OCTOBER 19
1945: Jeannie C. Riley was born in Anson, TX. She recorded “Harper Valley P.T.A.” as a secretary in 1968 and was immediately launched into public consciousness. The single about suburban hypocrisy sold millions of copies, becoming her signature hit.
1952: Charlie Chase was born in Rogersville, TN. Teamed with Lorianne Crook, he became a significant TV personality promoting country music, best known for the syndicated show “Crook & Chase.”
1958: Brenda Lee recorded “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” at the Bradley Film & Recording Studio in Nashville.
1963: Buck Owens attained the #1 spot on the Billboard country chart with “Love’s Gonna Live Here.”
1969: Kris Kristofferson and Shel Silverstein wrote “Once More With Feeling.” Jerry Lee Lewis recorded the song the next day.
1973: The Los Angeles Times reported the Academy of Country & Western Music had voted to rename the organization the Academy of Country Music.
1978: Con Hunley recorded “Since I Fell For You” at the Columbia Recording Studios in Nashville.
1984: Willie Nelson was the first country artist to receive triple-platinum albums, recognizing three million shipments each of “Stardust” and “Always On My Mind.”
1992: BNA released Lorrie Morgan’s “Watch Me” album.
1995: George Jones & Tammy Wynette performed the only full-fledged Nashville concert of their career, uniting on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry House.
1997: On stage at the Grand Ole Opry, Vince Gill honored his late friend and influence, John Denver. Vince played “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” and invited the audience to sing along.
1998: The House of Representatives passed a resolution recognizing Bristol, TN, as the birthplace of country music, honoring the 1927 sessions that yielded the first recordings of Jimmie Rodgers, Ernest Stoneman and The Carter Family.
2011: Scotty McCreery performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” before game 1 of the World Series at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. The Cardinals win the opener, 3-2, against the Texas Rangers, partially owned by Charley Pride.
