DECEMBER 11

1901: Inventor Guglielmo Marconi transmitted radio signals from London across the Atlantic Ocean for the first time.

1902: The Nashville Musicians Union–Local 257–was founded. All musicians who play on a “master” recording are paid through the AFM.

1909: Songwriter Arthur Q. Smith was born in Griffin, GA. He wrote Ernest Tubb’s “Missing In Action” and Ricky Skaggs’ “I Wouldn’t Change You If I Could.”

1914: Dobro player Clell Summey was born near Sevierville, TN. Under the stage name Cousin Jody, he became a key member of Roy Acuff’s Smoky Mountain Boys and is credited as the first person to play a Dobro on the Grand Ole Opry.

1935: Steel player Tom Brumley was born in Powell, MO. He became a longtime member of Buck Owens’ Buckaroos, appearing on such classics as “Together Again,” “I’ve Got A Tiger By The Tail” and “Buckaroo.” He also played on hits by Rick Nelson and Dwight Yoakam.

1944: Brenda Lee was born at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, GA. Little Miss Dynamite became a major pop artist as a teenager in the 1960s but shifted into country music in the 1970s. She ended up in the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1997. In 2023, her timeless holiday classic “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” topped the charts, 65 years after its release. Spotify celebrated Lee for her milestone of hitting 1 billion streams on Spotify with her iconic song, which is the only holiday song by a female country artist to enter Spotify’s Billions Club. 

1946: Hank Williams had his first recording session, for Sterling Records, at the WSM Studios in Nashville, backed by The Willis Brothers and bass player Chuck Wright. Among the songs recorded was “Never Again (Will I Knock On Your Door).”

1949: Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs recorded “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” at the E.T. Herzog Studio in Cincinnati, Ohio. The song became a bluegrass classic, as well as the theme song for the 1967 movie “Bonnie And Clyde.”

1951: Hank Williams recorded “Honky Tonk Blues” and “I’m Sorry For You, My Friend” during a midday session in Nashville at the Castle Studio. It marked his last recording date before dissolving the Drifting Cowboys.

1951: Hank Thompson recorded “The Wild Side Of Life” and “Waiting In The Lobby Of Your Heart” during the evening at the Capitol Studios on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles.

1963: Hank Williams Jr. had his first recording session, at age 14, in Nashville. The session featured some of his father’s songs: “You Win Again,” “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” “Cold, Cold Heart” and “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.”

1965:  “Flowers On The Wall” by Statler Brothers entered the Top 40 chart for the first time. In 2000, an updated version of the song was re-released by guitar slinger, Eric Heatherly.

1976: The National Finals Rodeo came to a close in Oklahoma City. Chris LeDoux walked away the world champion bareback bronc rider.

1981: Jerry Reed recorded “She Got The Goldmine (I Got The Shaft).”

1982: Loretta Lynn made her first acting appearance, portraying a waitress on ABC-TV’s “Fantasy Island.” Heather Locklear played the role of her daughter.

1990: The Statler Brothers were given the American Spirit Award. It’s the highest award presented to civilians by the Air Force recruiting service.

1995: “Billboard” named the year’s top five country artists: John Michael Montgomery, George Strait, Reba McEntire, Brooks & Dunn and Tim McGraw.

2001: Garth Brooks was named as the next recipient of the American Music Awards’ Award of Merit. Following in the footsteps of some of music’s biggest names, Garth received a tribute during the 29th annual American Music Awards telecast, which took place on January 9th. Previous winners of the “Award of Merit” include Chuck Berry, Johnny Cash, Bing Crosby, Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn, Paul McCartney, Elvis Presley, Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson, Frank Sinatra and Tammy Wynette. The news followed some other pretty incredible news. Also on this day, Garth Brooks’ “Scarecrow” album was certified gold, platinum, double and triple platinum simultaneously.

2004: A 1964 Cadillac owned by the late Teddy Wilburn sold for $1,000 at a Nashville estate auction.

2009: Garth Brooks performed the first concert in a five-year deal with Wynn Las Vegas, kicking off the show with “Mama Tried.” Also in the set list: “Friends In Low Places,” “The Dance” and “If Tomorrow Never Comes.”

2015: Mel Tillis performed “The Arms Of A Fool” on the Grand Ole Opry at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. It marked Tillis’ final appearance on the show.

2019: The Loretta Lynn biopic, “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” was named to the National Film Registry by the Library.

2020: Dolly Parton announced a partnership with Edge Beauty to develop a fragrance. In 2021, Dolly: Scent From Above was launched. Described as an Amber Floral fragrance, top notes are Peony, Pear, Black Currant and Mandarin Orange; middle notes are Jasmine, Vanilla orchid and Lily-of-the-Valley; base notes are Musk, Amber, Tonka Bean, Sandalwood, Patchouli and Fir.