Aug 6, 1922
Comedian Manuel “Old Joe” Clark is born. He spends 50 years with the “Renfro Valley Barn Dance” in Kentucky, and works as a member of Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys in 1951
Aug 6, 1942
Songwriter Bob Morrison is born in Biloxi, Mississippi. He writes Johnny Lee’s “Lookin’ For Love,” Kenny Rogers’ “You Decorated My Life,” Conway Twitty’s “Don’t Call Him A Cowboy” and Gary Morris’ “The Love She Found In Me,” among others
Aug 6, 1955
Hank Snow, Lefty Frizzell, Eddie Dean, Freddie Hart and The Collins Kids perform the first-ever country concert at the Hollywood Bowl with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. The evening is emceed by songwriter Joe Nixon
Aug 6, 1959
Singer/songwriter Darrell Scott is born in London, Kentucky. Gaining credibility as an alternative-country act, he scores hits by writing Travis Tritt’s “It’s A Great Day To Be Alive,” The Dixie Chicks’ “Long Time Gone” and Sara Evans’ “Born To Fly”
Aug 6, 1964
Twins Peggy and Patsy Lynn are born to Loretta Lynn. They become a duo, The Lynns, as adults, scoring several awards nominations
Aug 6, 1971
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band begins a week of recording at Woodland Sound in Nashville for the three-record set “Will The Circle Be Unbroken.” The first day features collaborations with Merle Travis on “I Am A Pilgrim” and “Nine Pound Hammer”
Aug 6, 1973
Shelter releases Leon Russell’s first country single, “Roll In My Sweet Baby’s Arms,” under the pseudonym Hank Wilson. It doesn’t become a hit, but Russell is destined for chart-topping success six years later with Willie Nelson on “Heartbreak Hotel”
Aug 6, 1976
Glen Campbell records the Neil Diamond song “Sunflower” at the Capitol Recording Studios in Los Angeles
Aug 6, 1982
Epic releases Merle Haggard & George Jones’ album “A Taste Of Yesterday’s Wine”
Aug 6, 1991
Epic releases Doug Stone’s “I Thought It Was You” album
Aug 6, 2002
Dixie Chick Natalie Maines tees off on Toby Keith’s “Courtesy Of The Red, White And Blue” in the Los Angeles Daily News: “It’s ignorant, and it makes country music sound ignorant… You’ve got to have some tact”
Aug 6, 2009
Songwriter/guitarist/producer Otha Young dies of cancer at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. Juice Newton’s musical partner wrote “The Sweetest Thing (I’ve Ever Known),” The Forester Sisters’ “Don’t You” and The Carpenters’ “Sweet, Sweet Smile”
Aug 6, 2011
The Oak Ridge Boys are inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. They sing “Bobbie Sue,” “Elvira” and an a cappella “Amazing Grace” on their big night
