Aug 19, 1932
Grover “Shorty” Lavender is born in Old Fort, North Carolina. After playing fiddle on hits by Marty Robbins and Ray Price, he becomes a booking agent, working with George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Bill Anderson and Ronnie Milsap, among others
Aug 19, 1940
Songwriter Roger Cook is born in Bristol, England. Known for such pop hits as “I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing” and “Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress),” he also writes Don Williams’ “I Believe In You,” Crystal Gayle’s “Livin’ In These Troubles Times” and George Strait’s “One Night At A Time”
Aug 19, 1944
Edward Garvin Futch is born in Lafayette, Louisiana. Under the stage name Eddy Raven, he works in Cajun and blues before achieving success as a country artist. He amasses hits from 1981-1990, including “Sooner Or Later” and “I Got Mexico”
Aug 19, 1950
Hank Snow spends the first of 21 weeks at #1 on the Billboard country singles chart with “I’m Moving On”
Aug 19, 1957
“Prime Time Country” host Gary Chapman is born in DeLeon, Texas. A Christian singer, he writes T.G. Sheppard’s hit “Finally” and Kenny Rogers’ “I Prefer The Moonlight” and becomes the first husband of Amy Grant
Aug 19, 1966
Lee Ann Womack is born in Jacksonville, Texas. A superb traditionally minded vocalist, she reaches her commercial peak with the 2000 release “I Hope You Dance,” named Song and Single of the Year by the Country Music Association
Aug 19, 1969
Clay Walker is born in Beaumont, Texas. A dynamic live act with a growl he uses judiciously, Walker nets more than 10 years of hits, including “What’s It To You,” “Who Needs You Baby,” “The Chain Of Love” and “She Won’t Be Lonely Long”
Aug 19, 1972
John Denver hosts the debut episode of NBC-TV’s “The Midnight Special,” performing “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” Guests The Everly Brothers sing “All I Have To Do Is Dream.” Linda Ronstadt, Helen Reddy and War are also on the show
Aug 19, 1973
Kris Kristofferson marries Rita Coolidge with Kristofferson’s father, a minister, conducting the ceremony
Aug 19, 1975
Johnny Cash, June Carter and Roy Acuff headline a tribute to late Grand Ole Opry star George Morgan to raise money for Morgan’s family. Sixteen-year-old Lorrie Morgan sings a self-penned number about her father, “Walking In Daddy’s Shadow”
Aug 19, 1976
The album “Ronnie Milsap Live” is recorded at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House. The concert includes his future hit “Let My Love Be Your Pillow”
Aug 19, 1978
“Talking In Your Sleep” takes Crystal Gayle to #1 on the Billboard country chart
Aug 19, 1982
Merle Haggard records “You Take Me For Granted”
Aug 19, 1985
Earl Thomas Conley records “Once In A Blue Moon”
Aug 19, 1985
June Carter Cash takes the desk for Ralph Emery on the TNN talk show “Nashville Now.” Her guests include Merle Haggard and Rosey Carter, and husband Johnny Cash makes an unannounced late appearance
Aug 19, 1991
Capitol releases Suzy Bogguss’ “Aces” album
Aug 19, 1997
Egyptian Records releases “The Songs Of Jimmie Rodgers: A Tribute.” Among the 14 tracks: Dwight Yoakam’s “Blue Yodel No. 1 (T For Texas),” David Ball’s “Miss The Mississippi And You” and Steve Earle’s “In The Jailhouse Now”
Aug 19, 2002
Kenny Chesney makes breakfast in Nashville for each of the musicians who played on his album “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems” and gives each a $1,000 check. One 30-year studio vet says, “No one has ever done something like this for us”
Aug 19, 2005
Wal-Mart announces Garth Brooks has signed a deal making his music available exclusively through the retail chain
