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
"March"
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1898 - Laurence Lemarr Brasfield 1898-
1966, a.k.a. "Uncle Cyp" of Uncle Cyp & Aunt Sap was born in Smithville, Mississippi.
Brasfield's wife, Neva was Aunt Sap. Uncle Cyp & Aunt Sap entertained for decades, and were cast members of the
Ozark Jubilee in Springfield, Missouri. Cyp's younger brother was Grand Ole Opry comedian Rod Brasfield. Both Cyp & Sap were Kentucky Colonels.
1952 -
Uncle Dave Macon made his last Grand Ole Opry appearance.
He became sick after the show and died three weeks later in a Murfreesboro, hospital.
1952 -
Faron Young's
first Capitol recording session was held today. Faron's first Capitol hit single was his self--penned "Goin' Steady" which charted in January, 1953 and climbed to #2.
1957 -
Buck Owens signed with Capital Records in Hollywood.
1957 -
Kristine Oliver of
Sweethearts of the Rodeo was born in Manhattan Beach, California. Kristine Oliver and Leonard Arnold were married January 26, 1980.
1957 - The Everly Brothers recorded their first sides for Cadence Records.
"Bye Bye Love" and "I Wonder If I Care As Much," were recorded in Nashville, and written by the husband and wife team of Boudleaux and Felice Bryant.
Bye Bye Love became the Everly's first #1 hit, and has been chosen as a Grammy Hall of Fame record.
1958 - Buddy Holly & the Crickets played the first concert of their British tour.
1961 -
Davis Daniel, Mercury recording artist, born Robert Andrykowski in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Davis charted 7 hits on the country charts from 1991-1995.
1963 - Sara Hickman, singer, songwriter, and guitarist born Jacksonville, North Carolina.
1964 -
Jennifer McCarter of "The McCarters," born in Sevierville, Tennessee.
1965 -
Capitol Records released Buck Owens' album "I've Got A Tiger By The Tail."
1966 -
Clinton Gregory, singer, fiddler, guitar, drums, banjo, and bass born in Martinsville, Virginia.
1968 -
Columbia Records released "The Man In Black's" album "Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison." The album went to #1, and remained on the Country Album chart for almost two years.
1968 -
Johnny Cash and June Carter were married in Franklin, Kentucky. Merle Kilgore was John's Best Man.
1969 -
Barbara Mandrell signed her
first, major label contract, with Columbia Records.
1970 -
The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour featured guests Raymond Burr, Ella Fitzgerald, Charles Manna and Neil Diamond.
1972 - Merle Haggard was granted a full pardon by California Gov. Ronald Reagan.
1973 - MCA Records began operations in Universal City, California.
1975 - The 17th Annual Grammy Awards were presented this evening. In the Country Music category winners included: Record
"I Honestly Love You" Olivia Newton-John; Female Vocal Performance Ann Murray "Love Song." ; Male Vocal Performance
Ronnie Milsap "Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends."; Best Country Song "A Very Special Love Sing" songwriters Norro Wilson and Billy Sherrill;
Best Gospel Performance The Oak Ridge Boys "The Baptism of Jesse Taylor: Best Traditional Recording "Two Days In November" Doc & Merle Watson.
1976 -
Dave Kapp 1904-1976, songwriter, publisher, and founder of Kapp Records, died at the age of 71.
1977 -
Hank Williams' MGM album "24 Greatest Hits" was certified Gold by the RIAA.
1884 -
Otto Gray 1884-1967, born in South Dakota. Otto Gray was the first Western artist honored on the cover of Billboard magazine.
1907 -
Arkie The Arkansas Woodchopper 1907-1981, singer, piano, guitarist and member of the WLS National Barn Dance, was born Luther W. Ossenbrink near Knob Noster, Missouri.
1923 -
Arthel Lane "Doc" Watson, singer, songwriter, guitar and banjo, an American treasure, born in Deep Gap, North Carolina.
1929 -
George Bingham and his Hogwallow Band made their
debut on the Grand Ole Opry. It would be their last appearance.
1949 -
Hank Williams recorded "Honky Tonk Blues."
1957 -
Patsy Cline's "Walkin' After Midnight" hit the country chart.
1958 -
The Everly Brothers appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show.
1959 -
Larry Stewart, lead singer "Restless Heart," born in Paducah, Kentucky.
1959 -
Johnny Cash left Sun Records in 1958, moved his family to the left coast and signed with Columbia. As soon as Columbia released Cash's first single, Sun began releasing John's songs that they had not released prior to his contract running out. Today Sun Records released
Johnny Cash's single "Luther Played The Boogie" b/w "Thanks A Lot." Both sides of this single charted. Sun continued to release singles by Cash into the 1970's.
.
1960 -
Elvis Presley flew from Germany to Scotland (for refueling) and then home to America, after completing his military service. Elvis never appeared in concert outside the
U.S. His manager Col. Tom Parker (a former carnival huckster) was an illegal immigrant and as a result was unable to apply for a passport.
1964 -
Jim & Jesse McReynolds became members of the Grand Ole Opry.
1967 -
The 9th Annual Grammy Awards were presented this evening. Jeannie Seely won a Grammy for "Don't Touch Me." Other Country Music Grammy winners this year include David Houston, Billy Sherrill-Glen Sutton (songwriters), Anita Kerr Singers, Porter Wagoner & the Blackwood Brothers, and Ray Charles.
1974 -
The 16th Annual Grammy Awards were presented in California. Winners in the Country Music category included: Olivia Newton-John Best Female Vocal Performance "Let Me Be There" MCA; Charlie Rich
Best Male Vocal Performance "Behind Closed Doors" Epic/Columbia; Kris Kristofferson & Rita Coolidge Best Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group
"From the Bottle to the Bottom" A & M; Eric Weissberg & Steve Mandell Best Instrumental Performance "Dueling Banjos" Epic; Kenny O'Dell (songwriter)
Best Country Song "Behind Closed Doors."; Doc Watson Best Ethnic or Traditional Recording "Then and Now" United Artists. NOTE: Grammy Awards are presented for music released the previous year. 1973's music awards are presented in 1974.
1984 -
The Whites became members of the Grand Ole Opry. In 2007 they remain one of the Opry fans favorites. Two members of the group are lovely, talented ladies. The third member is not lovely, on the outside anyway, however Buck White is one of the best men to ever set foot on the stage of what use to be the best showcase for country music on the planet. To know him, is to love him. God bless you Buck.
1984 -
Roy Hall 1922-1984, age 61, Rockabilly pioneer died in Nashville.
1987 -
Country Music was well represented this evening at the Grammy Awards Show. Reba McEntire, Ronnie Milsap, The Judds, Ricky Skaggs, Jamie O'Hara (songwriter), and Doc Watson received the highly prized Grammy Awards, and the Hall of Fame Award went to
"Blue Suede Shoes" by Carl Perkins released on Sun Records in 1956; and "Cool Water" by the Sons of the Pioneers released on Decca in 1941. These recordings will now by referred to as Grammy Hall of Fame recordings for all time.
1988 -
Grammy Awards went to K.T. Oslin, Randy Travis, Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, Ronnie Milsap, Kenny Rogers, Asleep At The Wheel, Don Schlitz and Paul Overstreet (songwriters).
Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to Roy Acuff, Hank Williams, and Ray Charles.
1990 -
Keith Whitley's Video for his RCA single
"I Wonder Do You Think of Me" was certified Gold by the RIAA.
1995 -
Vern Gosdin was hospitalized and underwent quintuple heart bypass surgery in October of 1990, and suffered a stroke today. Later, while driving home from a meeting in June of 1999, Gosdin suffered a second stroke. Columbia Records cut him from their roster not long after he had the stroke in 1995.
1996 -
Martina McBride's RCA single "Wild Angels," became her
first #1 record.
1998 -
Capitol Records released Steve Wariner's single "Holes In The Floor Of Heaven." The song charted a few days later, and topped out at #2. The songs was honored by the CMA as their Single of the Year.
1999 -
Sony released Moe Bandy's album "Super Hits."
1999 -
Rounder released Rosie Flores' album "Dance Hall Dreams."
2001 - Lonnie
Glosson, age 93, singer, songwriter died in Searcy, Arkansas.
2001 -
Singer-songwriter Guy Wood, age 89, died in New York City. Guy wrote "Rock-a-Bye Baby."
2002 -
The new Delta Music Museum Hall of Fame opened in Ferriday, Louisiana. Jerry Lee Lewis, Mickey Gilley, and Jimmy Swaggart were among the first inductees.
2002 -
The CMA honored the Women of Country Music, during a luncheon for the "Country Radio Seminar," at the Nashville Convention Center. Four former CMA Female Vocalist of the Year winners were honored. Lynn Anderson 1971
, Tanya Tucker 1991, Trisha Yearwood 1997/1998, and Martina McBride 1999.
2004 -
The Whites celebrated their 20th anniversary as members of the Grand Ole Opry.
2005 -
Joe Carter, co-founder of the Carter Family Fold, and son of
A.P. & Sara Carter, died at age 78.
2006 -
Jim & Jesse McReynolds became members of the Grand Ole Opry 42 years ago today. Jim Passed away in 2002.
2007 -
The CRS (Country Radio Seminar) --38 "New Faces Show" featured Rodney Atkins, Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, Taylor Swift and Jack Ingram. The Show was hosted by Kix Brooks and sponsored by Radio and Records, ABC Radio Network and The Country Music Association.
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1904 -
Carrie Cash 1904-1991, mother of Johnny Cash was born on this date.
1909
- Johnny Barfield, Bluebird Recording artist, was born in Tifton, Georgia.
1922 -
Jimmy Heap 1922-1977, Western Swing bandleader, singer, songwriter, guitarist and member of the Big D Jamboree in Dallas, was born in Taylor, Texas.
1951 -
Bob DiPiero singer, songwriter was born in Youngstown, Ohio. Bob moved to Nashville in 1979 and found work as a session, and road musician. Eventually concentrating on his songwriting paid off for Bob. He was inducted into the NSHF in 2007.
1958 -
Johnny Cash sat atop the charts with "Ballad of a Teenage Queen."
1959 -
Lefty Frizzell recorded "The Long Black Veil" 1959.
1961 -
William Hewlett Chitwood 1888-1961, of "The Georgia Yellow Hammers," died at age 72.
1963 -
A fund raising concert for the family of Kansas City D.J. "Cactus Jack" Call, who was killed in a traffic accident was held today. Artists who volunteered their time, and paid for their own transportation included: Dottie West, Patsy Cline,
Billy Walker, Hawkshaw Hawkins, George Jones, Cowboy Copas and Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper. Three of these top country artists would not make it back to Nashville alive.
1966 -
Buck Owens' "Waitin' In Your Welfare Line" topped the charts.
1970 -
John Carter Cash, son of Johnny and June Carter Cash was born in Madison, Tennessee.
1971 -
Ray Price's Columbia album "For The Good Times" was certified Gold by the RIAA.
1971 -
Brent Warren singer, songwriter of the Warren Brothers
was born in Tampa, Florida.
1973 -
Wanda Jackson, Frankie Laine, and Tony Booth were featured guests on "Hee Haw."
1973 -
The 15th Annual Grammy Awards provided a great deal of happiness to the following Country Music artists this evening: Donna Fargo, Charley Pride, The Statler Brothers, Charlie McCoy, Ben Peters (songwriter), Elvis Presley, and Tom T. Hall..
1979 -
PBS television broadcast a live Grand Ole Opry show.
1980
- Waylon Jennings album "What Goes Around," was certified Gold by the RIAA
1983 -
Allen Massey 1907-1983, age 75, of "Louise Massey & the Westerners" died in Texas.
1984 -
Roy Hall 1922-1984,
Rockabilly singer, songwriter, and pianist died at age 61.
1986 -
Dwight Yoakam's
first album "Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc." was released on the Reprise label. The album charted the following month and went to #1. Every album that Dwight has ever recorded has made the Top 10. One day soon the boy needs to go to work on his personality.
1986 -
Boudleaux and Felice Bryant were inducted into the National Songwriters Hall Of Fame, In New York City. This husband and wife team was the first songwriters to move to Nashville, for the sole purpose of making their living by writing songs.
1989 -
Al Clauser 1911-1989, Western Swing bandleader, songwriter, and guitarist, died at the age of 78.
1990 -
The Highwaymen toured for the
first time from the 3rd through the 17th. The opening venue for the tour was played in the Houston Astrodome.
1994 -
Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson opened their Australia and New Zeland tour.
1996 -
Kyle Bailes 1915-1996, of the "Bailes Brothers," died at the age of 80.
2001 -
Jessica Andrews #1 single "Who I Am" debuted on Billboard's Top 40 Chart.
2001 -
Diamond Rio's #1 hit "One More Day" charted.
2002 -
George Strait played the last concert ever held at the Astrodome in Houston. 68,000 fans were in attendance, including President Bush #41 and Barbara. The show was recorded for a live album.
2002 -
Harlan Howard 1927-2002, age 74, the "Dean of Country Songwriters," and a U.S Army Paratrooper, died in Nashville today, and Music City went into mourning. Harlan was laid to rest in the Old Nashville City Cemetery, Nashville, Tennessee. He was inducted into the NSHF in 1973 and the CMHF in 1997. Just as a reminder of the genius this man possessed, and the extraordinary music he left behind for us, here are a few examples of songs Harlan wrote, or co-wrote. These songs were tearfully taken from a list provided by the Nashville songwriters Hall of Fame website.
www.nashvillesongwritersfoundation.com
"Heartaches By the Number" * "I Fall to Pieces" * "The Chokin Kind" * "Busted" * "Why Not Me" * "Pick Me Up On Your Way Down" * "I Don't Believe I'll Fall in Love Today" * "I've Got a Tiger By the Tail" * "Somebody Should Leave" * "Life Turned Her That Way" * "Streets of Baltimore" * "Foolin' Around" * "No Charge" * "Excuse Me (I Think I've Got a Heartache)" * "Second Hand Rose" * "She's a Little Bit Country" * "The Key's in the Mailbox" *
and thousands more. Thank you Harlan Howard. Can there be a better gift than a great Country song? I pray that our grandchildren will be able to discover the music that you and I grew up with. How sad to know that a few greedy men were able to make this music go away, and replace it with what comes out of Rock Pop, Tennessee, today.
2005 -
The Academy of Country Music announced the nominations for this years awards show. Tim McGraw led the field with six nominations, Alison Krauss has five.
2007 -
The first leg of George Strait's arena tour was completed this evening in Denver, Colorado. The tour began on January 11th in Lafayette, Louisiana.
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1928 -
Frank Jones 1928-2005, music executive, born in Toronto, Canada.
1932 -
Betty Jack Davis 1932-1953, one half of the legendary Davis Sisters,
was born in Corbin, Kentucky. She and singing partner Mary Francis Penick a.k.a. Skeeter Davis met in High School and formed their act. In 1952 the girls appeared on numerous radio stations, including WJR in Detroit. They were signed to a recording contract by RCA Victor in 1953, and were scheduled to appear on the Grand Ole Opry. On August 1, 1953 the Davis Sisters appeared on the Wheeling Jamboree. On their way home they were involved in a car wreck in Cincinnati, Ohio, that took the life of Betty Jack Davis, and seriously injured Skeeter. Betty died as a result of her injuries on August 2, 1953, at the age of 21. Less than two weeks later the girls RCA single
"I Forgot More That You'll Ever Know" hit the Billboard charts, and went to #1. The Cecil Null penned song remained on the charts for 26 weeks, 8 of those weeks at #1, however, Betty never knew. Betty Jack Davis was laid to rest at Highland Cemetery, in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky.
1934 - John
Duffey 1934-1996, bluegrass singer, and mandolin player, of The Country
Gentlemen,
and later Seldom Seen, was born in Washington D.C.
1949 -
Carroll Baker singer, songwriter, born in Port Medway, Nova Scotia, Canada.
1951 -
Eddy Arnold's "There's Been a Change in Me" topped the charts.
1954 -
Bill Chapman Bluegrass musician was born on this date.
1957 -
Marty Robbins released "A White Sport Coat" b/w "Grown Up Tears."
1962 -
Catherine Irwin of "Freakwater," born in New Haven, Connecticut.
1967 -
Johnny Cash and June Carter's "Jackson," charted.
1968 -
The Academy of Country Music Third Annual Awards Show was presented from the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles. Awards presented this evening represent work product produced the previous year (1967). The winners:
Female Vocalist Lynn Anderson; Male Vocalist Glen Campbell; Vocal Group Sons of the Pioneers;
Vocal Duet Merle Haggard & Bonnie Owens; Song Of The Year "It's Such A Pretty World Today" Dale Noe songwriter;
Album "Gentle on My Mind" Glen Campbell; Most Promising Female Vocalist Bobbie Gentry; Most Promising Male Vocalist Jerry Inman:
Musician Category Best Fiddle player Billy Armstrong; Steel Guitar Red Rhodes; Keyboards Earl Ball;
Bass Red Wooten; Guitar Jimmy Bryant; Drums Pee Wee Adams;
Best Touring Band Buck Owens & the Buckaroos; Nightclub Palomino Club. Personal Observation:
The CMA could learn a great deal from the ACM, if they had any interest at all in improving the method, and the reason, they honor people in Nashville. You CAN NOT ignore the songwriters, and the musicians and be a viable representative of the Country Music industry. Without those people there would not be any music. Money has always trumped common sense in Cashville. Build a house on that kind of foundation...and eventually your house will come tumbling down. Traditional Country Music
R.I.P.
1969 -
Tom T. Hall recorded "A Week In A Country Jail" b/w "Strawberry Farms."
1970 -
Wanda Jackson and Sonny James were featured guests on
"Hee Haw."
1970 -
Johnny Cash's ABC-TV show featured guests Roger Miller, the Carter Family, Statler Brothers, and Carl Perkins.
1972 -
Tom T. Hall and Susan Raye were featured guests on "Hee Haw."
1972 -Tammy Wynette's "Bedtime Story" was country music's #1 record.
1973 - The 15th Annual Grammy Awards were presented this evening in California. Winners in the Country Music category include:
Female Vocal Donna Fargo "Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A." Male Vocal Charley Pride
"Charley Pride Sing Heart Songs" album; Best Group or Duo The Statler Brothers "Class of '57"; Instrumental Performance Charlie McCoy;
Best Song "Kiss An Angel Good Mornin'" songwriter Ben Peters; Best Gospel Performance Blackwood Brothers "Love."
1973 - Calvin Scott Stoneman 1932-1973, of the "Stoneman Family," died at age 40.
1975 -
Cal Smith's MCA single
"It's Time to Pay the Fiddler" was #1.
1975 -
The First Annual People's Choice Awards were presented this evening from
the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. Favorite Female Musical Performer "Olivia Newton-John; Favorite Male Musical Performer "Mac Davis." Other winners included John Wayne, Carol Burnett, Mary Tyler Moore and the Osmond Brothers. The 34
th Annual Show will be broadcast in 2008.
1978 -
PBS televised the Grand Ole Opry live. This was the first time the show was ever presented live on television.
1980 - "
Coal Miner's Daughter," the movie, premiered in Nashville. Loretta Lynn thought she was the worst dressed person to attend the event.
1981 -
Mac Davis' Casablanca album "It's Hard to Be Humble" was certified Gold by the RIAA.
1983 -
George Jones and Nancy Sepulveda were married in Woodville, Texas. This was the brightest day in the history of Classic Country Music. Thank You Nancy’Ķfor giving our favorite singer back to us.
1984 -
Toby Keith and wife Tricia were married. They have three children, and live on a horse ranch near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
1996 -
Minnie Pearl, age 83, died from cancer in Nashville, Tennessee. Minnie joined the Grand
Ole Opry in 1940, and was a cast member on the
Hee Haw TV-Show. Inducted into the CMHF in
1975. This dear lady was laid to rest in Mount Hope Cemetery, Franklin, Tennessee. Minnie's
absence from Music City left a tremendous void that will never be filled.
1999 - Eddie Dean 1907-1999, age 91, a.k.a.
Edgar Dean Glosup singer, songwriter, and actor, wrote "I Dreamed Of A Hillbilly Heaven," died in Los Angeles, California. He was inducted into the Cowboy Hall of Fame 1993. Eddie Dean was laid to rest in Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Memorial Park, in Westlake Village, California.
2003 -
RCA released Lester Flatt "RCA Country Legends."
2004 -
Brad Paisley was named the "Country Radio Broadcasters" Humanitarian of the Year.
2005 -
The Chieftains performed with the Nashville Symphony at the Tennessee performing Arts
Center the 4th-5th.
2005 - Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers were the featured artists at the Boulder Station Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
2005 -
The Grand Ole Opry returned to the Grand Ole Opry House. No longer able to fill the seats at the much larger Opry House in the winter months, the show has moved back to the Ryman Auditorium every fall for the past few years. The new Pop-Rock style of country music featured at the Opry won't fill the seats anymore. Who wants to pay those high prices to see bald guys wearing cowboy hats, and girls wearing almost nothing, and all the time knowing, you're not going to hear much real country music once you get to your over priced seat. Country Music
R.I.P.
2006 -
Lyric Street Records newcomer Trent Tomlinson made his first guest appearance on the Grand Ole Opry.
2008 -
Alan Jackson's next Arista Nashville album, "Good Time,"
is scheduled to be released.
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1911 -
Jesse Rodgers, singer, cousin of Jimmie Rodgers, born Waynesboro, Mississippi.
1918 -
Murray Nash 1918-2000, record company executive, born Campbell, Nebraska.
1925 -
Jimmy Bryant 1925-1980, guitar, fiddle, singer, songwriter, and actor, born John Ivy Bryant Jr. in Moultrie, Georgia. Wrote "Only Daddy That'll Walk The Line," for Waylon Jennings. Jimmy was a top session guitarist in Los Angeles, and played on many of the stars recording sessions. While Jimmy was a member of the Sons of the Pioneers, he appeared in 12 of Roy Rogers movies, and signed a contract
with Republic Studios as an actor. Jimmy joined Roy Rogers' Radio Show from 1949-1953. In 1954 Jimmy joined the cast of Cliffie Stones Hometown Jubilee TV-Show in Hollywood.
He remained with that show for eleven years. Nicknamed " The Fastest Guitar in the Country" Jimmy began recording with steel guitarist Speedy West, and they recorded over a dozen singles together, and were named "Best Instrumental Group" in a poll conducted with disc jockeys.
1927 -
M. H. Bowers fiddler, and String band leader along with W. B. Kingery, M. R. Hughes, Tom Givens, and W. B. McKay, Made their
first, and last appearance on the WLS Barn Dance.
1939 -
Raymond Fairchild singer, banjo, guitarist and recording artist, born Cherokee, North Carolina. Nicknamed
"King of the Smoky Mountain Banjo Players."
1949 -
Hank Williams' single "Lovesick Blues," charted. After going to #1, it remained in the top spot for 16 weeks.
1952 -
Webb Pierce's Decca single "Wondering" topped the charts. This was Webb's
first chart hit, and his first #1. He was a cast member of the Louisiana Hayride, and then joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1955. West Monroe, Louisiana's favorite son was inducted into the CMHF in 2001.
1954 -
George Wilkerson 1895-1954, age 58, founder of the Grand Ole Opry's "Fruit Jar Drinkers, died today.
1960 -
Sgt. Elvis Presley was discharged from the U. S. Army.
1960 -
Jim Reeves' RCA Victor single "He'll Have to Go" was #1 on the country charts. This was Jim's 5th #1. The record has been added to the Grammy Hall of Fame.
1963 - Patsy Cline 1932-1963, age 30, was killed in a plane crash near Camden, Tennessee. Patsy was a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Inducted into the CMHF 1973. Also killed in the crash were Cowboy Copas 1913-1963, age 49, Hawkshaw Hawkins 1921-1963, age 41, and Patsy's manager, Randy Hughes 1928-1963, age 34. Hughes was flying the plane. He was also Cowboy Copas' son-in-law, and Hawkins was married to Jean Shepard. Patsy Cline was laid to rest in Shenandoah Memorial Park, Winchester, Virginia. Hughes, Copas, and Hawkins were laid to rest in Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens, in Goodlettsville, Tennessee.
During a sixteen-month period ranging from March 5th, 1963 to July 31st
, 1964 the Grand Ole Opry Family lost the following:
3-5-63 Patsy
Cline, Cowboy Copas, Hawkshaw Hankins and Randy Hughes, all
died near Camden, Tennessee in a plane crash.
3-7-63 Jack
Anglin of "Johnny & Jack," was killed in a car wreck en route to
Patsy Clines memorial service.
3-29-63 Texas Ruby, age 52, died in a trailer fire near Nashville.
7-31-64
Jim Reeves and Dean Manuel were killed in a plane crash near Nashville.
1964 -
Johnny Cash recorded "Ballad of Ira Hayes."
1968 -
Sydney Nathan 1903-1968, record company executive and founder of King Records died at age 64.
1969 -
The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour featured guests Bobby Goldsboro and Joe South.
1973 -
Capitol Records released Buck Owens' single "Ain't It Amazing, Gracie" b/w "The Good Ol' Days (Are Here Again)"
1973 -
Wildcountry a.k.a. Alabama made their debut appearance, at the Bowery Club in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. They learned their trade for the next seven years at this popular watering hole.
1975 -
Olivia Newton-John
's MCA single "Have You Never Been Mellow" was certified Gold by the RIAA.
1976 -
Waylon & Willie were #1 with their self penned RCA single "Good Hearted Woman." The record was named the CMA's Single of the Year. The two outlaws had several hit duets prior to their falling out. Willie did not attend Waylon's funeral in Arizona, or his Memorial Service at the Ryman Auditorium. Mama's’Ķdon't let you babies grow up to be outlaws.
1976 -
Johnny Cash recorded
"One Piece At A Time" in Nashville. Charlie Bragg and Don Davis produced the session, W. Kemp wrote the song. Session personnel included Johnny Cash-vocals & guitar; Bob Wooton-guitar; Marshall Grant-bass;
W.S. Holland-drums; Jack Routh-guitar, Jerry Hensley-guitar; Larry McCoy-piano.
1977 -
Glen Campbell's #1 Capitol single "Southern Nights" charted. Allen Toussaint wrote the song. This was Glen's 5
th #1.
1979 -
MCA Records purchased, and then closed ABC Records.
1980 -
Warner Bros. released Buck Owens' single "Love Is A Warm Cowboy" b/w "I Don't Want To Live In San Francisco."
1984 -
Exile topped the charts with "Woke up in Love" 1984.
1991 - MCA released Vince Gill's album
"Pocket Full Of Gold." That's exactly what this album became for the Gill household. The album sold millions of units.
1995 -
The People's Choice Awards were presented this evening. Reba McEntire won Favorite Female Country Performer, and some guy named Garth won
Favorite Male Country Performer. The awards presented this evening represent the music that was released last year...1994.
1996 -
Warner Bros. released Steve Earl's "I Feel Alright" 1996
1997 -
Zeke Campbell of the "Light Crust Doughboys," died today.
2004 -
Anna Carter Davis 1917-2004, age 87, died in Fort Worth, T
