DECEMBER 18

1943: Guitarist Keith Richards was born in Dartford, England. With The Rolling Stones, he performed on their 1964 single “It’s All Over Now,” which John Anderson remade as a country hit in 1985. Richards also recorded with George Jones in 1994.

1949: Record executive Joe Galante was born in Queens, NY. Heading RCA Records’ Nashville office beginning in 1982, he had a major influence on the careers of Alabama, The Judds, Clint Black and Martina McBride, among others.

1956: Comedian Ron White was born in Fritch, TX. He became a member of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour, scoring a Top 10 country album.

1962: Bill Anderson recorded “Still.”

1964: Comedian Cledus T. Judd was born in Crowe Springs, GA. He began his recording career in the 1990s with musical satires, turning David Ball’s “Thinkin’ Problem” into “Stinkin’ Problem” and remaking Tim McGraw’s “Indian Outlaw” as “Indian In-Laws.”

1965: SSgt. Barry Sadler recorded “The Ballad Of The Green Berets” in New York.

1978: Johnny Paycheck’s album, “Take This Job & Shove It,” was certified gold.

1980: Warner/Viva released David Frizzell & Shelly West’s debut single, “You’re The Reason God Made Oklahoma.”

1981: Buck Owens had a fictitious speeding ticket rescinded by singing “I’ve Got A Tiger By The Tail” in an episode of the CBS series “The Dukes Of Hazzard,” starring John Schneider and Tom Wopat.

1985: Alabama recorded “She And I.” Dave Loggins filled in on harmonies for Jeff Cook, who was out of the country on vacation.

1986: Dwight Yoakam told Rolling Stone much of what’s called country exceeds the genre’s limits, “which is perfectly acceptable. Just don’t call it country, because we confuse the issue for that kid who’s never heard real country music. That pisses me off.”

1992: Joe Diffie recorded “Honky Tonk Attitude.”

1993: Faith Hill made her Grand Ole Opry debut.

2000: Tim McGraw’s “Greatest Hits” album was certified gold and platinum on the same day.

2004: Tim McGraw’s “Back When” went to #1 on the Billboard charts.