and
kicking a police
officer."Yesterday,
I was arrested and
put in jail," he
said in a statement
issued through his
publicist. "Even at
my age, I learned a
valuable lesson. I
apologize to my
wife, my family, my
friends and my
fans." |
| 27-Nov-2003 |
During a
Thanksgiving Day
game at Texas
Stadium in Irving,
Toby Keith performed
"Beer For My
Horses," "Courtesy
Of The Red, White
And Blue" and "How
Do You Like Me
Now?!" |
| 4-Dec-2003 |
Ricky Skaggs
received five
nominations for the
annual Grammy
awards, more than
any other country
artist, he went on
to win Best Country
Performance By A Duo
or Group With Vocal
for "A Simple Life." |
| 16-Dec-2003 |
Singer songwriter
Gary Stewart died of
a self-inflicted
gunshot wound.
Stewart's friends
later told reporters
that he was
extremely despondent
after the death of
his wife the
previous month.
Stewart had scored
the 1975 US #1
Country hit "She's
Actin' Single (I'm
Drinkin' Doubles)."
|
| 17-Dec-2003 |
Wynonna Judd who was
arrested for drunk
driving near
Nashville,
Tennessee, lost her
driver's license for
one year and was
orderd to perform
200 hours of
community service.
Judd, was pulled
over on Nov 13 for
driving 47 miles per
hour in a 30 mile
per hour zone. After
consenting to a
Breathalyzer, Judd
blew a .175 - more
than twice the
state's legal limit
of 0.08 percent. |
| 18-Dec-2003 |
Reba McEntire won a
Golden Globe
nomination for best
actress in a musical
or comedy series,
for her work in the
WB's Reba.
Among her
competition for the
prize was: Will
And Grace star
Debra Messing and
Sex In The
City actress
Sarah Jessica
Parker. |
| 23-Dec-2003 |
The John F.
Kennedy Center
for the Performing
Arts honored Loretta
Lynn for her
lifetime
contributions to the
arts.
|
| 27-Dec-2003 |
Kenny Chesney was at
#1 on the Country
charts with "There
Goes My Life",
written by Wendell
Mobley and Neil
Thrasher, the song
spent 20 weeks on
the chart. |
| 5-Jan-2004 |
Toby Keith was at #1
on the US Country
chart with
Shock'n
Y'all, his
eighth studio album.
"I Love This Bar",
"American Soldier"
and "Whiskey Girl"
were the three
tracks from the
album to be released
as singles, and all
reached #1 on the
Hot Country Songs
charts. "I Love This
Bar" inspired a
chain of restaurants
that Keith launched
under the name I
Love This Bar And
Grill.
|
| 9-Jan-2004 |
Songwriter Hugh
Prestwood faced
criminal charges in
New York after
authorities at Long
Island MacArthur
Airport discovered a
loaded.38-caliber
revolver in his
carry-on luggage.
Prestwood's songs
include Trisha
Yearwood's "The Song
Remembers When" and
Randy Travis' "Hard
Rock Bottom of Your
Heart." |
| 27-Jan-2004 |
Two songs performed
by Alison Krauss in
the movie Cold
Mountain earned
Oscar
nominations for the
songwriters: "You
Will Be My Ain True
Love," written by
Sting; and "The
Scarlet Tide," by T
Bone Burnett and
Elvis Costello. The
film based on the
bestselling novel of
the same name by
Charles Frazier,
tells the story of a
wounded deserter
from the Confederate
army close to the
end of the American
Civil War who is on
his way to return to
the love of his
life, Ada Monroe.
|
| 28-Jan-2004 |
Shock'n Y'all
the eighth studio
album by Toby Keith
was at #1 on the US
Country chart. The
album has been
certified 4 x
Platinum in the US
for shipments in
excess of 4 million
units.
|
| 8-Feb-2004 |
Country music
winners at the 46th
Annual Grammy
Awards included;
June Carter Cash who
won Best Female
Country Vocal
Performance for
"Keep on the Sunny
Side", Best Male
Country Vocal
Performance went to
Vince Gill for "Next
Big Thing", Best
Country Performance
by a Duo or Group
was Ricky Skaggs &
Kentucky Thunder for
"A Simple Life",
and Best Country
Song
went to Jim Moose
Brown & Don Rollins
(songwriters) for
"It's Five O'Clock
Somewhere" performed
by Alan Jackson &
Jimmy Buffett.
|
| 19-Feb-2004 |
Johnny Cash's family
blocked an attempt
by advertisers to
use his hit song
"Ring of Fire" to
promote
haemorrhoid-relief
products. The idea
is said to have been
backed by Merle
Kilgore, who
co-wrote the song
with Cash's wife,
June Carter Cash.
Cash's daughter
Rosanne said the
family "would never
allow the song to be
demeaned like that."
|
| 14-Apr-2004 |
Dolly Parton was
awarded the Living
Legend Medal by the
US Library of
Congress for her
contributions to the
cultural heritage of
the United States. |
| 17-Apr-2004 |
Country music duo
The Judds made their
Grand Ole Opry
debut, performing
"Flies On The Butter
(You Can't Go Home
Again)" and "Grandpa
(Tell Me 'Bout The
Good Old Days)." |
| 27-Apr-2004 |
Loretta Lynn
released her
forty-second solo
studio album Van
Lear Rose. The
album was produced
by Jack White, then
of the White Stripes
and was widely
praised by critics,
peaking at #2 on the
US Billboard
Top Country Albums
chart and at #24 on
the Billboard
200, the most
successful crossover
album of Lynn's
60-year career. |
| 11-May-2004 |
Gretchen Wilson
released her debut
album Here for
the Party, which
featured her
breakthrough single,
"Redneck Woman." The
album received four
Grammy
nominations: Best
New Artist, Best
Country Album, Best
Country Song
("Redneck Woman")
and Best Female
Country Vocal
Performance
("Redneck Woman").
Gretchen Wilson won
Best Female Country
Vocal Performance. |
| 15-May-2004 |
Jay DeMarcus from
Rascal Flatts
married Allison
Alderson, a former
beauty queen who has
held the titles Miss
Tennessee 1999 and
Miss Tennessee USA
2002. DeMarcus met
her on the set while
filming the video
for the Rascal
Flatts song, "These
Days". |
| 22-May-2004 |
Rascal Flatts'
Mayberry was
at #1 on the
Billboard
country album
charts, their fourth
and final single
from their 2002
album, Melt. |
| 26-May-2004 |
Toby Keith won four
awards at CBS' 39th
annual Academy of
Country Music
Awards held at
Las Vegas' Mandalay
Bay. Keith won
Entertainer of the
Year; Top Male
Vocalist; Album, for
Shock'n
Y'all; and
Video, for the
Willie Nelson duet
"Beer For My
Horses". Vocal Event
of the Year went to
Alan Jackson and
Jimmy Buffett for
"It's Five O'Clock
Somewhere." |
| 10-Jun-2004 |
Ray Charles died due
to acute liver
disease at his home
in Los Angeles,
California. Charles
helped racially
integrate country
and pop music during
the 1960's. 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. |
| 21-Jun-2004 |
Gretchen Wilson's
debut album, Here
For The Party,
was certified gold
and platinum
simultaneously. The
album featured
Wilson's
breakthrough debut
single, "Redneck
Woman." |
| 23-Jun-2004 |
Marty Stuart was
arrested following
an auto accident in
the Nashville suburb
of Hendersonville,
Tennessee. The
singer was arrested
after allegedly
hitting two cars on
a street in front of
McDonald's
restaurant. |
| 1-Jul-2004 |
Glen Campbell began
serving 10 nights in
jail along with two
years of probation
for a November 2003
drink-driving,
hit-and-run
collision. The 68
year old entertainer
was also sentenced
to 75 hours of
community service
and fined $900. |
| 5-Aug-2004 |
Mindy McCready was
arrested and charged
with one count of
prescription drug
fraud. Police said
McCready submitted a
fraudulent
prescription to a
Brentwood,
Tennessee, pharmacy
for oxycontin, an
addictive
painkiller. Bond was
set at $10,000. |
| 6-Aug-2004 |
Willie Nelson and
Bob Dylan set off on
their first joint
concert tour,
playing minor league
baseball parks,
beginning with a
concert at Doubleday
Field in
Cooperstown, New
York. |
| 24-Aug-2004 |
Curb Records
released Live
Like You Were
Dying, the
eighth studio album
by Tim McGraw. The
album was nominated
for two
Grammy's in
2005 for Best
Country Vocal
Performance Male and
Best Country Album,
winning for Best
Country Vocal
Performance. |
| 30-Aug-2004 |
Kris Kristofferson
and former record
executive Jim
Foglesong were named
the 2004 inductees
to the Country
Music Hall of
Fame. |
| 7-Sep-2004 |
Alan Jackson
released his
twelfth studio album
What I Do
which gave him his
seventh US Country
chart topper. |
| 18-Sep-2004 |
The Farm Aid
04, benefit
concert took place
at the White River
Amphitheater,
Auburn, Washington.
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, Lucinda
Williams, Steve
Earle, Jerry Lee
Lewis, Trick Pony,
Tony Coleman, Blue
Merle, Tegan and
Sara, Kate Voegele,
Kitty Jerry, and
Marc Broussard. |
| 19-Sep-2004 |
Skeeter Davis died
aged 72. She was one
of the first women
to achieve major
stardom in the
country music field
as a solo vocalist,
and was an
acknowledged
influence on Tammy
Wynette and Dolly
Parton. |
| 28-Sep-2004 |
Rascal Flatts
released their third
studio album
Feels Like
Today which
became their second
US #1 Country album.
The album produced
its title track as a
single along with
"Bless the Broken
Road", "Fast Cars
and Freedom", and
"Skin (Sarabeth)". |
| 6-Oct-2004 |
The sports drama
film Friday Night
Lights featuring
Tim McGraw as
Charles Billingsley
in his movie debut,
had its premiere at
Grauman's Chinese
Theatre in Los
Angeles. McGraw
attended the evening
along with Faith
Hill, Billy Bob
Thornton, Serena
Williams and David
Duchovny. |
| 1-Nov-2004 |
Rascal Flatts
released their
version of "Bless
the Broken Road"
which became their
third US #1 Country
single. Spending
five weeks at the
top of the charts it
also won a
Grammy Award
for Best Country
Song. |
| 4-Nov-2004 |
Loretta Lynn was
honored as a BMI
Icon at the
BMI Country
Awards.
During her career,
Lynn has written
over 160 songs and
released 60 albums,
and has sold over 45
million records
worldwide. |
| 2-Dec-2004 |
Lynn Anderson was
charged with driving
while intoxicated in
Denton, Texas. A
driver who was
following Anderson
called the police
after noticing that
her car was weaving
in and out of lanes.
After failing a
field sobriety test,
Anderson was
arrested. She was
later released on
bond. |
| 24-Jan-2005 |
Country singer Lynn
Anderson was
arrested for
shoplifting after
being caught
stealing a Harry
Potter DVD from
a New Mexico
supermarket and
punching a police
officer during her
arrest. |
| 4-Feb-2005 |
Shania Twain was at
#1 on the US country
album chart with her
Greatest Hits
album, which
featured 21 tracks
from her three
Diamond albums
The Woman in Me,
Come on Over and
Up!. The
album became the
biggest selling
country album of the
year. |
| 6-Feb-2005 |
American singer,
songwriter, and
manager Wyatt Merle
Kilgore died. He
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.
|
| 13-Feb-2005 |
Country music
winners at the 47th
Annual Grammy
Awards included;
Gretchen Wilson who
won Best Female
Country Vocal
Performance for
"Redneck Woman",
Best Male Country
Vocal Performance
went to Tim McGraw
for "Live Like You
Were Dying" and Best
Country Performance
by Group went to
Dixie Chicks for
"Top of the World."
|
| 20-Feb-2005 |
LeAnn Rimes
performed "Nothin'
'Bout Love Makes
Sense" and Big &
Rich performed "Save
A Horse (Ride A
Cowboy)" at halftime
during the NBA
all-star basketball
game at Denver's
Colorado Convention
Center. |
| 24-Feb-2005 |
Goldie Hill died
from complications
of cancer. 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" and along with
Kitty Wells, helped
set the standard for
later women in
country music. |
| 1-Mar-2005 |
Nelly featuring Tim
McGraw were at #1 on
the UK singles chart
with "Over And
Over", the third #1
for Nelly, and the
first for
Grammy
Award-winning
Country music singer
Tim McGraw. |
| 6-Mar-2005 |
Singer Doug Supernaw
was arrested in
Bryan, Texas, and
charged with public
intoxication and
fleeing from an
officer. According
to reports, the
arrest came after
Supernaw allegedly
yelled obscenities
and made obscene
gestures while
walking near an
apartment complex.
An off-duty police
officer identified
himself as he
approached the
singer and
instructed Supernaw
to sit on the curb
while awaiting the
arrival of another
officer to arrest
him. Before the
patrol car arrived,
Supernaw began
walking away and
then started running
when the officer
told him to stop. |
| 9-Mar-2005 |
Singer-songwriter
(and rodeo
champion), Chris
Ledoux died. 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. |
| 13-Mar-2005 |
Rascal Flatts were
at #1 on the US
Country music album
chart with Feels
Like Today,
which as now sold
over 5m copies in
the US alone. |
| 15-Mar-2005 |
Miranda Lambert
released her debut
studio album
Kerosene
which debuted at #1
on the
Billboard Top
Country Albums
chart, as well as
number 18 on the
Billboard
200. The album
spawned four Top 40
Country Chart
singles; however,
only the title track
was a major hit,
peaking at #15. |
| 21-Mar-2005 |
Rascal Flatts
released "Fast Cars
and Freedom" which
became their fourth
#1 single on the US
Billboard Hot
Country Songs
charts. |
| 3-Apr-2005 |
Miranda Lambert was
at #1 on the US
country chart with
Kerosene, her
first studio album.
After placing third
in the television
competition,
Nashville
Star in 2003,
Lambert signed with
Epic Nashville in
2004. The album
spawned four Top 40
Billboard
Country Chart
singles, however
only the title track
was a major hit,
peaking at #15. |
| 5-Apr-2005 |
The Library of
Congress announces
50 additions to the
National Recording
Registry. Jimmie
Rodgers' "Blue Yodel
No. 1 (T For
Texas)," Hank
Williams' "Lovesick
Blues" and Flatt &
Scruggs' "Foggy
Mountain Breakdown"
are among the new
titles added. |
| 11-Apr-2005 |
Trace Adkins was at
#1 on the country
chart with Songs
About Me, his
seventh album and
his highest-selling
album to date.
Singles from this
album include the
title track,
"Arlington", and
"Honky Tonk
Badonkadonk", which
respectively reached
#2, #16, and #2 on
the Billboard
country charts.
|
| 20-Apr-2005 |
John Michael
Montgomery confirmed
on his website that
he had a condition
known as acoustic
neuroma, which is a
non-cancerous growth
that interferes with
a nerve running
between the brain
and the ear. This
condition can affect
balance and hearing
and can certainly
make singing or any
kind of public
performing quite
difficult for the
patient. |
| 30-Apr-2005 |
Billboard
magazine renamed the
Hot Country Singles
& Tracks chart "Hot
Country Songs." The
chart's renaming was
part of a major
redesign of the
110-year-old
magazine. |
| 6-May-2005 |
Mindy McCready was
arrested on
suspicion of drunk
driving after being
pulled over for
speeding in the
Belle Meade area of
Nashville. The
29-year-old singer
was already on three
years of supervised
probation after
pleading guilty to a
drug charge in 2004. |
| 7-May-2005 |
Ohio Valley
University in
Parkersburg, West
Virginia awarded and
presented Dwight
Yoakam with an
honorary doctorate
degree. Yoakam
briefly attended
Ohio State
University, but
dropped out and
moved to Nashville
in 1977. |
| 8-May-2005 |
Mindy McCready's
boyfriend William
"Billy" McKnight, an
aspiring country
singer, was charged
with attempted
murder and
aggravated burglary
after allegedly
breaking into the
singers home and
assaulting her. She
was treated at a
hospital and he
later pleaded not
guilty, and then
pleads guilty to
assault after the
charges are reduced
and spends 30 days
in jail. |
| 9-May-2005 |
Kenny Chesney
married actress
Renee Zellweger in a
ceremony on the
island of St. John.
They had met in
January of this year
at a tsunami relief
benefit concert. On
September 15 of that
same year, after
only four months of
marriage, the couple
announced their
plans for an
annulment. |
| 15-May-2005 |
Country music singer
and songwriter Wayne
Perry died from
throat cancer age
55. His song credits
include "Not a
Moment Too Soon,"
recorded by Tim
McGraw and "A
Woman's Touch,"
recorded by Toby
Keith in 1996. The
legal battle over
Perry's estate was
the subject of a
2011 episode of the
Investigation
Discovery television
series The Will:
Family Secrets
Revealed, entitled
"The Estate of Wayne
Perry." |
| 17-May-2005 |
Tim McGraw's "Live
Like You Were
Dying," won Single
Record and Song of
the Year during the
40th annual
Academy of
Country Music
awards. Written
by Tim Nichols and
Craig Wiseman, it
was also named as
the #1 country song
of 2004 by
Billboard.
Video of The Year
went to
Brad Paisley and
Alison Krauss for
"Whiskey Lullaby"
and Gretchen Wilson
won Top New Artist
and Top Female
Vocalist.
Entertainer of The
Year went to Kenny
Chesney.
|
| 24-May-2005 |
Oklahoma born Carrie
Underwood became the
fourth-season winner
of American
Idol. Although
her first single,
"Inside Your
Heaven," topped the
Billboard Hot
100 chart, the
22-year-old
Underwood's
influences and music
are predominantly
country. Late in the
year, she entered
the top 10 of the
Billboard Hot
Country Songs chart
for the first time
with "Jesus Take the
Wheel." |
| 24-May-2005 |
Vivian Liberto,
Johnny Cash's first
wife and the mother
of Rosanne Cash and
three other
daughters, died at
the age of 71 from
complications from
surgery to remove
lung cancer. It was
her daughter
Rosanne's 50th
birthday. 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 |
| 25-May-2005 |
Country music
songwriter Ben
Peters died. 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. |
| 25-May-2005 |
Garth Brooks
proposed to his
longtime girlfriend
and fellow country
music star Trisha
Yearwood in
Bakersfield,
California, ending
long-standing
speculation about
their relationship |
| 7-Jun-2005 |
Toby Keith was at #1
on the country
charts with
Honkytonk
University. "As
Good as I Once Was"
was the album's
biggest hit, topping
the Billboard
Hot Country Songs
charts for six
weeks. Due to the
closure of
DreamWorks shortly
afterwards, however,
"Big Blue Note" was
released on Keith's
Show Dog Nashville
label, going on to
peak at #5. |
| 10-Jun-2005 |
Just two weeks after
winning American
Idol, Carrie
Underwood made her
Grand Ole Opry
debut, singing the
Roy Orbison classic
"Crying". |
| 14-Jun-2005 |
Carrie Underwood
released her debut
single "Inside Your
Heaven." The song
won Underwood the
Billboard
Music Awards for
"Top-Selling Country
Single of the Year"
and "Top-Selling Hot
100 Song of the
Year." The track was
later included on
the North American
version of her debut
album, Some
Hearts. |
| 2-Jul-2005 |
The Live 8
concerts were
held around the
world to battle
poverty, which saw
Tim McGraw and Faith
Hill performing in
Rome, and Toby Keith
and Keith Urban in
Philadelphia. Among
other acts who took
part: Paul
McCartney, U2, Pink
Floyd, Neil Young,
Dave Matthews, Sting
and Brian Wilson.
More than 1,000
musicians performed
at the concerts,
which were broadcast
on 182 television
networks and 2,000
radio networks. |
| 12-Jul-2005 |
Lost Highway
released Willie
Nelson's reggae
album,
Countryman.
The cover featured a
drawing of a
marijuana plant, but
this was changed for
Wal-Mart stores,
where the artwork
became a palm tree. |
| 2-Aug-2005 |
Faith Hill released
Fireflies,
her sixth album.
Singles from the
album include, in
order of release:
"Mississippi Girl",
"Like We Never Loved
at All", "The Lucky
One", "Sunshine and
Summertime" and
"Stealing Kisses". |
| 11-Aug-2005 |
Steve Earle married
Allison Moorer at
the Hermitage Hotel
in downtown
Nashville. It was
the American singer,
songwriters seventh
wedding, and her
second. |
| 16-Aug-2005 |
Brad Paisley
released his fourth
studio album Time
Well Wasted
which became his
second #1 on the US
Country chart and
the Country Music
Association's
Album of the Year
for 2006. The album
produced the singles
"Alcohol", "When I
Get Where I'm
Going", "The World",
and "She's
Everything".
"Alcohol" was a #4
hit on the
Billboard Hot
Country Songs
charts, while the
other three singles
were all #1's. |
| 26-Aug-2005 |
Mindy McCready was
jailed in
Clearwater, Florida,
after Pinellas
County authorities
arrested her on a
warrant issued by
the Williamson
County sheriff's
department in
Franklin, Tennessee.
McCready allegedly
left Tennessee
without telling her
parole officer and
did not report to
her officer in July.
This is her second
parole violation and
as a result, she was
not allowed to post
bail. McCready was
on probation after
pleading guilty to
fraudulently
obtaining the
prescription drug,
OxyContin, last
year. |
| 30-Aug-2005 |
Brooks & Dunn
released their the
ninth studio album
Hillbilly
Deluxe which
went to #1 on the US
Billboard Top
Country Albums,
their fifth chart
topper. The first
single from the
album "Play
Something Country"
became a #1 Country
hit. |
| 6-Sep-2005 |
George Strait
released "She Let
Herself Go" the
second single from
Strait's album
Somewhere Down in
Texas which
would become his
40th US Country #1
hit single. |
| 9-Sep-2005 |
To aid victims of
Hurricane Katrina,
Dixie Chicks, Garth
Brooks, Emmylou
Harris and Trisha
Yearwood were among
the artists
participating in
Shelter from the
Storm: A Concert for
the Gulf Coast,
which aired live on
cable and broadcast
television stations
in the United States
and worldwide. |
| 10-Sep-2005 |
To aid victims of
Hurricane Katrina,
ReAct Now: Music
& Relief was
held where various
Country performers
appeared at the
4-hour concert -
which aired live on
CMT. Alan
Jackson, Kid Rock,
Paul McCartney, Big
& Rich, Hank
Williams Jr., The
Rolling Stones,
Lynyrd Skynyrd, Neil
Young, Sheryl Crow,
Sugarland and
Emmylou Harris all
appeared. |
| 14-Sep-2005 |
Property from the
estate of Johnny
Cash and June Carter
Cash raised $1.24
million on the first
day of a three-day
auction at Sotheby's
in New York City.
Items sold included
a custom-made
abalone-inlaid
acoustic guitar for
$131,200 and an
autographed photo of
Elvis Presely to
June Cash sold for
$18,000, a striped
prisoner's jacket
from Folsom Prison
made $6,000. |
| 18-Sep-2005 |
The Farm Aid
2005: 20th
Anniversary,
benefit concert
took place at the
First Midwest Bank
Amphitheatre, Tinley
Park, Illinois.
Artists who appeared
included: Willie
Nelson, John
Mellencamp, Neil
Young, Dave
Matthews, Arlo
Guthrie, Buddy Guy,
Congressman Collin
Peterson and the
Second Amendments,
Drew Davis Band,
Elizabeth Rainey,
Emmylou Harris,
James McMurtry,
Jimmy Sturr & His
Orchestra, John
Mayer, Kate Voegele,
Kathleen Edwards,
Kenny Chesney, Los
Lonely Boys, Shannon
Brown, Supersuckers,
Susan Tedeschi,
Widespread Panic,
and Wilco. |
| 3-Oct-2005 |
Arista Records
released "Jesus,
Take the Wheel" by
Carrie Underwood.
Written by Brett
James, Hillary
Lindsey and Gordie
Sampson, it was the
first single from
her debut album,
Some
Hearts.The track
won two major
awards, Breakthrough
Video of the Year
and Female Video of
the Year at the
CMT Awards. |
| 22-Oct-2005 |
The reality series
Tuckerville
aired for the first
time on The
Learning Channel,
documenting the
life of country
music star Tanya
Tucker as she
recorded an album,
ran her record
business, and raises
her three children.
It ran for two
seasons for a total
of 18 episodes. |
| 25-Oct-2005 |
Charlie Daniels was
honored as a BMI
Icon at the 53rd
annual BMI
Country Awards.
Active as a singer
since the early
1950s, and best
known for his #1
country hit "The
Devil Went Down to
Georgia", he was
inducted into the
Grand Ole Opry in
2008 and the
Musicians Hall of
Fame and Museum
in 2009. |
| 9-Nov-2005 |
After 27 years as
host of "American
Country Countdown,"
radio personality
Bob Kingsley stepped
down, after his
production company
and ABC Radio
Networks (which
distributes the
show) fail to come
to terms in
renegotiating a
distribution
agreement. Kix
Brooks, one half of
the superstar duo
Brooks & Dunn, was
named the new host
and was slated to
take over January
21, 2006. |
| 12-Nov-2005 |
Martina McBride was
at #1 on the Country
chart with her
eighth studio album
Timeless a
collection of
classic country
songs. Major artists
whose songs were
covered include Eddy
Arnold, Johnny Cash,
Don Gibson, Loretta
Lynn, Buck Owens,
Ray Price, Hank
Snow, Hank Williams,
Tammy Wynette and
many others. |
| 15-Nov-2005 |
Garth Brooks
performed at the
39th Annual CMA
Awards live from
Times Square in New
York City. As a
tribute to his
friend, country
singer songwriter
Chris LeDoux who had
died earlier in the
year, Brooks
perfomed his song
"Good Ride Cowboy". |
| 15-Nov-2005 |
Carrie Underwood
released her debut
studio album Some
Hearts. The
album contains the
#1 country singles
"Jesus, Take the
Wheel", "Don't
Forget to Remember
Me", "Wasted", and
"Before He Cheats".
In December 2009,
Billboard
announced that the
album was the
biggest-selling
country album of the
decade. |
| 16-Nov-2005 |
CBS aired
I Walk The Line:
A Night For Johnny
Cash featuring
Dwight Yoakam, Brad
Paisley, Kris
Kristofferson,
Martina McBride,
Jerry Lee Lewis,
Norah Jones, Sheryl
Crow, Kid Rock,
Reese Witherspoon
and Alison Krauss
Joaquin Phoenix. |
| 18-Nov-2005 |
The Johnny Cash
biopic, Walk the
Line, opened
nationwide in the
US. The movie stared
Joaquin Phoenix as
"The Man in Black"
and Reese
Witherspoon as his
girlfriend (and
wife-to-be) June
Carter. The movie
was widely praised
by critics and
became a major box
office hit. |
| 18-Nov-2005 |
Shania Twain was
invested as an
Officer in the
Order of Canada. |
| 25-Nov-2005 |
Garth Brooks
released The
Limited Series,
his second box set
to be sold
exclusively at
Wal-Mart and Sam's
Club stores. The set
contained his
previous two studio
albums,
Sevens and
Scarecrow;
plus his Double Live
album; The Lost
Sessions, a new
album of previously
unreleased material;
and an All Access
DVD containing
behind-the-scenes
footage of his
concerts. The
Limited Series
is Brooks' first box
set to be released
under his label,
Pearl Records; he
had left his
longtime label,
Capitol Records,
earlier in the year. |
| 9-Dec-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. |
| 9-Dec-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. |
| 23-Dec-2005 |
The movie
Transamerica,
starring Felicity
Huffman, opened in
US theaters. The
soundtrack featured
Dolly Parton, Jim
Lauderdale, The
Nitty Gritty Dirt
Band, The Old Crow
Medicine Show,
Lucinda Williams and
bluegrass artist
Larry Sparks. |
| 4-Jan-2006 |
The house where
Johnny Cash lived
for 35 years was
bought by Bee Gees
singer Barry Gibb.
The rustic house
near Nashville,
Tennessee went on
the market in June
2005 with an asking
price of $2.9m
(1.7m). Gibb said he
planned to preserve
the house to honour
the Cash memory.
Unfortunately Gibb's
ownership of the
house was
short-lived. In
April 2007, the
house burned to the
ground. Gibb was
having the house
renovated when a
flammable spray
sealer caused fire
to break out during
construction. |
| 14-Jan-2006 |
With the song, "She
Let Herself Go,"
George Strait scored
his 40th #1 hit on
the Billboard
Hot Country Songs
chart, all of them
solo. It tied him
with a 20-year-old
record for most #1's
on the country
chart, held by
Conway Twitty (35
solo, five duet with
Loretta Lynn).
|
| 16-Jan-2006 |
The Johnny Cash
biopic Walk The
Line won three
Golden Globes
for: Best Musical or
Comedy plus awards
for Joaquin Phoenix
and Reese
Witherspoon. The
"Brokeback Mountain"
piece "A Love That
Will Never Grow Old"
won Best Original
Song. |
| 21-Jan-2006 |
Carrie Underwood was
at #1 on the
Billboard
Country charts for
the first of six
weeks with "Jesus,
Take The Wheel."
Later this year it
was reported that
"Jesus, Take the
Wheel" had sold more
than 1 million
ringtones.
|
| 31-Jan-2006 |
The Johnny Cash
biopic Walk The
Line received
five Oscar
nominations, with
Joaquin Phoenix and
Reese Witherspoon up
for best actor and
actress. |
| 8-Feb-2006 |
Emmylou Harris won
Best Female Country
Vocal Performance
for The
Connection at
the 48th Annual
Grammy
Awards. Best Male
Country Vocal
Performance went to
You'll Think of Me
by Keith Urban and
Best Country
Collaboration with
Vocals was won by
Faith Hill & Tim
McGraw for "Like We
Never Loved At All."
|
| 16-Feb-2006 |
John Michael
Montgomery was
arrested at an
intersection in
Lexington, Kentucky
for driving under
the influence and
possession of a
controlled
substance. Police
also found two
loaded handguns in
Montgomery's
vehicle. Montgomery
was charged with a
count of a
prescription drug
not in its proper
container, and two
counts of carrying a
concealed deadly
weapon. |
| 12-Mar-2006 |
After having
successful test runs
in outside cities,
Ring of Fire,
a jukebox musical of
the Johnny Cash
oeuvre, debuted on
Broadway at the
Ethel Barrymore
Theatre, but closed
due to harsh reviews
and disappointing
sales on April 30 of
this year. |
| 23-Mar-2006 |
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" died
aged 87. 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". |
| 25-Mar-2006 |
Buck Owens Jr.
American singer and
guitarist died in
his sleep of an
apparent heart
attack. He pioneered
the Bakersfield
sound, a reference
to Bakersfield,
California. He
scored twenty #1
hits on the
Billboard
country music
charts, his first
being the 1963 hit
"Act Naturally".
|
| 30-Mar-2006 |
Carrie Underwood was
at #1 on the US
country charts with
her debut album
Some Hearts.
It is the best
selling debut album
by a solo female
country music artist
in history. The
album contains the
#1 singles "Jesus,
Take the Wheel",
"Don't Forget to
Remember Me",
"Wasted", and
"Before He Cheats".
|
| 4-Apr-2006 |
Hank Williams Jr.
surrendered to
police on a warrant
issued in an alleged
assault on a hotel
waitress last month.
Holly Hornbeak, 19,
told police she was
waiting tables at
the Peabody Hotel's
lobby bar when the
country superstar
asked to kiss her
and lifted her off
the ground in a
chokehold. The
country singer cut
short a hunting trip
to return to Memphis
and surrender to the
sheriff's
department. All
charges were later
dropped citing lack
of evidence. |
| 10-Apr-2006 |
CMT honored
Hank Williams Jr.
with the Johnny
Cash Visionary
Award,
presenting it to him
at the 2006 CMT
Music Awards. |
| 11-Apr-2006 |
Kenny Chesney
released
"Summertime" as the
third single from
his 2005 album
The Road and the
Radio. The track
became his tenth US
#1 hit on the
Country charts. |
| 21-Apr-2006 |
The Soul2Soul II
Tour 2006 a
co-headlining tour
between country
music singers, and
husband and wife,
Tim McGraw and Faith
Hill kicked off at
the Nationwide Arena
in Columbus ending
after 73 shows on
September 3, 2006 in
Las Vegas. The tour
became the highest
grossing country
music tour ever with
a gross of $90
million. |
| 23-Apr-2006 |
Joe Don Rooney
guitarist with
Rascal Flatts
married Tiffany
Fallon the former
beauty queen and
Miss Georgia USA
2001 and Miss USA
2001 2nd Runner-Up
and 2005 Playmate of
the Year. The couple
were featured in the
Playboy Cyber
Club's celebrity
photographer
section, with the
nude pictorial of
Tiffany being shot
by Joe Don himself. |
| 3-May-2006 |
Lynn Anderson was
arrested in New
Mexico after causing
a traffic accident
at a local
intersection due to
drunk driving. The
singer failed field
sobriety tests and
refused to take a
breathalyzer test
after her vehicle
ran into the back of
a car. She was
released the next
day on bond.
Anderson was taken
to court later this
year where all her
previous charges
were dropped, as
long as she didn't
commit any more
offenses. |
| 5-May-2006 |
Rascal Flatts were
at #1 on the Country
charts with their
fourth studio album
Me and My
Gang which
became the best
selling country
album of 2006. The
singles released
from this album
included "What Hurts
the Most", which was
a #1 hit followed by
the title track
(which reached #6),
and then the #1 hits
"My Wish" and
"Stand". |
| 13-May-2006 |
Rascal Flatts held
the top position on
the country charts
with Me and My
Gang. The album
went double platinum
in the first month
of release and has
sold almost 5m
copies in the US.
The singles released
from this album
included "What Hurts
the Most". |
| 14-May-2006 |
Just six weeks after
breaking his wrist
in a cross-country
motorbike race,
Craig Morgan was
involved in another
accident, breaking
his right leg during
a competition in
Vanleer, Tennessee.
He was forced to
perform from a
wheelchair or on
crutches for the
following few weeks. |
| 16-May-2006 |
Kenny Chesney
performed "There
Goes My Life" and
"Back Where I Come
From" for president
George W. Bush at
the official dinner
for Australian Prime
Minister John Howard
and Mrs. Janette
Howard in the East
Wing of the White
House. |
| 21-May-2006 |
Billy Walker the
country music singer
and guitarist was
killed 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. He is
best-known for his
1962 hit, "(I'd Like
to Be In) Charlie's
Shoes".
|
| 22-May-2006 |
The Tennessean of
Nashville
reported plans by
the Academy of
Country Music to
move its awards show
to April, after
consistently being
drubbed in the
ratings by
powerhouse
American
Idol. The
ACMs, which
aired May 24 on CBS,
appeared opposite
Fox's American
Idol for the
fourth year in a
row. Winners at this
years show included:
Keith Urban who won
Top Male Vocalist,
Carrie Underwood won
Top New Female
Vocalist and Single
Record of the Year
for "Jesus, Take the
Wheel." |
| 23-May-2006 |
Personal File
was released, the
92nd album by the
late American music
icon Johnny Cash.
The two CD set
contained 49
unreleased tracks
recorded between
1973 and 1982, which
had been recovered
from a vault of
material housed at
the House of Cash
studios.
|
| 23-May-2006 |
Dixie Chicks
released their
seventh studio album
Taking the Long
Way which
debuted at #1 on the
Billboard 200.
The album won 5
Grammy
Awards,
including Album of
the Year, Record of
the Year, and Song
of the Year in
February 2007. |
| 31-May-2006 |
71 year-old
songwriter Hal
Bynum, (whose
credits include
Kenny Rogers
"Lucille,") and his
wife were arrested
and charged with
growing marijuana
inside their
Nashville home and
possessing
hallucinogenic
mushrooms. After
receiving a tip,
police searched the
couple's home and
confiscated 256
marijuana plants,
7.5 pounds of
harvested marijuana,
14 grams of
hallucinogenic
mushrooms, growing
lamps and other drug
paraphernalia.
Bynum, and his wife
were released on
$73,500 bond each. |
| 31-May-2006 |
Karen Fairchild and
Jimi Westbrook from
American country
music group Little
Big Town married in
secret. The event
was not made public
until two months
later. |
| 6-Jun-2006 |
Rascal Flatts held
the top position on
the country charts
with Me and My
Gang. The album
went double platinum
in the first month
of release and has
sold almost 5m
copies in the US.
The singles released
from this album
included "What Hurts
the Most". |
| 19-Jun-2006 |
Gretchen Wilson and
Josh Gracin
performed for
president George W.
Bush along with
6,000 guests at the
President's Dinner
at the Washington
Convention Center. |
| 19-Jun-2006 |
Taylor Swift
released her debut
single "Tim McGraw"
the lead single from
her self-titled
debut album. Swift
wrote the song
during her freshman
year of high school,
knowing that she and
her senior boyfriend
would break up at
the end of the year
when he left for
college. The song
was written about
all the different
things that would
remind the subject
of Swift and their
time spent together,
once he departed.
The single peaked at
#6 on the Country
charts. |
| 23-Jun-2006 |
Tony Bennett made a
surprise appearance
during Tim McGraw
and Faith Hill's
sold-out show at New
York's Madison
Square Garden.
Bennett joined
McGraw for a
rendition of the
Hank Williams
classic "Cold, Cold
Heart." |
| 25-Jun-2006 |
Keith Urban married
Australian actress
Nicole Kidman at the
Cardinal Cerretti
Memorial Chapel on
the grounds of St
Patrick's Estate,
Manly in Sydney,
Australia. |
| 4-Jul-2006 |
Johnny Cash released
American V - A
Hundred Highways
his 93rd overall
album and a
posthumous album by
Johnny Cash. As the
title implies, it is
the fifth entry in
Cash's American
series. Like its
predecessors,
American V: A
Hundred Highways
was produced by Rick
Rubin and released
on Rubin's American
Recordings record. |
| 6-Jul-2006 |
Waylon Jennings was
inducted to
Hollywood's Rock
Wall in
Hollywood,
California. Between
1966 and 1995, 54
Jennings albums
charted, with 11
reaching #1.
Jennings was
inducted into the
Country Music
Hall of Fame in
2001. |
| 16-Jul-2006 |
Kenny Chesney set a
new record for a
country show when
his concert at
Gillette Stadium in
Foxboro,
Massachusetts,
grossed $4 million.
The bill also
featured Dierks
Bentley, Gretchen
Wilson, Big & Rich
and Carrie
Underwood. |
| 22-Jul-2006 |
Johnny Cash was at
#1 on the US album
chart with
American V: A
Hundred
Highways.
Released
posthumously on July
4, the vocal parts
were recorded before
Cash's death, but
the instruments were
not recorded until
2005. |
| 19-Aug-2006 |
Keith Urban's "Once
in a Lifetime"
became the
highest-ever
debuting song on the
Billboard Hot
Country Songs chart
during the Broadcast
Data Systems-era,
ranking at #17 in
its first week.
"Lifetime" breaks
the 10-month-old
BDS-era standard set
by "Good Ride
Cowboy" by Garth
Brooks.
|
| 19-Aug-2006 |
Carrie Underwood
released "Before He
Cheats" from here
debut studio album.
The song became an
enormous crossover
success, topping the
Billboard Hot
Country Songs chart
for five consecutive
weeks, and becoming
a top ten hit on the
Billboard
Mainstream Top 40
charts. |
| 21-Aug-2006 |
Keith Urban made
history when his new
single "Once in a
Lifetime" debuted at
#17, setting a new
record for the
highest-debuting
country single in
the 62-year history
of Billboard's
country charts. The
record was formerly
held by Garth
Brooks' "Good Ride
Cowboy" and Eddie
Rabbitt's "Every
Which Way But
Loose", both of
which debuted at
#18. |
| 8-Sep-2006 |
The movie Broken
Bridges was
released. The
contemporary story
set in small-town
Tennessee, featured
Toby Keith who plays
Bo Price, a
washed-up country
musician. The movie
also stars Kelly
Preston, Burt
Reynolds, Tess
Harper, and Lindsey
Haun. |
| 12-Sep-2006 |
Dixie Chicks:
Shut Up and Sing
documentary film
produced and
directed by Barbara
Kopple and Cecilia
Peck (daughter of
actor Gregory Peck)
had its world
premier at the
Toronto
International Film
Festival. The
film followed the
Dixie Chicks over a
three-year period of
intense public
scrutiny, fan
backlash, physical
threats, and
pressure from both
corporate and
conservative
political elements
in the United States
after lead singer
Natalie Maines
publicly criticised
then President of
the United States
George W. Bush
during a live 2003
concert in London,
England. |
| 13-Sep-2006 |
Banjo player Earl
Scruggs was honored
at Turner Field in
Atlanta as part of
the pre-game show
for an Atlanta
Braves home game.
Organizers set a
world record for the
most banjo players
(239) playing one
tune together,
playing Scruggs'
"Foggy Mountain
Breakdown". |
| 18-Sep-2006 |
Willie Nelson and
several of his band
members were charged
with misdemeanor
drug possession in
Louisiana after
state police had
pulled Nelson's tour
bus over for a
routine commercial
inspection. Smelling
a suspicious odor
inside, police
searched the bus and
found marijuana and
psychedelic
mushrooms. |
| 26-Sep-2006 |
Alan Jackson
released his
fourteenth studio
album Like Red on
a Rose becoming
his eighth US
Country #1. The
album was produced
by singer Alison
Krauss, who also
selected all the
songs. |
| 30-Sep-2006 |
George Strait
finally broke Conway
Twitty's record by
scoring his record
41st #1 hit on the
Billboard Hot
Country Songs chart
with "Give It Away".
|
| 30-Sep-2006 |
The Farm Aid
2006, benefit
concert took place
at the Tweeter
Center, Camden, New
Jersey. 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, Neil
Young, Dave
Matthews, Jerry Lee
Lewis, Los Lonely
Boys, Arlo Guthrie,
Gov't Mule, Steve
Earle and Allison
Moorer, Shelby
Lynne, Nitty Gritty
Dirt Band, Jimmy
Sturr & his
Orchestra, Pauline
Reese, and Danielle
Evin. |
| 3-Oct-2006 |
George Strait marked
his 30th year in the
music industry with
the release of a new
album titled It
Just Comes
Natural which
featured fifteen new
songs. |
| 6-Oct-2006 |
Jimmy Buffett was
detained by French
customs officials in
Saint Tropez for
allegedly carrying
over 100 pills of
ecstasy. Buffett's
luggage was searched
after his Dassault
Falcon 900 private
jet landed at
Toulon-Hyères
International
Airport. He paid a
fine of $300 and was
released. A
spokesperson for
Buffett stated the
pills in question
were prescription
drugs. Buffett later
released a statement
that the "ecstasy"
was in fact a
B-vitamin supplement
known as Foltx. |
| 14-Oct-2006 |
Freddy Fender the
Mexican-American
Tejano, country and
rock and roll
musician died aged
69. Best known for
his work as a solo
artist and in the
groups Los Super
Seven and the Texas
Tornados, He is best
known for his 1975
hits "Before the
Next Teardrop Falls"
and the subsequent
remake of his own
"Wasted Days and
Wasted Nights". |
| 19-Oct-2006 |
Keith Urban checked
himself into the
Betty Ford Center in
California. He later
issued a statement
saying: "I deeply
regret the hurt this
has caused Nicole
and the ones who
love and support me.
One can never let
one's guard down on
recovery, and I'm
afraid that I have." |
| 20-Oct-2006 |
Flicka, an
adaptation of the
1941 children's
novel, opened in US
movie theaters. Tim
McGraw played the
leading adult male
role as Wyoming
rancher Rob
McGlaughlin. |
| 24-Oct-2006 |
Taylor Swift
released her
eponymous debut
studio album which
went on to top the
Country Albums Chart
for twenty-four
non-consecutive
weeks and has now
sold over 5.5
million copies
worldwide. |
| 26-Oct-2006 |
Reba was honored at
the first-ever
CMT Giants
concert with
Jennifer Nettles,
Wynonna, Dolly
Parton, Faith Hill,
Trisha Yearwood and
several other stars
singing her songs. |
| 27-Oct-2006 |
An ad for Shut Up
and Sing the new
film documentry
about Dixie Chicks
was turned down by
NBC, citing a
policy barring ads
dealing with "public
controversy". |
| 30-Oct-2006 |
A music memorabilia
collector and a
former custodian at
Sony/ATV Music
Publishing were
arrested for
stealing Hank
Williams' notebook.
Stephen Shutts said
he had purchased the
59-year-old notebook
of lyrics at a
garage sale and
later sold it.
Francine Boykin told
police she had found
the notebook in the
trash while working
in the Sony/ATV
building. Although
Shutts' attorney
said the notebook
was being kept in a
safe place, it had
not been returned to
Sony/ATV. |
| 6-Nov-2006 |
The Country Music
Association
awards aired for the
first time on
ABC. The
awards show had been
on CBS since
1972. Keith Urban,
who won the Male
Vocalist of the
Year, was absent due
to his rehab stint,
and co-host Ronnie
Dunn read Urban's
acceptance letter.
Hall of Fame
inductee Kris
Kristofferson
presented the
inductions for 2006
inductees George
Strait, Harold
Bradley and Sonny
James, each of whom
gave brief
acceptance speeches;
Strait also
performed his #1 hit
"Give It Away."
Controversy reigned
when Faith Hill
appeared to react
angrily after Carrie
Underwood won the
Female Vocalist of
the Year award. |
| 23-Nov-2006 |
Carrie Underwood
performed during
halftime of the
Tampa Bay
Buccaneers-Dallas
Cowboys NFL game at
Texas Stadium in
Irving. |
| 28-Nov-2006 |
Kimberly Roads from
American country
music group Little
Big Town married
Stephen Schlapman.
Kimberly now goes by
her husband's last
name, Schlapman. |
| 30-Nov-2006 |
Carrie Underwood
made the final
appearance on her
Live 2006
tour at Colorado
Springs, World
Arena. The 61 date
North America tour
mainly consisted of
performances and
appearances at state
and county fairs and
festivals. |
| 3-Dec-2006 |
The John F.
Kennedy Center for
the Performing Arts
honored Dolly
Parton for her
lifetime
contributions to the
arts. Dolly is the
most honored female
country performer of
all time. Achieving
25 RIAA
certified gold,
platinum and
multi-platinum
awards, she has had
25 songs reach #1 on
the Billboard
Country charts,
a record for a
female artist. |
| 7-Dec-2006 |
The Dixie Chicks
picked up five
Grammy Award
nominations, leading
all other country
acts. Alan Jackson
neted three and
Carrie Underwood
collected two,
including one for
Best New Artist. |
| 11-Dec-2006 |
Oprah Winfrey held
an iTunes
concert featuring
Carrie Underwood,
Josh Groban, Michael
Buble, and Tony
Bennett. Carrie
Underwood performed
"Jesus, Take the
Wheel." |
| 19-Dec-2006 |
The Kern County
Board of Supervisors
approved a
citizen-led
resolution to rename
a portion of 7th
Standard Road in
Oildale as Merle
Haggard Drive, which
will stretch from
North Chester Avenue
west to US Route 99.
The first street
travelers would turn
onto when they leave
the new airport
terminal will be
Merle Haggard Drive. |
| 22-Dec-2006 |
Dennis Linde, died
at Vanderbilt
University Medical
Center aged 63. He
was best known for
writing the 1972
Elvis Presley hit,
"Burning Love".
Linde also 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 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.
|
| 1-Jan-2007 |
Del Reeves, singer,
best known for his
"girl-watching"
novelty songs of the
1960s died. His hits
included "Girl on
the Billboard" and
"The Belles of the
Southern Bell". He
was also known for
his 1968 trucker's
anthem, "Looking At
The World Through A
Windshield".
|
| 8-Jan-2007 |
Tim McGraw released
"Last Dollar (Fly
Away)" which became
his twenty-first US
#1 on the
Billboard Hot
Country Songs
charts. Big Kenny,
one-half of country
rock duo Big & Rich,
wrote "Last Dollar"
after a disastrous
night of gambling in
Las Vegas on New
Year's Eve in 2002. |
| 25-Jan-2007 |
Fugitive Christopher
Daniel Gay (also
nicknamed Little
Houdini), escaped
from custody at an
Interstate 95
welcome center near
Hardeeville, South
Carolina, and made
his way to Tennessee
where he stole
Crystal Gayle's tour
bus. Gay drove the
bus from Whites
Creek, Tennessee, to
the Daytona
International
Speedway in Daytona
Beach, Florida,
parking the bus in a
VIP spot next to
NASCAR Nextel Cup
driver Jeff Gordon.
Gay was arrested the
following day and
the bus was returned
to Gayle. This
episode inspired
Tim O'Brien to write
a song about his
escape called "The
Ballad of
Christopher Daniel
Gay." |
| 2-Feb-2007 |
Keith Urban filed a
lawsuit against a
New Jersey painter
by the same name,
who had a web site
KeithUrban.com. The
singer wanted to
acquire the rights
to the URL - the
painter counter sued
and the lawsuit was
settled in the
painter's favor. |
| 2-Feb-2007 |
Terry McMillan,
country musician who
played harmonica and
percussion died at
the age of 53. 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. |
| 4-Feb-2007 |
Husband and wife,
Tim McGraw and Faith
Hill announced that
they would return to
the road in the
summer of 2007 with
Soul2Soul
2007 due to the
success of
Soul2Soul II.
They aimed to visit
US and Canadian
cities they could
not reach in 2006;
the restart a year
later was to still
mainstain a
mostly-summertime
schedule, to
accommodate their
school-age children. |
| 6-Feb-2007 |
Carrie Underwood
released "Wasted",
the sixth single
from her debut album
of the same name. It
become Carrie's
fourth consecutive
#1 country single
and fifth overall #1
single on the US
Country charts. |
| 9-Feb-2007 |
Taylor Swift
released "Teardrops
on My Guitar" the
second single from
her self-titled
debut album which
peaked at #2 on the
Billboard Hot
Country Songs and
was a crossover hit
as well, peaking at
#7 on the
Billboard Pop
Songs chart. |
| 11-Feb-2007 |
The Dixie Chicks won
three awards at the
49th Annual
Grammy Awards
in Los Angeles:
Record of the Year
and Song of the Year
(both for "Not Ready
to Make Nice," the
latter shared with
songwriter Dan
Wilson) and Album of
the Year (Taking
the Long Way).
Carrie Underwood
took the Best New
Artist Award and
Best Female Country
Vocal Performance
for "Jesus, Take the
Wheel"; the song
also earned a Best
Country Song award
for songwriters
Brett James, Hillary
Lindsey and Gordie
Sampson. Also,
country music
pioneer Bob Wills -
the longtime leader
of the Texas
Playboys - was a
posthumous recipient
of a Lifetime
Achievement
Award. Wills was
recognized 32 years
after his death. |
| 17-Feb-2007 |
Hank Williams, Jr.
filed for divorce
from his fourth
wife, Mary Jane,
whom he married in
1990. |
| 21-Feb-2007 |
The police officer
who arrested John
Michael Montgomery
in 2006 for drunken
driving was fired.
Officials in
Lexington, Ky.,
charged Joshua
Cromer with
unbecoming conduct,
dishonesty and
insubordination
after he arrested
Montgomery on Feb.
14, 2006, near the
singer's home.
Following the
arrest, Cromer
altered a photograph
to show himself
posing with
Montgomery and then
posted it on his own
MySpace page. |
| 19-Mar-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. |
| 21-Mar-2007 |
Dixie Chicks were at
#1 on the US country
chart with their
seventh studio album
Taking the Long
Way. With over 2
million copies sold
in the US, it won 5
Grammy
Awards, including
Album of the Year,
Record of the Year
and Song of the
Year. |
| 27-Mar-2007 |
Curb Records
released Let It
Go, the eleventh
album by Tim McGraw.
The album, which
entered the US
Billboard 200
at #1, produced
seven Top 20 chart
singles on the Hot
Country Songs
charts. |
| 30-Mar-2007 |
Phillip Sweet from
American country
music group Little
Big Town married
Rebecca Arthur, a
business owner and
wardrobe stylist. |
| 31-Mar-2007 |
Police issued an
arrest warrant for
Country singer Billy
Joe Shaver after he
shot and wounded a
man outside a
Lorena, Texas, bar.
Shaver later turns
himself in. |
| 8-Apr-2007 |
Tim McGraw was at #1
on the US album
chart with Let It
Go his fourth #1
album. The album
produced seven Top
20 US country hits.
The first single
from the album,
"Last Dollar (Fly
Away)" (written by
Big Kenny of Big &
Rich), reached the
top of the country
charts in early
2007, giving McGraw
his first #1 hit
since "Back When" in
late 2004. |
| 9-Apr-2007 |
Country singer Tanya
Tucker was sued by
her manicurist for
$300,000 over claims
the star's dog
attacked and injured
her. Danielle Hobbs
stated in court
papers that she was
bitten by Bella at
the singer's
Nashville home and
also claimed that
the alleged attack,
had left her with
painful and
disfiguring scars on
her leg. She stated
that Tucker's
assistant told her
the dogs were "just
babies" and said
"they will not hurt
you". |
| 10-Apr-2007 |
The former home of
Johnny Cash burnt to
the ground. Cash and
his wife June Carter
used the base in
Tennessee to write
many of their songs,
and to entertain
fans and US
presidents. Part of
Cash's famous
late-period video
"Hurt" was shot
inside the house, 20
miles north-east of
'country music
capital' Nashville.
After the couple's
deaths in 2003, the
home in Henderson
was bought by Bee
Gee Barry Gibb who
was preparing to
refurbish the
property when fire
struck - within a
few hours, only the
stone chimneys
remained of the
building. More
on Johnny Cash |
| 16-Apr-2007 |
Carrie Underwood's
"Before He Cheats"
video won three
trophies at the
CMT Music Awards,
held at Belmont
University's Curb
Events Center in
Nashville. Other
winners on the night
included Taylor
Swift, Sugarland,
Jack Ingram, Rascal
Flatts, and Kenny
Chesney. |
| 17-Apr-2007 |
Tim McGraw was at #1
on the Country
charts with Let
It Go his
eleventh album. The
album entered the US
Billboard 200
at #1 and produced
seven Top 20 chart
singles. |
| 19-Apr-2007 |
News sources
confirmed that actor
Jeff Bridges had
signed a recording
contract with jazz
music label Blue
Note Records. He was
set to work with
producer T-Bone
Burnett and would
release his debut
album in 2011.
Bridges previously
won an Oscar for his
portrayal of a
country music
singer-songwriter. |
| 22-Apr-2007 |
Emmylou Harris,
Wynonna Judd, The
Crickets and John
Hiatt were all
inducted into the
Music City Walk
of Fame in
Nashville. |
| 1-May-2007 |
Miranda Lambert
released her second
album Crazy
Ex-Girlfriend.
The album went to #1
on the Top Country
Albums chart and
also reached #6 on
the overall American
chart. In late
Spring 2008,
Crazy
Ex-Girlfriend
won the Album of the
Year award at the
Academy of
Country Music
Awards. |
| 10-May-2007 |
Trisha Yearwood
announced she was
leaving MCA Records
where she had been
for 16 years and
selling over 12
million albums. She
announced she was
signing with Big
Machine Records.
Yearwood and Big
Machine CEO Scott
Borchetta met in her
intern days at MTM
records. Trisha's
last top 10 hit with
MCA was "I Would've
Loved You Anyway" in
2001. |
| 15-May-2007 |
Winners at the 42nd
Annual Academy
of Country Music
Awards hosted by
Reba McEntire
included: Top Female
Vocalist -
Carrie Underwood,
Top Vocal Duo -
Brooks & Dunn, Top
Vocal Group - Rascal
Flatts, Top Male
Vocalist - Brad
Paisley, Top New
Female Vocalist -
Miranda Lambert and
Album of the Year
went to Carrie
Underwood for
Some Hearts. |
| 18-May-2007 |
Kellie Pickler's
father was arrested
in Albemarle, North
Carolina on a felony
count of obtaining
property under false
pretense and three
felony counts of
larceny of a motor
vehicle. Clyde "Bo"
Pickler Jr., was
accused of stealing
abandoned and
disabled vehicles
and illegally
selling them to
scrap yards. Bond
was set at $26,000. |
| 30-May-2007 |
Billy Currington
held the top spot on
the country charts
with "Good
Directions". Written
by Luke Bryan and
Rachel Thibodeau, it
was the third and
final single from
Billy's 2005 album
Doin' Somethin'
Right and his
second #1 hit. The
song spent three
weeks at the top of
the Billboard
Hot Country
Songs Chart. |
| 5-Jun-2007 |
Gretchen Wilson was
at #1 on the country
charts with One
of the Boys, her
third album. The
album produced three
chart singles for
Wilson on the
Billboard Hot
Country Songs
charts: "Come to
Bed" (a duet with
John Rich of Big &
Rich), followed by
the title track and
"You Don't Have to
Go Home", the first
single of Wilson's
career to miss Top
40 on the country
charts. |
| 9-Jun-2007 |
Carrie Underwood was
at #1 on the US
country chart with
her debut album
Some Hearts.
It is the best
selling debut album
by a solo female
country music artist
in history and album
contains the #1
singles "Jesus, Take
the Wheel", "Don't
Forget to Remember
Me", "Wasted", and
"Before He Cheats". |
| 12-Jun-2007 |
Toby Keith released
his eleventh studio
album Big Dog
Daddy which
became his fifth #1
on the
Billboard Top
Country Albums
chart. This was also
the first album of
Keith's career that
he produced entirely
on his own. |
| 15-Jun-2007 |
Jason Aldean was at
#1 on the Country
charts with his
second album
Relentless.
The set produced
three chart singles
for Aldean on the
Hot Country Songs
charts. The lead-off
single "Johnny Cash"
(originally recorded
by Tracy Byrd on his
2004 album
Greatest
Hits) and
"Laughed Until We
Cried" and the title
track. |
| 18-Jun-2007 |
It was reported that
Country singer
Johnny Rodriguez had
been arrested on
drugs charges after
police stopped the
singer west of
Oklahoma City on a
complaint of
speeding. Officers
then found what they
believed to be bags
of marijuana,
methamphetamine,
drug paraphernalia
and an open
container of beer in
Rodriguez's pickup
truck. He was
released on $6,500
bail. |
| 19-Jun-2007 |
Brad Paisley
released his fifth
studio album 5th
Gear which
became his third #1
on the US
Billboard Top
Country Albums
chart. The album's
first four singles,
"Ticks", "Online",
"Letter to Me", and
"I'm Still a Guy"
all reached #1 on
the Hot Country
Songs charts. |
| 20-Jun-2007 |
The Academy of
Country Music
presented the
Cliffie Stone
Pioneer Award to
Dolly Parton, Waylon
Jennings, Don
Williams and
songwriter Harlan
Howard at the
Tennessee State
Museum in Nashville.
Buck Owens received
the Jim Reeves
International Award. |
| 29-Jun-2007 |
Mike Curb the
founder of Curb
Records was honored
with the 2,341st
star on the
Hollywood Walk of
Fame. |
| 29-Jun-2007 |
Canada Post
issued the limited
edition Anne Murray
Stamp. She was
recognized along
with three other
iconic Canadian
recording artists:
Paul Anka, Gordon
Lightfoot, and Joni
Mitchell. |
| 7-Jul-2007 |
Keith Urban
performed with
Alicia Keys at one
of Al Gore's Live
Earth concerts
held around the
world. The concerts
which were held to
raise awareness of
global warming saw
Urban performing at
the concert held in
New York City. |
| 19-Jul-2007 |
Country music duo
Big & Rich were at
#1 on the US singles
chart with "Lost in
This Moment." Prior
to its release, the
duo's
highest-charting
single was "Save a
Horse (Ride a
Cowboy)", which
reached #11. |
| 21-Jul-2007 |
Mindy McCready was
arrested for
misdemeanor battery
and resisting arrest
after getting into a
drunken, violent
fight with her
mother. The singer
was also charged
with violating her
probation. |
| 26-Jul-2007 |
Mindy McCready was
arrested by
Williamson County
deputies and charged
with violating her
probation when she
arrived on an
afternoon flight at
the Nashville
International
Airport. McCready
was serving a
three-year probation
after pleading
guilty in 2004 to
fraudulently
obtaining OxyContin
at a Brentwood
pharmacy
and for resisting
arrest. |
| 27-Jul-2007 |
Country music singer
and songwriter
Lawton Williams died
age 85. 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. |
| 28-Jul-2007 |
During a Faith Hill
and Tim McGraw show
in Lafayette,
Louisiana, at the
end of Tim McGraw's
set, a female fan
reached out and
grabbed McGraw's
nether regions. When
Hill and McGraw
returned for the
encore, Hill blasted
the fan, waving her
finger and saying
into the microphone:
"Somebody needs to
teach you some
class, my friend.
You don't go
grabbin' somebody
else's, somebody's
husband's
[privates], you
understand me?
That's very
disrespectful!" The
incident attracted
considerable media
attention. |
| 14-Aug-2007 |
Carrie Underwood
released "So Small"
as the first single
from her 2007 album
Carnival
Ride. It became
her fourth #1
single. "So Small"
debuted at #20 on
the Billboard
Hot Country Songs
making the highest
chart entry by a
solo country female
artist in 43 years
of Nielsen BDS
history. |
| 17-Aug-2007 |
Uncle Kracker was
arrested and charged
with second-degree
forcible sex after a
26-year-old woman
claimed he committed
a sexual act against
her at a nightclub
in Raleigh, N.C. The
33-year-old singer
and rapper, whose
real name is Matthew
Shafer, was booked
into the Wake County
Jail after being
arrested at a hotel
in a Raleigh suburb.
Bond was set at $5
million. His duet
"When the Sun Goes
Down," with Kenny
Chesney, spent five
weeks at the top of
Billboard's
country chart in
2004. |
| 27-Aug-2007 |
Garth Brooks
released his 51st
single and first
single from his
third compilation
album The
Ultimate Hits
which became the
first song to debut
at #1 in the entire
history of the Hot
Country Songs
charts. The song was
also Brooks's first
#1 hit since "To
Make You Feel My
Love" in 1998. |
| 30-Aug-2007 |
Reba McEntire
received two
CMA
nominations: Female
Vocalist of the Year
and Vocal Event of
the Year. With those
two nominations plus
another in 2008 and
two more in 2009,
McEntire became the
female artist with
the most nominations
(forty-eight) in the
forty-three year
history of the
CMA Awards,
surpassing Dolly
Parton, who has
forty-three |
| 9-Sep-2007 |
Farm Aid 2007: A
Homegrown Festival,
took place at
Randall's Island,
New York City, New
York. 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, Neil
Young and Dave
Matthews with Merle
Haggard, Ray Price,
Billy Joe Shaver,
Tim Reynolds, Gregg
Allman, The Allman
Brothers Band,
Counting Crows,
Matisyahu, Guster,
The Derek Trucks
Band, Warren Haynes,
Supersuckers, The
Ditty Bops,
Montgomery Gentry,
Jimmy Sturr,
Danielle Evin, Jesse
Lenat, Pauline
Reese, Paula Nelson,
Titty Bingo, and 40
Points. |
| 9-Sep-2007 |
Taylor Swift
released "Our Song"
the third single
from her self-titled
debut studio album.
It became Swift's
first #1 single on
the Hot Country
Songs chart,
maintaining the
position for six
consecutive weeks.
The track made her
the youngest person
to single-handedly
write and perform a
#1 song on the
Billboard Hot
Country Songs chart. |
| 11-Sep-2007 |
Kenny Chesney
released his
eleventh studio
album Just Who I
Am: Poets &
Pirates which
became his fifth US
#1 on the
Billboard
chart. The album's
singles "Never
Wanted Nothing
More", "Better as a
Memory" and "Don't
Blink" all reached
#1 on the Hot
Country Songs
charts. |
| 15-Sep-2007 |
Garth Brooks' song,
"More Than a Memory"
became the first
song to debut at #1
on the
Billboard
magazine Hot Country
Songs chart, since
the start of the
magazine's all
encompassing country
chart in 1958. It
was released as his
51st single and
first single from
his 2007 compilation
The Ultimate
Hits. |
| 23-Sep-2007 |
Linda Ronstadt was
inducted into the
Arizona Music &
Entertainment Hall
of Fame, along
with Stevie Nicks
and Buck Owens. |
| 24-Sep-2007 |
The California
Friends of John
Denver and The
Windstar Foundation
unveiled a bronze
plaque near the spot
where his plane went
down, killing the
singer, near Pacific
Grove. The site had
been marked by a
driftwood log carved
(by Jeffrey Pine of
Colorado) with the
singer's name. |
| 1-Oct-2007 |
Keith Urban was
unhurt whe he
skidded off his
motorbike after a
photographer
followed him near
his home in Sydney,
Austalia. In a
statement released
by his publicists,
Urban said the
incident was "the
result of one
person's desire to
do his job and my
desire to maintain
my privacy." Urban
said he tried to
avoid an oncoming
car and dropped his
bike and the
photographer came to
his assistance
without taking
photos. |
| 11-Oct-2007 |
American bluegrass
musician Benny
Williams died. 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
guitarist. |
| 21-Oct-2007 |
Rascal Flatts were
at #1 on the US
Country music album
chart with their
fifth studio album,
Still Feels
Good. The album
produced five
singles on the
Billboard Hot
Country Songs
charts, the first of
which was "Take Me
There", co-written
by Kenny Chesney,
and reached #1 on
the country charts
in mid-2007. |
| 23-Oct-2007 |
Carrie Underwood
released her second
studio album
Carnival
Ride. It was the
singer's first album
to debut at #1 on
the Billboard
200 and second to
debut atop the Top
Country Albums
chart. The album was
certified quadruple
platinum, it has
sold 3.4 million
copies in the United
States, and four
million copies
worldwide. The four
singles "So Small",
"All-American Girl",
"Last Name", "Just a
Dream", reached #1
on the Hot Country
Songs chart, thus
making Underwood the
first solo female
artist to pull four
#1's from one album
since Shania Twain
in 1995-1996. |
| 28-Oct-2007 |
Country musician
Porter Wagoner died
in Nashville aged 80
from lung cancer.
Wagoner helped
launch the career of
Dolly Parton and had
his own US TV show,
which ran for 21
years until 1981.
Wagoner signed his
first record deal in
1955, and had hits
including "Carroll
County Accident" and
"Green Green Grass
of Home." |
| 29-Oct-2007 |
Walk the Line,
the film about
the life of singer
Johnny Cash, was
voted the greatest
music biopic in a
poll. The film
starred Joaquin
Phoenix and Reese
Witherspoon as Cash
and his wife June
Carter as the
country stars and
won the actress an
Oscar in
2006. |
| 2-Nov-2007 |
The Johnny Cash
Flower Pickin'
Festival was
held in Starkville,
Mississippi.
Starkville, where
Cash was arrested
over 40 years
earlier and held
overnight at the
city jail on May 11,
1965, inspired Cash
to write the song
"Starkville City
Jail". The festival,
where he was offered
a symbolic
posthumous pardon,
honored Cash's life
and music, and was
expected to become
an annual event. |
| 6-Nov-2007 |
Hank Thompson died
from lung cancer,
aged eighty-two. 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.
|
| 7-Nov-2007 |
Kenny Chesney was
named the CMA
Entertainer of
the Year for the
third time in four
years. |
| 18-Nov-2007 |
American session
pedal steel guitar
player John Hughey
died age 73. He had
worked with various
country music acts,
most notably Vince
Gill, Loretta Lynn,
Willie Nelson 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. |
| 19-Nov-2007 |
Alan Jackson
released "Small Town
Southern Man" as the
lead 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-third US
Country #1 hit. |
| 27-Nov-2007 |
Rosanne Cash was
admitted to New
York's Presbyterian
Hospital for brain
surgery. The surgery
was successful,
though recovery was
slow, and in March
2008 she was forced
to cancel her spring
tour dates for
further
recuperation. |
| 17-Dec-2007 |
Carrie Underwood
released
"All-American Girl"
the second single
from Underwood's
second studio album,
Carnival
Ride. The song
reached #1 on Hot
Country Songs chart
and spent two weeks
at the top making it
her her seventh #1
single altogether. |
| 10-Jan-2008 |
Charley Pride
received a lifetime
achievement award
from the
Mississippi Arts
Commission. In
the early to
mid-1970s Pride
became the
best-selling
performer for RCA
Records since Elvis
Presley, scoring 39
#1 hits on the
Billboard Hot
Country Songs
charts. |
| 17-Jan-2008 |
Reba McEntire and
Kelly Clarkson
embarked on the
co-headlining 2
Worlds 2 Voices
Tour, which
began in Dayton,
Ohio. The 39 date
tour featured the
two singers sharing
the same band and
stage and performing
each other's songs. |
| 24-Jan-2008 |
Charlie Daniels who
is known for his #1
country hit "The
Devil Went Down to
Georgia", was
inducted into the
Grand Ole Opry.
|
| 29-Jan-2008 |
Rascal Flatts played
their first ever gig
outside the US when
they appeared at the
100 Club on Oxford
Street, London,
England. |
| 30-Jan-2008 |
Bluegrass guitarist,
Don Pavel died aged
60. He began
partnering with
Warren Nelson in the
mid-1970s and helped
found the Lost
Nation String Band
and the Big Top
Chautauqua Blue
Canvas Orchestra. |
| 3-Feb-2008 |
Taylor Swift
released "Picture to
Burn" as the fourth
single from her
self-titled debut
studio album. The
track peaked at #3
on the US Hot
Country Songs
charts. |
| 10-Feb-2008 |
The Eagles won a
Grammy Award
for Best Country
Performance by a Duo
or Group with Vocal
for "How Long". It
was the band's fifth
Grammy Award. |
| 12-Feb-2008 |
Tom T. Hall was
inducted into the
Country Music
Hall of Fame.
Hall has written 11
#1 hit songs, with
26 more that reached
the Top 10,
including the #1
international pop
crossover smash
"Harper Valley PTA." |
| 18-Feb-2008 |
Carrie Underwood
kicked off The
Carnival Ride
Tour in Wachovia
Arena, Wilkes Barre,
Pennsylvania. The
singers first
headlined tour was
in support of her
second album,
Carnival
Ride. |
| 4-Mar-2008 |
Alan Jackson
released his
fifteenth studio
album Good
Time which
debuted at #1 on
the US
Billboard 200
chart. The album
produced five
singles on the
country singles
charts. The first
three of these
"Small Town Southern
Man", the title
track, and "Country
Boy" were all #1
hits. |
| 9-Mar-2008 |
Taylor Swift was at
#1 on the US Country
music album chart
with her eponymous
debut studio album,
which topped the
Country Albums Chart
for twenty-four
non-consecutive
weeks. |
| 15-Mar-2008 |
When appearing at
the Grand Ole Opry
Randy Travis
surprised Carrie
Underwood on the
stage of the Opry
with an invitation
to become the next
member. |
| 18-Mar-2008 |
Taylor Swift the
eponymous debut
studio album by
American
singer-songwriter
Taylor Swift was at
#1 on the US country
chart. The album was
released on October
24, 2006 when Swift
was just 16 years
old, by Big Machine
Records. Swift wrote
songs for the album
during her freshman
year of high school. |
| 28-Mar-2008 |
The Country Music
Hall of Fame and
Museum unveiled a
new exhibit, "Family
Tradition: The
Williams Family
Legacy," featuring
artefacts of Hank
Williams, Hank
Williams Jr., Audrey
Williams, Jett
Williams, Hank
Williams III and
Holly Williams. |
| 1-Apr-2008 |
Alan Jackson was at
#1 on the Country
singles chart with
"Small Town Southern
Man", the lead
single from his
album Good
Time and
becoming Jackson's
twenty-third #1 hit. |
| 4-Apr-2008 |
The Statehouse
Museum in Little
Rock, Arkansas
hosted the
Sparkle & Twang:
Marty Stuart's
American Musical
Odyssey. The
exhibit was on loan
from the Tennessee
State Museum in
Nashville and ran
until October 5,
2008. |
| 8-Apr-2008 |
Carrie Underwood
released "Last Name"
the third single
from Underwood's
second studio album,
Carnival
Ride. At the
51st Grammy
Awards, the song won
Underwood her third
consecutive
Grammy for
Best Female Country
Vocal Performance.
The song became her
seventh straight #1
country single, and
her eighth #1
Billboard
single overall. |
| 15-Apr-2008 |
Capitol released the
self-titled debut
album by Lady
Antebellum, which
debuted at #1 on the
Billboard Top
Country Albums
chart, the first
debut by a country
group to achieve
this. It also
reached #4 on the
overall
Billboard Top
200 charts and
received a
nomination for Album
of the Year on the
2010 Academy of
Country Music
Awards.
|
| 20-Apr-2008 |
Hank Williams, Steve
Wariner and The
Nitty Gritty Dirt
Band were all added
to the Music City
Walk of Fame in
Nashville. |
| 21-Apr-2008 |
Alan Jackson
released "Good Time"
the second 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-fourth US
Country #1 hit. |
| 24-Apr-2008 |
Toby Keith had a
performance at a
base in Kandahar,
Afghanistan,
interrupted by
mortar fire as he
was performing for
over 2,500 troops.
|
| 28-Apr-2008 |
George Strait was at
#1 on the country
chart wiith
Troubadour,
his 25th studio
album. The lead-off
single, "I Saw God
Today", was the
highest-debuting
single of Strait's
career, and his
forty-third #1 on
the Billboard
country charts. The
album earned the
Grammy Award
for Best Country
Album, the first
Grammy win of
Strait's career. |
| 8-May-2008 |
American singer,
songwriter Eddy
Arnold died in a
nursing home in
Nashville, exactly
one week before his
90th birthday.
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.
|
| 9-May-2008 |
Members of Alabama
sued their drummer
Mark Herndon for
$202,670 in money
allegedly overpaid
to him three years
earlier after the
band's farewell
tour. Since 1982,
Herndon had been a
paid employee of
Wild Country Inc.
according to the
court papers. In
December 2002, a new
contract was signed
which provided that
Herndon would be
paid an annual
salary of $100,000
and receive a 22.725
percent share of
"net Live
Performance revenue
actually received by
the group. |
| 10-May-2008 |
The winner of the
fourth season of
American
Idol, in 2005,
Carrie Underwood was
inducted into the
Grand Ole Opry,
being introduced by
Garth Brooks. She
performed "Last
Name," "All-American
Girl" and "Jesus,
Take The Wheel." |
| 15-May-2008 |
People
Magazine
reported Canadian
singer Shania Twain
and her husband,
music producer
Robert John "Mutt"
Lange, had separated
after 14 years of
marriage. The couple
were married on
December 28, 1993,
after Twain met
Lange at Nashville's
Fan Fair earlier in
the year. |
| 18-May-2008 |
Winners at the 43rd
Annual Academy
of Country Music
Awards hosted by
Reba McEntire
included:
Entertainer of the
Year -
Kenny Chesney, Top
Male Vocalist - Brad
Paisley, Top Female
Vocalist - Carrie
Underwood, Top New
Female Vocalist -
Taylor Swift, Top
New Duo or Vocal
Group - Lady
Antebellum and Album
of the Year went to
Miranda Lambert for
"Crazy
Ex-Girlfriend." |
| 18-May-2008 |
Taylor Swift
released "Should've
Said No" as the
fifth and final
single from her
self-titled debut
studio album. The
track became her
second #1 single on
the Billboard
Hot Country Songs
chart. |
| 19-Jun-2008 |
Loretta Lynn joined
the Songwriters
Hall of Fame
during a ceremony at
the Marriott Marquis
Hotel in New York
City. Anne Murray
also received the
Hitmaker
Award. |
| 24-Jun-2008 |
During a concert at
the White River
Amphitheater in
Auburn, Washington,
while performing
"Indian Outlaw", Tim
McGraw noticed a man
near the front of
the crowd attacking
a female fan. McGraw
reached down and
with the help of
security, pulled the
man up onto the
stage where he was
removed from the
concert. The
incident was filmed
by a fan and late
posted on
YouTube. |
| 21-Jul-2008 |
Carrie Underwood
released "Just a
Dream" the fourth
single from her
second studio album,
Carnival
Ride. The song
became Underwood's
sixth straight #1
country single, as
well as her seventh
#1 single overall.
The song was
nominated for 2010
Grammy Award
for Best Female
Country Vocal
Performance. |
| 28-Jul-2008 |
Blake Shelton was at
#1 on the US Country
charts with "Home".
His cover version of
the song first
recorded by Canadian
singer Michael
Bubl, became the
fourth #1 hit of his
career. |
| 31-Jul-2008 |
The Black Crowes
filed a lawsuit
against Gretchen
Wilson for copyright
violation, alleging
that her song "Work
Hard, Play Harder"
copied the Crowes
song "Jealous
Again". |
| 6-Aug-2008 |
Dixie Chick Emily
Robinson and country
singer Charlie
Robison divorced
after nine years of
marriage. |
| 8-Aug-2008 |
The movie Beer
for My Horses
was released. The
comedy film starring
and co-produced by
Toby Keith was based
on his song by the
same name. The film
which was co-written
by Keith and Rodney
Carrington also
featured Willie
Nelson. |
| 11-Aug-2008 |
Don Helms a steel
guitarist best known
as the steel guitar
player of Hank
Williams' Drifting
Cowboys died aged
81. 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." |
| 17-Aug-2008 |
Linda Ronstadt
received a tribute
by various artists
including BeBe
Winans and Wynonna
Judd, when she was
honored with the
Trailblazer
Award, presented
to her by Plcido
Domingo at the 2008
ALMA Awards a
ceremony later
televised in the US
on ABC. |
| 19-Aug-2008 |
Meet Glen
Campbell the
sixtieth album by
Glen Campbell was
released. The album
is a collection of
recordings by other
artists including
Jackson Browne, U2,
Lou Reed, John
Lennon and Tom
Petty. |
| 20-Aug-2008 |
The daughter of late
country star Johnny
Cash called the use
of her father's name
to endorse a US
presidential
candidate
'appalling'. Country
star John Rich
implied Mr Cash
would have backed
Republican hopeful
John McCain while
appearing at a rally
in Florida,
according to media
reports. Writing on
her website,
Roseanne Cash called
the remarks
'presumptuous'.
'Even I would not
presume to say
publicly what I
'know' he thought or
felt,' she added. |
| 20-Aug-2008 |
Singer, songwriter
Will Hoge was
involved in a
scooter accident on
after leaving a
studio session for
what would be his
next album, The
Wreckage. He was
traveling north on
Main Street in East
Nashville when a van
traveling southbound
failed to yield
while turning,
Hoge's motor scooter
collided with the
passenger side of
the van. He was
admitted to
Vanderbilt
University Medical
Center in critical
condition. Hoge has
since made a full
recovery. |
| 21-Aug-2008 |
Drummer Buddy Harman
died of congestive
heart failure, aged
79. He worked with
Elvis Presley
('Little Sister'),
Patsy Cline
('Crazy'), Roy
Orbison ('Pretty
Woman'), Johnny Cash
('Ring Of Fire'),
Tammy Wynette
('Stand By Your
Man'). Harman was
the first house
drummer for The
Grand Ole Opry and
can be heard on over
18,000 recordings. |
| 31-Aug-2008 |
Jerry Reed, country
music singer,
guitarist,
songwriter, and
actor died. 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)". |
| 12-Sep-2008 |
Taylor Swift
released "Love
Story" as the lead
single from Swift's
second studio album
Fearless. The
song was a
commercial success,
selling over 18
million copies
worldwide, therefore
establishing itself
among the
best-selling singles
of all time. In the
United States, the
song peaked at #4 on
the Billboard
Hot 100 and sold
over 9 million paid
digital downloads,
becoming Swift's
best-selling single
to date and was once
the best-selling
download by a female
country solo artist. |
| 20-Sep-2008 |
The Farm Aid
2008, benefit
concert took place
at the Comcast
Center, Mansfield,
Massachusetts. 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, Neil
Young, Dave Matthews
and Tim Reynolds
with Jerry Lee
Lewis, Kenny
Chesney, The
Pretenders, moe.,
Arlo Guthrie, Steve
Earle, Nation Beat,
Grace Potter and the
Nocturnals, Jakob
Dylan and The Gold
Mountain Rebels,
Danielle Evin, Jamey
Johnson, Jesse
Lenat, Will Dailey,
One Flew South, and
The Elms. |
| 29-Sep-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. |
| 4-Oct-2008 |
Darius Rucker former
frontman for the
'90s pop band Hootie
& the Blowfish, went
to #1 on the Country
chart with his first
country single,
"Don't Think I Don't
Think About It,"
making him the first
African American
singer to top that
tally since 1985,
when Ray Charles hit
the top with "Seven
Spanish Angels," a
duet with Willie
Nelson. |
| 1-Nov-2008 |
The Marty Stuart
Show began
airing on cable's
RFD-TV. Each
episode featured
music by Stuart and
his band the
Fabulous
Superlatives, as
well as his wife,
Grand Ole Opry star
Connie Smith,
banjo-picker Leroy
Troy, and guests. |
| 3-Nov-2008 |
After being
diagnosed with lung
Cancer in May of
2008, Merle Haggard
had surgery to
remove part of the
upper lobe of his
right lung that had
a lemon-size tumor
growing on it. |
| 4-Nov-2008 |
Brad Paisley
released his sixth
studio album
Play: The Guitar
Album which is
largely an album of
instrumentals,
though Paisley sings
five duets with
other vocalists,
including B.B. King,
Buck Owens, and
Keith Urban.
Play: The Guitar
Album became his
fourth Country #1
and "Start a Band"
(a duet with Keith
Urban), released as
a single became
Paisley's ninth
consecutive #1
country hit. |
| 7-Nov-2008 |
Clint Black took his
manager/accountant,
Charles Sussman to
court in a grievance
about royalties. The
lawsuit claimed
Sussman convinced
Black to assign more
than $500,000 in
royalties to Equity
Records, an
independent record
label in which both
Sussman and Black
had minority
ownership. Black
said he got nothing
in return for this
arrangement but
Sussman was taking
monthly payments
from Equity without
his knowledge. |
| 9-Nov-2008 |
It was announced
that Merle Haggard
had been diagnosed
with non-small cell
lung cancer in May
of this year and had
undergone surgery
during which part of
one of his lungs was
removed. |
| 11-Nov-2008 |
Country music
superstar Reba
McEntire left her
longtime record
label MCA Nashville,
after 24 years and
signed to The Valory
Music Co., sister
label to Big Machine
Records. McEntire
and Big Machine CEO
Scott Borchetta had
previously worked
together in the
1990s when Borchetta
was senior president
of promotion for MCA
Nashville. |
| 11-Nov-2008 |
Hank Williams Jr.
was honored as a
BMI Icon at
the 56th annual
BMI Country
Awards. The
artists and
songwriters named
BMI Icons
have had "a unique
and indelible
influence on
generations of music
makers." |
| 22-Nov-2008 |
Tim McGraw made his
first appearance on
the American
late-night live
television sketch
comedy show
Saturday Night
Live. |
| 7-Dec-2008 |
The John F.
Kennedy Center for
the Performing
Arts honored
George Jones for his
lifetime
contributions to the
arts. For the last
20 years of his
life, Jones was
frequently referred
to as the greatest
living country
singer.
|
| 7-Dec-2008 |
Taylor Swift
released "White
Horse" as the second
single from her
second studio album
Fearless. At
the 2010
Grammy
Awards, "White
Horse" won the
Awards for Best
Country Song and
Best Female Country
Vocal Performance. |
| 17-Dec-2008 |
Paramedics were
called to country
singer Mindy
McCready's Nashville
home after an
apparent suicide
attempt; they
transported her to a
hospital after
finding wounds on
her wrists. |
| 3-Jan-2009 |
Taylor Swift was at
#1 on the country
chart with
Fearless. The
album won the
Grammy Award
for Album of the
Year and Best
Country Album.
Swift's Album of the
Year win made her
the youngest person
ever at the age of
20 to receive that
award.
Fearless was
also the first album
in history to win
the American
Music Award, Academy
of Country Music
Award, Country Music
Association
Award, and
Grammy Award
for Album of The
Year in the same
year making it the
most awarded album
in the history of
country music. |
| 10-Jan-2009 |
Taylor Swift
performed two songs
- "Love Story" and
"Forever & Always"
as the musical guest
on NBC's TV
Saturday Night
Live. |
| 11-Jan-2009 |
Taylor Swift was at
#1 on the US Country
chart with her
second studio album
Fearless. The
album topped the
Billboard 200
chart for eleven
non-consecutive
weeks, thus setting
various records,
including the
longest chart-topper
by a female country
artist. On
Billboard's
Country albums chart
the album logged a
record 36 weeks at
#1, with 3.2 million
copies sold in 2009. |
| 18-Jan-2009 |
Garth Brooks
performed "We Shall
Be Free" on the
steps of the Lincoln
Memorial during an
inaugural event for
Barack Obama. James
Taylor, Jennifer
Nettles, Bono, Bruce
Springsteen, Jon Bon
Jovi and Sheryl Crow
also appeared. |
| 1-Feb-2009 |
Faith Hill performed
"America, The
Beautiful" before
the Super Bowl at
Raymond James
Stadium in Tampa,
with Bruce
Springsteen & The E
Street Band playing
at halftime. |
| 3-Feb-2009 |
Darius Rucker was
awarded a gold
single for "Don't
Think I Don't Think
About It", which was
his first single off
his studio album
Learn to Live.
Rucker became
the first solo
African American
artist to reach the
top of the country
charts since Charley
Pride's "Night
Games" in 1983.
|
| 8-Feb-2009 |
Former Led Zeppelin
singer, Robert Plant
& Alison Krauss won
five trophies in the
51st Grammy
Awards at the
Staples Center:
Album of the Year
and Contemporary
Folk/Americana
Album, for
Raising Sand;
Record of the Year,
"Please Read The
Letter"; Pop
Collaboration, "Rich
Woman"; and Country
Collaboration,
"Killing The Blues." |
| 13-Feb-2009 |
A man was arrested
for allegedly
stealing the
identity of country
music
singer-songwriter
David Lynn Jones of
Cave City who wrote
the Willie Nelson #1
hit song "Living in
the Promiseland".
The identity theft
began when Danny J.
Sullivan allegedly
stole Jones'
driver's license
while working for
him and later opened
a bank account,
falsely submitted
tax returns and used
his social security
number. |
| 28-Feb-2009 |
Kenny Chesney and
Mac McAnally were at
#1 on the Country
charts with "Down
the Road." McAnally
has charted with the
song on two separate
occasions. The first
of these two
versions was
released as the
second single from
his 1990 album
Simple Life,
and was a minor
chart single for him
that year. Eighteen
years later,
McAnally re-recorded
the song as a duet
with Kenny Chesney
on Chesney's 2008
album Lucky Old
Sun. |
| 5-Mar-2009 |
Taylor Swift made
her primetime
television TV acting
debut, in CSI:
Crime Scene
Investigation as
Haley Jones.
Unfortunately, the
singer was stabbed
in the heart with a
pair of scissors.
Over 20 million
viewers watched the
episode. |
| 8-Mar-2009 |
Hank Locklin died. 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".
|
| 17-Mar-2009 |
Taylor Swift was at
#1 on the country
chart with
Fearless. The
album won the Grammy
Award for Album of
the Year and Best
Country Album.
Swift's Album of the
Year win made her
the youngest person
ever at the age of
20 to receive that
award.
Fearless was
also the first album
in history to win
the American Music
Award, Academy of
Country Music Award,
Country Music
Association Award,
and Grammy Award for
Album of The Year in
the same year making
it the most awarded
album in the history
of country music. |
| 25-Mar-2009 |
Dan Seals died aged
61. He 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". |
| 5-Apr-2009 |
Winners at the 44th
Annual Academy
of Country Music
Awards included:
Entertainer of the
Year and Top Female
Vocalist - Carrie
Underwood, Top Male
Vocalist - Brad
Paisley, Top Vocal
Group - Rascal
Flatts, Top Vocal
Duo - Sugarland, Top
New Artist -
Julianne Hough, Top
New Male Artist -
Jake Owen, Top Album
of the Year went to
Taylor Swift for
Fearless and
Vocal Event of the
Year
went to Brad Paisley
and Keith Urban for
"Start a Band." |
| 7-Apr-2009 |
Rascal Flatts
released their sixth
studio album
Unstoppable
the band's fourth
consecutive #1 debut
on the US Country
chart. |
| 9-Apr-2009 |
Singer Doug Stone,
who charted four #1
country hits in the
'90s, was arrested
in Panama City,
Florida, for
domestic violence
against his
21-year-old son,
Dustin Brooks, (who
played in Stone's
road band in the
2000s). They
reportedly engaged
in a heated dispute
over his son's car
and Stone's
drinking. |
| 18-Apr-2009 |
Taylor Swift
released "You Belong
with Me" as the
third single from
her second studio
album,
Fearless
which became a #1 on
the US Hot Country
Songs charts. The
song became Swift's
highest-charting
single on the
Billboard Hot
100 at the time and
has become Swift's
third best-selling
single. It managed
to gain the largest
crossover radio
audience since Faith
Hill's "Breathe" did
in 2000. |
| 20-Apr-2009 |
Jimmy Dean's house
was largely gutted
by a fire, although
the Deans escaped
injury. The Deans
rebuilt their home
on the same
foundation and
returned early in
2010. |
| 21-Apr-2009 |
Keith Urban was at
#1 on the country
chart with
Defying
Gravity, his
fifth studio album.
The album's lead-off
single "Sweet
Thing", topped the
Billboard Hot
Country Songs charts
in March of this
year. The album
became Urban's first
#1 album on the
Billboard
200. |
| 23-Apr-2009 |
Evansville declared
this day 'Taylor
Swift Day' as the
singer kicked off
her first headlining
tour at Roberts
Stadium with Kellie
Pickler opening.
Swift also received
a key to the city.
|
| 8-May-2009 |
Dolly Parton gave
the commencement
speech at the
commencement
ceremony in
Knoxville,
Tennessee, for the
University of
Tennessee,
Knoxville's College
of Arts and
Sciences. During the
ceremony she
received an honorary
degree, a doctorate
of humane and
musical letters,
from the university.
It was only the
second honorary
degree given by the
university. |
| 17-May-2009 |
Charlie McCoy, Roy
Clark and Barbara
Mandrell were all
inducted into the
Country Music
Hall of Fame. |
| 29-May-2009 |
Chris Young held the
#1 position on the
country singles
chart with "The Man
I Want to Be".
Written by Brett
James and Tim
Nichols, it was the
third single from
his second studio
album, also titled
The Man I Want to
Be. |
| 29-May-2009 |
Country singer John
Rich was charged
with assault and
harassment in an
ongoing dispute with
a former
Nashville
Star contestant.
Rich turned himself
in to Nashville
police to face the
charges filed by
Jared Ashley, a
contestant during
the fourth season of
the TV show on the
USA network. The
35-year-old was
charged with two
misdemeanor counts
of assault and one
misdemeanor count of
harassment. He was
released on $3,000
bond. |
| 9-Jun-2009 |
George Jones' "He
Stopped Loving Her
Today" was added to
the Library of
Congress' National
Recording Registry,
along with The
Kingston Trio's "Tom
Dooley" and The
Stanley Brothers'
"Rank Stranger". |
| 30-Jun-2009 |
Brad Paisley
released his seventh
studio album
American Saturday
Night which
peaked at #1 on the
Country chart. The
first single "Then,"
taken from the album
became his
fourteenth #1 on the
Hot Country Songs
chart. |
| 5-Jul-2009 |
Mickey Gilley was
seriously injured in
a fall in Branson,
Missouri. The 73
year-old was helping
a neighbor move some
furniture when he
fell, with the 'love
seat' falling on top
of him, crushing
four vertebrae. The
incident left him
temporarily
paralyzed from the
neck down . After
intense physical
therapy he was able
to walk again and
returned to the
stage a year later.
However, he still
lacks the hand
coordination
necessary to play
the piano. |
| 6-Jul-2009 |
Charles Kelley from
Lady Antebellum's
married Nashville
publicist Cassie
McConnell in the
Bahamas. |
| 21-Jul-2009 |
Brad Paisley
performed at the
White House in
celebration of
country music.
"Country Music at
the White House "
was streamed live on
the White House
web-site as well as
a special on
Great American
Country. |
| 10-Aug-2009 |
Brooks & Dunn
announced that they
were breaking up in
2010 after 20 years
as a duo. Signed to
Arista Records in
1991, the duo
recorded ten studio
albums, one
Christmas album and
three compilation
albums for the
label. They also
released fifty
singles, of which
twenty went to #1 on
the Hot Country
Songs charts and
nineteen more
reached top ten. |
| 15-Aug-2009 |
114 people were
arrested at Kenny
Chesney's concert at
Gillette Stadium in
Foxborough,
Massachusetts, near
Boston and another
228 were taken into
protective custody
at the New England
Country Music
Festival. Most of
the offenses
involved underage
drinking. |
| 22-Aug-2009 |
Sugarland went to #1
on the US album
chart with Live
on the Inside,
the American country
music duo's first
#1. |
| 25-Aug-2009 |
Jack Ingram set a
Guinness Book of
World Record for
most consecutive
radio interviews in
24 hours, having
done 215 consecutive
interviews for 5
minutes each. |
| 26-Aug-2009 |
Reba McEntire
released her
twenty-fifth studio
album Keep on
Loving You which
became McEntire's
second album to top
both the
Billboard
Country and 200
charts, selling
almost 96,000 copies
within its first
week. With the
album, McEntire
broke the record for
the female country
artist with the most
Billboard #1
albums, which was
previously held by
Loretta Lynn. |
| 30-Aug-2009 |
Shania Twain was a
special guest judge
on this week's
American Idol
TV show, filmed in
Chicago. Twain
returned to American
Idol the following
year as a guest
mentor for a week
where the top 6
contestants
showcased her songs. |
| 13-Sep-2009 |
Taylor Swift became
the first country
music artist to win
an MTV Music
Video award at the
2009 event, winning
a Best Female Video
for "You Belong with
Me." Hip-hop artist
and producer Kanye
West interrupted
Swift's acceptance
speech, saying that
another video should
have won. This
resulted in a media
stir for several
days; eventually,
West apologizes -
first on his blog,
and then by
personally
contacting Swift.
|
| 14-Sep-2009 |
Carrie Underwood
released "Cowboy
Casanova" as the
lead single from her
third studio album,
Play On. The
song became the
fastest climbing
single in
Underwood's career
and also the
fastest-climbing
single of 2009 in
the country music
genre. Additionally,
the song gave
Underwood the most
Top 10 hits on the
country chart this
decade - 10 top 10
singles followed by
Faith Hill and
Martina McBride each
with nine. |
| 24-Sep-2009 |
Ronnie Milsap had
recorded a new song
"My First Ride" as a
fundraiser to
benefit firefighters
and police officers.
Unhappy with Capitol
Records, because the
company refused to
service the record
to radio and iTunes,
Milsap and a group
of Tennessee
firefighters
picketed the office
of Capital. Ronnie
marched with the
group of 50 people
to the front steps
of the office, then
sang the new single
from atop a vintage
fire truck. |
| 29-Sep-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. |
| 4-Oct-2009 |
The Farm Aid
2008, benefit
concert took place
at the Verizon
Wireless
Amphitheater,
Maryland Heights,
Missouri. 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, Neil
Young, Dave Matthews
and Tim Reynolds
with Jamey Johnson,
Jason Mraz,
Phosphorescent, and
Wilco. |
| 7-Oct-2009 |
The 2008 self-titled
debut album from
Lady Antebellum was
certified platinum
by the RIAA
for shipments of one
million copies in
the United States.
The album debuted at
#1 on the
Billboard Top
Country Albums
chart, the first
debut by a country
group to achieve
this. |
| 15-Oct-2009 |
Garth Brooks
announced that he
was coming out of
retirement to play
concerts in Las
Vegas. The concerts
would be held
approximately
fifteen weekends per
year until the year
2014. His first set
of concerts has
already sold out. |
| 20-Oct-2009 |
Tim McGraw released
Southern Voice,
which was led by
the single "It's A
Business Doing
Pleasure With You". |
| 20-Oct-2009 |
Carrie Underwood
released "Temporary
Home", the second
single from her
third studio album,
Play On. The
song became her
ninth #1 single on
the US
Billboard Hot
Country Songs chart
and was nominated
for Best Female
Country Vocal
Performance at the
53rd Grammy
Awards. |
| 3-Nov-2009 |
Carrie Underwood
released her third
album Play
On, her second
album to debut at #1
on the
Billboard
200, and her third
to debut atop the
Billboard Top
Country Albums
chart. The album
featured her #1
single "Cowboy
Casanova". |
| 7-Nov-2009 |
Taylor Swift both
hosted and performed
as the musical guest
for tonight's
episode of
Saturday Night
Live on US
NBC TV. |
| 10-Nov-2009 |
Kris Kristofferson
was honored as a
BMI Icon at
the 57th annual
BMI Country
Awards. |
| 11-Nov-2009 |
Taylor Swift became
the youngest artist
ever to win the
Country Music
Association
Award for
Entertainer of the
year, and is one of
only six women to
win the Country
Music
Association's
highest honor. Brad
Paisley co-hosted
the awards for the
second straight
year. He also
performed "Welcome
to the Future", and
won both Male
Vocalist of the Year
and Musical Event of
the Year for "Start
a Band" with Keith
Urban. |
| 11-Nov-2009 |
During the 43rd
Annual CMA Awards
Taylor Swift became
the youngest person
to ever win
Entertainer of the
Year. Swift also
took home Best
Female Vocalist and
Album and Music
Video of the Year.
The event was aired
live on the ABC
Television Network
before a sold-out
crowd at the Sommet
Center in Downtown
Nashville. |
| 14-Nov-2009 |
Taylor Swift set a
record for the most
songs on the
Billboard Hot
100 by a female
artist at the same
time with eight
singles from the
re-release of her
2008 album
Fearless. |
| 22-Nov-2009 |
Taylor Swift won
five trophies,
including Artist of
the Year, during the
American Music
Awards, telecast
on ABC from
Los Angeles. |
| 2-Dec-2009 |
Taylor Swift picked
up eight nominations
at the 52nd annual
Grammy
Awards, including
Record and Song of
the Year, for "You
Belong With Me", and
Album of the Year,
for Fearless.
|
| 29-Dec-2009 |
Lady Antebellum were
at #1 on the US
Country chart with
"Need You Now". It
won four
Grammy Awards
in 2011, including
Song of the Year and
Record of the Year,
the first country
song to win both
honors since 2007,
and only the second
ever. |
| 1-Jan-2010 |
Shania Twain carried
the Olympic Torch
through her hometown
in Windsor, Ontario,
as part of the 2010
Winter Olympics
torch relay. |
| 15-Jan-2010 |
Charlie Daniels was
rushed to hospital
after suffering a
stroke while
snowmobiling in
Colorado. He
recovered and was
released two days
later. |
| 15-Jan-2010 |
Sisters Martie
Maguire and Emily
Robison from Dixie
Chicks announced
that their new side
project would be
known as Court Yard
Hounds. Their debut
album released in
May of this year
debuted at #7 on the
Billboard 200
chart.
|
| 16-Jan-2010 |
Carl Smith, better
known as "Mister
Country" died. 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.
|
| 23-Jan-2010 |
Taylor Swift was at
#1 on the country
chart with
Fearless. The
album won the
Grammy Award
for Album of the
Year and Best
Country Album.
Swift's Album of the
Year win made her
the youngest person
ever at the age of
20 to receive that
award. |
| 25-Jan-2010 |
Reba McEntire was at
#1 on the Country
singles chart with
"Consider Me Gone" a
song written by
Steve Diamond and
Marv Green and the
second single from
her thirty-third
studio album Keep
On Loving You.
The song became
McEntire's
thirty-fourth #1
single and is also
her longest-lasting
chart topper at four
weeks. |
| 26-Jan-2010 |
Lady Antebellum
released their
second studio album
Need You Now.
The album later won
the Grammy Award for
Best Country Album
and was nominated
for Album of the
Year, whereas the
single "Need You
Now" won four
awards, including
Song of the Year and
Record of the Year. |
| 27-Jan-2010 |
Shirley Collie
Nelson, country
music and rockabilly
singer, yodeler,
guitarist and
songwriter died age
78. From 1963 to
1971, she was the
second wife of
country star Willie
Nelson. The couple
co-wrote his 1968
single "Little
Things", and she is
credited with
writing his singles
"I Hope So" (1969)
and "Once More With
Feeling" (1970). |
| 31-Jan-2010 |
Taylor Swift became
the youngest country
music artist and
also the youngest
person to win the
Grammy Award
for Album of the
Year for her album
Fearless.
Swift also won three
more awards that
night for Best
Country Album
(Fearless),
Best Female Country
Vocal Performance
("White Horse"), and
Best Country Song
("White Horse").
|
| 6-Feb-2010 |
Wynonna Judd
announced that she
would reunite with
her mother, Naomi
Judd, to tour and
record a studio
album for the final
time as The Judds by
the end of 2010. |
| 13-Feb-2010 |
Two men in a small
pickup truck were
killed after
crashing into one of
Trace Adkins's tour
buses. The truck was
believed to have
crossed the "no
passing" line in the
center of the road
which resulted in
the crash. Several
members of Adkins's
band were aboard the
bus, but did not
suffer any major
injuries. Adkins
himself was not on
board the bus at the
time. |
| 23-Feb-2010 |
Jimmy Dean was
inducted into the
Country Music
Hall of Fame.
The American
singer, television
host, actor and
businessman became a
national television
personality starting
in 1957, rising to
fame for his 1961
country crossover
hit "Big Bad John"
and his television
series, The Jimmy
Dean Show. He is
also famous as the
creator of the Jimmy
Dean sausage brand.
Billy Sherrill, Don
Williams, and Ferlin
Husky were all also
inducted. |
| 23-Feb-2010 |
American VI:
Ain't No Grave
the posthumous album
by Johnny Cash was
released three days
prior to what would
have been Cash's
78th birthday. The
album's music was
recorded during the
same sessions as
American V: A
Hundred Highways
(2006). The album
debuted at #3 on the
US Billboard
200 chart. |
| 4-Mar-2010 |
Rascal Flatts were
guest stars on
CSI: Crime Scene
Investigation,
starring as
themselves. In the
episode, Jay
DeMarcus received an
electic shock from
his own bass guitar
during a performance
at a Vegas club,
leaving the musician
with total amnesia. |
| 8-Mar-2010 |
Miranda Lambert
released "The House
That Built Me", the
third single from
her third studio
album,
Revolution.
Blake Shelton was
originally set to
record the song but
when Lambert heard
it, she immediately
wanted to record it
for herself. The
song became her
first #1 hit on the
US Hot Country Songs
chart. |
| 18-Mar-2010 |
On her Fearless US
tour, Taylor Swift
played the first of
two nights at the
Wachovia Centre,
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania. |
| 19-Mar-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. |
| 30-Mar-2010 |
Nashville attorney
Adam Dread issued a
cease-and-desist
order to Vivid
Entertainment
demanding that the
company halted plans
to release "Baseball
Mistress," an
alleged sex tape
featuring singer
Mindy McCready. |
| 6-Apr-2010 |
Trisha Yearwood,
with her mother and
sister, released a
second cookbook
entitled Home
Cooking with Trisha
Yearwood. The
book consisted of
recipes passed down
through her mother,
aunts, cousins and
longtime friends. |
| 12-Apr-2010 |
The Pulitzer
Prize Board
awarded Hank
Williams a
posthumous special
citation that paid
tribute to his
"craftsmanship as a
songwriter who
expressed universal
feelings with
poignant simplicity
and played a pivotal
role in transforming
country music into a
major musical and
cultural force in
American life." |
| 13-Apr-2010 |
Lady Antebellum were
at #1 on the Country
chart with their
second studio
album Need You
Now. The album
won the Grammy
Award for Best
Country Album and
was nominated for
Album of the Year,
whereas the single
"Need You Now" won
four awards,
including Song of
the Year and Record
of the Year. |
| 16-Apr-2010 |
Country singer Alan
Jackson was awarded
his own star at 6801
Hollywood Boulevard
on the Hollywood
Walk of Fame. |
| 18-Apr-2010 |
Lady Antebellum won
in three categories,
Top Vocal Group,
Single Record and
Song of the Year,
for "Need You Now",
at the 45th
Academy of Country
Music Awards
from the MGM Grand
Garden Arena in Las
Vegas. Carrie
Underwood became the
first woman in
history to win the
Entertainer of the
Year award at the
Academy of
Country Music Awards
twice.
Underwood previously
won the award at the
2009 ceremony. |
| 3-May-2010 |
Chely Wright becomes
the first major
country artist to
come out as
homosexual. In
television
appearances and an
autobiography, she
cited among her
reasons for
publicizing her
homosexuality a
concern with
bullying and hate
crimes toward gays,
particularly gay
teenagers, and the
damage to her life
caused by "lying and
hiding". |
| 4-May-2010 |
Flooding on the
Cumberland River in
Nashville, Tennessee
caused damage to the
Grand Ole Opry House
and Gaylord Opryland
Resort and
Convention Center.
Grand Ole Opry
performances are
moved to the Ryman
Auditorium, War
Memorial Auditorium
and the Two Rivers
Baptist Church; all
of which were
unaffected by the
floods. The common
areas of the Gaylord
Opryland Hotel were
destroyed, and parts
of the hotel were
under 10 feet of
water. |
| 11-May-2010 |
Blake Shelton and
Miranda Lambert
became engaged after
five years of
dating. |
| 15-May-2010 |
Lyle Lovett was
conferred the
honorary degree of
Doctor of Humane
Letters by the
University of
Houston at its
general commencement
ceremony. |
| 18-May-2010 |
The 58th Annual
BMI Pop
Awards were held in
the Beverly Wilshire
Hotel, Beverly
Hills, Los Angeles,
California. Among
the award winners
was Taylor Swift for
Most Performed Pop
Song and Song of the
Year. |
| 24-May-2010 |
Carrie Underwood
released "Undo It",
the third single
from her third
studio album,
Play On. The
track gave Underwood
her tenth US #1 hit
on the
Billboard Hot
Country Songs chart. |
| 26-May-2010 |
Country music legend
Willie Nelson cut
his 'trademark,
waist-length
braids.' A
spokesperson for the
legendary
entertainer
explained that
Nelson decided to
lose his signature
style a couple of
weeks ago. In
trademark laid-back
fashion, he didn't
make too big a deal
out of the event. |
| 27-May-2010 |
Chris Young scored
his second
consecutive #1
single with "The Man
I Want to Be" which
was released as the
third single and
title track from his
album The Man I
Want to Be. |
| 28-May-2010 |
Guitarist and
songwriter Slim
Bryant, the last
surviving singer to
have made a
recording with
Country legend
Jimmie Rodgers, died
at the age of 101.
They recorded
Bryant's song
"Mother, the Queen
of My Heart" in
1932. He also
recorded nine other
songs with Rodgers. |
| 8-Jun-2010 |
George Strait was
named the top
country music artist
of the past 25 years
by Billboard
magazine. Strait
holds the record for
most #1 albums, gold
albums, platinum
albums, and
multi-platinum in
the history of
country music. |
| 13-Jun-2010 |
Jimmy Dean the
American country
music singer,
television host, and
businessman died at
the age of 81. Dean
who had the 1961
country crossover
hit "Big Bad John",
became a national
television
personality in the
late 50's with his
television series,
The Jimmy Dean
Show and was
also famous as the
creator of the Jimmy
Dean sausage brand.
|
| 23-Jun-2010 |
Willie nelson was
inducted into the
Library of
Congress's National
Recording
Registry. The
NRR is a list of
sound recordings
that "are
culturally,
historically, or
aesthetically
important, and/or
inform or reflect
life in the United
States." |
| 28-Jun-2010 |
Miranda Lambert was
at #1 on the US
country chart with
"The House That
Built Me". Written
by Tom Douglas and
Allen Shamblin,
Lambert won a
Grammy for
Best Female Country
Vocal Performance
for song." Blake
Shelton was
originally set to
record the song when
Lambert heard it,
she immediately
wanted to record it
for herself. It was
the third single
from her third
studio album,
Revolution. |
| 10-Jul-2010 |
Carrie Underwood and
Ottawa Senators
player Mike Fisher
married in a private
ceremony in Georgia. |
| 15-Jul-2010 |
American country
music singer and
songwriter, Hank
Cochran died aged
74. 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". |
| 18-Jul-2010 |
Brad Paisley was at
#1 on the Country
singles chart with
"Water" which was
released as the
fourth single from
his album American
Saturday
Night. The song
was co-written with
Kelley Lovelace and
Chris DuBois. |
| 21-Jul-2010 |
Wynonna Judd, along
with her daughter
and tour manager
were involved in a
head-on collision in
Salt Lake City,
Utah, on their way
to a sushi
restaurant. The
three of them were
taken to a hospital
where their injuries
were treated, and
all three were
released at midnight
that evening. |
| 31-Jul-2010 |
Brad Paisley
performed alongside
Carrie Underwood at
the inaugural
Greenbrier
Classic PGA Tour
Event in
Lewisburg, W.Va. An
estimated 60,000
people attended the
outdoor event to
watch Underwood and
Paisley perform in
the pouring rain. |
| 3-Aug-2010 |
Taylor Swift's
"Fifteen" received
an MTV Video
Music Awards
nomination for Best
Female Video pitting
her against Beyonce,
Ke$ha, Lady Gaga and
Katy Perry. |
| 21-Aug-2010 |
Al Dexter, George
Jones and Ray
Winkler were all
inducted into the
Texas Country
Music Hall Of
Fame, located in
Carthage, Texas. |
| 24-Aug-2010 |
Doug Stone, who
charted four #1
country hits in the
'90s, was arrested
for DUI in Gallatin,
Tenn after he was
pulled over when
local police
officers were called
about a possible
intoxicated driver.
Stone was jailed and
released later that
day on $3,000 bond. |
| 31-Aug-2010 |
Miranda Lambert
received five
nominations for the
44th annual
Country Music
Association
awards. Three were
for the second
single from her
album
Revolution,
"White Liar,".
Lambert later
donated the
original,
handwritten copy of
"White Liar" to the
Country Music
Hall of Fame and
Museum for
public display
behind a glass case. |
| 2-Oct-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. |
| 18-Oct-2010 |
Kenny Chesney was at
#1 on the Country
chart with his
fourteenth studio
album Hemingway's
Whiskey. Four of
the albums singles;
"The Boys of Fall",
"Somewhere with
You", "Live a
Little", and
"Reality" have all
hit #1 on
Billboard's
Hot Country Songs
chart. |
| 24-Oct-2010 |
Both Don Williams
and Jimmy Dean were
inducted into the
Country Music
Hall of Fame. |
| 26-Oct-2010 |
Billy Ray Cyrus and
wife Tish filed for
divorce in
Nashville. According
to People
magazine, the
couple filed for
divorce documents on
Tuesday, October 26,
2010, citing
irreconcilable
differences.
However, on March
18, 2011, Cyrus
announced on The
View that he had
dropped the divorce.
On June 13, 2013,
Tish filed for
divorce again from
Billy Ray after 19
years of marriage,
citing
irreconcilable
differences.
However, it was
reported in July
2013 that they had
gone to couples
therapy and
rekindled their
relationship. |
| 28-Oct-2010 |
Randy Travis and
wife Elizabeth filed
for divorce.
According to the
Associated
Press, Randy
filed a petition for
dissolution of
marriage in
Albuquerque, N.M.
citing a "state of
incompatibility
exists between the
parties". |
| 9-Nov-2010 |
Columbia Records
released Coal
Miner's Daughter: A
Tribute to Loretta
Lynn a tribute
album compiled by
various artists that
is dedicated to
country music icon
Loretta Lynn. The
album features a
duet on "Louisiana
Woman, Mississippi
Man" by Alan Jackson
and Martina McBride,
and Gretchen
Wilson's cover of
"Don't Come Home A'
Drinkin' (With
Lovin' on Your
Mind)." Carrie
Underwood, Faith
Hill, Reba McEntire,
Sheryl Crow and Lee
Ann Womack also
feature on the
album. |
| 10-Nov-2010 |
Brad Paisley won the
Entertainer of the
Year award at the
44th annual CMA
Awards.
Loretta Lynn
appeared at the
Awards and was
honored for fifty
years in country
music. |
| 16-Nov-2010 |
Dollywood
earned the
industry's most
prestigious award,
the Liseberg
Applause Award,
which was accepted
by Dolly Parton
during a ceremony at
IAAPA Attractions
Expo 2010 in
Orlando.
Dollywood has
over 3,000 people on
its payroll, making
it the largest
employer in the
local community. |
| 26-Nov-2010 |
Willie Nelson was
arrested for
possession of six
ounces of marijuana
found in his tour
bus while travelling
from Los Angeles to
Texas. He was
released after
paying bail of
$2,500. Prosecutor
Kit Bramblett
supported not
sentencing Nelson to
jail due to the
amount of marijuana
being small, but
suggested instead a
$100 fine and told
Nelson that he would
have him sing "Blue
Eyes Crying in the
Rain" for the court. |
| 1-Dec-2010 |
Lady Antebellum were
up for six
nominations for
Need You Now
in the 53rd annual
Grammy
awards, including
Record, Song and
Album of the Year,
plus Best Country
Song, Country Album
and Country
Performance by a Duo
or Group. |
| 4-Dec-2010 |
Merle Haggard
accepted the
prestigious award
for lifetime
achievement and
"outstanding
contribution to
American culture"
from the John F.
Kennedy Center for
the Performing
Arts.
|
| 5-Dec-2010 |
A gala held in
Washington, D.C.
honored Merle
Haggard with musical
performances by Kris
Kristofferson,
Willie Nelson,
Sheryl Crow, Vince
Gill, Jamey Johnson,
Kid Rock, Miranda
Lambert and Brad
Paisley. |
| 13-Dec-2010 |
"If I Die Young" by
The Band Perry was
at #1 on the Country
chart, their first
#1 hit. The song has
sold over 2 million
copies, the eleventh
country song to do
so, and only the
fourth time that a
band reached this
plateau, following
Lady Antebellum, Zac
Brown Band and
Rascal Flatts. |
| 16-Dec-2010 |
Garth Brooks and
Trisha Yearwood
played the first two
of nine concerts at
the Bridgestone
Arena in Nashville,
the shows raised
over $3.5 million
for flood relief. |
| 20-Dec-2010 |
Reba McEntire scored
her 35th
Billboard #1
single with "Turn On
the Radio". The
single was
McEntire's 60th Top
10 single on the
country charts,
making her the first
female country
artist in history to
achieve that many
top 10 hits. |
| 24-Dec-2010 |
Rascal Flatts were
at #1 on the US
Country charts with
"Why Wait" which
became the group's
eleventh #1 hit. |
| 28-Dec-2010 |
Keith Urban and
Nicole Kidman have a
daughter, Faith
Margaret Kidman
Urban, born through
a surrogate mother
at Nashville's
Centennial Medical
Centre. |
| 30-Dec-2010 |
Trace Adkins sang
the national anthem
and Ashton Shepherd
performed "God Bless
America" at the
Music City Bowl at
Nashville's LP
Field. |
| 1-Jan-2011 |
Shania Twain married
Frederic Thiebaud in
Puerto Rico (who was
the ex-husband of
her former best
friend). Shania had
been married to
producer Mutt Lange
who she first met at
Nashville's Fan Fair
in June 1993. Twain
and Lange became
very close within
just weeks,
culminating in their
wedding on December
28, 1993. |
| 10-Jan-2011 |
Miranda Lambert
released "Heart Like
Mine", the fifth
single from her
third studio album,
Revolution.
The track gave
Lambert her second
#1 hit on the Hot
Country Songs chart. |
| 13-Jan-2011 |
Tommy Crain,
guitarist for The
Charlie Daniels Band
on their
Grammy-winning
single "The Devil
Went Down to
Georgia" and more
than twenty albums,
died in his sleep at
the age of 59. |
| 26-Jan-2011 |
American country
music singer and
songwriter Charles
Elzer Loudermilk
died aged 83. Known
professionally as
Charlie Louvin, He
is best known as one
of the Louvin
Brothers, and was a
member of the Grand
Ole Opry since
1955.The Louvin
Brothers released
numerous singles,
such as "When I Stop
Dreaming", with over
20 recordings
reaching the country
music charts. Their
rich harmonies
served as an
influence to later
artists such as
Emmylou Harris, Gram
Parsons and The
Byrds. |
| 26-Jan-2011 |
At a performance by
Jimmy Buffett at
Sydney's Hordern
Pavilion, he fell
off the stage after
an encore and lost
consciousness.
Coincidentally,
Gordian Fulde, a
trauma surgeon, was
at the concert and
close to the stage;
Fulde treated
Buffett at the
scene. Buffett
regained
consciousness within
a few minutes and
was then transported
to St. Vincent's
Hospital Emergency
Centre for
treatment. |
| 13-Feb-2011 |
Country music
winners at the 53rd
Annual Grammy
Awards included;
Best Female Country
Vocal Performance -
"The House That
Built Me" - Miranda
Lambert, Best Male
Country Vocal
Performance - "'Til
Summer Comes Around"
- Keith Urban, Best
Country Performance
by a Duo or Group
with Vocals and Best
Country Song - "Need
You Now" - Lady
Antebellum.
|
| 14-Feb-2011 |
Glen Campbell
announced he would
release his final
studio album in 2011
with a farewell tour
to follow. He was
also is planning an
acoustic-style
greatest-hits album
before officially
retiring.
|
| 1-Mar-2011 |
The Country Music
Association
announced that Reba
McEntire would be
inducted into the
Country Music
Hall of Fame.
McEntire was unable
to attend the
announcement after
her father had
slipped into a coma
following a stroke. |
| 9-Mar-2011 |
The
Barnstormer
opened at
Dollywood
theme park in Pigeon
Forge, Tennessee,
The $5.5 million
giant swing features
two pendulum arms
with seating for 32
riders. Seated back
to back, riders
travel progressively
higher on each swing
of the Barnstormer's
massive arms,
reaching a maximum
speed of 65 miles
per hour and 230
degrees of rotation.
At its peak, The
Barnstormer
reaches 89 feet (27
m) in the air,
taking riders high
above the barn's
rooftop and the
area's treetops. |
| 15-Mar-2011 |
Lady Antebellum were
at #1 on the Country
chart with Need
You Now, their
second studio album.
The album won a
Grammy Award
for Best Country
Album and was
nominated for Album
of the Year, the
single "Need You
Now" won four
awards, including
Song of the Year and
Record of the Year. |
| 17-Mar-2011 |
Ferlin Husky, who
reached the
Billboard Top
40 twice with "Gone"
(#4 in 1957) and
"Wings of a Dove"
(#12 in 1960), died
of heart related
problems at the age
of 85. He scored two
dozen Top 20 hits in
the Billboard
country charts
between 1953 and
1975. |
| 27-Mar-2011 |
Shania Twain was
inducted into the
Canadian Music
Hall of Fame
during the Juno
Awards. |
| 29-Mar-2011 |
Sara Evans was at #1
on the Country chart
with her sixth album
Stronger, the
first studio album
to be released by
Evans in nearly six
years. During this
six-year period,
Evans was involved
in a high profile
divorce with, her
now ex-husband Craig
Schelske. "A Little
Bit Stronger" was
released as the
album's lead-off
single which became
a #1 hit. |
| 3-Apr-2011 |
Winners at the 46th
Annual Academy of
Country Music
Awards hosted by
Reba McEntire and
Blake Shelton
included:
Entertainer of the
Year - Taylor Swift,
Top Vocal Group -
Lady Antebellum, Top
New Solo Vocalist -
Eric Church, Top New
Vocal Duo or Group -
The Band Perry,
Single Record of the
Year, Song of the
year and Video of
the year went to
Miranda Lambert for
"The House That
Built Me" and Vocal
Event of the Year
went to Zac Brown
Band and Alan
Jackson for "As
She's Walking Away." |
| 4-Apr-2011 |
The American country
music group Pistol
Annies composed of
Miranda Lambert,
Ashley Monroe, and
Angaleena Presley
gave its debut
performance on the
CBS special
Academy of
Country Music's
Girls' Night Out:
Superstar Women of
Country. The
women gave
themselves the
nicknames "Lonestar
Annie" (Lambert),
"Hippie Annie"
(Monroe), and
"Holler Annie"
(Presley). |
| 10-Apr-2011 |
American
reality-documentary
television series
The Judds
debuted on the
OWN: Oprah
Winfrey Network.
The series followed
the daily life of
mother-daughter
Grammy Award
winning Wynonna and
Naomi Judd while
they rehearse and
get ready for their
latest tour. |
| 21-Apr-2011 |
John Denver became
the first inductee
into the Colorado
Music Hall of
Fame. A benefit
concert was held at
Broomfield's 1st
Bank Center and
hosted by Olivia
Newton-John. Other
performers
participating in the
event included Nitty
Gritty Dirt Band,
Lee Ann Womack and
John Oates. |
| 22-Apr-2011 |
Pistol Annies made
their debut on the
Academy of Country
Music's Girls'
Night Out: Superstar
Women of Country
on CBS, performing
"Hell on Heels". The
women gave
themselves the
nicknames "Lonestar
Annie" (Miranda
Lambert), "Hippie
Annie" (Ashley
Monroe), and "Holler
Annie" (Angaleena
Presley). They
released the album
Hell on Heels
on August 23, 2011.
|
| 27-Apr-2011 |
Jason Aldean was at
#1 on the country
chart with My
Kinda Party, his
fourth studio album.
The album received a
Nomination for the
54th Grammy
Awards for Best
Country Album. |
| 27-Apr-2011 |
A judge in Iowa
ruled that
71-year-old David
Allan Coe could
continue a lawsuit
that stemed from an
incident in June
2008 at the Prairie
Meadows Racetrack
and Casino in
Altoona, Iowa, that
resulted in Coe
being arrested. Coe
had been gambling
when an altercation
happened after Coe
hit the jackpot on a
slot machine. There
was confusion as
security guards gave
him orders that he
did not comply with
because, as he
states, he couldn't
understand them
because of hearing
loss. The situation
escalated until Coe
was tackled by two
sheriff's, detained,
and eventually
jailed. |
| 8-May-2011 |
Why Not? with
Shania Twain
premiered on the
OWN: Oprah Winfrey
Network. The
American reality
television series
starring Shania
Twain shed light on
the journey of the
singer, who by the
age of 22, had
survived a childhood
of poverty and the
loss of both her
parents in an
accident as well as
her personal
tragedies and how
she's now dealing
with them. |
| 14-May-2011 |
Country singer Blake
Shelton married
Maranda Lambert at
Don Strange Ranch in
Boerne, Texas. 550
people were in
attendance,
including many
celebrities, such as
Reba McEntire, Cee
Lo Green, Martina
McBride, Kelly
Clarkson, Dierks
Bentley, Charles
Kelley, and the
Bellamy Brothers. |
| 20-May-2011 |
Sara Evans was at #1
on the Country chart
with "A Little Bit
Stronger" the
lead-off single from
her album
Stronger. The
song was also
included on the
soundtrack for the
2010 movie
Country
Strong and
released as the
second single from
the film's
soundtrack album. |
| 22-May-2011 |
Reba McEntire was
inducted into the
Country Music
Hall of Fame at
a Medallion Ceremony
that took place at
the Country Music
Hall of Fame in
Nashville,
Tennessee. She was
inducted by one of
her musical idols,
Dolly Parton. |
| 23-May-2011 |
Brad Paisley
released his eighth
studio album This
Is Country Music.
Paisley wrote
the album to pay
tribute to various
artists that have
shaped his career.
The album contains
numerous
collaborations with
other artists,
including Don
Henley, Sheryl Crow,
Blake Shelton, Marty
Stuart and Carrie
Underwood. It
debuted at #2 on the
US Billboard
200. |
| 24-May-2011 |
Jason Aldean was at
#1 on the country
chart with My
Kinda Party, his
fourth studio album.
The album received a
Nomination for the
54th Grammy
Awards for Best
Country Album and
has sold over 3m
copies in the US. |
| 25-May-2011 |
Scotty McCreery won
the tenth-season
competition of
American
Idol, becoming
the second country
music-focused artist
(behind Carrie
Underwood) to win.
Runner-up Lauren
Alaina is also
rooted in country
music. Days later,
both signed
lucrative contracts
with Mercury
Nashville Records. |
| 2-Jun-2011 |
Lady Antebellum were
at #1 on the Country
chart with Need
You Now, their
second studio album.
The album won a
Grammy Award
for Best Country
Album and was
nominated for Album
of the Year, the
single "Need You
Now" won four
awards, including
Song of the Year and
Record of the Year. |
| 2-Jun-2011 |
Shina Twain received
a star on the
Hollywood Walk of
Fame. Her star
is the 2,442nd Star
on the Hollywood
Walk of Fame in
the Category of
Recording. |
| 4-Jun-2011 |
A house fire
destroyed the home
of Trace Adkins and
his family; his
three daughters and
a dog, who were home
when the fire
started, all escape
safely. |
| 9-Jun-2011 |
A survey showed that
42 percent of the US
population were
country music fans,
(which breaks down
to 95 million music
fans). The survey
also found that
country fans are
more likely to go
dancing, go out on
the town with
friends, entertain
at home and dine
out. In fact country
fans spent $16
billion dining out
with friends and
family in 2010! |
| 21-Jun-2011 |
People magazine
reported that
75-year-old Glen
Campbell had been
diagnosed with
Alzheimer's disease.
"I still love making
music," said
Campbell. "And I
still love
performing for my
fans. I'd like to
thank them for
sticking with me
through thick and
thin." |
| 22-Jun-2011 |
Glen Campbell
announced he has
been diagnosed with
Alzheimer's disease.
This news came five
months after
Campbell announced
his retirement from
the music business. |
| 25-Jun-2011 |
A fire destroyed
singer, songwriter
Jack Clemmet's home
and studio on
Belmont Blvd. in
Nashville. Clement
was unhurt, but many
priceless recordings
and memorabilia were
lost in the fire. |
| 17-Jul-2011 |
Dolly Parton kicked
off her Better Day
World Tour at the
Thompson–Boling
Arena in Knoxville.
With nearly 275,000
tickets sold, the 49
date tour which saw
Parton playing in
the US, Europe and
Australia grossed
$34m. |
| 7-Aug-2011 |
Marshall Grant,
upright bassist and
electric bassist
with Johnny Cash's
original backing
duo, the Tennessee
Two, died at the age
of 83. Grant was in
Jonesboro, Arkansas
attending a festival
to restore the
childhood home of
Johnny Cash when he
became ill. 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. |
| 13-Aug-2011 |
Seven people were
killed and more than
45 people injured
when an outdoor
stage collapsed at
the Indiana State
Fair due to high
winds at a concert
featuring Sugarland.
Neither the duo or
their opening act,
Sara Bareilles, were
onstage at the time
of the collapse. |
| 13-Aug-2011 |
The Farm Aid
2011, benefit
concert took place
at the Livestrong
Sporting Park,
Kansas City, Kansas.
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, Neil
Young, Dave
Matthews, Jason
Mraz, Jamey Johnson,
Jakob Dylan, Lukas
Nelson & Promise of
the Real, Will
Dailey & the Rivals,
Billy Joe Shaver,
Robert Francis, Ray
Price, Rebecca
Pidgeon, Hearts of
Darkness, John
Trudell, The
Blackwood Quartet. |
| 23-Aug-2011 |
Pistol Annies
released their first
studio album Hell
on Heels which
debuted at #1 on
Billboard’s
Country Album Chart.
The group consists
of Miranda Lambert,
Ashley Monroe, and
Angaleena Presley. |
| 30-Aug-2011 |
Jake Owen released
his third album
Barefoot Blue
Jean Night. The
album's title track
and first single,
became his first #1
Country hit and the
album also hit #1. |
| 30-Aug-2011 |
Ghost on the
Canvas the
sixty-first album by
Glen Campbell was
released. It was
intended to be
Campbell's farewell
studio recording
following him being
diagnosed with
Alzheimer's disease.
The album peaked at
#6 on the US Country
chart. |
| 1-Sep-2011 |
Reba McEntire kicked
off her 35-date
North American
All the Women I
Am Tour at
MacDonald Island
Park, Fort McMurray,
Canada. With this
tour announcement,
McEntire was named
the biggest female
box office draw in
country music. She
has sold over nine
million tickets and
earned over $270
million in ticket
sales. |
| 13-Sep-2011 |
Lady Antebellum
released their third
studio album Own
the Night which
won the Grammy Award
for Best Country
Album at the 54th
Grammy Awards. Four
singles were
released from Own
the Night, "Just a
Kiss", "We Owned the
Night", "Dancin'
Away with My Heart"
and "Wanted You
More". |
| 27-Sep-2011 |
LeAnn Rimes released
her tenth studio
album Lady &
Gentlemen,
Rimes' second cover
album which featured
songs by male
country artist,
including Vince
Gill, who helped
produce the album,
Merle Haggard, Kris
Kristofferson, and
Waylon Jennings. |
| 29-Sep-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". |
| 5-Oct-2011 |
Lady Antebellum were
at #1 on the US
Country chart with
Own the Night
which won the
Grammy Award
for Best Country
Album at the 54th
Grammy
Awards. Four singles
were released from
Own the Night, "Just
a Kiss", "We Owned
the Night", "Dancin'
Away with My Heart"
and "Wanted You
More". |
| 6-Oct-2011 |
Three days after
Hank Williams Jr.
referred to Hitler
while talking about
President Obama,
ESPN permanently cut
his opening song
from "Monday Night
Football," which
included the
catchphrase "Are you
ready for some
football?" |
| 8-Oct-2011 |
Rascal Flatts were
inducted into the
Grand Ole Opry by
American country
music singer Little
Jimmy Dickens,
(famous for his
humorous novelty
songs, his small
size, 4'11", and his
rhinestone-studded
outfits). |
| 15-Oct-2011 |
Keith Urban closed
his 60 date Get
Closer world
tour at the Target
Center Minneapolis.
The full tour
yielded $15.7
million in grosses,
with Urban taking
home $5.3 million.
Jake Owen had opened
for Urban on the US
leg of the tour. |
| 19-Oct-2011 |
Brad Paisley made a
voice cameo as
various background
characters in the
South Park episode
Bass to Mouth. |
| 23-Oct-2011 |
Scotty McCreery was
at #1 on the Country
music album chart
with Clear As
Day, the debut
studio album by the
season ten
American Idol
winner. |
| 31-Oct-2011 |
American country
music singer,
songwriter Liz
Anderson died aged
84. 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. |
| 1-Nov-2011 |
Miranda Lambert
released her fourth
studio album Four
the Record. The
album was a
widespread critical
success and the
highest-charting
record of Lambert's
career at the time,
reaching #3 on the
Billboard
200. |
| 3-Nov-2011 |
Keith Urban
announced that he
would undergo throat
surgery to remove a
polyp in his vocal
cords. He canceled
or postponed all
public appearances
until 2012. |
| 11-Nov-2011 |
Rodney Atkins was
arrested for
allegedly trying to
smother his wife
Tammy McDonald with
a pillow. He was
released on $2,500
bail three hours
after the arrest,
and was ordered by
Williamson County,
Tennessee court to
take an anger
assessment. The
altercation was
disputed by Atkins'
lawyer, who stated
that it was purely
verbal. Atkins filed
for divorce within
twenty-four hours of
the alleged assault. |
| 21-Nov-2011 |
Rodney Atkins was
arrested in
Tennessee for
domestic violence
after his wife,
Tammy Jo, accused
him of trying to
smother her with a
pillow. She called
police after the
couple had a heated
alcohol-fueled row,
which resulted in
the singer being
taken into custody
and booked onto a
nearby jail. He was
later released upon
posting $2,500 bail.
Shortly after the
incident, Atkins
filed a petition to
divorce Tammy, who
appeared in his
"Farmer's Daughter"
video. |
| 22-Nov-2011 |
Keith Urban
successfully
underwent surgery
for the removal of a
vocal cord growth
called a polyp. As
a result of the
surgery, Urban was
told not to speak
for the next three
weeks. |
| 14-Dec-2011 |
Singer Billie Jo
Spears died of
cancer aged 73.
The US country music
singer 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." One of
Spears' first
singles was "Harper
Valley PTA" but her
single release of
the song was beaten
off the presses by
the version by
Jeannie C. Riley
which went on to top
the charts. |
| 7-Jan-2012 |
Lady Antebellum
singer Hillary Scott
married
Nashville-based
drummer Chris
Tyrrell. The two
first met in college
and reconnected when
Lady Antebellum and
fellow country music
band Love and Theft,
in which Tyrrell was
the drummer at the
time, both served as
opening acts on Tim
McGraw's Southern
Voice tour in early
2010. |
| 9-Jan-2012 |
Miranda Lambert
released "Over You",
the second single
from her album,
Four the
Record. The
track peaked at #1
on the US Hot
Country Songs chart.
The song writers
Lambert and Blake
Shelton won the
CMA Award for
Song of the Year for
"Over You." |
| 16-Jan-2012 |
Rascal Flatts
released "Banjo" as
the first single
from their eighth
studio album,
Changed. The
song became the
group's twelfth #1
hit on the US
Country charts. |
| 19-Jan-2012 |
On Dolly Parton's
66th birthday,
Gaylord Opryland
along with Dolly
Parton and her
Dollywood Co.
announced plans to
open a $50 million
water and snow park,
a fun and
family-friendly
travel destination
that's open each
month of the year in
Nashville,
Tennessee. |
| 20-Jan-2012 |
Country music
producer/songwriter
Larry Butler died in
his sleep in
Pensacola, Florida.
From the mid-1970s
through the 1980s,
he worked with Kenny
Rogers, including
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. |
| 21-Jan-2012 |
Lady Antebellum were
at #1 on the US
Country chart with
Own the Night
which won the
Grammy Award
for Best Country
Album at the 54th
Grammy
Awards. Four singles
were released from
Own the
Night, "Just a
Kiss", "We Owned the
Night", "Dancin'
Away with My Heart"
and "Wanted You
More". |
| 1-Feb-2012 |
Lady Antebelum were
at #1 on the US
country album chart
with there third
studio album Own
the Night. The
album won the
Grammy Award
for Best Country
Album at the 54th
Grammy
Awards. |
| 6-Feb-2012 |
Country singer Randy
Travis apologized
after being arrested
on a charge of
public intoxication
outside a North
Texas church. Denton
County sheriff's
spokesman Tom Reedy
said police in the
town of Sanger had
arrested Travis
after spotting a
vehicle parked in
front of a church
and finding an open
bottle of wine and
Travis smelling of
alcohol. The singer
later said he head
been out celebrating
after the Super
Bowl. |
| 12-Feb-2012 |
Taylor Swift's song
"Mean" received the
Grammy Award
for Best Country
Song and Best
Country Solo
Performance at the
54th Grammy
Awards. Speak
Now was also
nominated for Best
Country Album but
lost to Lady
Antebellum's Own
the Night. Glenn
Campbell appeared at
the awards and sang
"Rhinestone Cowboy"
as a goodbye to live
performances.
|
| 13-Feb-2012 |
President Barack
Obama awarded
Country singer Mel
Tillis the
National Medal of
Arts for his
contributions to
country music. Tilis
is known for his
hits "I Ain't
Never", "Good Woman
Blues", and
"Coca-Cola Cowboy". |
| 15-Feb-2012 |
A Kenny Chesney fan
was arrested for
trespassing on the
singer's property.
Melissa Mansfield of
Murrieta,
California, was
arrested around 2 am
and charged with
trespassing and
public intoxication.
She was discovered
in a bathroom near a
swimming pool at his
Nashville-area home.
Chesney was not home
at the time of the
incident. |
| 23-Feb-2012 |
Carrie Underwood
released "Good
Girl", as the lead
single from her
forth studio album,
Blown Away.
It sold 108,000
digital downloads in
its first three days
of sales, making it
Underwood's fastest
selling single ever.
"Good Girl" hit #1
on Hot Country
Songs, becoming
Underwood's twelfth
#1 hit on the chart. |
| 5-Mar-2012 |
Lionel Richie
released
Tuskegee
which featured 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 became his
first #1 album for
more than 25 years. |
| 6-Mar-2012 |
During a US tour,
Jerrod Niemann's
tour bus caught
fire. He was
unharmed and Niemann
cridited fellow
country singer Lee
Brice for alerting
him to the dangerous
blaze giving him
time to escape. |
| 13-Mar-2012 |
Lady Antebellum were
at #1 on the US
Country chart with
Own the Night
which won the
Grammy Award
for Best Country
Album at the 54th
Grammy
Awards. Four singles
were released from
the album; "Just a
Kiss", "We Owned the
Night", "Dancin'
Away with My Heart"
and "Wanted You
More".
|
| 24-Mar-2012 |
Wild Eagle
opened at the
Dollywood theme park
in Pigeon Forge,
Tennessee, the first
Bolliger & Mabillard
Wing Coaster in the
United States. It
was also the biggest
investment in
Dollywood history. |
| 28-Mar-2012 |
Pioneering banjo
player Earl Scruggs,
who is credited with
helping create
modern country
music, died aged 88
of natural causes at
a Nashville
hospital. Scruggs
rose to prominence
when Bill Monroe
hired him to play in
the Blue Grass Boys,
one of the defining
groups in the
bluegrass musical
genre. |
| 1-Apr-2012 |
Winners at the 47th
Annual Academy
of Country Music
Awards hosted by
Reba and Blake
Shelton included:
Entertainer of the
Year - Taylor Swift,
Male Vocalist of the
Year - Blake
Shelton, Vocal Duo
of the Year -
Thompson Square,
Vocal Group of the
Year - Lady
Antebellum, Album of
the Year went to
Miranda Lambert for
Four the
Record Song of
the Year - Eli Young
Band with
"Crazy Girl" and
Video of the Year
went to
Toby Keith for "Red
Solo Cup." |
| 7-Apr-2012 |
Jake Owen proposed
to his girlfriend
model Lacey Buchanan
on stage in front of
a hometown crowd in
Vero Beach, Florida,
at his annual
charity event. The
couple married the
following month on
May 7, 2012. |
| 16-Apr-2012 |
Lionel Richie was at
#1 on the Country
charts with
Tuskegee
which featured 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. |
| 20-Apr-2012 |
Willie Nelson helped
unveil a statue
honoring him in
downtown Austin by
singing his new song
"Roll Me Up and
Smoke Me When I
Die", on a date long
reserved to
celebrate marijuana
use. Over 2,000
people watched the
unveiling by Austin
Mayor Lee
Leffingwell in front
of the Moody
Theater, where the
Austin City Limits
Studio is now
located. Nelson, a
10-time
Grammy Award
winner who has sold
more than 40 million
copies of his 150
albums. |
| 25-Apr-2012 |
Brad Paisley was
featured on the
South Park
episode "Cartman
Finds Love", in
which he voiced
himself, sang "The
National Anthem",
and helped Cartman
sing the 90's hit
song "I Swear",
which was
popularized in 1994
by John Michael
Montgomery. |
| 1-May-2012 |
Carrie Underwood
released her fourth
studio album
Blown Away.
The album debuted at
#1 on the
Billboard
200, make her the
third female to
chart at #1 on the
Billboard
charts with three
country albums,
tying her with Linda
Ronstadt and Faith
Hill. The album
spawned the Country
Airplay #1 singles
"Good Girl" and
"Blown Away." |
| 23-May-2012 |
Blown Away
the fourth studio
album by Carrie
Underwood was at #1
on the Billboard
200. With
Blown Away
reaching #1,
Underwood became the
third female to
chart at #1 with
three country
albums, tying her
with Linda Ronstadt
and Faith Hill. |
| 29-May-2012 |
Doc Watson, American
guitarist,
songwriter and
singer of bluegrass,
folk, country, blues
and gospel music
died aged 89. Watson
won seven
Grammy awards
as well as a
Grammy Lifetime
Achievement
Award. His
flatpicking skills
and knowledge of
traditional American
music are highly
regarded. The first
song he learned to
play on the guitar
was "When Roses
Bloom in Dixieland",
first recorded by
the Carter Family in
1930. He performed
with his son Merle
for over 15 years
until Merle's death
in 1985 in an
accident on the
family farm.
|
| 2-Jun-2012 |
Kenny Chesney and
Tim McGraw kicked
off The Brothers
of the Sun Tour
at the Raymond James
Stadium, Tampa. The
co-headlining tour
took in 22 cities
across the United
States. |
| 5-Jun-2012 |
Alan Jackson
released his
seventeenth studio
album Thirty
Miles West, the
first album on his
own Alan's Country
Records in a joint
venture with EMI
Nashville.
Thirty Miles
West became his
tenth US Country #1. |
| 6-Jun-2012 |
Winners at the
CMT Music
Awards included;
Video of the Year -
"Good Girl", Carrie
Underwood, Male
Video of the Year -
"I Don't Want This
Night to End", Luke
Bryan, Female Video
of the Year - "Over
You", Miranda
Lambert, Group Video
of the Year - "We
Owned the Night",
Lady Antebellum, Duo
Video of the Year -
"I Got You",
Thompson Square, USA
Weekend Breakthrough
Video of the Year -
"The Trouble with
Girls", Scotty
McCreery and
Collaborative Video
of the Year went to
"Remind Me", Brad
Paisley and Carrie
Underwood. |
| 10-Jun-2012 |
Wynonna Judd married
musician Cactus
Moser, best known as
the drummer for
Highway 101 at her
home in Leiper's
Fork, Tennessee. |
| 24-Jun-2012 |
As part of his
Goodbye Tour,
76-year-old country
music star Glen
Campbell appeared at
the Hollywood Bowl
in Los Angeles.
Campbell's live band
on this tour
included three of
his children -
Ashley on banjo,
Shannon on guitar,
and Cal on drums.
The show included a
tribute to Campbell
from opening acts
Kris Kristofferson,
Lucinda Williams and
Jackson Browne. |
| 9-Jul-2012 |
Carrie Underwood
released "Blown
Away" taken from her
fourth studio album
of the same name.
The song became
Underwood's 16th top
ten single on the
Country Airplay
chart, a record
among women in the
tally's 68-year
history. It also
became the singer's
13th #1 on the
Country chart. |
| 11-Jul-2012 |
Luke Bryan was at #1
on the US Country
charts with "Drunk
on You", the third
single from his
album Tailgates &
Tanlines. |
| 16-Jul-2012 |
American country
music singer Kitty
Wells died in
Madison, Tennessee,
from complications
of a stroke. She was
92. 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.
Her Top 10 hits
continued until the
mid-1960s, inspiring
a long list of
female country
singers who came to
prominence in the
1960s. |
| 20-Jul-2012 |
Kenny Chesney was at
#1 on the Country
album chart with
Welcome to the
Fishbowl. The
album's title came
from a conversation
Chesney had with his
football-playing
friends. Chesney
told USA
Today that when
one said, "I didn't
realize your life
was like this," he
replied, "Hey, man,
welcome to the
fishbowl." |
| 25-Jul-2012 |
"Even If It Breaks
Your Heart" by the
Eli Young Band was
at #1 on the Country
singles chart.
Written by Will Hoge
and Eric Paslay and
originally recorded
by Hoge on his
seventh studio
album, The
Wreckage. |
| 7-Aug-2012 |
Randy Travis was
arrested after being
found naked,
smelling apparently
of alcohol and lying
on a remote stretch
of roadway in
northern Texas just
before midnight. He
was charged with
driving while
intoxicated and
felony retaliation,
after allegedly
threatening to
fatally shoot
highway patrol
troopers who
responded to a
concerned caller who
notified authorities
of "a man lying in
the roadway". |
| 13-Aug-2012 |
Taylor Swift
released "We Are
Never Ever Getting
Back Together" which
became a #1 hit on
the US Hot Country
Songs. The song was
released as the lead
single from her
album Red and
was Swift's first #1
on the
Billboard Hot
100 chart in the
United States. |
| 18-Aug-2012 |
Wynonna Judd's
husband Scott
"Cactus" Moser, who
played drums in both
her road band and
Highway 101, was
involved in a
motorcycle crash in
South Dakota which
resulted in the
amputation of a leg. |
| 5-Sep-2012 |
American
singer-songwriter,
guitarist and record
producer Joe South
died aged 72. Best
known for his
songwriting, South
won the Grammy Award
for Song of the Year
in 1970 for "Games
People Play" and
South's
most-commercially-successful
composition was Lynn
Anderson's 1971
country/pop monster
hit, "Rose Garden",
which was a hit in
16 countries
worldwide. |
| 6-Sep-2012 |
American country
singer, songwriter
and
multi-instrumentalist
Vince Gill received
the 2,478th star of
the Hollywood Walk
of Fame in Los
Angeles. |
| 17-Sep-2012 |
Rascal Flatts
received the 2,480th
star in the category
of recording of the
Hollywood Walk of
Fame in Hollywood,
Los Angeles. |
| 18-Sep-2012 |
Dwight Yoakam
released the album
3 Pears. By
the end of 2012, the
album was named on
annual best of lists
by NPR, Rolling
Stone, American
Songwriter, AOL's
The Boot,
Entertainment
Weekly, The Village
Voice, and
Rhapsody, and
has been included in
more critic's "best
of 2012" lists than
any other artist in
the country genre. |
| 25-Sep-2012 |
Loretta Lynn marked
her 50th anniversary
as a Grand Ole Opry
member. The only
other women to reach
this milestone have
been Jean Shepard,
Minnie Pearl and
Wilma Lee Cooper.
Lynn was honored
with a tribute show
that was broadcast
on GAC-TV. |
| 26-Sep-2012 |
George Strait
announced that he is
retiring from
touring, and that
The Cowboy Rides
Away Tour would
be his last. The
tour consisted of
two legs: the first
leg included 21
concerts in 2013
with Martina McBride
as the opening
performer; the
second leg included
20 concerts in 2014. |
| 2-Oct-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?"
|
| 10-Oct-2012 |
The American musical
drama television
series
Nashville
premiered on ABC,
reaching 8.93
million viewers. The
series featured
Connie Britton as
Rayna Jaymes, a
legendary country
music superstar,
whose stardom begins
fading, and Hayden
Panettiere as rising
teen star Juliette
Barnes. |
| 11-Oct-2012 |
Billboard
changed its Hot
Country Songs from
an airplay-only
chart to one that
reflected both
airplay and music
downloads. As a
result of the new
methodology, Taylor
Swift's "We Are
Never Ever Getting
Back Together" -
which had previously
peaked at #13 -
rebounded back up
the chart and became
the first #1 single
under the new
methodology. In the
process, the song
became the first to
top both the country
and Billboard
Hot 100 charts since
"Amazed" by Lonestar
in March 2000 and -
with nine weeks at
#1 - was the
longest running
chart-topper on the
country chart since
"Almost Persuaded"
by David Houston in
1966. |
| 21-Oct-2012 |
Hargus "Pig" Robbins
was inducted into
the Country Music
Hall of Fame.
The session keyboard
and piano player
played on records
for artists such as
George Jones, Bob
Dylan, Neil Young,
Alan Jackson, Merle
Haggard, Loretta
Lynn, David Allan
Coe, George Hamilton
IV and Conway
Twitty. He was also
awarded Musician of
the Year by the
Country Music
Association in
1976 and 2000.
|
| 1-Nov-2012 |
Winners at the
Country Music
Association
Awards included;
Single of the Year -
"Pontoon", Little
Big Town, Song of
the Year - "Over
You", Miranda
Lambert and Blake
Shelton, Vocal Group
of the Year - Little
Big Town, New Artist
of the Year - Hunter
Hayes, Album of the
Year - Chief,
Eric Church, Vocal
Duo - Thompson
Square, Music Video
- "Red Solo Cup",
Toby Keith, Male
Vocalist - Blake
Shelton, Female
Vocalist - Miranda
Lambert, Musical
Event of the Year -
"Feel Like a Rock
Star", Kenny Chesney
and Tim McGraw and
Entertainer of the
Year went to Blake
Shelton. |
| 18-Nov-2012 |
Winners at the
American Music
Awards presented
in Los Angeles
included; Favorite
Country Male Artist
- Luke Bryan,
Favorite Country
Female Artist -
Taylor Swift,
Favorite Country
Band/Duo/Group -
Lady Antebellum, and
Favorite Country
Album - Blown
Away, Carrie
Underwood. |
| 22-Nov-2012 |
Taylor Swift was at
#1 on the US Country
chart with her
fourth studio album
Red. At the
56th Grammy
Awards, Red
was nominated for
Best Country Album
and Album of the
Year, marking
Swift's second
nomination for Album
of the Year at the
Grammys,
following her 2010
victory with
Fearless.
Making Swift the
third woman behind
Barbra Streisand and
Bonnie Raitt to
receive an Album of
the Year nomination
after already
winning before. It
also made her the
youngest artist at
23 to be nominated
twice. |
| 30-Nov-2012 |
Glen Campbell played
the final date in
Napa, California on
his "Goodbye Tour",
with three of his
children joining him
in his backup band.
Campbell played more
than 120 shows in
2012. Filmmaker
James Keach had
followed Campbell on
the farewell tour
for a new
documentary called
I'll Be Me. |
| 1-Dec-2012 |
Shania: Still the
One by Canadian
singer-songwriter
Shania Twain started
a 91 show residency
at The Colosseum at
Caesars Palace in
Las Vegas, Nevada.
The show became a
box office hit
grossing over $43
million from a total
of 346,021 sold
tickets during the
two-year run. |
| 4-Dec-2012 |
Columbia Records and
Legacy Recordings
released The
Complete Columbia
Album Collection
a box set by Johnny
Cash. It included 63
CDs, including 59
original albums,
three bonus discs:
Johnny Cash With
His Hot & Blue
Guitar, which
included recordings
from Cash's
pre-Columbia period
with Sun Records. |
| 17-Dec-2012 |
Glen Campbell's
Malibu Mansion sold
for $4.45m. The
singers home which
has about 6,500
square feet of
living space for
just four bedrooms,
featured travertine
floors and African
mahogany cabinetry,
and a theater room,
billiard room,
office, 8-person
spa, outdoor dining
area with full
kitchen, ocean
views, and proximity
to Point Dume. |
| 1-Jan-2013 |
Patti Page died aged
85. 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. |
| 9-Jan-2013 |
Taylor Swift was at
#1 on the US Country
album chart with
Red. The
album sold 1.89
million copies in
its first three
weeks and was
nominated for Best
Country Album and
Album of the Year,
marking Swift's
second nomination
for Album of the
Year at the
Grammys,
following her 2010
victory with
Fearless. |
| 12-Jan-2013 |
American country
blues, gospel, and
folk singer and
guitarist Precious
Bryant died in
Columbus, Georgia,
of complications
from diabetes and
congestive heart
failure. She
released two solo
albums. Her 2002
debut, Fool Me Good,
was nominated for
two Blues Music
Awards, in the
categories Acoustic
Blues Album of the
Year and Best New
Artist Debut. |
| 13-Jan-2013 |
Record producer
David Wilson, was
found dead at Mindy
McCready's home in
Cleburn County,
Arkansas, of an
apparent
self-inflicted
gunshot wound.
Following Wilson's
death, McCready
released a statement
in which she
referred to him as
her "soulmate" and
"life partner". |
| 29-Jan-2013 |
Mindy McCready
appeared on the
Today show,
to address
suspicions that she
was in some way
involved with her
boyfriend David
Wilson's death.
Although she
confirmed that the
couple fought the
night David died,
she added that
rumors he was
planning to leave
her - or that he was
having an affair -
were untrue.
|
| 31-Jan-2013 |
Randy Travis pleaded
guilty to his August
7 incident (when he
was found lying in
the road, unclothed
and smelling of
alcohol). He
received two years
probation, a $2,000
fine and a 180-day
suspended jail
sentence. |
| 4-Feb-2013 |
Taylor Swift was at
#1 on the Country
chart with her
fourth studio album
Red. The
album debuted at #1
on the US
Billboard 200
with first-week
sales of 1.2 million
copies, giving Swift
her third
consecutive #1 album
and making her the
first female artist
to have two
million-selling
album openings. |
| 6-Feb-2013 |
Mindy McCready was
committed to rehab
for substance abuse
and mental health
assessment on the
request of her
family, who said she
was unstable in the
wake of her
boyfriends David
Wilson's death. She
was released two
days later. |
| 10-Feb-2013 |
Country music
winners at this
years Grammy
Awards included;
Best Country Solo
Performance - "Blown
Away", Carrie
Underwood, Best
Country Duo/Group
Performance -
"Pontoon", Little
Big Town, Best
Country Song -
"Blown Away", Josh
Kear and Chris
Tompkins (performed
by Carrie
Underwood), Best
Country Album -
Uncaged, Zac
Brown Band, Best
Bluegrass Album -
Nobody Knows You,
Steep Canyon
Rangers.
|
| 17-Feb-2013 |
Mindy McCready was
found dead from a
self-inflicted
gunshot wound on her
front porch after
neighbors called the
Sheriff's Office of
Cleburne County,
Arkansas. The front
porch was the same
place where David
Wilson, her former
boyfriend and the
father of her
youngest son, had
fatally shot himself
one month prior, she
was 37 years old.
McCready's first
four studio albums
yielded twelve
singles on the
Billboard
country singles
charts.
|
| 27-Feb-2013 |
Chuck Goff, Toby
Keith's bass player
of 25 years was
killed in a two-car
collision in
Oklahoma. The
accident occurred at
near Slaughterville,
Okla. One vehicle
was found on top of
the other vehicle.
The other driver was
not injured |
| 5-Mar-2013 |
Connie Sanders King
was charged with
both felony and
premeditated
first-degree murder
in the death of
country music
manager Thomas
Colucci at their
Coffee County,
Tennessee, home.
Colucci had worked
with country singer
Jo Dee Messina. The
37-year-old woman
who masterminded the
fatal shooting of
her fiancee by her
estranged husband
had maintained for
eight months he was
the victim of a
random home
invasion. |
| 6-Mar-2013 |
Stompin' Tom
Connors, died aged
77. The Canadian
country singer from
the 1970s, was best
known for "The
Hockey Song." |
| 7-Mar-2013 |
Claude King, died of
natural causes aged
90. The singer,
songwriter is best
known for his
million selling 1962
hit "Wolverton
Mountain" which was
written together
with Merle Kilgore
and was based on a
real character,
Clifton Clowers, who
lived on the
mountain, north of
Morrilton, Arkansas.
The song spent nine
weeks at the top of
the Billboard
country chart. |
| 14-Mar-2013 |
American country
musician Jack Greene
died from
complications of
Alzheimer's disease
at the age of 83 in
Nashville,
Tennessee. Nicknamed
the "Jolly Greene
Giant" due to his
height and deep
voice, Greene was a
long time member of
the Grand Ole Opry.
A three-time Grammy
Award nominee,
Greene is best known
for his 1966 hit,
"There Goes My
Everything". The
song dominated the
Country music charts
for nearly two
months in 1967 and
earned Greene "Male
Vocalist of the
Year", "Single of
the Year", "Album of
the Year" and "Song
of the Year." Greene
had a total of #1
country hits. |
| 19-Mar-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.
|
| 25-Mar-2013 |
During a visit to
the doctor, Charlie
Daniels was
diagnosed with a
mild case of
pneumonia and
admitted to a
Nashville hospital
for a series of
routine tests. The
tests revealed that
a pacemaker was
needed to regulate
his heart rate.
Daniels had one
fitted a few days
later. |
| 25-Mar-2013 |
"Highway Don't Care"
by Tim McGraw,
Taylor Swift
featuring Keith
Urban on guitar was
released from
McGraw's album
Two Lanes of
Freedom. The
track became a #1 on
the
Billboard US
Country Airplay
charts. |
| 27-Mar-2013 |
Gordon Stoker died
aged 88. 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. |
| 6-Apr-2013 |
George Jones played
his final ever
concert at the
Knoxville City
Coliseum in
Knoxville. Jones was
scheduled to perform
his final concert at
the Bridgestone
Arena on November
22, 2013. However,
on April 18, 2013,
Jones was admitted
to Vanderbilt
University Medical
Center for a slight
fever and irregular
blood pressure. His
concerts in Alabama
and Salem were
postponed as a
result. While there,
Jones died in the
early morning hours
of April 26, 2013,
aged 81.
|
| 7-Apr-2013 |
Winners at this
years American
Country Awards
in Las Vegas, Nevada
included; Top Female
Vocalist - Miranda
Lambert, Top Vocal
Group - Little Big
Town, Top Vocal Duo
- Thompson Square,
Top New Male
Vocalist - Brantley
Gilbert, Top New
Female Vocalist -
Jana Kramer, Top New
Duo/Group - Florida
Georgia Line, Album
of the Year -
Chief, Eric
Church, Single
Record of the Year
and and Song of the
Year was "Over You"
by Miranda Lambert. |
| 9-Apr-2013 |
Brad Paisley
released his ninth
studio album
Wheelhouse.
The album debuted at
#1 in the
Billboard Top
Country Albums
chart, becoming
Paisley's seventh #1
album. |
| 10-Apr-2013 |
The CMA
announced that Kenny
Rogers would be a
2013 inductee into
the Country Music
Hall of Fame
along with Cowboy
Jack Clement and
Bobby Bare. |
| 24-Apr-2013 |
The Chatham County,
Georgia Grand Jury
indicted Billy
Currington on felony
criminal charges of
"abuse of an elder
person by inflicting
mental anguish" and
"making terroristic
threats". Both
criminal charges
stemed from an
incident involving
boat captain Charles
Harvey Ferrelle on
April 15, 2013.
Currington was later
released from a
Georgia jail after
posting $27,700
bond. On September
25, 2013, Currington
pleaded no contest
to the abuse charge;
the terroristic
threats charge was
dropped. Currington
was sentenced to 5
years' probation and
a $1000 fine and was
ordered to attend
anger management
counseling. |
| 26-Apr-2013 |
During an episode of
NBC's The
Celebrity
Apprentice,
country singer
Clint Black won
$20,000 for charity
as the project
manager for the
winning team on The
task which was:
develop a four-page
advertorial for
Right Guard. |
| 26-Apr-2013 |
US country singer
George Jones, who
had a string of #1
songs between the
1950s and 1990s,
died aged 81.
Nicknamed 'Possum',
his signature song
was "He Stopped
Loving Her Today", a
track about love and
death. He was
married to Tammy
Wynette between 1969
and 1975 and the
pair recorded
several songs
together in the
1970s. During his
life, Jones had more
than 150 hits during
his career, both as
a solo artist and in
duets with other
artists.
|
| 2-May-2013 |
Former first lady
Laura Bush was among
those eulogizing
George Jones at his
funeral. Other
speakers were
Tennessee governor
Bill Haslam, news
personality Bob
Schieffer, and
country singers
Barbara Mandrell and
Kenny Chesney. Alan
Jackson, Kid Rock,
Ronnie Milsap, Randy
Travis, Vince Gill,
Patty Loveless,
Travis Tritt, the
Oak Ridge Boys,
Charlie Daniels,
Wynonna and Brad
Paisley all provided
musical tributes.
The service was
broadcast live on
CMT, GAC, RFD-TV,
The Nashville
Network as well
as WSM 650AM,
home of the
Grand Ole Opry,
broadcast the event
on the radio. |
| 6-May-2013 |
Lady Antebellum
released their fifth
studio album
Golden which
topped the
Billboard Top
200 Country Albums
chart. The album's
lead single,
"Downtown", was
released January 22,
2013 and peaked at
#2 on the Hot
Country Songs chart. |
| 14-May-2013 |
George Strait
released his
twenty-eighth studio
album Love Is
Everything which
became his
twenty-first US
Country #1 album.
The album release
was accompanied by a
Spring 2014 concert
tour, The Cowboy
Rides Away Tour. |
| 16-May-2013 |
Keith Urban
performed "Little
Bit Of Everything"
during the season
finale of Fox TV's
American
Idol. Urban and
contestant Kree
Harrison later
perform Urban's hit
"Where The Blacktop
Ends" with
Blink-182's Travis
Barker on drums and
Randy Jackson on
bass. |
| 20-May-2013 |
Taylor Swift won
eight awards at this
year's Billboard
Music Awards
held in Las Vegas.
Swift won categories
that included top
female artist, top
digital songs artist
and top country
artist. |
| 30-May-2013 |
A new museum
dedicated to the
life of Johnny Cash
staged its official
opening. The museum
in Nashville,
Tennessee, was set
up by wife and
husband team Shannon
and Bill Miller and
features the largest
and most
comprehensive
collection of Johnny
Cash artifacts and
memorabilia in the
world. |
| 1-Jun-2013 |
George Strait
appeared in The
Alamodome, Downtown
San Antonio, Texas
before seventy
thousand fans in the
last concert of the
first half of his
two-year farewell
tour. |
| 5-Jun-2013 |
Don Bowman died aged
75. He was the
original host of
radio's American
Country
Countdown and
writer of Waylon
Jennings-Willie
Nelson duet "Just to
Satisfy You." |
| 5-Jun-2013 |
A limited-edition
Forever stamp
honoring Johnny Cash
went on sale. The
stamp featured a
promotional picture
of Cash taken around
the 1963 release of
Ring of Fire: The
Best of Johnny
Cash. |
| 5-Jun-2013 |
Don Bowman the
American country
music singer,
songwriter, comedian
and radio host died
age 75. He was best
known for co-writing
the hits "Just To
Satisfy You" and
"Wildwood Weed." He
was the original
host of American
Country Countdown
and the first
Country Music
Association Comedian
of the Year. |
| 14-Jun-2013 |
Merle Haggard was
presented an
honorary doctorate
by California State
University,
Bakersfield. The
doctor of fine arts
honor, the first in
CSUB's history, was
conferred during
School of Arts &
Humanities
commencement
ceremonies. |
| 16-Jun-2013 |
Based on a True
Story by Blake
Shelton was at #1 on
the Country chart.
This his eighth
studio album became
the ninth
best-selling Country
album of the year. |
| 19-Jun-2013 |
Ottis Dewey Whitman,
Jr. who became known
professionally as
Slim Whitman died at
the age of ninety.
The American country
music singer and
songwriter, known
for his yodelling
abilities 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: "The
first person I ever
saw playing a guitar
was Slim Whitman". |
| 26-Jun-2013 |
Kenny Rogers made
his African concert
debut by playing to
over 70,000 fans in
Morocco. His
performances
included his hits:
"Love Or Something
Like It," "Lady" and
"Ruby, Don't Take
Your Love To Town". |
| 1-Jul-2013 |
Charles Carr died
aged 79. The Auburn
University freshman
chauffeured Hank
Williams on his last
ride from Montgomery
to a New Year's Eve
show in Charleston
and then to another
concert scheduled
for Jan 1st 1953, in
Canton, Ohio. He
drove to a nearby
hospital, where the
singer was
pronounced dead. |
| 3-Jul-2013 |
Songwriter Johnny
MacRae died at his
home in Ashland City
aged 84. He wrote
such country hits as
Conway Twitty's "I'd
Love to Lay You
Down," Reba
McEntire's "You Lift
Me Up to Heaven,"
and Highway 101's
"Whiskey, if You
Were a Woman". |
| 7-Jul-2013 |
Randy Travis was
hospitalized in a
critical condition
with viral
cardiomyopathy after
a viral upper
respiratory
infection. Three
days later, he
suffered a stroke
and underwent
surgery to relieve
pressure on his
brain. He was
released from Baylor
Heart Hospital in
Plano, Texas on July
31, 2013 and entered
a physical therapy
facility. |
| 8-Jul-2013 |
Country singer Steve
Wariner asked for a
restraining order
against Linda Marie
Shinn, who he
claimed had been
stalking him since
1989, when he
performed at
RodeoHouston.
Wariner alleged that
she had sent him
countless letters he
characterized as,
"absurd and
frightening" as well
as emails and
Facebook posts. |
| 15-Jul-2013 |
It was reported that
Randy Travis was
awake and alert
after undergoing
brain surgery, that
his heart was
pumping without the
assistance of
machines, and that
he was on the road
to recovery. (Travis
was admitted to a
Dallas area hospital
for viral
cardiomyopathy after
a viral upper
respiratory
infection on July
7th of this year).
He was released from
Baylor Heart
Hospital in Plano,
Texas on July 31,
2013 and entered a
physical therapy
facility. |
| 16-Jul-2013 |
David Traywick the
brother of country
singer Randy Travis
was arrested at his
Marshville home
along with his wife,
Jessica, and two
other women after
officials said they
found a meth lab
inside his North
Carolina home. In
September 2012,
Traywick was
arrested for cooking
meth in a makeshift
lab near his home. |
| 24-Jul-2013 |
"Cruise" by Florida
Georgia Line was at
#1 on the Country
chart. "Cruise"
became the
best-selling country
digital song of all
time in the United
States as of January
2014. On August 24,
2013, it logged its
24th week at #1, the
longest run at #1 in
the chart's 69-year
history (the
previous record was
21 weeks held
jointly by three
songs, the last of
which was Webb
Pierce's "In the
Jailhouse Now"). |
| 8-Aug-2013 |
Jack Clement died
aged 82. The
songwriter and
record producer is
best known for his
work with Johnny
Cash. Clement wrote
a number of highly
successful songs
that have been
recorded by Johnny
Cash, Dolly Parton,
Ray Charles, Carl
Perkins, Bobby Bare,
Elvis Presley, Jim
Reeves, Jerry Lee
Lewis, Charley
Pride, Tom Jones,
Dickey Lee and Hank
Snow. He was
inducted into the
Nashville
Songwriters Hall of
Fame in 1973. He
also produced albums
by Townes Van Zandt
and Waylon Jennings. |
| 8-Aug-2013 |
President Barack
Obama announced that
Loretta Lynn would
be awarded the
Presidential
Medal of
Freedom. The
press release read
as follows: "Loretta
Lynn is a country
music legend. Raised
in rural Kentucky,
she emerged as one
of the first
successful female
country music
vocalists in the
early 1960s,
courageously
breaking barriers in
an industry long
dominated by men.
Ms. Lynn's numerous
accolades include
the Kennedy Center
Honors in 2003 and
the Grammy
Lifetime Achievement
Award in 2010."
|
| 10-Aug-2013 |
With 22 weeks at #1,
"Cruise" by Florida
Georgia Line set a
new record for most
weeks at #1 on the
Billboard Hot
Country Songs chart,
breaking a three-way
tie of 21 weeks at
#1 jointly held by
Eddy Arnold ("I'll
Hold You in My Heart
(Till I Can Hold You
in My Arms)," 1947),
Hank Snow ("I'm
Movin' On," 1950)
and Webb Pierce ("In
the Jailhouse Now,"
1955). "Cruise"
benefited from
changes in
Billboard's
methodology, made in
2012, from a country
airplay-only chart
to one that
reflected all-genre
airplay, music
downloads and
streaming. |
| 13-Aug-2013 |
Tompall Glaser, who
recorded as a solo
artist and with his
brothers Chuck and
Jim in the trio
Tompall & the Glaser
Brothers died in
Nashville,
Tennessee, aged 79,
after a long
illness. 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. |
| 23-Aug-2013 |
In an interview with
AARP, Linda
Ronstadt revealed
that she had
Parkinson's Disease
and could no longer
sing. During her
career Ronstadt had
released over 30
studio albums and 15
compilation or
greatest hits albums
and charted 38
Billboard Hot
100 singles, with 21
reaching the top 40
earning 11
Grammy
Awards.
|
| 24-Aug-2013 |
"Cruise" by Florida
Georgia Line logged
its 24th week at #1,
the longest run at
#1 in the chart's
69-year history (the
previous record was
21 weeks held
jointly by three
songs, the last of
which was Webb
Pierce's "In the
Jailhouse Now"). In
January 2014, it
overtook Lady
Antebellum's "Need
You Now" and became
the best-selling
country song in the
US. As of March
2014, the song has
sold in total
6,577,000 copies in
the US. |
| 28-Aug-2013 |
Alexandra Jane
Jackson, the
daughter of country
music star Alan
Jackson was arrested
on charges of
underage
consumption, assault
and resisting arrest
in Nashville. Police
pulled over the car
Alexandra Jackson
was a passenger for
tailgating and
speeding and when
she exited the
vehicle, she started
making demands and
struck the officer
in the chest. |
| 6-Sep-2013 |
Abraham Spear was
sentenced to 17
years in jail for
arranging to have
sex with two young
girls. The banjo
player from
Nashville had logged
onto a website and
began communicating
with someone he
thought was the
mother of two young
girls. He asked the
woman to send photos
of the girls and in
exchange, he sent
back a photo of
himself in his
underwear, and
allegedly offered to
be the girls'
"teacher." What he
didn't know was that
the girls' "mother"
was actually an FBI
agent. |
| 17-Sep-2013 |
Marvin Rainwater
died aged 88. The
American country and
rockabilly singer
and songwriter had
several hits during
the late 1950s,
including "Gonna
Find Me a Bluebird." |
| 18-Sep-2013 |
Dwight Yoakam was
granted the Artist
of the Year award
from the
Americana Music
Association at
the 12th Annual
Americana Music
Honors and
Awards held in
Nashville. |
| 24-Sep-2013 |
"That's My Kind of
Night" by Luke Bryan
was at #1 on the
Country singles
chart. Written by
Dallas Davidson,
Chris DeStefano, and
Ashley Gorley, the
track spent 12 weeks
at the top of the
chart. Bryan began
his musical career
in the mid-2000s,
writing songs for
Travis Tritt and
Billy Currington. |
| 10-Oct-2013 |
Cal Smith died aged
81. Best known for
his 1974 hit
"Country Bumpkin",
which received Song
of the Year Awards
from both the
Academy of
Country Music
and the Country
Music
Association. |
| 28-Oct-2013 |
Kenny Rogers, Bobby
Bare and the late
Cowboy Jack Clement
were officially
inducted into the
Country Music
Hall of Fame.
The trio was honored
for their influence
on modern Country
music at the
ceremony attended by
Garth Brooks, Kris
Kristofferson and
Barry Gibb. |
| 28-Oct-2013 |
Jason Aldean's tour
bus struck and
killed a pedestrian
in Knox County, Ind.
The man had walked
out into the middle
of the roadway and
was struck by
Aldean's bus on the
northbound lane of
US 41 North. |
| 2-Nov-2013 |
Betsy Smittle died
aged 60. Smittle was
Garth Brooks'
half-sister and a
longtime member of
his band and
released a solo
album of her own,
titled Rough
Around the
Edges. |
| 6-Nov-2013 |
Winners of the 47th
annual Country
Music Association
Awards held in
Nashville included:
Entertainer of the
Year: George Strait,
Album of the Year:
Blake Shelton -
Based on a True
Story , Song of
the Year: Jessi
Alexander, Connie
Harrington and Jimmy
Yeary - "I Drive
Your Truck", Single
of the Year: Florida
Georgia Line -
"Cruise", Male
Vocalist of the
Year: Blake Shelton,
Female Vocalist of
the Year: Miranda
Lambert and Musical
Event of the Year:
Tim McGraw with
Taylor Swift and
Keith Urban -
"Highway Don't
Care". |
| 19-Nov-2013 |
Country Weekly's
Readers named
Shania Twain the
Most Beautiful Woman
in Country Music.
Also featured in the
list were fellow
Canadian, and
country
traditionalist,
Terri Clark, Reba
McEntire and Lauren
Alaina. |
| 20-Nov-2013 |
Duck The Halls: A
Robertson Family
Christmas by The
Robertsons from the
cast of A&E reality
television series
Duck
Dynastywas at #1
on the US Country
chart. The album
features a number of
traditional seasonal
songs as well as
originals written
and performed by the
Robertsons. Special
guests include
country stars Luke
Bryan, George
Strait, Josh Turner
and Alison Krauss. |
| 20-Nov-2013 |
Loretta Lynn, Oprah
Winfrey and Bill
Clinton were among
those presented the
Presidential Medal
of Freedom during
ceremonies by
President Barack
Obama in Washington,
D.C. Presenting the
award to Loretta,
President Barack
Obama said "Over 50
years after she cut
her first record and
canned her first
vegetables, Loretta
Lynn still reigns as
the rule-breaking,
record-setting queen
of country music." |
| 23-Nov-2013 |
Willie Nelson was
forced to postpone
his current tour for
a few weeks after a
massive bus crash
outside of Sulphur
Springs in Texas.
The crash left three
of Willie Nelson's
band members
injured. Nelson, 80,
was not on the bus
at the time it
crashed. The tour
bus crashed into a
bridge pillar on
Interstate 30. The
crash is believed to
have happened
because of the
slippery conditions
of the road due to
the storm. Paul
English injured his
ankle, Billy English
suffered a bruised
hip and crew member
Tom Hawkins had a
cracked rib. |
| 24-Nov-2013 |
Country music
winners at this
years American
Music Awards
included; Favorite
Country Male Artist
- Luke Bryan,
Favorite Country
Female Artist -
Taylor Swift,
Favorite Country
Band/Duo/Group -
Lady Antebellum and
the Favorite Country
Album - Red,
Taylor Swift. |
| 29-Nov-2013 |
Taylor Swift became
the first solo
female artist in 20
years to headline a
national stadium
tour through
Australia, (with the
last being Madonna's
Girlie Show
Tour in 1993),
when she kicked off
the Oceania leg of
her Red World
Tour. Swift
performed to a
capacity crowd of
over 40,900 fans at
the Allianz Stadium
in Sydney,
Australia, becoming
the first female
artist in history to
sell out the stadium
since it was opened
in 1988. |
| 6-Dec-2013 |
Chris Ferrell, the
Nashville bar owner
who shot and killed
country singer Wayne
Mills on Nov 23,
turned himself in to
police after
learning that a
grand jury had
indicted him on
second-degree murder
charges. The
shooting happened
after two men, who
who were reported to
be friends, began
arguing, reportedly
because Mills was
smoking a cigarette
in a non-smoking
area of the Pit and
Barrel bar. No one
witnessed the
shooting itself, but
several people
outside heard the
arguing and the
gunshot. An autopsy
revealed Mills was
shot in the back of
the head. |
| 14-Dec-2013 |
Dwight Yoakam was
involved in a
mid-air scare after
the plane he was
travelling in began
to billow smoke. The
musician was
travelling aboard a
twin-engine Hawker
800 jet after
performing at a
birthday party in
Canada's Northwest
Territories when the
plane's pilot
reported an engine
fire to air traffic
control at Van Nuys
Airport in Los
Angeles and
requested emergency
services be placed
on stand-by. The
plane eventually
landed safely and
the fire crew
discovered the
engine was smoking,
but not on fire. |
| 15-Dec-2013 |
Country singer Chris
Cagle was arrested
in Greenville, Texas
on "suspicion of
driving while
intoxicated" The
Texas Department of
Public Safety said
the 45-year-old
entertainer was
pulled over after
running a red light. |
| 15-Dec-2013 |
Canadian country
singer George Canyon
said he was
devastated on
hearing that his
friend and fellow
pilot had crashed
into a house and
died, shortly after
flying him to a show
in northeastern
Alberta. Canyon's
publicist, said the
singer was dropped
off with his tour
manager in
Lloydminster for a
performance of The
Huron Carole in the
city that evening. |
| 16-Dec-2013 |
Country music giant
Ray Price died aged
87 at his ranch
outside Mount
Pleasant, Texas.
Price, one of
country music's most
popular and
influential singers
and bandleaders, had
more than 100 hits
and was one of the
last living
connections to Hank
Williams. |
| 17-Dec-2013 |
Taylor Swift donated
$100,000 to the
financially
beleaguered
Nashville Symphony,
that, two years ago,
gave Taylor its
prestigious Harmony
Award. Taylor was no
stranger to
supporting music
institutions in
Nashville, she had
also recently given
a $4 million
donation to the
Country Music
Hall of Fame and
Museum. |
| 3-Jan-2014 |
Phil Everly died at
Providence Saint
Joseph Medical
Center in Burbank,
California, just
sixteen days prior
to his 75th
birthday. The cause
of his death was
complications
attributed to
chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (a
combination of
emphysema and
bronchitis), brought
on by a lifetime of
smoking. The Everly
Brothers were
elected to
Country Music
Hall of Fame in
2001. |
| 4-Jan-2014 |
Country music mogul
Ronnie Gant died at
the age of 69. He
signed singers like
Patty Loveless and
Skip Ewing, and
songwriting duo Mike
Geiger and Woody
Mullis, while he
famously brought the
tune "Elvira" to The
Oak Ridge Boys,
earning them a
massive hit and a
Grammy Award
in 1981. |
| 8-Jan-2014 |
The 10 most-played
country songs on US
radio during 2013,
in descending order,
were Darius Rucker's
"Wagon Wheel," Lady
Antebellum's
"Downtown," Miranda
Lambert's "Mama's
Broken Heart,"
Florida Georgia
Line's "Get Your
Shine On," Brett
Eldredge's "Don't
Ya," The Band
Perry's "Done,"
Randy Houser's
"Runnin' Outta
Moonlight," Easton
Corbin's "All Over
the Road," Jake
Owen's "Anywhere
With You" and Blake
Shelton's "Sure Be
Cool If You Did." |
| 11-Jan-2014 |
The Earl Scruggs
Center - Music &
Stories from the
American South
opened in the
historic court
square of Cleveland
County, in uptown
Shelby, North
Carolina. The
Scruggs Center
showcases the
history and cultural
traditions of the
American South, and
the unique musical
contributions of
Earl Scruggs, the
region's most
pre-eminent
ambassador of music. |
| 13-Jan-2014 |
Billboard
printed a list of
the Top 70 Country
Songs of 1989-2014
with rankings based
on actual
performance on the
weekly Hot Country
Songs chart. Top of
the list was,
"Cruise", Florida
Georgia Line, 2,
"Wanted", Hunter
Hayes, 3, "Just To
See You Smile", Tim
McGraw, 4, "Amazed",
Lonestar, 5, "We Are
Never Ever Getting
Back Together",
Taylor Swift, 6,
"That's My Kind of
Night", Luke Bryan7,
"It's Your Love",
Tim McGraw with
Faith Hill8,
"Somebody Like You",
Keith Urban9, "Check
Yes Or No", George
Strait and at number
10, "Love Without
End, Amen", George
Strait. |
| 15-Jan-2014 |
Carrie Underwood
topped a list by
Forbes for
the top Country
music earners.
During 2013 the
singer brought in
$31 million, which
included earnings
from endorsements of
Olay and Vitamin
Water, and her
Blown Away
album and tour.
Kelly Clarkson, was
at #2 on the list
with $7 million,
Scotty McCreery was
#6 with $3 million
and Kellie Pickler
was #8 with $1.5
million. |
| 15-Jan-2014 |
Trace Adkins entered
alcohol
rehabilitation after
an alleged
altercation with a
celebrity
impersonator on a
cruise ship. |
| 16-Jan-2014 |
A forklift crashed
into a portion of a
stage after a Luke
Bryan concert in
Ohio State, causing
it to crumple and
injure 4 crew
members who were all
rushed to hospital
for treatment. |
| 16-Jan-2014 |
A woman accused of
impersonating Alison
Krauss on a dating
website and stealing
money from an
elderly man appeared
in a Fayetteville
court. Sue Evers
pleaded guilty to
Class B felony theft
by deception and was
sentenced to 100
days in jail and 8
years supervised
probation and was
ordered to pay
slightly over
$72,800 in victim
restitution. |
| 17-Jan-2014 |
A new survey
published asked the
question, "What
Country Star Would
You Want On Your
Side in a Bar
Fight?". Country
artists who came out
on top included:
Brantly Gilbert,
Trace Adkins,
Blackberry Smoke and
Blake Shelton.
|
| 20-Jan-2014 |
It was announced
that Florida Georgia
Line's "Cruise," had
become the
best-selling digital
country single in
history after having
over 6.6 million
downloads to date.
The track spent 24
weeks atop the
Billboard Hot
Country Songs Chart,
making it the
longest-running #1
since the chart's
inception.
|
| 26-Jan-2014 |
Country Music
winners at this
years Grammy
Awards included:
Best Country Album:
Same Trailer
Different Park,
Kacey Musgraves,
Best Country Song:
"Merry Go 'Round,"
Shane McAnally,
Kacey Musgraves and
Josh Osborne
(songwriters), Kacey
Musgraves, Best
Country Solo
Performance: "Wagon
Wheel," Darius
Rucker, Best Country
Duo/Group
Performance: "From
This Valley," The
Civil Wars, Best
Americana Album:
Old Yellow
Moon, Emmylou
Harris and Rodney
Crowell, and Best
Bluegrass Album:
The Streets of
Baltimore, Del
McCoury Band.
|
| 31-Jan-2014 |
Dolly Parton
released het
forty-fourth solo
studio album Blue
Smoke. The album
logged her best
debut rank on Top
Country Albums in 23
years, entering at
#2. The album also
includes a new
recording of "From
Here to the Moon and
Back" with Willie
Nelson, which was
also on Nelson's
2013 album, To All
the Girls... |
| 9-Feb-2014 |
On the 80th
Anniversary of Bob
Wills' first
performance at the
Cain's Ballroom in
Tulsa, Oklahoma, the
Oklahoma Historical
Society and the
Oklahoma Museum of
Popular Culture
announced plans to
create a
feature-length
documentary about
the life and music
of Bob Wills. The
documentary will be
titled Still the
King. Bob Wills: The
Man. The Music. |
| 19-Feb-2014 |
Luke Bryan was at #1
on the country
singles chart with
Drink a Beer.
Bryan has
described Drink a
Beer as "the
coolest sad song
ever" and noted that
he connects with the
story after having
lost both of his
siblings. |
| 23-Feb-2014 |
American country and
gospel music singer
and actress Penny
DeHaven died aged
65. She was best
known for her
country hit singles
in the late 1960s
and early 1970s. Her
biggest hit was
"Land Mark Tavern",
a duet with Del
Reeves in 1970. |
| 25-Feb-2014 |
Loretta Lynn
suffered minor burns
following a fire at
her home. The
singer was at home
watching TV when a
candle burning in
the sunroom toppled
over, setting a
chair on fire.
Loretta discovered
the blaze when she
went to investigate
a crackling sound
and the singer used
a pillow to beat
down the flames. |
| 26-Feb-2014 |
American stand-up
comedian and country
music artist Tim
Wilson died of a
heart attack. He
released more than a
dozen comedy albums,
and co-wrote
comedian Jeff
Foxworthy's 1996
single "Redneck 12
Days of Christmas",
as well as several
parodies for the
1980s comedy duo
Pinkard & Bowden. |
| 8-Mar-2014 |
The Outsiders
the fourth studio
album by Eric Church
was at #1 on the
Country chart. After
the release of the
album, Church urged
fans not to shuffle
the song list on
their playlists,
saying "Anybody puts
it on shuffle, I"ll
come kill them
myself. It's made to
be listened to start
to finish. |
| 25-Mar-2014 |
Out Among the
Stars the
posthumously
released studio
album by Johnny Cash
was released which
later peaked at #1
on the Country album
charts. The
recordings come from
lost 1980s sessions
with famed
countrypolitan
producer Billy
Sherrill which were
shelved by Cash's
record company,
Columbia Records,
and discovered by
Cash's son John
Carter Cash in 2012. |
| 31-Mar-2014 |
Blake Shelton's
"Doin' What She
Likes" became his
11th consecutive #1
hit on the Country
Airplay chart,
breaking the record
set by Brad Paisley
between 2005 and
2009 for the most
consecutive #1
singles since the
charts began using
Nielsen Broadcast
Data Systems in
1990. |
| 2-Apr-2014 |
Recordings by The
Everly Brothers and
Linda Ronstadt's
album (Heart Like
a Wheel), were
among those newly
selected for
induction into the
Library of
Congress National
Recording
Registry. |
| 3-Apr-2014 |
Country guitarist
Arthur Smith, best
known for the theme
tune from the 1972
film
Deliverance,
died. 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. |
| 6-Apr-2014 |
Winners at the 49th
Annual Academy
of Country Music
Awards hosted by
Blake Shelton and
Luke Bryan included:
Entertainer of the
Year - George
Strait, Male
Vocalist of the Year
- Jason Aldean,
Miranda Lambert won
Female Vocalist of
the Year, Single
Record of the Year
for "Mama's Broken
Heart" and Vocal
Event of the Year
with Keith Urban
for "We Were Us".
Song of the Year
went to Lee Brice
for "I Drive Your
Truck" and Album of
the Year went to
Kacey Musgraves for
Same Trailer
Different Park. |
| 10-Apr-2014 |
Linda Ronstadt was
inducted into the
Rock and Roll Hall
of Fame at a
ceremony in
Brooklyn. Due to
illness, Ronstadt
was unable to
attend. Sheryl Crow,
Emmylou Harris,
Stevie Nicks, Bonnie
Raitt, and Carrie
Underwood paid
tribute to Ronstadt
during the ceremony. |
| 11-Apr-2014 |
Singer and prolific
songwriter Jesse
Winchester died at
his home in
Charlottesville,
Va., at age 69
following a battle
with cancer. His
music blended folk,
country and blues.
Jesse's songs were
covered by a variety
of artists from
several fields over
the years. One of
his most famous
songs, "A Showman's
Life," has been
recorded by George
Strait, Gary Allan
and other artists.
Jesse also wrote the
last major hit for
the Everly Brothers,
"Bowling Green."
Michael Martin
Murphey enjoyed a
Top 5 country hit in
1986 with Jesse's
song, "I'm Gonna
Miss You, Girl." |
| 13-Apr-2014 |
Willie Nelson raised
$939,000 for charity
with a concert at
John Varvatos in
West Hollywood,
backed by Lukas and
Micah Nelson and Red
Hot Chili Peppers
drummer Chad Smith.
The set list
included "Whiskey
River," "Crazy" and
"Roll Me Up And
Smoke Me When I
Die". |
| 14-Apr-2014 |
The Country Music
Hall of Fame and
Museum opened a new
$100 million
expansion that more
than doubled its
space and allowed it
to add more
interactive and
contemporary
exhibits. The museum
unveiled the final
part of the
expansion, two new
exhibit galleries
and a
behind-the-scenes
gallery of ongoing
archival projects. |
| 17-Apr-2014 |
After battling
Alzheimer's disease
since being
diagnosed with the
illness in early
2011, Glen Campbell
was moved into a
care facility after
his health
experienced a
setback. |
| 18-Apr-2014 |
"Glen Campbell...
I'll Be Me," a
documentary based
around Campbell's
battle with
Alzheimer's disease,
debuted during the
Nashville Film
Festival. It
introduced
Campbell's song "I'm
Not Gonna Miss You".
|
| 19-Apr-2014 |
Country singer Kevin
Sharp passed away at
his mother's
California home
after a long-running
and high-profile
battle with cancer,
he died from
complications from
surgery. He was 43.
Sharp 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. |
| 26-Apr-2014 |
Willie Nelson was
inducted into the
Austin City Limits
Hall of Fame held at
their first
induction ceremony
at the original home
of ACL, KLRU-TV's
Studio 6A. Nelson
was the first artist
to ever appear on
the show and had
been a frequent
guest ever since. |
| 29-Apr-2014 |
Willie Nelson who
was about to turn 81
this week, received
his fifth-degree
black belt in the
martial art of Gong
Kwon Yu Sul. |
| 5-May-2014 |
Scotty McCreery was
the victim of an
early morning home
invasion near the
campus of North
Carolina State
University, where he
was a student. Three
suspects armed with
guns robbed McCreery
and his friends of
wallets, cash and
electronic items. |
| 12-May-2014 |
The Pizza Hut chain
of restaurants
introduced the new
Blake Shelton
signature product,
Blake's Smokehouse
BBQ Pizza. |
| 19-May-2014 |
Miranda Lambert and
Carrie Underwood
went to #1 on the
Billboard Hot
Country Songs chart
with "Somethin'
Bad." Released as
the second single
from Lambert's fifth
studio album
Platinum. The
song was the first
#1 by teamed-up solo
women in more than
two decades. |
| 21-May-2014 |
Crash My
Party the fourth
studio album by Luke
Bryan was at #1 on
the country chart.
Its first single,
the title track,
reached #1 on the
Billboard Country
Airplay chart and
the album went onto
sell over 2 million
in sales in the
United States by the
summer of this year. |
| 24-May-2014 |
Brad Paisley
traveled on Air
Force One with
President Barack
Obama to visit US
troops at Bagram Air
Base in Bagram,
Afghanistan. Paisley
played a full
concert for the
troops stationed
there. |
| 2-Jun-2014 |
Steel guitar player
Weldon Myrick died.
In the late 1960s,
he joined Bobby
Thompson and Charlie
McCoy to form Area
Code 615. He later
became 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. |
| 3-Jun-2014 |
Miranda Lambert
released her fifth
studio album
Platinum. The
album received
widespread critical
acclaim and earned
Lambert a
Grammy Award
for Best Country
Album as well as a
CMA Award and
ACM Award in
the same category.
It was also her
first album to reach
the top of the
Billboard
200, and marked her
fifth consecutive #1
debut on the Top
Country Albums,
making her the first
artist in the
history of the chart
to start her career
with five #1 albums. |
| 7-Jun-2014 |
George Strait ended
his touring career
in style with his
final performance at
AT&T Stadium in
Arlington, Texas.
The show shattered a
Billboard
Boxscore mark for
largest single-show
attendance at a US
stadium when 104,793
fans packed the home
of the NFL's Dallas
Cowboys to see the
singer on the final
date of his farewell
tour Cowboy Rides
Away. |
| 8-Jun-2014 |
Dolly Parton
hand-delivered the
millionth book from
her UK Imagination
Library reading
initiative to a
Liverpool child.
The
singer-songwriter
gave a Braille copy
of Beatrix Potter's
The Tale of Peter
Rabbit to
five-year-old Dylan
Manifold while in
the city to perform.
It was the first
book for blind and
partially-sighted
children the project
had supplied in the
UK. The Imagination
Library, which runs
in the US, Canada,
Australia and the
UK, sees sponsors
pay for pre-school
children to receive
a book every month.
It originally
launched in Parton's
home county of
Sevier, Tennessee in
1996. |
| 29-Jun-2014 |
Dolly Parton pulled
a huge crowd for her
debut Glastonbury
set, performing some
of her biggest hits
during the UK
festival. The
singer was greeted
by the biggest crowd
of the weekend, with
many dressed in
Dolly wigs with fake
balloon boobs. One
flag in the audience
read: "Dolly, take
me to your bosom." |
| 14-Jul-2014 |
Dwight Yoakam begins
appearing in a
recurring role as a
barber with a
fanatical religious
bent on CBS-TV's
Under The
Dome. |
| 28-Jul-2014 |
Toby Keith topped
Forbes
magazine's list
of country music's
top-paid artists for
2014 with estimated
earnings of $65
million. Taylor
Swift, Kenny
Chesney, Jason
Aldean and Luke
Bryan also landed in
the Top 5 of the
"Country Cash Kings"
list, but Keith
eclipsed them all
thanks to his
numerous endeavors
which include a
restaurant chain,
his own Wild Shot
mescal, and a
multimillion-dollar
endorsement deal
with Ford. |
| 17-Aug-2014 |
Johnny Cash's
childhood home was
opened to the public
as part of a drive
to revitalise the
Arkansas town where
he grew up. The Cash
family moved to the
house in Dyess in
1935, when Johnny
was three, as part
of a government
drive to help
families after the
Great Depression.
The five-room wooden
home had been
refurbished and
featured the
family's piano as
well as other period
items. |
| 25-Aug-2014 |
Brad Paisley
released his tenth
studio album
Moonshine in the
Trunk becoming
Paisley's eighth
album to hit #1 on
Billboard's
country chart. It
also peaked at #2 on
the Billboard
200. |
| 12-Sep-2014 |
Lynn Anderson was
arrested and charged
with a DUI in
Nashville,
Tennessee. This was
the singer's third
offense since 2004. |
| 17-Sep-2014 |
Country music star
George Hamilton IV
died in Nashville,
Tennessee at the age
of 77. The singer
and guitarist, who
began performing as
a teenager in the
1950s, had suffered
a major heart attack
a few days earlier.
After an early foray
into pop, Hamilton
became a country
stalwart, scoring 40
hits in the 1960s
and 70s. He was
inducted into
Nashville's Grand
Old Opry in 1960 and
continued to work
until shortly before
he was taken ill. |
| 23-Sep-2014 |
Kenny Chesney
released his
sixteenth studio
album The Big
Revival which
became his tenth
Country #1 album.
The album produced
four singles:
"American Kids",
"Til It's Gone",
"Wild Child", and
"Save It for a Rainy
Day", all of which
reached #1 on the US
Country Airplay
chart. |
| 28-Sep-2014 |
Dierks Bentley
raised $335,000 for
charity with his
annual Miles & Music
For Kids motorcycle
ride and concert in
Nashville. The
lineup also featured
Chris Young, Kip
Moore, Randy Houser
and Jon Pardi. |
| 3-Oct-2014 |
Reba McEntire
invited Little Big
Town to join the
Grand Ole Opry. They
accepted and were
inducted by Vince
Gill on October 17. |
| 10-Oct-2014 |
Taylor Swift was
named Billboard's
Woman of the
Year 2014, making
her the first artist
to receive the award
twice. The award is
given to the female
artist who "has
shaped and inspired
the music industry
with her success,
leadership and
innovation" over the
last year. |
| 5-Nov-2014 |
At the 48th annual
CMA Awards
Vince Gill received
the Irving Waugh
award for excellence
in country music.
This was only the
fourth time the
award had been
granted since its
inception in 1983.
The previous country
music artist to
receive the award
was Johnny Cash. |
| 11-Nov-2014 |
Garth Brooks
released his
eleventh studio
album Man Against
Machine. The
album debuted at #4
on the
Billboard 200
and #1 on the US Top
Country Albums
Chart. |
| 20-Nov-2014 |
Ty Herndon came out
as a homosexual in
an interview with
People. He
was the second major
country artist to do
so, following Chely
Wright in 2010. |
| 2-Dec-2014 |
Garth Brooks was at
the top of the U.S.
Country charts with
Man Against
Machine, his
ninth studio album. |
| 15-Dec-2014 |
Little Big Town
released "Girl
Crush" taken from
their sixth studio
album, Pain
Killer, which
topped the country
singles chart for 13
weeks. Some radio
stations were
reported to have
pulled "Girl Crush"
from their
playlists, in
response to concerns
from listeners who
interpreted the song
to be about
lesbianism. |
| 18-Dec-2014 |
American singer and
songwriter Larry
Henley died in
Nashville, Tennessee
at age 77. 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. |
| 25-Dec-2014 |
Little Jimmy Dickens
was hospitalized
after suffering a
stroke just days
after his last
appearance at the
the Grand Ole
Opry to mark his
94th birthday. He
later died of
cardiac arrest on
January 2, 2015. |
| 29-Dec-2014 |
Songwriter and
producer Ed Penney
died at his home in
Nashville age 89.
Penney was
best-known for a run
of successful
singles he co-wrote
and produced for
Terri Gibbs in the
'80s, including her
debut single and
signature song,
"Somebody's
Knocking'" which
earned her a 1981
CMA Horizon
Award and a
Grammy
nomination for Best
Country Song. |
| 30-Dec-2014 |
Nashville studio
musician Henry
Strzelecki died
after being struck
by a car in
Nashville. He
performed with Chet
Atkins, Waylon
Jennings, Willie
Nelson, Eddy Arnold,
Bob Dylan, Johnny
Cash, Ronnie Milsap,
Merle Haggard, and
many others. |
| 2-Jan-2015 |
Little Jimmy Dickens
died aged 94 of
cardiac arrest
after suffering a
stroke a few days
earlier. The
American country
music singer was
famous for his
humorous novelty
songs, his small
size, 4'11" (150
cm), and his
rhinestone-studded
outfits (which he is
given credit for
introducing into
country music live
performances). At
the time of his
death, he was the
oldest living member
of the Grand Ole
Opry. |
| 8-Jan-2015 |
The funeral for
Little Jimmy Dickens
was held at the
Grand Ole Opry
House, who had
died on Jan 2nd aged
94. Dickens was
entombed in the
Cross Mausoleum at
Woodlawn Memorial
Park Cemetery in
Nashville. He
started as a member
of the Grand Ole
Opry in 1948 and
became a member of
the Country Music
Hall of Fame in
1983. At the time of
his death, he was
the oldest living
member of the
Grand Ole
Opry. |
| 11-Jan-2015 |
Dolly Parton's
performance at
Glastonbury festival
in the UK earned the
title of Best Pop
Music Moment Of
2014. Parton
appeared on Sunday
evening (where an
estimated 180,000
came to watch her
perform), at the
legendary festival
back in June of 2014
and a poll by music
streaming service
blinkbox voted her
the top musical
highlight of the
year. |
| 12-Jan-2015 |
American country
music singer A. J.
Masters died aged 64
of prostate cancer.
Masters played
guitar for Charlie
Rich and wrote the
songs "Change My
Mind", which was
recorded by both The
Oak Ridge Boys and
John Berry,
"Someday" by Steve
Azar, "Last Request"
by Frazier River,
"Love Ain't Like
That" by Faith Hill,
and "Half a Heart
Tattoo" by Jennifer
Hanson. |
| 13-Jan-2015 |
Garth Brooks pushed
past Elvis Presley
to take back the
title of solo artist
who has sold more
albums than any
other in U.S.
history. Brooks'
comeback album
Man Against
Machine had been
certified platinum
for sales of more
than 1 million
copies, pushing up
his overall album
total to 135 million
copies - that's one
gold record ahead of
Presley's current
RIAA total of 134.5
million. |
| 16-Jan-2015 |
Bluegrass songwriter
Dixie Hall died of a
brain tumor aged 80.
Was the wife of
Country Music Hall
of Fame member Tom
T. Hall. In addition
to her hundreds of
bluegrass cuts, Hall
and her husband
co-wrote "All That's
Left," a song
Miranda Lambert
recorded on her 2014
release
Platinum. |
| 17-Jan-2015 |
Canadian comedian,
actor, director,
journalist, author,
playwright and
composer Don Harron
died aged 90. Harron
is perhaps best
known for the
comedic character
Charlie Farquharson
from the country
music television
show, Hee
Haw. |
| 23-Jan-2015 |
Jason Aldean was at
#1 on the Country
album chart with his
sixth studio album
Old Boots, New
Dirt, his second
album to reach #1.
Four singles were
released from the
album; "Burnin' It
Down", (reached the
top of the US Hot
Country Songs
chart), "Just
Gettin' Started",
"Tonight Looks Good
on You" and "Gonna
Know We Were Here". |
| 27-Jan-2015 |
Garth Brooks was at
#1 on the Country
charts with his
eleventh studio
album Man Against
Machine. The
album also debuted
at #4 on the
Billboard 200
chart making it
Brooks's lowest
selling studio
effort until the
following album
Gunslinger. |
| 8-Feb-2015 |
Rosanne Cash, picked
up the best American
roots performance
and song awards for
"A Feather's Not A
Bird" and best
Americana album for
The River and the
Thread at this
years Grammy Awards.
Miranda Lambert won
best country album
for Platinum. |
| 22-Feb-2015 |
Tim McGraw took the
stage at this years
Oscars and sang Glen
Campbell's nominated
song, "I'm Not Gonna
Miss You." McGraw
was handpicked by
the Campbell family
to fill in for the
ailing legend. A
first-time Oscar
nominee, Campbell
was unable to travel
to Los Angeles for
the show due to his
deteriorating
health. |
| 23-Feb-2015 |
Bobby Emmons, the
Nashville songwriter
who also played an
integral role in the
Memphis studio scene
for decades, died
in a Nashville
hospital following
an undisclosed
illness. As a
songwriter he scored
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"). |
| 3-Mar-2015 |
Country superstar
Carrie Underwood
sent her Instagram
followers into a
frenzy with the
first published
photo of her newborn
baby boy. She also
revealed the name of
the child, Isaiah
Michael Fisher, who
was the first for
the singer and her
husband,
professional hockey
player Mike Fisher. |
| 6-Mar-2015 |
A Nashville jury
found bar owner
Chris Ferrell guilty
of second-degree
murder after the
2013 shooting of
Wayne Mills. The
shooting occurred on
the same night as a
George Jones tribute
concert at the
nearby Bridgestone
Arena, and as an
after-party was
wrapping up at the
Pit and Barrel, a
downtown saloon that
had recently been
made over for Spike
TV's reality series
Bar Rescue. Ferrell
claimed self-defense
in the shooting,
testifying he fired
at Mills - the
leader of the Wayne
Mills Band - out of
fear after the
singer smashed a
glass and threatened
to kill the bar
owner. |
| 9-Mar-2015 |
Songwriter and
recording artist
Wayne Kemp, who
penned hit tunes for
George Strait,
George Jones and
Johnny Cash, among
many others, died at
Macon County General
Hospital in
Lafayette,
Tennessee. He was
suffering from
multiple ailments
and was on kidney
dialysis when he
passed away. Kemp
was 74. One of his
most well-known
songs gave Johnny
Cash his 1976 #1 hit
"One Piece at a
Time". |
| 11-Mar-2015 |
Emmylou Harris was
named as one of the
two 2015 Laureates
to receive Sweden's
prestigious Polar
Music Prize. The
Polar Music Prize,
often referred to as
the "Nobel Prize for
music," each year
recognizes one
Laureate from
contemporary music
and one from the
classical world. |
| 13-Mar-2015 |
A Woodstock woman
took out legal
action suing Willie
Nelson saying the
lyrics of a song on
his Heroes
album were
"substantially and
strikingly similar"
to one written by
her and her partner.
The lawsuit filed in
federal court in
Atlanta by Ashley
Wilson and the
estate of Mark
Reynolds contended
Nelson's 2012 "Roll
Me Up and Smoke Me
When I Die," was
written by Wilson
and Reynolds in 1990
and was performed by
Reynolds in the
1990s and played on
Georgia radio. The
lawsuit accused
Nelson, his four
listed co-authors
and record companies
of copyright
infringement with
their version of the
cannabis-loving
song. |
| 14-Mar-2015 |
Eric Church was
granted a temporary
restraining order
that allowed for the
seizure of
counterfeit
merchandise on sale
outside his shows.
These included any
bootleg T-shirts and
other Church-related
memorabilia. The
specifics of the
restraining order
targeted fake merch
sold within a
five-mile radius of
the tour's venues
within a 24-hour
period of the
performance. |
| 25-Mar-2015 |
"Sixteen Tons" by
Tennessee Ernie Ford
was one of 25
recordings to be
preserved by the US
Library of Congress.
The song was written
and first recorded
by Merle Travis at
the Radio Recorders
Studio B in
Hollywood,
California on August
8, 1946. |
| 30-Mar-2015 |
Jason Aldean joined
Beyonce, Jay Z,
Madonna, Jack White,
Kanye West, Chris
Martin of Coldplay
and Usher, among
others, to announce
the launch of Tidal,
an artist-owned
streaming service,
during a press event
at Skylight in New
York City. The new
service was
positioned as an
ad-free,
high-quality
streaming music
subscription service
priced starting at
$10 per month. |
| 14-Apr-2015 |
Reba McEntire
released her
thirtieth studio
album Love
Somebody which
become her tenth US
Country #1 studio
album. |
| 15-Apr-2015 |
It was reported that
Digital music
revenues matched
physical sales for
the first time in
2014, thanks to
strong growth in the
streaming market.
The digital market
rose 6.9% to $6.9
billion (4.6
billion),
representing 46% of
all global music
sales. CDs, vinyl
and other physical
formats also
accounted for 46% of
the market with
Taylor Swift the
most popular artist. |
| 17-Apr-2015 |
Lady Antebellum
singer Hillary
Scott's tour bus
burst into flames en
route to the
American Country
Music Awards.
The country music
star, her husband,
tour manager and the
driver were driving
from Nashville,
Tennessee, to
Dallas, Texas when a
tyre exploded. No
one was injured in
the accident which
caused major traffic
delays on Interstate
30. |
| 19-Apr-2015 |
Winners at this
years 50th Annual
ACM Awards
included: Luke
Bryan, who won
Entertainer of the
year, Jason Aldean
won Male Vocalist of
the year, Miranda
Lambert won Female
vocalist of the year
and Album of the
year for
Platinum, as
well as Song of the
year for
"Automatic". Vocal
Duo winners were
Florida Georgia
Line, and New Artist
of the year went to
Cole Swindell. |
| 30-Apr-2015 |
Canadian music video
and film director
Steven Goldmann died
age 53. 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. |
| 6-May-2015 |
Luke Bryan topped a
list of the biggest
grossing Country
Music tours in 2014
published in the
Nashville
Business Journal
with over 1.2m
tickets sold,
grossing $62.8m.
George Strait came
in second with
$61.8m, and Jason
Aldean third with
$52.5m. |
| 9-May-2015 |
American country
musician associated
with Western swing
Johnny Gimble died
at his home in
Dripping Springs,
Texas. Gimble was
considered one of
the most important
fiddlers in the
genre and was
inducted into the
Rock and Roll Hall
of Fame in 1999 in
the early influences
category as a member
of Bob Wills and His
Texas Playboys. |
| 11-May-2015 |
Little Big Town were
at #1 on the
country singles
chart with "Girl
Crush", (which
topped the chart for
13 weeks). Some
radio stations were
reported to have
pulled "Girl Crush"
from their
playlists, in
response to concerns
from listeners who
interpreted the song
to be about
lesbianism. |
| 18-May-2015 |
American country
music artist Elbert
West died aged 47.
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. |
| 19-May-2015 |
Taylor Swift was the
big winner at this
year's Billboard
Awards taking
home eight awards -
including top
artist, top
Billboard 200
artist, top Hot 100
artist and top
streaming song. The
singer also
premiered her
blockbuster video
for "Bad Blood" -
featuring the likes
of Cindy Crawford,
Kendrick Lamar and
Lena Dunham. |
| 22-May-2015 |
The Zac Brown Band
were at #1 on the
country chart with
their fourth
major-label studio
album Jekyll +
Hyde, making it
their third #1 album
on the Billboard 200
chart. |
| 10-Jun-2015 |
Emmylou Harris was
praised by Barack
Obama as she
received the 2015
Polar Music
Prize. The US
president sent
congratulations
adding: "Music
brings people
together in an
increasingly
interconnected
world." Harris, from
Birmingham, Alabama,
has recorded more
than 25 albums over
four decades and was
inducted into the
Country Music
Hall of Fame in
2008. |
| 11-Jun-2015 |
Willie Nelson and
Merle Haggard made
their way back to
the top of the
charts. Their duets
album, Django and
Jimmie, debuted
at Number One on the
Billboard Country
Albums chart,
and in the Number
Seven spot on the
all-genre
Billboard
200. The album's
title is a reference
to Nelson and
Haggard's heroes -
jazz guitarist
Django Reinhardt and
one of country's
first stars, Jimmie
Rodgers. |
| 11-Jun-2015 |
The Grand Ole Opry's
Jim Ed Brown died
from lung cancer at
the age of 81. Brown
was a country music
singer and TV and
radio host who first
found fame as a
member of The
Browns, a country
music group he
started with his two
sisters in the
1950s. Later, he
managed a successful
solo career for
decades, which
included hits like
"I Don't Want to
Have to Marry You,"
and TV successes
like You Can Be a
Star. He is perhaps
best known as the
voice of Grand Ole
Opry radio's Country
Music Greats Radio
Show, which he
hosted for more than
a decade. |
| 11-Jun-2015 |
Country singer Randy
Howard was killed in
a gunfight with a
bounty hunter at the
age of 65. According
to Tennessee
authorities, the
bounty hunter
arrived at Howard's
home to take him
into custody after a
missed court
appearance, when
Howard opened fire.
The bounty hunter
shot back, killing
Howard. The warrant
for Howard's arrest
was initially issued
for DUI, possession
of drug
paraphernalia,
possession of a
firearm while
intoxicated, and
driving on a revoked
license. |
| 18-Jun-2015 |
Willie Nelson and
Merle Haggard were
at #1 on the Country
album chart with
Django & Jimmie. The
sixth and final
album collaboration
between Nelson and
Haggard and
Haggard's final
album prior to his
death in April 2016.
The song "Django and
Jimmie" is a tribute
to musicians Django
Reinhardt and Jimmie
Rodgers. |
| 20-Jun-2015 |
Chris Stapleton was
at #1 on the US
Country chart with
his debut studio
album Traveller
which was later
named Album of the
Year at the 2015
Country Music
Association Awards. |
| 9-Jul-2015 |
Luke Bryan caused
controversy in an
interview with
Hits Double
Daily for
implying that Outlaw
country artists
(particularly Waylon
Jennings, Merle
Haggard, and Willie
Nelson) had spent
their career "laying
in the gutter,
strung out on
drugs." |
| 11-Jul-2015 |
Kris Kristofferson,
Charley Pride and
Jim Lauderdale were
all decorated by The
National Music
Council. The trio
were honoured at the
32nd Annual American
Eagle Awards during
a Nashville trade
show gathering of
the National
Association of Music
Merchants. Rosanne
Cash, Johnny Cash's
eldest daughter,
delivered a tribute
to Kristofferson
with a rendition of
"Loving Her Was
Easier." |
| 17-Jul-2015 |
Alan Jackson
released his
twentieth studio
album Angels and
Alcohol via
Alan's Country
Records and EMI
Nashville. This
became Jackson's
eleventh Country #1
album. |
| 18-Jul-2015 |
"Girl Crush" by
Little Big Town made
country music
history by breaking
the record of weeks
spent at #1 by a
group of three or
more members,
surpassing the
current record
holders The Browns
and their song The
Three Bells. |
| 20-Jul-2015 |
Country musician,
songwriter, and
record producer
Wayne Carson died
aged 72. He wrote
"Always on My Mind"
(with Mark James and
Johnny Christopher),
which was first
recored by Gwen
McCrae (as "You Were
Always On My Mind")
and then Brenda Lee
in 1972. Over 300
recordings have been
made of the song,
including; Elvis
Presley in 1972;
John Wesley Ryles in
1979; Willie
Nelson's Grammy
Award winning
version in 1982; and
Loretta Lynn in
2016. |
| 20-Jul-2015 |
Miranda Lambert and
Blake Shelton
announced that they
were divorcing after
four years of
marriage. |
| 21-Jul-2015 |
Pedal steel
guitarist, Buddy
Emmons died of a
heart attack in
Nashville,
Tennessee. 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. |
| 22-Jul-2015 |
American country
music singer Daron
Norwood was found
dead in his
Hereford, Texas
apartment by his
landlord. On
November 5, 1995,
Norwood announced he
was to quit his
career as a country
singer because of
his addiction to
alcohol. He told the
Lubbock-Avalanche
Journal that during
that time period, he
was taking 20 to 25
shots of Jack
Daniels a night. |
| 30-Jul-2015 |
American country
music singer, Lynn
Anderson, died aged
67. The
multi-award-winning
singer scored the
1970 US #3 & 1971 UK
#3 single "Rose
Garden", and charted
12 #1's, 18 Top 10,
and more than 50 Top
40 hits. Anderson
was the first female
country artist to
win the American
Music Award (in
1974), as well as
the first to
headline and sellout
Madison Square
Garden that same
year. |
| 4-Aug-2015 |
Influential country
producer Billy
Sherrill, who worked
with artists like
George Jones,
Charlie Rich, and
Tammy Wynette and is
known for pioneering
the "countrypolitan"
sound, died after a
short illness at the
age of 78. Sherrill
also co-wrote many
hit songs, including
"Stand by Your Man"
(written with Tammy
Wynette). |
| 4-Sep-2015 |
Canadian country
singer Hal Willis
died aged 82. 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." |
| 14-Sep-2015 |
Rascal Flatts
released "I Like the
Sound of That" the
final single from
their album
Rewind and
becoming the trio's
thirteenth #1 hit,
and their first
since "Banjo" in
2012. |
| 24-Sep-2015 |
Kenny Rogers
announced that he
was planning on
retiring after his
next world tour.
Speaking on NBC's
Today show, Rogers
said "I've done this
long enough. There's
a fine line between
being driven and
being selfish, and I
think I crossed that
line when I was
younger. I really
want to be there
with my kids and my
wife. I don't see
enough of them. And
I have some things
on my bucket list." |
| 25-Sep-2015 |
Don Henley released
his fifth solo
studio album Cass
County which
later debuted at #1
on the Top Country
Albums chart.
Recorded in
Nashville,
Tennessee, the album
features Miranda
Lambert, Merle
Haggard, Vice Gill,
Martina McBride,
Dolly Parton, Trisha
Yearwood and others. |
| 25-Sep-2015 |
Drummer Hugh Wright
died of natural
causes age 63. He
was a co-founder of
Boy Howdy who
charted seven
singles on the
Country singles
chart in the 1990's. |
| 6-Oct-2015 |
Pop and country
singer Billy Joe
Royal died aged 73.
His most successful
record was "Down in
the Boondocks" in
1965 and his first
hit on the country
music chart was in
1984 with "Burned
Like a Rocket."
Other country hits
included "I'll Pin a
Note on Your Pillow"
(1987), "Tell It
Like It Is", and
"Till I Can't Take
It Anymore" (both
1989). |
| 16-Oct-2015 |
Record producer and
guitarist John
Jennings died of
kidney cancer aged
62. 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. |
| 23-Oct-2015 |
Carrie Underwood
released her fifth
studio album
Storyteller.
By debuting at #2 on
the Billboard
200 chart, it made
Underwood the only
country artist in
history to have all
of her first five
studio albums debut
at #1 or 2, and with
a #1 debut on the
Top Country Albums
chart, it made her
the only artist to
score six
consecutive #1
albums on the chart.
The album produced
the Country Airplay
chart #1 singles
"Heartbeat" and
"Church Bells." |
| 25-Oct-2015 |
After announcing his
farewell tour Kenny
Rogers' final
concert in Nashville
took place at the
Bridgestone Arena
where he was joined
by an array of guest
artists including:
Little Big Town,
Lionel Richie, Billy
Currington, The Oak
Ridge Boys, Travis
Tritt, The Judds,
Kris Kristofferson,
Alison Krauss, Chris
Stapleton, Lady
Antebellum, Crystal
Gayle and Reba
McEntire. |
| 2-Nov-2015 |
American country
singer Tommy
Overstreet died aged
78. He had five top
five hit singles in
the Billboard
country charts and
11 top 10 singles.
His highest charting
hit was 1972's "Ann
(Don't Go Runnin'),"
which went to #2. |
| 8-Nov-2015 |
Charlie Dick, the
widower of Patsy
Cline, and a man who
was very much
responsible for
helping to keep the
artistic legacy of
his late wife intact
over the years, died
in his sleep aged
81. Dick married
Cline on Sept. 15,
1957, after meeting
her the year before
at a local dance. |
| 15-Nov-2015 |
Canadian
country-folk artist
Ron Hynes, best
known for the songs
"Sonny's Dream" and
"Cryer's Paradise"
died of cancer aged
64. |
| 26-Nov-2015 |
American country and
bluegrass artists
Chris Stapleton was
at #1 on the US
album chart with
Traveller. The album
was later named
Album of the Year at
the 2015 Country
Music Association
Awards. |
| 30-Nov-2015 |
Carrie Underwood
released "Heartbeat"
taken from her fifth
studio album
Storyteller.
The album's second
single went on to
reach #1 on the
Billboard
Country Airplay
chart becoming
Underwood's
fourteenth #1 on the
chart, widening her
lead for the most
among women. At the
time Reba McEntire
ranked second with
11. |
| 6-Dec-2015 |
Songwriter Don
Chapel died. During
his career he wrote
hits for George
Jones, Conway
Twitty, his ex-wife
Tammy Wynette, and
others. |
| 7-Dec-2015 |
Songwriter Don
Pfrimmer died of
leukaemia age 78. 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 Lonestar. |
| 26-Dec-2015 |
Chris Stapleton was
at #1 on the US
Country chart with
his debut studio
album
Traveller
which was later
named Album of the
Year at the 2015
Country Music
Association
Awards. |
| 27-Dec-2015 |
American country
singer and the lead
vocalist for the
Arkansas-based band,
Backroad Anthem,
Craig Strickland
died. Strickland and
a friend, Chase
Morland, had gone to
an area known as
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. |
| 8-Jan-2016 |
American country
singer-songwriter
Red Simpson, best
known for his
trucker-themed songs
died aged 81. His
first #1 hit was
with "Sam's Place,"
recorded by Buck
Owens. In 1979,
Simpson appeared for
the last time on the
charts with "The
Flying Saucer Man
and the Truck
Driver." |
| 20-Jan-2016 |
Tim McGraw released
"Humble and Kind"
which became his
twenty-fifth Country
#1 hit single.
Written by Lori
McKenna the song won
the award for Best
Country Song at the
59th Annual
Grammy
Awards, "Video
of the Year" at the
2016 CMT Music
Awards, "Song of
the Year" at 2016
CMA Awards
and "Country Song of
the Year" at the
2016 American
Music Awards. |
| 26-Jan-2016 |
Thomas Rhett's "Die
a Happy Man" spent a
sixth week at #1 on
the Country Airplay
chart, making him
the first artist to
spend six or more
weeks atop that
chart since Taylor
Swift did so with
"Our Song" in late
2007. |
| 5-Feb-2016 |
A new species of
black tarantula that
lives near Folsom
Prison, California,
was named after
Johnny Cash.
Aphonopelma
johnnycashi was
among 14 new
tarantula species
from the southern US
which were described
by biologists in the
journal ZooKeys. |
| 11-Feb-2016 |
American songwriter
Kim Williams who
wrote hits for Randy
Travis, Joe Diffie,
Reba McEntire, Garth
Brooks and many
others died.
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. |
| 14-Feb-2016 |
Joey Floyd, longtime
band member in Toby
Keith's Easy Money
Band died aged 47
years old after a
long battle with
cancer. Floyd played
guitar, banjo and
fiddle for Keith and
he also introduced
Keith to Willie
Nelson. |
| 22-Feb-2016 |
American country
music singer and
songwriter Sonny
James, best known
for his 1957 hit,
'Young Love' died in
Nashville,
Tennessee, at the
age of 87. Dubbed
the Southern
Gentleman, James had
72 country and pop
chart hits from 1953
to 1983, including
23 No.1 Country
hits. |
| 1-Mar-2016 |
Don Williams
announced his
retirement after six
decades in the music
business. He began
his solo career in
1971, singing
popular ballads and
amassing 17 #1
country hits. |
| 4-Mar-2016 |
American country
music singer and
songwriter Joey Feek
died from cancer
aged 40. From 2008
to 2016, the duo
Joey + Rory
comprised of Joey
and her husband,
Rory Lee Feek. |
| 9-Mar-2016 |
Canadian country
music singer and
songwriter Ray Griff
died aged 75. His
songwritering
credits reached over
2,500 songs, many of
them were recorded
by Nashville's top
recording artists
including writting
hit records for
Faron Young, Porter
Wagoner & Dolly
Parton, Bob Luman,
Gene Watson, and
Johnny Duncan. |
| 18-Mar-2016 |
American country
music singer
songwriter Ned
Miller died age 90.
He is 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. |
| 6-Apr-2016 |
Merle Haggard died
of complications
from pneumonia at
his home in Palo
Cedro, California.
Along with Buck
Owens, Haggard and
his band the
Strangers helped
create the
Bakersfield sound,
which is
characterized by the
twang of Fender
Telecaster and the
unique mix with the
traditional country
steel guitar sound.
Haggard scored over
10 US Country No.1
albums during his
career. |
| 11-Apr-2016 |
Carrie Underwood
released "Church
Bells" taken from
her fifth studio
album
Storyteller.
The single topped
the Billboard
Country Airplay
chart, becoming
Underwood's 15th
leader on that chart
and thereby
extending her record
as the female artist
with most #1 hits in
history of that
chart. |
| 16-May-2016 |
American
singer-songwriter
Emilio Navaira died
of a heart attack
aged 53. He was
called the "Garth
Brooks of Tejano"
with his style of
Tex-Mex music.
Navaira charted six
singles on the
Billboard Hot
Country Singles &
Tracks charts. |
| 17-May-2016 |
Grammy Award
winning country
musician, songwriter
Guy Clark died in
Nashville following
a lengthy battle
with lymphoma. He
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. |
| 17-Jun-2016 |
Blake Shelton was at
#1 on the Country
chart with his tenth
studio album If I'm
Honest. The album
features
collaborations with
Gwen Stefani and The
Oak Ridge Boys. |
| 23-Jun-2016 |
Ralph Stanley also
known as Dr. Ralph
Stanley, bluegrass
artist, known for
his distinctive
singing and banjo
playing died aged
89. 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. |
| 16-Jul-2016 |
American country
music singer Bonnie
Brown died aged 77.
She 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". In 1965, the
Browns joined the
Grand Ole Opry in
Nashville,
Tennessee. |
| 28-Jul-2016 |
"Setting the World
on Fire" gave
Kenny Chesney his
23rd US #1 Country
hit single. The duet
with American singer
Pink was the second
single from
Chesney's 2016 album
Cosmic
Hallelujah. |
| 5-Aug-2016 |
American songwriter
and musician Richard
Fagan died aged 69.
He 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)". |
| 19-Aug-2016 |
Dolly Parton
released her
forty-fifth solo
studio album Pure
& Simple which
became her seventh
#1 country album and
her first chart
topper in 25 years. |
| 30-Aug-2016 |
Fiddle player,
multi-instrumentalist,
and country music
and bluegrass artist
Hoot Hester died age
65. 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. |
| 1-Sep-2016 |
American
singer-songwriter
Kacey Jones died
after a long battle
with cancer aged 66.
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.
As a record producer
she developed Pearls
in the Snow - The
Songs of Kinky
Friedman. The album
featured artists
such as Willie
Nelson, Asleep at
the Wheel, and Lyle
Lovett performing
songs by Friedman. |
| 16-Sep-2016 |
A total of 30
artists gather to
record "Forever
Country", a single
released in honor of
the 50th annual
Country Music
Association awards.
The track featured
Brad Paisley, Keith
Urban, Tim McGraw,
Faith Hill, Little
Big Town, Luke
Bryan, Miranda
Lambert, Blake
Shelton, George
Strait, Charley
Pride,
Trisha Yearwood,
Lady Antebellum,
Darius Rucker and
others. The song
debuted at #1 the
week of October 8,
the third song to do
so since its
inception in 2012. |
| 17-Sep-2016 |
Florida Georgia Line
were at #1 on the
Country chart with
their third studio
album Dig Your
Roots. On August
7, 2017, the album
was certified
platinum by the
Recording Industry
Association of
America (RIAA) for
combined sales and
album-equivalent
units of over a
million units in the
United States |
| 21-Sep-2016 |
American singer and
songwriter John D.
Loudermilk died aged
82. Although he had
his own recording
career during the
1950s and 1960s, he
was primarily known
as a songwriter. 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). |
| 25-Sep-2016 |
Jean Shepard died
aged 82. The honky
tonk singer,
songwriter, 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. |
| 16-Oct-2016 |
Randy Travis
attended his
induction into the
Country Music
Hall of Fame
where he performed a
rendition of
"Amazing Grace."
Travis had recovered
his voice after
about three years of
rehabilitation and
therapy. |
| 30-Oct-2016 |
Curly Putman died
aged 85. 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. |
| 14-Nov-2016 |
Country music artist
Holly Dunn died of
ovarian cancer aged
59. She first found
fame with her 1986
Top-10 hit "Daddy's
Hands" from her
self-titled debut
album. Dunn 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. |
| 17-Nov-2016 |
Kenny Chesney was at
#1 on the US country
charts with his
sixteenth studio
album Cosmic
Hallelujah. The
album was originally
scheduled for
release the previous
year under the title
Some Town
Somewhere. |
| 18-Nov-2016 |
Miranda Lambert
released her sixth
studio album The
Weight of These
Wings which
debuted at #1 on the
Billboard
Country Albums
chart. The album
also won Album of
the Year at the 2017
ACM Awards,
Lambert's fifth
consecutive album to
win the award, a
record for any
artist. |
| 25-Nov-2016 |
Garth Brooks
released his
thirteenth studio
album
Gunslinger.
The album debuted at
#4 on the Top
Country Albums
chart. |
| 2-Dec-2016 |
Mark Gray died aged
64. He was a member
of Exile between
1979 and 1982 and
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. |
| 17-Dec-2016 |
Benny Birchfield,
the widower of
country music singer
Jean Shepard, was
injured following an
attack at his home
in Hendersonville,
Tenn, where two
others died. One of
the victims was Icie
Hawkins,
granddaughter of
Shepard and Hawkshaw
Hawkins. |
| 18-Dec-2016 |
Gordie Tapp died
aged 94. The
Canadian entertainer
was 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. |
| 19-Dec-2016 |
Songwriter Andrew
Dorff, whose hits
included Kenny
Chesney's "Save It
for a Rainy Day" and
Hunter Hayes
"Somebody's
Heartbreak," died at
the age of 40.
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." |
| 3-Jan-2017 |
Producer Sam Lovullo
died aged 88. He was
responsible for
bringing country
music to mainstream
television and
produced Hee
Haw which
premiered on CBS in
June of 1969, and
ran on the network
until 1971, after
which it ran for
another two decades
in syndication.
Anchored by veteran
country stars Roy
Clark and Buck
Owens, the show
featured a regular
cast, as well as
weekly guest
appearances from the
biggest stars,
legends and most
up-and-coming names
in the genre. |
| 9-Jan-2017 |
Rascal Flatts
released "Yours If
You Want It" the
first single from
their tenth studio
album, Back to
Us becoming the
group's fourteenth
#1 single on the US
Country charts. |
| 11-Jan-2017 |
Rockabilly guitarist
Tommy Allsup, who
narrowly avoided
boarding the plane
that killed Buddy
Holly and the Big
Bopper, died aged
85.The musician
famously lost a coin
toss for a seat on
the plane. His place
was taken by teen
star Ritchie Valens,
who also perished
when the plane
crashed. Allsup went
on to become a
Grammy-winning
musician, who played
with Merle Haggard,
Roy Orbison and
Willie Nelson. |
| 15-Jan-2017 |
Singer, songwriter
Greg Trooper died
just two days after
his 61st Birthday.
Many artists covered
Trooper's songs,
including Vince
Gill, Steve Earle
and Robert Earl
Keene. |
| 24-Jan-2017 |
Chris Stapleton was
back at #1 on the US
Country chart with
his debut studio
album
Traveller
which was later
named Album of the
Year at the 2015
Country Music
Association Awards.
The album topped the
Billboard
Year-End Top Country
Albums chart in 2016
and 2017. |
| 24-Feb-2017 |
Don Markham died age
85. Markham was
instrumental in
helping develop the
Bakersfield Sound
and was one of Merle
Haggard's best
friends and his
longtime horn
player. |
| 11-Mar-2017 |
American country
musician and manager
Don Warden died age
87. He is best known
for his years on
The Porter
Wagoner Show as
a Steel player in
his band and as the
manager of Wagoner
and Dolly Parton.
Warden was inducted
into the Steel
Guitar Hall of
Fame in 2008. |
| 3-Apr-2017 |
After being released
in late November the
previous year, Luke
Bryan's "Fast"
reached #1 on the
Country Airplay
Chart making Bryan
the first artist
ever to achieve six
#1 singles from the
same album - his
2015 release and
fifth studio album
Kill the
Lights. |
| 9-Apr-2017 |
American guitarist
Bob Wootton died age
75. 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. |
| 11-Apr-2017 |
Jeff Cook of Alabama
announced he would
stop touring with
the band, after
revealing he was
diagnosed with
Parkinson's disease
four years earlier. |
| 21-Apr-2017 |
Brad Paisley
released his
eleventh studio
album Love and
War which
debuted at #1 on
Billboard's
Top Country Albums
chart. Included on
the album are
collaborations with
Mick Jagger, John
Fogerty, Timbaland,
and Bill Anderson.
The song "Gold All
Over the Ground" is
based on a poem
written by Johnny
Cash in the
collection
Forever
Words. |
| 23-Apr-2017 |
The Andrew Johnson
Hotel in Knoxville,
Tennessee, where
Hank Williams stayed
on December 31,
1952, hours before
his death, made
headlines after
mayor Tim Burchett
announced that Knox
County would seek
proposals to
redevelop the
building, sparking
re-interest in the
circumstances and
events surrounding
Williams' final
hours. |
| 4-May-2017 |
Loretta Lynn
suffered a stroke at
her Hurricane Mills,
Tennessee ranch
weeks after
celebrating her 85th
birthday at the
Ryman Auditorium in
Nashville,
Tennessee. Lynn
made a full recovery
but postponed
numerous shows she
had planned in the
coming months. |
| 11-May-2017 |
Vivian J. "Corki"
Ray Casey O'Dell
died age 80. She was
a trailblazing
female
instrumentalist and
In 2014, was
inducted alongside
Barbara Mandrell as
one of the first
female inductees
into the
Musicians Hall of
Fame. |
| 21-May-2017 |
American
singer-songwriter
Jimmy LaFave died of
cancer age 61. He
was a founding
father of Red Dirt
music and became one
of Oklahoma's most
celebrated folk
artists alongside
Woodie Guthry.
LaFave moved to
Austin, Texas and
continued to inspire
a wealth of the
scene's Americana,
country and folk
acts. |
| 31-May-2017 |
Singer Naomi Martin
died age 89. She
wrote several
classic country #1
hits, including "My
Eyes Can Only See As
Far As You" for
Charley Pride and
"Let's Take The Long
Way Around The
World" for Ronnie
Milsap. She won
several BMI
Awards and had
songs recorded by
artists like Kenny
Rogers, Glen
Campbell and Conway
Twitty. |
| 2-Jun-2017 |
This One's for
You by Luke
Combs was released.
The album first
topped the Country
album chart later in
this month and then
continued to return
to #1 intermittently
for the following
two years. Its total
of 50 weeks at the
top of the chart
tied the record for
the longest time
spent atop the chart
by an album. |
| 8-Jun-2017 |
Country music
singer, songwriter
and producer Norro
Wilson died age 79.
Wilson had written
numerous hits
including songs for
Charlie Rich,
Charley Pride,
George Jones and
Tammy Wynette, and
had also produced
artists, including
Joe Stampley, Margo
Smith, Sara Evans,
Kenny Chesney and
Shania Twain. |
| 9-Jun-2017 |
Adios the
64th and final
studio album by
American
singer-songwriter
Glen Campbell was
released. After
being diagnosed with
Alzheimer's disease,
Campbell embarked on
a 2011–2012
Farewell Tour. After
finishing the tour,
he entered the
studio in Nashville
to record a final
album. Longtime
collaborator Carl
Jackson stated that
he had to stand with
Campbell in the
recording booth to
record the vocals
"line by line" as
Campbell could not
remember the lyrics. |
| 12-Jun-2017 |
Dolly Parton made
the Forbes Rich list
for the first time
thanks to a 63 date
tour and income from
her Dollywood theme
park. Forbes listed
the Country singers
earrings at $37m
over the previous
year. |
| 19-Jun-2017 |
Luke Combs was at #1
on the US Country
chart with his debut
studio album This
One's for You. The
album features the
hits "Hurricane",
"When It Rains It
Pours", and "One
Number Away". |
| 21-Jul-2017 |
Australian country
singer, songwriter
Geoff Mack died age
94. 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. |
| 25-Jul-2017 |
Songwriter, record
producer and
recording artist
Billy Joe Walker Jr.
died following a
period of declining
health. 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". |
| 25-Jul-2017 |
Michael Johnson,
pop, country and
folk
singer-songwriter
and guitarist died
at the age of 72. He
was 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. |
| 27-Jul-2017 |
Singer songwriter D.
L. Menard died age
85. He 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. |
| 8-Aug-2017 |
American singer,
guitarist,
songwriter,
television host, and
actor
Glen Campbell
died in
Nashville, Tennessee
at the age of 81. He
became a patient at
an Alzheimer's
long-term care and
treatment facility
in 2014. Campbell
released more than
70 studio albums and
sold 45 million
records worldwide.
His hits include:
'By the Time I Get
to Phoenix',
'Wichita Lineman',
'Galveston' and
'Rhinestone Cowboy'.
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. |
| 12-Aug-2017 |
"Body Like a Back
Road" by Sam Hunt
broke two Billboard
Hot Country Songs
chart records for #1
longevity within a
month of each other.
On July 22, upon
spending its 22nd
week at #1, "...
Back Road" became
the longest-running
#1 song by a male
artist since the
start of the charts
in 1944. On August
12, the song's 25th
week at #1, Hunt
bumped Florida
Georgia Line's
"Cruise" for
lengthiest #1 run
(previously 24
weeks) in chart
history; the song
eventually logged 34
weeks at the top.
The song's
long-running
popularity was
attributed in part
due to downloads and
live streaming, and
its #6 peak on the
Billboard Hot
100 chart, all
without a music
video for the track. |
| 16-Aug-2017 |
Music executive Jo
Walker-Meadow died
of a stroke in
Nashville age 93.
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. |
| 29-Aug-2017 |
Luke Combs was at #1
on the US Country
chart with his debut
studio album This
One's for You. The
album's lead single
"Hurricane", had
reached No. 1 on
Country Airplay
charts. |
| 2-Sep-2017 |
This One's for
You by Luke
Combs went back to
#1 on the Country
album chart. The
album continued to
return to #1
intermittently for
the following two
years. Its total of
50 weeks at the top
of the chart tied
the record for the
longest time spent
atop the chart by an
album. |
| 8-Sep-2017 |
Don Williams died at
his home in Alabama
aged 78. Williams,
who was known as
"the Gentle Giant"
because of his
easygoing
temperament, died
after a short
illness. Williams
had 17 #1 hits in
the US and was
inducted into the
Country Music
Hall of Fame in
2010, before he
retired in 2016. His
career started as a
musician in
Portland, a city he
moved to from his
native Texas, where
he was born in 1939.
He moved to
Nashville in the
late 60s and wrote
songs for some of
country's biggest
names, including
"Cowboy" Jack
Clement. |
| 8-Sep-2017 |
Troy Gentry, half of
the duo Montgomery
Gentry, was killed
in a helicopter
crash in in Medford,
New Jersey where the
duo was scheduled to
perform that
evening. |
| 8-Sep-2017 |
One half of the duo
Montgomery Gentry,
Troy Gentry was
killed in a
helicopter crash
just before he was
scheduled to perform
a concert.
Montgomery Gentry
had three platinum
selling albums and
were inducted into
the Grand Ole
Opry in 2009. |
| 14-Sep-2017 |
A public memorial
service for Troy
Gentry was held at
the Grand Ole Opry
in Nashville. Half
of the duo
Montgomery Gentry,
Troy was killed in a
helicopter crash in
in Medford, New
Jersey on September
8 of this year. |
| 1-Oct-2017 |
A mass shooting
occurred at the
Route 91 Harvest
country music
festival in
Paradise, Nevada
during a closing
performance by Jason
Aldean. A shooter
fired into the crowd
from a 32nd-floor
balcony of the
Mandalay Bay hotel,
located to the
southeast of the Las
Vegas Village
outdoor concert
venue. 58 people
died and more than
850 were wounded.
Aldean was able to
escape uninjured and
less than a week
later he paid
tribute to the
victims and others
impacted by the
events in Las Vegas
by appearing on
Saturday Night Live,
giving words of
support before
performing Tom
Petty's "I Won't
Back Down". |
| 1-Oct-2017 |
Songwriter Kenny
Beard died of
natural causes age
58. He wrote songs
for Trace Adkins,
Tracy Lawrence, and
Aaron Tippin. His
first hit as a
songwriter was
"Doghouse" by John
Conlee. |
| 14-Oct-2017 |
Thomas Rhett was at
#1 on the Country
album chart with his
third studio album
Life Changes
which included the
chart-topping
singles "Craving
You" with Maren
Morris, and
"Unforgettable”. |
| 17-Nov-2017 |
The Rest of Our
Life the first
collaborative album
by husband and
wife, Tim McGraw and
Faith Hill was
released which went
on to top the
Country album
charts. Coinciding
with the album's
release date, an
exhibit at the
Country Music
Hall of Fame and
Museum in
Nashville, titled
Mississippi Woman,
Louisiana Man, was
opened to celebrate
the careers of both
Hill and McGraw. |
| 19-Nov-2017 |
Country music singer
Mel Tillis, died age
82. He scored the
1972 US #1 'I Ain't
Never' and was known
for his hits "Good
Woman Blues", and
"Coca-Cola Cowboy".
Though he always
spoke with a
stammer, it never
affected his singing
voice. |
| 16-Dec-2017 |
Bebe Rexha and
Florida Georgia Line
went to #1 on the
Country singles
chart with "Meant to
Be". Rexha became
the first female
artist to ever debut
atop the chart and
in August 2018, the
song broke the
record previously
held by 2017's "Body
Like a Back Road" by
Sam Hunt for the
most weeks at #1 on
the US Hot Country
Songs chart after
spending 50 weeks at
the top. |
| 16-Dec-2017 |
Singer-songwriter
Richard Dobson died
of cancer aged 75.
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. |
| 27-Dec-2017 |
Bluegrass musician
Curly Seckler died
in his sleep just
two days after his
98th birthday. He
played with Lester
Flatt and Earl
Scruggs in their
band the Foggy
Mountain Boys from
1949 to 1962. |
| 28-Dec-2017 |
Chris Stapleton was
at #1 on the Country
album chart with
From A Room:
Volume 2 his
third studio album.
The album later
received a
nomination for Best
Country Album at the
61st Annual
Grammy
Awards, with the
single "Millionaire"
being nominated for
Best Country Solo
Performance. |
| 31-Dec-2017 |
Luke Bryan was at #1
on the Country
Charts with What
Makes You
Country his
sixth studio album.
The album includes
the singles "Light
It Up", "Most People
Are Good", "Sunrise,
Sunburn, Sunset".
and the title track. |
| 2-Jan-2018 |
American record
producer,
songwriter, music
publisher, and
musician Rick Hall
best known as the
owner of Fame
Studios in Muscle
Shoals, Alabama died
aged 85. Hall almost
single-handedly
established the town
of Muscle Shoals as
a crucible of some
of the greatest soul
music to be produced
in America in the
Sixties and
Seventies. Artists
who recorded at Fame
in subsequent years
include Jason
Isbell, Tim McGraw
with his hit "I Like
It, I Love It", the
Dixie Chicks, George
Strait, Martina
McBride, Kenny
Chesney and others. |
| 17-Jan-2018 |
Kenny Chesney
announced that he
had left Sony Music
Nashville after 23
years and had
subsequently signed
with Warner Bros.
Records Nashville.
Chesney had recorded
20 albums, 20 of
which had been
certified Gold or
higher by the RIAA.
He had also
produced more than
40 Top 10 singles on
the US Billboard Hot
Country Songs and
Country Airplay
charts, 30 of which
had reached #1. |
| 22-Jan-2018 |
Kane Brown was at #1
on the Country
charts with his
self-titled debut
studio. The album
and songs from the
album reached #1
simultaneously on
all five main
Billboard
country charts, a
first for any
artist. These were:
Top Country Albums,
Hot Country Songs,
Country Airplay,
Country Digital Song
Sales and Country
Streaming Songs. |
| 23-Jan-2018 |
Lari White the
country music artist
and actress died age
52 after a battle
with peritoneal
cancer. 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 also
appeared in the hit
2000 film Cast
Away. |
| 28-Jan-2018 |
Russell Dickerson
was at #1 on the
country charts with
"Yours". The song
became a minor
sleeper hit in the
United States,
entering the
Billboard
Country Airplay
chart in May 2017,
one year and ten
months after its
initial release. It
was named the top
new wedding song of
the year by The
Knot. |
| 2-Feb-2018 |
Montgomery Gentry
released their final
album together,
Here's to You,
following the death
in a helicopter
crash of Troy Gentry
on September 8th
2017. |
| 4-Feb-2018 |
LANCO were at #1 on
the Country album
chart with their
debut album
Hallelujah
Nights. The
album includes the
hit singles "Long
Live Tonight",
"Greatest Love
Story", and "Born to
Love You." |
| 12-Feb-2018 |
Country music singer
Daryle Singletary
died age 46.
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". |
| 2-Mar-2018 |
Canadian American
country musician and
comedy performer
Ronnie Prophet died
at his home in
Florida following
cardiac and kidney
failure age 80. |
| 24-Mar-2018 |
Bebe Rexha and
Florida Georgia Line
spent the eleventh
week at the top of
the charts with
"Meant to Be"
surpassing Taylor
Swift's "We Are
Never Ever Getting
Back Together" as
the longest-running
#1 song on the chart
for a lead female
artist. |
| 27-Mar-2018 |
American country
music singer and
songwriter Kenny
O'Dell died age 73.
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 was inducted
into the
Nashville
Songwriters Hall of
Fame. |
| 15-Apr-2018 |
The Academy of
Country Music awards
returned to Las
Vegas for the first
time since the
October 2017 Route
91 shooting, with
Reba McEntire
returning as host.
Carrie Underwood
made her comeback
performance after
months out of the
public eye while
recovering from
injuries she
suffered in a fall
at home. |
| 17-Apr-2018 |
Randy Scruggs, (the
middle son of Earl
Scruggs) died age
64. Scruggs had
worked with many
artists, including
The Talbot Brothers,
Waylon Jennings,
George Strait and
Emmylou Harris. He
won a Grammy
Award and was twice
named "Musician of
the Year" at the
Country Music
Association
Awards. |
| 30-Apr-2018 |
USA Network
announced Real
Country a
reality competition
show designed to
find the next big
country star which
would feature Travis
Tritt, Jake Owen and
Shania Twain as
judges. |
| 20-May-2018 |
Winners at the
Billboard Music
Awards included:
Top Country Artist
and Top Male Country
Artist – Chris
Stapleton, Top
Female Country
Artist – Maren
Morris, Top Country
Duo/Group –
Florida Georgia
Line, Top Country
Album – From A
Room: Volume 1
(Chris Stapleton),
Top Country Song –
"Body Like a Back
Road", and Top
Country Tour –
Huntin', Fishin' and
Lovin' Every Day
Tour (Luke Bryan). |
| 29-May-2018 |
Jason Aldean was at
#1 on the Country
chart with his
eighth studio album
Rearview Town
his fourth
consecutive #1 album
in the United
States. |
| 2-Jun-2018 |
Wayne Secrest,
bassist for American
country and Southern
Rock band
Confederate Railroad
died after a long
illness age 68. |
| 7-Jun-2018 |
Winners at the
CMT Awards
included: Video of
the Year – "I'll
Name the Dogs"
(Blake Shelton),
Female Video of the
Year – "The
Champion" (Carrie
Underwood ft.
Ludacris), Duo Video
of the Year –
"Tequila" (Dan +
Shay), Group Video
of the Year –
"When Someone Stops
Loving You" (Little
Big Town),
Breakthrough Video
of the Year –
"Every Little Thing"
(Carly Pearce) and
CMT Performance of
the Year –
"Everybody"
(Backstreet Boys and
Florida Georgia
Line). |
| 13-Jun-2018 |
Legendary Elvis
Presley drummer D.J.
Fontana died
peacefully at his
home on age 87.
Before joining
guitarist Scotty
Moore and bassist
Bill Black in
Presley's backing
band the Blue Moon
Boys, Dominic Joseph
Fontana worked as
the house drummer
for his hometown of
Shreveport's
Louisiana Hayride
working with the
likes of Johnny
Cash, Dolly Parton,
Waylon Jennings,
Steve Young, Melba
Montgomery, Norma
Jean, Vassar
Clements, Carl
Butler and other
country artists. |
| 26-Jun-2018 |
It was announced
that Dolly Parton,
Emmylou Harris,
Linda Ronstadt, and
Faith Hill would all
receive stars on the
Hollywood Walk of
Fame in 2019. |
| 25-Jul-2018 |
Reba McEntire was
announced as one of
the recipients of
the 2018 Kennedy
Centre Honors. The
annual honour is
awarded to those in
the performing arts
for their lifetime
of contributions to
American culture. |
| 27-Jul-2018 |
Kenny Chesney
released his
eighteenth studio
album Songs for
the Saints his
12th Country #1
album and his first
release for Warner
Bros. Nashville.
According to
Chesney, the album
was inspired by "the
rebuilding process"
after Hurricane
Irma, which
destroyed a house
that he owned in
Saint John, US
Virgin Islands.
Proceeds from the
album were donated
to Hurricane Irma
disaster relief
funds. |
| 15-Aug-2018 |
Bebe Rexha and
Florida Georgia Line
broke the record
previously held by
2017's "Body Like a
Back Road" by Sam
Hunt for the most
weeks at #1 on the
US Hot Country Songs
chart. |
| 31-Aug-2018 |
Mike Kennedy, a
longtime drummer in
George Strait's Ace
in the Hole band,
died in a car
accident, he was 59
years old. Kennedy
had worked for
Strait for over 20
years. |
| 14-Sep-2018 |
Carrie Underwood
released her sixth
studio album Cry
Pretty. It
debuted at #1 on the
US Billboard
200, making
Underwood the first
woman to hit the top
of the
Billboard 200
chart with four
country albums. It
also debuted atop
the Top Country
Albums chart,
becoming her seventh
consecutive #1 album
on that chart. |
| 15-Sep-2018 |
Luke Combs was at #1
on chart with his
debut album This
One's for You.
It was #1 on the Top
Country Albums chart
for 50 weeks, a
record for a male
artist on this
chart. |
| 29-Sep-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". |
| 27-Oct-2018 |
Classic country star
Freddie Hart died
age 91. The country
musician and
songwriter is
best-known for his
#1 hit "Easy
Loving," which won
the Country Music
Association Song
of the Year award in
1971 and 1972. Hart
was inducted into
the Nashville
Songwriters Hall of
Fame in 2004. |
| 2-Nov-2018 |
Pistol Annies
released their third
studio album
Interstate
Gospel which
went to #1 on the
Top Country Albums
chart. It was
nominated for Best
Country Album at the
62nd Grammy
Awards, their very
first Grammy
nomination. |
| 15-Nov-2018 |
Roy Clark the
musician and
performer died age
85. He was 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." Clark
was inducted into
the Country Music
Hall of Fame in
2009. |
| 15-Nov-2018 |
Winner at the
Country Music
Association
Awards included:
Entertainer of the
Year – Keith
Urban, Male Vocalist
of the Year –
Chris Stapleton,
Female Vocalist of
the Year – Carrie
Underwood, New
Artist of the Year
– Luke Combs,
Vocal Duo of the
Year – Brothers
Osborne, Vocal Group
of the Year – Old
Dominion, Single of
the Year and Song of
the Year – "Broken
Halos" (Chris
Stapleton) and Album
of the Year –
Golden Hour (Kacey
Musgraves). |
| 20-Nov-2018 |
Jimmie Allen reached
#1 on the Country
Airplay Chart with
"Best Shot", making
him the first
African American to
send a debut single
to the top of that
chart. |
| 1-Dec-2018 |
This One's for
You by Luke
Combs went back to
#1 on the Country
album chart. The
album continued to
return to #1
intermittently
during 2018 and
2019. Its total of
50 weeks at the top
of the chart tied
the record for the
longest time spent
atop the chart by an
album. |
| 15-Dec-2018 |
Country music
songwriter Jerry
Chestnut died in
Nashville at the age
of 87. 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.) |
| 22-Dec-2018 |
American country
music singer Brett
Young was at #1 on
the Country album
chart with his
second studio album
Ticket to
L.A. |
| 22-Dec-2018 |
Country musician and
songwriter Jimmy
Work died at the age
of 94. He was 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. |
| 23-Dec-2018 |
This One's for
You by Luke
Combs went back to
#1 on the Country
album chart. The
album continued to
return to #1
intermittently
during 2018 and
2019. Its total of
50 weeks at the top
of the chart tied
the record for the
longest time spent
atop the chart by an
album. |
| 25-Dec-2018 |
"Speechless" by
American country
music duo Dan + Shay
was at #1 on the
Country singles
chart. Taken from
their for their 2018
self-titled third
studio album the
track became the
duo's first #1. |
| 1-Jan-2019 |
American singer,
songwriter,
environmentalist,
educator and
philanthropist Pegi
Young died of cancer
age 66. After
marrying Canadian
folk rock musician
Neil Young in 1978,
her debut as a
singer came in 1983
when she was a
member of The
Pinkettes, the
backing vocalists on
her husband's
rockabilly Shocking
Pinks tour. |
| 3-Jan-2019 |
Steve Ripley from
the country rock
band The Tractors
died from cancer two
days after his 69th
birthday. The
Tractors were
nominated for two
Grammy Awards and
won the Country
Weekly 1995 Golden
Pick Award for
Favorite New Group. |
| 5-Jan-2019 |
Country songwriter
Phil Thomas died age
74. Thomas’s songs
were recorded by
George Strait,
Alabama, Randy
Travis and Barbara
Mandrell. He is best
known for the 1978
“signature”
songs he wrote for
Johnny Paycheck,
“Colorado
Kool-Aid” and
“Me and the
I.R.S.” |
| 12-Jan-2019 |
Country songwriter
and musician Sanger
D. Shafer died after
a long illness at
the age of 84. He
wrote numerous hits
for stars such as
George Jones, Lefty
Frizzell, and George
Strait. |
| 13-Jan-2019 |
Country-Pop Singer
Bonnie Guitar died
age 95. 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 charted for the
first time in many
years in 1980 with
the single "Honey On
the Moon." |
| 18-Jan-2019 |
Reggie Young died
age 82. He was the
lead guitarist in
the American Sound
Studios Band (aka
The Memphis Boys),
and was a leading
session musician. He
played on various
recordings with
artists such as
Elvis Presley, ("In
the Ghetto"), Willie
Nelson, Waylon
Jennings, Johnny
Cash, Jerry Lee
Lewis, Merle
Haggard, and George
Strait. |
| 21-Jan-2019 |
Maxine Brown Russell
died age 87. 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. |
| 25-Jan-2019 |
Luke Combs was at #1
on the Country album
charts with his
debut studio album
This One's for
You. It was #1
on the Top Country
Albums chart for 50
weeks, a record for
a male artist on
this chart. The
album includes the
singles "Hurricane",
"When It Rains It
Pours", and "One
Number Away". |
| 31-Jan-2019 |
Harold Bradley the
American country and
pop guitarist died
age 93. 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. A
Country Music
Hall of Fame
member, he is
believed to be the
most recorded
instrumentalist in
history. |
| 1-Feb-2019 |
Dolly Parton was
honored by MusiCares
as its 2019 Person
of the Year becoming
the first country
singer to be named a
MusiCares Person of
the Year. Parton is
widely respected for
her philanthropy.
She founded
Imagination Library
in 1995 in honor of
her father who
couldn’t read.
Imagination Library
began as a free
service that shipped
books from birth to
age 5 years old to
children in her
hometown. Today,
Parton’s
Imagination Library
ships more than 1
million
age-appropriate
books a month to
children in four
countries. |
| 3-Feb-2019 |
Country
singer-songwriter
Cody Johnson was at
#1 on the
Billboard
country albums chart
with his seventh
studio album
Ain't Nothin' to
It. |
| 10-Feb-2019 |
Winers at the
Grammy Awards
included: Album of
the Year – Golden
Hour (Kacey
Musgraves), Best
Country Solo
Performance –
"Butterflies" (Kacey
Musgraves), Best
Country Duo/Group
Performance –
"Tequila" (Dan +
Shay),
Best Country Song
– "Space Cowboy"
(Luke Laird, Shane
McAnally, Kacey
Musgraves),
Best Country Album
– Golden Hour
(Kacey Musgraves),
Best Bluegrass Album
– The Travelin'
McCourys (The
Travelin' McCourys),
Best Americana Album
– By the Way, I
Forgive You (Brandi
Carlile). |
| 16-Feb-2019 |
Miranda Lambert
announced on social
media that she
married New York
City Police
Department Officer
Brendan McLoughlin
on January 26, 2019
in Davidson County,
Tennessee. Lambert
had previously been
married for four
years to singer
Blake Shelton. |
| 20-Feb-2019 |
Country Music Hall
of Fame member Fred
Foster died age 87.
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. |
| 24-Feb-2019 |
Mac Wiseman died age
93. He 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
served as a founding
member of the
Country Music
Association and
joined the
Country Music
Hall of Fame in
2014. |
| 16-Mar-2019 |
American country
singer Justin Carter
died after being
accidentally shot
during the filming
of a music video at
his apartment in
Woodlands, an area
north of Houston.
The singer had just
released a new song
titled "Love Affair"
a week earlier. |
| 27-Mar-2019 |
Wanda Jackson
announced her
retirement from
performing due to
health and safety
concerns via a
statement on her
Facebook page.
Jackson is known to
many as the "Queen
of Rockabilly" or
the "First Lady of
Rockabilly". |
| 29-Mar-2019 |
American country
music, rockabilly
singer, songwriter
and music
entrepreneur
Margaret Lewis died
age 79. She wrote
"Mountain of Love",
a country hit for
David Houston in
1963 and "Reconsider
Me", which charted
for at least four
different artists. |
| 1-Apr-2019 |
Loretta Lynn
celebrated her 87th
birthday (which is
actually April 14)
with an all-star
concert held at
Nashville's
Bridgestone Arena.
Performers include:
Garth Brooks, Trisha
Yearwood, Martina
McBride, Alison
Krauss, Lee Ann
Womack, Little Big
Town, Kacey
Musgraves, Brandy
Clark, Brandi
Carlile, Miranda
Lambert, Pistol
Annies, Keith Urban,
Darius Rucker, Tanya
Tucker, Crystal
Gayle, Alan Jackson
and George Strait.
Lynn herself sand
live for the first
time since 2017,
performing her
signature song "Coal
Miner's Daughter." |
| 5-Apr-2019 |
Reboot the
eleventh studio
album by American
country music duo
Brooks & Dunn was
released becoming
their sixth US
Country #1 album.
The album includes
twelve renditions of
Brooks & Dunn's
previous singles,
each done with a
featured vocal from
another country
music artist. |
| 6-Apr-2019 |
Jim Glaser died age
81. As a member of
the sibling trio
Tompall and the
Glaser Brothers he
charted several
singles on the Hot
Country Songs
charts, including
the #1 hit "You're
Gettin' to Me
Again". |
| 7-Apr-2019 |
Winners at the
Academy of
Country Music
Awards included
Entertainer of the
Year – Keith
Urban, Male Vocalist
of the Year –
Thomas Rhett, Female
Vocalist of the Year
– Kacey Musgraves,
Vocal Duo of the
Year – Dan + Shay,
Vocal Group of the
Year – Old
Dominion, Album of
the Year – Golden
Hour (Kacey
Musgraves), Song of
the Year –
"Tequila" (Nicolle
Galyon, Jordan
Reynolds Dan Smyers)
and Artist of the
Decade went to Jason
Aldean. |
| 10-Apr-2019 |
American country
music
singer-songwriter
Earl Thomas Conley
died age 77 from
cerebral atrophy.
Conley charted more
than thirty singles
on the Billboard Hot
Country Songs
charts, of which
eighteen reached #1. |
| 14-Apr-2019 |
Hal Ketchum's wife
announced via his
Facebook page that
he will be retiring
due to complications
from Alzheimer's
disease. Ketchum
died at his home in
Fischer, Texas on
November 23, 2020 at
the age of 67. |
| 16-Apr-2019 |
American country
music singer and
songwriter Kelsea
Ballerini was
inducted as the
youngest member of
the Grand Ole
Opry, with
Carrie Underwood
officiating the
induction. |
| 27-Apr-2019 |
This One's for
You by Luke
Combs went back to
#1 on the Country
album chart for
another 7 weeks. The
album continued to
return to #1
intermittently
during 2018 and
2019. Its total of
50 weeks at the top
of the chart tied
the record for the
longest time spent
atop the chart by an
album. |
| 8-May-2019 |
Luke Combs was at #1
on the country album
charts with his
debut studio album
This One's for
You. It was #1
on the Top Country
Albums chart for 50
weeks, a record for
a male artist on
this chart and
equaling the record
of Shania Twain's
Come On Over. |
| 12-May-2019 |
Nashville songwriter
Glenn Martin died
age 86. Martin was
one of the first
members of the
Nashville
Songwriters
Association
International and
penned country
classics including
Merle Haggard's
"It's Not Love (But
It's Not Bad)" and
Tammy Wynette's
"Fairy Tales."
Martin’s first
songwriting
successes occurred
in 1969 when Ray
Price recorded
“April’s Fool”
and Bobby Bare
released “Which
One Will It Be.”
Both songs became
top-20 country hits. |
| 14-May-2019 |
Country singer Leon
Rausch died age 91.
He was known as
‘the voice’ of
Bob Wills and his
Texas Playboys who
had the hits "Steel
Guitar Rag", "New
San Antonio Rose"
and "Smoke On The
Water." |
| 14-May-2019 |
Rodney Atkins'
"Caught Up in the
Country" charts for
a 57th week on the
Country Airplay
chart, beating by
one week the
previous record for
the longest
continuous run on
that chart. |
| 28-May-2019 |
Canadian-born
producer, songwriter
Ralph Murphy died
age 75. He penned
hits for many
artists including
Shania Twain, Randy
Travis, Ray Price
and Crystal Gayle.
Murphy was inducted
into the Canadian
Country Music
Hall of Fame in
2012. |
| 10-Jun-2019 |
Chuck Glaser died
age 83, he was the
last living Glaser
Brothers member who
got their big break
in 1957 when they
appeared on the
Arthur Godfrey's
Talent Show and
attracted the
attention of several
well known country
stars, including
Marty Robbins. As a
songwriter, Glaser
had songs cut by
many artists
including Hank Snow
and Johnny Cash. |
| 11-Jun-2019 |
American country
music singer and
songwriter Luke
Combs was invited to
become the newest
member of the
Grand Ole
Opry. |
| 12-Jun-2019 |
John A. Hobbs, a key
figure in the
development of
Nashville's Music
Valley district,
died age 91. He
helped develop the
former Rudy's Farm
site into what's now
known as Music
Valley, the
shopping,
entertainment and
hotel district
surrounding the
Grand Ole Opry. |
| 22-Jun-2019 |
American drummer and
record producer
Jerry Carrigan died
age 75. 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. |
| 24-Jun-2019 |
Mandolinist and
singer Jeff Austin
died age 45. He was
best known for being
a founding member of
the Yonder Mountain
String Band. |
| 29-Jun-2019 |
This One's for
You by Luke
Combs went back to
#1 on the Country
album chart for 7
weeks. The album
which was released
in 2017 continued to
return to #1
intermittently
during 2018 and
2019. Its total of
50 weeks at the top
of the chart tied
the record for the
longest time spent
atop the chart by an
album. |
| 12-Jul-2019 |
Country music
singer-songwriter
Russell Smith died
age 70. 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"). |
| 13-Jul-2019 |
Luke Combs was at #1
on the Country album
charts with his
debut studio album
This One's for
You. It was #1
on the Top Country
Albums chart for 50
weeks, a record for
a male artist on
this chart. The
album includes the
singles "Hurricane",
"When It Rains It
Pours", and "One
Number Away". |
| 19-Aug-2019 |
Garth Brooks was
selected to receive
the first George
H.W. Bush 'Points of
Light Award for
Caring and
Compassion.' The
award honors those
who find solutions
to the world's
toughest challenges
and exemplify the
traits of the 41st
President of the
United States. Garth
fits the bill and
was being honored
for his work within
his Teammates for
Kids initiative, as
well as, his
involvement with
Habitat for
Humanity. |
| 22-Aug-2019 |
Winners at the
ACM Honors
held in Nashville
included: The
Cliffie Stone Icon
Award went to Alan
Jackson, Merle
Haggard Spirit Award
– Dierks Bentley,
Gary Haber Lifting
Lives Award –
Darius Rucker,
Songwriter of the
Year – Rhett
Akins, Producer of
the Year – Dave
Cobb and the Jim
Reeves International
Award went to Rob
Potts. |
| 24-Aug-2019 |
This One's for
You by Luke
Combs spent its 44th
week at #1 on the
Top Country Albums
chart setting the
record for the
longest reign at the
top of that chart by
a male artist. |
| 27-Aug-2019 |
Donnie Fritts,
session musician and
songwriter died age
76. Fritts has been
Kris Kristofferson's
keyboardist for over
forty years. In
2008, he was
inducted into the
Alabama Music
Hall of Fame.
Songs he wrote have
been recorded by
Charlie Rich and
Jerry Lee Lewis. |
| 4-Sep-2019 |
American
singer-songwriter
Kylie Rae Harris was
killed age 30 when
her car collided
with another near
Taos, New Mexico.
Investigations
revealed she had
been driving at 95
mph when the crash
occurred, confirmed
by her vehicle's
computer, and had a
blood alcohol level
at three times the
legal limit. Harris
clipped the rear end
of a vehicle in the
right lane, and
swerved into
oncoming traffic as
a result. |
| 5-Sep-2019 |
Session guitarist
and record producer
Jimmy Johnson died
from kidney failure
at the age of 76.
Johnson was a member
of the Muscle Shoals
Rhythm Section who
was attached to FAME
Studios in Muscle
Shoals, Alabama. He
worked with hundreds
of artists
including: Billy
"Crash" Craddock,
Oak Ridge Boys,
Ronnie Milsap,
Delbert McClinton,
Eddie Rabbitt and
Willie Nelson. |
| 18-Sep-2019 |
"The Git Up" by
Blanco Brown was
back at #1 on the
Country singles
chart for the second
time where it
enjoyed a further 11
weeks at the top of
the chart. |
| 19-Sep-2019 |
One of Josh Turner's
tour buses crashed
off a cliff in
California, killing
one and injuring
seven. Turner
himself was not on
the bus at the time. |
| 27-Sep-2019 |
American Southern
rock, Red Dirt,
country group
Whiskey Myers
released their
self-titled album,
which debuted at #1
on the
Billboard
Country chart. |
| 28-Sep-2019 |
When 10-year-old
Makenna Wallace took
a sign to hold up
during the Eric
Church concert at
the Chase Center in
San Francisco,
Church responds to
her request for a
donation for a new
school playground by
pledging $10,000
from the stage. |
| 29-Sep-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." |
| 11-Oct-2019 |
Pedal steel legend
Sonny Curtis died
aged 83 after an
extensive battle
with Alzheimer’s
disease. He was best
known as a longtime
sideman to George
Jones and Tammy
Wynette. He joined
Jones' "Jones Boys"
in 1964. That turned
into a gig with
Jones and Wynette
when the couple
married in 1969.
Upon their divorce
in 1975, Curtis
stayed with
Wynette's band until
1980. |
| 12-Oct-2019 |
Canadian Country
Music Hall of Fame
member Dallas Harms
died age 84. He is
best known for his
1983, "Honky Tonkin'
(All Night Long)."
However, his
signature tune on
both sides of the
Canadian border
became "Paper
Rosie," which, in
1977, became a title
track and hit single
for Gene Watson. |
| 14-Oct-2019 |
American
singer-songwriter
and author Steve
Cash a founding
member of the Ozark
Mountain Daredevils
died after an
extended illness. He
was 73. The Ozark's
are most widely
known for their
singles "If You
Wanna Get to Heaven"
in 1974 and "Jackie
Blue" in 1975. |
| 17-Oct-2019 |
Bob Kingsley, the
longtime on-air
personality and the
host of syndicated
radio show Bob
Kingsley's Country
Top 40, died at
his home in
Weatherford, Texas.
He was 80 years old. |
| 25-Oct-2019 |
Singer-songwriter
Joe Sun died age 76.
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." |
| 26-Oct-2019 |
This One's for
You by Luke
Combs went back to
#1 on the Country
album chart for two
weeks. The album
which was released
in 2017 continued to
return to #1
intermittently
during 2018 and
2019. Its total of
50 weeks at the top
of the chart tied
the record for the
longest time spent
atop the chart by an
album. |
| 1-Nov-2019 |
Miranda Lambert
released her seventh
studio album
Wildcard
which entered the
Top Country Albums
chart at #1. In
support of the
album's release,
Lambert announced a
27-city North
American tour, the
Wildcard Tour which
kicked off on
January 16, 2020 in
Tupelo, Mississippi. |
| 4-Nov-2019 |
Willard Cox, the
patriarch of the
family bluegrass
band the Cox Family,
died age 82. The
band's legacy
includes
collaborations with
Alison Krauss and
some of the music
from O Brother,
Where Art Thou?. |
| 16-Nov-2019 |
Miranda Lambert went
to #1 on the Country
chart with her
seventh studio album
Wildcard
which features the
singles "It All
Comes Out in the
Wash" and
"Bluebird". |
| 24-Nov-2019 |
Taylor Swift
received the Artist
of the Decade award
at the 47th Annual
American Music
Awards held at the
Microsoft Theater in
Los Angeles. Swift
was the most-awarded
artist of the night
with six wins,
becoming the
most-awarded artist
in the award's
history with 29
wins. |
| 29-Nov-2019 |
Songwriter Billy Ray
Reynolds died in his
home state of
Mississippi age 79.
Reynolds was best
known for writing
songs including
"It'll Be Her,"
recorded by Debby
Boone and Johnny
Cash, and performing
as a guitarist in
Waylon Jennings'
band the Waylors. He
also released a
number of singles as
a solo artist,
including 1973's
"Sandy Sends Her
Best." |
| 24-Dec-2019 |
"10,000 Hours" by
American country
music duo Dan + Shay
and Canadian singer
Justin Bieber was at
#1 on the Country
Singles chart. The
track made history
on
Billboard's
Streaming Songs
chart by becoming
the highest-charting
non-holiday country
song in the history
of the chart,
beating the number
nine peak of Florida
Georgia Line's
"Cruise". |
| 27-Dec-2019 |
What You See Is
What You Get the
second studio album
by American country
music singer Luke
Combs was at #1 on
the Country album
charts becoming
Combs' first US #1
album. |
| 2-Jan-2020 |
Capitol Records
Nashville signed Hot
Country Knights, a
fictitious band
portrayed by Dierks
Bentley and members
of his road band. |
| 4-Jan-2020 |
Radio personality
Fitz took over as
permanent host of
Bob Kingsley's
Country Top 40,
succeeding the
longtime radio host
who died in 2019.
Affiliates of Fitz's
previous programs
– The Fitz Show,
The Hit List with
Fitz, and Nashville
Minute with Fitz –
were replaced with
programs from KCCS
Productions, which
produces CT40. |
| 7-Jan-2020 |
Rascal Flatts
announced that they
would be disbanding
following a farewell
tour after 20 years
together. The tour
(in addition to
several other tours)
would later be
cancelled due to
COVID-19. |
| 15-Jan-2020 |
American
multi-instrumentalist
and
singer-songwriter
Chris Darrow died of
complications from a
stroke age 75. He
was considered to be
a pioneer of country
rock music in the
late-1960s and
performed and
recorded with
numerous groups,
including
Kaleidoscope and the
Nitty Gritty Dirt
Band. |
| 18-Jan-2020 |
Nashville folk
singer David Olney
died age 71 after
suffering a heart
attack during a
performance in Santa
Rosa Beach, Florida.
He formed the band
The X-Rays, which
released two albums
and opened for Elvis
Costello, before
splitting up in
1985. Numerous
artists, including
Emmylou Harris, Del
McCoury, Linda
Ronstadt and Steve
Earle, have covered
his songs. |
| 29-Jan-2020 |
Eddie Setser the
writer behind songs
by the Oak Ridge
Boys, Faith Hill and
many more, died age
77. His most famous
song is "Seven
Spanish Angels,"
which he wrote with
friend and mentor
Troy Seals. Ray
Charles and Willie
Nelson recorded the
track and took it to
#1. |
| 5-Feb-2020 |
Little Big Town were
at #1 on the Country
album chart with
their ninth studio
album
Nightfall. It
includes the singles
"Over Drinking",
Grammy
-nominated "The
Daughters", and
"Wine, Beer,
Whiskey" and was
nominated for the
Grammy Award
for Best Country
Album. |
| 8-Feb-2020 |
Luke Combs went back
to #1 on the Country
album chart for an 8
week run with
What You See Is
What You Get.
Also in the year the
album broke the
record for the most
streams for a
country record at
102.26 million
streams. |
| 12-Feb-2020 |
American drummer
Paul English died
after a bout of
pneumonia age 87. 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). |
| 7-Mar-2020 |
Jimmie Allen's "Make
Me Want To" topped
the Billboard
Country Airplay
chart in its 58th
week, setting a
record for both the
slowest ascent to
the top and the
longest overall run
in that chart's
history. |
| 7-Mar-2020 |
American country
singer-songwriter
Jim Owen died age
78. 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). |
| 8-Mar-2020 |
Luke Combs was at #3
on the US country
chart with his
second studio album
What You See Is
What You Get.
Seven singles from
the album, "Beer
Never Broke My
Heart", "Even Though
I'm Leaving", "Does
to Me", "Lovin' on
You", "Better
Together", "Forever
After All" and "Cold
as You", reached
number one on the
Billboard
Country Airplay
chart. |
| 12-Mar-2020 |
Luke Combs was at #1
on the Country album
chart with his
second studio album
What You See Is
What You Get.
The album also broke
the record for the
most streams for a
country record at
102.26 million
streams. |
| 19-Mar-2020 |
Luke Combs was at #1
on the US chart with
his second studio
album What You
See Is What You
Get. Seven
singles from the
album reached #1 on
the Billboard
Country Airplay
chart. |
| 20-Mar-2020 |
American country
music legend Kenny
Rogers died aged 81.
Rogers topped pop
and country charts
during the 1970s and
1980s, and won three
Grammy awards. He
was known for his
husky voice and
ballads including
“The Gambler”,
“Lucille” and
“Coward Of The
County”. Rogers
charted more than
120 hit singles
across various music
genres, and topped
the country and pop
album charts for
more than 200
individual weeks in
the United States
alone. He sold over
100 million records
worldwide during his
lifetime, making him
one of the
best-selling music
artists of all time. |
| 21-Mar-2020 |
Due to COVID-19, The
Grand Ole Opry
announced it would
continue hosting
performances, but
without a live
audience attending
in the Ryman
auditorium. |
| 22-Mar-2020 |
Singer, banjo
player, and
multi-instrumentalist,
Eric Weissberg died
age 80 from
Alzheimer's disease
at a nursing home
near Detroit,
Michigan. His 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. |
| 26-Mar-2020 |
"I Hope" by American
country music singer
Gabby Barrett was at
#1 on the Country
chart. She released
the single
independently
following her
third-place finish
on season 16 of
American Idol. It
became the
best-selling country
song of 2020 and
spent 62 weeks on
the Billboard Hot
100. |
| 28-Mar-2020 |
Country music singer
and Grand Ole Opry
star Jan Howard died
age 91 fifteen days
after her 91st
birthday. 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.
|
| 29-Mar-2020 |
Grammy-winning
country music star
Joe Diffie died age
61 from
complications of
COVID-19. Diffie
charted 35 singles
on the Billboard Hot
Country Songs chart,
five of which peaked
at number one. He
also co-wrote
singles for Holly
Dunn, Tim McGraw,
and Jo Dee Messina,
and recorded with
Mary Chapin
Carpenter, George
Jones, and Marty
Stuart. |
| 31-Mar-2020 |
Due to COVID, The
Country Music
Association
announced that the
2020 CMA Fest,
scheduled for June
4–7, was
officially canceled. |
| 4-Apr-2020 |
Songwriter Alex
Harvey died age 79.
Harvey's songs have
been recorded by
many other
significant artists
such as Alan
Jackson, Cymarron,
Three Dog Night,
Billy Ray Cyrus,
Jimmy Buffett, Anne
Murray, Henry
Mancini, Peggy Lee,
and Sammy Davis Jr.
Kenny Rogers alone
recorded eighteen
Alex Harvey songs. |
| 7-Apr-2020 |
US folk and country
singer John Prine
died aged 73 due to
complications from
Covid-19. 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. |
| 11-Apr-2020 |
Willie Nelson, Neil
Young, John
Mellencamp and Dave
Matthews raised
$500,000 with the
online benefit
concert At Home
With Farm Aid.
Nelson and his sons,
Lukas and Micah
Nelson, performed
"On The Road Again"
and Dave Matthews
covered Nelson's
song "Funny How Time
Slips Away". |
| 15-Apr-2020 |
American pastor,
singer, songwriter,
producer and
television host Gary
McSpadden died age
77. 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. |
| 18-Apr-2020 |
Sam Hunt went to #1
on the Country chart
with his second
studio album and
first chart topper
Southside. |
| 20-Apr-2020 |
Stuck at home in
lockdown during the
coronavirus
pandemic, Willie
Nelson staged the
"Come And Toke It"
live stream (in
reference to 420
day, "the unofficial
weed holiday"), to
support efforts to
legalize marijuana
and free those
incarcerated for it.
Other guests
included Ziggy
Marley, Kacey
Musgraves, Billy Ray
Cyrus and Toby
Keith. |
| 25-Apr-2020 |
Country singer,
songwriter Harold
Reid died of kidney
failure age 80. With
The Statler Brothers
he had the 1980's US
Country #1 hits
"Elizabeth" and "Do
You Know You Are My
Sunshine." |
| 5-May-2020 |
Travis Denning's
"After a Few"
charted on Country
Airplay for the 60th
week, breaking the
longevity record set
on that chart only
two months prior. It
later reached the
top on June 13,
2020, in its 65th
week, setting a
record for the
longest climb to #1
since the inception
of Nielsen Soundscan
in 1990. |
| 7-May-2020 |
Luke Combs was at #1
on the country album
charts with his
second studio album
What You See Is
What You Get.
This was the fifth
time the album had
reached the top of
the charts since its
release in November
2019. The album
returned to the #1
position another 6
times during 2020. |
| 18-May-2020 |
Kenny Chesney was at
#1 on the Country
chart with his
nineteenth studio
album Here and
Now, Chesney's
16th top 10 album. |
| 30-May-2020 |
Jason Isbell
accompanied by his
backing band The 400
Unit went to #1 on
the country chart
with his seventh
studio album
Reunions. |
| 2-Jun-2020 |
Nashville guitarist
Jimmy Capps died age
81. 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." |
| 8-Jun-2020 |
American country
music
singer-songwriter
James Hand died age
67. After years of
songwriting and
performing locally
in obscurity, he
released his first
album in 1997, when
he was 45 years old. |
| 11-Jun-2020 |
Amid the fallout
from the George
Floyd protests Lady
Antebellum announced
their name would
change to Lady A,
the group's
longstanding
nickname. Later in
the month the Dixie
Chicks became known
as The Chicks. Both
moves were announced
amid criticism that
the words
"Antebellum" and
"Dixie" had
connotations of
American slavery. |
| 12-Jun-2020 |
American songwriter
Larry W. Johnson
died age 69. He
co-wrote “Don’t
Take the Girl” a
massive hit in 1994
for Tim McGraw,
becoming the
singer’s first
Country #1. His
co-written “If You
Think You’re
Lonely” was
recorded by Ray
Price in 2002. |
| 13-Jun-2020 |
Hank Williams Jr.'s
27-year-old
daughter, Katharine
Williams-Dunning,
was killed in a car
accident in Henry
County, Tennessee
after her SUV
crashed into a
highway median and
rolled over. |
| 14-Jun-2020 |
Jimmy Buffett was at
#1 on the Country
chart with his
thirtieth studio
album Life on the
Flip Side. It
became his twelfth
Billboard 200
top 10 album and
highest-charting
album in over 15
years. |
| 25-Jun-2020 |
Amid the fallout
from the George
Floyd protests, the
Dixie Chicks became
known as The Chicks
amid criticism that
the word "Dixie" had
connotations of
American slavery. |
| 3-Jul-2020 |
American singer
songwriter Craig J.
Martin died age 52.
He co-wrote
“Don’t Take the
Girl” a massive
hit in 1994 for Tim
McGraw, becoming the
singer’s first
Country #1. He wrote
songs for George
Jones, Southern
Comfort, Creed
Fisher, Rod Stewart,
Gerald Smith and
Coly Preston. By
coincidence, his
cowriter on that
song, Larry Johnson,
died exactly three
weeks before Martin. |
| 4-Jul-2020 |
Kenny Chesney's
"Here and Now"
becomes his 31st #1
single on the
Country Airplay
chart, making
Chesney the artist
with the most #1
singles on that
chart. |
| 6-Jul-2020 |
American singer,
songwriter and
multi-instrumentalist
Charlie Daniels died
age 83 of a
hemorrhagic stroke.
He is best known for
his contributions to
Southern rock,
country, and
bluegrass music and
scored the 1979
number-one country
hit “The Devil
Went Down to
Georgia”. He was
inducted into the
Grand Ole Opry in
2008, the Musicians
Hall of Fame and
Museum in 2009 and
the Country Music
Hall of Fame in
2016. |
| 14-Jul-2020 |
What You See Is
What You Get the
second studio album
by Luke Combs was at
#1 on the Country
album charts. Six
singles from the
album, "Beer Never
Broke My Heart",
"Even Though I'm
Leaving", "Does to
Me", "Lovin' on
You", "Better
Together", and
"Forever After All",
reached #1 on the
Billboard Country
Airplay chart. |
| 16-Jul-2020 |
American rock music,
blues rock and
country music
drummer Jamie
Oldaker died age 68.
Oldaker recorded
with musicians such
as the Bellamy
Brothers, Asleep at
the Wheel, Vince
Gill, J. J. Cale and
Willie Nelson. |
| 17-Jul-2020 |
The Chicks released
their eighth studio
album
Gaslighter,
their first studio
album in 14 years
and first to be
released under their
new name.
Gaslighter
debuted at #3 on the
chart becoming the
band's fifth top 5
album. |
| 29-Jul-2020 |
Garth Brooks
withdraws himself
from consideration
for the CMA
Entertainer of the
Year category after
seven wins. |
| 30-Jul-2020 |
American singer
Randy Barlow died of
cancer age of 77.
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". |
| 31-Jul-2020 |
American country
music songwriter,
singer, and radio
host Bill Mack died
after being
diagnosed with
COVID-19. 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. |
| 9-Aug-2020 |
The Chicks were at
#1 on the US Country
chart with their
eighth studio album
Gaslighter,
their first studio
album in 14 years
and first to be
released under their
new name.
Gaslighter
debuted at #3 on the
chart becoming the
band's fifth top 5
album. |
| 15-Aug-2020 |
Morgan Wallen went
to #1 on the US
Country chart with
his debut studio
album If I Know
Me after a
record-breaking 114
weeks on the chart
from its release in
April 2018. |
| 17-Aug-2020 |
Taylor Swift marks
her return to
country music radio
in three years with
the release of
"Betty", off her
Folklore album. |
| 18-Aug-2020 |
American
singer-songwriter
Steve Gulley died
age 57. 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. |
| 20-Aug-2020 |
American
singer-songwriter
Justin Townes Earle
(son of Steve Earle)
died age 38 from an
accidental overdose
of fentanyl-laced
cocaine. 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". |
| 23-Aug-2020 |
Luke Bryan was at #1
on the US Country
chart with his
seventh studio
Born Here Live
Here Die Here
Bryan's eleventh US
Billboard top-ten
album. |
| 6-Sep-2020 |
Tim McGraw was at #1
on the US Country
album chart with his
fifteenth solo
studio album Here
on Earth. |
| 11-Sep-2020 |
Nashville songwriter
Troy Jones, whose
credits included a
Grammy nomination
for the Billy
Currington hit
"People Are Crazy,"
died at the age of
64. Kenny Chesney
also cut his song
"Like Me" for The
Road and the Radio.
According to social
media, Jones died in
an accident at his
home when a live
electrical current
touched his boat
dock. |
| 16-Sep-2020 |
For the first time
in history, the
Academy of Country
Music declares a tie
for the Entertainer
of the year award to
both Thomas Rhett
and Carrie
Underwood. |
| 17-Sep-2020 |
Luke Combs was as #1
on the US Country
chart with his
second album What
You See Is What You
Get. The first
four singles from
the album, "Beer
Never Broke My
Heart", "Even Though
I'm Leaving", "Does
to Me" and "Lovin'
on You" have all
charted on the
Billboard Country
Airplay chart, with
all four reaching
#1. |
| 21-Sep-2020 |
Country singer Roy
Head died following
a heart attack age
79. He is best known
for his 1965 hit
record "Treat Her
Right". |
| 23-Sep-2020 |
Drummer W. S.
"Fluke" Holland,
died at his home in
Jackson, Tennessee
at the age of 85. He
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 Carl
Perkins. |
| 29-Sep-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. |
| 3-Oct-2020 |
Keith Urban was at
#1 on the US Country
chart with his
eleventh studio
album The Speed
of Now Part 1. |
| 6-Oct-2020 |
Keith Urban was at
#1 on the Country
chart with The
Speed of Now Part 1
i his eleventh
studio album. The
album won the
Highest Selling
Album at the 2021
Queensland Music
Awards. |
| 7-Oct-2020 |
Singer, songwriter,
and record producer
Ray Pennington died
at his home after
entering a garage
that had caught
fire. He is best
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. |
| 10-Oct-2020 |
Carrie Underwood was
at #1 on the US
Country chart with
her seventh studio
album and first
Christmas album
My Gift. This
made Underwood the
first artist to
place eight
consecutive #1
albums on the Top
Country Albums
chart. |
| 14-Oct-2020 |
Winners at this
years
Billboard
Music Awards
included: Top
Country Artist and
Top Country Male
Artist – Luke
Combs, Top Country
Female Artist –
Maren Morris, Top
Country Duo/Group
– Dan + Shay, Top
Country Album –
What You See Is What
You Get (Luke
Combs), Top Country
Song – "10,000
Hours" (Dan + Shay
and Justin Bieber)
and Top Country Tour
– George Strait. |
| 16-Oct-2020 |
Country music
singer, songwriter,
and drummer Johnny
Bush died at a
hospital in San
Antonio age 85.
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. |
| 18-Oct-2020 |
Dolly Parton was at
#1 on the US Country
chart with her
forty-seventh solo
studio album A
Holly Dolly
Christmas. This
also became Parton's
eighth album to top
the chart. |
| 21-Oct-2020 |
Winners at this
years CMT
Music Awards
included: Video of
the Year - Carrie
Underwood -
"Drinking Alone",
Male Video of the
Year - Luke Bryan -
"One Margarita",
Breakthrough Video
of the Year - Gabby
Barrett - "I Hope",
Group Video of the
Year - Old Dominion
- "One Man Band",
Duo Video of the
Year - Dan + Shay -
"I Should Probably
Go to Bed", Equal
Play Award -
Jennifer Nettles. |
| 22-Oct-2020 |
Singer Margie Bowes
died age 79 in
Brentwood, Tennessee
after an extended
illness. She had a
top 10 country hit,
"Poor Old Heartsick
Me", in 1959. |
| 23-Oct-2020 |
American country
music singer and
songwriter Jerry
Jeff Walker died of
throat cancer age
78. A leading figure
in the outlaw
country music
movement, he was
best known for
having written the
1968 song “Mr.
Bojangles”. |
| 24-Oct-2020 |
Session musician and
country guitarist J.
T. Corenflos died
age 56. 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. |
| 28-Oct-2020 |
American Texas
country music singer
and songwriter Billy
Joe Shaver died age
81. Shaver’s 2007
album country gospel
style Everybody’s
Brother was
Grammy-nominated. |
| 11-Nov-2020 |
Winners at this
years Country
Music Association
Awards included:
Entertainer of the
Year – Eric
Church, Male
Vocalist of the Year
– Luke Combs,
Female Vocalist of
the Year – Maren
Morris, Vocal Group
of the Year – Old
Dominion, New Artist
of the Year –
Morgan Wallen, Vocal
Duo of the Year –
Dan + Shay, Musician
of the Year –
Jenee Fleenor
(fiddle), Single of
the Year – "The
Bones" - Maren
Morris, Album of the
Year – What You
See Is What You Get
(Luke Combs), Video
of the Year –
"Bluebird" (Miranda
Lambert, directed by
Trey Fanjoy). Willie
Nelson Lifetime
Achievement Award
– Charley Pride. |
| 13-Nov-2020 |
Doug Supernal the
Country music artist
who had the 1993 US
#1 single "I Don't
Call Him Daddy",
died at his home age
60 from lung and
bladder cancer. |
| 23-Nov-2020 |
Singer, songwriter
Hal Ketchum died at
his home in Fischer,
Texas at the age of
67. 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. |
| 28-Nov-2020 |
Chris Stapleton was
at #1 on the US
Country chart with
his fourth studio
album Starting
Over. |
| 12-Dec-2020 |
American singer,
guitarist, and
professional
baseball player
Charley Pride died
age 86. In the early
to mid-1970s, he was
the best-selling
performer for RCA
Records since Elvis
Presley. During the
peak years of his
recording career
(1966–1987), he
had 52 top-10 hits
on the Billboard Hot
Country Songs chart,
30 of which made it
to number one. He
won the Entertainer
of the Year award at
the Country Music
Association Awards
in 1971. |
| 21-Dec-2020 |
K.T. Oslin, country
music singer and
songwriter died a
week after being
diagnosed with
COVID-19. She was 78
years old. She 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." |
| 25-Dec-2020 |
American guitarist
and bluegrass
musician Tony Rice
died age 69. He was
inducted into the
International
Bluegrass Music Hall
of Fame in 2013. |
| 1-Jan-2021 |
American country
singer Misty Morgan
died of cancer age
75. As one half of
the duo Jack
Blanchard & Misty
Morgan she released
fourteen singles,
including "Tennessee
Bird Walk", a #1
country hit in 1970. |
| 7-Jan-2021 |
Country music artist
Jamie O'Hara died
from cancer age 70.
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". |
| 8-Jan-2021 |
American country
music songwriter,
singer, and actor Ed
Bruce died age 81.
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. |
| 8-Jan-2021 |
Morgan Wallen
released Dangerous:
The Double Album,
with the hit '7
Summers.' It peaked
at #1 in America and
stayed there for 10
weeks, the longest
run at the top since
Drake's Views in
2016. In March 2022,
the album
established the
all-time record for
the longest duration
in the #1 spot (84
weeks and counting)
on Billboard's
Country Albums
chart. |
| 14-Jan-2021 |
American country
music
singer-songwriter
and the vice
president of A&R at
Capitol Records
Larry Willoughby
died age 73.
Willoughby's 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. |
| 18-Jan-2021 |
American pop singer
Jimmie Rodgers died
age 87. He scored
the hots "Honeycomb"
and "Kisses Sweeter
Than Wine" and also
charted several
country singles. |
| 20-Jan-2021 |
Following the
release of his album
Dangerous: The
Double Album, Morgan
Wallen became the
first artist to have
six songs in the top
ten of the Hot
Country Songs charts
at the same time. He
also became the
first artist to
debut at the top of
the Hot Country
Songs and Top
Country Albums
charts
simultaneously. |
| 21-Jan-2021 |
American country
singer-songwriter
Randy Parton died
from cancer age 67.
The younger brother
of Dolly Parton had
the 1981 hits "Hold
Me Like You Never
Had Me" and "Shot
Full of Love". |
| 27-Jan-2021 |
At the age of 84,
singer-songwriter
and actor Kris
Kristofferson
officially announced
his retirement from
performing after
more than five
active decades in
the entertainment
industry.
Kristofferson was
inducted into the
Country Music Hall
of Fame in 2004. |
| 3-Feb-2021 |
American
singer-songwriter
Jim Weatherly. died
from natural causes
age 77. 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. |
| 4-Feb-2021 |
Country star Morgan
Wallen was dropped
by his record label,
after a video
emerged of him using
a racial slur.
Nashville's Big Loud
Records said it had
"made the decision
to suspend Morgan
Wallen's recording
contract
indefinitely" in
light of the video.
In the footage,
reportedly filmed by
a neighbour the
singer is seen
saying goodbye to
some friends and
calling one of them
the N-word. |
| 9-Feb-2021 |
Richie Albright, a
long-time drummer
for Waylon Jennings
died age 81.
Albright aided in
crafting the
legend’s distinct
outlaw sound, also
worked among others,
Johnny Cash, Jessi
Colter and Hank
Williams Jr. |
| 11-Feb-2021 |
American drummer
Paul English died
after a bout of
pneumonia age 87. 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). |
| 23-Feb-2021 |
Taylor Swift's "Love
Story (Taylor's
Version)", a
re-recorded version
of her 2008 hit
"Love Story",
debuted at #1 on the
Hot Country Songs
chart, becoming the
first artist to hit
#1 twice on that
chart with a single
song, since Dolly
Parton's "I Will
Always Love You", in
1974 and 1982. |
| 5-Mar-2021 |
Lonestar lead singer
Richie McDonald
announced that he
would be leaving the
band to pursue a
career with The
Frontmen of Country,
a trio also
consisting of Tim
Rushlow and Larry
Stewart, the former
lead singers of
Little Texas and
Restless Heart,
respectively. |
| 22-Mar-2021 |
Morgan Wallen's
Dangerous: The
Double Album becomes
the first album to
spend its first ten
weeks at #1 on the
Billboard 200 since
1987. |
| 27-Mar-2021 |
Morgan Wallen's
Dangerous: The
Double Album
which debuted at #1
in America, logs its
10th week at the
top, the most weeks
for a debut
chart-topper since
Whitney Houston's
self-titled album in
1987. In its fourth
week at #1, Wallen
was caught on camera
using the N-word
(addressed to his
white friend) after
a night of drinking,
but instead of
tanking the album
when his music was
pulled from radio
stations, the
controversy helped
extend its run as
fans bought and
streamed it in
support. |
| 18-Apr-2021 |
Eric Church, Darius
Rucker and Ashley
McBryde took part in
a commercial that
promoted COVID-19
vaccinations shown
during the Academy
of Country Music
Awards telecast on
CBS. The message was
set over a Brett
Eldredge performance
of "I'll Be Seeing
You". |
| 3-Jul-2021 |
Blake Shelton
married singer Gwen
Stefani at their
Tishomingo ranch in
Oklahoma, 6 months
after their
engagement. |
| 4-Jul-2021 |
American
country-rockabilly
singer and guitarist
Sanford Clark died
age 85, best known
for his 1956 hit
“The Fool”,
written by Lee
Hazlewood. |
| 10-Jul-2021 |
American fiddle
player Byron Berline
died at the age of
77 of complications
of a stroke. He
joined The Flying
Burrito Brothers in
1971, worked with
Stephen Stills‘s
band Manassas and
played on “Country
Honk” on the
Rolling Stones‘
album Let It Bleed.
He also worked with
many other artists
including: Bob
Dylan, Willie
Nelson, John Denver,
The Eagles and The
Band. |
| 20-Aug-2021 |
American country
music
singer-songwriter
and short-story
author Tom T. Hall
died from a
self-inflicted
gunshot wound to the
head. He wrote 12
No.1 hit songs, with
26 more that reached
the Top 10,
including the No.1
international pop
crossover hit
“Harper Valley
PTA” by Jeannie C.
Riley. |
| 14-Oct-2021 |
Zach Bryan announced
that the US Navy
honorably discharged
him after eight
years of service to
pursue his career in
music just ahead of
his nationwide Fall
2021 "Ain't For
Tamin' Tour". |
| 4-Dec-2021 |
American country
music singer and
musician Stonewall
Jackson died in
Nashville,
Tennessee, at the
age of 89. His
breakthrough came in
the country Top 40
in late 1958, with a
song written by a
young George Jones,
“Life to Go”. |
| 16-Dec-2021 |
Taylor Swift was at
#1 on the Country
chart with Red
(Taylor's Version),
the second
re-recorded album by
Swift. It was part
of Swift's
countermeasure
against the purchase
of the masters of
her back catalogue.
The album is the
re-recording of
Swift's fourth
studio album, Red
(2012), Red
(Taylor's Version). |
| 6-Jan-2022 |
Taylor Swift was at
#1 on the Country
chart with Red
(Taylor's
Version), the
second re-recorded
album by Swift. It
was part of Swift's
countermeasure
against the purchase
of the masters of
her back catalogue.
The album is the
re-recording of
Swift's fourth
studio album,
Red (2012),
Red (Taylor's
Version). |
| 8-Jan-2022 |
Morgan Wallen's
performance with
Ernest on the Grand
Ole Opry leads to
criticism from fans
and other country
music artists,
following the
controversy that
surrounded Wallen
after he was filmed
using a racial slur
eleven months prior
as well as an
anti-racism tweet
made by the
institution. |
| 22-Jan-2022 |
"Whiskey and Rain"
by Michael Ray
reached #1 on the
Country Airplay
chart (Ray's second
chart topper).
Having taken 65
weeks to reach #1,
it tied a record
previously set in
June 2020 by Travis
Denning's "After a
Few" for the slowest
ascent to the top of
the charts. |
| 30-Jan-2022 |
American session
keyboard player
Hargus "Pig" Robbins
died at the age of
84. He was blind,
having poked himself
in the eye with a
knife at age three
and later learned to
play piano at age
seven, while
attending the
Nashville School for
the Blind. He played
his first session in
1957, with his first
major recording
being George Jones's
'White Lightning'.
Robbins played on
records for many
artists, including
Patsy Cline, Dolly
Parton, Loretta
Lynn, Kenny Rogers,
Charlie Rich, Bob
Dylan, Neil Young,
Merle Haggard and
Roger Miller. |
| 4-Feb-2022 |
Canadian musician
and songwriter Kerry
Chater died at the
age of 76. He was a
member of Gary
Puckett and the
Union Gap who had
the 1968 UK No.1 &
UK No.2 single
'Young Girl'. His
song 'I.O.U.',
co-written with
Austin Roberts and
recorded by Lee
Greenwood was a
nominee for the 1984
Grammy Award for
Best Country Song. |
| 6-Feb-2022 |
Tyler Hubbard and
Brian Kelley of
Florida Georgia Line
announce they are
"taking a break"
from recording music
together and will be
on an indefinite
hiatus from touring
after several 2022
shows while they
pursue solo
careers.[ |
| 12-Feb-2022 |
Lauren Alaina is
inducted by Trisha
Yearwood as the
Opry's first member
of 2022 following an
invite by Yearwood
in December 2021. At
twenty-seven, Alaina
becomes the youngest
member of the Opry. |
| 19-Feb-2022 |
Brad Paisley scored
his 20th #1 on the
Billboard Country
Airplay chart as
featured on Jimmie
Allen's "Freedom Was
a Highway", tying
him with Brooks &
Dunn and Toby Keith
for the tenth most
number ones on that
chart since its
inception in January
1990. |
| 1-Mar-2022 |
Singer-songwriter
Warner Mack died at
the age of 86. 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". |
| 10-Mar-2022 |
Bobbie Lee Nelson
died in Austin,
Texas at the age of
91. The American
pianist and singer
was 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. |
| 11-Mar-2022 |
Brad Martin died in
Nashville at the age
of 48. His debut
2002 album Wings
of a Honky-Tonk
Angel, produced
the #15 single
"Before I Knew
Better". |
| 23-Mar-2022 |
Dangerous: The
Double Album by
Morgan Wallen
established the
all-time record for
longest duration in
the #1 spot (97
weeks) on
Billboard's Country
Albums chart. Upon
release the album
accumulated a total
of 240.18 million
on-demand streams,
becoming the largest
streaming week ever
for a country album
at the time. |
| 25-Mar-2022 |
Cody Johnson was at
No.1 on the US
Country charts with
"'Til You Can't".
The lead single from
his eighth studio
album Human: The
Double Album, the
song won the Country
Music Association
Award for Single of
the Year and Video
of the Year at the
56th Annual Country
Music Association
Awards in 2022 and
the Grammy Award for
Best Country Song at
the 65th Annual
Grammy Awards in
2023. |
| 29-Mar-2022 |
Eric Church made
headlines after
cancelling a show at
the AT&T Center to
attend a college
basketball game in
North Carolina.
Church released a
statement announcing
his intention to
watch the Tar Heels
vs Blue Devils,
longtime rivals who
have never faced off
in the Final Four of
the NCAA tournament,
with his family,
expressing that it
is the most
"selfish" thing he
has ever done. The
decision drew
intense criticism
from fans who had
paid to attend the
concert. |
| 2-Apr-2022 |
Cody Johnson was at
#1 on the Country
singles chart with
"'Til You Can't".
The lead single from
his eighth studio
album Human: The
Double Album The
song won the Country
Music Association
Award for Single of
the Year and Video
of the Year at the
56th Annual Country
Music Association
Awards in 2022 and
the Grammy Award for
Best Country Song at
the 65th Annual
Grammy Awards in
2023. |
| 10-Apr-2022 |
Tanya Tucker
celebrates the 50th
anniversary of her
first single, "Delta
Dawn", with an
all-star concert at
the Ryman
Auditorium. Guests
included Brenda Lee,
T. Graham Brown,
Delbert McClinton,
Paul Overstreet,
Jessi Colter, LeAnn
Rimes, Ty Herndon
and Brandi Carlile. |
| 12-Apr-2022 |
To celebrate their
pending induction
into the Country
Music Hall of Fame,
Naomi and Wynonna
Judd reunited to
perform "Love Can
Build a Bridge" at
the 2022 CMT Music
Awards. Their
appearance marked
the first time the
duo had performed
together as The
Judds on a televised
awards show in more
than twenty years.
The performance was
the duo's last
before the death of
Naomi on April 30th. |
| 19-Apr-2022 |
Cody Johnson was at
#1 on the Country
singles chart with
"'Til You Can't".
The song won the
Country Music
Association Award
for Single of the
Year and Video of
the Year at the 56th
Annual Country Music
Association Awards
in 2022 and the
Grammy Award for
Best Country Song in
2023. |
| 25-Apr-2022 |
Shane Yellowbird
died, he was 42
years old. 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
2007 in Canada. |
| 30-Apr-2022 |
"Drunk (And I Don't
Wanna Go Home)" by
Elle King and
Miranda Lambert
reaches #1 on the
Country Airplay
chart, becoming the
first female duet to
reach the top spot
in almost thirty
years, following
"Does He Love You"
by Reba McEntire and
Linda Davis in
November 1993. |
| 30-Apr-2022 |
Garth Brooks
performed a concert
to more than 102,000
fans at Louisiana
State University's
Tiger Stadium;
movement in the
venue registered as
a small earthquake
when he sang
"Callin' Baton
Rouge", the
unofficial anthem of
LSU. |
| 30-Apr-2022 |
US country music
star Naomi Judd died
at the age of 76.
The Kentucky-born
singer was part of
the Grammy
award-winning duo
The Judds,
performing with her
daughter Wynonna.
The Judds released
six studio albums
during a career
spanning three
decades. |
| 7-May-2022 |
Mickey Gille died of
complications from
bone cancer. The
American country
music singer and
musician was 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". |
| 19-May-2022 |
Wynonna Judd
announces an
all-star female
lineup of artists to
accompany her on The
Judds' final tour,
in the fall. Brandi
Carlile, Faith Hill,
Martina McBride,
Trisha Yearwood,
Little Big Town and
Ashley McBryde will
fill in for Naomi on
select dates, with
more artists to be
announced at later
dates. |
| 20-May-2022 |
John Driskell
Hopkins of the Zac
Brown Band publicly
announces his
diagnosis of
amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis, also
known as ALS or Lou
Gehrig's disease. |
| 26-May-2022 |
In the aftermath of
the Robb Elementary
School shooting in
Uvalde, Texas,
multiple
entertainers –
including country
performers Larry
Gatlin, Lee
Greenwood and Larry
Stewart, along with
"American Pie"
singer Don McLean
– announce they
would not be
performing at the
National Rifle
Association's annual
convention, which
was scheduled the
weekend of May 28. |
| 4-Jun-2022 |
Zach Bryan was at #1
on the Country chart
with American
Heartbreak his
third studio album.
The triple album and
Bryan's major-label
debut was preceded
by six singles,
including Bryan's
most successful
single to date,
"Something in the
Orange", which
reached #10 on the
US Billboard Hot
100. |
| 9-Jun-2022 |
After a two-year
absence due to the
COVID-19 pandemic,
the CMA Music
Festival returns to
Nashville. |
| 11-Jun-2022 |
Vince Gill invites
Hall of Famers
Charlie McCoy and
Don Schlitz to
become Opry members,
the first time in
decades that two
artists received the
invitation during
the same show. McCoy
was subsequently
inducted by Larry
Gatlin on July 13
and Schlitz was
inducted by Gill and
Randy Travis on
August 30. |
| 12-Jun-2022 |
Toby Keith announces
he had been
diagnosed with
stomach cancer at
the end of the prior
year, having
undergone
chemotherapy,
radiation, and
surgery for the past
six months. |
| 8-Jul-2022 |
Growin' Up
the third studio
album by American
country music artist
Luke Combs was at #1
on the Country
chart. The album
includes the singles
"Doin' This", "The
Kind of Love We
Make" and "Going,
Going, Gone"
Growin' Up
was nominated for
Best Country Album
at the 65th Annual
Grammy Awards. |
| 2-Aug-2022 |
After a decade of
touring together,
Joanna Cotten
announced that she
had left Eric
Church's band in
order to pursue a
solo career. |
| 4-Aug-2022 |
Lady A announced
that they are
postponing their
Request Line Tour to
allow member Charles
Kelley to focus on
his sobriety. On
December 23, 2022,
Kelley released "As
Far As You Could", a
song about his
struggles with
alcohol. |
| 12-Aug-2022 |
Singer-songwriter
Gretchen Peters
revealed her
decision to retire
from touring and
will play her final
shows in June 2023,
though she will
continue to write
and record music. As
a songwriter Peters
has composed hits
for Martina McBride,
Etta James, Trisha
Yearwood, Patty
Loveless, George
Strait, Anne Murray
and Shania Twain. |
| 29-Aug-2022 |
Kelsea Ballerini
announces that she
has filed for
divorce from
Australian country
music singer and
songwriter Morgan
Evans after nearly
five years of
marriage. |
| 30-Aug-2022 |
Jason Aldean's wife,
Brittany, makes an
Instagram post which
leads to singers
such as Maren Morris
and Cassadee Pope
accusing her of
transphobia. In
response, Aldean's
public relations
firm The GreenRoom
dropped him as a
client on September
1. |
| 7-Sep-2022 |
Morgan Wallen was at
No.1 on the County
Music chart with
Dangerous: The
Double Album.
The album also spent
a total of ten weeks
at No.1 on the
Billboard 200 and
ended up becoming
the best-selling
album for the first
half of 2021. |
| 9-Sep-2022 |
John Michael
Montgomery's tour
bus overturns in an
accident outside
Jellico, Tennessee.
Montgomery suffered
broken ribs, and
several passengers
were injured. |
| 11-Sep-2022 |
Monarch, a country
music drama series
starring Susan
Sarandon, Trace
Adkins and Anna
Friel, debuts on
Fox. |
| 17-Sep-2022 |
Jeannie Seely
celebrates her 55th
anniversary as an
Opry member. Seely
has performed on the
show over 5000
times, extending her
record as the most
frequently appearing
artist. |
| 4-Oct-2022 |
Morgan Wallen was at
No.1 on the County
Music chart with
Dangerous: The
Double Album.
The album also spent
a total of ten weeks
at No.1 on the
Billboard 200 and
ended up becoming
the best-selling
album for the first
half of 2021. |
| 4-Oct-2022 |
Kentucky Rising, a
benefit concert
organized by Chris
and Morgane
Stapleton is held at
the Rupp Arena to
raise money
following
devastating flooding
that occurred in the
state. Other
performers included
Dwight Yoakam and
Tyler Childers
alongside surprise
appearances from
Ricky Skaggs and
Patty Loveless,
marking a rare live
performance
following her
retirement from live
shows in 2009. |
| 4-Oct-2022 |
American country
music singer and
songwriter Loretta
Lynn died age 90. In
a career spanning
six decades, Lynn
released multiple
gold albums. She had
numerous hits such
as: "Hey Loretta",
"The Pill", "Blue
Kentucky Girl",
"Love Is the
Foundation", "You're
Lookin' at Country",
"You Ain't Woman
Enough", "I'm a
Honky Tonk Girl",
"Don't Come Home
A-Drinkin' (With
Lovin' on Your
Mind)", "One's on
the Way", "Fist
City", and "Coal
Miner's Daughter".
The 1980 musical
film Coal Miner's
Daughter was
based on her life. |
| 6-Oct-2022 |
Garth Brooks
surprises Ashley
McBryde with an
invitation to become
the newest Grand Ole
Opry member during
an interview on CBS
Mornings, live from
the circle. She was
inducted on December
10 by Opry star
Terri Clark. |
| 6-Oct-2022 |
Jody Miller, died
age 80. The country
music singer
released an answer
record to Roger
Miller's hit "King
of the Road", titled
"Queen of the House"
in 1965 (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. |
| 10-Oct-2022 |
Singer, arranger,
composer, pianist,
and music producer
Anita Kerr died on
October 10, 2022, in
Carouge, Geneva,
Switzerland, at the
age of 94, just 3
days short of her
95th birthday. 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. |
| 11-Oct-2022 |
Blake Shelton
announces he is
leaving The Voice
after its 23rd
season in 2023.
Shelton became a
coach on the NBC
show in season 1 in
2011. |
| 29-Oct-2022 |
Darius Rucker's
version of the Old
Crow Medicine Show
song "Wagon Wheel"
is certified
diamond, becoming
only the fourth
country song (behind
"Cruise", "Tennessee
Whiskey" and "Old
Town Road") to reach
this milestone. |
| 3-Nov-2022 |
Caroline Jones
became an official
member of the Zac
Brown Band after
serving as their
opening act since
2017. Jones is the
group's first female
member. |
| 7-Nov-2022 |
Jeff Cook died at
the age of 73. Cook
disclosed that he
was diagnosed with
Parkinson's disease
four years earlier.
The guitarist and
singer, songwriter
is best known as one
of the founding
members of Alabama
who have scored over
30 US Country #1
hits. |
| 25-Dec-2022 |
Zach Bryan released
a live album called
All My Homies
Hate Ticketmaster
(Live from Red
Rocks), which
was recorded at Red
Rocks Amphitheatre
on November 3, 2022.
Bryan had tweeted
the statement "all
my homies hate
Ticketmaster"
multiple times
throughout 2022,
also asking "can
someone shut down
Ticketmaster yet"
due to its prices. |
| 30-Dec-2022 |
"You Proof" by
Morgan Wallen spends
a tenth week at #1
on the Country
Airplay chart, thus
making it the
longest-running
number-one single in
that chart's
history. |
| 6-Jan-2023 |
Marty Stuart invites
Henry Cho and Gary
Mule Deer to become
the newest members
of the Grand Ole
Opry, the first time
comedians have been
invited in almost 50
years following
Jerry Clower in
1973. Cho is the
first Asian person
to become a member
of the Opry. |
| 23-Jan-2023 |
Gabby Barrett's
"Pick Me Up", Lainey
Wilson's "Heart Like
a Truck" and Carly
Pearce's "What He
Didn't Do", all
reach #4, #8 and #10
respectively at US
Country Radio (as
measured by
Mediabase). This
marks the first time
since 2020 that
three solo women
have charted in the
top ten
simultaneously. |
| 26-Jan-2023 |
American songwriter
and musician Peter
McCann died age 74.
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. |
| 11-Feb-2023 |
Kane Brown and his
wife Katelyn Brown
top the Country
Airplay chart with
"Thank God", making
it the second duet
by a married couple
to top that chart
following Tim McGraw
and Faith Hill's
"It's Your Love" in
1997. |
| 17-Feb-2023 |
American country
music songwriter
Kyle Jacobs died
from a
self-inflicted
gunshot wound in
Nashville,
Tennessee. 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. |
| 4-Mar-2023 |
Michael Rhodes died
at the age of 69 of
pancreatic cancer.
He played bass
player, and 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. |
| 21-Mar-2023 |
Every track, all 36
of them from Morgan
Wallen's album
One Thing at a
Time was in the
Billboard Hot 100,
breaking Drake's
record of 27 set in
2017. Wallen's song
'Last Night claimed
the top spot. With
19 weeks at #1 it is
the longest-running
#1 country album of
all time on the
chart. |
| 3-Apr-2023 |
Patty Loveless,
Tanya Tucker and
"Good Ole Boys Like
Me" songwriter Bob
McDill were
announced as 2023
inductees in the
Country Music Hall
of Fame during a
ceremony at the
museum's Rotunda in
Nashville. |
| 13-Apr-2023 |
A bronze statue of
Charley Pride was
unveiled in the Icon
Walk outside the
Ryman Auditorium in
Nashville. During
the peak years of
his recording career
(1966–1987), he
had 52 top-10 hits
on the Hot Country
Songs chart, 30 of
which made it to #1.
He won the
Entertainer of the
Year award at the
Country Music
Association Awards
in 1971 and a Grammy
for "Best Country
Vocal Performance,
Male" in 1972. |
| 23-Apr-2023 |
Just minutes before
he was set to
perform at
Vaught–Hemingway
Stadium in Oxford,
Mississippi, Morgan
Wallen announced
that he could not
perform due to
losing his voice.
Fans were directed
to receive refunds
at their points of
purchase. |
| 23-Apr-2023 |
American country
music
singer-songwriter,
guitarist, and
record producer
Keith Gattis died in
a tractor accident
age 52. He wrote
songs for George
Jones, Kid Rock,
Randy Houser,
Charlie Robison,
Gary Allan, Ashley
Monroe, Waylon
Payne, Sara Evans
and the Eli Young
Band. |
| 28-Apr-2023 |
While performing on
stage at Stagecoach
Festival, Alan
Jackson appears via
video link to invite
Jon Pardi to become
the newest member of
the Grand Ole Opry. |
| 15-May-2023 |
Reba McEntire is
announced as Blake
Shelton's
replacement for the
24th season of The
Voice, set to
premiere in the fall
of 2023. |
| 26-May-2023 |
American country
music singer, and
music publisher,
Raymond Pillow died
in Nashville,
Tennessee at the age
of 85. 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. |
| 23-Jun-2023 |
American bluegrass
musician Jesse
McReynolds died in
Gallatin, Tennessee
at the age of 93. He
was best known for
his innovative
cross-picking and
split-string styles
of mandolin playing.
Jim and Jesse became
members of the Grand
Ole Opry in 1964. |
| 27-Jun-2023 |
American bluegrass
musician Bobby
Osborne died at a
hospital in
Gallatin, Tennessee,
at the age of 91. 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. |
| 28-Jun-2023 |
Rosanne Cash and
John Leventhal
launch their own
label, RumbleStrip
Records. |
| 1-Jul-2023 |
Tracy Chapman
becomes the first
black woman to have
a chart-topping
country song as a
sole writer when
Luke Combs' cover of
her 1988 hit "Fast
Car" reached number
one on the Country
Airplay chart. It
also becomes the
first country cover
of a pop hit to top
the chart since
Blake Shelton's
cover of Michael
Bublé's 2005 single
"Home" did so in
July 2008. |
| 15-Jul-2023 |
Miranda Lambert
causes controversy
during her
performance of "Tin
Man" at her Velvet
Rodeo residency in
Las Vegas, by
scolding a group of
fans taking selfies
as she was starting
the song. The
incident divided
fans on social
media. |
| 18-Jul-2023 |
Jason Aldean
receives significant
media attention for
the lyrical content
of his single "Try
That in a Small
Town", with many
listeners
criticizing the song
for its lyrical
content and the
imagery used in the
music video. In
response, CMT
withdrew the video
from their channel. |
| 22-Jul-2023 |
Bill Anderson is
honored as the Grand
Ole Opry's
longest-serving
member in the show's
history. Anderson's
membership has not
lapsed in 62 years
since his initial
induction in 1961. |
| 31-Jul-2023 |
For the first time
in history, country
songs hold the top
three positions on
the all-genre
Billboard Hot
100 chart: Aldean's
"Try That in a Small
Town", Morgan
Wallen's "Last
Night", and Combs'
"Fast Car". "Try
That in a Small
Town" becomes the
21st song to reach
number one on both
the Billboard
Hot 100 and the Hot
Country Songs
charts. |
| 25-Aug-2023 |
Zach Bryan released
his self-titled
fourth album which
debuted at #1 on the
Billboard 200. With
the biggest
streaming week for a
rock album, its lead
single "I Remember
Everything"
(featuring
Musgraves) debuted
at #1 on the US
Billboard Hot 100. |
| 1-Sep-2023 |
American musician
and
singer-songwriter
Jimmy Buffett died
age 76 at his home
in Sag Harbor, New
York, due to
complications from
Merkel-cell
carcinoma, a rare
and aggressive skin
cancer. He had the
1977 US hit single
'Margaritaville' and
the 2004 US #1 album
'License to Chill'
and the US Country
#1 'It's Five
O'Clock Somewhere
with Alan Jackson
(2003). Buffett was
one of the world's
richest musicians,
with a net worth of
$1 billion and was
known for his
tropical rock sound
and persona, which
often portrayed a
lifestyle described
as "island escapism"
and promoted
enjoying life and
following passions. |
| 7-Sep-2023 |
Zach Bryan was
arrested by the
Oklahoma Highway
Patrol for
obstruction after
getting into an
argument with a
highway patrol
officer in Vinita,
Oklahoma. He was
later released on
bail. |
| 9-Sep-2023 |
Luke Combs becomes
the first artist to
simultaneously
occupy the top two
positions on the
Country Airplay
chart as a solo act
with no accompanying
acts when his
singles "Love You
Anyway" and "Fast
Car" occupy the
number one and two
positions,
respectively. In
doing so, he also
becomes the second
act overall to
accomplish such a
feat after Luke
Bryan achieved the
same in May 2014
with his single
"Play It Again" and
his appearance on
Florida Georgia
Line's "This Is How
We Roll". |
| 10-Sep-2023 |
Country music
singer, and
songwriter Charlie
Robison died after
suffering from
cardiac arrest at a
San Antonio, Texas
hospital on
September 10, 2023,
at the age of 59.
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. |
| 3-Oct-2023 |
Ronnie Milsap
performs his final
Nashville show at
the Bridgestone
Arena joined by more
than thirty guest
artists. Though he
is retiring from
performing, he will
continue to record. |
| 7-Oct-2023 |
Sara Evans becomes a
member of the Grand
Ole Opry and is
inducted by Crystal
Gayle. She was
invited on August 18
by Bill Anderson,
Lady A and Carly
Pearce during a
25th-anniversary
concert at the Ryman
Auditorium. |
| 9-Oct-2023 |
Buck Trent the
country music
instrumentalist who
invented the
electric banjo died
at the age of 85. He
was a member of
Porter Wagoner's
"Wagon Masters" from
1962 to 1973. |
| 23-Oct-2023 |
Singer and
songwriter Mervin
Shiner died in
Tampa, Florida at
the age of 102.
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. |
| 24-Oct-2023 |
Jon Pardi becomes
the first California
native to become a
member of the Opry.
He was inducted by
Garth Brooks. |
| 9-Nov-2023 |
Tracy Chapman's
35-year-old song
"Fast Car" was named
both song and single
of the year at the
Country Music
Association
Awards in
Nashville. The
awards recognised a
cover version by
Luke Combs, which
reached #2 in the
US. But they also
marked a long
overdue milestone:
Chapman is the first
black songwriter to
win 'song of the
year' in the
ceremony's 57-year
history. |
| 19-Nov-2023 |
Morgan Wallen was
the big winner at
this years Billboard
Music Awards, two
years after being
suspended by his
record label for
using a racial slur.
The musician won 11
awards, including
top male artist and
album and single of
the year. |
| 22-Nov-2023 |
James Salestrom died
from cancer at his
home in Arvada,
Colorado at the age
of 67. The American
singer-songwriter
was the lead singer
of the band
Timberline from 1971
to 1977. Salestrom
latrer performed in
Dolly Parton's band
from 1979 to 1991.
As a solo artist, he
performed in shows
around the world. |
| 3-Dec-2023 |
Scotty McCreery is
invited by Garth
Brooks to become the
next Opry member,
with his induction
set for early 2024m. |
| 5-Dec-2023 |
Brenda Lee's
"Rockin' Around the
Christmas Tree" hits
number one for the
first time on the
Billboard Hot
100. At 78, the feat
makes Lee the oldest
artist to have a
number one single in
the chart's history,
and the artist with
the longest gap
between number ones,
following 1960's "I
Want to Be Wanted",
along with breaking
several other major
chart records. |
| 6-Dec-2023 |
Taylor Swift is
named Time
magazine's Person of
the Year, becoming
the first such
subject honored
specifically for
achievement in the
arts. The magazine
cited her
2023–2024 Eras
Tour, which was set
to become the
highest-grossing
concert tour of all
time, and its
significant cultural
and economic impact. |
| 14-Dec-2023 |
Luke Combs said he
was "sick to my
stomach" after
learning he had been
awarded $250,000
(£197,000) after
winning a lawsuit
against a fan who
sold homemade
merchandise. He had
been unaware Nicol
Harness had been
sued for selling 18
drinks tumblers with
his face on. Combs
said he called her
to apologise and
promised to send
$11,000 (£8,600).
That's double the
$5,500 that was
initially frozen in
her account
following the
judge's order,
meaning she couldn't
pay her bills. |
| 5-Feb-2024 |
American country
music singer,
songwriter, record
producer, and actor
Toby Keith died in
his sleep in
Oklahoma, on 5
February 2024, at
the age of 62. In
June 2022, Keith
announced that he
had been diagnosed
with stomach cancer.
His chart-topping
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, according to
Broadcast Music
Incorporated. Keith
released 19 studio
albums and charted
61 singles on the
Billboard Hot
Country Songs
charts, including 20
No.1 hits. |
| 25-Feb-2024 |
Beyoncé was at #1
on the US Country
chart with "Texas
Hold 'Em". The song
was a surprise
release and debuted
during Super Bowl
LVIII on February
11, 2024. The song
was a groundbreaking
success and marked
several historical
achievements. It
debuted at #1 on
Billboard's Hot
Country Songs,
making her the first
Black woman to reach
#1. "Texas Hold 'Em"
rose to #1 on the
Hot 100, becoming
Beyoncé's ninth #1
and her 13th
including as a
member of Destiny's
Child. In doing so,
Beyoncé became the
first black female
artist to top the
chart with a country
song in the chart's
history. |
