AUGUST 23

1938: Pop songwriter Roger Greenaway was born in Fishponds, England. In addition to his pop singles, he gained country success with Crystal Gayle’s “It’s Like We Never Said Goodbye,” Tom Jones’ “Say You’ll Stay Until Tomorrow” and Alison Krauss’ “Baby, Now That I’ve Found You.”

1947: Rex Allen Jr. was born in Chicago, IL. The son of silver-screen cowboy Rex Allen, he netted a half-dozen middle-of-the-road country hits in the late-1970s, topped by “Two Less Lonely People.”

1949: Paul Chrisman–alias Woody Paul, of Riders In The Sky–was born in Nashville. The comedic trio reverently re-created western music, eventually joining the Grand Ole Opry.

1952: Kitty Wells became the first woman to reach #1 on the Billboard country chart with “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels.”

1969: Stand-up bass player Barry Bales was born in Kingsport, TN. He became a member of Alison Krauss’ bluegrass band, Union Station, performing on “When You Say Nothing At All” and The Soggy Bottom Boys’ “I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow.”

1969: Johnny Cash climbed to #1 on the Billboard country chart with “A Boy Named Sue.”

1975: Glen Campbell’s “Rhinestone Cowboy” rode to #1 on the Billboard country chart.

1978: ABC released Roy Clark & Buck Trent’s “Banjo Bandits” album.

1980: Eddie Rabbitt parked himself at #1 on the Billboard country singles chart with “Drivin’ My Life Away.”

1994: Epic released Patty Loveless’ album “When Fallen Angels Fly.”

2000: George Jones overdubbed his voice on “Too Country,” a song for Brad Paisley’s album “Part II,” in Nashville.

2001: Bill Monroe’s childhood home in Rosine, KY, was opened to the public after undergoing a restoration. On hand for the ceremonies: Ricky Skaggs, Tom T. Hall and three members of Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys.

2004: Businessman Bob McLean, of Murfreesboro, TN, agreed to pay $575,000 for Mother Maybelle Carter’s 1928 Gibson guitar. He then donated it for permanent display at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.