Compiled by Bill Morrison - billmorrison2002@hotmail.com

ABBREVIATIONS       

 

ACM:                Academy Of Country Music

ASCAP:            American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers

BMI:                 Broadcast Music Incorporated--collects and disperses royalties
circa (ca)          Approximate date

CMDJHF:          Country Music D. J. Hall Of Fame

CCMA:              Canadian Country Music Association

CCMAHF:         Canadian Country Music Assoc. Hall of Fame

CMA:                Country Music Association

CMDJHF:          Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame

CMF:                Country Music Foundation

CMHF:              Country Music Hall of Fame

CMT:                Country Music Television

CRB:                Country Radio Broadcasters

CWM:               Country Weekly Magazine

GAC:                Great American Country cable TV home of the Grand Ole Opry

IBMA:               International Bluegrass Music Association

IBMAHF:           International Bluegrass Music Association Hall of Fame

IFCO:               International Fan Club Organization (Nashville based)

NARAS:            Music Industry group that presents the Grammy Awards

NSF:                 Nashville Songwriters Foundation

NSAI:               Nashville Songwriters Association   International

NSHF:              Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame

RHOF:              Rockabilly Hall of Fame

RIAA:               Recording Industry Association of America

R.O.P.E:           Reunion of Professional Entertainers

R&RHF:            Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

SGHF               Steel Guitar Hall of Fame

SGMA:             Southern Gospel Music Association

Texas CMHF:    Texas Country Music Hall of Fame

WSM:               650 WSM-AM Radio, home of the Grand Ole Opry

 

"February"

 

-1-

 

1917 - Mary Jane DeZurik 1917-1981, of the "DeZurik Sisters," and the "Cackle Sisters" was born in Royalton, Minnesota. Member of the Grand Ole Opry.

 

1932 - Joe Hannah, of the "Sons of the San Joaquin" born in Marshfield, Missouri.

 

1937 - Don Everly was born Isaac Donald Everly in Brownie, Kentucky. Inducted NSHF 2001, CMHF 2001, and the RHOF.

 

1937 - Doctor Hook's Ray Sawyer, singer, songwriter, and guitarist, born in Chicksaw, Alabama.

 

1939 - Delano Floyd "Del" McCoury born in Bakersville, North Carolina.  IBMA Entertainer of the Year in 1996. The Del McCoury Band named IBMA Entertainer of the Year in 1994, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2002.  IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year in 1990, 1991, 1992, 1996. Joined the Grand Ole Opry October 25, 2003.

 

1960 - Capitol Records released Hank Thompson's self-penned single "A Six Pack to Go." The record made the Top Ten.

 

1960 - Sun Records released Charlie Rich's single "Lonely Weekends." This was The Silver Fox's third Sun release, and it made the Top Thirty on the Pop charts.

 

1960 - Capitol Records released Buck Owens' single "Above and Beyond" b/w "Till These Dreams Come True."  Above and Beyond was recorded at Capitol Recording Studios in Hollywood, California. Harlan Howard wrote the song, Ken Nelson produced the session. Studio personnel included: Buck Owens-vocals & guitar; Don Rich-fiddle; Ralph Mooney-steel guitar; George French, Jr.-piano; Allen Williams-bass; Marion "Pee Wee" Adams-drums. Above and Beyond made the Top Five on the country charts.

 

1965 - Jack Clement left Texas and moved his business headquarters to Nashville. The following year Jack produced Charley Prides first sessions at RCA. Pride's first two hits, "Just Between You and Me," #9 on the charts and "I Know One," #6, were written by Jack Clement. Jack opened his own studio in Nashville in 1970. The Jack Clement Recording Studio was the first 16-track studio in Music City. The name was later changed to the Sound Emporium.

 

1968 - Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis' only child, was born at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.

 

1968 - Merle Haggard recorded "Today I Started Loving You Again." The song was released later that same year on Merle's Capitol album "The Legend Of Bonnie & Clyde."

 

1975 - Brenda Lee, Chet Atkins, Johnny Carver, Gordie Tapp and Gunilla Hutton were featured guests on "Hee Haw."

 

1978 - Johnny Cash performed at the Billy Graham Crusade in Las Vegas, Nevada, from the 1st through the 5th.

 

1978 - Dolly Parton's RCA single "Here You Come Again" was certified Gold by the RIAA. This record won Dolly a Grammy for best Female Vocal Performance Country.

 

1979 - Julie Roberts, singer, and Mercury recording artist born in Lancaster, South Carolina.

 

1980 - The Eagles Asylum single "Heartache Tonight" was certified Gold by the RIAA. The Eagles album "The Long Run" was certified Gold & Platinum by the same organization. All-in-all a pretty good day, for a really good band.

 

1984 - Crystal Gayle's "The Sound of Goodbye," topped the charts.

 

1990 - The world famous "Jim Halsey Company," merged with the William Morris Agency. Jim Halsey is recognized world wide as an expert in music business matters.

 

1993 - Reba McEntire appeared on the comedy series "Evening Shade" broadcast on the CBS-Television Network.

 

1997 - Raymond Atkins 1927-1997, Dobro, and guitarist, died at the age of 69.

 

2001 - Songwriter John Jarrard, age 47, died in Nashville from diabetes.

 

2005 - Jamie O'Neal performed an invitation only show at the New York City nightspot, Shelly's.

 

2006 - For his first speech after the State of the Union, President Bush chose the former home of country music, Nashville's Grand Ole Opry House. The President spoke to a packed house.

 

-2-

 

1891 - Frank "Cicero" Weaver 1891-1967, of "The Weaver Bros. & Elviry" born in Ozark, Missouri.

 

1900 - Emmett Miller, early recording artist, born in Macon, Georgia. Emmett was the first singer to record "Lovesick Blues," "Anytime," and "Right or Wrong."

 

1902 - Lester McFarland 1902-1984, of "Mac & Bob," born in Gray, Kentucky.

 

1935 - Glenn Barber country, rockabilly, vocals, and guitarist born in Hollis, Oklahoma.

 

1938 - Rusty Kershaw, of "Rusty & Doug" born in Tiel Ridge, Louisiana.

 

1946 - Howard Bellamy of the Bellamy Brothers born in Darby, Florida.

 

1959 - David Parmley of the "Bluegrass Cardinals," born in Alameda, California.

 

1961 - Johnny Horton's Columbia Records single "North to Alaska," topped the charts. This song came from the movie soundtrack by the same name. The movie starred the Duke, a.k.a. (John Wayne) for you young whipper-snappers.  John Horton has been dead for 47 years as of this writing, and continues to be ignored by the country music experts that elect the members of the Country Music Hall of Fame. Music City politics smells as bad as America's jewel in the sun, a.k.a. Washington D.C. John did not live in Nashville, and he chose to remain at the Louisiana Hayride, rather than accept the invitation to join the Grand Ole Opry. If anyone tells you that's not the reason Johnny Horton is not a member of the Hall of Fame, you tell them I said they're a liar.

 

1965 - Ken White, of "New Tradition" born in Louisville, Kentucky.

 

1968 - Jenks "Tex' Carman 1903-1968, singer, and guitarist died at the age of 64.

 

1970 - Susan Raye and Buck Owens Capitol single "We're Gonna Get Together" was released today.

 

1971 - Loretta Lynn, and Bill Anderson were featured guests on "Hee Haw" 1971.

 

1974 - Dolly Parton's RCA Victor single "Jolene" topped the charts. The self-penned tune became Dolly's 2nd chart topper. Dolly's next four releases also claimed the chart's top spot. They include I Will Always Love You; Please Don't Stop Loving Me (w/Porter Wagoner); Love Is Like A Butterfly; and The Bargain Store. All were written by Dolly.

 

1974 - Tom T. Hall, Sunday Sharpe, Charlie McCoy Johnny Bench, and Ralph Emery were featured guests on "Hee Haw."

 

1977 - The ACM announced the nominees for this years Awards show in California. Marty Robbins, Loretta Lynn, and Mickey Gilley all received multiple nominations.

 

1978 - Rita Coolidge's A&M single "We're All Alone" was certified Gold by the RIAA. Rita was married to Kris Kristofferson from 1973-1980.

 

1980 - Alabama's hit MDJ single "My Home's In Alabama" charted. This would be the last record released by Alabama on any label other than RCA.

 

1981 - George Strait recorded his first hit record in Nashville. "Unwound" was released by MCA later this year made it to the Top Ten on the charts. The song was written by Dean Dillon. Dean Dillon was inducted into the NSHF in 2002.

 

1985 - Merle Haggard and Janie Fricke's Epic single "A Place To Fall Apart," topped the charts.

 

1986 - Blaine Larsen, singer, songwriter, guitarist, and BNA recording artist, was born in Tacoma, Washington, and raised in California.

 

1987 - The Judd's RCA album "Heartland"  was certified platinum by the RIAA.

 

1988 - Tanya Tucker checked in to the Betty Ford Center today, after years of drug and alcohol abuse.

 

1993 - Willie Nelson and the IRS settled a long-standing dispute in regard to Willie's unpaid taxes. The IRS keeps 3.6 million in property that was seized earlier, and Willie will pay 5.4 million of the unpaid balance of 13.1 million that is owed.

 

1999 - Sony released Johnny Cash's album "16 Biggest Hits."

 

2001 - People Magazine reported that Garth Brooks and ex-wife Sandy are sharing the same ranch in Oklahoma. Sandy and the three daughters, occupy a house trailer, until their new home is completed. Garth lives in a house on the ranch.

 

2001 - Hal Blair 1915-2001, age 85, died in Biggs, California. Blair wrote, "Please Help Me I'm Falling," and "One Has My Name, The Other Has My Heart," among others. Hal was inducted into the NSHF in 2003.

 

2003 - Gary Allan's #1 single "Man To Man" debuted on Billboard's Top 40 Chart 2003.

 

2005 - Jimmie Crawford 1935-2005, member of the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame, died at 69.

 

2006 - Louise Certain Scruggs 1927-2006, age 78, wife of Earl Scruggs died at Nashville's Baptist Hospital. Louise managed her husband's career, and was the first female manager in country music history. Louise was awarded the 25th Annual IFCO Tex Ritter Award in 1999, in recognition of her very successful five decades of artist booking and management. Louise saw Earl for the first time at the Ryman Auditorium.

 

2007 - The 49th Annual Grammy Awards were presented at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Vince Gill won for Best Male Country Vocal Performance; Carrie Underwood for Best Female Country Vocal; Bryan Sutton & Doc Watson for Best Country Instrumental, Best Country Song was Jesus Take The Wheel; and Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder won the Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album.

 

-3-

 

1928 - Jimmie Rodgers released "Blue Yodel."

 

1933 - Betty Foley 1933-1990, daughter of Red Foley, was born in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in Berea, Kentucky. Betty recorded two duets with her father on the Decca label. The first "As Far As I'm Concerned" charted in 1954, and topped out at #8. Their 1955 recording of "Satisfied Mind" went to #3. Betty died in 1990 at age 57.

 

1936 - Dave Rich, singer, songwriter, born in Briar Creek, Kentucky.

 

1949 - Linda Hargrove, singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist born in Jacksonville, Florida.

 

1950 - Bill Monroe recorded his first session for Decca Records. Bill recorded for Columbia prior

to signing with Decca. His earliest hits were "Blue Moon Of Kentucky" and "Uncle Pen," both in

1945. Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1939. Bill was inducted 

into the CMFH in 1970, and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.

 

1956 - The Million Dollar Quartet, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis, recorded together at Sun Studio in Memphis. But not really...I was told  that Johnny Cash left the studio before any recording took place that day. I don't know for sure, unfortunately, I wasn't there to watch.

 

1959 - J.P. Richardson a.k.a. "The Big Bopper" 1930-1959, age 28, died in a plane crash with Buddy Holly and Richie Valens. Richardson wrote White Lightnin' for George Jones, and Johnny Preston's "Running Bear."

 

1959 - Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Richie Valens, were killed in a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa. Waylon Jennings, bass player for Buddy Holly, gave his seat on the plane to The Big Bopper, due to the Bopper's illness. Waylon's kindness saved his own life, but he never recovered from the loss of his friend Buddy Holly, who had produced Waylon's first record. Prior to the plane taking off Buddy was teasing Waylon about the long, cold bus ride that Waylon and the rest of the touring musicians would have to endure. Waylon replied that he hoped the plane crashed. That statement haunted Waylon for the rest of his life.

 

1960 - Brenda Lee released her  single "Sweet Nothin's." The song was written by Rockabilly legend Ronnie Self.

 

1961 - Maurice Woodward "Tex" Ritter recorded I Dreamed Of A Hill-Billy Heaven" for Capitol Records.  

 

1962 - Ral Donner's single "She's Everything (I Wanted You to Be)" charted.

 

1964 - Matraca Berg, singer, songwriter, born in Nashville, Tennessee. Matraca's mother is Icee Berg, the session singer, and songwriter. Matraca and Jeff Hanna of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band were married in 1993.

 

1970 - Tom T. Hall's self-penned Mercury single "A Week In A Country Jail" topped the charts. This was "The Storyteller's" first #1 record.

 

1971 - Lynn Anderson's Columbia single, "Rose Garden," was certified Gold. by the RIAA. This recording won Lynn a Grammy for Best Female Vocal Performance.

1973 - Don Gibson, Sue Thompson, and Demetris Tapp were featured guests on "Hee Haw."

 

1973 - Johnny Cash's Columbia album "Any Old Wind That Blows" hit the country albums chart today.

 

1978 -Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson's RCA Victor album "Waylon & Willie" was certified Gold by the RIAA.

 

1979 - Johnny Duncan, Janie Fricke, Johnny Gimble and Jana Jae were featured guests on "Hee Haw."

 

1979 - Exile's single "You Thrill Me" crossed over to the pop charts.

 

1992 - Willie Nelson announced that Farm Aid V would be held March 14th in Irving, Texas.

 

1992 - RCA released Jim Ed Brown & Helen Cornelius's "Greatest Hits."

 

2002 - James Blackwood 1919-2002, age 83, the last surviving member of the legendary group The Blackwood Brothers died in Memphis, Tennessee, as the result of a stroke. James was laid to rest in Forest Hill Cemetery-East, Memphis, Tennessee.

 

2004 - Lonestar's "Greatest Hits" album was certified Platinum by the RIAA.

 

2005 - The "Turn It Up & Bring It On" tour with Trace Adkins, Montgomery Gentry, and Cledus T. Judd kicked off in Madison, Wisconsin.

 

2005 - Frank Jones 1928-2005, age 76, music industry executive, and record producer died in his sleep at his residence in Nashville. Member of the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame.

 

-4-

 

1918 - Vic McAlpin 1918-1980, Hall of Fame songwriter, born Vernice Johnson McAlpin, in Defeated Creek, Tennessee. Vic served on the first CMA board of directors. He co-wrote his book "From Defeated Creek to Music City U.S.A." with Tom C. Armstrong and Beverly Beard. Co-founded Allmac Music with Joe Allison, one of Nashville's earliest music publishing companies.

 

1929 - Paul Burlison, born in Brownsville, Tennessee.  Inducted into the RHOF.

 

1931 - Clarence Tate, fiddler, born Gate City, Virginia.

 

1942 - Kenny Wertz, singer, guitarist, of "The Flying Burrito Brothers," born in Washington, D.C.

 

1943 - Barry Beckett, producer, keyboardist, born Birmingham, Alabama.

 

1960 - Billy Walker, "The Tall Texan," became a member the Grand Ole Opry.

 

1962 - Clint Black singer, songwriter, guitarist and harmonica player, born Clint Patrick Black, in Long Branch, New Jersey. Won the CMA Male Vocalist of the Year award in 1990. Joined the Grand Ole Opry on January 10, 1991, and married actress Lisa Hartman that same year.

 

1963 - Patsy Cline recorded "Faded Love," for Decca.

 

1965 - Chris McDaniel of "Confederate Railroad," born Rock Springs, Georgia.

 

1970 - Ferlin Husky, and Dottie West were featured guests on "Hee Haw."

 

1975 - "W.W. and the Dixie Dance kings," starring Burt Reynolds, Jerry Reed, Mel Tillis, and Don Williams, premiered at Nashville's Crescent Theater.

 

1978 - Johnny Paycheck joined striking coal miners on the picket line in Virginia.

 

1978 - Patti Page, Brush Arbor, Buddy Alan and D.J. Sarginson were featured guests on "Hee Haw."  

 

1989 Jethro Burns 1920-1989, of "Homer & Jethro" died Evanston, Illinois, at age 65.

 

1991 - Capitol released Tennessee Ernie Ford's "Songs of the Civil War."

 

2001 - Wilma Lee Cooper was inducted into the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music (SPBGMA's) Preservation Hall of Greats.

 

2002 - Nickel Creek's self-titled debut album was certified Gold by the RIAA.

 

2005 - Vassar Clements gave his last performance in Jamestown, New York.

 

-5-

 

1912 - Tex Atchison, of "The Prarie Ramblers," born in Rosine, Kentucky.

 

1933 - Claude King, singer, songwriter, and guitarist born in Shreveport, Louisiana. Became a cast member of the KWKH Louisiana Hayride in 1952. Claude's first #1 hit was his Columbia single "Wolverton Mountain" in 1962.

 

1938 - Roy Acuff made his second guest appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. The huge amount of fan mail generated by this guest appearance was enough to convince acting Opry manager Harry Stone, to make Roy a regular member of the Opry. Prior to Acuff becoming a member of the Opry, the show featured mainly instrumental music. Vocal acts would soon become the mainstay of the Grand Ole Opry. George D. Hay was on medical leave from the Opry at the time Stone hired Acuff. Hay didn't like Roy's music, and had refused to hire him in the past.

 

1939 - Brian Golby, fiddler, was born in England.

 

1940 - Jimmie Davis recorded "You Are My Sunshine" for the Decca label in New York City. Davis co-wrote the song with Charles Mitchell, and it became a huge hit.

 

1941 - Henson Cargill 1941-2007, "Skip-a-Rope," born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

 

1943 - Ernest Tubb's first movie debuted at the New Liberty Theater in Fort Worth, Texas. Ernest's wife Elaine attended the showing of "Fighting Buckaroo"  and took pictures of the marquee for friends, and neighbors. Ernest had already moved to Nashville, and when he wasn't playing the Opry, he was playing concert dates with Pee Wee King.

 

1957 - Bill Haley began his first tour of England.

 

1960 - Elvis Presley returned to the U.S. from Germany, after he was discharged from the Army.

 

1963 - Patsy Cline recorded her Decca single "Sweet Dreams." Exactly one month later on March 5, 1963, Patsy would die in a plane crash near Camden, Tennessee. Sweet Dreams hit the charts on May 11, 1963.

 

1971 - Sara Evans, singer, songwriter, dancer, and mom, born in Boonville, Missouri.

 

1972 - Link Davis 1914-1972, singer, session musician, and multi-instrumentalist died at the age of 57.

 

1972 - Jeannie C. Riley, Buddy Alan, and Johnny Bench were featured guests on "Hee Haw."

 

1972 - Loretta Lynn's Decca single "One's On The Way" was the #1 country record.

 

1977 - Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn, Lorne Greene and Jana Jae were featured guests on "Hee Haw."

 

1978 - Eddy Noack 1930-1978, a.k.a. Armond A. Noack Jr. age 47, singer, songwriter, died today from a cerebral hemorrhage. Eddie recorded for Gold Star, K-Ark, and D Records. When Eddy recorded Rockabilly songs he used the name Tommy Wood. Noack moved to Nashville in 1965 and concentrated on his songwriting. Among those who recorded Noack's tunes were Hank Snow and George Jones.

 

1979 - Anne Murray's Capitol album "New Kind of Feeling" was certified Gold by the RIAA.

 

1980 - T. G. Sheppards "I'll Be Coming Back For More," topped the charts.

 

1987 - Dan Seals' EMI America label album "Won't Be Blue Anymore," was certified Gold by the RIAA. The album charted in 1985 and went to #1. Three singles from the album also went to #1.  "Everything That Glitters (Is Not Gold)"  "Meet Me in Montana (a duet with Marie Osmond" and "Bop."

 

1991 - Arista Records released Diamond Rio's single "Meet In The Middle." This was the group's first release, their first chart record, and their first #1 hit. James Foster, Chapin Hartford, and Don Primmer wrote the song. The members of the band; Marty Roe; Dana Williams; Jimmy Olander; Gene Johnson; Brian Prout; and Dan Truman. Diamond Rio joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1998.

 

1998 - Patty Loveless' Epic album "The Trouble With The Truth" was certified Gold by the RIAA. The album was released in February 1996.

 

2002 - RCA released Eddy Arnold's "Looking Back" album.

 

2005 - Brad Paisley's single "Mud on the Tires" topped the charts.

 

2005 - Sonny Spencer, age 75, of the "Sons of the Pioneers" died in Tucson, Arizona.

 

-6-

 

1916 - Esther "Violet" Koehler 1916-1973, of the Coon Creek Girls born in Wilton, Wisconsin.

 

1943 - Ernest Tubb made his third guest appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. This would be E.T.'s last guest appearance. The following Saturday night, he was scheduled to become a member of a show that he would be a huge part of for the next four decades.

 

1956 - George Jones, "The Possum," became a cast member of the KWKH Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport, Louisiana. The show was nicknamed The Cradle of the Stars, because they lost so many members of their cast to the Grand Ole Opry. Most people don't know that directly beneath the stage at the Louisiana Hayride was the City Morgue.

 

1956 - RCA Records released Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel."

 

1960 - George Hamilton IV became a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

 

1961 - Marty Robbins' Columbia single "Don't Worry" charted today. The song was recorded in Nashville on July 12, 1960. Marty wrote the song, and Don Law and Frank Jones produced the session. The session personnel included Marty Robbins-vocals & guitar; Grady Martin-guitar; Jack Pruett-guitar; Floyd Cramer-piano; Bob Moore-bass; Louis Dunn-drums.

 

1961 - Dale Reno, of the Reno Brothers was born in Roanoke, Virginia.

 

1962 - Richie McDonald, lead singer of Lonestar born in Lubbock, Texas.

 

1967 - Anita Cochran singer, songwriter and guitarist, born in Pontiac, Michigan.

 

1971 - Conway and Loretta debuted on the charts with "After the Fire Is Gone."