MARCH 26
1928: Steel guitarist Bud Isaacs was born in Bedford, IN. His performance on Webb Pierce’s “Slowly” established the steel as a significant country instrument. He also played on duet hits for Red Foley and Kitty Wells.
1942: Songwriter/pianist Larry Butler was born in Pensacola, FL. He headed United Artists Records in the mid-1970s, and became the first country figure to win a Grammy for Record Producer of the Year. His production credits include Kenny Rogers, Dottie West, John Denver and Billie Jo Spears.
1950: Ronnie McDowell was born in Fountain Head, TN. Following his 1977 tribute to Elvis Presley, “The King Is Gone,” he reaped more than a dozen Top 10 hits through 1987, including “Older Women” and “You’re Gonna Ruin My Bad Reputation.”
1953: Michael Bonagura, of Baillie & The Boys, was born in Newark, NJ. His wife, Kathie Baillie, sang lead for the harmony act, which earned seven Top 10 hits in the late-1980s, including “Oh Heart,” “Long Shot” and “(I Wish I Had A) Heart Of Stone.”
1953: Jim Denny and Webb Pierce created Cedarwood Publishing in Nashville. The publishing company represented songs by such writers as Mel Tillis, John D. Loudermilk, Marijohn Wilkin, Carl Perkins and Danny Dill.
1955: Songwriter Dean Dillon was born in Lake City, TN. He wrote the George Strait hits “Ocean Front Property,” “The Chair” and “Unwound,” plus “Miami My Amy,” by Keith Whitley; “Set ‘Em Up Joe,” by Vern Gosdin; and “By Now,” by Steve Wariner.
1956: Charly McClain was born in Jackson, TN. Her distinctive southern voice marks such 1980s releases as “Who’s Cheatin’ Who,” “Radio Heart” and a duet with Mickey Gilley, “Paradise Tonight.”
1968: Kenny Chesney was born in Knoxville, TN. After a 1993 launch, he became one of the biggest hitmakers of the early-21st century, regularly winning Entertainer of the Year trophies and selling out stadiums in his annual summer concert treks. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame the day before his 57th birthday.
1969: The Allman Brothers Band was formed in Jacksonville, FL. Two members, Gregg Allman and Dickey Betts, would go on to earn country hits as songwriters.
1971: Tom T. Hall recorded “The Year That Clayton Delaney Died” at Nashville’s Mercury Custom Recording Studio.
1981: Reba McEntire recorded “Only You (And You Alone)” and “Today All Over Again” during a 2 p.m. Nashville session.
1982: MCA released Don Williams’ album “Listen To The Radio.”
1983: John Anderson went to #1 on the Billboard country chart with “Swingin’.”
1983: “We’ve Got Tonight” by Kenny Rogers and Sheena Easton peaked at number six on the pop singles chart.
1984: President Ronald Reagan bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom upon Tennessee Ernie Ford in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C.
1998: Garth Brooks and rapper Warren G released a joint statement saying they had settled their five-month legal dispute over the use of the lower case letter “g.” Garth said he now had a whole new understanding of the alphabet, explaining he learned that in the rap world “g” represents young people who aren’t into violence and drugs but who are making positive contributions to society. He added, quote, “Knowing how much the symbol “g” means to Warren, I will strive to reach the standard that the “g” represents to him and to his community.”
1996: Curb released Jo Dee Messina’s self-titled debut album.
1997: Tanya Tucker’s autobiography, “Nickel Dreams,” hit bookstores.
2003: Darryl Worley’s single “Have You Forgotten” was at number one.
2013: EMI released Alan Jackson’s gospel album “Precious Memories: Volume II.”
