Slim Whitman held his first recording session, for RCA, at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre in 1949. His backing band included Homer & Jethro.
Bill Monroe held his first recording session for Decca Records in Nashville at the Castle Studio in the Tulane Hotel in 1950. For the first time, his studio musicians include vocalist/guitarist Jimmy Martin and fiddler Vassar Clements
Rock pioneer Buddy Holly died in a plane crash near Mason City, Iowa in 1959, along with touring partners The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens. Holly’s bass player, Waylon Jennings, gave up a seat on the plane
Merle Haggard’s prison sentence ended in 1963. He served two years, nine months behind bars and two years, three months on parole.
MCA released Loretta Lynn’s album Back To The Country in 1975.
Capitol released Merle Haggard’s Always Wanting You in 1975, featuring Louise Mandrell on background vocals
MCA released Waylon Jennings’ first single for the label, Working Without A Net in 1986.
Pop record producer Phil Spector was booked on suspicion of murder when a woman is found shot in his home in Alhambra, CA in 2003. Spector wrote To Know Him Is To Love Him, a 1987 country hit for Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris.
Steel guitarist Tom Brumley died from a heart attack at San Antonio’s Northeast Baptist Hospital in 2009. A former Buckaroo, he played on numerous Buck Owens classics, plus hits by Dwight Yoakam and Rick Nelson.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Guitarist Bob Morris was born in Hasty, AR in 1930. He was a member of Buck Owens’ Buckaroos, he also wrote the Owens hits Buckaroo and Made In Japan, as well as Sylvia’s The Matador.
Songwriter Linda Hargrove was born in Tallahassee, FL in 1951. She wrote Let It Shine, for Olivia Newton-John; Tennessee Whiskey, for George Jones; and Just Get Up And Close The Door for Johnny Rodriguez
Singer/songwriter Matraca Berg was born in Nashville in 1964. She wrote Deana Carter’s Strawberry Wine, Reba McEntire’s The Last One To Know, Martina McBride’s Wild Angels and Kenny Chesney’s You And Tequila, among other hits.
