1914: Ernest Tubb is born near Crisp, Texas. A 1965 inductee in the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Grand Ole Opry member forms a lengthy career with a rich baritone and ingratiating sincerity, recording his signature “Walkin’ The Floor Over You” in 1941
1939: Pop songwriter Barry Mann is born in Brooklyn, New York. A 1987 inductee in the Songwriters Hall of Fame, he cowrites Dolly Parton’s “Here You Come Again,” Donna Fargo’s “Another Goodbye” and Johnny Rodriguez’ “We’re Over”
1942: Singer/songwriter Carole King is born in Brooklyn, New York. Best known for her 1971 album “Tapestry,” she writes several songs that become country hits, including “Time Don’t Run Out On Me,” “I Can’t Stay Mad At You” and “Crying In The Rain”
1959: Mercury releases George Jones’ “White Lightning”
1960: The Hollywood City Council holds the groundbreaking ceremony for the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Among those honored in its initial installment: Hank Williams, Sonny James, Elvis Presley, Johnny Mercer, Lefty Frizzell, Gene Autry and Jimmy Wakely
1963: Backstage at the Grand Ole Opry, Patsy Cline makes a chilling prediction to Ray Walker, of The Jordanaires, referring to her previous auto accidents: “Honey, I’ve had two bad ones. The third one will be a charm, or it’ll kill me.” It’s her last Opry show
1963: Travis Tritt is born in Marietta, Georgia. 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”
1964: The Beatles appear on “The Ed Sullivan Show” for the first time. The event inspires Clint Black guitarist Hayden Nicholas to become a musician
1973: Charlie Rich records “The Most Beautiful Girl” in Nashville
1975: Willie Nelson records “Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain” at the Autumn Sound recording studio in Garland, Texas
1980: The Oak Ridge Boys reach the top of the Billboard country chart with the Rodney Crowell-penned “Leaving Louisiana In The Broad Daylight”
1981: Capitol releases the Juice Newton album “Juice”
1981: Liberty releases Dottie West’s “Wild West” album
1982: RCA releases Waylon Jennings’ “Black On Black” album
1991: Mark Chesnutt fills the #1 slot on the Billboard country singles chart for the first time with “Brother Jukebox”
2013: Patti Page is recognized with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in Los Angeles, alongside Carole King, Charlie Haden and The Temptations. Trustees Awards are bestowed on songwriters Marilyn & Alan Bergman and record executives Leonard Chess, Phil Chess and Alan Livingston
2016: Merle Haggard records “Kern River Blues” at his home studio, with son Ben Haggard on guitar. It’s his final recording session.
2022: Songwriter/producer Blake Mevis dies from a COVID-related stroke and double pneumonia. He produced hits for George Strait, Vern Gosdin and Keith Whitley, and penned Strait’s “Fool Heart Memory,” Charley Pride’s “Night Games” and Joe Nichols’ “Brokenheartsville”
