JUNE 6
1939: Gary “U.S.” Bonds was born in Jacksonville, FL. The rock singer earned five hits in the 1960s, and another with 1982’s “This Little Girl.” He also pens Johnny Paycheck’s Grammy-nominated “She’s All I Got,” which Tracy Byrd revived in the 1990s.
1943: Joe Stampley was born in Springhill, LA. He peppers an 11-year string of hits, beginning in 1972, with such titles as “Soul Song,” “All These Things” and “Roll On Big Mama,” expanding his career in a series of “good ol’ boy” duets with Moe Bandy.
1944: Allied troops invade Normandy, France, during a World War II battle better known as D-Day. Marine Ferlin Husky was among the Americans who hit the shore. Future Opry star Vic Willis was injured in the battle and received a purple heart and bronze star.
1951: Songwriter Jon Vezner is born in Minneapolis, MN. He authored such hits as “Then What?” by Clay Walker, “If I Didn’t Love You” by Steve Wariner and “Where’ve You Been” by his wife, Kathy Mattea.
1953: “Take These Chains From My Heart” returned the late Hank Williams to #1 on the Billboard country singles chart.
1955: Curtis Wright was born in Huntington, PA. A member of Vern Gosdin’s band in the late-1980s, he became a backing vocalist in recording sessions, and wrote Ronnie Milsap’s “A Woman In Love,” plus Shenandoah’s “Next To You, Next To Me.”
1964: The Rolling Stones perform in San Antonio, TX, where they appeared on a bill that also included George Jones. The Possum’s guitarist got into a fight with Mick Jagger, putting him in a headlock until Jones ordered his bandmate to let go.
1970: Conway Twitty rose to #1 on the Billboard country chart with “Hello Darlin’.”
1974: Paul McCartney arrived in Nashville for a one-month vacation and rehearsal for a tour with his band, Wings. He stayed at the home of “Green, Green Grass Of Home” songwriter Curly Putman.
1975: Ed Bruce recorded the original version of “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys” in a lunchtime session at Nashville’s LSI Sound Studios.
1990: A federal judge signed a tax settlement in which Willie Nelson and the Internal Revenue Service agreed the singer would pay $6.5 million in back taxes. The IRS had originally claimed he owed $11 million.
1998: George Strait’s “I Just Want To Dance With You” stepped to the top of the Billboard country singles chart.
2000: It was announced that AOL subscribers had dubbed Lonestar’s “Amazed” as the “Top Love Song of All Time.” The single, which topped both the country and Hot 100 charts, was chosen over such classics as “Unchained Melody” (Righteous Brothers), “I Knew I Loved You” (Savage Garden), “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You” (Bryan Adams) and “All My Life” (K-Ci & JoJo). Also in the Top 10 were “I Will Always Love You” (both the Dolly Parton and Whitney Houston versions), “My Heart Will Go On” (Celine Dion) and two ‘N Sync songs.
2000: Clint Black’s “Biography” debuted on the A&E network.
2001: Travis Tritt’s home state of Georgia announced plans to honor him by renaming a three-mile section of Highway 92 “Travis Tritt Highway.”
2003: Kenny Chesney headlined a stadium show for the first time in his career, playing to nearly 62-thousand (61,780 to be exact) in the rain at Knoxville’s Neyland Stadium. Joining him on the bill: Brooks & Dunn, Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, The Warren Brothers and Deana Carter.
2006: Brad Paisley joined Barbara Mandrell to record “In Times Like These” for the album “She Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool: A Tribute To Barbara Mandrell.”
2014: Songwriter Don Devaney died. He wrote Charley Pride’s “Someone Loves You Honey” and Highway 101’s “Cry, Cry, Cry.”
2021: Garth Brooks was among the recipients as CBS airs “The Kennedy Center Honors.” Kelly Clarkson performed “The Dance” in his honor, James Taylor sang “The River,” Jimmie Allen offered “The Thunder Rolls” and “Friends In Low Places,” and Gladys Knight closed with “We Shall Be Free.”
