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Country Music History – January 23

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JANUARY 23

1940: Johnny Russell was born in Roundaway, MS. A 1985 addition to the Grand Ole Opry, he scored a hit with 1973’s “Rednecks, White Socks And Blue Ribbon Beer.” He also wrote Buck Owens’ “Act Naturally,” Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton’s “Making Plans” and George Strait’s “Let’s Fall To Pieces Together,” among others.

1947: Merle Travis recorded the hit version of “Steel Guitar Rag” in the evening at Hollywood’s Radio Recorders.

1956: Singer/songwriter Harley Allen was born in Dayton, OH. He writes Alan Jackson’s “Between The Devil And Me,” Darryl Worley’s “Awful, Beautiful Life” and Blake Shelton’s “The Baby.” He also sang harmonies on The Soggy Bottom Boys’ “I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow.”

1969: Elvis Presley recorded the song “Suspicious Minds” at the American Studios in Memphis.

1976: Johnny Duncan recorded the Kris Kristofferson song “Stranger” with Janie Fricke in the evening at Columbia Studio B in Nashville.

1979: The Nashville Banner declared Dolly Parton the highest-paid country concert performer, valued at a reported $60,000 per show. Willie Nelson was next at $50,000. A South Dakota promoter says he’s more interested in The Oak Ridge Boys, at $15,000.

1986: The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame added The Everly Brothers, Ray Charles, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Jimmie Rodgers, Buddy Holly, Alan Freed, Sam Cooke, Little Richard, Fats Domino, Chuck Berry and Sam Phillips in its inaugural ceremony.

1987: Whoever’s in New England” by Reba McEntire became a gold album.

1990: The album “Killin’ Time” by Clint Black became a platinum album.

1993: Gospel songwriter Thomas A. Dorsey died of Alzheimer’s at his home in Chicago. He was best known for writing “(There’ll Be) Peace In The Valley (For Me),” a gospel classic closely associated with Red Foley.

1996: Epic released Patty Loveless’ “The Trouble With The Truth” album.

1996: Atlantic released Tracy Lawrence’s “Time Marches On” album.

1997: Hank Thompson’s rendition of “The Wild Side Of Life” in a Florida concert is followed by Kitty Wells singing the answer song “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels.” It’s the only time the two ever sang their signature songs together live.

2002: Mike Curb purchased RCA Studio B from the Country Music Hall of Fame for $650,000 and leases it back for $1 a year. The historic facility–the site of recordings by Elvis Presley, Jim Reeves and Eddy Arnold–is being restored for educational use.

2011: At the AFC Championship Game, the Steelers beat the New York Jets 24-19. Martina McBride sung the national anthem, and Joe Nichols and Hank Williams Jr. performed at halftime.

2018: Lari White died of cancer in Nashville. Married to songwriter Chuck Cannon, she earned three Top 10 hits in 1994-1995, had a role in the Tom Hanks movie “Cast Away” and co-produced hits for Billy Dean and Toby Keith.