Aug 13, 1924
Vernon Dalhart records “The Wreck Of The Old ’97” and “The Prisoner’s Song” in New York. The two sides comprise the first million-selling single in country music history
Aug 13, 1951
Dan Fogelberg is born in Peoria, Illinois. His 1985 album “High Country Snows” features Ricky Skaggs, Vince Gill and Doc Watson, and his supporting tour leads to the formation of The Desert Rose Band
Aug 13, 1951
Fiddler Hubert Dwane “Hoot” Hester is born in Louisville, Kentucky. A member of the Grand Ole Opry house band, he appears on hits by Conway Twitty, Dan Seals, Steve Wariner and Ricky Van Shelton
Aug 13, 1958
Johnny Cash records “Don’t Take Your Guns To Town” and the original version of “I Still Miss Someone” at the Bradley Recording Studio in Nashville
Aug 13, 1966
David Houston’s “Almost Persuaded” goes to #1 on the Billboard country chart
Aug 13, 1973
Andy Griggs is born in Monroe, Louisiana. Influenced by Waylon Jennings and Bob Seger, his 1999 debut album nets hits with the Pure Prairie League-like “You Won’t Ever Be Lonely” and the sensitive “She’s More”
Aug 13, 1973
MCA releases Conway Twitty’s “You’ve Never Been This Far Before” album
Aug 13, 1973
MCA releases Loretta Lynn’s album “Love Is The Foundation”
Aug 13, 1979
Johnny Cash and June Carter renew their wedding vows while vacationing in Jamaica. Upon return in September, he quashes Music Row rumors that he had an affair with Grand Ole Opry star Jan Howard
Aug 13, 1988
Willie Nelson becomes the first artist ever to have an album spend 10 years on the Billboard country chart as “Stardust” logs its 520th week
Aug 13, 1988
K.T. Oslin has her Grand Ole Opry debut
Aug 13, 1988
Keith Whitley collects his first #1 country single in Billboard magazine with “Don’t Close Your Eyes”
Aug 13, 1991
Arista releases Brooks & Dunn’s debut album, “Brand New Man”
Aug 13, 1994
John Michael Montgomery nabs a #1 country single in Billboard magazine with “Be My Baby Tonight”
Aug 13, 2009
Guitarist and recording pioneer Les Paul dies of pneumonia in New York’s West Plains Hospital. With then-wife Mary Ford he had a 1951 country hit with “Mockin’ Bird Hill.” He also won a country Grammy for a recording with Chet Atkins
Aug 13, 2013
It Books publishes Ricky Skaggs’ autobiography, “Kentucky Traveler”
Aug 13, 2013
Tompall Glaser dies at his Nashville home. A member of Tompall & The Glaser Brothers, he wrote Bobby Bare’s “The Streets Of Baltimore” and joined Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Jessi Colter on the 1976 album “Wanted: The Outlaws
