JULY 22

1874: Obed Pickard is born in Ashland City, TN. Following his 1926 debut on the Grand Ole Opry, he became the first singing star on the WSM radio show, which is dominated by instrumental string bands in its early years.

1924: Margaret Whiting was born in Detroit, MI. A successful pop singer, she recorded a series of country duets with Jimmy Wakely that found favor from 1949-1951, particularly the cheatin’ classic “Slipping Around.”

1947: Drummer/vocalist Don Henley was born in Gilmer, TX. A founding member of The Eagles, Henley watched his songs become country hits for Johnny Rodriguez and Conway Twitty. He also added supporting vocals to Trisha Yearwood’s “Walkaway Joe.”

1952: Bass player Mike Chapman was born. He played on nearly all of Garth Brooks’ hits, plus Kathy Mattea’s “Burning Old Memories” and Sammy Kershaw’s “Third Rate Romance,” among others.

1961: Patsy Cline came on stage at the Grand Ole Opry in a wheelchair to assure fans she’d return to performing soon, following her June car accident.

1975: Sonya Isaacs was born in LaFollette, TN. Signed as a solo artist to Lyric Street Records in the 1990s, she wrote Martina McBride’s “I’m Gonna Love You Through It” and provided backing vocals on Reba McEntire’s “I’m Gonna Take That Mountain.”

1977: United Artists released Kenny Rogers’ “Daytime Friends” album.

1977: Dolly Parton recorded “It’s All Wrong, But It’s All Right” at Sound Labs in Hollywood.

1989: George Strait ascended to #1 on the Billboard country singles chart with “What’s Going On In Your World.”

1992: Earl Scruggs and Minnie Pearl received National Medals of Arts from president George Bush at a White House ceremony.

1993: Collin Raye recorded “Man Of My Word,” “If I Were You” and “Little Rock” at The Money Pit in Nashville.

1995: Shania Twain collected her first #1 single in Billboard with “Any Man Of Mine.”

1999: Rutledge Hill Press published “The Mandrell Family Cookbook,” written by Matthew Dudney with Barbara, Louise and Irlene Mandrell.

2001: Bob Ferguson died at University Medical Center in Jackson, MS. 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.