July
-1-
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.
-2-
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.
-3-
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.
-4-
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.
-5-
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.
-6-
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.
-7-
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.
-9-
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.
-10-
"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.
-12-
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.
-13-
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.
-14-
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.
-15-
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.
-19-
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.
-20-
J. E. Mainer, fiddler/band leader/recording artist, born Buncombe County, NC 1898.
Cindy Walker born near Mart, TX 1918. Cindy is a charter member of The Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame (1971.) CMHF 1997, and the Texas CMHF 1998. Cindy is arguably the best female songwriter in Country music history.
Buddy Knox born Happy, TX 1933.
Ralph Rinzler, of "The Greenbriar Boys," and promoter/musician, born Passaic, NJ 1934.
Sleepy LaBeef born Thomas Paulsley LaBeef, Smackover, AR 1935.
Billboard magazine published it's first best selling singles list 1940.
T. G. Sheppard, born "William Neal Browder" in Humbolt, TN 1944.
Kim Carnes born Los Angeles, CA 1945.
Rose Maddox released "My Little Baby," 1959.
Radney Foster, singer/songwriter, born Del Rio, TX 1959.
Faron Young's "Country Girl" charted 1959.
Dave Dudley's single "Six Days On The Road" charted 1963.
Capitol Records released Buck Owens' album "Together Again/My Heart Skips A Beat," 1964.
Willie Nelson's "Stardust" went gold 1978.
Clay Davidson and eight members of his band and crew were injured when their tour bus Crashed in Effingham, IL, in 2001. All were treated and released from a local hospital and immediately returned to Nashville for recovery.
Gary Allan's single "The One" debuted on Billboard's Top 40 chart 2002.
-21-
Ken Maynard, Singing cowboy, born Vevay, IN 1895. The studio press said Ken was born in
Mission, Texas, however that was not true.
Sara Carter born Flat Woods, VA 1898. Sara and the other Original members of the Carter Family were inducted into The Country Music Hall Of Fame in 1970.
Eddie Hill born Delano, TN 1921.
Margaret Whiting born 1924.
Junior Husky, "first team" session bassist, born Knoxville, TN 1928.
Bobby Hicks born 1933.
Lefty Frizzell joined the Grand Ole Opry 1951.
Wanda Jackson released "I Gotta Know," 1956.
Johnny Cash's "I Walk The Line," became his first #1 record 1956.
Sidney Lawrence Cox, "Cox Family," born Homer, LA 1965.
Capitol Records released Buck Owens' single "Tall Dark Stranger" 1969.
Paul Brandt born "Paul Renee Belobersycky, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada 1972.
Jeanne Pruett joined the Grand Ole Opry 1973. Pruett was the last person to become a member of the Opry, on the stage of the Ryman Auditorium, prior to the move to the new Opry House.
Michael Martin Murphey's single "Wildfire," was certified gold 1975.
Charlie Daniels' #1 country hit "The Devil Went Down To Georgia" charted on Billboard's Top 40 in 1979.
ASV released Gene Autry's album "Last Round-Up: 25 Cowboy Classics" 1998.
Tim McGraw's single "Live Like You Were Dying" topped the charts 2004.
-22-
Obed "Dad" Pickard, founder of the "Pickard Family" born 1874.
Ralph Peer of the "Victor Talking Machine Company," now known as RCA Victor Records, arrived in Bristol, Tennessee, in 1927. He constructed a temporary recording studio at 408 State Street. During the next two weeks, Peer, and two engineers, Lynch and Echkart, recorded 19 solo artists and groups. A total of seventy-six recordings were made. Johnny Cash said about the Bristol Sessions: "The recordings in Bristol in 1927, are the single most important event in the history of country music."
Don Henley of the "Eagles" born Gilmer, TX 1947.
Richard Bennett, session guitarist/producer, born Chicago, IL 1951.
Buddy Holly recorded four songs for Decca Records in Nashville 1956.
David Houston's "With One Exception" went to #1 1967.
Sonya Isaacs born 1975.
Loretta Lynn's son, Jack Benny Lynn, drowned in Waverly, TN 1984.
Sammy Kershaw's debut CD "Don't Go Near The Water," certified platinum 1994.
Shania Twain's "Any Man of Mine' becomes her first #1 hit 1995.
Aaron Tippin's "Read Between The Lines," album certified gold 1997.
Bob Ferguson, age 73, songwriter "Wings of A Dove," and producer, died Jackson, MS 2001.
-23-
Eva Overstake of "The Three Little Maids" born Decatur, IL 1918.
Paul Rice, of "The Rice Brothers" born Gainesville, GA 1919.
Ralph Peer of Victor Records, was interviewed by a reporter from the Bristol Herald Courier, about the reason Peer came to Bristol in 1927. The historic Bristol recording sessions would begin two days later.
Johnny Darrell, born "Eddie Rae White" Hopewell, AL 1940.
Tony Joe White born Oak Grove, LA 1943.
The Gene Autry Show debuted on CBS-TV 1950, and ran through August 7, 1956.
Marty Robbins released "Not So Long Ago/I Hope You Learn A Lot" 1963.
Columbia Records released Marty Robbins' "Old Red/Matilda" 1965.
Allison Krauss, born Decatur, IL 1971. Joined the Grand Ole Opry on July 3rd, 1993. IBMA Entertainer of the Year in 1991 & 1995. IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year in 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995.
Shannon Brown, recording artist, born 1973.
Alabama debuts on the charts with "I Want To Be With You Tonight" 1977.
The Oak Ridge Boy's "Fancy Free" album certified gold 1981.
"Pancho and Lefty" went to #1 for Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard 1983.
David Ball's single "Thinkin' Problem" debuted on Billboard's Top 40 Chart 1994.
Liberty Records released Suzy Bogguss's "Give Me Some Wheels" 1996.
Audium released Charlie Daniels' album "Redneck Fiddlin' Man" 2002.
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Arval Albert Hogan, born Robbinsville, NC 1911.
Donald "Red" Blanchard, "WLS National Barn Dance," born Pittsville, WI 1914.
Lawton Williams singer/songwriter born Troy, TN 1922.
The Crook Brothers debuted on WSM's "Barn Dance" 1926. Shortly thereafter, the show was re-named the "Grand Ole Opry." Almost every Saturday night for sixty-two years the Crook Brothers were on stage, entertaining another Opry audience.
The following ad was placed in the Bristol Herald Courier, by a local company that distributed Victrola products. "The Victor Company will have a recording machine in Bristol for ten days beginning Monday, to record records—Inquire at our store." 1927. The following day, the most important recording sessions in the history of country music were began in Bristol, Tennessee. They are know as "The Bristol Sessions."
Max D. Barnes, singer/songwriter, born Hardscratch, IA 1936.
Bob Wills recorded "Cherokee Maiden" 1941.
Chet Atkins, age 17, was employed by WRBL in Columbus, GA 1941.
Roy Acuff announced his intent to run for governor of Tennessee 1948.
Pam Tillis born Plant City, FL 1957.
Johnny Cash recorded "What Do I Care" & "Oh, What A Dream" 1958.
Patsy Cline's #1 country hit "I Fall To Pieces" charted 1961.
Ral Donner's "You Don't Know What You've Got" (Until You Lose it) charted 1961.
Capitol Records released Buck Owens' single "Under The Influence Of Love," 1961. The record peaked at No. 2 on the charts.
Marty Robbins signed with MCA Records 1973.
Lester "Mac" McFarland, age 82, of "Mac & Bob" died 1984.
Reprise Records released Emmylou Harris' "Duets" album 1990.
Gretchen Wilson's album "Here For The Party" topped the charts 2004.
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Walter Brennan, singer/actor, born Swampscott, MA 1894.
Jack Grant of the "Tenneva Ramblers" born Bristol, TN 1903.
Ralph Peer's historic Bristol recording sessions began at 8:30 AM in 1927. Ernest Stoneman,
Kahle Brewer, and Ralph Mooney, recorded "Tell Mother I Love Her," and "Dying Girl's Farewell."
Roy Acuff Jr. singer/songwriter born Nashville, TN 1943.
Steve Goodman wrote "City Of New Orleans," born Chicago, IL 1948.
Lefty Frizzell's debut recording session in 1950.
The Stanley Brothers released "Finger Poppin' Time," in 1960.
Marty Brown, singer/guitarist, born Maceo, KY 1965.
Tommy Duncan, age 56, front man for Bob Wills and The Texas Playboys, died from a heart attack after a show in San Diego, CA 1967.
Hank Newman, age 73, of "The Georgia Crackers" died 1978.
Alabama's #1 single "Feels So Right" debuted on Billboards Top 40 1981.
Keith Whitley's "Don't Close Your Eyes," album certified gold 1989.
Charlie Rich, age 62, died in Hammond, LA 1995. Charlie was found dead in a Hammond, LA motel room. Death was the result of a blood clot in his lungs.
Columbia released Bela Fleck's "Outbound" album 2000.
Varese Records released Noel Boggs' album "The Very Best of Noel Boggs" 2000.
The Ryman Auditorium was officially named a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service 2001.
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Jim Foglesong, producer/record label executive, born Lundale, WV 1922.
Ernest Phillips & "His Holiness Quartet" from Gray, Kentucky, recorded "I Want To Go Where Jesus Is" and six other songs, on the 2nd day of the historic Bristol Sessions in 1927.
Fred Foster, songwriter/record label owner, born Rutherford County, NC 1931.
Gene Autry joined the U. S. Army Air Corp 1942.
Scott Hendricks, producer, born Clinton, OK 1956.
Johnny Cash performed at the Newport Folk Festival, and met Bob Dylan 1964.
Jeannie C. Riley recorded "Harper Valley PTA," 1968.
Buck Owens' cover of Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode" went to #1 1969.
Paul David Kirby, "Cactus Brothers," born Albuquerque, NM 1972.
The Amazing Rhythm Aces single "Third Rate Romance" debuted on Billboards Top 40 1975.
"On The Other Hand" becomes Randy Travis' first #1 1986.
Epic released Joe Diffie's "Third Rock From the Sun" 1994.
"Here For The Party" Gretchen Wilson's debut CD topped the charts 2004.
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Clark W. Kessinger, fiddler for the Kessinger Brothers, born South Hills, WV 1896.
Henry D. "Homer" Haynes, of Homer & Jethro, born Knoxville, TN 1920.
Velma Williams Smith, singer/country comedy/bassist/session guitarist, born Logan County, KY 1924.
Charlie Poole & The North Carolina Ramblers had their first recording session 1925.
Annie Lou Dill born Skull Bone, TN 1925. Member Grand Ole Opry.
Uncle Eck Dunford & Hattie Stoneman recorded "What Will I Do, For My Money's All Gone," and three other songs, at the morning Bristol recording session 1927.
Bobbie Gentry born "Roberta Lee Streeter" in Chickasaw County, MS 1944.
The Spade Cooley Show debuted on CBS-TV 1951.
Duncan Cameron, "Sawyer Brown," born Utica, NY 1956.
Bill Engvall, comedian, born Galveston, TX 1957.
Johnny Horton released "Johnny Reb" 1959.
Johnny Cash's "Ring Of Fire" went to #1 1963.
Stacy Dean Campbell singer/songwriter, born Carlsbad, NM 1967.
Merle Haggard released "Mama Tried," 1968.
Capitol Records released Buck Owens & Susan Raye's "The Great White Horse" 1970.
LeAnn Rimes, age 13, recorded her debut album "Blue" in 1996. The album went to #1, and remained there for twenty-eight weeks.
Collectables released "Dreamin': Very Best Of Johnny Burnette" in 1999, thirty-five years after his death.
Tim McGraw's single "Live Like You Were Dying" remained at # 1 in 2004.
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Buddy Spicher, session fiddle player, born Dubois, PA 1938.
Harold Burkett of "The Four Guys" born Steubenville, OH 1939.
Jonathan Edwards, Bluegrass singer/songwriter/guitarist/harmonica born Aitkin, NN 1946.
Gene Vincent appeared on the "Perry Como Show," 1956.
Jerry Lee Lewis debuted on national TV, on the "Steve Allen Show," 1957.
Marty Robbins released "Its Your World/You Told Me So" 1961.
Bill Anderson's first No. 1 "Mama Sang A Song" debuted on the charts 1962.
Charlie Pride recorded "Kiss An Angel Good Morning," 1971.
Ralph Emery conducted his last all night radio show on WSM 1972.
Donna Fargo scores her fourth straight #1 single "You Were Always There" 1973.
Earl Thomas Conley's "Angel In Disguise" went to #1 1984.
Arista released Diamond Rio's album "Unbelievable" 1998.
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Web Pierce recorded "Back Street Affair" 1952.
Pete Cassell, age 36, a blind country singer-songwriter died 1954.
Johnny Cash recorded "Folsom Prison Blues," on SUN, 1955.
The Owen Bradley Quintet, featuring the Anita Kerr Quartet, debuted on Billboards Top 40 Chart with "White Silver Sands" 1957.
Cindy Cash was born in Memphis, to Johnny Cash and Vivian Liberto Cash 1958.
Patsy Cline made her first public appearance on stage, since the automobile accident that seriously injured her in 1961. Patsy used crutches to reach the microphone, and thanked her fans for the thousands of cards, and letters that she had received. Patsy was almost killed, when she was thrown through the windshield of the car she was driving on a Nashville street.
Martina McBride born Sharon, KS 1966.
Barbara Mandrell joined the Grand Ole Opry 1972.
Pete Drake, age 55, steel guitarist/producer, died Nashville, TN 1988.
Mercury released John Anderson's album "Takin' the Country Back" 1997.
RCA released Clint Black's "Nothin' But the Taillights" 1997.
Anita Carter, age 66, "Carter Sisters," died, Goodlettsville, TN 1999.
Neko Case released her album "Blacklisted" 2002.
DMZ Columbia released Rodney Crowell's album "Fate's Right Hand" 2003.
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Charlie Bowman, "The Hill Billies," born Gray Station, TN 1889.
Buddy Guy, guitarist, born Lettsworth, LA 1936.
Chris Darrow, vocals/violin/guitar/mandolin born Sioux Falls, SD 1944.
Elvis Presley made his first advertised concert appearance on the Slim Whitman Show, at the Overton Park Band Shell in Memphis, TN 1954. Another unknown artist on the show that day was Marty Robbins.
Patsy Cline released "Honky Tonk Merry Go Round," 1955.
Johnny Cash recorded "Folsom Prison Blues" 1955.
Brenda Lee's first recording session completed 1956.
Neal McCoy born "Hubert Neal McGauhey Jr." in Jacksonville, TX 1958
Danny Roberts, mandolin, of "New Tradition" born Louisville, KY 1963.
Alabama's "Mountain Music," album certified quadruple platinum 1985.
Martina McBride's, "My Baby Loves Me," charted in 1993.
Steve Hugel, age 57, bandleader for Ace Cannon, died 2001.
Sam Phillips, age 80, founder of SUN Records, died in Memphis 2003.
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Bonnie Brown, "The Browns," born Sparkman, AR 1937.
Steve Gibson, session guitarist/producer, born Peoria, IL 1952.
Chad Brock professional wrestler/singer, born Ocala, Fl 1963.
Jim Reeves, age 39, killed in plane crash near Nashville, TN 1964. Jim was flying the plane. Also killed in the crash was his pianist Dean Manuel. Inducted CMHF 1967.
WSM personality Haril Hensley, took over the all night radio show "Opry Star Spotlight," from Ralph Emery 1972. Emery took over the show in 1957, and under his guidance, it became one of the all-time favorite radio shows in country music history.
Thomas "Thumbs" Carlisle, age 56, died 1987.
Alan Jackson's "Chattahoochee" topped the charts 1993.
Ramblin Jimmie Dolan, age 77, died 1994.
Joe Diffie's single "A Night To Remember" charted 1999.
Chad Brock's single "Ordinary Life" debuted on Billboard's Top 40 Chart 1999.
Leona Williams underwent cancer surgery in Branson, MO 2001.
Curb Records released Junior Brown's "Mixed Bag" 2001.
Delta Disc released the Bellamy Brothers album "The 25 Year Collection, Vol. 2" 2001.
Ryan Tyler debuted on the Grand Ole Opry 2004.
OTHER MONTHS
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****This Country Music History Calendar is reprinted with permission from the original work copyrighted
by Bill Morrison © 2005.
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