AUGUST 6
1922: Comedian Manuel “Old Joe” Clark was born. He spent 50 years with the “Renfro Valley Barn Dance” in Kentucky, and worked as a member of Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys in 1951.
1942: Songwriter Bob Morrison was born in Biloxi, MS. He wrote 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.
1955: Hank Snow, Lefty Frizzell, Eddie Dean, Freddie Hart and The Collins Kids performed the first-ever country concert at the Hollywood Bowl with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. The evening was emceed by songwriter Joe Nixon.
1959: Singer/songwriter Darrell Scott was born in London, KY. Gaining credibility as an alternative-country act, he scored 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.”
1964: Twins Peggy and Patsy Lynn were born to Loretta Lynn. They became a duo, The Lynns, as adults, scoring several awards nominations.
1971: The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band began a week of recording at Woodland Sound in Nashville for the three-record set “Will The Circle Be Unbroken.” The first day featured collaborations with Merle Travis on “I Am A Pilgrim” and “Nine Pound Hammer.”
1973: Shelter released Leon Russell’s first country single, “Roll In My Sweet Baby’s Arms,” under the pseudonym Hank Wilson. It didn’t become a hit, but Russell was destined for chart-topping success six years later with Willie Nelson on “Heartbreak Hotel.”
1976: Glen Campbell recorded the Neil Diamond song “Sunflower” at the Capitol Recording Studios in Los Angeles.
1982: Epic releases Merle Haggard & George Jones’ album “A Taste Of Yesterday’s Wine.”
1991: Epic releases Doug Stone’s “I Thought It Was You” album.
1999: The movie soundtrack album for “The Runaway Bride” debuted at #1 on the “Billboard” soundtrack chart, selling 79,000 copies its first week of release. One reason for the CD’s success was that it featured hit singles by the Dixie Chicks and Martina McBride. As a matter of fact, a representative from the record label that released the project said that the achievement proved that country artists and pop artists can exist side by side on a soundtrack and be successful.
1999: Lonestar’s single, “Amazed,” began its fifth week at the top of “Radio & Records’” country chart. The achievement broke the previous record set by a group – Alabama had previously spent four weeks at #1 with “Jukebox on My Mind.”
2002: Dixie Chick Natalie Maines went 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.“
2003: John Mellencamp joined Kenny Chesney to tape an episode of “CMT Crossroads” in Nashville, where the set list includes “Young,” “R.O.C.K. In The U.S.A.” and “Folsom Prison Blues.” Radney Foster hosted the event.
2004: Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan launched their first joint concert tour, playing minor league baseball parks, beginning with at stop at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, NY.
2009: Songwriter/guitarist/producer Otha Young died from 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.”
2011: The Oak Ridge Boys were inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. They sang “Bobbie Sue,” “Elvira” and an a cappella “Amazing Grace” on their big night.
