August 16
1935: Patsy Montana recorded “I Wanna Be A Cowboy’s Sweetheart” in New York
1939: Singer/songwriter Billy Joe Shaver was born in Corsicana, TX. His writing credits include Waylon Jennings’ “You Ask Me To,” Johnny Rodriguez’s “I Couldn’t Be Me Without You” and John Anderson’s “I’m Just An Old Chunk Of Coal (But I’m Gonna Be A Diamond Someday).”
1943: Kin Vassy was born in Atlanta, GA. A member of Kenny Rogers & The First Edition, he also provided backing vocals on a number of Rogers’ solo hits, including “Morning Desire,” “I Don’t Need You” and “Love Will Turn You Around.”
1948: Songwriter Danny Flowers was born in Henderson, NC. He wrote a trio of Don Williams hits: “Back In My Younger Days,” “Senorita” and “Tulsa Time,” also recorded by Eric Clapton.
1969: Merle Haggard’s blue-collar anthem “Workin’ Man Blues” went to #1 on the Billboard country singles chart.
1971: A monument was dedicated at the corner of 4th & State in Bristol, TN, honoring the site of the first Ralph Peer-produced recording sessions featuring The Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers.
1977: Elvis Presley died at Graceland Mansion in Memphis. The most significant pop artist of the 20th century, the beginning and end of his career are grounded in country. He entered the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1998.
1977: Within hours of hearing that Elvis Presley died, Ronnie McDowell wrote a tribute, “The King Is Gone,” destined to become his first hit.
1979: United Artists released Kenny Rogers’ “Kenny” album.
1980: Alabama registered the band’s first #1 single in Billboard with “Tennessee River.”
1985: “The Dukes Of Hazzard,” starring John Schneider and Tom Wopat, made its final prime-time appearance on CBS, with Waylon Jennings singing the theme song.
1993: Lorrie Morgan made her acting debut in TNN’s “Proudheart.”
2005: RCA released Eddy Arnold’s 100th album, “After All These Years.” It includes new versions of “King Of The Road” and “You Don’t Know Me.”
2020: Dwight Yoakam and his wife, Emily Joyce, welcomed their son, Dalton Loren Yoakam.
2021: The Judds, Ray Charles, steel guitarist Pete Drake and drummer Eddie Bayers are announced by the CMA as the newest members of the Country Music Hall of Fame.
