MARCH 12

1939: Lew DeWitt was born in Roanoke, VA. A founding member of The Statler Brothers, he wrote “Flowers On The Wall” and sang tenor for the group until 1982, when illness forced retirement. The Statlers joined the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2008.

1948: Singer/songwriter James Taylor was born in Boston, MA. He wrote George Jones’ 1978 single “Bartender’s Blues” and won a country Grammy for “How’s The World Treating You,” a 2003 collaboration with Alison Krauss.

1961: After giving him a two-week tryout, Gene Autry’s expansion Los Angeles Angels dropped hopeful baseball player Charley Pride during spring training in Palm Springs.

1963: Production began in South Africa on the Jim Reeves movie “Kimberley Jim.”

1969: Johnny Cash won twice during the 11th annual Grammy awards. He collected the trophy for Best Album Notes, for “Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison“; and Best Country Vocal Performance, Male, for “Folsom Prison Blues.”

1975: George Jones opened his Possum Holler nightclub at the corner of Commerce & Printer’s Alley in Nashville.

1975: The divorce of George Jones and Tammy Wynette was finalized. Wynette took custody of their only child, Tamala, and kept their home on Franklin Road in Nashville.

1977: Lynn Anderson had a guest role in the ABC police drama “Starsky And Hutch.”

1981: MCA released The Oak Ridge Boys’ “Elvira.”

1981: The Statler Brothers recorded “Don’t Wait On Me” during an afternoon session at Nashville’s Sound Stage.

1986: Columbia released the Willie Nelson album “The Promiseland.”

1988: Randy Travis’ “Too Gone Too Long” went to #1 on the Billboard country singles chart.

1990: Mark Chesnutt began recording his first album, “Too Cold At Home.”

1991: Columbia released Dolly Parton’s “Eagle When She Flies” album.

1991: Alan Jackson’s debut album, “Here In The Real World,” received platinum certification.

1991: Garth Brooks recorded the Billy Joel-written “Shameless” at Jack’s Tracks in Nashville.

1996: Columbia released Chet Atkins’ “Almost Alone” album.

1996: Arista released Steve Wariner’s instrumental album “No More Mr. Nice Guy.”

1997: Trace Adkins won his first gold album with his debut, “Dreamin’ Out Loud.”

2006: “Ring Of Fire: The Johnny Cash Musical Show” had its Broadway debut at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, with Lari White in the cast. Among the 38 songs performed: “Man In Black,” “Hurt,” “I Walk The Line,” “Daddy Sang Bass” and “I’ve Been Everywhere.”

2022: Songwriter Bruce Burch died at his home in Nashville. His hit list included Aaron Tippin’s “I Got It Honest” and the Reba McEntire singles “It’s Your Call” and “Rumor Has It.“