Apr 10, 1898: Fiddlin’ Arthur Smith is born in Bold Springs, Tennessee. He performs on the Grand Ole Opry from 1929-1938, helping popularize the long-bow style of fiddle playing
Apr 10, 1921: Sheb Wooley is born in Erick, Oklahoma. Best known for his pop hit “The Purple People Eater,” he also makes country novelties, including “That’s My Pa,” sometimes under the alias Ben Colder. In addiition, he writes the theme song to “Hee Haw”
Apr 10, 1938: Steel guitarist Weldon Myrick is born in Jayton, Texas. Among his credits are George Strait’s “Right Or Wrong,” Trisha Yearwood’s “Wrong Side Of Memphis,” Connie Smith’s “Once A Day” and Elvis Presley’s “T-R-O-U-B-L-E”
Apr 10, 1958: Bobby Darin records “Splish Splash” at the ATCO Studio in New York. It becomes his breakthrough pop single and his lone country hit
Apr 10, 1962: Marty Robbins records “Devil Woman” and “Ruby Ann” in an evening session at Nashville’s Columbia Recording Studios
Apr 10, 1967: Merle Haggard records “Branded Man” at the Capitol Recording Studio in Hollywood, with Glen Campbell among his sidemen
Apr 10, 1970: Paul McCartney announces he is leaving The Beatles, folding the Fab Four. Several of the band’s songs are remade as country hits, including the McCartney co-writes “I Feel Fine” and “I Don’t Want To Spoil The Party”
Apr 10, 1973: Waylon Jennings records “You Ask Me To” during an afternoon session at RCA Studio B in Nashville
Apr 10, 1975: Max D. Barnes’ 18-year-old son, Butch, is killed in a car accident; his death eventually inspires “Chiseled In Stone”
Apr 10, 1982: Merle Haggard’s “Big City” rises to #1 on the Billboard country singles chart
Apr 10, 1989: “Eighteen Wheels And A Dozen Roses” takes Single Record of the Year for Kathy Mattea and producer Allen Reynolds and Song of the Year for Mattea and songwriters Gene and Paul Nelson at the 24th annual Academy Of Country Music awards, aired on NBC from the Disney Studios in Burbank
Apr 10, 1992: While on tour in Tallahassee, Alan Jackson starts writing “Chattahoochee” with Jim McBride. They continue working on the song in Pensacola the next day and finish it in Thibodeaux, Louisiana, on April 12
Apr 10, 1993: Reba McEntire & Vince Gill share the top spot on the Billboard country singles chart with “The Heart Won’t Lie”
Apr 10, 1995: George Strait records “Check Yes Or No” and “I Know She Still Loves Me” at Nashville’s Emerald Sound Studios
Apr 10, 2007: The former home of Johnny Cash and June Carter burns to the ground in Hendersonville, Tennessee, while workers are restoring it for new owner Barry Gibb. Watching helplessly: Marty Stuart, Connie Smith, Tommy Cash, T.G. Sheppard and several Oak Ridge Boys
Apr 10, 2010: Shenandoah reunites for its first concert in more than 12 years during a benefit in Boaz, Alabama, for a domestic violence center. Also playing: Mark Collie, Jeff Bates, Ronnie Bowman and Randy Kohrs
Apr 10, 2011: The reality series “The Judds” debuts on Oprah Winfrey’s OWN Network
