FEBRUARY 25
1894: The Daily Ardmoreite in Ardmore, Ok, became the first publication to print the phrase “honky tonk” in a story, reporting that “the honk-a-tonk last night was attended by ball-heads, bachelors and leading citizens.”
1902: Record producer Don Law was born in London. The Columbia executive produced Jimmy Dean’s “Big Bad John,” Ray Price’s “For The Good Times” and Marty Robbins’ “El Paso,” among others, ultimately landing in the Country Music Hall of Fame.
1943: The Beatles’ George Harrison was born in Liverpool, England. He wrote “Something,” a ballad that became a country hit for Johnny Rodriguez.
1958: Sammy Kershaw was born in Kaplan, LA. A resonance similar to George Jones brought him into prominence during the 1990s behind such hits as “Cadillac Style,” “She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful” and “National Working Woman’s Holiday.”
1969: Johnny Cash recorded the “Johnny Cash At San Quentin” album, including “A Boy Named Sue.” The concert featured his entire touring ensemble, including June Carter, Carl Perkins, The Carter Family and The Statler Brothers.
1975: Glen Campbell recorded “Rhinestone Cowboy” in the first of four sessions for the song at Sound Labs in Hollywood.
1978: Glen Campbell recorded “Highwayman” at the Lagniappe Studios in Sherman Oaks, CA. Capitol declined to release it as a single, and Campbell later recommended it to Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson.
1982: Dolly Parton’s “9 To 5” won a pair of trophies–Best Country Song and Best Country Vocal Performance, Female–during the 24th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.
1984: Sawyer Brown pocketed $100,000 as the winner of “Star Search.”
1987: “Grandpa (Tell Me ‘Bout The Good Old Days)” won twice at the 29th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, scoring Best Country Song, for Jamie O’Hara; and Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, for The Judds.
1990: Sisters Loretta Lynn, Crystal Gayle and Peggy Sue made their first Grand Ole Opry appearance as a trio.
1991: Webb Pierce died of pancreatic cancer at his Nashville home. One of country’s most flamboyant performers, he left a rhinestone legacy of more than 50 hits, including “Slowly,” “There Stands The Glass,” “In The Jailhouse Now” and “I Ain’t Never.” He joined the Country Music Hall of Fame 10 years later.
1993: Vince Gill won two trophies–Best Country Vocal Performance, Male; and Best Country Song, shared with co-writer John Jarvis–for “I Still Believe In You” during the 35th annual Grammy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.
2019: Country Music Hall of Fame member Mac Wiseman died in Nashville. A former Bill Monroe sideman, he had four country hits as a recording artist and worked as an executive for Dot Records.
