Despite a protest by Heartbreak Hotel writer Mae Boren Axton, who questions his “moral character,” Canadian Hank Snow became an American citizen during a ceremony in Nashville in 1958.
Waylon Jennings made his first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry in 1967.
(Old Dogs-Children And) Watermelon Wine took Tom T. Hall to #1 on the Billboard country singles chart in 1973.
In the midst of filming Coal Miner’s Daughter in 1979, Sissy Spacek appeared with Loretta Lynn on Ernest Tubb’s Midnight Jamboree radio show. Tubb asks the actress if Spacek is a “Polack name”
The Library of Congress puts 50 recorded moments in a National Recording Registry in 2003 – documenting the 20th century. The list includes producer Ralph Peer’s Bristol sessions of 1927, with Jimmie Rodgers, Ernest Stoneman and The Carter Family.
Folk artist Pete Seeger died at New York-Presbyterian Hospital in 2014. A member of The Weavers, he co-wrote Jimmie Rodgers’ Kisses Sweeter Than Wine and Billy Grammer’s Gotta Travel On.
RECORDED ON JANUARY 27
1959: Johnny Horton recorded The Battle Of New Orleans during an evening session at the Bradley Film & Recording Studio on Nashville’s Music Row.
1975: Ray Stevens recorded Misty in Nashville.
1976: Marty Robbins records El Paso City
1994: Patty Loveless records I Try To Think About Elvis at Nashville’s Woodland Sound
RELEASED ON JANUARY 27th
1975: MCA released Loretta Lynn’s The Pill – years after it was recorded (in 1972). The record label didn’t want to release it because of the content.
1981: Columbia released Willie Nelson’s album Somewhere Over The Rainbow.
1986: MCA releases Reba McEntire’s Whoever’s In New England
1989: Columbia releases Shenandoah’s album The Road Not Taken
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Steel guitarist Buddy Emmons was born in Mishawaka, IN in 1937. Emmons became an influential musician, playing for the likes of Little Jimmy Dickens, Ray Price, George Strait, Linda Ronstadt, The Everly Brothers and Ernest Tubb.
Piano player Joe Eddie Gough was born in Galveston, TX in 1939. He joined Gene Watson’s Farewell Party Band, appearing on such hits as Memories To Burn, Got No Reason Now For Goin’ Home and You’re Out Doing What I’m Here Doing Without.
Keyboard player Lee Carroll was born in Glasgow, KY in 1953. Carroll replaces Marlon Hargis in Exile in 1985, contributing to such hits as It’ll Be Me, She’s Too Good To Be True and I Can’t Get Close Enough
Cheryl White, of The Whites, was born in Wichita Falls, TX in 1955. The family trio earns bluegrass-influenced hits with Hangin’ Around, You Put The Blue In Me and Give Me Back That Old Familiar Feeling. They join the Grand Ole Opry in 1984.
Rhythm guitarist Richard Young, of The Kentucky HeadHunters, was born in Glasgow, KY in 1955. The rock-influenced band won the Country Music Association’s Vocal Group of the Year honor in 1990 and ’91.
