Apr 20, 1922: Frank “Hylo” Brown is born in River, Kentucky. The bluegrass singer, noted for his wide vocal range, signs with Capitol Records in 1954 and becomes a regular touring partner for Flatt & Scruggs
Apr 20, 1938: Singing cowboy Roy Rogers makes his debut as a leading man with the release of “Under Western Stars.” Accompanied by Smiley Burnette and his horse, Trigger, Rogers plays a congressman for a drought-stricken state
Apr 20, 1939: Johnny Tillotson is born in Jacksonville, Florida. His 1962 recording “It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin"” hits the Top 5 in both pop and country music
Apr 20, 1944: Mandolin player Doyle Lawson is born in Kingsport, Tennessee. After stints with Jimmy Martin and The Country Gentlemen, he forms his own bluegrass band, Quicksilver, becoming one of the genre’s leading figures
Apr 20, 1947: Songwriter/record producer Buddy Cannon is born in Lexington, Tennessee. He writes George Strait’s “Give It Away” and Vern Gosdin’s “Set ‘Em Up Joe,” and produces hits for Kenny Chesney, Reba McEntire, Chely Wright and Sara Evans, among others
Apr 20, 1959: Louisiana-based Goldband Records releases the first single by 13-year-old Dolly Parton, “Puppy Love”
Apr 20, 1969: Singer and guitarist Wade Hayes is born in Bethel Acres, Oklahoma. Traditionally influenced, he scores several hits in the mid-1990s, including “Old Enough To Know Better,” “On A Good Night” and “What I Meant To Say”
Apr 20, 1970: Crystal Gayle records her debut single, “I’ve Cried (The Blues Right Out Of My Eyes),” written by older sister Loretta Lynn, at Bradley’s Barn in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee
Apr 20, 1979: Epic releases The Charlie Daniels Band’s “Million Mile Reflections” album
Apr 20, 1979: Willie Nelson records five songs for the album “Willie Nelson Sings Kristofferson” at Nashville’s Jack Clement Studios. The date includes the hit “Help Me Make It Through The Night,” plus “Me And Bobby McGee” and “Why Me,” among others
Apr 20, 1987: MCA releases The Desert Rose Band’s self-titled debut album
Apr 20, 1989: Tom T. Hall’s brother, Hillman Hall, dies. Hillman wrote Johnny Rodriguez’ debut single, “Pass Me By (If You’re Only Passing Through)”
Apr 20, 1990: The Kentucky HeadHunters go gold with the “Pickin’ On Nashville” album
Apr 20, 1993: Epic releases Patty Loveless’ “Only What I Feel” album
Apr 20, 1993: Epic releases Joe Diffie’s “Honky Tonk Attitude” album
Apr 20, 1993: Mercury releases Toby Keith’s self-titled debut album
Apr 20, 1993: A&M releases Aaron Neville’s pop album “The Grand Tour.” The title track, a remake of the George Jones classic, is destined to receive a Grammy nomination for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male
Apr 20, 1993: Mercury releases “Shania Twain,” the Canadian singer’s first album for the label
Apr 20, 1994: Reba McEntire’s autobiography, “Reba: My Story,” is released
Apr 20, 1994: George Strait records “Lead On” at Emerald Sound Studios in Nashville
