Mar 28, 1936
Gospel giant Bill Gaither is born in Alexandria, Indiana. He writes “He Touched Me,” recorded by Elvis Presley, whose version ranks among country’s 500 greatest singles in the Country Music Foundation book “Heartaches By The Number”
Mar 28, 1941
Session musician Charlie McCoy is born in Oak Hill, West Virginia. A versatile instrumentalist, he plays on classics by George Jones, Conway Twitty, Roy Orbison and others on his way to 2009 entry in the Country Music Hall of Fame
Mar 28, 1948
Gerry House is born in Covington, Kentucky. The morning show host for WSIX-FM in Nashville, House doubles as a songwriter, writing Reba McEntire’s “Little Rock,” George Strait’s “The Big One” and Pam Tillis’ “The River And The Highway”
Mar 28, 1950
Hank Snow records “I’m Moving On” at Brown Radio Productions during his first Nashville session
Mar 28, 1955
Reba McEntire is born in McAlester, Oklahoma. The winner of multiple Entertainer of the Year awards, she becomes a country icon while expanding into movies, Broadway and even a TV sitcom, entering the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2011
Mar 28, 1958
Angry that Chuck Berry was selected to close the show, Jerry Lee Lewis sets his piano on fire during “Great Balls Of Fire” at Alan Freed’s Big Beat Show at the Brooklyn Paramount. Also appearing: Buddy Holly, Frankie Lymon and The Chantels
Mar 28, 1966
Decca releases Loretta Lynn’s “I Like ‘Em Country” album
Mar 28, 1969
Rodney Atkins is born in Knoxville, Tennessee. He hits his stride with the 2006 album “If You’re Going Through Hell,” which notches four hits, including the title track and “Watching You.” His later successes include “It’s America” and “Take A Back Road”
Mar 28, 1973
George Jones & Tammy Wynette record “We’re Gonna Hold On” in an afternoon session at the Columbia Studios in Nashville
Mar 28, 1974
Roger Miller hosts as the Academy Of Country Music awards are telecast for the first time, on “ABC Wide World Of Entertainment.” Charlie Rich comes away with three victories in the event, taped three days prior in Los Angeles
Mar 28, 1980
Tom T. Hall and Conway Twitty join the Grand Ole Opry
Mar 28, 1981
Hank Williams Jr.’s “Texas Women” hits #1 on the Billboard country chart
Mar 28, 1984
Keith Whitley records “Ten Feet Away” and “Miami, My Amy”
Mar 28, 1992
Reba McEntire goes to the head of the class in Billboard, reaching #1 with “Is There Life Out There”
Mar 28, 2003
CMT places Johnny Cash at #1 when it lists “The 40 Greatest Men Of Country Music.” Rounding out the Top Five: Hank Williams, #2; George Jones, #3; Willie Nelson, #4; and Waylon Jennings, #5
Mar 28, 2012
Banjo player Earl Scruggs dies in Nashville. A bluegrass pillar, he helped establish the genre as a Bill Monroe sideman, a member of Flatt & Scruggs and a solo artist, earning a spot in the Country Music Hall of Fame
