Aug 20, 1923
Jim Reeves is born in Panola County, Texas. Combining a warm tone with perfectionist phrasing, he becomes one of country’s strongest balladeers. He enters the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1967, three years after a plane crash takes his life
Aug 20, 1935
Justin Tubb is born in San Antonio, Texas, the son of Country Music Hall of Famer Ernest Tubb. He joins the Grand Ole Opry at age 20, netting a handful of hits and writing hits for Hawkshaw Hawkins, Highway 101 and George Jones, among others
Aug 20, 1952
Rudy Gatlin, of The Gatlin Brothers, is born in Olney, Texas. Behind songwriting lead singer Larry Gatlin, the trio earns a Grammy for 1976’s “Broken Lady,” beginning a 12-year string of harmony-packed successes
Aug 20, 1967
A sound decision: Ray Dolby introduces the Dolby noise-reduction system, which cuts tape hiss in recordings
Aug 20, 1969
Johnny Cash and June Carter record “If I Were A Carpenter” in Nashville at the Columbia Recording Studios. Cash also cuts “See Ruby Fall”
Aug 20, 1971
Johnny Paycheck records “She’s All I Got” at Nashville’s Columbia Recording Studios
Aug 20, 1974
David Allan Coe records “the perfect country & western song,” “You Never Even Called Me By My Name,” at Nashville’s Columbia Studio A, namechecking Waylon Jennings, Charley Pride, Merle Haggard and songwriter Steve Goodman
Aug 20, 1977
Elvis Presley’s “Way Down” goes to #1 on the Billboard country singles chart
Aug 20, 1978
Ralph Stanley has a son, Ralph Stanley II
Aug 20, 1988
Restless Heart’s “Bluest Eyes In Texas” rises to #1 on the Billboard country chart
Aug 20, 1991
Epic releases Collin Raye’s debut album, “All I Can Be”
Aug 20, 1996
Mercury releases Billy Ray Cyrus’ “Trail Of Tears” album
Aug 20, 1996
In one of country music’s more unusual collaborations, River North Records releases The Beach Boys’ “Stars And Stripes” album, featuring country remakes of their classics with Toby Keith, Lorrie Morgan, Sawyer Brown, Willie Nelson and others
