Jul 9, 1890
Songwriter Hy Heath is born in Oakville, Tennessee. His credits include Tennessee Ernie Ford’s “Mule Train,” Ray Price’s “Run Boy,” Louis Jordan’s “Deacon Jones” and Hank Williams’ “Take These Chains From My Heart”
Jul 9, 1907
Eddie Dean is born in Posey, Texas. The singing cowboy is a pioneering western film star. He also writes Jimmy Wakely’s “One Has My Name (The Other Has My Heart)” and Tex Ritter’s “I Dreamed Of A Hill-billy Heaven”
Jul 9, 1929
Mandolin player Jesse McReynolds is born in Carfax, Virginia. He joins his brother to form Jim & Jesse, a bluegrass act that begins recording in 1951 and joins the Grand Ole Opry in 1964
Jul 9, 1950
Songwriter Mark D. Sanders is born in Los Angeles. Among the hits he authors are George Strait’s “Blue Clear Sky,” Lonestar’s “No News,” Jo Dee Messina’s “Heads Carolina, Tails California” and Lee Ann Womack’s “I Hope You Dance”
Jul 9, 1952
June Carter marries Carl Smith at his sister’s house in Alcoa, Tennessee
Jul 9, 1953
David Ball is born in Rock Hill, South Carolina. He scores one of 1994’s biggest hits with his semi-novelty “Thinkin’ Problem,” returning to hitmaker status in 2001 with “Riding With Private Malone”
Jul 9, 1954
Elvis Presley records Bill Monroe’s “Blue Moon Of Kentucky” at the Sun Recording Studio in Memphis, Tennessee
Jul 9, 1963
Waylon Jennings signs a recording contract with A&M Records. Herb Alpert produces the first single under the deal: “Love Denied” backed with a remake of the Buddy Holly song “Rave On”
Jul 9, 1973
MCA releases Conway Twitty & Loretta Lynn’s duet album “Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man”
Jul 9, 1981
Merle Haggard records “Big City” and “Are The Good Times Really Over (I Wish A Buck Was Still Silver)” at Britannia Studios in Hollywood
Jul 9, 1983
Ricky Skaggs rides to #1 in Billboard with “Highway 40 Blues”
Jul 9, 1986
Alabama records “‘You’ve Got’ The Touch”
Jul 9, 1991
Roy Acuff is one of 12 recipients of the National Medal of Arts at a White House ceremony hosted by president George Bush
Jul 9, 1996
Curb releases LeAnn Rimes’ debut album, “Blue”
