JULY 2

1916: Actor Curtis Wayne Gates was born in Lamar, CO. Under the name Ken Curtis, he joined The Sons Of The Pioneers from 1949-1953, then went on to portray Festus in TV’s “Gunsmoke” and Monk in “Have Gun, Will Travel.”

1923: Janette Carter was born in Maces Spring, VA. The daughter of A.P. and Sara Carter, of The Carter Family, she sang with June Carter, Johnny Cash and Connie Smith on “Kindred Spirits: A Tribute To The Songs Of Johnny Cash.”

1925: Marvin Rainwater was born in Wichita, KS. One-quarter Cherokee, he veered stylistically between rock and country, gaining one Top 10 country single in 1957: “Gonna Find Me A Bluebird.”

1955: “The Lawrence Welk Show” debuted on ABC-TV, providing a launching pad for the career of Lynn Anderson, who joined the cast for one season in September 1967.

1956: Elvis Presley recorded “Don’t Be Cruel” and “Hound Dog” at the RCA Studios in New York. The latter song required 31 takes.

1964: Jim Reeves held his final recording sessions, cutting the ironically titled “Is It Really Over?” and “Missing You” at Nashville’s RCA Studio B.

1969: Columbia released Johnny Cash’s “A Boy Named Sue.”

1973: MCA released Conway Twitty’s “You’ve Never Been This Far Before.”

1976: El Paso declared Marty Robbins Day, holding a tribute to him at the Sun Bowl.

1984: Columbia released Willie Nelson’s “City Of New Orleans” album.

1986: Columbia released Sweethearts Of The Rodeo’s self-titled debut album.

1991: MCA released Trisha Yearwood’s self-titled debut album.

1994: TV Guide devoted the magazine’s cover to Reba McEntire.

1999: Andy Griggs made his Grand Ole Opry debut.

2007: Songwriter Hy Zaret died at his home in Westport, CT, at the age of 99. He was best known for composing the lyrics to “Unchained Melody,” a country hit for Elvis Presley in the 1970s and for LeAnn Rimes in the ’90s.