AUGUST 19

1932: Grover “Shorty” Lavender was born in Old Fort, NC. After playing fiddle on hits by Marty Robbins and Ray Price, he became a booking agent, working with George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Bill Anderson and Ronnie Milsap, among others.

1940: Songwriter Roger Cook was 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 wrote Don Williams’ “I Believe In You,” Crystal Gayle’s “Livin’ In These Troubled Times” and George Strait’s “One Night At A Time.”

1944: Edward Garvin Futch was born in Lafayette, LA. Under the stage name Eddy Raven, he worked in Cajun and blues before achieving success as a country artist. He amassed hits from 1981-1990, including “Sooner Or Later” and “I Got Mexico.”

1950: Hank Snow spent the first of 21 weeks at #1 on the Billboard country singles chart with “I’m Moving On.”

1957: “Prime Time Country” host Gary Chapman was born in DeLeon, TX. A Christian singer, he wrote T.G. Sheppard’s hit “Finally” and Kenny Rogers’ “I Prefer The Moonlight” and became the first husband of Amy Grant. 

1966: Lee Ann Womack was born in Jacksonville, TX. A superb traditionally minded vocalist, she reached her commercial peak with the 2000 release “I Hope You Dance,” named Song and Single of the Year by the Country Music Association.

1969: Clay Walker was born in Beaumont, TX. 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.”

1972: John Denver hosted 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.

1973: Kris Kristofferson married Rita Coolidge with Kristofferson’s father, a minister, conducting the ceremony.

1975: Johnny Cash, June Carter and Roy Acuff headlined a tribute to late Grand Ole Opry star George Morgan to raise money for Morgan’s family. Sixteen-year-old Lorrie Morgan sang a self-penned number about her father, “Walking In Daddy’s Shadow.”

1976: The album “Ronnie Milsap Live” was recorded at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House. The concert included his future hit “Let My Love Be Your Pillow.”

1978: “Talking In Your Sleep” took Crystal Gayle to #1 on the Billboard country chart.

1982: Merle Haggard recorded “You Take Me For Granted.”

1985: Earl Thomas Conley records “Once In A Blue Moon.”

1985: June Carter Cash took the desk for Ralph Emery on the TNN talk show “Nashville Now.” Her guests included Merle Haggard and Rosey Carter, and husband Johnny Cash made an unannounced late appearance.

1991: Capitol released Suzy Bogguss’ “Aces” album.

1997: Egyptian Records released “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.”

2002: Kenny Chesney made breakfast in Nashville for each of the musicians who played on his album “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems” and gave each a $1,000 check. One 30-year studio vet says, “No one has ever done something like this for us.”

2005: Wal-Mart announced Garth Brooks signed a deal making his music available exclusively through the retail chain.