Patsy Cline was a guest on the ABC music series Ozark Jubilee in 1957.
Mercury released the song that would become George Jones’ first #1 hit in 1959. The song? White Lightning
The Hollywood City Council held the groundbreaking ceremony for the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960. Among those honored in its initial installment: Hank Williams, Sonny James, Elvis Presley, Johnny Mercer, Lefty Frizzell, Gene Autry and Jimmy Wakely.
In 1963 while backstage at the Grand Ole Opry, Patsy Cline made a chilling prediction to Ray Walker (The Jordanaires) referring to her previous auto accidents. She said, “Honey, I’ve had two bad ones. The third one will be a charm, or it’ll kill me.” It was the last Opry show of her life. She was killed just a few weeks later in a plane crash.
The Beatles appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show for the first time in 1964. The event inspired Clint Black guitarist Hayden Nicholas to become a musician.
In 1969 when their pickup went out of control on the icy Kickapoo Creek bridge in Illinois, Waylon Jennings band member Chuck Conway was thrown into the creek. Two hours later, he’s pronounced dead
John Denver recorded Sunshine On My Shoulders at the RCA Studios in New York in 1971
Johnny Lee held his first Nashville recording session at the Soundshop in 1972. The lineup of musicians included producer Buddy Killen and several Elvis Presley associates: Gene Chrisman, Bobby Wood, Johnny Christopher and Tommy Cogbill
Charlie Rich recorded The Most Beautiful Girl in Nashville in 1973.
Willie Nelson recorded Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain at the Autumn Sound recording studio in Garland, TX in 1975. This song is credited with helping revive his career.
RCA released Waylon Jennings’ Black On Black album in 1982.
Trumpet player and arranger Bill McElhiney died at his home in Diamond Head, MS in 2002. He appeared on hits by Bill Anderson, Jim Reeves and Johnny Cash, including Ring Of Fire.
Merle Haggard recorded Kern River Blues at his home studio, with son Ben Haggard on guitar. The 2016 session would be his last one.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Ernest Tubb was born near Crisp, TX in 1914. A 1965 inductee in the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Grand Ole Opry member formed a lengthy career with a rich baritone and ingratiating sincerity, recording his signature Walkin’ The Floor Over You in 1941
Guitarist Wayne Moss was born in Charleston, WV in 1938. He played on such hits as Eddy Arnold’s Turn The World Around, Jim Ed Brown’s Pop A Top, Loretta Lynn’s Blue Kentucky Girl and Bobby Bare’s 500 Miles Away From Home.
Pop songwriter Barry Mann was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1939. A 1987 inductee in the Songwriters Hall of Fame, he co-wrote Dolly Parton’s Here You Come Again, Donna Fargo’s Another Goodbye and Johnny Rodriguez’ We’re Over.
Joe Ely was born in Amarillo, TX in 1947. Mixing country and rock, he’s become a fixture on the Texas red-dirt circuit. He also formed a side project, The Flatlanders, with fellow Texans Butch Hancock and Jimmie Dale Gilmore.
Travis Tritt was born in Marietta, GA in 1963. He mixes southern rock, soul and country influences in such 1990s and 2000s hits as It’s A Great Day To Be Alive, Here’s A Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares) and T-R-O-U-B-L-E.
