JANUARY 26
1942: Dave Rowland was born in Los Angeles. He backed Elvis Presley as a member of The Stamps Quartet and eventually formed a gospel-influenced trio, Dave & Sugar, surrounding himself with two female singers and hitting chart paydirt from 1976-1981.
1947: Hank Williams wrote “I Saw The Light.”
1953: Lucinda Williams was born in Lake Charles, LA. Her laidback snapshots of Southern life make her a significant figure in the alt.country movement. She also wrote Mary Chapin Carpenter’s mainstream-country hit “Passionate Kisses.”
1955: Faron Young recorded “Live Fast, Love Hard, Die Young” and “Forgive Me, Dear” in Nashville in his first session since ending two years of military service.
1962: Claude King recorded “Wolverton Mountain” at the Columbia Recording Studio in Nashville during an evening session.
1970: Capitol released Merle Haggard’s single “The Fightin’ Side Of Me.”
1979: “The Dukes Of Hazzard” debuted on CBS, starring John Schneider, as Bo Duke; Tom Wopat, as Luke Duke; and Waylon Jennings, as The Balladeer. Jennings sang the theme song, “Good Ol’ Boys.”
1991: Willie Nelson’s assets went on the auction block to meet his $16-million debt to the IRS. No bids were entered.
1993: Loretta Lynn made a guest appearance on the ABC sitcom “Roseanne.”
1994: Patty Loveless recorded “Here I Am” at Woodland Sound Studio in Nashville.
1998: Mandolin player Adam Steffey announced he’s leaving Alison Krauss + Union Station.
2000: Barbara Mandrell and Tracey Gold starred in the CBS-TV movie “Stolen From The Heart.”
2001: Reba McEntire took over as Annie Oakley in “Annie Get Your Gun” at Broadway’s Marquis Theatre. Tom Wopat was already a regular in the production.
2011: Charlie Louvin died at home in Wartrace, TN, of pancreatic cancer. The Louvin Brothers used genetic harmonies to build an influential career as a duo, joining the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001.
2018: England Media published “Lucky Me,” the autobiography of Moe Bandy.