Jul 21, 1895
Actor Ken Maynard is born in Vevay, Indiana. Appearing in nearly 90 pictures, he becomes the first of America’s singing cowboys, blazing a trail for Gene Autry, Roy Rogers and Tex Ritter, among others
Jul 21, 1899
Sara Carter is born in Flat Woods, Virginia. Along with husband A.P. Carter and cousin Maybelle Carter, she founds The Carter Family, which becomes one of country music’s early success stories and joins the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1970
Jul 21, 1927
Record producer Ralph Peer drives into Bristol, Tennessee, where he erects a recording studio in a furniture store. He uses the site to record Ernest Stoneman and to hold the first sessions with The Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers
Jul 21, 1928
Bass player Junior Huskey is born in Knoxville, Tennessee. His credits include work with Waylon Jennings, George Jones, Tammy Wynette and Loretta Lyn
Jul 21, 1933
Fiddler Bobby Hicks is born in Newton, North Carolina. He plays on two Jim Reeves hits, plus a passel of Ricky Skaggs singles, including “Country Boy,” “I Don’t Care” and “Love’s Gonna Get You Someday”
Jul 21, 1936
Steel guitarist Hal Rugg is born in New York City. He plays on the majority of Loretta Lynn’s hits, including “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” “One’s On The Way” and “Don’t Come Home A’Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ On Your Mind)
Jul 21, 1951
Lefty Frizzell joins the Grand Ole Opry
Jul 21, 1955
Bass player Howie Epstein is born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A member of Tom Petty’s band, The Heartbreakers, for 20 years, he produces three hits for girlfriend Carlene Carter: “Come On Back,” “Every Little Thing” and “I Fell In Love”
Jul 21, 1956
Johnny Cash’s “I Walk The Line” hits #1 on the Billboard country singles chart
Jul 21, 1973
Jeanne Pruett joins the Grand Ole Opry, the last artist added before the show transfers from Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium to the Grand Ole Opry House
Jul 21, 1975
John Denver records “I’m Sorry” at the RCA Recording Studios in Los Angeles
Jul 21, 1979
Anne Murray’s “Shadows In The Moonlight” hits #1 on the Billboard country chart
Jul 21, 1999
Charley Pride’s name is embedded in a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Jul 21, 2003
Regency Publishing releases Charlie Daniels’ book “Ain’t No Rag: Freedom, Family And The Flag
