APRIL 8
1923: Guitarist, banjo player and mandolinist Paul Buskirk was born in WV. Having played with Chet Atkins, Gene Austin and Tex Ritter, he gave guitar lessons in Texas to Willie Nelson and bought the rights to “Family Bible” from Nelson for a mere $50.
1942: Liberty Records was formed by Glenn Wallichs and songwriters Johnny Mercer and Buddy DeSylva in Hollywood. The firm was renamed Capitol Records in June as it charts a path that includes hits for Keith Urban, Garth Brooks and Merle Haggard.
1951: Singer/songwriter Jim Photoglo was born in Los Angeles. Following a career as a pop artist, he moved to Nashville, where he pens Alabama’s “Hometown Honeymoon” and The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s “Fishin’ In The Dark.”
1954: Stuart Hamblen recorded “This Ole House” in New York City.
1960: John Schneider was born in Mount Kisco, NY. He portrayed Bo Duke on the TV series “The Dukes Of Hazzard,” then shifted into a country career that nets 10 Top 10 hits, including “I’ve Been Around Enough To Know” and “Country Girls.”
1968: Capitol released the Merle Haggard album “The Legend Of Bonnie & Clyde.”
1969: Waylon Jennings recorded “MacArthur Park” with The Kimberlys at RCA Studio B in Nashville. The performance earns a Grammy award.
1975: Conway Twitty overdubbed Russian lyrics onto “Hello Darlin’” for the American/Soviet space rendezvous in August.
1980: Kenny Rogers portrayed Brady Hawkes for the first time as CBS aired a TV movie built around his signature hit, “The Gambler.”
1981: Glen Campbell broke up with Tanya Tucker when she went to Los Angeles’ trendy Le Dome restaurant with friend Beverly Hills–and without him.
1988: Rodney Crowell’s “Diamonds & Dirt” album arrived in stores.
1989: Keith Whitley picked up a #1 single in Billboard with “I’m No Stranger To The Rain.”
1989: Bill Monroe became an honorary member of the Society For American Music during the organization’s conference in Tennessee.
1994: Lee Roy Parnell hit number one with the single “I’m Holding My Own.”
1997: RCA released Alabama’s album “Dancin’ On The Boulevard.”
1997: Curb/MCA released Wynonna’s album “Collection.”
1997: Giant released the Clay Walker album “Rumor Has It.”
2001: Singer/songwriter Van Stephenson died at home in Nashville from skin cancer. Stephenson was one-third of the trio BlackHawk and wrote Lee Greenwood’s “You’ve Got A Good Love Comin’” and Restless Heart’s “Bluest Eyes In Texas.”
2004: Tracy Lawrence’s album “Strong” debuted on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart at number two, behind Kenny Chesney’s “When the Sun Goes Down.” Kenny’s album was marking its eighth week at number one.
2009: Charlie Daniels received the Joe M. Rodgers Spirit of America Award from officials at Middle Tennessee State University at a special luncheon at the school. MTSU presents the award to honor people whose work in government, education, or charitable efforts serves as an example of the American spirit in action.
2018: Collin Raye performed “Amazing Grace” as 900 butterflies were released at the Las Vegas Community Healing Garden to honor more than 50 people who were killed at the Route 91 festival the previous October.
