Aug 21, 1925
Songwriter/producer Ed Penney is born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He writes and produces Terri Gibbs’ crossover hit “Somebody’s Knockin"” and authors Moe Bandy’s “Two Lonely People”
Aug 21, 1938
Kenny Rogers is born in St. Joseph’s Infirmary in Houston. His pop-laced ballads and story songs in the 1970s and ’80s make him one of country’s best all-time sellers, with more than 25 gold albums. He expands his reach with a lengthy acting career, entering the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013
Aug 21, 1939
Harold Reid, of The Statler Brothers, is born in Augusta County, Virginia. His bass voice is easily distinguished in the group’s award-winning gospel harmonies. They join the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2008
Aug 21, 1939
Guitarist James Burton is born in Dubberly, Louisiana. A member of Elvis Presley’s band during the last seven years of The King’s life, Burton plays guitar on recordings by Ricky Nelson, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris and Buck Owens, among others
Aug 21, 1950
Hank Snow records “Rhumba Boogie” and “The Golden Rocket” during a late-night session at Nashville’s Brown Radio Productions
Aug 21, 1961
Patsy Cline records “Crazy” at the Bradley Film & Recording Studio in Nashville
Aug 21, 1965
Connie Smith becomes a member of the Grand Ole Opry
Aug 21, 1967
Capitol releases Bobbie Gentry’s debut album, “Ode To Billie Joe”
Aug 21, 1981
Columbia releases the double-disc Willie Nelson album “Greatest Hits (And Some That Will Be)”
Aug 21, 1982
Sylvia goes to #1 in Billboard with “Nobody”
Aug 21, 1990
Alan Jackson records “Don’t Rock The Jukebox,” “Someday” and “Midnight In Montgomery”
Aug 21, 1995
Joe Diffie records “Bigger Than The Beatles”
Aug 21, 2003
Johnny Cash holds his final session, recording “Engine One-Forty-Three” at the Cash Cabin Studio in Hendersonville, Tennessee
Aug 21, 2008
Drummer Buddy Harman dies of congestive heart failure at his Nashville home. A member of the A-Team of session musicians, he played on hits by Elvis Presley, Loretta Lynn, The Everly Brothers and Patsy Cline
