JUNE 20
1907: Jimmy Driftwood was born, with the given name James Morris, near Mountain View, AR. Briefly a member of the Grand Ole Opry, he wrote Johnny Horton’s “The Battle Of New Orleans” and Eddy Arnold’s “Tennessee Stud.”
1916: David Myrick–a.k.a. T. Texas Tyler–was born in Mena, AR. Best known for his recitation “Deck Of Cards,” he earned seven hits from 1946-1954, including “Filipino Baby” and “My Bucket’s Got A Hole In It,” before a marijuana arrest derailed his career.
1924: Chet Atkins was born in Luttrell, TN. The consummate guitarist, he developed a successful career as an instrumentalist, but also ran RCA Records’ country division and helped create the Nashville Sound. Atkins joined the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1973.
1937: Songwriter Ben Peters was born in Hattiesburg, MS. On his way to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, he wrote such hits as “Daytime Friends,” “Kiss An Angel Good Mornin’,” “Before The Next Teardrop Falls” and “Turn The World Around.“
1945: Anne Murray was born in Springhill, Nova Scotia. Her warm, easy-going vocals snared a number of pop-slanted successes from 1970-1986, including “Snowbird,” “You Needed Me,” “Shadows In The Moonlight” and “Now And Forever (Me And You).”
1949: Lionel Richie \was born in Tuskegee, AL. Primarily a pop recording artist, he earned a country hit when Alabama backed him on “Deep River Woman.” He has produced several Kenny Rogers hits and has a #1 country album with “Tuskegee.”
1959: Shreveport mayor Clyde Fant declared Johnny Horton Day. While performing that night on “The Louisiana Hayride,” Horton received a transatlantic phone call from friend and soldier Elvis Presley.
1965: Ira Louvin and his wife, Anne, die in an automobile accident headed east on Interstate 70 in Callaway County, MO. His car was hit by another car headed west. Several open alcohol bottles were discovered in the westbound auto.
1967: Singer and guitarist Dan Tyminski was born in Rutland, VT. He joined Alison Krauss’ Union Station, performing on “When You Say Nothing At All,” and singing lead on The Soggy Bottom Boys’ “I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow.”
1977: Ronnie Milsap held the first of four recording sessions for “What A Difference You’ve Made In My Life” at Nashville’s Woodland Sound.
1979: Waylon Jennings recorded “I Ain’t Living Long Like This,” written by Rodney Crowell, at Nashville’s American Studios.
1980: Elektra releases Eddie Rabbitt’s “Horizon” album.
1983: Tammy Wynette performed “Stand By Your Man” for president Ronald Reagan during a Republican fundraiser in Jackson, MS.
1995: MCA released George Jones & Tammy Wynette’s “One” album, their first duet collection in 15 years.
2003: The Roy Rogers Museum held its grand opening in Branson, MO, after being uprooted from California, where it had resided for 37 years.
2003: “Nashville Star” contestant Miranda Lambert made her Grand Ole Opry debut.
2003: Songwriter Bob Millsap died at Centennial Medical Center in Nashville two months after surgery for a brain tumor. He wrote the Tommy Overstreet hit “Heaven Is My Woman’s Love” and George Jones’ “She’s My Rock.”
2004: Filming began in Memphis on “Walk The Line,” a Johnny Cash biopic. Joaquin Phoenix starred as the Man In Black, Reese Witherspoon portrays June Carter, Shooter Jennings is Waylon Jennings, and Shelby Lynne acts as Cash’s mother.
