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