July
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John Lee Lair, entertainer, and founder of the Renfro Valley Barn Dance, born Renfro
Valley,KY 1894.
Charles Everett Lilly, of "The Lilly Brothers" born Clear Creek, WV 1924.
Eddie Bond, Country/Rockabilly/Gospel singer born Memphis, TN 1933.
Hank Snow's theme song, "I'm Movin' On," released 1950.
Keith Whitley born Sandy Hook, KY 1955.
Johnny Cash recorded "Give My Love To Rose" & "Home of the Blues" 1957.
Michelle Wright born Chatham, Ontario, Canada, 1961.
Capitol Records released Buck Owens' album "Sweet Rosie Jones" 1968.
Tommy Leffew, age 66, of the "Fruit Jar Drinkers" died 1971.
Alabama performed their first paid concert at Canyonland Park, AL 1972.
Hank Williams Jr. married Mary Jane Thomas in Montana, 1990.
Kenny Chesney released his first country album, "All I Need To Know" 1995.
Jay Lee Webb, Loretta Lynn's brother, died 1996.
Lynn Anderson's album "Golden Classics Edition" was released 1997.
RCA released Sara Evans' album "Three Chords and the Truth" 1997.
Collectables released Mac Davis' 2-album set "Baby Don't Get Hooked on Me/Stop & Smell The Roses" 1997.
June Carter Cash played the Bottom Line, in New York City 1999.
Bill Morrison, TNT Records, inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame 2003.
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Ken Curtis born "Curtis Wain Gates," Las Amimar, CA 1916. Ken was a member of the "Sons of the Pioneers," and played "Festus Hagan," on "Gunsmoke."
Fred Maddox, of "Maddox Brothers & Rose" born Boaz, AL 1919.
Curly Holt of the "Jordanaires," born McAlester, OK 1925.
Marvin Rainwater born Wichita, KS 1925.
Paul Warmack, age 64, "Gully Jumpers," died 1954.
Elvis Presley recorded "Hound Dog/Don't Be Cruel" 1956.
Jim Reeves recorded his last session for RCA 1964.
Don Ellis born 1967.
DeFord Bailey, age 81, pioneer member Grand Ole Opry, died in 1982.
Ralph Rinzler, age 59, "The Greenbriar Boys," died 1994.
June Carter Cash played her last night at the Bottom Line, in New York City 1999.
Raven Records released John Hartford's album "Natural To Be Gone" 2002.
Raven Records released Glen Campbell's 2-CD set "Rhinestone Cowboy/Bloodline" 2002.
Kenny Rogers made his debut appearance at the Hollywood Bowl 2003.
Jim Colton, age 56, producer, died 2003.
Marty Stuart pled guilty to a DUI charge in a Sumner County, Tennessee court 2004. Stuart served two days of a one year sentence in jail. The remainder of the jail sentence was suspended. In addition, he was fined $350.00.
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Gil Wright "Anita Kerr Singers" born Nashville, TN 1929.
Johnny Lee, born "Johnny Lee Ham" Texas City, TX 1946.
Johnny Cash honorably discharged from the U. S. Air Force, at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, 1954.
Scotty Moore called Elvis and asked if he would like to audition for Sam Phillips at Sun Records 1954.
Johnny Cash recorded "Luther Played The Boogie" 1955.
Aaron Tippin born Pensacola, FL 1958.
Trigger, Roy Rogers' horse died at age 33, 1965.
John Maddox, age 52, of "Maddox Brothers & Rose" died 1968.
Tom T. Hall recorded "Homecoming/Shoeshine Man" 1969.
Buck Owens & Susan Raye recorded "The Great White Horse"
Bill Monroe and Tommy Jarrell were awarded National Heritage Fellowships 1982.
Allison Krauss became the first bluegrass artist, to join the Grand Ole Opry, in twenty-nine years in 1993.
George Strait's soundtrack album "Pure Country," went to #1 1993.
Roy Nichols, age 68, 22-year member of Haggard's "Strangers," died Bakersfield, CA 2001.
Johnny Russell, age 61, died 2001. Member Grand Ole Opry.
Montgomery Gentry's single "If You Ever Stop Loving Me" topped the charts 2004.
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Stephen Foster, songwriter, born Lawrenceville, PA 1826.
Charlie Monroe born Rosine, KY 1903.
Bob Attlesey, of "The Shelton Brothers" born Reilly Springs, TX 1909.
Gordon Rouse, of the "Rouse Brothers" born 1914.
Marion Worth born Birmingham, AL 1930.
Ray Pillow born Lynchburg, VA 1937.
The Louvin Brothers made their musical debut in Flatrock, AL 1940.
Peter Rowan, master guitarist/recording artist, born Boston, MA 1942.
Bill McCorvey, "Pirates of the Mississippi," born Montgomery, AL 1959.
Teddy Carr of "Ricochet" born 1960.
Willie Nelson staged his first 4th of July Picnic, 1973.
Johnny Cash was the Grand Marshall at the Washington D.C. Bicentennial Celebration 1976.
Tammy Wynette married her fifth husband, George Richey, 1978.
Marty Robbins performed for President Ronald Reagan, in Washington, D.C. 1981.
Wynonna's "I Saw the Light," went to #1 1992.
Arlie Duff, age 72, died while playing golf 1996.
Columbia/Legacy released Johnny Cash's "At San Quentin (The Complete Concert) 2000.
Bobby Yarbrough, age 49, died 2003.
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Guy Willis of "The Willis Brothers" born Alex, AR 1915.
Mitchell Hammond "The Dillards," born Hammond, IN 1930.
The Grand Ole Opry moved from the Dixie Tabernacle, to the War Memorial Auditorium, 1939.
Elvis Presley cut his first session for Sun Records "That's All Right Mama/Blue Moon of Kentucky" 1954. Scotty Moore on lead, Bill Black on bass, Sam Phillips on his way.
Capitol Records released Buck Owens single "Gonna Have Love/Only You" 1965.
Merle Haggard's #1 single "Working Man Blues," charted 1969.
John Conlee debuted on the Grand Ole Opry 1980.
George Jones' "He Stopped Loving Her Today," went to #1 1980.
Tanya Tucker gave birth to Presley Tanita Tucker, her firstborn child, 1989.
Brooks & Dunn's #1 country hit "Red Dirt Road" debuted on Billboard's Top 40 chart 2003.
Loretta Lynn hosted the Grand Opening of her museum, located on her ranch in Hurricane Mills, TN in 2003.
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Shelly Lee Alley, Western Swing/Fiddler/Songwriter, born Colorado County, TX 1894.
Bill Haley born "William John Clifton Haley Jr.," Highland Park, MI 1925. Inducted R&RHOF 1987 and RHOF.
Wallace Lewis, of "The Lewis Family" born Lincoln County, GA 1928.
Jeannie Seely born Titusville, PA 1940.
Byron Berline, of the Country Gazette, fiddler, born Caldwell, KS 1944.
Nanci Griffith, singer/songwriter/guitarist born Austin, TX 1953.
Elvis Presley recorded "Blue Moon of Kentucky," at SUN Studios 1954.
John Jorgenson, guitarist/session musician, member of the "Desert Rose Band," born Madison, WI 1956.
Johnny Cash released "Five Feet High and Risin'," and "I Got Stripes," 1959.
Capitol Records released Buck Owens album "The Kansas City Song" 1970.
Anne Murray's "He Thinks I still Care" went to #1 1974.
Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash recorded together 1976.
Johnny Russell joined the Grand Ole Opry 1985.
Reba McEntire received her first platinum record for "Whoever's In New England," 1993.
Roy Rogers, age 86, died in Apple Valley, CA 1998. Inducted CMHF 1988.
James Hill, age 78, "The Fairfield Four" died 2000.
Johnny Russell, Opry member, was buried 2001. The Pallbearers were Garth Brooks, Brad Paisley, Jim Ed Brown, Billy Walker, Porter Wagoner, Jack Greene and Little Jimmy Dickens.
Skip Battin, 69, died in Silverton, OR 2003.
Buddy Ebsen, age 95, died 2003.
Kenny Rogers and wife Wanda, became the parents of twins in 2004. Justin Charles, and Jordan Edward were born one minute apart in Atlanta.
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John Sullivan, "Lonzo" of Lonzo & Oscar, born Edmonton, KY 1917
Mary Ford, of "Les Paul & Mary Ford" born Iris Colleen Summers in Pasadena, CA 1924.
Charlie Louvin born near Section, AL 1927. Member Grand Ole Opry. Inducted NSHF 1979,
CMHF 2001.
Doyle Wilburn born in Hardy, AR 1930.
Johnny Cash joined the Air Force 1950.
Eddy Arnold debuted his NBC-TV show 1953.
Sun Records owner Sam Phillips gave Memphis disc jockey Dewey Phillips, a copy of Elvis Presley's debut Sun recording in 1954. Phillips played the record "That's All Right Mama/Blue Moon of Kentucky," over a dozen times that day on his show.
Johnny Cash debuted on the Grand Ole Opry 1956. He met June Carter backstage for the first time.
Jean Shepard released "He's My Baby," 1958.
Marty Robbins released "Sittin' In A Tree House/She Was Only Seventeen" 1958.
George Morgan, age 50, died in Nashville after bypass surgery, 1975. George joined the Grand Ole Opry on September 25, 1948, and was inducted into the CMHF in 1998.
Toby Keith's single "Whiskey Girl" topped the charts 2004.
-8-
George Wilkerson, fiddler, founder of the "Fruit Jar Drinkers," born Stevenson, AL 1895.
Link Davis, vocals/session musician born Wills Point, TX 1914.
Grand Ole Opry star Uncle Dave Macon, recorded his first session 1924.
Bob Beckham, recording artist/music publisher, born Stratford, OK 1927.
Jerry Vale born in 1932.
The Everly Brothers single "I Wonder If I Care As Much" charted 1957.
Fred Young "Kentucky Headhunters" born Glasgow, KY 1958.
Toby Keith, born Toby Keith Covel, Clinton, OH 1961.
Buck Owens recorded "I Don't Care/Buck's Polka" 1964.
Capitol Records released Buck Owens' single "Let The World Keep On A Turning" 1968.
Gail Davies debuted on the charts with "No Love Have I," 1978.
Ervin Rouse, age 63, of the "Rouse Brothers" died 1981.
Capitol released Tennessee Ernie Ford's "Capitol Collectors Series" 1991.
Taylor Maine Pearl Brooks debuted in the lives of Garth and Sandy Brooks 1992.
Marty Stuart and Connie Smith were married 1997. The ceremony took place on an Indian reservation in South Dakota.
Audium released Charlie Daniels' album "In America" 2003.
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Pie Plant Pete a.k.a. "Claude J. Moye," star of the WLS National Barn Dance born Shawneetown,
IL 1906.
Singing Cowboy Eddie Dean, born 'Edgar Dean Glosup' Posey, TX 1907.
Molly O'Day, born "Lois LaVerne Williamson" Pike County, KY 1923.
Jesse McReynolds, of Jim & Jesse, born in Coeburn, VA 1929.
Lee Hazelwood, singer/songwriter/producer born Mannford, OK 1929.
Kelly Harrell, age 52, singer/songwriter died in Virginia 1942.
Merle Travis recorded "Divorce Me C. O. D." 1946.
Carl Smith and June Carter, married in Merryville, TN 1952.
David Ball, born the son of a Baptist pastor, in Rock Hill, SC 1953.
Merle Haggard recorded "I Can't Be Myself" 1970.
Cloet Hammons, guitarist for the East Texas Serenaders died 1982.
Lewis Talley, long time manager of Merle Haggard, died 1986.
Intersound released the Bellamy Brothers album "Dancin'" 1996.
Ersel Hickey died at NYU Medical Center 2004.
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"Paul" Howard, the singer who brought Western Swing to the Grand Ole Opry, born Midland, AR
1908.
Jimmie Rodgers recorded "Mean Mama Blues" 1930.
Hank Williams, moved from Greenville to Montgomery, AL with his family 1937.
Johnny Cash recorded "The Ways of a Woman In Love" & "Thanks A Lot" 1958.
Bela Fleck, banjo virtuoso, born New York City, 1958.
Randall Edward Shaw, "BR5-49," born Topeka, KS 1960.
Kitty Wells' "Heartbreak U.S.A." went to #1 1961.
Roy Acuff was seriously injured in a car wreck near Sparta, TN 1965.
Ken Mellons born Kingsport, Tennessee 1965.
Bobbie Gentry recorded "Ode to Billie Joe," in Hollywood, CA 1967.
Johnny Cash recorded "Sunday Morning Coming Down," 1970.
Freddie Hart's "Easy Lovin" debuted on the charts 1971.
Burt Hutcherson, age 86, "Gully Jumpers," died 1980.
Janie Fricke's "Don't Worry 'Bout Me Baby," became her first No. 1hit 1982.
Dick Glasser, age 66, producer/songwriter, died 2000.
Dan Roberts named "Entertainer of the Year," by the Academy of Western Artists, 2001.
Raven Records released Hoyt Axton's boxed set "Joy to the World/Country Anthem" 2001.
Marizona Robinson, age 70, widow of Marty Robbins, died in Brentwood, TN 2001.
Buddy Jewel's debut album "Buddy Jewel," tops the charts 2003.
Toby Keith topped the charts with "Whiskey Girl" 2004.
-11-
Jimmie Rodgers recorded "Blue Yodel No. 8 'Mule Skinner Blues'" 1930.
Gordon Frayne born 1944.
Jeff Hanna, "Nitty Gritty Dirt Band," born Detroit, MI 1947.
Hank Williams recorded his #1 single "I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive," 1952.
Hank Locklin's "Please Help Me, I'm Falling" was #1 1960.
Jimmy Martin recorded "I Can, I Will, I Do Believe" 1961.
Ray Cardwell, of New Tradition" born Springfield, MO 1963.
Buck Owens recorded his #1 single "Love's Gonna Live Here Again," 1963.
Johnny Cash's "The Ballad of Ira Hayes," charted in 1964.
Kenny Rogers left The New Christy Minstrels 1967.
Merle Haggard recorded "It's Not Love, But It's Not Bad" 1972.
Dave & Sugar topped the charts with "The Door Is always Open" 1976.
Earl Thomas Conley had his first #1 hit with "Fire and Smoke" 1981.
Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson's "Pancho and Lefty," album Certified gold 1983.
Ezra Cline, of the "Lonesome Pine Fiddlers" died 1984.
Edsel Records released Bobby Bare's album "The Columbia Years: Bare's Picks" 2000.
The Amazing Rhythm Aces released their double album "Stacked Deck/Too Stuffed To Jump" 2000.
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Jimmie Rodgers recorded "In The Jailhouse Now #2," 1930.
Steve Young singer/songwriter, born Newnan, GA 1942.
Butch Hancock, singer/songwriter, born Lubbock, TX 1945.
Julie Anne Miller, recording artist, born Dallas, TX 1956.
Roy Clark's single "Yesterday, When I Was Young" charted on Billboard's Top 40 chart 1969.
Tom T. Hall recorded "Old Dogs, Children, and Watermelon Wine" 1972.
Marty Robbins released "Jumper Cable Man/Good Hearted Woman" 1981.
Hip-O released "Ain't Ever Satisfied: The Steve Earle Collection" 1996.
Jimmy Driftwood, age 91, died Fayetteville, AR 1998. Jimmy was a school teacher and songwriter. His Grammy winning songs were "Battle of New Orleans," "Songs of Billy Yank and Johnny Red," and "Tennessee Stud."
Toby and Willie's "Beer For My Horses" was the #1 single in the U.S. 2003.
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Bradley Kincaid born Point Leavell, KY 1895.
Vernon Tim Spencer, "Sons of the Pioneers," born Webb City, MO 1908.
Clarence Ganus, singer/songwriter, born Searles, AL 1910.
Vernon Dalhart recorded "Wreck Of The Old 97," 1924.
Louise Mandrell born Corpus Christi, TX 1954.
RCA released Elvis' "Hound Dog/Don't Be Cruel" 1956. Later that day, Ed Sullivan signed a contract with Col. Parker, guaranteeing Elvis $50.000 for three appearances on his TV show.
Buddy Holly almost drowned, while attempting to swim across a lake in Wisconsin, while on tour 1958.
Buck Owens released his single "Under You Spell Again/Tired Of Livin'" 1959.
Brent Mason, guitarist/session musician/recording artist, born Vanwert, OH 1959.
Rhonda Vincent, born Kirksville, MO 1962. IBMA Entertainer of the Year in 2001. IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year in 2000, 2001, 2002.
Victoria Shaw, singer/songwriter born NYC 1962.
Tom T. Hall recorded "Fox On The Run" 1976.
Marty Robbins released "Tie Your Dreams To Mine/That's All She Wrote" 1982.
Curb released Tennessee Ernie Ford's "Greatest Hits" album 1993.
John Denver's DUI trial in Colorado, resulted in a hung jury 1997.
Warner Brothers released David Ball's album "Play" 1999.
Reba McEntire, Martina McBride, Sara Evans, Jamie O'Neal and Carolyn Dawn Johnson debuted their 25-date tour "Girls Night Out," at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas 2001.
Alan Jackson appeared on the Tuesday Night Opry in 2004. Alan filmed the video for his single, "Too Much of a Good Thing," on the Opry stage in front of an appreciative audience. A good time was had by all.
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Woodie Guthrie born "Woodrow Wilson Guthrie," Okemah, OK 1912.
Marijohn Wilkin songwriter/publisher/musician born Kemp, TX 1920.
Del Reeves "The Dean Martin of Country Music," born Sparta, NC 1933.
Guitarist Spencer Davis born in Whales, 1941.
Riley Puckett of the Skillet Lickers died 1946.
Hank Williams released "Hey Good Lookin'," 1951.
The Eddy Arnold Show premiered on CBS-TV 1952.
Pee Wee King released "Hoot Scoot," 1956.
Richard Underwood, of the Johnson Mountain Boys, born Washington, D.C. 1956.
Patsy Cline released "Stop, Look, and Listen," 1956.
Johnny Cash announced that he was leaving Sun Records 1958.
Ray Herndon "McBride & The Ride" born Phoenix, AZ 1960.
Bill Anderson joined the Grand Ole Opry 1961.
The Everly Brothers break-up while on stage at Knott's Berry Farm, 1973.
Loretta Lynn's "Love Is The Foundation," is the #1 country song on Billboard 1973.
Tom T. Hall recorded "Magnificent Music Machine" 1975.
The Bellamy Brothers #1 single "If I Said You Have A Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me" debuted on Billboard's Top 40 Chart 1979.
Dolly Parton's "Halos & Horns," album debuted on the Billboard Country Album Charts at #4, in 2002.
CBS aired their tape of the CMA Music Festival 2004. This was the festival formerly known as Fan Fair.
Natalie Maines gave birth to her second child, Beckett Finn Pasdar 2004. When not engaged with ACLU activities, Maines sings with an all girl band from Texas.
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Sarie Wilson of "Sarie and Sally" born 1896.
Cowboy Copas born "Lloyd Estel Copas," near Muskogee, OK 1913.
Dolph Hewitt born West Finley, PA 1914.
Rod Brasfield debuted on the Grand Ole Opry 1944.
Linda Ronstadt born Tucson, AZ 1946.
Hank Williams' hometown, Montgomery, AL had a "Hank Williams Homecoming Day" 1951. Over nine thousand people showed up for the celebration.
Blue Miller born "William Mueller," "The Gibson/Miller Band," born Detroit, MI 1952.
Mac McAnally born Red Bay, AL 1957.
Marty Robbins released "Please Don't Blame Me/Teenage Dream" 1957.
Columbia Records released Marty Robbins' "Ride Cowboy Ride/Five Brothers" 1960.
Marty Robbins released "Girl With Gardenias In Her Hair/In The Valley Of The Rio Grande" 1967.
Bill Justis died in Nashville 1982.
Columbia Records released Johnny Cash from his recording contract after 28 years 1986.
Aaron Tippin married Thea Corontzos at Trinity Orthodox Church in Nashville 1995.
MCA released "The Best of Freddy Fender" 1996.
Sony released "David Allan Coe Live: If That Ain't Country…" 1997.
Arista released Diamond Rio's "Greatest Hits" album 1997.
Hal Southern, age 79, died from diabetes 1998. Hal wrote the Tex Ritter hit "I Dreamed of Hillbilly Heaven."
Collin Raye's "I Can Still Feel You" went to #1 in 1998.
George Strait released his "Honkeytonkville" album 2003.
-16-
Frank Page, Louisiana Hayride announcer, born Little Rock, AR 1948.
Bob Wilson, "Earl Scruggs Revue," born 1949.
Ronny Robbins, son of Marty Robbins, born Phoenix, AZ 1949.
Connie Smith's debut single" Once A Day," was released 1964. It stayed at #1 for eight weeks.
Merle Haggard recorded "Okie From Muskogee," 1969.
The Oak Ridge Boys released "Y'All Come Back Saloon," 1977. The song became their first top 5 hit.
Harry Chapin died in an auto accident 1981.
Dollywood opened in Pigeon Forge, TN 1986.
Vince Gill's album "High Lonesome Sound" certified platinum 1997.
Roy Orbison's widow, Barbara Orbison, filed a lawsuit against Sony Music. The suit alleges that Sony underpaid royalties on both foreign and domestic record sales. The Twelve Million Dollar suit requests back payments, plus interest on money owed. 1998.
The Bellamy Brothers released "Redneck Girls Forever" 2002.
Don Williams released "Best of Don Williams" 2003.
-17-
Red Sovine born Charleston, WV 1918.
Harry Choates, age 29, Cajun fiddler/songwriter, died in jail 1951.
Nicolette Larson, recording artist, born Helena, MT 1952.
The Ozark Jubilee debuted on radio 1954.
Eddy Arnold released "Hep Cat Baby,"/"This Is The Thanks I Get," 1954.
Joe Dowell's #1 hit "Wooden Heart" debuted on the charts 1961.
Waylon Jennings released "Another Blue Day," on the TREND label 1961.
George York, age 64, of "The York Brothers" died 1974.
Don Rich, age 33, of the "Buckaroos" died in a motorcycle accident in California 1974.
George Cooper Jr., president Nashville Local 257 (1937-1973,) died in Nashville, 1974.
Wynn Stewart, age 51, died from a heart attack in Hendersonville, TN 1985.
Alan Jackson's "Chattahoochee" went to #1 1993.
Billy Currington debuted on the CBS Early Show 2004.
Linda Ronstadt was fired, and removed from the Aladdin Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, by security guards 2004. Prior to the incident Ronstadt angered guests of the Casino by praising Michael Moore and his Fahrenheit 9/11 movie.
The Grand Ole Opry celebrated "Dukes of Hazzard" Night 2004. Catherine Bock a.k.a. Daisy Duke, Sonny Shroyer a.k.a. Deputy Enos Strate, Rick Hurst a.k.a. Cletus Hogg, and Ben Jones who played Cooter Davenport appeared on stage at the Opry House.
-18-
Walter David "D" Kilpatrick, record company executive/manager of the Grand Ole Opry, Born
Charlotte, NC 1919.
Lonnie Mack born 1941.
Linda Gail Lewis, younger sister of Jerry Lee Lewis, born Ferriday, LA 1947.
Bill Monroe recorded "In The Pines," 1952.
Kitty Well's "It Wasn't God Who Made Honkey Tonk Angels" charted 1952.
Elvis, age 18, went to the Memphis Recording Service, and paid four dollars to record My Happiness/That's When Your Heartaches Begin, on an acetate record 1953.
Mark Jones of "Exile" born Harlan, KY 1954.
Ricky Skaggs born Cordell, KY 1954.
Willie Nelson released "Susie" and "No Dough," 1958.
Johnny Cash recorded his last session at Sun Studio in Memphis 1958.
John Robert Goleman, "Cactus Brothers," born Shreveport, LA 1962.
"Dang Me" became Roger Miller's first #1 hit 1964.
Danny Dill was seriously injured in a car wreck 1974.
Giant Records released Mark Collie's album "Tennessee Plates" 1995.
Curb Records released Junior Brown's "Junior High" 1995.
Combo released Hoyt Axton's album "Lonesome Road" 1995.
Warner Brothers released David Ball's album "Super Hits" 2000.
Mimi Farina, age 56, folk singer and sister of Joan Baez, died in California 2001.
Alan Lomax, producer, age 87, died in Florida 2002.
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William Roy Hardison "Gully Jumpers," born Maury Country, TN 1896.
Fred Kirby, recording artist/deejay, born Charlotte, NC 1910.
Sue Thompson, born Nevada, MO 1926.
George Hamilton IV, "The International Ambassador of Country Music" born Winston-Salem, NC 1937.
Billy Parker, singer/songwriter/country music deejay, born Okemah, OK 1937.
Commander Cody, born George Frayne IV, Ann Arbor, MI 1944.
Bernie Leadon, of the "Eagles" born Minneapolis, MN 1947.
Tex Williams "Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! That Cigarette" went to #1 1947.
Kitty Wells' "It Wasn't God Who Made Honkey Tonk Angels," charted 1952.
SUN Records released Elvis Presley's debut single, (Sun 209) "That's All Right Mama," in 1954.
Johnny Cash recorded "Tennessee Flat-Top Box" 1961.
Ray Charles' "I Can't Stop Loving You" certified gold 1962.
Johnny Rivers recorded "Poor Side of Town," 1966.
Kenny Rogers debuted on the country charts with "Ruby Don't Take Your Love to Town" 1969. Mel Tillis wrote the crossover hit.
Lefty Frizzell, age 47, died in 1975, after suffering a stroke. Lefty joined the Grand Ole Opry 1951. Elected NSHF 1972, and the CMHF 1982.
Johnny Lee's "Lookin' For Love" charted 1980.
"Roy Orbison Day," was celebrated in Odessa, TX 1981.
Dottie West was injured in a car wreck 1991.
Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett's #1 country hit "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" charted 2003.
Heidi Newfield, lead singer for Trick Pony, along with her husband Bill Johnson, were injured in an automobile accident in Destin, FL 2004. Heidi, was released from the hospital the next day, Bill required surgery on his crushed hand.
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