AUGUST 4
1927: Jimmie Rodgers records for the first time in Bristol, Tennessee, singing “Sleep, Baby, Sleep” and “The Soldier’s Sweetheart” during an afternoon session with producer Ralph Peer at a furniture store at 408 State Street.
1932: Scotty Stoneman was born in Galax, VA. The son of Ernest “Pop” Stoneman, he joined his siblings to create The Stoneman Family, which earned the Vocal Group of the Year award from the Country Music Association in 1967.
1950: Vicki Hackeman was born in Louisville. As one of the two original females in Dave & Sugar, she performed on “Tear Time,” “The Door Is Always Open” and “Golden Tears” during her tenure, 1975-1979.
1956: Jimmy C. Newman joined the Grand Ole Opry, the same night that George Jones debuted on the show.
1963: Connie Smith won a talent contest in Columbus, OH, and gained the attention of guest artist Bill Anderson, who helped her get her first recording contract.
1963: Songwriter Craig Wiseman was born in Hattiesburg, MS. His long list of credits include Kenny Chesney’s “Summertime,” Blake Shelton’s “Boys ‘Round Here,” Chris Young’s “Voices” and Tim McGraw’s “Live Like You Were Dying.”
1975: The Oak Ridge Boys began a three-week stand at Las Vegas’ Landmark Hotel, becoming the first gospel group ever to headline in Vegas.
1977: Jerry Lee Lewis recorded “Middle Age Crazy” at the US Recording Studio in Nashville.
1980: MCA released the “Smokey & The Bandit II” soundtrack. The album features The Statler Brothers, Brenda Lee, Burt Reynolds, Roy Rogers, Tanya Tucker, Mel Tillis and Don Williams
1981: Ricky Skaggs married Sharon White. The couple performed “If I Needed You” during the ceremony.
1984: The Judds made their first appearance at #1 on the Billboard country chart with “Mama He’s Crazy.”
1987: Kenny Price died at Memorial Hospital in Florence, KY, a day after suffering a heart attack. The “Hee Haw” comedian earned four Top 10 singles from 1966-1971.
1988: Brenda Lee filed a $20-million lawsuit against MCA Records, accusing the label of underpaying royalties. Both parties settled out of court for an undisclosed sum.
1996: Faith Hill, Trisha Yearwood and fiddler Mark O’Connor performed at the Olympics’ closing ceremonies in Atlanta. They joined Stevie Wonder, The Pointer Sisters, B.B. King, Al Green, Little Richard, Ray Charles, Gloria Estefan and Wynton Marsalis.
2008: Brooks & Dunn earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
2015: Songwriter/producer Billy Sherrill died in Nashville. A member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, his hit list includes material by George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Johnny Paycheck, Charlie Rich and Ray Charles, among others.
2021: Razzy Bailey died at his home in Goodlettsville, TN. An R&B-tinged singer, he accumulated more than a dozen Top 10 singles from 1978-1982, including “Midnight Hauler,” “Friends” and “Loving Up A Storm.” Bailey also authored Dickey Lee’s 1976 single “9,999,999 Tears.”
