JULY 31
1927: The Carter Family drove from Maces Spring, VA, to Bristol, TN, to audition for Victor producer Ralph Peer. The next day, the group made its historic first recordings.
1937: Bonnie Brown was born in Sparkman, AR. She joined older siblings Maxine and Jim Ed in forming The Browns, whose million-selling crossover hit “The Three Bells” precedes their 1963 induction into the Grand Ole Opry.
1963: Chad Brock is born in Ocala, FL. He had fewer than 20 matches as a professional wrestler before embarking on a singing career in the 1990s. His most successful single came with an autobiographical love song, “Yes!“
1964: Jim Reeves and pianist Dean Manuel died in a plane crash during a thunderstorm in Brentwood, TN. Numerous locals–including Eddy Arnold, Chet Atkins and Ernest Tubb–searched for three days before discovering the wreckage.
1969: Elvis Presley began a historic four-week run at Las Vegas’ International Hotel in his first live show since 1961. In the audience were Liberace, Herb Alpert, Dick Clark, Cary Grant, Fats Domino, Burt Bacharach, Pat Boone and Paul Anka.
1976: Kris Kristofferson hosted “Saturday Night Live” with musical guest Rita Coolidge. Kristofferson sang “Help Me Make It Through The Night.”
1981: Elektra released Eddie Rabbitt’s “Step By Step” album.
1984: The Forester Sisters signed their first recording contract with Warner Bros.
1990: Kathy Mattea, Clint Black, The Judds and K.T. Oslin appeared on “The Oprah Winfrey Show“–the first time the show had a country theme.
2000: Faith Hill received a nomination from the 2000 “VH1 Vogue Fashion Awards” in the “Most Fashionable Artist – Female” category. Nominated with artists like Toni Braxton, Janet Jackson and Jennifer Lopez, Faith was the only country artist to be tapped in any category.
2003: The Department of the Interior designated the Sun Recording Studio in Memphis as a national historic landmark, the first studio to receive such an honor.
2010: Songwriter/producer/musician George Richey died in Nashville. Married two decades to Tammy Wynette, his writing credits included “The Grand Tour,” “Soul Song,” “‘Til I Can Make It On My Own” and “A Picture Of Me (Without You).”
