Mar 11, 1845
Fiddler Henry Gilliland is born in Jasper County, Missouri. He joins Eck Robertson for the first country recording session in 1922
Mar 11, 1903
Bandleader and accordion player Lawrence Welk is born in Strasburg, North Dakota. Noted for his “champagne music,” he achieves a country hit in 1945 by having Red Foley sing on his recording of “Shame On You”
Mar 11, 1939
Tex-Mex accordion player Flaco Jimenez is born in San Antonio. He plays a significant role in the Buck Owens & Dwight Yoakam hit “Streets Of Bakersfield” and joins the all-star band The Texas Tornados, which includes Freddy Fender
Mar 11, 1944
Songwriter Graham Lyle is born in Bellshill, Scotland. Best known for the songs he lands with Tina Turner, he also writes Don Williams’ “Stay Young,” Ronnie Milsap’s “Button Off My Shirt” and Eddy Raven’s “Joe Knows How To Live”
Mar 11, 1955
Jimmy Fortune is born in Nelson County, Virginia. He replaces Lew DeWitt in The Statler Brothers in 1982, writing their hits “Elizabeth” and “My Only Love.” The Statlers enter the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2008
Mar 11, 1963
Banjo player David Talbot is born. A founder of the bluegrass band The Grascals, he appears on the Reba McEntire single “I’m Gonna Take That Mountain”
Mar 11, 1969
After 25 years as a bluegrass duo, Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs split up
Mar 11, 1970
“A Boy Named Sue” is a double-winner during the 12th annual Grammy Awards, bringing Johnny Cash Best Country Vocal Performance, Male; and bringing songwriter Shel Silverstein Best Country Song
Mar 11, 1974
Ray Stevens records “The Streak” in Nashville
Mar 11, 1975
Jerry Lee Lewis attacks a female fan with a fiddle bow when he performs at Bad Bob’s Lounge in Memphis. She files a $100,000 suit against him, though ultimately a judge fines him $25 for the attack–and fines her $15 for breaking the bow
Mar 11, 1976
Ronnie Milsap records “(I’m A) Stand By My Woman Man” in Nashville
Mar 11, 1977
Merle Haggard records “If We’re Not Back In Love By Monday”
Mar 11, 1980
Casablanca releases the Mac Davis album “It’s Hard To Be Humble”
Mar 11, 1981
A Nashville court dismisses a 10-year-old suit filed against Loretta Lynn by her former managers, The Wilburn Brothers. With the $5-million claim out of the way, Lynn begins writing songs for the first time in a decade
Mar 11, 1981
Epic releases Ricky Skaggs’ remake of Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs’ “Don’t Get Above Your Raising,” Skaggs’ first single for the label
Mar 11, 1992
Travis Tritt’s “Here’s A Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares)” wins The Music City News Song of the Year award
Mar 11, 1997
Decca releases Lee Ann Womack’s debut single, “Never Again, Again”
Mar 11, 2017
Bluegrass duo Dailey & Vincent joins the Grand Ole Opry. They cover “I’ll Go To My Grave Loving You” during the evening
