Jun 17, 1910
Red Foley is born in Blue Lick, Kentucky. Following his sentimental hit about his dog, “Old Shep,” he becomes a major figure on the Grand Ole Opry in the 1940s and ’50s. He enters the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1967
Jun 17, 1915
David “Stringbean” Akeman is born in Annville, Kentucky. As a banjo player, he joins Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys. But he is better known as a comedian, noted for a striped shirt and pants that seem belted at his thighs. He joins the Grand Ole Opry in the 1940s, remaining a member until his murder in 1973
Jun 17, 1949
Russell Smith, of The Amazing Rhythm Aces, is born in Nashville. Behind his soulful lead vocals, the Aces earn three hits in the mid-’70s, while Smith goes on to write “Heartbeat In The Darkness,” “Do You Know Where Your Man Is” and “Keep It Between The Lines,” among others
Jun 17, 1952
MGM cancels its movie contract with Hank Williams
Jun 17, 1963
Decca releases the album “The Patsy Cline Story”
Jun 17, 1965
The Beatles record the Buck Owens country hit “Act Naturally,” with Ringo Starr singing lead, at the Abbey Road Studios in London. It’s the same session in which they finish recording “Yesterday”
Jun 17, 1974
Johnny Cash begins two days of recording gospel songs at the House Of Cash in Hendersonville, Tennessee. Starting with “Amazing Grace,” the songs become the Grammy-nominated album “Johnny Cash Sings Precious Memories”
Jun 17, 1978
Emmylou Harris takes the Delbert McClinton-written “Two More Bottles Of Wine” to #1 on the Billboard country singles chart
Jun 17, 1978
Kenny Rogers records “She Believes In Me” in a late-night session at the Jack Clement Studios in Nashville
Jun 17, 1979
Kenny Rogers records “Coward Of The County” and “You Decorated My Life” during a pair of sessions at the Jack Clement Studios in Nashville
Jun 17, 1980
Kenny Rogers guests on “The Barbara Walters Special” on ABC-TV with James Garner and Sir Laurence Olivier
Jun 17, 1988
Garth Brooks signs with Capitol Records
Jun 17, 1997
Asylum releases Lila McCann’s debut album, “Lila”
Jun 17, 2006
The belt that Elvis Presley wore during a 1972 performance in Hawaii brings in a whopping $66,000 in an online auction
Jun 17, 2014
Legacy releases the Willie Nelson album “Band Of Brothers”
