Jun 19, 1914
Lester Flatt is born in Duncan’s Chapel, Tennessee. Along with partner Earl Scruggs, he rises out of Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys to become a leading figure in the development of bluegrass, joining the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1985
Jun 19, 1915
Actor Pat Buttram is born in Addison, Alabama. The comedic sidekick appears alongside Gene Autry before carving out a role as Mr. Haney on TV’s “Green Acres”
Jun 19, 1926
DeFord Bailey makes his Grand Ole Opry debut, becoming the first African-American to perform on the program
Jun 19, 1956
Doug Brooks is born in Atlanta, Georgia. After changing his name to Doug Stone–to avoid confusion with Garth Brooks–he reels off more than a dozen consecutive hits in the 1990s, including “I’d Be Better Off (In A Pine Box)” and “Warning Labels”
Jun 19, 1959
Singer/songwriter Jim Collins is born in Nacogdoches, Texas. He writes Kenny Chesney’s “The Good Stuff,” Jason Aldean’s “Big Green Tractor,” Chad Brock’s “Yes!” and Thompson Square’s “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not,” among others
Jun 19, 1971
Jerry Reed lights up the #1 position on the Billboard country chart with “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot”
Jun 19, 1973
Conway Twitty records “Linda On My Mind” in an evening session at Bradley’s Barn in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee
Jun 19, 1976
Marty Robbins gets a bird’s-eye view of the Billboard country chart as he reaches #1 with “El Paso City”
Jun 19, 1980
Boxcar Willie makes his Grand Ole Opry debut
Jun 19, 1982
Nashville’s Patsy Bruce holds tryouts to find replacements for Tom Wopat and John Schneider on “The Dukes Of Hazzard”
Jun 19, 1982
Conway Twitty’s version of “Slow Hand” grabs the top position on the Billboard country singles char
Jun 19, 1986
Ricky Van Shelton showcases for CBS executives Rick Blackburn and Steve Buckingham at The Stockyard, singing Ernest Tubb’s “Thanks A Lot” and Merle Haggard’s “Hungry Eyes”
Jun 19, 1993
Patty Loveless tops the Billboard country chart with “Blame It On Your Heart”
Jun 19, 1997
Bobby Helms dies at his home in Martinsville, Indiana. He leaves behind three major singles from 1957: “Fraulein,” “My Special Angel” and “Jingle Bell Rock”
Jun 19, 1999
George Strait posts a #1 single in Billboard with “Write This Down”
Jun 19, 2008
Loretta Lynn joins the Songwriters Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York. Also added: Desmond Child, John Sebastian, Alan Menken and Albert Hammond. Anne Murray receives the Hitmaker Award
Jun 18, 2015
Toby Keith and “He Stopped Loving Her Today” author Bobby Braddock are inducted in the Songwriters Hall of Fame at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York
