Aug 9, 1934
Singer/songwriter Merle Kilgore is born in Chickasha, Oklahoma. He achieves his biggest successes as the writer of Johnny Cash’s “Ring Of Fire” and Claude King’s “Wolverton Mountain,” but he’s best known as Hank Williams Jr.’s manager
Aug 9, 1947
Bonnie Campbell joins Buck Owens’ band as a background singer. Five months later, she marries the bandleader
Aug 9, 1949
The divorce of Hank and Audrey Williams, finalized in May 1948, is reversed, 2.5 months after the birth of Hank Williams Jr.
Aug 9, 1952
Hank Williams misses a scheduled appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. Two days later, Opry manager Jim Denny fires Williams
Aug 9, 1960
Johnny Horton records “North To Alaska,” the only song he tackles during a two-hour session at the Bradley Film & Recording Studio in Nashville. It proves to be the final recording of his life
Aug 9, 1966
Jack Greene records “There Goes My Everything”
Aug 9, 1971
Capitol releases the Merle Haggard album “Someday We’ll Look Back”
Aug 9, 1971
Decca releases the Conway Twitty album “I Wonder What She’ll Think About Me Leaving”
Aug 9, 1975
“Wasted Days And Wasted Nights” pastes Freddy Fender’s name at #1 on the Billboard country chart
Aug 9, 1976
Emmylou Harris records “Making Believe” and “Two More Bottles Of Wine”
Aug 9, 1980
Mickey Gilley hits the top of the Billboard country chart with a song from the “Urban Cowboy” soundtrack, “Stand By Me”
Aug 9, 1986
The U.S. Senate passes a resolution recognizing Bill Monroe as the “creator, shaper, performer and promoter” of bluegrass music
Aug 9, 1986
The Judds’ “Rockin’ With The Rhythm Of The Rain” goes to #1 on the Billboard country singles chart
Aug 9, 1991
Alabama records “Born Country”
Aug 9, 1994
Polydor releases Chely Wright’s debut album, “Woman In The Moon”
Aug 9, 2003
Alan Jackson & Jimmy Buffett spend the first of eight weeks at the top of the Billboard chart with “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere”
Aug 9, 2004
Songwriter Sam Hogin dies in Nashville, following a battle with diabetes. Among his credits: Don Williams’ “I Believe In You,” Martina McBride’s “A Broken Wing” and Lonestar’s “No News”
