Jul 22, 1874
Obed Pickard is born in Ashland City, Tennessee. Following his 1926 debut on the Grand Ole Opry, he becomes the first singing star on the WSM radio show, which is dominated by instrumental string bands in its early years
Jul 22, 1924
Margaret Whiting is born in Detroit, Michigan. A successful pop singer, she records a series of country duets with Jimmy Wakely that find favor from 1949-1951, particularly the cheatin’ classic “Slipping Around”
Jul 22, 1947
Drummer/vocalist Don Henley is born in Gilmer, Texas. A founding member of The Eagles, Henley watches his songs become country hits for Johnny Rodriguez and Conway Twitty. He also adds supporting vocals to Trisha Yearwood’s “Walkaway Joe”
Jul 22, 1952
Bass player Mike Chapman is born. He plays on nearly all of Garth Brooks’ hits, plus Kathy Mattea’s “Burning Old Memories” and Sammy Kershaw’s “Third Rate Romance,” among others
Jul 22, 1961
Patsy Cline comes on stage at the Grand Ole Opry in a wheelchair to assure fans she’ll return to performing soon, following her June car accident
Jul 22, 1975
Sonya Isaacs is born in LaFollette, Tennessee. Signed as a solo artist to Lyric Street Records in the 1990s, she writes Martina McBride’s “I’m Gonna Love You Through It” and provides backing vocals on Reba McEntire’s “I’m Gonna Take That Mountain”
Jul 22, 1977
United Artists releases Kenny Rogers’ “Daytime Friends” album
Jul 22, 1977
Dolly Parton records “It’s All Wrong, But It’s All Right” at Sound Labs in Hollywood
Jul 22, 1989
George Strait ascends to #1 on the Billboard country singles chart with “What’s Going On In Your World”
Jul 22, 1992
Earl Scruggs and Minnie Pearl receive National Medals of Arts from president George Bush at a White House ceremony
Jul 22, 1993
Collin Raye records “Man Of My Word,” “If I Were You” and “Little Rock” at The Money Pit in Nashville
Jul 22, 1995
Shania Twain collects her first #1 single in Billboard with “Any Man Of Mine”
Jul 22, 1999
Rutledge Hill Press publishes “The Mandrell Family Cookbook,” written by Matthew Dudney with Barbara, Louise and Irlene Mandrell
Jul 22, 2001
Bob Ferguson dies at University Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi. He wrote “Wings Of A Dove” and “The Carroll County Accident,” and produced hits for Connie Smith, Dolly Parton, Jim Ed Brown and Dottie West
