APRIL 21
1907: Banjo player Wade Mainer was born in Buncombe County, NC. He performed in his brother J.E. Mainer’s band, The Mountaineers, eventually forming his own bluegrass-related band and performing at the White House for President Roosevelt.
1924: Ira Louvin was born in Section, AL. Along with younger sibling Charlie, The Louvin Brothers became a strong influence on country harmonies after their start on the Grand Ole Opry in 1955, entering the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001.
1947: Hank Williams recorded “Move It On Over” and “I Saw The Light” at Nashville’s Castle Studio in his first MGM recording session.
1948: Paul Davis was born in Meridian, MS. Following a pop career, he sings on country hits with Marie Osmond and Tanya Tucker and Dan Seals, and writes such hits as “Down To My Last Teardrop,” “Bop” and “Just Another Love.”
1949: Songwriter Steve Dorff was born in New York. The musical director of CMT’s “The Singing Bee,” he wrote George Strait’s “I Cross My Heart,” Anne Murray’s “I Just Fall In Love Again” and Eddie Rabbitt’s “Every Which Way But Loose,” among others.
1952: Roy Rogers & Dale Evans recorded “Happy Trails.”
1959: David Frizzell held his first recording session, for Columbia Records.
1969: Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton recorded “Just Someone I Used To Know.”
1975: MCA released the album “Tanya Tucker.”
1976: Merle Haggard stopped by the House Of Cash in Hendersonville, TN, joining Johnny Cash in a recording of “I Wish I Was Crazy Again.” Cash later recorded the definitive version with Waylon Jennings.
1980: Casablanca released the Pure Prairie League album “Firin’ Up.” Vince Gill sang lead on the LP’s pop hit “Let Me Love You Tonight.”
1980: Elektra released Merle Haggard & Clint Eastwood’s “Bar Room Buddies,” from the movie “Bronco Billy.”
1985: Songwriter Irving Mills died in New York. In addition to the jazz classics “Mood Indigo” and “It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing),” he wrote Hank Williams’ breakthrough hit, “Lovesick Blues.”
1987: Reprise released Dwight Yoakam’s “Hillbilly Deluxe” album.
1993: George Strait recorded “I’d Like To Have That One Back” at Emerald Sound Studios in Nashville.
1998: MCA released George Strait’s “One Step At A Time” album.
2001: John Michael Montgomery made his Grand Ole Opry debut, singing “Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)” and “The Little Girl.”
2002: “CMT Crossroads” paired blues-rock trio ZZ Top with Brooks & Dunn. The set list included “Boot Scootin’ Boogie,” “Hard Workin’ Man” and “La Grange.”
2017: Cody Johnson made his Grand Ole Opry debut.
