Hank Williams gave his final public performance at Austin’s Skyline Club in 1952. Justin Tubb was at that show where Williams admitted to him that the “walking the floor” line in Your Cheatin’ Heart was inspired by Ernest Tubb’s Walking The Floor Over You.
Carl Perkins recorded Blue Suede Shoes at the Sun Recording Studios in Memphis in 1955. It would become the first major hit by the stable of talented performers at Sun Studios eventually known as “The Million Dollar Quartet.”
Loretta Lynn went to #1 on the Billboard country chart with her signature song, Coal Miner’s Daughter on this date in 1970.
Dolly Parton’s first movie, 9 To 5, debuted in 1980. Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin co-star in the picture, buoyed by a title song written and performed by Dolly.
Johnny Paycheck shot Larry Wise at the North High Lounge in Hillsboro, OH in 1985. Here’s an AP news article on the incident: Victim Says Paycheck Shot Him After Buying A Round
Alan Jackson scored a #1 country single in Billboard with a song he co-wrote with Randy Travis in 1992. She’s Got The Rhythm (And I Got The Blues) received an award in 1993 from Music City News for being one of the most performed country songs of the year.
Roebuck “Pops” Staples died in Chicago in 2000. He headed The Staple Singers, who joined Marty Stuart to sing The Weight on the album Rhythm Country & Blues. They also preceded The Oak Ridge Boys in recording Touch A Hand, Make A Friend.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
The Grand Ole Opry’s Bill Carlisle was born in Wakefield, KY in 1908. Along with brother Cliff, he formed The Carlisles, and their mix of music and humor lead to six Top 10 hits, including Too Old To Cut The Mustard and the #1 single No Help Wanted.
Little Jimmy Dickens was born in Bolt, WV in 1920. Just 4′-11″, he stood tall at the Grand Ole Opry, where, in 1948, he began a membership of more than 50 years. He mixed country novelties with ballads on his way into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
John McEuen was born in Oakland, CA in 1945. The multi-instrumentalist joined The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1968, remaining with the group through its shift from folk and pop into country music in the 1980s.
Janie Fricke was born in South Whitney, IN in 1947. She started her career as a successful background vocalist and jingle singer. She eventually made the transition to solo artist in the late-1970s after tons of support and encouragement from her fellow musicians. Her career peaked in 1982 and ’83 as she won the Country Music Association’s Female Vocalist trophy. Here she is having some fun with Ray Stevens.
